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Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools
This is a web version of our latest newsletter. If you would like to get on our mailing list (for a paper, regular mail version) send a message to cccs@scn.org
Links to earlier editions of the newsletter may be found at the bottom of this page.
Citizens' Campaign for
Commercial-Free Schools
Vol. 3, No. 2 August 2000 Editor: Brita Butler-Wall
Our Mission: to
protect children and youth from commercial influences at school
President's Message
by Dave Wall
It was exciting to discover that our 3 years of media work and education are paying off—this year 5,000 fewer children will be subjected to Channel One.
Still, in a few weeks, 4,000 will be forced to spend an hour a week watching the tube instead of reading, getting help with assignments, or learning new skills.
Worse, marketers are getting more aggressive by infiltrating the schools via computer technology.
It’s time to let the school district know that we are reclaiming our schools for education. CCCS has a vision for the Seattle Schools, and it is not a vision of price tags on kids.
We are increasingly aware that commercialism in schools is a symptom of a district gone amok…a district that serves corporate interests, not kids’ needs.
VICTORY IN TENINO
Tenino, Washington, a town south of Seattle, just got rid of Channel One, thanks to the hard work of parents Milka Hider and Kathy Suydam.
As part of a Teacher/Parent committee, they surveyed parents and challenged pro-Channel One teachers who tried to subvert the work of the committee. The vote was 4-2 against renewing the Channel One contract in June.
DRAMATIC DROP IN USE OF CHANNEL ONE
In a phone survey taken in June 2000, CCCS discovered that use of Channel One is down over 50% in Seattle Middle Schools from 1997.
This is a tremendous victory for CCCS and shows that our lobbying, testifying, media work, and education are having a measurable effect.
Since 1997, 4 schools have decided not to renew their contract, and 2 others are looking the other way if teachers choose not to use it.
One middle school principal, who declined to be identified, explains why his school does not have Channel One: "A lot of Channel One is superficial and is cluttered with commercials which look a lot like the news". He complained that even the 'news' portion "panders to the notion that everything is in two-minute bits and that's how information comes to kids."
Another principal who refused Channel One says her personal view is that "Channel One is out for Channel One's interest" and that she has too much going on to deal with them when they 'call and schmooze' with her.
SCHOOL BOARD PASSES THE BUCK ON CHANNEL ONE
After six months of ‘review’ and deliberation, the School Board decided in early August to continue to leave the question of Channel One up to individual school principals.
This decision contradicts the recommendation of the district’s own committee on Advertising and Commercial Activities, convened by late Superintendent Stanford. That committee met for a year to research and develop district-wide policy proposals.
The district committee had recommended that:
"Schools shall not grant advertisers access to captive student audiences in exchange for cash or non-cash (i.e., in-kind) payments."
The committee further proposed that individual schools could develop more restrictive policies than the district policies, but not less restrictive policies.
The committee report was submitted to Superintendent Olchefske on Sept. 22, 1998.
For a complete copy of the text of this report, see our website at
www.scn.org/cccs.N2H2 ARRIVES
A new and even more outrageous type of commercialism has just hit Seattle Schools. This summer, the School Board contracted with an Internet filtering company, N2H2, to exchange kids for machines.
According to Kurt Sahl, a doctoral student in Educational Technology at the University of Washington, the contract provides Internet servers and web filtering services to the district at no charge.
In exchange, all students using the Internet at school are required to view banner ads on every WebPage, including teacher- or student-made pages. Each page also includes quick links to more ads.
Furthermore, the filtering system gathers detailed data from students while they are using the Internet. By contract, the district has no control over the data.
This contract was signed with no parental notification or public process. For more info, see our website.
Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools
3724 Burke Ave. N Seattle WA 98103
Tel.: 206.726.4142 Email: btlrwall@drizzlecom URL: http://www.scn.org/cccs
WHAT'S HAPPENING
CHANNEL ONE SURVEY RESULTS
Seattle Middle Schools
June, 2000
Channel One
4 (Denny, McClure, South Shore, Whitman)
Channel One,
but out of compliance2 (Hamilton, Mercer)
No Channel One
4 (Eckstein, Madison, Meany, Washington)
No Channel One
in ’97 or now2 (NOMS, Summit K-12)
SCORECARD: KIDS 8, MARKETERS 4
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TRAINED BY CHANNEL ONE
New school board members Nancy Waldman and Barbara Peterson attended a 30-minute presentation by Channel One at the recent National Association of School Board Educators conference.
Peterson reported that the program seemed benign, compared to the commercials her kids see at home. She reported that it "had a commercial by Nike or something which was so subtle that if you didn’t recognize the swoosh (or whatever it was), you wouldn’t realize it was a commercial."
The conference had no anti-commercialism presentations.
MAGAZINE COVERAGE
The spring issue of The Public Relations Strategist magazine featured a pair of articles on commercialism in schools. The pro article, "Up with Education’s Corporate Sponsorships", was written by Dan DeRose, president of D&D Marketing, the firm which brokers exclusive cola deals for districts, and the con article, "Down with Education’s Sugar Daddies", was written by CCCS member Brita Butler-Wall. (See
www.prsa.org).CCCS ON TV
In July, CCCS was invited to do a show about Channel One and Commercialism in schools for cable TV, on Channel X. The producer, David Fisher, is a teacher in Cleveland High School.
Thanks to Dwight Van Winkle, Andrea Okomski, and high school student Alexandra Bradbury for doing a great show.
CCCS JOINS C.U.R.E.
On July 26, CCCS voted to join the Coalition to Undo Racism Everywhere (C.U.R.E.), a local coalition of over 25 groups.
C.U.R.E.’s. first focus of action is the Seattle Public School District, which has a pattern of failing to meet the needs of children of color or to respond to the recommendations of the community about how to meet those needs.
Commercialism of education worsens institutional racism by encouraging youth to make poor choices, by actively working against critical thinking, and by showing stereotyped images of ethnic minorities. For more info, call Mary at 206.684.0292
CCCS SUPPORTS SCHOOL FUNDING
At our May 18 meeting, CCCS voted to support the K-12 2000 Initiative (I-178) to provide stable school funding. We want to lessen the temptation for schools to turn to corporations for their revenue (See
www.K122000.org).CCCS NUTS AND BOLTS
ABOUT US
The Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools is a non-profit organization registered in the state of Washington. It is a grassroots organization formed in 1996 with over 150 members: parents, teachers, students, researchers, and other citizens. For info and links, see our website at
www.scn.org/cccs.
CCCS LEADERSHIP
President: Dave Wall 523.4922, 543.8491
btlrwall@drizzle.com.Vice President: Matt King 522.5430
MattandTricia@peoplepc.comTreasurer: Diane Morrison 632.1349
dmm@u.washington.eduNewsletter: Brita Butler-Wall 523.4922
bbwall@drizzle.comPhone Tree: Karen Farnsworth 935.5313
farnsworth@quidnuce.netWeb Master: Joel Bradbury 632.1349
bp950@scn.org
EMAIL LIST
The CCCS discussion list is being updated. To join, send e-mail to Dave Wall (
btlrwall@drizzle.com).CCCS' NEXT MEETING
CCCS is meeting on Monday, Aug. 14. 7034 Ravenna Ave. NE, 7 PM. Call 206.523.4922 for directions. Everyone welcome!
FUNDING THE FIGHT
CCCS is a grass roots, non-profit organization. We meet our expenses through donations by members and friends. You can support our work by sending us a check for $10, $25, or more. Most of our expenses are photocopying and mailing.
Because we do political work, your contribution is not tax-deductible. We appreciate your help. You get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping reclaim the schools for education.
SEEKING ALLIES
We are updating our database with names of local organizations whose mission is compatible with ours, to get them on our mailing list. If you belong to or know of organizations we should contact, let us know. We are looking for groups working in the following areas:
- Children’s Health and Welfare
- Democracy, Accountability in Government
- Education, Schools, Parent Involvement
- Environmental Education
- Media Literacy
- Peace, Pacifism
- Youth Empowerment
CCCS PUSHES FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLIER SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
CCCS has joined C.U.R.E. in urging the School Board to alter the agenda of its evening meetings by placing the regular public comment period (up to 60 minutes) at the beginning of the meeting, which starts at 7 PM. Currently, the public comment period is held last, sometimes going as late as 11 PM, making it difficult for parents and students to voice their concerns and still be prepared for school the next day.
We are asking that the public comment period for the 2 PM afternoon meetings remain as is, at the end of the meeting, so that working people can miss as little work as possible and still testify.
SCHOOL BOARD RACES
The 2001 School Board races include the following:
- Don Nielsen, NW Seattle
- Jan Kumasaka, SE Seattle
- Michael Preston, Central Area
We are in the process of identifying people to run from these districts. What we are looking for is decent, thoughtful people who care more about children than about corporations, and who will work for the citizens who elected them versus big business.
Call/email with any names you suggest, and we will follow up.
These are volunteer positions; directors each get a stipend of $50 per meeting plus travel expenses.
Michael Preston is the only School Board member who has consistently voted against commercialism in schools.
MAKE SEATTLE SCHOOLS COMMERCIAL-FREE!
URGENT ACTION!
CALL MICHAEL PRESTON!
In May, School Board Director Michael Preston told NOVA high school student Rachel Bishop that he would bring forth a proposal to ban Channel One if she gave him such a proposal.
CCCS has drafted a resolution, and Rachel is giving it to Preston on August 16.
Contact Director Michael Preston today:
- Urge him to bring this resolution forward at the Sept. 6 school board meeting (7 PM).
- Urge him to push for adoption of the policy recommendations for the District’s Committee on Commercial Activity in the Schools.
Although the Policy and Legislative (PAL) committee (which includes Preston) has decided not to propose a Channel One district policy, individual board members may still bring forth such proposals.
Michael Preston 206.298.7040
mpreston@seattleschools.orgURGENT ACTION!
RALLY AUG. 30 AT 11:30 AM AT SAFECO FIELD
WHEN? 11:30-1, WED, AUG 30
WHERE? SAFECO FIELD
WHO? YOU AND A FRIEND
WHAT? RALLY & LEAFLETTING
WHY? MEDIA VISIBILITY
It’s SHOWTIME! We need every one of you who is against the growing commercialism in Seattle schools to turn out from 11:30-1 PM on Wed., August 30.
CCCS is staging a rally for commercial-free Schools at SAFECO field. Our rally is a counter-rally to the official, corporate-sponsored ‘Back-to-School’ rally put on by the Seattle School District and the Mariners.
Our goals?
- to draw media attention from their rally to our issue
- to engage parents who attend the official rally
Most Seattle parents are completely unaware that marketers are using schooltime to reach their kids.
We want to get 20-30 people out for this event. We’ll have signs, banners, puppets (remember WTO?), and leaflets. Bring your kids! Bring your best friend!
Sign-making party Sunday, Aug. 27, 7-8 PM. Call Brita (523-4922) for more information.
Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools
3724 Burke Ave. N.
Seattle WA 98103CCCS Newsletter is published quarterly by the
Ravenna Beach Press
7034 Ravenna Ave NE Seattle WA 98115
bbwall@drizzle.com
Deadline for next newsletter:
November 20, 2000
Earlier editions of the CCCS Newletter are available here:
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