WEAC Launches Ad Condemning 'Interference' in Schools
A
new hard-hitting television advertisement that condemns political and
corporate interference in public schools began running on television stations
statewide Monday (September 20, 2004).
Watch the ad  |
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The ad, titled "Interference," represents a turning point
in WEAC’s Great Schools advertising. Previous ads have stressed
the quality of Wisconsin public schools and the importance of public
schools to our communities. This new ad directly addresses the fact
that some politicians and profiteers are out to destroy education, and
already are causing serious problems.
“The ad shows that political and corporate initiatives do not
have the best interests of children at heart,” said WEAC Public
Relations and Communications Director Dick Vander Woude. “These
are forces more interested in destroying our public schools and making
a profit from them than creating a great school for every kid. The ad
asks Wisconsin residents to vote for candidates who support great schools.”
Vander Woude said that state and federal interference in our schools
- from the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (misleadingly
called the “No Child Left Behind” law) to state-imposed
revenue controls and teacher salary caps - have begun to take their
toll on Wisconsin schools.
“Schools are suffering,” Vander Woude said. “This
ad is a wake-up call to Wisconsin residents - make sure people who support
great schools are elected to public office.”
As the ad begins, the viewer sees a small group of politicians and
corporate lobbyists huddled together talking about ways to cut funding
for public schools. It is obvious from their conversation that the quality
of public education is the least of their concerns. As they begin throwing
out ideas on ways to cut school funding, the camera stays tight on them,
making it impossible to see where they are. Their discussion focuses
on increasing class sizes, imposing more testing, privatizing schools,
and other anti-public education ideas. As the discussion builds, one
of the politicians declares of the schools, “Then we’ll
privatize them all.”
At that moment, a woman interjects herself into their conversation
with an insistent, “Excuse me!”
The camera pulls back to reveal that the politicians are having their
discussion in the middle of a classroom in which a class is supposed
to be in session. The children glare at them as it becomes obvious that
the politicians have been literally interrupting the class with their
conversation. At that moment, the woman - now recognizable as a teacher
- tells them clearly, “You’re interfering with my ability
to teach!”
As the ad closes, the uninvited guests file out of the classroom, as
the teacher declares, “Keep the politicians and profiteers out
of our classrooms. Support candidates who believe that every kid deserves
a great school!”
The ad will air through October 17 in seven media markets: Milwaukee,
Green Bay, Madison, La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wausau-Rhinelander, Duluth-Superior,
and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Posted September 20, 2004