Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), has announced a $1,000,000 advertising campaign to promote private/voucher schools in Milwaukee. As educators, we need to speak up for our schools now! Let's ask Mr. Sheehy to show the business community's support for public education by also conducting a $1,000,000 campaign to promote Milwaukee's public schools.
To request equal time and money to promote public schools, you can contact Tim Sheehy at 414-287-4125 or tsheehy@mmac.org.
Here's a sample script. Feel free to adapt it, but please focus on the fairness of also informing the community about our great public schools.
"Dear Mr. Sheehy: I'm proud to be an educator in MPS and believe the public deserves an equal opportunity to hear the great things going on in MPS, not just private schools. I think the business community should step up and conduct a $1,000,000 campaign to promote the positives of our public schools. I hope you'll work as hard to promote MPS as you have for voucher schools."
A January 29 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, "Promoting voucher schools," reported a $1,000,000 campaign which includes TV, radio, and print ads. The campaign is being financed by 3 foundations:
January 29 article, "Promoting voucher schools."
Talking Points (PDF) highlighting why MPS is the right choice for families.
Fact sheet (PDF) on the Voucher program.