Teacher Sells Advertising On Tests

CBS Evening News: Economic Crisis Leaves School Systems With Huge Deficits, Teachers With Few Options

(CBS)  America's public schools are being sorely tested by the economic crisis, with states and cities across the nation cutting their education budgets. That's forcing teachers to come up with unusual solutions, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports.

At a time when there seems to be advertising everywhere perhaps we shouldn't be surprised it's come to this: San Diego teacher Tom Farber is selling advertising on the bottom of math tests.

The ads appear as lines of text - "Braces by Stephen P. Henry D.M.D.," for example.

"I think it's sad that we have come to the point where we have to do that," says Christine Rafla, one of Farber's students.

It may be just one line. But it crosses a line that surprises even the teacher.

"I would have never have done this five years ago or ten years ago," Farber says. "I wouldn't even have thought of it because there was never a necessity."

But it is a necessity now, because San Diego area schools are facing a $51 million budget shortfall next year. Statewide, California schools are expecting at least $2.8 billion in cuts-and that number could grow to more than $7 billion.

At $10 dollars for a quiz, $20 for a test, and $30 for a final exam, Farber's ads don't pay for much- just the cost of printing the tests.

"I think this is one in the same time a story of American ingenuity and a story of American tragedy," says Arnold Fege of the Public Education Network.

Fege says the ads highlight a struggle teachers are facing everywhere.

School budgets nationwide are strained. Twenty-seven states have already cut their education budgets. Even in better economic times teachers have had to dip into their own pockets to keep classrooms going.

"Five, six hundred dollars buy a lot of supplies to do crafts and arts and things like that," says Joel Nydam, a teacher at Otter Lake Elementary School in Minnesota.

Countless of teachers like Nydam spend hundreds of dollars of their own money each year on classroom supplies.And those supplies are getting more expensive.

"It's hard to make the same amount go the same distance," Nydam says.

So now Nydam is one of the 5,000 teachers signed up on a Web site called "Gold Star Registry."

It's like a registry for wedding gifts. But here, here teachers can list the supplies they need and parents can make a donation.

Tom Farber has sold already most of his test page ads right through finals. "Anybody who criticizes this I challenge them to open up their wallets," he says.

In a tough economy, teachers like Farber and Nydam are offering lessons in survival, as well.

[debinok1]

Enough, NO MORE, no more grants, no more aid, no more help to anyone, until the US is back on a VERY firm footing, until we can take care of our own, NO MORE!!!

[inmaryland1]

does the morph stand for morphine?

[debinok1]

This is past sad, this is disgusting, our children, the future of this country, our future senators, congresspeople, presidents, factory workers, nurses, doctors,teachers, have a lack of funding in their schools while we educate other countries, while we invest trillions for freedom of other countries, while we provide health care for other countries, our children suffer.

[inmaryland1]

No, we are far from better off. I myself have suffered from too many gadget distractions. I''m ashamed to find that I''ve spent so much on what has done so little for me. Now, with less money, and as weeks go by, less things, I realize how absolutely scattered I have been. Let''s not trash up our children''s minds. Remember sitting on the floor with one plaything? The other thing maybe was a bike, and better yet the self-built tree fort outside. These do-for you electronic items have erased creativity and self-reliance. I''m 43 years old, and I''ve perhaps undone much of my own potential by letting my brain soak in the brine of contemporary elcetro-mush. I didn''t even feel it coming. It was all so bright and shiny, like the first time I ever saw a microwave...at age 13.

[divitius]

Lord...Idiocracy is just around the corner. THIS TEST BROUGHT TO YOU BY BRAWNDO- IT''S GOT WHAT YOU CRAVE!!!

[clathrate]

It is doubtful many Americans would want the lifestyle of the 1920''''s, 1930''''s, or 1940''''s. Americans today have more of everything. We have more cars, larger homes, tvs, computers, cell phones, etc. Our standatd of living is miles apart from our parents and grandparents. Is the glass half full or half empty? Too many Americans today are whiners and not doers.


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Posted by rhs648

You are right, and you are wrong.

Yes, americans are whiners and crybabies.

No, Americans are not better off...in terms of competitiveness of the next generation. It is precisely because of all the video games, Tv''s, Ipods, cellphones, etc. that kids only know how to zone out. Kids are not receiving a quality education because schools are chronically underfunded, and because parents refuse to do a doggone thing (tutor them, participate in school activities, even discipline their child).

The next generation is not going to succeed because they are brought up with few rules, few expectations, and a mediocre education.

[clathrate]

The Republicans have managed to do in 2o years what no enemy has been able to do in 220.

A round of applause for the GOP!




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Posted by Evian_Ycnan

Here here! Let''s cheer for no taxes and spend, spend spend! Hurray!

Let''s cheer for wars fought without any plan! Hurray!

Let''s cheer for deregulation and financial fraud! Wait, wait! AND let''s cheer for the decades it will take to pay off the debt! Hurray!

Finally, let''s cheer for out of control energy prices and that fact that we STILL do not have an energy policy! Hip hip, hurray!

[shanev137]

Given the moral fabric of this country, this doesn''t surprise me at all. I''m surprised it didn''t happen sooner.

One of the next things to look forward to will be the selling off of our natural parks to land developers and billboard companies.

[evian_ycnan]

The Republicans have managed to do in 2o years what no enemy has been able to do in 220.

A round of applause for the GOP!

[inmaryland1]

Our children have always gone to private schools. These modest private schools cut corners and save at every possible point yet still give superior educations. Why do public schools need all these bells and whistles, and then cry tears when they can''t have more? Buying up the lastest AV equipment leaves less room for basics. These private school kids, housed in modulars, learn and make do with what is available and still score consistently higher in statewide exams. Public school systems, quit whining. Supply your hard working teachers with the basics they need and cut back on all the modern "necessities".

[greeneyes222]

Disgusting. We''re educating our kids, all right - in all the wrong ways.

If I lived there, that school board would be in court.

[linfinster]

This is disgusting! And NO I can''t open my wallets ANY MORE. So that shouldn''t be then end of the discussion! Shame on our school funding system!

[incog-nito]

As a lifelong conservative I believe this is an example of the free enterprise system at its best. Candy, fast food, and video games companies will now have an extra outlet for their advertising dollars. What better way to advertise than directly to your intended target market, to a captive (literally) audience? Come to think of it, why not have these companies come to the school and directly compete for the kids'' dollars during recess? That way the kids can have first-hand experience of the "invisible hand" of the free market, and thus be ready for a lifetime of blissful consumerism.

[rhs648]

Gee....A dentist buying time on the bottom of a test paper???? What''''s next???? Selling a seat in the senate?????

Posted by willo1301

In what teacher''s manual is it written that advertising on the bottom of a test sheet should be prohibited or is innappropriate. If the dentist wants to spend his money this way, why not? Most of us would love to earn what dentists make each year. Whatever the denstist spends for the advertising at the bottom of the test sheet is money saved by taxpayers. Congratuations to both the teacher selling the advertising and the dentist who purchased it.

[rhs648]

After the first great depression, when (thanks to FDR) the nations wealth was more evenly distributed and the working class had a greater share, school system funding was never a problem.

After the Reagan administration initiated the republican great lie (trickle down policy). Those trickle-down taps have all closed and school funding and all social programs have steadily dried up.

The present Bush administration has accelerated the destruction of the American working class, starting with the fabricated excuses for the Iraq fiasco, and finally in the last year of this administration they are striking the most fatal blow, literally giving corporations the entire wealth of the nation through fabricated bailouts....

Posted by jn122736

It is doubtful many Americans would want the lifestyle of the 1920''s, 1930''s, or 1940''s. Americans today have more of everything. We have more cars, larger homes, tvs, computers, cell phones, etc. Our standatd of living is miles apart from our parents and grandparents. Is the glass half full or half empty? Too many Americans today are whiners and not doers.

[rhs648]

The corrosive effects of corruption.

How much time will students be required in the future, to recite the advertisements on their exams?

We need to properly fund our schools, and not sacrifice what quality remains with destructive gimmicks like this.

What kind of message does this send to the students? Study THAT.

They should fire whomever came up with this ridiculous scheme.


Posted by smurfcrusher

Advertising is part of the real world. We see it on busses, TV, Radio, and newspapers to name a few. If money can be raised through advertising, it is a great idea. Money raised through advertising is one less burden on the taxpayer. What money there is can be used for other educational purposes. Why not eliminate football which attracts money to public schools? Advertising is as sound an idea as sports events for raising money for schools. It is time to think outside of the box.

[jn122736]

After the first great depression, when (thanks to FDR) the nations wealth was more evenly distributed and the working class had a greater share, school system funding was never a problem.

After the Reagan administration initiated the republican great lie (trickle down policy). Those trickle-down taps have all closed and school funding and all social programs have steadily dried up.

The present Bush administration has accelerated the destruction of the American working class, starting with the fabricated excuses for the Iraq fiasco, and finally in the last year of this administration they are striking the most fatal blow, literally giving corporations the entire wealth of the nation through fabricated bailouts.

When Reagan took office the national debt was less than $1 trillion. When this administration is through the debt will exceed $15 trillion, and effectively end freedom in America as we have always known it.

They were able to do this due to several reasons.

First: They took full advantage of the overall trust Americans had in their government. This allowed them to get away with their lies and deceit.

Second: Americans no longer think for themselves or care enough to get involved.

Third: there are enough pseudo democrats in leadership positions, to prevent any opposition, even when the democrats are supposedly in the majority.

America is being destroyed because greed is always self-destructive in the end.

[spiritwalk]

How much time will students be required in the future, to recite the advertisements on their exams?
Posted by smurfcrusher
...........................................

The do already. It''s called American history

[smurfcrusher]

The corrosive effects of corruption.

How much time will students be required in the future, to recite the advertisements on their exams?

We need to properly fund our schools, and not sacrifice what quality remains with destructive gimmicks like this.

What kind of message does this send to the students? Study THAT.

They should fire whomever came up with this ridiculous scheme.

[irmcvet971]

"I think it''s sad that we have come to the point where we have to do that," says Christine Rafla, one of Farber''s students.

Don''t y''all just LOVE southern fascism?? ROFLMAO