Teacher sells ad space on calculus test
25 November, 2008, 10:30
A California math teacher has come up with a new way to multiply much needed revenue for his San Diego area school.selling ad space on exam papers.
California, if it were a country instead of a state, would have between the fifth and tenth largest GDP in the world.
Yet, somehow, California has a decrepit, money deprived school system that has trouble paying for basic classroom necessities.
Calculus teacher Tom Farber finds the budget shortcomings don't add up to the needs of the students. He finally decided to take matters into his own hands and at a recent teacher-parent meeting asked if any parents would be willing to sponsor tests.
“It's pretty standard that we don't have enough money from the state for supplies every year,” said Farber, who teaches in Poway just north of San Diego – one of the counties most affluent districts and home of punk rockers Blink-182.
“But this year was the worst ever. This is the first time I've ever addressed the budget with parents,” he added.
That first night he collected $US 270. For him, this was a killing. After calculations, Farber realized that for all the tests, quizzes, and final examinations, paper ends up costing $270.54 per semester.
The school allocates him $158.10 a semester for paper.
While every other aspect of life seems to be dominated by corporate sponsorship, Farber thought that maybe he could use the idea to divide money to people who really need it, especially in neighborhoods that aren't as fortunate to have affluent families.
“Hey, I've got smart kids – and good kids – and the parents don't generally have to worry about these kids studying hard and getting good grades,” he says. “But when I look at the budget situation and how it hits here, I can't help but be concerned about how this affects schools where the parents don't have the means to step in.”
The going rate for an advert is $10 for a quiz, $20 for a test and $30 for the crème de la crème, the final exam.
Sponsors are allowed one line at the bottom of the first page. Some opt for inspirational quotes, while others fraction their ad into promotion and inspiration.
“Brace Yourself for a Great Semester!” Braces by Henry, Stephen P. Henry, D.M.D.," read one ad for a dentist.
It's difficult to tell whether this is a sine of things to come. But for now, students can rest assured that they'll still get to take that test on 'inverse functions and differentiation' come Friday morning.
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