Opposing Commercialism in Schools

Exploitative Advertising

Exploiting Students

Commercial schemes target children as a captive audience, legally obliged to be present in school. School children cannot turn down the sound or walk out of the classroom when the ads come on or the logos appear. Offering these students advertising in the guise of education is unethical and exploitative.

Exploiting Schools

Irish government spending on education as a percentage of GDP fell between 1995 and 2005 and is below the EU and OECD averages (OECD Indicators 2005). This shortfall combined with cutbacks such as the suspension of the P.E. equipment grant in 2002 mean that many schools lack adequate resources in P.E., Information Technology and others vital areas. Exploiting this underfunding are commercial incentive schemes, which perpetuate educational disadvantage by rewarding those with higher disposable income, and penalising communities who haven’t. They capitalise on government neglect of schools and prolong the underfunding of education.

Commercial Scheme in Irish schools represent:

• Introduction
• Pressure on Parents
• Distortion of Schools’ Educational Mission