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. 3 December 2000 Editor: Brita Butler-Wall

Our Mission: to protect children and youth from commercial influences at school

President's Message

by Dave Wall

I want to welcome and thank those of you new to CCCS. The number supporting our mission continues to grow at a rapid pace. That shows how important it is to us all to protect schoolchildren from commercialism.

To honor your commitment in joining CCCS, we have adopted a new organizational structure which will make us all more effective in working together. Look at the new clusters listed on Page 2 and consider joining one of them. There are also new volunteer positions available. Please contribute your time and talent in the push to rid schools of commercialism.

Best wishes for a non-commercial holiday season!

TEACHERS SAY NO! TO COMMERCIALISM

On Nov. 20, the Seattle Education Association voted overwhelmingly to oppose all forms of commercialism in school. They are urging the School Board to adopt a comprehensive anti-ads policy, adapted from CCCS recommendations.

Thanks to CCCS Ted Lockery, Board member of SEA, for bringing forward this resolution. Ted is also active in the local chapter of Rethinking Schools.

The SEA resolution is a major victory for CCCS. The SEA represents 4800 teachers in the Seattle school district. (See a copy of the SEA resolution.)

COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORT CAMPAIGN

A wide cross-section of prominent community leaders and educators in Seattle are saying ‘No!’ to ads in schools.

Over 75 people have now signed on as endorsers of our letter urging the School Board to adopt an anti-commercialism policy.

The following individuals have endorsed our letter urging the Seattle School Board to adopt an anti-commercialism policy (For a full list of endorsers, see our website).

Amy Hagopian, U.W. School of Public Health
Angela Toussaint, Board Member, Civic Foundation
Bob Hasegawa, Teamsters Local #174
Brian Derdowski, 3-term King County Council
Cindy Domingo, NW Labor & Employment Law Office
Curt Firestone, Progressive Leadership Institute
David Korten, Positive Futures Network
David Marshak, Associate Professor, School of Education, Seattle University
David Yao, Chief Steward, Greater Seattle Area Local, American Postal-Workers Union
Dawn Mason, former Washington State Legislator
Dustin Washington, American Friends’ Service Comm.
Elena M. Nations, Director of Learning Services, The Art Institute of Seattle
Helena Stephens
Jan van Cleve, Candidate for School Board 1997
Joe Szwaja, Green Party Congressional Candidate
John Chattin-McNichols, Former President, American Montessori Society.
John Tirpak, Atty., Fremont Public Association
Juan J. Bocanegra, Downtown Human Resources Council
Kara Ceriello, Co-Director, No-Spray Zone
Margit McGuire, Head of Teacher Education at Seattle U, Former Chair, Nat’l. Social Studies Ass’n.
Mary Anne Mercer, Dr PH, Assoc. Director, Health Alliance International
Mary Flowers, Coalition to Undo Racism Everywhere
Miguel Bocanegra, Student, U.W.
Mike Graham-Squire, Director, Seattle Young People’s Project
Peter Steinbrueck, Seattle City Council
Robin Oppenheimer, Arts & Technology Consultant, Seattle Arts Commission
Sally Soriano, People for Fair Trade
Sarah Luthens, GLBT Pride at Work, AFL-CIO
Webster S. Walker, U.W., Chair, ASUW Senate Subcommittee on Adm. and Faculty Affairs

SCHOOL DISTRICT

On Nov. 21, CCCS members Karen Farnsworth and Ted Lockery attended the SB’s Policy and Legislative Committee meeting and presented information and answered questions.

PAL then requested examples of commercialism policies from other school districts, which we provided, thanks to The Center for Commercial-Free Public Education.

CCCS has been urging the district to adopt an anti-commercialism policy since 1996.

Pro-commercialism Director Don Nielsen, Chair of PAL, has just been named new SB President. He is up for re-election in 2001.

ANTI-ADS MOVEMENT GROWING RAPIDLY

In the past 3 months, CCCS has more than doubled our list of supporters, to over 500 people in the Seattle area. Our base is diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, occupation, and politics.

The people who want to get ads out of our schools include students, teachers, librarians, parents, administrators and a wide spectrum of Seattle taxpayer/citizens.

NADER LAMBASTS COKE MARKETERS (AGAIN)

On Aug. 26, Green Party Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader once again blasted corporations such as Coca-Cola for going after kids in schools. He was speaking to a packed audience at the Moore Theater in Seattle.

Last year, Nader sent a letter to Seattle School Board protesting the take-over of public schools by marketers.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

N2H2 ‘Partner’ Program

In April the Seattle School District sold kid eyeball time to internet marketers in exchange for a ‘free’ filtering service and a server. Marketers are permitted to gather marketing data with each click by a kid.

Parents have not been notified that this is happening, and are asked to sign ‘Internet Access Agreements’ which do not mention this fact. (See related action item)

CCCS IN ENGLAND

Naomi Klein, author of No Logo, was recently in town and joined us at the Sept. 6 School Board meeting, where she interviewed and filmed us for Channel 4 in London.

BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY

Over 20 CCCS members turned out to the Back-to-School rally held in August in conjunction with the district’s official rally at Taxpayer Field. We were a large and visible presence to the families and School Board members entering the corporate-sponsored event, with our banner, signs, and literature. Thanks to all who turned out!

S.A.M.E. OLD STORY

While corporations are busy injecting corporate curricula and materials into the schools, information about labor and economic history is notably lacking.

This Fall, Seattle students are campaigning to get Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States adopted as a required text in history classes. Student Activists for Multicultural Education is part of the Seattle Young People’s Project. For more information, contact S.A.M.E. at same_update@hotmail.org.

CLUSTERS FORMING NOW

Education

The education group is deciding how we want to educate the public on our issue. (Literature, news articles, workshops and presentations to groups, etc.). Contact Brita (523-4922) if interested.

Research

The research group is meeting to review what we know about commercialism in Seattle Schools and what we still need to find out. Contact Dwight (447-1560) or Diane (dmm@u.washington.edu).

Action

The action group is developing a strategy and time-line to mobilize our 500 supporters to actions — both planned and quick-response (i.e. rallies, demonstrations, petitions, etc.). Contact Sarah (937-7242) or Dave (523-4922).

RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD? ME?

If you live in SE Seattle, Ballard/Magnolia, or the Central District, you now have a rare chance to dramatically improve the lives of 47,000 kids. Three School Board positions are up for election next fall, and CCCS is looking for candidates from these areas.

You don’t even need to have kids yourself. You do need to care about the future of Seattle and be willing to put in the time to campaign and to serve.

CCCS can arrange for technical assistance and training if you’ve never run for office before. This is serious. Call Brita (523-4922) for more info or to suggest names of potential school board members.

ECONOMY GOT YOU DOWN?

Are you underutilized management material? CCCS is seeking a part-time volunteer coordinator to start on Jan. 1, 2000. Our volunteers are crucial to our success in getting rid of commercialism in schools, and we need to manage their gift of time well.

This is your chance have a position of major responsibility for a very worthwhile cause. Est. time 5 hours/week, flexible hours. Includes attending one Wed. evening meeting/month.

Call Brita (523-4922) if you are interested in seeing the full (unpaid) job description, or have someone to recommend.

 

 

CCCS' NEXT MEETING

Our coordinating group meetings are held 7-9 PM on the 3^rd Wed. of each month (except Feb.). Call 523-4922 for agenda and directions for the Dec. 20 meeting. All CCCS Members welcome.

FIGHT ADS FROM HOME!

CCCS is looking for a Mailings Coordinator to get out the mailings of our quarterly newsletter, occasional action postcards and other mailings. This is one of the main ways we communicate with and mobilize our supporters to take action.

This job is a great way to contribute to the cause without attending a single meeting! You CAN IMPROVE the quality of education in Seattle from the comfort of your own home!

Est. time is 2-3 hr./month. Flexible hours and location. This is simple, this is boring, and this is absolutely essential. Call Brita (523-4922) for full (unpaid) job description.

FUNDING THE FIGHT

Corporations are spending hundreds of thousands on getting their message into to kids enrolled in Seattle Schools.

You may or may not have time to come and testify at a School Board meeting. Please, help with your dollars. A gift to CCCS gives you an opportunity to reclaim your investment in public schools for the benefit of children, not corporations.

Send a check today to CCCS at 3724 Burke Ave. N.

Seattle WA 98103. Suggested amount: $15-25.

CCCS GETS TRAINING

To build capacity for CCCS as an organization, I have participated over 50 hours of trainings over the past five months, in the following areas -- Brita Butler-Wall

• Anti-racism
• Campaign Financing
• Election Rules and Regs
• Electoral Campaigning and Strategy
• Fundraising
• Media Strategies for Non-Profits
• Reaching Diverse Communities
• Volunteer Management

Thanks to the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, the Progressive Leadership Institute, the Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods Community Leadership Program, & Bellevue Community Council.

WELCOME TO DAVE JETTE

Our new database manager, Dave Jette, served as Treasurer for the Joe Szwaja and Curt Firestone political campaigns and is a physics professor by trade.

URGENT ACTION--

CONTACT NANCY WALDMAN

In November, School Board Director Nancy Waldman told CCCS that she wants to get a commercialism policy in place as soon as possible.

Help Nancy take leadership on this. Call and offer your support! Remind her that she has several different versions of anti-commercialism policies in hand:

• From CCCS (Sept. 6, 2000)
• From SEA (Nov. 21, 2000)
• From Center for Commercial-Free Public Education (Nov. 27, 2000)

1. Urge her to bring a strong anti-commercialism policy forward at the next school board meeting
2. Urge her to push for adoption of the policy

Director Nancy Waldman Tel.: 206.729.3340

Email: nwaldman@seattleschools.org

URGENT ACTION--

DISTRIBUTE FLIERS

In early January, parents will begin taking tours of middle and high schools before making their final choice of where to send their children next fall. 90% of them have no idea that Channel One, N2H2 banner ads or other forms of commercialism exist in Seattle Schools.

Help us inform parents by volunteering for 1-2 hours/week in January to pass out fliers and collect signatures at your nearest middle or high school.

Call Brita 523-4922 for schedule and details.

URGENT ACTION--

COLLECT ENDORSEMENTS

We are collecting more endorsements from community leaders, parents, teachers, citizens, and students for our letter opposing commercialism schools.

Email CCCS or look at our website to see a copy of the letter and to sign on, if you haven’t already. Then forward it to people who care about kids, education, and democracy.

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. For info and links, see our website at www.scn.org/cccs.
 

CCCS LEADERSHIP

President: Dave Wall 523.4922 btlrwall@drizzle.com.
Vice President: Matt King 522.5430 MattandTricia@peoplepc.com
Secretary OPEN
Treasurer: Diane Morrison 632.1349 dmm@u.washington.edu
Executive Director Brita Butler-Wall 523.4922 bbwall@drizzle.com
Publicity OPEN
Fundraising OPEN
Membership OPEN
Volunteer Coord. OPEN
Communications:
Newsletter: Brita Butler-Wall 523.4922 bbwall@drizzle.com
Phone Tree: Karen Farnsworth 935.5313 farnsworth@quidnuce.net
Mailings OPEN
Web Master: Joel Bradbury 632.1349 bp950@scn.org
Data Base: Dave Jette

CCCS Newsletter is published quarterly by the
Ravenna Beach Press
7034 Ravenna Ave NE Seattle WA 98115
Deadline for next newsletter:
February 20, 2001

 

Earlier editions of the CCCS Newletter are available here:

• Volume 3, Number 1
• Volume 3, Number 2