Two Plus Two Equals Four … And Now, a Word From Our Sponsors

This article in the L.A. Times reports on California school districts that are turning to the private sector to make up for state funding cuts. I can’t believe it never occurred to people at Beverly Hills High School until now that they could market clothing with the school’s name and crest. Were they too busy surfing to think of that?

Other districts are considering more run-of-the-mill fundraising plans, like selling the naming rights to stadiums and summer camps.

Critics object that schools have a captive audience of children who will be influenced by the advertising. They’re right that students are a captive audience — most can’t choose where they go to school. That isn’t only a problem when schools sell advertising, though — traditional public schools have a captive audience for everything they do. Be it showing a presidential address, teaching an unconventional algorithm in math class, or selecting novels for discussion, administrative decisions are imposed on students who can’t walk away if the school makes the wrong call.

Schools that put brand names on classrooms should give students the option to leave. Then again, all schools should give students the option to leave.