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Friday, June 6, 2008
Show schools the money
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Regular blogger Jim D touched on something I’ve long wanted to blog about: corporate sponsorship of schools.
In response to a posting on school names Jim wrote: “I have long advocated allowing corporations to bid for the naming rights not just for the schools but for the athletic facilities as well … Why not capitalize on the advertising potential allowing corporations to assist in keeping taxes lower?”
Districts I’ve covered in other states have done this. The football stadium may be named after the local car dealership and the auditorium is named after a local bank. One school I covered in Indiana raised thousands of dollars for library books by letting businesses advertise on the back of check out cards.
Area schools already have partnerships where kids sell popcorn or wrapping paper and schools get part of the profit from the sales. Others turn to corporations and foundations for donated materials.
Colleges sell naming rights all the time, but people get nervous when schools attempt the same thing. Some worry we may get to the point where a social studies lesson is sponsored by Pizza Hut or kids count M&Ms rather than pennies.
How much advertising should be allowed in schools? Which companies should be allowed in?
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