Money v. Morals

                  The core interests of a school and a corporation are inherently conflicting. A school’s main mission is to give students the best possible environment to learn, while a corporation’s fundamental reason for existence is to make money. Corporate sponsorships have become all too common among schools. They often claim that the reasoning behind their actions is to “support the community.” But why are they really doing this? Businesses view community support as another form of advertising, it is only yet another way for consumerist American values to seep into all aspects of life. Although there are some benefits for schools, such as increased funds, the consequences of theses actions are wholly more impactful: they corrupt essential scholastic morals.

                  Corporations and schools often try to use financial obligations as their basis for infiltrating schools with unwonted advertising. It is true that this often helps; businesses do inject needed funds into schools. In an era in which districts cut budgets with abandon, schools often need all of the money that they can receive. Additionally, these funds help to stave off levees and tax raises for communities. The money schools receive from corporations can go to important aspects of education: new technologies, new athletic equipment, and art supplies.

                  Although schools are often in need of monies, the consequences to this lie in where exactly the money comes from. The corporations whose money is being taken by the school often represent poor morals that should not be advertised in schools. One example of this is the sugar laden drink companies such as Gatorade, that often advertise in schools. Corporations like this promote an unhealthy lifestyle that should no be “fed” to young school-children. Yet another problem with this corporate money is that it often requires forced advertising in schools. This is true for Channel One, which supplies televisions in return for a required 2 minutes of commercials and a news program. This is simply untoward. Children are required by law to attend school; therefore they have no choice as to whether or not they want to be exposed to these corporate messages.

                  The debate over school district’s acceptance of corporate monies is one of morals versus practicality. While it is true that the funds schools are given are often quite wanted, this does not negate the school’s responsibility to provide a healthy environment for their students. The school cannot give up its morals for money. The corporations who give money to the schools have conflicting interests with the school district. For a school district, a bastion of education and an upholder of morals, money should not be the final word.