Pediatricians against advertising in schools

[Gary Ruskin]

Commercial Alert					March 7, 2000

Following is a news release from the Alabama Chapter of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.

PRESS RELEASE

Pediatricians against advertising in schools

The Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes
contractually obligating children to observe advertising during publicly
funded school time.  A recently passed resolution states that equipment,
supplies and other materials should not be accepted for exchange of
student classroom time.  The pediatricians oppose a tax funded state
organization obligating children to watch commercials for several
reasons.

The Alabama Chapter will present this resolution to pediatricians in
other states and will work with them to have this resolution adopted
nationally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Meanwhile, a copy of
the resolution has been sent to Governor Siegelman and State
Superintendent of Education, Ed Richardson.  The resolution follows:

Whereas, commercial advertisements have no educational value, and

Whereas, commercial advertisements shown during classrooms imply school
system endorsement, and 

Whereas, contractually obligating children to observe commercials
exploits children's time, and

Whereas, presenting advertisements during publicly funded classroom time
period produces contradictory and conflicting goals,

Be it resolved, the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics ethically opposes contractually obligating Alabama school
children to observe commercials during classroom time in exchange for or
loan of equipment, supplies or other materials.

For more information contact:				

David Reynolds, MD, FAAP, President, Alabama Chapter, American Academy
of Pediatrics
205-979-2999

Carden Johnston, MD, FAAP, Chairperson, Task Force on Commercialism in
Schools, Alabama Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
205-934-2116

Jim Metrock, President, Obligation, Inc.
205-822-0080

Gary Ruskin, Commercial Alert
202-296-2787

<--------------release ends here------------>

	Channel One, ZapMe! Corp. and other companies use the compulsory
education laws to force children to watch commercial advertising in
school.  For more information about these companies, and how they harm
children, see Commercial Alert's web site at
<http://www.essential.org/alert/>.

	Commercial Alert opposes corporate exploitation of children, and the
excesses of advertising, marketing and commercialism.

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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
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Gary Ruskin | Commercial Alert 
1611 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite #3A | Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 296-2787 | Fax (202) 833-2406
http://www.essential.org/alert/ | mailto:gary@essential.org
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