Satellite
TV In The Classroom...
Some
historians have indicated that education was actually better in the old
days, when children memorized the Declaration of Independence and spent
hours learning to parse sentences.
Now,
however, schools choose to offer students Direct TV or Dish Network in
the Classroom, PBS, and other televised educational opportunities.
With
all of these shows available, there is a danger of erring on the side
of too much entertainment in schools.
For
one thing, many of the educational programs on Direct TV or Dish
Network do not meet the philosophical standards of the parents of the
school students.
That
is, even with every Direct TV or Dish Network receiver in the district
set to block inappropriate programs, there is still a good chance of
some inappropriate language or innuendo slipping through which would be
offensive to some of the families in the district.
But
not only are questionable moral standards in Direct TV or Dish Network
programming a problem.
There
is also the question of politically correct brainwashing that goes on
with PBS and satellite TV educational programming.
Witness the recent growth of homeschooling as an educational option for
many families if you think there is not a problem here.
Many
Americans wish to train their children in a more traditional way.
Rather than let what comes through the Direct TV or Dish Network
receiver have the say in their children's education, they prefer to
take control.
Some
Direct TV or Dish Network educational programs have slighted the
character of America's founding fathers, for instance.
Maybe
these programs are entertaining enough to keep the interest of the fast
paced computer generation, but some parents would like a more balanced
and sensitive approach to the facts.
They
feel like what they get on Direct TV or Dish Network is liberal
propaganda in many cases.
This
is not to say that those same homeschoolers are against using Direct TV
or Dish Network in their own classrooms.
By
exercising control over the Direct TV or Dish Network receiver, and
blocking the bulk of what they find offensive, they are able to choose
only the most uplifting and valuable of the programming available on
satellite TV and skip the rest.
Another
possible problem with Direct TV or Dish Network as a main source of
educational material is that children need time reading books, and time
in hands-on activities for the best results.
They
need physical activity and fresh air. Sometimes they just need time to
think, wonder, and create. Too much TV in the classroom, even if it's
excellent material on satellite TV, takes up this extra time. Kids need
this downtime to simply enjoy being kids.
They
don't need to be constantly entertained by Direct TV or Dish Network.
Direct
TV or Dish Network in the Classroom, or other educational satellite TV
offerings, have a place in the classrooms of the 21st century.
However,
it is important that the moving picture on the Direct TV or Dish
Network receiver not take the place of flesh and blood teachers and
real interaction with people, books, and things.
While
no one would deny that some of the programs open a window to scientific
facts and world cultures, when Directv is used in too great a quantity,
it all just becomes confusing.
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