NationStates Jolt Archive

(CNN) -- In tests for teacher Tom Farber's high school class, students can demonstrate their mastery of calculus and find out where to get braces or even a haircut.

Squeezed by classroom budget cuts, the Rancho Bernardo High School teacher is selling ads on his exams to cover the costs of printing them.

"It raises money for the teachers and it's amusing for the kids, so it seems like a win-win," said Luke Shaw, 18, a student at the suburban San Diego, California, school.

Parents and administrators also praise Farber, 47, for his creative classroom funding, but he doesn't want it to become the norm.

"My intention is, [selling ads] is a stopgap measure," said Farber. "I don't want to be doing this year after year."

Instead, he says, government must do more to help educators provide what students need.

Farber started letting parents and local businesses sponsor tests this fall after learning budget cuts would limit his in-school printing allowance -- tracked by the school's copy machines -- to $316 for the year. The cost of printing quizzes and tests for his 167 students will easily be more than $500, he said.

That meant Farber, whose courses prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam, would have to give fewer or shorter tests, or find money. Farber, who says 90 percent of his students got a 5 -- the top score -- on AP exams last year, said skimping wasn't an option.

"It has to be a certain quality, or they won't be ready," he said.

So Farber, who says he'd never asked for money from parents in his 18 years of high school teaching, pitched the ad idea to parents at a September back-to-school night. For checks made to the math department -- $10 a quiz, $20 a test or $30 for a final exam -- they could insert an inspirational quote -- their own or someone else's -- or a business advertisement at the bottom of the first page. Video Watch how teacher came up with ad idea »

Of the seven to run so far -- one per test or quiz -- five were quotes, and two were ads from local businesses connected to the parents or someone close.

"Brace yourself for a great semester! Braces by Henry, Stephen P. Henry D.M.D.," read one of the ads in small type at the bottom of a quiz's first page.

Farber said orders took off after recent media reports. He's collected more than $300, and he believes he'll top $1,000, with some ad buyers paying more than required. All amounts beyond his shortfall will cover colleagues' printing costs, he said.

Farber said students and parents have gotten a kick out of the sponsorships.

Student Scott Robison, 18, said: "I liked it because all the teachers complain about budget cuts, and he did something about it. It hasn't hurt in any way."

Luke Shaw's father, Jay Shaw, said he wants to sponsor a test next semester.

And while Jay Shaw praised Farber's idea, "It's just sad it came to the point where he needs to do that," he said.

Farber said he doesn't want quiz ads "to become the standard."

"What I'm doing now is ... dealing with the economic situation and making sure kids get what they need," Farber said. "Teachers shouldn't have to scrounge for funding. To me, this is what our government is for, to provide necessities, and that's why we pay taxes."

But California's budget crisis has forced Farber's school district, Poway Unified, to cut costs, district Superintendent Don Phillips said.

The California Federation of Teachers says the state cut more than $4 billion in education spending this year. Phillips said that when the district sought to chop $11 million from its $265 million annual budget, it wanted to keep teachers but cut other areas. Among the things to go was 30 percent to 40 percent of Poway schools' materials spending -- including copying.

Phillips praised Farber's ad idea as creative. But he said district officials are weighing whether to set guidelines, especially for business ads.

Farber said he'd prefer to keep ads to local "mom-and-pop" operations. He's accepting one from hair salon Fantastic Sam's, noting that although it's part of a chain, the store that's buying the ad is locally owned.

Farber and Phillips said they don't know of any Poway teachers wanting to replicate the ad idea, but they said educators there have long spent out-of-pocket for supplies.

Susan Carmon of the National Education Association said a 2003 study on the issue found U.S. teachers spent an average of $450 of their own money for school resources.

"You can only imagine -- with tighter school budgets in almost every state this year -- that this number can only get higher," Carmon said.

Fred Glass, the California Federation of Teachers' communications director, said things could get worse for teachers in the state, with California considering $2.5 billion in mid-year education cuts.

Glass said he hopes Farber's ad selling "will underscore for disinterested observers that this [funding shortfall] can't go on."

Glass said he wouldn't like to see any classroom ads. "The student needs not to be distracted by anything on the test. This is not instructionally sound," he said.

But he said he doesn't blame Farber.

"This teacher shouldn't be put in this position," Glass said.

To those who don't like his idea, Farber suggests asking legislators to better fund education or writing a check to a school.


Link (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/03/teacher.ads.on.tests/index.html)

So, how long is it till the students start taking out ad space to put in answers to the tests?

wow, that's just sad.

wow, that's just sad.
Agreed.
However, we've been flat-out told that supplies, particularly copy paper, is not going to be provided as much as it was before.

Add to this that the funds we were given to cover supplies -- last year, $260 per teacher -- has been cut to $150 per teacher.

To give you an idea... just getting the ink cartridges to run my printer for single copies (to be duped elsewhere) costs about $70 a shot.

So basically -- I get two sets of ink cartridges and.... I'm done.

Given that the printers at work are chronically out of ink or broken, making up tests and hand outs is... interesting.

My solution thus far -- pay for it out of pocket. :p

Link (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/03/teacher.ads.on.tests/index.html)

So, how long is it till the students start taking out ad space to put in answers to the tests?

Given that the teacher is printing the test, I'd say that risk is pretty low.


He should consider putting up an ad on donorschoose, but his idea seems to work as well.

Kudos to that teacher for not only managing to get his tests printed, but calling attention to how woefully underfunded many schools are.

Agreed.
However, we've been flat-out told that supplies, particularly copy paper, is not going to be provided as much as it was before.

Add to this that the funds we were given to cover supplies -- last year, $260 per teacher -- has been cut to $150 per teacher.

To give you an idea... just getting the ink cartridges to run my printer for single copies (to be duped elsewhere) costs about $70 a shot.

So basically -- I get two sets of ink cartridges and.... I'm done.

Given that the printers at work are chronically out of ink or broken, making up tests and hand outs is... interesting.

My solution thus far -- pay for it out of pocket. :p

Write the questions up on the board/call them out from your own sheet and have the students do the test on their own loose leaf. That was how it was done when I was in high school... 2 years ago. Rather embarrassing how in the 21st century instead of flying cars, first world nations can't even fund the educational system that should result in the home nuclear fission reactor and rocket shoes.

You wanna talk sad?

My university isn't even purchasing chalk anymore, even after the completion of a multi-million dollar parking structure AND multi-million dollar library addition. Along with the denial of another multi-million dollar gym project. Because, of course, they don't want to cut their own funding.

The fact that the engineering department in one of the best public engineering schools in America is impacted is sad enough.

Its ridiculous that teachers have to stoop so low just to print tests. We can afford hundreds of billions for useless conflicts and bankers that don't deserve it, but when it comes to the schools; this 'free and public education' that we all hold so fucking dear gets the shaft time and again, and again, and again, and add infinity.

You wanna talk sad?

My university isn't even purchasing chalk anymore, even after the completion of a multi-million dollar parking structure AND multi-million dollar library addition. Along with the denial of another multi-million dollar gym project. Because, of course, they don't want to cut their own funding.

The fact that the engineering department in one of the best public engineering schools in America is impacted is sad enough.

Not nearly as sad as high schools and elementary schools not being able to print tests.

Also, here's hoping Lays supports them finding the amplitude, phase and period of a Ruffles chip.

That's fucking crazy.
Not only because the system is so underfunded. Selling ad space on exam papers?!? Wow.
That country's in a worse state of decline than I thought.

While I applaud the teacher's clever way of making ends meet while raising public awareness - he couldn't have pulled that stunt over here, what with schools being neutral ground not to be used for advertising.

A couple of years ago, there was a debate whether companies could sponsor schools in exchange for advertising space - people didn't appreciate it.

You wanna talk sad?

My university isn't even purchasing chalk anymore, even after the completion of a multi-million dollar parking structure AND multi-million dollar library addition. Along with the denial of another multi-million dollar gym project. Because, of course, they don't want to cut their own funding.

The fact that the engineering department in one of the best public engineering schools in America is impacted is sad enough.
I bet they saved money and instead of using paint on the parking lot, they drew the lines with your chalk...

That's fucking crazy.
Not only because the system is so underfunded. Selling ad space on exam papers?!? Wow.
That country's in a worse state of decline than I thought.

While I applaud the teacher's clever way of making ends meet while raising public awareness - he couldn't have pulled that stunt over here, what with schools being neutral ground not to be used for advertising.

A couple of years ago, there was a debate whether companies could sponsor schools in exchange for advertising space - people didn't appreciate it.

We've had similar debates over here...advertising in schools isn't unprescidented...we see it in vending machines, yearbooks, and school newspapers...but this is the first instance I've seen it directly in the classroom

Not nearly as sad as high schools and elementary schools not being able to print tests.

You'd think that, for how much 20,000 students are paying in tuition, they'd be able to spend a teensy bit on chalk. I mean, 3/4 of the university uses dry erase markers. What's the savings on cutting this? $50?

You'd think that, for how much 20,000 students are paying in tuition, they'd be able to spend a teensy bit on chalk. I mean, 3/4 of the university uses dry erase markers. What's the savings on cutting this? $50?

You can do things about the ridiculous misappropriation of collegiate funds by joining student unions. Students in primary and secondary schools do not have that choice. You can picket your school; and if its that ridiculous I suggest you do, or you can transfer.

You can do things about the ridiculous misappropriation of collegiate funds by joining student unions. Students in primary and secondary schools do not have that choice. You can picket your school; and if its that ridiculous I suggest you do, or you can transfer.

Even collegiate student unions generally function as nothing more but managers of student entertainment. College administrators do nothing more than pander to the interests of their private and public funders.

And it is not as if there are any other schools that I can feasibly go to that will offer anything near the notoriety my current school gets for its engineering program at its cost.

Hopefully, when students start to protest rising tuition and parking costs, the teachers union will return the favor to us and join along.

Its ridiculous that teachers have to stoop so low just to print tests. We can afford hundreds of billions for useless conflicts and bankers that don't deserve it, but when it comes to the schools; this 'free and public education' that we all hold so fucking dear gets the shaft time and again, and again, and again, and add infinity.

Two things. One, funding education doesn't pay off politicians and their corporate masters as quickly as wars, corporate bailouts and bridges to nowhere.

Two. History has shown time and time again that one of the first signs of despotism is the marginalization and suppression of the intellectuals and informed people. Obviously they can't get away with killing them off in America. Too extreme. So they marginalize them instead. Idiots get government management jobs while the education budget gets slashed and filled with propagandist junk like ID. In the meantime, unthinking consumerism is promoted, resulting in a shrinking pool of people who actually care and can think their way out of a wet paper bag while the rest who might have cared but don't are anesthetized with blind consumerism.

Two things. One, funding education doesn't pay off politicians and their corporate masters as quickly as wars, corporate bailouts and bridges to nowhere.

Two. History has shown time and time again that one of the first signs of despotism is the marginalization and suppression of the intellectuals and informed people. Obviously they can't get away with killing them off in America. Too extreme. So they marginalize them instead. Idiots get government management jobs while the education budget gets slashed and filled with propagandist junk like ID. In the meantime, unthinking consumerism is promoted, resulting in a shrinking pool of people who actually care and can think their way out of a wet paper bag while the rest who might have cared but don't are anesthetized with blind consumerism.

I was trying to avoid the Tyranny by Majority argument.

Oooh, thanks for the idea, Sarkhaan. Waiting for my confirmation mail to donorschoose as we speak.

Write the questions up on the board/call them out from your own sheet and have the students do the test on their own loose leaf. That was how it was done when I was in high school... 2 years ago. Rather embarrassing how in the 21st century instead of flying cars, first world nations can't even fund the educational system that should result in the home nuclear fission reactor and rocket shoes.
I do that with my quizzes (5 questions, m/c or t/f).

With a final with long and short answer questions, or an essay test, not so easy.

Already I make one class set that two or more classes have to share... (that is, here's the paper, DON'T WRITE ON IT, write on looseleaf.)

You'd be amazed how many kids don't come with looseleaf or even a pen.

As a libertarian I strongly support this. What I oppose is the communistic policy of not privatising all space that remains in some public (i.e. socialistic) schools.

You'd be amazed how many kids don't come with looseleaf or even a pen.

No I wouldn't. I know how many students are like that. High school was only 5 years ago...

Its ridiculous that teachers have to stoop so low just to print tests. We can afford hundreds of billions for useless conflicts and bankers that don't deserve it, but when it comes to the schools; this 'free and public education' that we all hold so fucking dear gets the shaft time and again, and again, and again, and add infinity.
Don't forget the utterly useless and amazingly expensive standardized testing and the predictive and diagnostic assessments that McGraw-Hill and others are just getting SCADS of money selling to moronic "educational leaders" like Joel Klein, former US Assistant Attorney General and most recently chancellor of education of NYC.

WTF does an anti-trust lawyer know about education again?

Don't forget the utterly useless and amazingly expensive standardized testing and the predictive and diagnostic assessments that McGraw-Hill and others are just getting SCADS of money selling to moronic "educational leaders" like Joel Klein, former US Assistant Attorney General and most recently chancellor of education of NYC.

WTF does an anti-trust lawyer know about education again?

Absolutely fucking notta.

You'd be amazed how many kids don't come with looseleaf or even a pen.

Seeing as I'm usually one of them, no, I wouldn't be. :D

Oooh, thanks for the idea, Sarkhaan. Waiting for my confirmation mail to donorschoose as we speak.

An amazing concept of a website...teachers in my former school got everything from paper to field trips to a ping pong table.

Send me the link when you get something posted...I'll see what I can do to help :)

I was trying to avoid the Tyranny by Majority argument.

This isn't Tyranny by Majority. This is Tyranny by cultivated Apathy and Ignorance. It's better, because even if someone did care, nobody else would.

Ah the sad times. Get moar fundings please US education system.

Well why don't voters care more about education and start demanding that the man or women they vote for proimses to vastly increase educational funds?


No wait...that raise taxes...and who wants to give up some of their money for some other dude to lazy to go out and work his way through high school.


*Wonders if anybody will get that*

An amazing concept of a website...teachers in my former school got everything from paper to field trips to a ping pong table.

Send me the link when you get something posted...I'll see what I can do to help :)
Me too, helping I mean.

I'd do the same except that it a. probably wouldn't work in Japan, and b. Japanese parents are used to having their kids come home with envelopes from their teachers for money for whatever is needed.

Of course, Japan puts a high premium on education so...

You wanna talk sad?

My university isn't even purchasing chalk anymore, even after the completion of a multi-million dollar parking structure AND multi-million dollar library addition. Along with the denial of another multi-million dollar gym project. Because, of course, they don't want to cut their own funding.

The fact that the engineering department in one of the best public engineering schools in America is impacted is sad enough.

Your in America and your university still uses chalk?

You'd be amazed how many kids don't come with looseleaf or even a pen.

I still remember my High school days and I can't say I'm that surprised at either.

And I bet there were still kids who wrote on the test paper?

Your in America and your university still uses chalk?

Heh, yeah. It's only one class... which furthers the point that refusing to purchase chalk for the few professors that have to teach in the particular building I'm speaking of is ludicrous.

I still remember my High school days and I can't say I'm that surprised at either.

And I bet there were still kids who wrote on the test paper?
Of course. Even when I put in 24pt type letters, and use yellow highlighter over them, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.

Of course. Even when I put in 24pt type letters, and use yellow highlighter over them, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.We get zeroes if we right on a test paper that we're not supposed to write on. :(
And a detention for it, sometimes.

Edit: I have yet to receive a zero, but I have gotten a lot more detentions recently. It's jumped from two total in junior year to seventeen in the first semester of senior year. ...My teachers just hate me. :D

Of course. Even when I put in 24pt type letters, and use yellow highlighter over them, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.

lol, ah those were the days. But now being older I feel for you knowing that it infuriates you to no extent. (Not that I didn't do it on purpose but sometimes you just wouldn't think about it)

Heh, yeah. It's only one class... which furthers the point that refusing to purchase chalk for the few professors that have to teach in the particular building I'm speaking of is ludicrous.

Yeah ok fair enough strange that they aren't going to continue buying chalk.

We get zeroes if we right on a test paper that we're not supposed to write on. :(
And a detention for it, sometimes.

I'm sure Kat will also tell you that there are students who don't write their name on their test papers.

I remember one teacher who always got pissed off by it that she would have a place on top of the test to place our name and you got one mark for doing so.

Edit: I have yet to receive a zero, but I have gotten a lot more detentions recently. It's jumped from two total in junior year to seventeen in the first semester of senior year. ...My teachers just hate me. :D

Mine went the other way around, but then when I was at school I wanted to enjoy myself and if it meant staying back after school for an hour and ahalf than so be it. Gave me an oppurtunity to do homework :p

It used to infuriate me. Now it's more, "What? I expected you to read the directions? I bet your VCR flashes 12:00 continuously, doesn't it?"

My policy for dealing with papers without names is simple. I don't grade them, and the student gets a zero.

I bet your VCR flashes 12:00 continuously, doesn't it?"
You don't get blank looks when mentioning such archaic technology? :p

It used to infuriate me. Now it's more, "What? I expected you to read the directions? I bet your VCR flashes 12:00 continuously, doesn't it?"

lol

My policy for dealing with papers without names is simple. I don't grade them, and the student gets a zero.

Harsh, I remember a few teachers used to say this but then you would show that it was yours and they would give you the marks anyway.

We've had similar debates over here...advertising in schools isn't unprescidented...we see it in vending machines, yearbooks, and school newspapers...but this is the first instance I've seen it directly in the classroom
Yeah, we've had advertisements both in my US yearbook and my German yearbook. I don't find that a problem, seeing how they are to be considered "extra" school stuff.

But having to sell space so your kids could have an exam? That's just bad.