Back to the topic..........public and private schools are in a budget crunch situation. Levies are being defeated right and left, parents are pulling kids out of private schools because of increased tuition costs.....it's a never ending circle. So.......along comes Pepsi or Coke Co's and offers thousands of dollars of new school equipment for the right to put their machines in the schools and "have minimal advertising." It's a no-brainer. School boards aren't going to say no to that kind of money. Instead, they are going to "educate" the students about sugars and soft drinks and hope that they will be sensible in purchasing these drinks. That kind of money bought three new digital scoreboards for our three high school gyms and equipment for two science labs here in Missoula.
Secondly, in budget crunch time and with the No Bush Left Behind act, what's the first thing cut when budgets are tight? Physical Education and the arts. The kids scores in PE tests or art and music don't count in the Annual Yearly Progress score for schools. So Johnny or Janie gets no physical activity at all and probably goes home after school, and plays video games until bedtime.
It's nice to see schools start to say No to the soda companies. Even here, they have taken out the coke and pepsi and put in juices and things like that. But, it all comes down to money. Take a look in most sports and look at all the advertising that these guys have on their jackets, cars, skiis,etc. The dollar is louder than a can of pop.
Anyone for a Weenie Roast?