The other side to corporate partnerships

Although corporate sponsorships do have significant disadvantages in the education system, if utilized correctly and ethically, corporate sponsorships can provide schools with much needed funding. We find many public schools are suffering from budget cuts and these corporate partnerships are just the solution for this economic problem. Corporate sponsorships provide schools with much needed cash that taxes do not supply. The Albert Shanker Institute’s article, Does Money Matter, states, “On average, aggregate measures of per-pupil spending are positively associated with improved or higher student outcomes”. These sponsorships can ultimately solve the achievement gap between rich and poor by providing poor districts with equipment and funding for the improvement of the school architecture, gymnasiums, and labs. It can make a poor school in a rural area look like the ones we see in the suburbs. Instead of schools conforming to the needs of corporations, it is essential that corporations provide schools with advertisements of products that promote the goal of the education system. The welfare of the student should be the main concern; this means that there should be no observing of commercials, no advertisements inside the classroom, and all sponsors should protect the mental and physical state of the student.

High schools sports are being threatened by budget cuts. Corporate sponsorship is the perfect solution to keep the essential extra curricular activity. Many baseball and football teams have corporation brand names planted on their scoreboards all to help pay for the many expenses which come along with having these sports. New Balance Shelling Out $500K for High School Stadium Naming Rights by Mark J Miller “New Balance recent submitted a bid for $500,000 (payable over 10 years) to secure the naming rights of Gloucester, MA high school’s Newell Stadium. Newell Stadium, built in 1936 has not seen any activity in years”. For Gloucester Massachusets this deal is the making of a new home for young talent to be discovered. This can also flourish a new confidence in students who once thought they were not good enough for a brand new gymnasium. 

Along with funding the extra curricular activities, corporate partnership can also help schools afford equipment that will help students learning ability.  High school students in poor schools lack funding to have science labs.  In 1992 Leon county schools partnered up with Ajax Building Corporation and received a new science lab complete with equipment. This partnership was essential to help the students of Leon county learn science efficiently. The corporate partnership of schools can help increase the ability for students to learn by providing them with funds that wouldn’t otherwise be provide for them with only government taxes.