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VANOC seeks to influence school programming
by mtippett | June 13, 2008 at 07:44 am | 400 views | 7 comments
More Olympic hijinks...
According to CP, VANOC is moving aggressively to provide "lesson plans" to teachers in grade schools, high schools and universities that focus on the Olympics. The organization has an entire section of their website, along with a newsletter, dedicated to encouraging teachers to adopt pro-Olympic advertising as part of their curriculum.
Although VANOC denies a tie between their school programming and Olympic sponsor target audiences, child-focused Olympic sponsors including Coca-Cola and McDonalds Restaurants probably aren't disappointed with the venture.
Fortunately, the Vancouver School Board, at least, appears to be taking a cautious approach to the materials. Ken Denke, a trustee with the VSB, apparently told CP that "We're concerned about the whole issue of the ethics of the Olympics, of having the Olympics, all these matters that may be quite controversial but they provide very good learning opportunities and development of critical skills in students."
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June 13, 2008 at 07:44 am by mtippett, 400 views, 7 comments
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Comments (7)
at 16:50 on June 12th, 2008
'Hey, VANOC, Leave those kids alone!'
at 00:11 on June 13th, 2008
mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 01:56 on June 13th, 2008
good ,i like it
at 11:41 on June 13th, 2008
Does this mean that kindergarten kids in BC will able to spell g-r-i-d-l-o-c-k?
at 15:42 on June 13th, 2008
From what I have seen there is no advertising referenced in the materials. Then what is wrong with educating our kids about the Olympics and the Olympic Movement? The message of the Olympics is a positive one. I wish teachers would stop playing politics and teach what the majority of parents want their children to learn. The majority of British Columbians, by the way, are in favour of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
at 15:57 on June 13th, 2008
Don't get me wrong. I'm all in favor of providing kids with an education but don't you think it's weird that the information about the Olympics would come from VANOC? Is this the body who is best positioned to present a balanced view of the 'movement'? Seems like common sense to me, no? There are, after all, many diverse opinions here.
at 18:16 on June 13th, 2008
Yes,
I do think it is appropriate for VANOC (as the offiicial Olympic Committee in Canada) to provide educational material. As a matter of fact I would say it is their responsibility. There may be many opinion here but most people support the 2010 Olympics and I would say almost everyone supports the Olympic Miovement. More specifically, I would chance a guess that most of the perents of school-aged children who would tend to be more conservative, hard-working pragmatic types support our Olympics. Who would you have generate material? The APC? The Teachers Union? The NDP? Particularly for younger students the focus should be the spirit of the games and not the politics. Depending on the age of the students it is appropriate to open the discussion to the broader social issues that surround these games but the core material should come from VANOC.