Can I Get Fries With That?
In a new low McDonald’s has started advertising to kids directly from their report cards in Florida.
The advertisement appears on report cards envelopes for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The envelopes are used to transport report cards to and from home throughout the school year.
Get good grades and get a happy meal? I’m disgusted, absolutely disgusted. Not only are they bribing kids to get good grades, but bribing them with McDonald’s. McDonald’s? Because bribing them with pizza for reading books isn’t enough junk food I guess. Because learning for the sake of learning couldn’t be enough. Instead we have to tell kids that it’s a pain to have to learn important things so here’s a greasy burger to sweeten the deal.
I’m not saying kids shouldn’t have treats now and then, I’m one who thinks the cupcake ban was a step too far. But I personally HATE McDonald’s and the whole “fast food” industry and bribing for grades annoys me. Especially since reading Punished By Rewards by Alfie Kohn
Not only is it the bribing and the unhealthy junk disgusting, but the blatant advertising. Are schools going to go the way of everything else? Gerber Preschool, Coca Cola Elementary, and Abercrombie & Fitch High. Will the walls be plastered in sponsor ads and the text books paid for by huge corporations? And if this is what it will take to fund our schools what does that say about the state of the school system today?
education, school, McDonalds, advertising
December 8th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Kids are a huge target. They lack discernment and they often have not developed the idea of waiting for something they want. Lots of companies would like to keep it that way.
December 8th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Unforgivable, really. The people in that school district should be ashamed.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Stumbled
December 9th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
That’s terrible! I don’t think that they’d get away with it here in Australia, but never say never! It really undermines parents who try to limit junk food in their homes!
December 9th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
At least 32 years ago when I was in elementary school, if we had straight A’s (or E’s as I remember they were called in elementary school) we could bring our report card to McDonald’s for free food.
Somehow I don’t think eating a McDonald’s burger and fries 4 times a year caused any long term negative health effects.
December 9th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
“This Report Card brought to you by…”
If they put report cards online, they could double their advertising dollar.
Just think of the pop-ups!
(I hope no one from the school board is reading this.)
December 10th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I’m not crazy about bribing our kids for good grades at all.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Where I’m from the local school has teamed up with a grocery store chain. If the kids follow the “Tools for Success” as outlined by the store, they might get to visit the store during school hours for a tour where they just might learn to say “Would you like paper or plastic?”. I want more for my kids than this.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Just one more reason why we homeschool!! I’d love to see more of the schools that have organic farming programs where the kids learn to grow their own produce and then it’s actually used in their cafeterias. I’ve heard many high school cafeterias now have fast food restaurants in them. Then we go and wonder why the childhood obesity problem has gotten so out of hand, yeesh.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
[...] Book It program is still going strong today. Though I’m not a fan of fast food for grades, I know that some parents love that their kids are motivated to read more thanks to this program. [...]