County Selling Ad Space on School Websites

On the Web

by Lamar Tyler | on March 13th, 2009 | 2 comments

From this Washington Post article:

On Battlefield High School’s Web site, students can find homework assignments, check sports schedules and even track their finances via a link on the home page — if they have an account with BB&T. The bank’s click-through logo is part of an Internet advertising deal, considered a first for Washington area public schools, that is helping Prince William County educators find private sources of revenue when public money is tight.

Businesses have long promoted themselves by sponsoring campus activities (think of high school baseball teams brought to you by the local hardware store). But some parents and analysts say there are questions about what school-related advertising is appropriate and what is not.

Prince William’s Web ads started in October and have brought in more than $50,000 from sponsors, including a car dealership, power companies and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

Henry is hoping for at least $25,000 more by the end of the school year. The ads are on 17 school Web sites, and she is hoping to get them up on all 87. The 73,900-student school system, the second-largest in Virginia, is using the money to offset the costs of a $120,000 Web-hosting program that officials said makes it far easier for teachers to post homework and communicate with parents. Each school used to run its own site, officials said, which led to an uneven experience and a burden for schools that didn’t always have tech-savvy employees.

A few months back you’ll remember us running this story of a teacher in CA selling ad space on quizzes.

Is this OK or not? Do you have a problem with businesses marketing to kids like this? Is this creative thinking by the county or are they just pimping the kids?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

Harriet

i don’t think the schools are pimping the kids. i just think state governments don’t necessarily have education systems at the top of their priority list in terms of budgeting and money. this is a creative and sensible way to earn money and prevent kids from having to sell chocolate bars and cookie dough in the street. LOL
Anna

I don’t have a problem with legal ways to bring revenue to our schools. Detroit will soon be closing schools due to the economy. Parents a few months ago were asked to send their kids to school with bath tissue and paper towels. Teachers already don’t make a reasonable salary for teaching our kids. Teachers for some time have been spending half of their own money to get supplies for thier classrooms. I think that advertising is a great creative way to generate money for the schools. It’s a win, win.