Could School Bus Ads Save School Budgets?

[The Straight Story]

Could School Bus Ads Save School Budgets?
The wheels on the bus go buy, buy, buy: Could school bus ads be the answer to budget woes?

School districts have imposed all sorts of drastic cuts to save money during the down economy, canceling field trips and making parents pay for everything from tissues to sports transportation.

And some have now resorted to placing advertisements on school buses.

School districts say it's practically free money, and advertisers love the captive audience that school buses provide.

That's the problem, say opponents: Children are being forced to travel to school on moving media kiosks, and the tactic isn't much different than dressing teachers in sponsor-emblazoned uniforms.

"Parents who are concerned about commercial messages will have no choice," said Josh Golin, associate director of Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. "Parents won't be given the option to send their kids on the ad-free bus."

Washington lawmakers considered the idea of school bus advertising this year, and the concept is also being tossed around in Ohio, New Jersey and Utah. About half a dozen states already allow bus advertising — including Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10145057

[Taverner]

1. Sure why not, but these things never work out as well for the schools as they promise

Letting McDonalds do school lunches...exclusive deals with Coke and Pepsi...Textbooks by Marketing Organizations...

[Posteritatis]

2. They could always stop slashing the goddamned education budgets.

Just a thought.

[Deep13]

3. +1

[XemaSab]

4. I have an idea!

How about, when a kid starts kindergarten, McDonald's just fronts 50,000 to have their logo branded on the kid's ass. The money could go to the school, and pay for the kid's education.

Hey, it's practically free money, right? :P

[FSogol]

5. Paint it on every bus: Good Students Use Trojan Brand Condoms!

Maybe they can get a Bud Lite endorsement too?

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. Let's just sell our bodies to the highest bidder

Why is prostitution still illegal?

[FBaggins]

7. How about requiring that the ads be pro-education in nature?

The company could put their logo on there.... or "XYZ Co. supports education" or similar, but these would really be sponsored public service announcements.

You could have the county schools approve the ads in advance ("Folgers - the way to start your school day" wouldn't make it... but Florida OJ would).

Or school improvements above a certain dollar amount would buy you X buses. "High speed internet at Jackson MS provided by Sprint"

And no advertising TO the kids INSIDE the bus.

[cloudbase]

8. My district already does this.

Ads are only on the left side of the bus, and limits are placed on who can buy ad space.

[BurtWorm]

9. How about vending machines at each seat on the bus?

Or little TV screens set to Fox News Channel.