02 July 2010

FREE MONEY!

Whoops, sorry. You must run a public school to qualify.

Already, there are companies sidling up to the trough to oink big. In fact, you could download your very own "Stimulus Investment Planning Guide" from Scholastic (tm). Click here and then search for "stimulus package." It's second on the results list. Inside, you'll find insider tips on how you should spend lots of money on Scholastic (tm) products:

"As a partner to American schools for almost 90 years, Scholastic recognizes that strategic planning and investments in education are good for schools and good for the country. Together, we can use this historic moment to create significant and sustainable gains in student achievement."

*sniff*

That moved me almost as much as an Obama speech. Historic moment. Together. Good for the country. God bless America.

Whoops, not allowed to say that last one. My bad.

But seriously, folks. That doesn't look like "spending on staff" to me! But we're supposed to magically keep our teachers employed with stimulus money? Um, are the teachers all going to work for Scholastic (tm)? I hope not! Their stuff is mostly crap! :)

7 comments:

  1. I think Scholastic should invest in home libraries . . . http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture-society/home-libraries-provide-huge-educational-advantage-14212/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Scholastic is dumbing down their book selections as well. Some of the Shakespeare books I used to get from them are no longer available. Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants are in every catalog though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tammy, I've seen that study quoted in other places and it seems like an easy thing just to send a few books home with a child rather than spend on expensive "enrichment" programs.

    Harry, how long ago was this? So far as I remember, they've always been kinda... lowbrow, which is fine, but it seems they're really taking a nosedive with the junk at the bookfairs, too. Cheap trinkets for a zillion bucks.

    The TEACHERS though usually seem to love it because they can put books on wishlists and that sort of thing. I think there has to be another company that can do the same thing, except with better literature.

    But would people buy the better stuff? I'm not sure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. No, they wouldn't. They'd show up at your house wanting to play when they're 7 or 8. Trust me on this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't bought Scholastic books in ages . . . they are pretty much twaddle . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't had a problem with Scholastic. When I need to buy books in bulk (more than 5 copies), they have always given me great pricing. They also sometimes sell/give away older editions for even less than the book club prices, which is partly how I stocked my library.

    Sure, not every book in the catalog is The Giver, but kids need junk food books too (as long as they are reading their proverbial veggies as well).

    Best,

    MB (RPOA)

    ReplyDelete
  7. There are good books still in the Scholastic catalog, but judging from what I see in other classrooms, teachers go for the lowbrow stuff, because - are you ready for this?- That's what the kids want. Their curricula books for teachers are garbage from what I've seen, and the trinkets are awful, but again, the kids seem to like them. There used to be other book clubs but Scholastic bought them all out. There is always Dover Books though. They carry a lot of classics and things you never even knew about - cheap.

    ReplyDelete

Non-troll comments always welcome! :)

Bringing Garbage Home

Some people up the street were throwing this table away. It was in pretty bad shape and one of the legs was off. I've glued the leg back...