Good News: Scholastic Limits Corporate Sponsored Curriculum

I love sharing good news-- because so much of what I cover is what plaques us:  problems with our food systems, chemicals in everyday products, the pollution of our air, water, soil and communities, the marketing of childhood....to name a few.

When you doubt the power of real people-- over massive multi-national corporations-- it helps to seek out stories that show how we can and do make a difference.  

Take this story, from Vermont's own news weekly, Seven Days.  This man clearly knows the value of perseverance. He tireless advocated for the health and welfare of the Winooski river for years.  And, eventually, he won.  Read it and be ready to be inspired.  He's not your usual environmental activist!

Next up, the battle for the heart and soul of our society-- education.  I reported here years ago that I had stopped giving out Scholastic Book Club orders to my students because of the video games, plastic trinkets, and mass market media products they contained.  Recently, I wrote about an energy curriculum, developed by Scholastic with the support of the coal industry, that didn't list one single drawback of using coal as an energy source.  Because of a parent, educator, and activist driven campaign, Scholastic stopped selling these curricular materials and promised to reevaluate its sponsored curriculum procedures and practices.  

Well, they did, and here is what they decided, according to the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood:

"Late last week, Scholastic contacted us to let us know that it was reducing its InSchool Marketing division—which produces teaching materials sponsored by corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies—by approximately 40%. And the overwhelming majority of cuts are coming from its corporate-sponsored materials."

In addition:

"Already, Scholastic has agreed to end its partnership with SunnyD to promote sugar-laden beverages in elementary schools, and materials produced for corporations like DreamWorks, Disney, Shell, and Playmobile have been removed from Scholastic’s website for teachers. And Scholastic’s capitulation sends an important message to other companies working to subvert learning through the commercialization of teaching materials."

Thanks to Scholastic for this important first step in working towards commercial free classrooms across America.  Look at the power of organized action!

image:  superwoman on Flickr