Seventeen and Self-Image
A high school teacher explains his unit on advertising and media literacy – and why some students wanted to cancel their subscriptions to Seventeen.
Masks of Global Exploitation
Teaching About Advertising and the Real World
Teaching about advertising and the real world.
Advertising the Truth
Classroom exercises that help students explore the social and environmental consequences of endless consumption.
Producing Consumers Essay
A Rethinking Schools Student Assignment: suggested guidelines (with a checklist) for writing an essay about the video The Ad and the Ego
Channel One Enters the Media Literacy Movement
Debate swirls as Channel One, renowned for bringing advertising into schools, enters the media literacy movement.
Why I Said No to Coca-Cola
A Colorado school board member explains why he opposed a lucrative contract between local schools and Coca-Cola.
Of Mickey Mouse and Monopolies
The new book “Rich Media, Poor Democracy” explains how the media came to be dominated by a few mega-corporations – and what this means for democracy.
Educators and the Fight for Public Media
A look at the historic struggle between public and private interests for control of the U.S. media, and why this fight has set the tone for ongoing battles over who will control our society.
Editorial: Moving Beyond ‘Media Literacy
When looking at media literacy, tough issues arise, in particular issues of commercialism (too much) and democracy (not enough).
Videos Mentioned In the Articles
Where to find videos mentioned in this special report on commercialism and media.
Websites on Media Literacy and Advertising
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Vouchers: Church/State Complexities
Two valuable concepts—public accountability and religious freedom—clash when public dollars go to religious schools.
A look at the contradictions that arise when public dollars are given to private religious schools.
Legislation Calls for Access and Accountability
A bill introduced in October by state Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) seeks to increase access to the voucher schools by the public, including the media.
A Visit to a Religious Elementary School
A close-up look at one religious school in Milwaukee that receives voucher funding, which advocates integrating faith in Jesus Christ with the content and process of all learning.
Testing
A Report on the National Education Summit
A report from the National Education Summit, where governors and CEOs met this fall to press standards, high-stakes tests, and ‘rewards and consequences.’
The Jobs of Tomorrow
A “reality check” on some of the statements in IBM chief Louis Gerstner’s keynote speech to the National Education Summit.
Report Looks at Public And Private Schools
A recent report says when policy makers assume private schools are better than public schools, they ignore lessons that could make all schools better.
What Do We Need to Know Now?
"Race," Identity, Hegemony, and Education
A look at issues of “race,” identity, and hegemony, and what they mean for education.
References and Selected Bibliography
Companion to “What do We Need to Know Now”
The Politics of Biological Determinism
What argument against social change could be more effective than the claim that established orders exist as an accurate reflection of innate intellectual capacities?
Sweet Learning
Life's most important lessons are rarely taught in school.
Why life’s most important lessons are rarely taught in school.
Mi abuelita
The first of two stories Linda Christensen discusses with students, as described in “Sweet Learning.” The author reflects on his arrival in the United States at age 6 and how his grandmother has helped him learn what it means to be a “real man.”
In My Father’s Kitchen
In the second of two stories mentioned in “Sweet Learning,” the author recounts the life lessons she has learned as her father “makes magic” in their kitchen.
Diseases Laud Kansas Decision
A satiric look at the Kansas Board Of Education’s decision to drop evolution from the state standards. The decision is applauded by one group sure to benefit: viral diseases happy to see fewer evolutionary biologists being prepared to go out there gunning for them.
