As faculty and staff members at an elementary school, we are involved in a constant process of trying to provide good role models and teach children to make wise behavior choices. We are appalled at the decision made by Smith's to allow blatant advertisement of Marlboro cigarettes across the fronts and on all the carrying baskets in their stores. Large logos are at the eye level of children and are carried as people shop throughout the stores.
One of us was dispatched to inquire about this. A manager at the store told us that he shared the same feelings, and that we should write to Shelley Thomas at corporate headquarters. This we plan to do. However, the clincher was this: He said that the store makes money from big product advertisers and that this decision would have been made for that reason alone.Come on, Smith's. Surely you have better ways to make megabucks than to do it by preying on impressionable children. It is our hope that every reader will approach his/her nearest Smith's manager and apply pressure to get rid of this advertising. (And write to Shelley Thomas, too). Some things are ridiculously reprehensible.
Sherry McMullin
and 15 additional signatures
Parkview Elementary School