Commercialism in Schools on the Rise, Study Finds

Commercialism in schools increased an estimated 11% last year and 303% since 1990, according to a new report by the Center for the Analysis of Commercialism in Education.

The report – “Cashing In On Kids” – is the result of database searches on seven categories of schoolhouse commercialism. Center Director Alex Molnar concedes the research can only provide “a rough approximation of the scope and development of this phenomenon,” but says the results nonetheless are “sobering.”

“These findings suggest that, to an unprecedented degree, commercial activities now help shape the structure of the school day, influence the content of the curriculum, and may determine whether or not a child will have access to a variety of advanced learning technologies,” Molnar said.

The report says the largest area of school commercialism is sponsorship of programs and activities such as Canon’s National Environthon and Coke in Education Day. Other categories are electronic marketing, exclusive agreements, privatization, incentive programs, sponsored educational materials, and appropriation of space.

The entire report can be found at www.uwm.edu/Dept/CACE/.

Posted September 24, 1999