Education Law

Classroom advertising?

BoardBuzz got word from CNN.com of a high school math class in California whose teacher sells advertisements in order to cover the cost of printing his exams. Say what? Are times that hard? (The answer: apparently, they are.) While students tackle the questions on their calculus quizzes or tests, parents or organizations have the chance to get a message or advertisement across the bottom of the page.

Teacher Tom Farber pitched this idea to parents at a back to school night this past September, and for $10 a quiz, $20 a test, and $30 a final exam, parents have the option at inserting an inspirational quote or even a business advertisment at the bottom of the test paper.

So far, its working. Seven tests or exams have featured a quote from parents or business ads, and Farber has collected more than $300 to print his exams. Though Farber is pleased with their success, the article reports that he doesn?t want quiz ads ?to become the standard?, rather the government must do more to provide educators with the supplies they need in their classroom.

"What I'm doing now is ... dealing with the economic situation and making sure kids get what they need," Farber said. "Teachers shouldn't have to scrounge for funding. To me, this is what our government is for, to provide necessities, and that's why we pay taxes."

Does your school district offer similar initiatives? Leave BoardBuzz a comment to let us know what you think about this teacher?s new strategy. Maybe on your student?s next exam he or she will be looking at ads for where to get their haircut or an orthodontist to visit, like these San Diego students have!

For more information, be sure to check out USA Today?s coverage as well.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on December 04, 2008 (boomark / email).