Critics Want to Can Pizza Hut's Book it Program

Read the Book, Eat the Pizza. Is that so Wrong?

By Sarah Senghas, published Mar 05, 2007
Published Content: 103  Total Views: 137,884  Favorited By: 20 CPs
Rating: 4.3 of 5
You all know the program. It is in schools all over the Nation. But is Pizza Hut's Book It program a thing of the past? Since 1985, Pizza Hut has used the Book It incentive program to encourage kids to read. But with the rising obesity problem in children, is this program only adding to the problem? Some experts say that it is. Child development experts claim that the Book It program not only encourages unhealthy eating habits, it turns teachers into cooperate promoters (www.cnn.com).

Pizza Hut has built their Book It program up over the past 21 years to the enormous presence it now has in today's schools. Book It now reaches 22 million children each year through their program (www.northjersey.com). Susan Linn, a psychologist from Harvard University and co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood says that the program "epitomizes everything that's wrong with corporate-sponsored programs in school," Linn goes on to say In the name of education, it promotes junk food consumption to a captive audience ... and undermines parents by positioning family visits to Pizza Hut as an integral component of raising literate children," (www.northjersey.com).

Linn's group, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has called on parents and educators to put an end to the Book It program. Linn commented on schools' effort to eliminate soda consumption, and suggested that Pizza Hut pizza should be held under the same scrutiny (www.northjersey.com). In the past, activists have questioned the Book It program, it is only after the recent focus on childhood obesity that a formal effort to end the program has been considered (www.cnn.com).

Pizza Hut will not go quietly into the night, though. Through their Book It program, Pizza Hut has given away more than 200 million pizzas (www.cnn.com). The program has countless supporters, many of which hold powerful political and educational positions. Book It even earned a citation by president Reagan and his advisory committee in 1988 (www.northjersey.com).

Pizza Hut reaches 22 million children a year through the Book It program

Credit: Infopesha

Copyright: www.pizzahut.com

Takeaways
  • Pizza Hut has given away 200 million pizzas though the Book It program.
  • Some claim that this program adds to the obesity problem of today's youth.
  • Other critics say that Book It is another way that corperate America reaches children and families.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
 
 
Hi- I'm sorry for swearing. It's just that is the only way to explain what it is that Pizza Hut wants. Please excuse me- that was vulgar, dirty, and uncalled for. :-) And Rhonda J. Rains- just to clarify- that swear was not aimed at you, or anybody for that matter. My apologies. :-)

Posted on 04/20/2008 at 1:04:45 PM

 
I think this program is just plain embarrassing. My school participates in it, and since reading Chew On This, by Eric Schlosser, I am humiliated to think that my school is just paying to give Pizza Hut money to make kids fat, treat workers badly, and buy un-humanely slaughtered meat, all for the cover of "helping kids develop a love of reading." It's bribery! Rhonda J. Rains- Obviously the kid is not going to go by themselves to pick up the pizza, and an adult will go along. So the adult will figure "what the heck I might as well get something for dinner." So they will spend money buying the family pizza. All Pizza Hut wants is the parental money- they don't give a fuck if the kid learns to read or not. Sorry for swearing, but it's just the plain truth.

Posted on 04/20/2008 at 1:04:46 PM

 
Oops I forgot to add that it also can prompt a family night out to a restuarant now and then. It's good to get out with the family for dinner once in awhile and I for one am so busy it's hard to imagine the long drive (we live in the middle of nowhere) there and back so we rarely go out. However when it's for a reward I then feel I need to make sure she gets that reward and in turn we have a fun family night out.

Posted on 03/17/2007 at 1:03:00 PM

 
My daughter used to participate in this program at her old school. C'mon all she got was a tiny pizza for one. I surely don't think a child will get obese solely on their participation in this program. Another thing is my daughter LOVED working towards it. What's wrong with a special treat now and then for work well done? This person is just a pain in the butt and needs to go join that group that went crazy over the superbowl nipple incident, (and is also responsible for like 98% of the complaints about tv and radio) and then they can all go jump off a bridge :) Or maybe go start their own little community with no outside world influence and live happily ever after. I do not view it as a "bribe" I view these programs as "rewards". Kids THRIVE on getting rewarded for something they did and it build their self confidence.

Posted on 03/17/2007 at 1:03:00 PM

 
I didn't even realize you wrote for AC... Good article!

Posted on 03/10/2007 at 11:03:00 AM

 
I don't see what Linn's big deal is. I really don't. But, very interesting article!

Posted on 03/10/2007 at 9:03:00 AM

 
There are so many offers that get circulated through the school or the library. The book-it program is just one of many. Keeping track of all the reading logs makes reading into a chore, at least for the parent. It's sad that people feel they have to bribe kids to read with food and prizes.

Posted on 03/08/2007 at 8:03:00 PM

 
Yeah, I think the reason why the critics are picking on Pizza Hut is because the have the biggest, most wide-spread program in the U.S. Good point!

Posted on 03/05/2007 at 12:03:00 PM

 
It's interesting that they are the ones getting slammed. Braum's and KFC/Taco Bell have similar programs.

Posted on 03/05/2007 at 10:03:00 AM

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