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Commercial promotions have no place in public schools
Sunday 22 June 2008
The 'Rock The Schools' tour is pushing advertisements into schools. Mobile phone, hair care products, video game and magazine companies are using their sponsorship of the event to promote their merchandise in schools, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
An example of advertising through a competition on the tour
Commenting on a story on page 5 of today's Sydney Morning Herald ('Products get a gig at schools') Dr Kaye said: "Corporate sponsors are trying to cash in on the intellectual authority of schools to create the illusion of official endorsement.
"Starved of funds by state and federal governments, public schools have been driven into the hands of corporate sponsors.
"If public education were appropriately funded there would be no need to open the flood gates to Schwarzkopf hair colouring, Boost mobile phones or any other corporation looking for product promotion.
"The latest round of commercials in schools comes on top of the McDonalds' use of 'Kick it Kids' to push their brand name and Johnson & Johnson's advertisements in textbooks.
"Commercial sponsorship is totally incompatible with education. Schools should be an advertising free zone.
"Advertising and product placement in schools taint their independence and leaves students with the notion that their teachers support a particular product.
"It undermines the credibility of the school and misleads students.
"Sponsors are targeting the buying power of children, taking advantage of their innocence.
"Public education should not have any part of it," Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
