District 196's Decision on School Ads is an Uncomfortable Reality

District 196 as a means of generating new revenue.

That makes me uncomfortable.

It has been hard to watch our schools struggle for dollars during the legislature's waffling on what to do. Layoffs are painful and the reductions in curriculum and after school activities are unfair to our kids.

But advertising as a means of supplemental revenue is a dangerous door to open. Oh, I have confidence that the current school board will make careful choices, but where do you draw the line? Ads for soft drinks will surely arise, and how many parents want their kids bombarded with more sugar ads? How about cereals? Snacks? Doughnuts? Videos? TV shows?

I always envisioned schools as being a Madison Avenue "free zone." Our homes are targets for advertising on TV, magazines and the Internet—why add schools to the mix?

Somehow, I have my doubts that the advertising coming to a school near you will be promoting much science, culture or mathematics. More than likely, it will be more of the same shilling that inhabits our highway billboards.

And even if the current school board keeps a tight rein on what is allowed, who can say what the future holds? As budgets get tighter, restrictions will get looser. And pretty soon we are going down a murky path from which it will be impossible to return.

I understand why this is happening. I sympathize, because I know how tough the current budget situation has become. But like I said, I'm uncomfortable with all of this.

I think more questions should be asked and a watchful eye employed.

-Dave Mindeman