Arguments Against Commericalism
Introduction
“Although educational marketing advocates are loath to admit it, “free” promotions turn teachers into salespeople, require that they take time away from teaching to keep program records, and force them to push products that may not be the best value or businesses that may not be the best choice for many families” – Alex Molnar, Giving Kids the Business (1996).
The Campaign for Commercial-Free Education opposes commercial schemes, which seek to advertise, market and sell products through schools. It believes that offering advertising in the guise of education is to exploit students as a captive audience, unfairly pressurise parents and abuse the role of the school.
As more and more companies seek to penetrate the “school market” in Ireland we offer three cogent arguments why schools should have nothing to do with commercial schemes.
Commercial Scheme in Irish schools represent:
Tesco Ireland’s Marketing Manager, Neil Mullen shows off vouchers from the Computers for School Programme (as seen in City Wide paper).
