![]() [take action!] - [letter] - [press release] - [resolution] - [survey] - [commercialism walkthrough] How To Do a Commercialism Walkthrough This survey is designed to be done in groups of three to six (although one or two people could do it all) and it should be a good test of your investigative powers. Remember, the answers to the survey questions are all public information, and people should be happy to give them to you. Plus, we've given you clues on where to look and who to ask. Your school, your business You can answer all these questions by calling the school district office, or, if that doesn't work, by requesting the information in writing from the office. If, in the course of answering these questions you acquire any official documents (such as budget statements, written policies, etc.), please send them to us. 1. What is your school's name, and where is it located?
2. Does your school district have any kind of policy about corporate sponsored materials? (For instance, does it use books, television, or other products donated by companies-as opposed to the materials which the school district buys with its own money-in the classroom?)
3. If so, what is it? (Ask someone to describe it for you, if the official jargon seems too official.)
4. Is your school sponsored, or does your school have corporate "partnerships," and if so, with which companies?
5. Do the corporate sponsors receive tax write-offs, or tax exemptions for their gifts?
Commercial presence in your school 1. Are there billboards outside your school? If so, how many? Who owns and operates them? When were they installed? What is being advertised?
2. In school, are there posters or advertisements on hallway walls? How many? What is being advertised?
3. Does your school rent out display cases to advertisers, or do advertisers "sponsor" the displays? If corporations have "sponsored" the display, what is the stated "educational purpose" of the display? You can find this out from the principal's office, or the district office.
4. Are there advertisements in the gym or on the football field? How many? For what products?
5. In the library, are there ads? Have corporations "donated" materials to libraries? What kind of materials? What percentage of library materials are donated by corporations? Ask your school librarian, or the district office.
Workbooks, videos, brochures, and other "educational materials" These questions can be answered by calling the principal's office, or the district office. 1. Does your school have a review board to examine the "curricular" materials used in class, like books, filmstrips, and videos?
2. If so, does this review board certify donated materials?
3. Does the school principal have to certify donated materials?
4. Have any educational materials in your school been donated by corporations? How many? What are they? Which corporations have donated them?
5. Often, corporations will send materials directly to teachers, as "supplementary" material. Ask your teachers if they think they have been receiving more of these materials in the past five years.
6. How many of your teachers have received classroom materials from corporations, or from groups that are backed with corporate money? How many teachers have seen such materials advertised in educational magazines? How many teachers have used them?
7. Look especially closely at Health class, Science class, and Economics/Social Studies. Are there any videos or workbooks that are a required part of your class's curriculum, and who makes these materials? You can look on the materials themselves, and watch for corporate insignias or slogans on videos.
8. If these videos, books, or other materials are made by corporations, do they offer a balanced view of their subject? Explain. This is your opinion.
Freebies, contests, and giveaways 1. Does your school provide book covers for textbooks? If so, do these book covers contain advertisements?
2. Does your school participate in any contests, programs, or projects, in which students sell or buy products, in exchange for corporate donations? If so, what were they? Is participation voluntary? If you don't know, ask the principal's office.
3. Ask the principal or the district office the monetary value of the products your school or class got in exchange for its participation in any corporate contest or projects. In other words, how much did students have to buy or sell in exchange for what they received?
4. Does your school board have any kind of policy about corporate-sponsored contests or projects?
Channel One ... or Channel Zero? 1. Does your school get Channel One? 2. If so, what commercials are being shown?
3. What do "news" segments say about the environment?
4. Do the advertisements encourage you to buy things? If so, how? What do you think?
Getting to Know Your School These questions help to paint a picture of what your school looks like financially. This is important because, often, corporations target schools that don't have as much money. Are there any other details which you think are important in giving an idea of what your school is like financially? For example, what is the neighborhood like around your school? Can you think of any incidents or stories that illustrate the involvement of corporations in your schools? Try the principal's office or the district office for all of these questions. 1. How many students attend your school?________ 2. How much money per student does your school receive from the state?_________________ 3. Is this more or less money per student than your school received five years ago?____________ 4. How many students per class, on average, does your school have?_____________ 5. How much money, if any, do the teachers in your school receive to buy supplementary classroom materials (like paper, markers, or posters)?____________ 6. What is the general operating budget for your school district?_______________ 7. Anything else you'd like to tell us?
Whew, you're done! Give yourself a round of applause (and take one from us). All of us at the Center thank you for your help. |