Conference on Commercialism in Education

Many in the educational community are concerned about the effects of supermarket voucher schemes in primary schools, junk food vending machines in PPP secondary schools and an increasing dependency on corporate funding in Higher Education. This conference will highlight the dangers for education in following a commercial agenda and explore positive responses from educators, parents and students to this trend.
“Education: Whose Business is it Anyway?” is supported by the School of Education TCD, Campaign for Commercial-Free Education, INTO, ASTI, IFUT, IPPN, Irish Heart Foundation, USI and SIPTU Education Branch. It will feature speakers from all areas of Irish education with the keynote address being given by Prof Alex Molnar of Arizona State University. Dr. Molnar is the leading U.S. expert on the commercialism of public education and author of School Commercialism: From Democratic Ideal to Market Commodity.

“Education: Whose Business is it Anyway?” is supported by the School of Education TCD, Campaign for Commercial-Free Education, INTO, ASTI, IFUT, IPPN, Irish Heart Foundation, USI and SIPTU Education Branch. It will feature speakers from all areas of Irish education with the keynote address being given by Prof Alex Molnar of Arizona State University. Dr. Molnar is the leading U.S. expert on the commercialism of public education and author of School Commercialism: From Democratic Ideal to Market Commodity.

To register for this conference please visit www.commercialfreeeducation.com.

Timetable
Convenor Mr. Eddie Holt, School of Communications DCU

Session 1: Commercialism Internationally and Nationally
10.00-10.10 Welcome & Introduction: Dr. Michael Shevlin, Head of School of Education, TCD.
10.10 -10.50 Keynote speech: “Commercialism in Education; an International Context.” Prof. Alex Molnar, Arizona State University.
10.50-11.00 Questions To the Keynote Speaker

11.00-11.20 Coffee Break On Campus

11.20-11.35 Speaker 1: “Commercial activity at primary and secondary school levels.” Joseph Fogarty, Campaign for Commercial-Free Education
11.35- 11.50 Speaker 2: “Funding: who pays for public education?” Mr. Peter Mullan, Senior Official INTO
11.50-12.05 Speaker 3: “The Implications of Commercialism for Higher Education in Ireland.” Dr. Kathleen Lynch, Chair of Equality Studies, UCD.

12.05 – 1.00 Lunch break Off Campus – not included in registration fee.

Session 2: Responding to Commercialism in Education.
1.00-2.15 Panel Discussion 1. Primary & Secondary Levels:
Speakers:
-Mr. Pat Cahill, Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland.
-Ms. Germaine Noonan, The Schools' Business Partnership, Business in the Community Ireland.
-Mr. Seán Cottrell, President Irish Primary Principals Network.
-Ms. Maureen Mulvihill, Health Promotion Manager, Irish Heart Foundation.
-Mr. Rory Hearne, conducting PhD research on Public Private Partnership Schools.

2.15-2.25 Comfort Break

2.25-3.40 Panel Discussion 2 Higher Education
Speakers:
-Mr. Austin Hanley, Head of Engineering, Athlone Institute of Technology
-Mr. Paddy Healy, Teachers Union of Ireland.
-Ms. Marnie Holborow, School of Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University
-Dr. Ted Fleming, Head of Department of Adult and Community Education, NUI, Maynooth.
-Ms. Katie Morrisroe, President, Union of Students of Ireland

3.40-4.15: Conclusion:
Dr. Peter Conroy, School of Education TCD
& Prof Alex Molnar Arizona State University.