While it is true that school yearbooks and newpapers frequently carry advertising, students/parents have the choice to purchase those items. Students do not have the choice when taking a test. It's either accept the test paper or take an "0." Thus, the student becomes a captive audience for the advertiser.

Not just no - hell no. Are you kidding me with this? - Ads are a distraction. why did the league of nations fail? Hmmm let's see - hey look the a new version of civilization III came out - wow I can't wait to try that out. Oh what question was I on. Oh yeah league of nations - I wonder how the civ game would handle that, the Americans could probably take over the other countries then there would be no need of the league of nations - hee hee. OK now let's see...

I think NOT!!

I'm with Joanne.
There is no way I could advocate or even accept advertising in this manner and I cringe when I am at the local Little League field and see business signs on the fence around the diamond. Kids are bombarded by products everywhere they turn and the classroom -- and on a test, for god's sake -- is beyond the bounds of acceptable, in my opinion.

Kevin

Jeez, when I read the question for the poll, I actually had to read it twice just to make sure I was comprehending the question...What? Are you kidding me? Advertising on a test? I can see it now....two of the biggest advertisers might be the drug companies and food producers. The drug company might claim to the student, "Not doing so hot? you should ask your parents to put you on our new and improved medication therapy and improve your concentration so you can do well on tests!"
And an ad for food products..."Whoa there, little scholar! You should have had that energy drink this morning with your supersaturated - with - sugar - cereal. Imagine how that could improve your test scores".
Agreed, no, hell no!

Tests should not even have ads paid for by parents. Parents are "peer pressured" enough with yearbook add, school pictures, prom parties and on and on.

This sounds ridiculous- to advertise on TESTS! Can we at least make one safe sustainable boundary in our "lacking" public schools to protect students at this basic privacy level.
Someone mentioned students already get bombarded with so much advertising on a daily basis. ie..TV, Internet, Magazines, vehicles,music... just about everything!
Please, please, please help to secure our students privacy. Care for their rights not to be invaded when they are trying to be educated in a system that lacks so much leadership and vision.

I agree that there is often not enough money for materials, but advertising on tests seems like a really bad idea for a lot reasons. School districts, administrators, teachers, parents, and the public need to recognize that schools would have an adequate amount of funding IF it were spent more wisely. I see too much waste on my own campus and it all adds up. Subjecting students to something as subversive as advertising on tests is irresponsible, and if money is that tight, then there are bigger problems.

Staff comment:

"Rather than reach deeper into their own pockets, a few creative educators are waging grassroots fundraising efforts. Tom Farber, an Advanced Placement calculus teacher at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High School, made headlines recently when he asked parents and local businesses to sponsor his exams."

Take a look at a sample exam and how advertising benefited Farber's classroom at "How to Get Free Classroom Supplies." Some people sponsor a motivational quote!

Farber raised more than $625 -- enough to cover a year's worth of photocopies. "It's a sign of the times," he says. "When money is tight, you really have to be more creative."

Though I commend the teacher for finding an innovative and legal way to raise the funds he needs to help his students, I can't help but feel that it is the administrators, board office personnel and various legislators who should seek creative ways to fund the supplies that are critically needed in order for teachers to do the jobs they are trained to do. I was really blessed this year to have paper donated to my classroom by my student teacher's father. I was able to take care of my copy needs, and also help out a few of my colleagues.

I cannot think of any company in the private sector who expects its work to get done and increase the profit margin because the employees are out buying the supplies they need to make the company successful. All of us must learn to spend more wisely, and to promote conservation, such as utilities, which would help school systems in the long run.

I don't think a test is the place for an ad. It's too distracting for something that students should be focused on.

In response to a previous comment:
It's not the same as having billboard ads around a Little League diamond though. Youth sports are sponsored by the community to help fund them. They cost money to operate (more than just the cost to join the team...There's equipment, diamond rental, pizza nights, among other things). Having community sponsors/supporters for community youth activities is a good thing. It's ok for them to let you know they support a certain activity.