The Controversy Over The Influence Of Advertising In School

While walking down the school hallway, you see Coca-Cola machines near the cafeteria doors, your friend’s Adidas sponsored school soccer uniform, and posters for the new Olive Garden fundraiser. Have you really only been in school for less than a minute? Beginning in the 1950s, the new popularity of television allowed corporations to turn their marketing focus toward children. However, companies soon realized that reaching children in schools was an easy, definite way to advertise their products, leading to schools becoming overrun with companies’ influence (Rowe 3). In today’s schools, advertisements litter the hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias. Pop and snack vending machines, sports uniforms, and coupons for restaurants given for good

According to April Moore, contributor of the American School Board Journal, “… 64.7 percent reported receiving no income at all, 12.7 percent received between $1 and $2,500…” (2). Introducing outside advertisers will not assure schools of extra revenue. Schools often agree to contracts with advertisers, giving access to their students at too low of a price. Therefore, the school earns little to no money. Agreeing to these contracts with businesses creates a pointless effort on the school’s behalf if no revenue is produced. However, schools may not be able to leave their contracts, which forces them to continue to advertise, benefitting only the business. If advertisers do not promise an increase in schools’ funds, schools can save their students from advertisements’ negative effects. This unnecessary exposure to advertisements can cause students to be unfocused or too concerned with conforming to other students, taking away from the importance of education. On the other hand, if bringing advertising into the school produces additional funds, it may hurt the school’s future finances. Steven Manning, writer for The Nation, says, “… in the long run the deals may undermine [schools’] ability to obtain more state funds and may reinforce classic financial distinctions between poor and wealthy school districts” (4). Increasing a school’s revenue can cause them to receive less money from the government, which would force them to depend on advertising as a main source of money. This could further lead to a school making deals with multiple businesses in order to provide for the teachers and children. Allowing advertising within a school causes a cycle of financial dependency, creating an environment focused on products rather than learning. If schools become too worried with earning