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This report discusses commercialism in schools and its possible connection to student health. Sections of the report are titled as follows: "The Context in Which School Commercialism Flourishes"; "Schoolhouse Commercialism: Marketing Methods"; "Nutrition-Related Marketing in Schools"; "Exclusive Agreements with Soft Drink Bottlers: Two Examples"; "Schools' Dilemma: Money or Health"; "The Money Children Spend"; "Health Policy Implications of Schoolhouse Commercialism"; "Community Opposition"; "Professional Guidelines"; "Legislation"; "Litigation"; and "The Research Needed." The report concludes that as recently as 20 years ago, there was a broad national consensus that public education should be free of commercial pressure on students. Research has documented, however, that pressure on schools to permit a broad array of marketing activities is now intense and pervasive. Appended are examples of school commercialism; examples of nutrition-related commercialism; and a summary of federal and state health-related legislation. (Contains 62 references.) (WFA)

This report highlights services and programs of the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office that provide access to postsecondary education, noting efforts to provide services efficiently through increased use of technology and collaborations. After an introduction which discusses the Office's functions, nine sections examine: (1) "Student Financing" (e.g., design for shared responsibility reduces postsecondary education financial responsibility for low and moderate income families); (2) "Student Tuition Reciprocity" (e.g., student participation in tuition reciprocity has steadily increased); (3) "Student and Parent Information" (e.g., early awareness programs expand information to students and parents); (4) "MINITEX Library Information Network" (e.g., which enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of libraries by expanding their access to information resources for users); (5) "MnLINK Library Information System" (e.g., a statewide virtual library with a single point of access to most major Minnesota library catalogs and state-licensed electronic resources); (6) "Learning Network of Minnesota" (which links public campuses, schools, and libraries); (7) "Consumer Protection" (which provides consumer assistance and protection for students and prospective students); (8) "Collection and Maintenance of Data" (e.g., most products such as publications, tables, and reports are available on a Web site); and (9) "Federal and State Grant Programs" (the Federal Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program and the Minnesota Postsecondary Service Learning Program). (SM)

Children Now is an independent children's advocacy group that promotes solutions to problems facing American children, with particular attention to the needs of those who are poor or at risk. The group provides policy expertise and up-to-date information on the status of children. Children Now's Children and the Media Program works to improve the quality of news and entertainment media both for children and about children's issues, paying particular attention to media images of race, class, and gender. The Media Program commissioned this report, recognizing the local news media's vital influence on social and political progress regarding children. The report analyzes how local news broadcasts across the country cover children and children's issues. A month of locally produced evening news programs on the three major networks in six cities--Atlanta, Boston, Des Moines, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle--constitutes the data. Data are analyzed in three sections concerning children in the news: frequency and story style; content; and convergence of race and ethnicity. Findings indicate that children receive scant attention in local news stories, accounting for only 10 percent of all news stories. When children are covered, crime receives the most coverage--almost half of the total, followed by health, lifestyle issues, education, and politics and economics. Few stories focus on public policy issues. Children in these news stories are most likely to be depicted as victims. Youth of color account for slightly more than one third of news stories about children; most of these involve African American children. Latino and African American children are somewhat more likely to be placed in the context of explicit violence. The report recommends greater breadth and balance in news media's coverage of children and children's issues in order to improve children's self images and assist policymakers, community members, and the public making informed decisions for children's well-being. (JPB)

A study examined the type and extent of consumer education that occurred since the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) amended the 1972 federal safety standards (effective January 1997) to permit marketing of snug-fitting, nonflame-resistant cotton garments as sleepwear. Three voluntary point-of-sale (POS) practices recognized as important for informing consumers about the new standard were investigated: removable information labels, signs or educational brochures on children's sleepwear safety standards, and display of children's sleepwear separately from other types of children's apparel. Findings were based on shopping visits to 70 retail stores in 14 metropolitan areas nationwide. Informational hangtags were used in about 73 percent of various brand selections of snug-fitting garments. However, the full range of suggested POS practices had not been widely used. Fewer than 16 percent of the stores visited displayed either consumer education brochures or signs about sleepwear safety requirements; about 63 percent of the stores displayed other clothing on racks with sleepwear--a practice that has been shown to cause consumer confusion. Manufacturers and retailers reported a primary reason they had not been more aggressive in offering consumer information was the uncertain future of the standards. Because standards could be revised or revoked, expenditure of additional resources on education efforts did not make good business sense. (The scope and methodology are appended.) (YLB)

Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC) is a substance widely used in children's products. Because children in contact with these products may ingest substantial quantities of potentially harmful chemicals during normal play, especially when they chew on the product, this Greenpeace study examined the levels of lead and cadmium in a variety of consumer products. A collection of 131 PVC products, including clothing, backpacks, toys, and household items, were purchased (in the Chicago area) at national chain stores such as K-Mart, Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us. Findings indicated that about 20 percent of the products contained from 100 to over 22,000 parts-per-million lead, with 18 percent of the products exceeding the maximum lead limit recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. All the lead-containing products contained varying levels of cadmium, a known carcinogen. The study was replicated with the same results with products purchased in California, 10 major U.S. cities and Montreal, Canada. Several products released lead- or cadmium-contaminated dust over a 4-week period. (Additional materials appended to this report include a consumer bulletin, the summary of an additional study on the level of phthalates in PVC products, a scientific contact list, and background information on soft PVC toys. Five separately issued news releases, fact sheets, and copies of newspaper articles are appended; they discuss: lead and cadmium toxicity, exposure, and regulation; the reason for the Greenpeace investigation; regulation of lead in vinyl products, stabilizers in PVC, and the materials and methods used in the study. Contains about 35 references.) (KB)

Rather than viewing Channel One's World Wide Web site as an authentic news bureau, as the organization claims, it is better understood as an advertising delivery system. The web site is an attempt to expand Channel One's reach into schools, taking advantage of unsuspecting teachers and students who might fall prey to spurious claims. This paper recommends that teachers find alternative, reliable news sources that seek to educate and inform young people, not to market to them. The paper provides a detailed description and analysis of content on Channel One's web site and American Online (AOL) area, including: (1) promotion of Channel One activities and people (such as web schools and contests); (2) information about news topics; and (3) information solicitations from students. It also describes the use of advertising banners, multi-layered marketing, and self-promoting links. Appendices present a sample Channel One survey and a news article on advertising in schools. (EV)

The Centre for Information Quality Management (CIQM) was set up by the Library Association and UK (United Kingdom) Online User Group to act as a clearinghouse to which database users may report problems relating to the quality of any aspect of a database being used. CIQM acts as an intermediary between the user and information provider in obtaining solutions and collects statistics on database quality issues which they provide to the information industry. CIQM has proposed "Data Labelling" as a means by which users can be made aware of database capabilities and limitations. Database Labels are short specifications that include a qualitative assessment of a database's performance. Labels would be created by the information provider and include a complete statement of subject coverage, the total number of records, detailed geographic, language and time coverage, and simple statements of policy on points such as indexing and inclusion. Labels would have a uniform appearance in order to distinguish them from other documentation, and would be generated regularly, ideally with each product update. If Labels were accredited by an impartial agency, their value would be significantly enhanced, and Labels would then serve as a guarantee of product quality. Ways to implement labeling, implications, and barriers are discussed. (SWC)

Assurance of an adequate and safe supply of food at a reasonable price is consumers' primary stake in the outcome of 1995 farm bill deliberations and related food and agricultural policies. Farm programs have provided an economically stable environment wherein farmers produce an abundance of food. The declining portion of household budgets required to purchase food has fueled the economic growth of the nation itself, transferring expenditures to durable goods, health care, and high technology. Food assistance programs are more than half of all expenditures on food and farm programs. In Congress the coalition wherein urban legislators supported rural farm programs in exchange for urban food program support is collapsing. The cost of food commodities is less than 24 percent of the cost of food. The system is no longer producer driven; retailers have supplanted farmers in the industrialization of agriculture. This fundamental transition demands changes in public policies and institutions to protect and inform consumers. Three policy areas of particular concern to consumers are food safety (quality and regulation), nutritional knowledge and information, and public research and product development. Contains nine references. (JAT)

This report discusses forces that are shaping alternative approaches to the delivery of postsecondary education, particularly distance education and open learning. One of these forces is the ever-changing composition of the student body, whose demands are increasing and whose needs are becoming more disparate because of a more and more sophisticated labor market. Distance education is being used successfully as a more cost- effective and less labor-intensive way in which to educate large numbers; in view of that trend tailored solutions for affordable student-centered education and some stylized models for open universities are provided. In addition to sketching background information, this report also explores specific issues regarding oversight of open-learning programs by the state government for consumer protection, the logistics of credit transfer and credentialing, and strategic considerations for implementing open learning situations and technologies. (BEW)

This document contains 29 two-page reports on credit, business credit, direct marketing, and real estate data prepared by the credit reporting company, TRW, for consumers. Topics covered are the following: consumer credit reports, how to obtain a copy of a consumer credit report, how credit bureaus compile consumer credit reports, the role of consumer credit bureaus, the benefits of consumer credit reporting, how companies make credit-granting decisions, how divorce affects consumer credit, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and consumers' rights, fair information practices, risk scores, credit repair clinics, account monitoring, cosigning a loan, correcting an error in a consumer credit report, direct mailing lists, questions about consumer credit reporting, employer use of credit reports in hiring decisions, combating credit fraud, preapproved credit offers, fair information values, business credit reports, how personal credit data helps business owners, TRW's role in mailing list preparation, how to "opt out" of direct marketing lists, how names get on mailing lists, fair information practices, how TRW facilitates real estate transactions, and how information providers help consumers buy and sell property. (KC)

It is argued that, if Australian universities are seen as businesses and students as consumers of their services, universities must address the legal consequences of the business/consumer relationship. Two areas of law affecting possible liability in higher education--misleading/deceptive conduct and the requirements of natural justice and procedural fairness--are examined. (MSE)

This report describes a project designed to educate adult education staff on legal issues that affect students so that staff could instruct and support students on the problems they faced. Staff were trained to help students recognize which problems they could handle and which required professional legal consultation. Six workshops (3 hours each) were presented on these legal issues, which were identified as areas of need: family law; housing law; public benefits; health law; consumer law; and employment law. Over 20 adult educators and literacy providers attended each workshop. A training packet was developed as a prototype for inservice training elsewhere. In addition, three student workshops were offered. The 14-page report is accompanied by appendixes that contain the following: public relations/publicity materials and communications dealing with staff development and student workshops; staff development and student workshop evaluations; and all training materials in reproducible form for the staff development workshops on all 6 issues and student workshops on benefits, family law, and housing law. These workshop materials include content outlines, handouts, and sample forms. (YLB)

In the United States, people have become resistant to advertising because they live surrounded by messages. However, in China, the average viewer is relatively naive about the use of commercial messages. An attempt was made to teach Chinese college students semiotic analysis of television commercials. Observations of Chinese television were made to record the types of appeal, the use of symbols, products being marketed, and the timing of commercials and programs. Thirty-six undergraduate students kept logs of the programs and advertising they watched (approximately 900 advertisements). They were instructed to analyze the commercials in terms of H. A. Murray's list of appeals. Students initially were skeptical that commercials contained emotional appeals but learned to recognize and accept their presence. In some cases, presentations were actually counter to Chinese culture. Student response indicates the enthusiasm with which these students became aware of techniques and appeals being used to entice them. When this aspect of visual literacy can be related to Chinese traditions of storytelling, literature, and art, a new Chinese cultural media literacy will emerge. (Contains 5 references.) (SLD)

Validity and reliability data are presented for two instruments for assessing the predispositions that people have toward the use of assistive and educational technologies. The two instruments, the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATDPA) and the Educational Technology Predisposition Assessment (ETPA), are self-report checklists with a consumer form and a version to be completed by professionals. The instruments are designed to identify for consumers of technology, their families, and advocates likely sources of mismatches between the user and the technology. Criterion-related validity was assessed for the ATDPA by asking 12 older adults with hearing loss and 8 members of a continuing education group to complete the instrument and a battery of 8 other tests. Results suggest the ATDPA's value in assessing factors involved in device use. The criterion-related validity of the ETPA was supported by results with 52 college students (26 hearing impaired), including an evaluation of hypercard use. The interrater reliability of the ATDPA was studied with 30 professionals rating 3 potential users, and that of the ETPA was studied through responses of 24 raters (music education undergraduates) rating 2 potential users. Both instruments seem to do a good job assessing the predispositions toward technology use of potential consumers. Six tables present study findings. There is a three-item list of references and an appendix containing the interview questions for the ETPA criterion-related validity study. (SLD)

This essay examines ethical considerations in the nurse patient relationship, in particular the relationship between "professional morality" and the nurse's professional identity in the role of advocate for doctors, patients, and hospitals. A discussion of ethics and professionals explores professional ethics, the need for such ethics, and their expression in licensing and certification, where it is recognized that consumer interests are primary. The paper then expands on the notion of the nurse as professional and the definition of consumer protection interests. This section examines the four quintessential ethical duties that nurses owe their clients: autonomy, nonmalfeasance, beneficence, and justice; discusses the conflicts in the "right-to-die" movement; and lists solutions to ethical dilemmas. The following section explores three models by which nurses construe their professional relationships with patients: the nurse bureaucrat or hospital advocate, the nurse as physician advocate, and the nurse as patient advocate. The essay goes on to present an argument for the moral superiority of the nurse patient advocate model based on the importance of informed consent and nurses' frequent encounters with informed consent. A final section examines nursing curricula in light of the nurse as patient advocate model. Included are 14 references. (JB)

A study was undertaken of proprietary school oversight and regulation in order to seek ways to improve state oversight of the proprietary sector. Twenty states participated in the study which used questionnaires sent to key state contact persons, telephone interviews conducted primarily with persons who had received the questionnaires and documents submitted by questionnaire filers and interviewees. The study found several principles upon which to base strengthened state licensing reform: license to operate a postsecondary institution must be conditioned on a reasonable expectation of business viability and success; in the event of school closure or failure, students must be financially protected and given the opportunity to complete their program of study; the state role in oversight and regulation involves assuring both consumer protection and educational quality; state financial support for licensing standards must be adequate to ensure proper enforcement; standards must be fair and equally applied, and coordination and consolidation of state licensing should be implemented to the greatest extent possible. Appendixes contain summary results, a copy of the questionnaire, a list of participants, and examples of current regulation from five states. (JB)