OPPOSE EXPLOITATION OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS BY CORPORATE-SPONSORED FUNDRAISING EVENTS

WHEREAS, programs such as McTeacher’s Night are promoted as fundraisers, when they are simply thinly veiled marketing tactics by which corporations sell products and promote their brands to students and their families; and

WHEREAS, exploiting school funding shortfalls in order to market—and profit from—the sale of junk food and other products to children undermines public institutions and teachers; and

WHEREAS, too many schools and school systems are so grossly underfunded that they are left with no options other than to participate in these programs; and

WHEREAS, marketing such as that done by McDonald’s and others disproportionately affects students with low socio-economic status and students of color, and contributes to the growing epidemic of diet-related disease; and

WHEREAS, when educators volunteer at corporate-sponsored events such as McTeacher’s Nights, workers in the community (who are often low-income earners) may lose work hours, affecting their income and contributing to poverty:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will educate our members and the public on the dangers of allowing corporate exploitation of public schools and teachers to market junk food and other products to our students; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will communicate to corporations that promote these exploitative practices about their harmful effect on schools, students and communities; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will join with like-minded organizations and urge them to discontinue partnerships that exploit schools; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will encourage state and local affiliates to re-evaluate their support of these programs, and will encourage their support of national, state and local legislation and policies that increase investment in public education while also protecting children and students from junk food marketing; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will support legislative and policy initiatives at the state and local levels to curb junk food marketing that targets children.