My call to Scholastic...

[whalerider55]

I spoke with someone in customer services regarding the Scholastic tie-in with "Path to 9-11".

This person was unaware of the controversy; when I told them that I was sitting member of a School Commitee, and that I was beginning to have conversations with parents who were appalled at the tie-in with ABC over the production, and the call this morning by President CLinton to pull the show from the airwaves, she perked up- I suggested she get the message over to corporate, which she agreed to do.

Told her that parents had been long expressing concern to me about Scholastic tying into commerical productions, but that providing an educational cover to what was clearly a piece of political propaganda was likely to drive our parents to action.

And that as a sitting school committee member, not representing the whole school committee but acting on behalf of myself and constituents, was willing to work with those parents to impact Scholastic's bottom line.

I'll keep you updated.


whalerider

[ixion]

it's amazing how corps suddenly see 'the Truth' when it impacts the bottom

line.

Keep us posted. :yourock:

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. I am so impressed with what you have done

Angry parents can get a lot accomplished. Thanks for being on top of this.

[bikeboy]

4. I just sent them an e-mail

as well. I'm President of 32 PTA's and I am going to ask all of our units to use another supplier for our annual Book Fairs. We have used Scholastics for our Book Fairs as long as I can remember and they have alway been a large part of our fund raising because they were easy to set up and were profitable for the units. I told them we will vote with our dollars because their support of fiction as fact means they have lost sight of the fact that schools are supposed to teach facts not fiction.

I also went in a had a conversation with our school pricipal this morning because my 6th grader has been given the docudrama as mandatory home work! I asked the prinical what part fiction plays in education and if the next home work for my 6th grader will be Disney's Aladin's Lamp for Middle East studies.

What is going to happen when my child goes to class after sitting with me and watching this load of crap and starts asking questions about the ...crap...that the teacher doesn't like? or have the correct answer to? Does this mean that my student will be ridden or labled a trouble maker for the rest of the year due to his views that differ from the teachers? This is a real can of worms...

[whalerider55]

6. you go!

get right through to the supt. as well as the scool committee members to complain!

whalerider

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. I can't believe it's MANDATORY!

Fight on and let us know what happens. This Scholastic debacle is bringing out a lot of heroes today. As a teacher, I salute all of you angry parents calling Scholastic, visiting your principals, calling your school boards and PTAs. You can do so much good by just being vocal. Thank you.

[Double T]

2. You're doing a GREAT job...........

The COUNTER ATTACK to the "Path to 9-11" is building......

[mazzarro]

3. Kudos for a great effort -- n/t

[MessiahRp]

5. I wrote them a letter as well

Keep the pressure on them! :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2067109&mesg_id=2067109

I plan to call my son's school today as well.

Rp

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. Let's get this to the front page. I have already K & R'd

Thanks.

[displacedtexan]

9. Here's my new brand idea for Scholastic...

[LostinVA]

10. I am not boycotting the next Harry Potter, so don't even suggest that

*sob*

[Polemicist]

11. Tell Scholastic you will divest yourself of their stock....

If you own mutual funds, press those funds to sell their holdings in Disney and Scholastic. If you manage your own investments, sell those stocks now. If your mutual fund will not divest itself of Disney and Scholastic, then sell your mutual fund shares. Tell them that is your plan.

I've already discussed this with Scholastic's investment department which can be reached at [phone]. You can talk to Scholastic's media relations department at [phone]. Tell them you will fight against Scholastic textbook purchases by your local school systems.