Commercialism in Schools
An AskERIC Response
March 2002
Question
What can you tell me about commercialism in elementary-secondary education?
Response
Hello,
In response to your request for information on commercialism in schools, we conducted a sample search of the ERIC database. Below we have appended our search strategy, 12 citations with abstracts, and directions for accessing the full text. These citations may represent an introductory, rather than exhaustive, search for information on your topic.
If you would like to conduct your own free ERIC database searches via the Internet, please visit the
ERIC Database Help pages
for directions or go directly to
http://www.askeric.org/Eric/
to search.
I have also attached some related resources that may be helpful.
Thank you for using AskERIC! If you have any questions or would like further assistance, please do not hesitate to send another message.
AskERIC Staff
Internet Sites:
* The Washington Post Online
Coca-Cola Tries to Cap Exclusive School Deals
March 13, 2001
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A64840-2001Mar13
Schools Hooked on Junk Food
February 26, 2001
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A59024-2001Feb26
* Education Week on the Web
Coca-Cola Cans Exclusive Contracts
March 21, 2001
http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=27cola.h20
Schools Are Latest Front in Cola Wars
April 8, 1998
http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-17/30cola.h17
Channel One Drops Cash-Incentive Plan Aimed at Teachers
September 12, 2001
http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=02channel.h21
Issues Page: Privatization of Public Education
This site from Education Week provides and overview of public school privatization efforts and provides links to past articles and related web resources.
http://www.edweek.org/context/topics/issuespage.cfm?id=15
* Pizza Hut, Domino's, and the Public Schools
An article from Policy Review Online.
http://www.policyreview.org/AUG01/stark.html
* Commercialism in Schools
This page, from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, includes links to research about the commercialization of education.
http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/roundup/Fall_2001.html
* Beware of "Creeping Corporatization"
From the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
http://www.naesp.org/comm/p1100d.htm
* ERIC Digest - Advertising in the Schools
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed389473.html
---------------------------------------
Organizations:
* Commercialism in Education Research Unit (CERU)
Education Policy Studies Laboratory
College of Education
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Box 872411
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2411
Voice: (480) 965-1886
Fax: (480) 965-0303
Email:
epsl@asu.edu
http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/ceru.htm
* The Center for Commercial-Free Public Education
1714 Franklin St.
Suite 100-306
Oakland, CA 94612
510-268-1100
Email: unplug@igc.org
http://www.commercialfree.org/
ERIC Database Citations through 2/2002:
Search Strategy: (commercialism) :Identifiers
Click here to run this search in the ERIC Database:
Record 1 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ616296
CHN: EA537708
AU: Molnar,-Alex; Morales,-Jennifer
TI: Commercialism@Schools.
PY: 2000
SO: Educational-Leadership; v58 n2 p39-44 Oct 2000
ISSN: 0013-1784
DT: Journal-Articles (080); Reports-Evaluative (142)
LA: English
DE: *Advertising-; *Influences-; *Privatization-; *School-Business-Relationship; *Space-Utilization
DE: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Incentives-; Role-of-Education
ID: *Commercialism-
ID: Coca-Cola-Company
AB: The Center for the Analysis of Commercialism in Schools found that the number of press citations from 1990 to 2000 discussing seven types of commercializing activities (program sponsorship, exclusive agreements, incentive programs, appropriation of space, sponsored educational materials, electronic marketing, privatization, and fund raising) increased by 395 percent. (Contains 35 references.) (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 080; 142
UD: 200105 (CIJE)
Record 2 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: ED446343
CHN: EA029799
AU: Molnar,-Alex
TI: Sponsored Schools and Commercialized Classrooms: Schoolhouse Commercializing Trends in the 1990's.
CS: Wisconsin Univ., Milwaukee. Center for the Analysis of Commercialism in Education.
RN: CACE-98-1
PY: 1998
AV: For full text: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CACE/.
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED446343
DT: Reports-Descriptive (141)
CP: U.S.; Wisconsin
LA: English
PG: 64
DE: *Advertising-; *Merchandising-; *News-Media; *Privatization-; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Private-Sector; Public-Schools
ID: *Commercialism-
AB: This report analyzes commercializing trends in America's schools and classrooms, using data from database searches in seven categories of schoolhouse commercialism in the period 1990-97. The number of citations relating to commercializing activities can provide only a rough approximation of the scope and development of the phenomenon. The number of citations reporting commercial activities in the schools has increased 154 percent--suggesting that the 1990s have become the decade of sponsored schools and commercialized classrooms. The largest area of schoolhouse commercialism appears to be sponsorship of programs and activities (199 percent increase). The fastest growing commercial activity appears to be exclusive agreements between schools and bottlers, sports apparel manufacturers, and other firms (495 percent increase). An emerging category of school commercialism is electronic marketing, which includes television, radio, and the Internet/World Wide Web. The categories of sponsored educational materials and incentive programs are well-established commercial categories. The number of citations describing sponsored educational materials grew 313 percent. Despite the pervasiveness of commercialism and its growth, the education press has had virtually nothing to say about the issue. An appendix lists sources, search strategies, search terms, and data tables. (Contains 101 references.) (DFR)
LV: 1
CH: EA
FI: ED
DTC: 141
UD: 200104 (RIE)
Record 3 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ601503
CHN: EF501892
AU: Kennedy,-Mike
TI: Public Schools, Private Profits.
PY: 2000
SO: American-School-and-University; v72 n6 p14-16,18,21-22 Feb 2000
ISSN: 0003-0945
DT: Journal-Articles (080)
LA: English
DE: *Privatization-; *Public-Schools; *School-Business-Relationship; *Student-School-Relationship
DE: Elementary-Secondary-Education
ID: *Commercialism-
AB: Explains why private companies and schools doing business with one another may be harmful to students. Problems uncovered from a decade of commercialization in the classroom are discussed as are issues of for-profit companies seeking to take over the operation of public schools, and one attempt to impose legislation to curtail commercialism. (GR)
CH: EF
FI: EJ
DTC: 080
UD: 200008 (CIJE)
Record 4 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ579426
CHN: EA535482
AU: Zorn,-Robert-L.
TI: The Great Cola Wars.
PY: 1999
SO: American-School-Board-Journal; v186 n2 p31-33 Feb 1999
ISSN: 0003-0953
DT: Journal-Articles (080); Reports-Descriptive (141)
LA: English
DE: *Bids-; *Competition-; *Fund-Raising; *Marketing-; *School-Business-Relationship; *Vending-Machines
DE: Advertising-; Elementary-Secondary-Education; School-Districts
ID: Commercialism-; PepsiCo-Inc
AB: In exchange for the exclusive right to sell their beverages at school events and on school grounds, large companies are competing avidly for schools' soft-drink business. One Ohio district negotiated a new PepsiCo contract expected to yield over $700,000 over the next 10 years. Everyone wins, including taxpayers. (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 080; 141
UD: 199909 (CIJE)
Record 5 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ579425
CHN: EA535481
AU: Vail,-Kathleen
TI: Insert Coins in Slot.
PY: 1999
SO: American-School-Board-Journal; v186 n2 p28-31 Feb 1999
ISSN: 0003-0953
DT: Journal-Articles (080); Legal-or-Legislative-or-Regulatory-Materials (090); Reports-Evaluative (142)
LA: English
DE: *Federal-Legislation; *Fund-Raising; *Nutrition-; *School-Business-Relationship; *Vending-Machines
DE: Advertising-; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Food-Service; Lunch-Programs; Student-Reaction
ID: *Junk-Food
ID: Caffeine-; Coca-Cola-Company; Commercialism-; Milk-; PepsiCo-Inc
AB: Despite federal and state regulations prohibiting the sale of nonnutritious foods in competition with school lunch programs, powerful market forces are keeping vending machines in schools. In 1997, schools generated $750 million for the vending machine market. Soft-drink companies are offering million-dollar contracts to some schools. Student nutrition suffers. (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 080; 090; 142
UD: 199909 (CIJE)
Record 6 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: ED428460
CHN: EA029727
AU: Robelen,-Erik-W.
TI: Commercialism in Schools: Supporting Students or Selling Access?
CS: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria, VA.
PY: 1998
SO: ASCD-Infobrief; n15 Nov 1998
ISSN: 1091-2649
AV: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 17703 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714; Tel: 800-933-2723 (Toll Free); (Stock No. 198266; $4.50, quantity discounts)
PR: EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
DT: Collected-Works-Serials (022); Information-Analyses-General (070)
CP: U.S.; Virginia
LA: English
PG: 10
DE: *Advertising-; *Consumer-Protection; *Marketing-; *Merchandising-
DE: Educational-Policy; Elementary-Secondary-Education
ID: *Commercialism-
ID: Channel-One
AB: This information brief discusses the impact of commercialism in schools. It asks the question of whether such advertising is supporting students or is simply selling access. It describes how children are a desirable market since they have most of their purchases ahead of them; they can also frequently convince parents to buy items. The brief describes the growth of commercialism, tracing its origin to the practice of selling goods to raise money for extracurricular programs. These activities have grown and diversified. A 1995 report divided commercial activities in schools into four categories: inschool advertising; classroom magazines and television programs; corporate-sponsored educational materials and programs; and corporate-sponsored contests and incentive programs. The debate over Channel 1, an example of inschool advertising, indicates the degree of controversy surrounding these efforts. Other programs that have generated discussion include schools making contracts with soda makers and the practice of corporations developing and distributing free or low-cost curricular materials with a marketing component to schools. Many educators claim that inadequate financing prompts them to consider such programs. Tips on managing commercialism and how to control private dollars in public schools are provided. (RJM)
LV: 2
CH: EA
FI: ED
DTC: 022; 070
UD: 199908 (RIE)
Record 7 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ557644
CHN: SP526485
AU: Herzog,-Susan
TI: Selling Out Kids. Commercialism in Public Schools.
PY: 1997
SO: Our-Children; v23 n3 p6-10 Nov 1997
ISSN: 1083-3080
DT: Journal-Articles (080); Opinion-Papers (120)
TA: Parents
LA: English
DE: *Advertising-; *Merchandising-; *Parent-Responsibility; *Public-Schools; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Educational-Environment; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Parent-School-Relationship; Public-Education
ID: *Commercialism-; *Parent-Teacher-Association
AB: Commercialism in schools takes many forms, ranging from the overt sale of advertising space to the presence of corporate logos. There are risks to in-school commercialism that parents must understand and deal with. Includes sidebars on PTA positions and a rating scale of in-school commercialism. (SM)
CH: SP
FI: EJ
DTC: 080; 120
UD: 199806 (CIJE)
Record 8 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: ED413115
CHN: PS026003
AU: Butler-Wall,-Brita
TI: Not for Sale: A Parent Guide to Commercialism in Schools.
CS: Center for Commercial-Free Public Education, Oakland, CA.
PY: 1991
NT: For Teachers' Guide, see PS 026 002.
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED413115
DT: Guides-Non-classroom (055)
CP: U.S.; California
TA: Parents
LA: English
PG: 60
DE: *Advertising-; *Parent-Participation; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Advocacy-; Elementary-School-Students; Intermediate-Grades; Parent-Materials; Parent-School-Relationship; Public-Education; Public-Opinion; School-Community-Relationship; Secondary-Education; Secondary-School-Students
ID: *Channel-One; *Commercialism-
ID: Media-Literacy
AB: As funding for public education decreases, corporations are "making up" the shortfall by donating seemingly benign teaching aides to schools. While many business-school relationships are positive, many others are commercializing classrooms, aiming to make students "brand-loyal" in the guise of providing free equipment, more information, and new interactive curricula. Some students and parents view the increasing commercialization of public education masked as educational curricula as a form of exploitation and created an organization called UNPLUG to demonstrate their opposition to the "corporate buy-out" of public education. This guide for parents provides information on the increasing presence of businesses in the public school system and shows parents how to inform themselves and others about commercialism in school, educate and activate communities about the issue of commercialism, and organize to create commercial-free schools. Part 1, "Background," discusses the defunding of public education, the source of increasing commercialism in schools, sources of educational funding, how businesses can support schools in a nonexploitative manner, and lists concise arguments for and against commercialism in schools. Part 2, "What You Can Do," gives step-by-step suggestions for activities to help parents work effectively against commercialism in schools, including activities to become informed, activate or educate others, organize parents and other citizens, and become effective advocates. The guide concludes with a list of suggestions to create commercial-free schools. An appendix provides a list of organizational resources and sample documents, such as surveys, resolutions, press releases, and policy frameworks for school boards. (KB)
LV: 1
CH: PS
FI: ED
DTC: 055
UD: 199803 (RIE)
Record 9 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: ED413114
CHN: PS026002
AU: Bandele,-Asha
TI: Not for Sale: A Teachers' Guide to Commercialism in the Classroom.
CS: Center for Commercial-Free Public Education, Oakland, CA.
SP: New World Foundation, New York, NY.
PY: 1996
NT: For Parent's Guide, see PS 026 003.
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED413114
DT: Guides-Non-classroom (055)
CP: U.S.; California
TA: Practitioners; Teachers
LA: English
PG: 44
DE: *Advertising-; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Critical-Thinking; Educational-Philosophy; Educational-Policy; Elementary-School-Students; Intermediate-Grades; Public-Education; Secondary-Education; Secondary-School-Students; Staff-Development; Workshops-
ID: *Channel-One; *Commercialism-
ID: Media-Literacy
AB: As funding for public education decreases, corporations are "making up" the shortfall by donating seemingly benign teaching aides to schools. While many business-school relationships are positive, many others are commercializing classrooms, aiming to make students "brand-loyal" through the guise of providing free equipment, more information, and new interactive curricula. Some students and parents view the increasing commercialization of public education masked as educational curricula as a form of exploitation and created an organization called UNPLUG to demonstrate their opposition to the "corporate buy-out" of public education. This guide for teachers describes the commodification of youth culture, discusses the impact of classroom commercialism on public education, provides guidelines for conducting anti-commercialism workshops, and presents a lesson plan for teachers on media literacy and critical viewing. Section 1 introduces the problem. Section 2, "Providing a Background and Context for the Work," uses hip hop as an example of the commodification of youth culture, outlines the defunding of public education, and gives examples of the lack of accountability of businesses that operate in schools and successful campaigns against classroom commercialism. Section 3, "The Impact of Channel One and the Classroom Commercialism on the American Public Education System," provides an overview of problems when curricula are controlled by profit-oriented corporation, including challenging the democratic process, undermining public education, increasing the focus on mass consumption, and creating economic dependency. Section 4, "They Say, We Say: Soundbiting the Arguments," provides concise arguments for and against the use of Channel One in school. Section 5, "Conducting Anti-Commercialism Workshops," provides guidelines for conducting training workshops for various groups, and includes information on target audiences, levels of training and support, workshop agenda formats (including classroom periods), and sample agenda. Section 6, "Media Literacy and Critical Viewing," is a lesson plan for critical viewing of Channel One. (KB)
LV: 1
CH: PS
FI: ED
DTC: 055
UD: 199803 (RIE)
Record 10 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ511730
CHN: EA531061
AU: Karpatkin,-Rhoda-H.; Holmes,-Anita
TI: Making Schools Ad-Free Zones.
PY: 1995
SO: Educational-Leadership; v53 n1 p72-76 Sep 1995
ISSN: 0013-1784
DT: Reports-Evaluative (142); Journal-Articles (080)
LA: English
DE: *Advertising-; *Consumer-Education; *Marketing-; *Public-Education; *Television-Commercials
DE: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Guidelines-; Misconceptions-; Professional-Associations
ID: *Commercialism-; *Media-Literacy
ID: Consumer-Organizations; Consumers-Union-of-the-United-States; Zillions-Magazine
AB: Advertisers spend billions to market so-called educational products, services, and viewpoints to vulnerable young consumers. Budget constraints are forcing educators to accept ads and promotional materials. Several education and consumer-interest groups are developing guidelines for using commercial materials in schools. Consumers Union developed "Zillions" magazine and a media-literacy program. (10 references) (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 142; 080
UD: 199602 (CIJE)
Record 11 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ511729
CHN: EA531060
AU: Molnar,-Alex
TI: Schooled for Profit.
PY: 1995
SO: Educational-Leadership; v53 n1 p70-71 Sep 1995
ISSN: 0013-1784
DT: Reports-Evaluative (142); Journal-Articles (080)
LA: English
DE: *Critical-Thinking; *Democratic-Values; *Entrepreneurship-; *Marketing-; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Privatization-; Public-Relations; Television-Commercials
ID: *Channel-One; *Commercialism-
ID: Edison-Project
AB: In the probusiness 1980s, marketing and public-relations schemes were characterized as legitimate contributions to the curriculum, helpful teaching aids, or effective school-business cooperation models. By the late 1980s, commercialism in schools had become so rampant that Channel One was regarded as a school-reform proposal. Today, profit-making ventures proliferate. (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 142; 080
UD: 199602 (CIJE)
Record 12 of 12 - The ERIC Database
AN: EJ448470
CHN: EA526940
AU: Walker,-Reagan
TI: Tempting Offers in Trying Times.
PY: 1992
SO: School-Administrator; v49 n7 p20-24 Aug 1992
ISSN: 0036-6439
DT: Journal-Articles (080); Reports-Evaluative (142)
LA: English
DE: *Administrator-Responsibility; *Advertising-; *Guidelines-; *Marketing-; *School-Business-Relationship
DE: Educational-Environment; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Television-Commercials
ID: *Commercialism-; *Sponsored-Materials
AB: As competition for the lucrative youth market heightens, corporate efforts to sell their name, product, service, or message in the classroom are intensifying. Marketing methods range from curriculum packets and teaching kits to wall posters, single-sponsor magazines, and product samples. This article describes administrators' responses during hard economic times. A sidebar provides guidelines for using corporate-sponsored materials. (MLH)
CH: EA
FI: EJ
DTC: 080; 142
UD: 199212 (CIJE)
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