Spending by children and the influence they have on their parents' buying habits drive the engine that makes schools an attractive target, he added. Since children lack mature reasoning abilities, they are especially vulnerable to advertisers' messages, Molnar said. The bill didn't make it to the full Legislature for a vote, but he plans to reintroduce it next year, he said. Proponents of allowing businesses into schools say it's naive to think that there's a way to keep commercialism out of classrooms. The door has already been opened, and there's no closing it now, said Eileen Potts Dawson, a teaching assistant in the Madison School District who sides with those who say the Coke contract has no negative impact.
Commercialism is part of real life.
Kids are already walking billboards. Nike and Reebok and Coke emblems already. Commercialism is in our schools whether we want it or not. George Smith, technology director for the Green Bay School District, says the advertising found in schools tends to be more appropriate for children than the advertising they are exposed to elsewhere. The advertisers include General Electric, Toshiba and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.