The NY Times had a short article today about a teacher from a financially stressed school who brokered a deal with a pizza place. The high school teacher Jeb Harrison brokered a deal that allowed a local pizza restaurant to put ads on the bottom of every page for buying 10,000 sheets of paper for $315. Kids studying their assignments now have to see pizza ads in order to pay for their education.
“I taught my kids a good lesson,” Mr. Harrison said. “I saved my school some money, and I helped out a local business.”
Jeb, you taught your kids how grown-ups get lazy and sell out. This is an example of someone who thinks he’s being clever but is really just rehashing an old idea that’s been floating around forever. College textbooks, for example, are really expensive, sometimes over $100 a book, but these books could easily be free through paid advertising. People have known this for a long time. However, publishers of elite textbooks eschew advertising in order to maintain the division between the commercialism and education. They stick to their principles.
The article says, “So far, no one has accused him or Mr. Harrison of exploiting students.” That’s because they never asked me for my opinion.
I was horrified when I read this. Kids are impressionable even at the high school level, and when you “broker” out their education to whoever will pay for it, you do them a great disservice. Shame on you, Jeb. Shame on you for selling your students education, and shame on you for rehashing an old idea and thinking you’re being clever.
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I think I’m on the other side of the fence. Probably because I hear about budget cuts and teacher layoffs and program cuts… I mean, the kids are probably already aware of advertising, commercialism, buck for service, etc., etc.. If this helps to keep the music program or help pay for the talented teachers to stay in the school system, I’m all for it. Principles are noble and honorable and all good – but I’d rather give a little on the principles if it means a better quality of education.
Oh – I just read the article (should have read it before commenting) – he teaches economics. Then I am wholeheartedly supportive of this. This is how economy works. Supply, demand, advertising… and it’s a local business… working together within a community to pull each other out of the economic slump. I don’t see a problem with this.