Buy Low Sell High

(To Students)
The Commercialization of Education
Anna, Marcus, Ben, Elyse, Vanessa
 Guiding Inquiry Question
Is the commercialization of education an
inevitable reality in a Canadian context?
 Related Questions
How is education funded right now?

What is commercialization?

What is at stake for parents, students,

and other stakeholders?
 Related Question 1
How is education funded right
now?
 How is education funded?
● In 2018, the Alberta government budgeted 9.6 Billion Dollars for the
purposes of education
● 2.4 Billion Dollars originated from Education Property Taxes
○ This is collected from all property owners
● 4.7 Billion Dollars originated from general revenues
How are Schools Funded?
Alberta School
Funding Model
Grades 1-9: Funding is given on a per student
basis. Multiplied by a standard grade level rate
and class size rate.

Grades 10-12: Funding is given on a Credit

Enrollment Unit (CEU) basis. With credits being
valued at different rates, and additional funding
allocated to specialised programming
(Exceptionalities, ADLC…)
Canada:
Policy
(a) Children's advertising must not encourage or portray a range of values that are inconsistent with the moral,
ethical or legal standards of contemporary Canadian society.
(b) Children's advertising must not imply that possession or use of a product makes the owner superior or that
without it the child will be open to ridicule or contempt. This prohibition does not apply to true statements
regarding educational or health benefits.

Quebec:
- 1997 Education Act: prohibit school boards from receiving, “gifts, legacies, grants or other contributions to
which conditions incompatible with the mission of the school are attached, particularly conditions relative to
any form of commercial solicitation.”
- Limits the degree to which guidelines about advertising and the “appropriateness” of a corporate presence are
left up to individual boards or schools.

Alberta:
- No mention of the roles of corporations or commercialization in the Alberta Schools Act
 Policy for School Fundraising/Funding
Ontario Alberta

The Ontario government is clear in its regulation of The Alberta School Act regulates what funding is
school-generated funding. allowed to be used in capital expenses (Fixed Assets).

“Funds raised for school purposes: Fundraising, borrowing, and sponsorships are not
allowed to be used in these expenses as they would
● should not be used to replace public funding increase the operating budget. Exceptions are
for education. allowed with Minister discretion.
● should not be used to support items funded
through the allocated budget of a school
board, including but not limited to, learning
materials and textbooks or capital projects
that increase operating costs.”
 Related Question 2
What is commercialization?
 What is Commercialization?
To commercialize is “to manage on a business basis for profit”;
“to develop commerce” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).

Examples of commercialization in schools can include:

● Advertising in schools.
● Partnerships and sponsorships between schools and
corporations.
● Incentive programs.
● Corporate sponsored educational materials.
● Appropriation of space (cafeterias, gymnasium).
● Fundraising.
 What does commercialization look like in schools?
United States
● McDonald's Corporation sent Ronald McDonald to
speak to over 500 students in Pennsylvania, about
self-esteem, at no cost to the school

● The producer of Prozac anti-depression medicine spoke

during an assembly devoted to depression.

● Campbell Soup offered teachers a poster and lesson

plan, along with a slotted spoon and a jar of the
company's Prego spaghetti sauce, designed to have
teachers lead children in what was portrayed as an
experiment to determine the thicker sauce
 What does commercialization look like in schools?
Canada

● 54% of all schools reported using Scholastic

education materials
● 27% of Canadian schools exclusive
arrangements with either Coke or Pepsi
● 6% of schools use Pizza Hut’s “Book it!”
program
 Related Question 3
How does this impact
stakeholders?
 What is at stake?
Parents

● Increasing demands on parents to fundraise for extracurricular

activities and programs.
● Disproportionately advantages upper-middle class white families.
● Improved educational tools and equipment for their children

Students

● Undermines lessons taught in schools (i.e., healthy eating)

● Exploitative constantly exposing children to advertising and products
● Targeted as a profitable demographic
● Supports and encourages materialism

Stakeholders

● Advertising and products use in schools creates a following

● Partnerships can decrease spending for school districts/provide
services cheaper
 Activity: Deal or no deal?
● Three scenarios on commercialization

Consider the different perspectives

● Who benefits? Who is impacted? What

are the pros and cons? What are the
social implications?
● Discuss and come to a decision, and be
prepared to talk about your choice.
 References
Advertising Standards of Canada. (2019). The Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children. Retreived from
http://www.adstandards.com/en/clearance/childrens/broadcastCodeForAdvertisingToChildren-TheCode.asp
x

Canadian Teachers Federation. (2006). Commercialization in Canadian Schools: Who’s Calling the Shots.
Retrieved from https://www.ctf-fce.ca/Research-Library/CommercialismEngweb.pdf

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). “Commercialization.” Retrieved from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercialize

Fundraising Guidelines Draft. (2011). Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved from:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fundraisingguideline.pdf

Funding Manual. (2018). Alberta Education. Retrieved from:

https://education.alberta.ca/media/3795601/2018-19-funding-manual-fall-update.pdf