Historical November 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
During a recent conversation with a Times board member, I was pleased to learn that she and her husband limit their sons’ television viewing to no more than a couple hours per week.
She was tired of television’s shrillness as well as the constant commercialism.
I was excited about her stance for another reason.
It is my fervent belief, now backed by some scholarly studies, that television viewing detracts from academic performance.
I certainly have found this phenomenon at each of the three universities where I have taught over the past twelve years. And, it’s getting worse. Constant television viewers often are poor readers. Their attention span is poor and they seem to want everything wrapped up in thirty minutes or an hour.
My colleague says that when one is watching TV, brain waves are flat. Reading produces clear evidence of vigorous brain activity. Worse of all, nonreaders frequently are very poor writers.
I have clear evidence of this each semester.
If a reader cares to doubt my blanket statement, I volunteer to share nonidentifying samples of college seniors’ writing at a moment’s notice. Perhaps, elementary and secondary schools have not learned to teach the TV generations. Unless children have the rare good fortune to grow up in homes where TV is limited, they present a great challenge to traditional methods. Either we have to learn how to educate those captured by the home screen or we have to limit the time that screen is illuminated.
This is a selfish desire on my part; I want students who read the assigned material and can construct a literate essay. And, to my mind, reading is still the key.
My family did not have a TV until I was eight and already an inveterate reader.
I watch TV now but am certain that one week’s worth of viewing at my home does not total one day’s at many others.
The TV can be a giant babysitter or mind numb-er. Escapism and entertainment have their place.
However, to ensure a work force able to handle the tasks of the next century, forget the videos, etc., and give books a chance.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_11.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
