“Gimmie gimmie gimmie, I need some more, gimmie gimmie gimmie, don’t ask what for!”–Black Flag
Now that I’m a crotchety old man, I get to use language already cliched when my grandfather was born. For instance, I can say that it really chaps my hide when the kids bring home a Scholastic book catalog from school the day after Christmas vacation.
Another order form? Really? We just went into hock to buy everybody presents and now you’re asking me to buy you more stuff?
I try not to get too irritated by the school-sanctioned commercialism and look on the bright side of book orders. There’s no bookstore in town. The paperback editions are usually quite cheap. It’s nice to see my kids get excited about books.  But the steady proliferation of non-book materials, outright toys and product tie-in schlock has me wondering if it’s worth it. Are we really that starved for reading material? (Free library card, anyone).
And you gotta love the January catalog. It’s all electronics—there aren’t any books in it at all. Oh wait, there’s one—a $22 dictionary. We can buy CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, Wii games, Nintendo DS games, and don’t forget your Nintendo DS skins or your electronic spy gloves. Sure, some of these have an educational component—Scripps Spelling Bee, Math Blaster, Oregon Trail. But Greg Hastings Paintball 2? Honda ATV Fever? Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games? Gummy Bears Minigolf? Star Wars, the Force Unleashed? (ages 13 and up, mind you)
I don’t have a problem with videogames. Someone in our family probably plays a handheld, console or online game every day. What I do have a problem with is sending videogame catalogs home with the kids through the schools as if it’s some sort of educational favor to the parents. It’s not. It’s pimping for the publishing industry. The captive marketing that occurs in the schools is annoying enough when it’s for a good cause. This month, in particular, it doesn’t seem like a good cause. It seems like a racket that relies on a combination of school approval, peer pressure, parental guilt and children’s greed to wring more bucks from families that probably can’t afford it.
There’s 74 handily-numbered items in the catalog. Six of them cost $5 or less. Thirty cost between $10 and $15. Thirty-four cost between $20 and $30. Three of them go for an astonishing $40 or $50. We’re not exactly bringing classic literature to the underprivileged here, people.
I can say no to my kids. I do it all the time. I just don’t like being put in that position due to the agendas of others. So when their inevitable disappointment sets in I’ll console myself with the idea that I’m teaching them a valuable lesson: you can’t always get what you want. And when that disappointment is repeated in the classroom–when they watch the order forms get handed in, then weeks later when the swag is handed out—they’ll learn another valuable lesson: when it comes to American consumerism, there’s always somebody more willing or able than you. I can say no to my kids, but maybe there’s something going on here that we as a society shouldn’t be saying yes to in the first place.
Nicely written, I wish I had your way with words.
Yes, regardless of for a “good cause”, such as a school club or area charity, the peer pressure to, for example; purchase exorbitantly-overpriced candy-bars in the captive-market of the school environment can be quite daunting, especially for those with constrained finances. Not only K-12, but; continuing into college also. School faculty too, albeit, a Chancellor, Dean or tenured-professor will likely have greater “connectedness” and intellectual and financial facility to navigate such an environment.
Nothing inherently wrong with non-profits seeking funding, but; if one is “captive” and peer-pressured enough, then; one is essentially subjected to sales-pressure, defacto school-sanctioned commercialism.
Soda, junk-food/snacks vending machines on campus are school-approved, regardless of the fact that no one is forcing a student to pay money that could be much better utilized elsewhere, while imperiling one’s health in the process. Where do so many kids get the money? Oh, likely, substantially from the same source(s) that guide them nutritionally. Sure, some schools are reducing vending-machines and going in the direction of more nutritious school lunches, but; the progress has been late and too slow.
School budgets are strained, so; more are undergoing more sponsorship. How about: the Happy Valley Footballers are playing on Mega-Corp Field. Great. And, the soda vending-machine company is “giving back” to the schools. Thanks. Perhaps some of that “gift” can help the school health program on Diabetes education!
A socio-philosophical take on being subjected to the agendas of others, at school, is that it’s all in learning. But, learning to be an ardent participant in over-consumptive crass American consumerism, is best not learned. And; critical-thinking, logic, how to deftly deal with such agendas, can, ironically be more difficult when the school administration is, essentially; “pimping for the publishing industry”, to cite your example.
“Maybe there’s something going on here that we as a society shouldn’t be saying yes to in the first place.” — Yes, Jon, I Whole-heartedly agree, have had the same stance for decades. Unfortunately, far too many, especially in USA, just don’t get it.