[take action!] - [letter] - [press release] - [resolution] - [survey] - [commercialism walkthrough]
Sample Resolution Against Commercialism in Schools

(Adopted by the 1990 convention delegates)

COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL

WHEREAS: The Objects of the National PTA address the need to protect all children and youth and to meet their educational and other welfare needs and the 1989-90 Legislative Directives of the National PTA on Children's Television Programming support federal legislation and regulations to limit advertising during children's TV viewing hours; and

WHEREAS: The National PTA in Executive Committee (March 1989) suggests that corporations for the same concern for enhancing the education of children as the PTA could serve students better if they would provide technology and high quality programs without demanding direct commercial return on the investment; and

WHEREAS: The National PTA supports private sector/public school relationships and technology which improve the instructional program but oppose any provision which requires children to watch televisioncommercials as a condition of their instruction; and

WHEREAS: The concept of students being required by business to watch commercials or read advertising as a condition of corporate donations to schools has been opposed by the National PTA, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of Public Television Stations, the American Association of Secondary School Principals, Action for Children's Television and the National Council for the Social Studies; and

WHEREAS: Sheila Harty stated in Education Leadership, v. 47 no. 4, December 1989-January 1990:

As a marketplace of ideas, the school should offer a balance and diversity of views, not free access for those who pay entrance...and first with significant access to capital can skew social, economic, or political debate through sustained education or media campaigns;

now therefore be it

Resolved, That the National PTA provide information to its constituent bodies so that they can present informative programs about the dangers to children and the implications of any business exerting so much power to influence the curriculum of the schools of this country and the opinions of so many students; and be it further

Resolved, That the National PTA prepare a mailing to its constituent bodies of relevant information on commercial sector influence in our schools, including the National PTA Executive Committee action adopted in March, 1989, to be sent to its constituent bodies and urge them to give it the widest possible dissemination to local school boards, state legislators, state boards of education and parents; and be it further

Resolved, That the National PTA and its constituent bodies seek and support state and federal legislation and/or regulations that would protect students from exploitation by prohibiting a business from bringing into the school any program that would require students to view advertising or to study specific instructional programs as a condition of the school receiving a donation of money or donation or loan of equipment.