Want Change? Obama or McCain, It’s In The Bag

Leave it to our consumptionist culture to create a “Make A Change” designer handbag with a cause-marketing twist. A portion of the proceeds go to Rock the Vote, but I dare say at $95 a pop, teens are not the target market here. Any over-spent millennials with student loans out the wazoo want to fork out $95 to help your peers Rock the Vote? I say give it to … [Read more...]

Do Youth See Politicians As Puppets?

As MyDebates.org gives kids a MySpace forum for Social Studies classrooms to attempt to instill a civic sense of  ‘how it all works’ with “Who won? Who lost?’ Who made the stronger case?” it makes me ponder if we're perhaps asking kids the wrong question entirely. I'm all for teaching kids how to watch a debate, and giving media literacy … [Read more...]

Kids Take Lessons From National Debt Binge

‘Don’t do as I do, do as I say,’ could be the governmental finger wag lecturing kids on fiscal fitness. How can we expect kids to learn about credit/debit and healthy financial management skills with restrained realism when we’re handing over the national credit card with a ‘put it on the tab’ mall mentality? It’s becoming more … [Read more...]

“My Gift Card’s Worthless? That’s So Unfair!” Cry Foul to the FTC

I don’t know about you, but with California schools on the skids, turning pockets inside out in a pathetic, penniless shrug, parents have been asked to contribute to fundraisers that also include purchasing ‘e-scrip’ and ‘gift cards.’ While it’s a seamless digital ‘give’ plugging in a school as a partner/affinity program, our … [Read more...]

Sensationalist Slop: “Dear Media, Please Do Your Job…”

Further to this week's article on ‘what sells’ in sensationalized media coverage, need we remind kids that the same thing applies to our upcoming election season? As children try to make sense of this adult world of dirty laundry flinging, sound bites and reality show gymnastics, we need to help kids connect the dots with both election media literacy and grounded … [Read more...]