Corporate Sponsorship In Schools

Schools today have many different ways of acquiring greatly needed funds for their students. Some schools hold fundraisers or use money from taxes, but some others have discovered the world of corporate sponsorship. While the short term outcome and benefit of corporate sponsorship is obviously the money for schools and students, is the increased advertising in schools really a benefit to the children in the long run? Everyday students are expected to perform at their best in and out of the classroom. They should strive to do their best in school and also for a sport, if they happen to play one. There is a lot of stress involved in the pressure to do well in school and in school related activities. So wouldn’t one think that added distractions
in the school environment are a negative result of sponsors? That’s exactly what corporate sponsorship is, an unnecessary distraction. Companies that have their logos plastered all over the school are not helping the students achieve academically. The blaring posters and signs around the building steal student’s attention away from learning.
A school shouldn’t be characterized by the brands that sponsor it, but rather by the education it serves. The purpose of a school is to provide a child with an impressionable education. That education would be worth more if it was not tainted with ads from places like McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts. A high school career should be remembered by the education received there and not the brand of products that the students were given.
Another reason why corporate sponsorship in schools is damaging is because it limits the choices and freedom students can receive.
If a school is sponsored by only one brand or company then the students are limited to products produced by that one company. For instance, students may only have Lays chips available and they are then unable to branch out and try new types of chips. Students would be restricted to only one company’s products and they wouldn’t get to experience everything there is to offer (Sponsorship in Schools). High school should be about discovering new things and having opportunities and making your own choices. Corporate and school partnerships crush those opportunities and chances to uncover new things. Students should not have products and certain brands thrust upon them without a
say.
If there is going to be any sponsoring at all, the students should choose which companies they want associated with their school.
Students don’t want to be embarrassed when asked what logo they are wearing, or when they have to eat and drink a strange company’s product, all just so their school can make some quick and easy cash. For example a soccer team may have to drink only Dasani water out of Dasani bottles, and students may not want to drink that water for whatever reason. If the students were able to decide on which companies were allowed to sponsor their school that would be a great learning experience for students. This could be accomplished by students voting on prospective sponsors. That could possibly be a part of a business course, where students get to interact with companies and gain experience.
The products that are endorsed by schools can also be contradictory. For instance, if a school has a Pepsi logo on the sports scoreboard, what kind of message is that sending? That it’s okay and healthy for athletes to drink soda while participating in sports? That kind of advertising is confusing and misleading to
kids.
Yes, big businesses that back schools with money and only want advertisement in return, don’t seem like such a bad idea. Corporate partnerships with schools definitely have their plusses. Both the schools and the companies make a profit from each other with seemingly little effort. The schools earn money by promoting a company’s products and everybody wins. The students can be provided with supplies that supplement their education. While these are great benefits, the negativities of these business and school partnerships outweigh the positives.

While corporate partnerships with schools may seem like a win-win situation, with money involved for the school and sponsor, corporate sponsorship in schools is really a disaster in disguise. Rather than helping and benefiting education, the partnerships and advertisements are only hurting the most important part of the school: the students.

1. "Corporate Sponsorship In Schools, Page 2 of 2." Associated Content - Associatedcontent.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. .

2. The Council for Corporate & School Partnerships : Homepage. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. .