Chevrolet Volt Heads to School Show-and-Tell Event

DETROIT — In a blatant bid to win the hearts and minds of kids too young to drive or own a car, General Motors announced on Monday that the Chevrolet Volt will be the centerpiece of the "world's largest school show-and-tell" on November 30. The November 30 assembly is open via Webcast to middle schools across the country.

In what may be a first, the automaker said it will provide a lesson plan to teachers about the Volt with the help of Weekly Reader, an educational materials developer better known for math curriculum and vocabulary tests.

"Today's middle school students are tomorrow's leaders, so Chevrolet is teaming up with Weekly Reader to provide a fun yet educational experience themed around electricity," said Maria Rohrer of Chevrolet in a statement. "Electricity is the new fuel of the 21st century and will help shape the future of the automobile."

The unusual marketing move by Chevrolet smacks of a national address to students by President Obama that kicked off the 2009-'10 school year. Critics decried that address as an "indoctrination plan" for students. Obama's speech also included a lesson plan for teachers that suggested the students write letters to themselves on how to help the president.

Chevy said its show-and-tell Volt event will cover the "basics of electricity, why it's important and how it can be used to transform the way we drive." The actual event will take place at the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. The assembly is open to middle schools across the country, as well as the public. Schools can register to watch the Web cast by 10 p.m. PST November 29.

Lesson plans can be downloaded at ChevroletVoltage.com.

Inside Line says: Does this now mean that every automaker with a new product to shill can have equal time in the classroom? It's a scary day for American education. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent