Advertising is everywhere. I remember when I was teaching some years ago, and focusing on literacy and numeracy I tried to explain to my adult students (they were a disadvantaged group – most had left school early), how important the ability to read, and write was in modern society.

I divided the class into two groups and sent them around the neighbourhood in a planned route. One went clockwise and they were asked NOT to READ any signs, or posters etc. The other group had to go anticlockwise and they were asked to NOTE any signs, words, posters and so forth that they saw on the route.

The group asked NOT to read, came back disappointed because there were signs everywhere. The shops had advertising posters, the passing traffic had lots of words – advertising mainly, on trucks and buses etc. They could not avoid the signs – they were there “in their faces” so to speak.

The group asked to NOTE everything, came back with huge lists – from road signs, warning signs, advertising and so forth.

It stimulated good discussion on literacy and numeracy and advertising.

Advertising is everywhere and often it is quite subtle. One doesn’t “read” the advertising messages but we “see” them and often they are indelibly imprinted in our memories.

One thing that I did notice when I was overseas – the trains that I travelled in Los Angeles did not have any advertising. There was none in the train stations – whereas here at home the trains are full of advertising posters, as are the stations.

I don’t recall if they had advertising in London. I seem to think they did.