We the People, in order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish
This Constitution for the United States of America.
If you are like me and grew up on Schoolhouse Rock than you can’t help but sing The Preamble of the Constitution. I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be able to recite any of it if I didn’t watch Saturday morning TV. Sure, there was Bugs and Woody for some mindless entertainment (side note: I can argue that I learned a lot from Bugs) but there was plenty of entertaining academic options to make parents comfortable that their kids were glued to the television.
Yes, times have changed. The highly desirable demographic, known to us as preschoolers, is now spoiled for choice. Nickelodeon and Disney have gone head to head with academic based shows. Nickelodeon has always come out on top with hits like “Dora The Explorer.” Based on market research, Disney has decided to scrap Playhouse Disney and offer Disney Jr.–a block of preschool programs that focus on social and emotional growth rather than academics. Apparently, some mothers feel that there is plenty of academics offered to children early on and that they would rather see their children become emotionally prepared for what lies ahead.
Preschoolers are expected to know their ABCs and 123s before they ever even set foot in a classroom. Then why are mothers saying they would rather their children watch programs that favor social values over academics? According to Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President of Playhouse Disney Worldwide, “Moms are saying they want their kids to be emotionally strong to really understand how to live in the world. There’s a huge place for storytelling to help do that.” Sounds like a tall order to me. Isn’t it easier, more practical and more beneficial to teach kids the basics and leave the emotional preparation to the parents? Is there some kind of universal emotional preparatory curriculum that all parents can agree upon? Not a chance. While we can all agree that lessons in honesty, integrity and courage are important, there is a subjective nature to all of these attributes. I don’t think that anyone can argue the product of 3 times 3, but what about dealing with bullies? There is more than one answer to that problem. I doubt Disney Jr. will invest in programs that teach kids how to stand up for another child or fight back.
Carolina Lightcap, Head of Disney Channels Worldwide, claims, “they (parents) don’t honestly think kids are going to learn how to read from watching a TV show”. If that were the case, then how are these shows going to teach them how to take turns? One of Disney’s new shows, “Jake and the Neverland Pirates”, makes a point to teach what Disney considers to be an important social lesson: at the end of each episode Jake still invites Hook to play with him even thought Hook is a bad guy. How is this a good thing? It reminds me of the residents of Berkeley wanting to invite the Gitmo detainees to be their neighbors. I think it’s foolish and naive to teach a child that mean people won’t be mean if you are nice to them.
I would feel more comfortable knowing my child is watching educational shows that can’t be left up to interpretation; it just makes me feel better about my child watching television. Sounds like history is repeating itself. I doubt I’ll be a fan of the kinder, gentler Disney. I have found that Sesame Street, The Electric Company and Schoolhouse Rock are just as relevant today as they were in the 70s.
Teaching kids how to read and multiply never goes out of style.