The problem with her contest to come up with world-changing ideas to fix education is that it perpetuates the notion that there is a fix we can put into schools to rescue "education." Well, that is simply misguided nonsense.
This contest, like RTTT (Race To The Top), pits schools against schools, districts against districts, states against states, and ultimately children against monied interests.
Advertising, branding, marketing and hype are not what America needs. We need clear, concise, precise conversations about some difficult realities that are creating such intractable problems.
Save your contests for the sports bar. Schools and children (not to mention teachers) deserve better.
Hi there,
I’m stopping by to let you know about a program that Pepsi recently launched called the Pepsi Refresh Project, where the company will be giving up to $1.3 million in grants monthly to fresh and new ideas. One category is solely dedicated to education, so I thought this would be something you'd be interested in learning about!
The Pepsi Refresh project is a crowd-sourced granting program where the public submits and votes on ideas, in various categories, that can change the world. Pepsi is investing more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas, big and small, that moves the community forward and allows ideas to turn into reality! They’re looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Ideas can be submitted monthly. The ideas with the most votes will receive grant funding. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it.
Even more exciting is that Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon are part of the Pepsi Refresh Launch Grant Challenge. They’ve released videos with their ideas to refresh the world and are asking Americans to decide which idea they’d like to see implemented. Take a look at their thoughts on the Pepsi Refresh Facebook page and vote for your favorite: http://bit.ly/bPpqyK
Thanks so much! If you prefer that I not contact you for promotions like this, please let me know and I'll remove you from my outreach list!
-Allison
