Unnecessary Consumerism in our Schools

I really enjoyed our group discussion on Tuesday's class about consumerism in America's schools today.  We first discussed how much children are being targeted over the years, without even realizing it.  In schools everywhere there are advertisements that are specifically aimed for children, and for children only. Teachers use rewards such as Snickers, Twix, etc. to promote learning and for external reinforcements.  Is this a problem though?  If this is what really works for children, then in my opinion it is fine, but to a certain point.  Teachers should know the line between what and where is too much.  Also, I think there is a line for the age that this reward system continues into.  For young children, this seems to be a great way to get them engaged and excited for learning.  However, children need to also  come to the point where they are rewarded just for the sake of achievement and success in their academics.


Another topic that we discussed was the fact that even beginning at a young age, children are being taught that their education is to gain a career and make money.  I mean, this is very true in a way but there are also many other important factors that should be included in their education.  In my opinion, not everything is about money but that is just how I was brought up in my family.  Ultimately though in our country, we are striving to gain education in order to obtain a career, make more money, and therefore consume more goods.


In our country today we are consumed by the fact that "brand names are better than generic brands."  I am not going to lie I am exactly this way.  There has even been certain examples where I will be in a store, compare the both, find that they are the exact same, and I will still pay more for the brand name.  Why are we like that?  I believe it is because TV, media, newspapers, etc. have constantly pounded into our heads that these are better and more efficient.  In our group we discussed that brands even become apart of our identities.  We have come to need them in our lives and they make us feel much more better, comfortable, and content.


Our group ended our conversation discussing the case in Cleveland where the child was taken away from his parents.  He was taken away from them because he had become so obese in their care, that it was to the point where social services thought he was in danger.  He was then given to a caretaker in Columbus where he began to lose some weight and get back to a normal life.  When is it okay to take away a child from their parents?  In this case, doctors thought his parents were neglecting him and therefore that was a reason for him to be taken away.  However, what kind of damage did the child then endure socially, emotionally, etc?  I feel that this is an extremely touchy subject, but in my opinion I agree with the child finally being taken away.  His parents were indeed putting his life endanger.