As both students and teachers prepare themselves for the end of school, they await a year with fewer resources. Less funding, school days, and supplies means that the quality of kids’ education is in jeopardy. And with a growing demand on students to achieve greatness, what is the solution to our economic problem?

Increase in taxes? No. With hard times like these, no one is going to want to pay more (even for education). Demand a greater part of the fiscal budget? That seems unlikely with Congress having a hard time even trying to pass a balanced budget. The only solution, in my opinion, is to ask for donations from our country’s private sector.

Now, I don’t necessarily mean we should beg our parents and grandparents to hand over blank checks. Rather, we should turn to companies and corporations for sponsorships. Of course, we already have some company logos around campus (i.e. Nesquick, Gatorade, and Welch’s), but a just handful of companies won’t get us out of this deficit ditch. What our district needs is to accept sponsorships from a wide variety of corporations.

At the time being, we only allow corporations with “healthy” products display their logos on our campus so that we can prevent obesity among students. Yes, the baked Hot Cheetos have 20 less calories that the regular chip brand; for the most part, products here at school aren’t all that better than the ones that our now at our disposal. The fruit juice in the vending machine has the same sugar content as Coca-Cola and the V-8 fruit juices are as healthy as a box of Mike and Ikes (just look at the label). These “healthy” substitutions are hypocritical nonetheless and prevent schools from increasing their revenue.

I completely understand that the aim of the school district is to prevent children from accessing products that will negatively affect their health, but their approach is not working. However, Foothill in particular is less than five minutes walking distance from a grocery store, pizza place, Mexican restaurant, and a frozen yogurt hut; all of which have unhealthy products for the countless students who are eligible to leave campus during lunch. So while the school district may be able to shelter us from buying unhealthy food at school, there is no possible way for them to completely prevent kids from bringing unwholesome food on campus. This being said, it is time we embrace all of the economic opportunities at our schools disposal.

In my opinion, sponsorships from companies that produce products such as chips, soda, and candy can only help us. They will provide funds that will enrich educational opportunities.

Now, although our district should allow a greater variety of companies to be able to have their product on campus in return for a financial contribution, there should be a limit. Companies who contribute should not have a say in what is being taught nor should they have a say in the way faculty members teach. Also, products that are only available to people 18 and over (i.e. tobacco and alcohol) should not be advertised on campus. It’s bad enough that these tempting products are advertised around the clock, but to have them at school would worsen the situation.  

In these difficult times where schools find themselves lower on the list of importance, we should begin to embrace the economic opportunities that are at our disposal. Regardless of the situation, students will always find a way to get their hands on unwholesome foods, so the sooner schools realize this and allow companies to have more of their products on campus, the sooner our school will see an increase in cash reserves.