Corporations funding public schools: yea or nay?
Monday, October 15th, 2007Should we support any initiative that helps fund public schools?
Last year, Target came to our K-8 school’s parent-teacher meeting to present us with the check we had earned through their Take Charge of Education program. We applauded as if Target had sacrificed their first-born to us. Now I’m no accounting wiz, but I’m pretty sure the $7,000 check we received was only about one-gazillionth of what Target made last year.
It is difficult to find fault when a company is helping to fund your child’s education. After all, Target got us $7,000 more than we would have had.
And lord knows we need the money.
Here’s my question: Is the trade-off worth it?
The NAMM (International Musical Products Association) Foundation and the Disney Channel are awarding grants to schools to stage their own production of “High School Musical.”
– Pro: May help schools that cut drama from their curriculum.
– Con: Our Town? The Laramie Project? Shakespeare?
Unilever is offering $50,000 and an iPod for every student in their “Go Green and Small with ‘all’” contest.
– Pro: Kids help parents become “greener.”
– Con: Kids telling parents that to be “green,” must buy ‘all’ small & mighty laundry soap.
Kemp’s gives schools five cents for every milk cap collected.
– Pro: Free money for something most people buy anyway.
– Con: Washing, storing, collecting, counting, packaging, shipping milk caps. For five cents each.
What do you think? Is it worth it?