McDonald's clown gets boot from...

[dr_bar]

I can just hear the presentation....

"Hey boys and girls, keep fit and come to McDonald's for lunch..."


Monday, Nov 20, 2006
McDonald's clown gets boot from New Brunswick elementary classrooms


FREDERICTON (CP) - New Brunswick's Education Department has given the boot to the corporate clown in the big red shoes.
Education officials say Ronald McDonald, the clown mascot for fast-food giant McDonald's, sends contradictory and confusing messages during his appearances in elementary schools to promote fitness and healthy eating.

The department has sent a memo to all school districts advising them that the McDonald's clown is inconsistent with the fitness goals and objectives of the province's school system.

Premier Shawn Graham, a former gym teacher, is promising to beef up physical education programs in schools in an effort to curb the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Although the schools will drop classroom appearances by Ronald McDonald, a spokesman for the Fredericton district says schools will continue to participate in a McDonald's-sponsored fitness program.

The program rewards schools with credits towards the purchase of gym equipment.

[JC Viper]

Ronald McDonald is not representing any health lifestyle, he's just there to make the joint kid friendly before all this obesity problems got out.

This is just as bad as Cookie Monster being forced to eat only one cookie and more fruits.

President Taft would be ashamed...

[storysunfolding]

President Taft would be ashamed...

Yeah but no one's seen him since he got stuck in that SECOND bathtub

[CNF2002]

The clown has no business in schools. There is nothing about McDonald's that is associated with health or fitness. It is heavily saturated, greasy, high-calorie dense food packaged as a daily meal, for breakfast lunch and dinner. Sticking some wilted salads on your menu doesn't make you a good place to eat.

McDonald's sponsors these programs because, regardless of what Ronald the clown says about health and fitness, it gets children to like McDonald's and associate with the brand...which means they'll be begging their parents to go there more. And when they get there, do they get healthy foods? No, it's 500 calorie cheesburgers and a bag of 600 calorie french fries deep fries in trans fat oils. Wash it down with a 150 calorie sugar-laced coca cola. Want a non-dairy 500 calorie milk shake for dessert?

Congradulations kids, you just ate your entire days worth of calories and got 10% of your necessary daily vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Now go leach off the health care system and complain about your mythical thyroid problems.

What gets me is how any school administration can be dumb enough to let a fast food mascot come in and talk about health. The marketing department at McDonald's just wants to get their name in the door and on their children's minds...Ronald could be teaching a German history class, it wouldn't matter to them!

[-Holiday]

Maybe next time they'll bring in the Camel Cigarettes Camel to teach the kids about jogging to stay fit.

[CNF2002]

What erks me is that this so-called school official is fine with show-boating him kicking out the Ronald mascot but then he still takes McDonald's money for gym equipment. You think McDonald's does this because it wants to help out schools? You think it cares about kids working out? No...they'll expect something in return, like advertising. Logos and other branded materials are going to end up in that school. And in the end $20,000 of gym equipment is pocket change compared to the life-long consumers they are going to train to recognize and crave McDonald's right through elementary into college.

And by then they'll be able to charge their food to the new McDonald's credit card (don't believe me? just wait). Forget a 5 minute silence or prayer, or pledging allegiance to the flag, the principal will come over the announcement every morning thanking McDonald's for their generosity, "Good morning kids, its a great day for a cheeseburger, I'm lovin it."

Look at the whole Channel One fiasco. It was shoved at schools to help bring kids news in the day and give money to schools. How? By advertising of course, heavy product placement, genuine ads, and fake news stories centered around commercial products.

I hope the parents of this school write in to thank the administration for selling out their kids for a set of dumbbells.

[9000white]

The Sky is Falling!!!!!!!!!!

[-Holiday]

What erks me is that this so-called school official is fine with show-boating him kicking out the Ronald mascot but then he still takes McDonald's money for gym equipment. You think McDonald's does this because it wants to help out schools? You think it cares about kids working out? No...they'll expect something in return, like advertising. Logos and other branded materials are going to end up in that school. And in the end $20,000 of gym equipment is pocket change compared to the life-long consumers they are going to train to recognize and crave McDonald's right through elementary into college.

And by then they'll be able to charge their food to the new McDonald's credit card (don't believe me? just wait). Forget a 5 minute silence or prayer, or pledging allegiance to the flag, the principal will come over the announcement every morning thanking McDonald's for their generosity, "Good morning kids, its a great day for a cheeseburger, I'm lovin it."

Look at the whole Channel One fiasco. It was shoved at schools to help bring kids news in the day and give money to schools. How? By advertising of course, heavy product placement, genuine ads, and fake news stories centered around commercial products.

I hope the parents of this school write in to thank the administration for selling out their kids for a set of dumbbells.

conspiracy theory much?


this entire thing reminded me of another example of a large food corporation getting involved in the upbringing of AMURIKA's children.

There was a program when I was in elementary school in the early 80's that was sponsored by Pizza Hut.

Basically, if I (as an elementary schooler) read a book, and then wrote a report about it, I'd get a coupon for a free personal sized pan pizza. My mom actually still has one of them laying around somewhere with my name on it. Maybe I should try to go use it eh?

Anyhow, to this day know where the red fern grows. I know all about a pig named Wilbur and Charlotte's web. I know not only of the man, but the myth, as well as the legend that was Vince Lombardi. I also know more about all three Hardy Boys then i really wish to.

I learned that there CAN be too much of a good thing. I also learned that its not nice to slap your friend across the face with a hot piece of Pizza because it can burn and you can be sent to the principles office for that.

Oh, I also learned how to write a report on a book just by reading the summary on the inside jacket.

THANK YOU PIZZA HUT!!!

[CNF2002]

What erks me is that this so-called school official is fine with show-boating him kicking out the Ronald mascot but then he still takes McDonald's money for gym equipment. You think McDonald's does this because it wants to help out schools? You think it cares about kids working out? No...they'll expect something in return, like advertising. Logos and other branded materials are going to end up in that school. And in the end $20,000 of gym equipment is pocket change compared to the life-long consumers they are going to train to recognize and crave McDonald's right through elementary into college.

And by then they'll be able to charge their food to the new McDonald's credit card (don't believe me? just wait). Forget a 5 minute silence or prayer, or pledging allegiance to the flag, the principal will come over the announcement every morning thanking McDonald's for their generosity, "Good morning kids, its a great day for a cheeseburger, I'm lovin it."

Look at the whole Channel One fiasco. It was shoved at schools to help bring kids news in the day and give money to schools. How? By advertising of course, heavy product placement, genuine ads, and fake news stories centered around commercial products.

I hope the parents of this school write in to thank the administration for selling out their kids for a set of dumbbells.

conspiracy theory much?

Are you kidding? This isn't a conspiracy theory, it's basic advertising principles. Advertising to children is a huge market, people make a living just sitting around thinking of ways to get kids to desire certain products. Creating brand loyalty is not a conspiracy, its what every brand advertiser is trying to do! It's their job description! Ever noticed a significant shift in advertising lately?

Wonder why mothers are always featured with the kids on commercials? Because statistically, mom shops with and for the kids more often. That's changing now that advertisers realize they can direct their ads at children instead, coercing parents to purchase by kid nagging alone. Wonder why you see an SUV commercial with a smiling kid in the back during a power rangers show? Why do teletubbies eat french fries?

Kids are a huge influence on what adults purchase. Did you know that more than half of all children are given a say in what vehicle the family buys? Some incredible 10% (I'm working from memory) of children under 15 actually select the type of car the family buys.

Why do you think the grocery store completely rearranges its inventory every 6 months?

No need to pick up a conspiracy book, just grab Advertising 101, it will tell you all the tricks on how to manipulate people into buying products.

As for the credit card, everyone is jumping on that bandwagon. And they all use the exact same business model. Offer a 10% discount for signup, inflate the interest, create a long-term store-loyal customer. They make that 10% back ten fold within a year (mostly because those who sign up for those cards usually do not have the best credit, resulting in high interest, and do not pay off their card bills monthly).

[Shorts]

I haven't eaten MCDonalds in over 5 years - there's even one here in JPN just a mile down the street. Its sickening, literally. I get sick from eating McDs. Its not appealing, what so ever..watery cheesbergers If I was starving I wouldn't eat it.


Its all about MONEY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ If you supply it, we'll support it kinda attitude.