What Ethical and Legal Issues Are Raised by In-School Commercialism?
Ethical issues are at the heart of public concern over the effects of commercial activities on schoolchildren. Critics are especially concerned with in-school commercial activities that • force children to view advertising in the classroom • market unhealthful food and drinks to children • masquerade as educational materials, activities, or programs • invade students’ privacy as a condition of participating in technology-related learning activities • use children as market research subjects • take place without the informed consent of parents Such practices, critics argue, exploit a captive audience, violate public trust, and undermine schools’ ability to teach children essential skills such as critical discernment, healthful eating habits, and safe behavior on the Internet. The growth of commercialism in schools appears to have outpaced laws and regulations at state and federal levels. Only nineteen states have adopted laws to regulate commercial activities in the classroom, and these
