After 26 years, Reading Rainbow is cancelled
The difference between Evergreen and other schools, is that Evergreen wants to teach students why to learn, the fact that learning can be fun and exciting. As oppose to generic average schools that are based more upon the basic idea of learning in itself though.
That’s not to say either way is better than the other. It really just depends on the individual.
But an area where the same difference applies, but the principle does not is reading.
PBS’s 3rd longest running show (after Sesame Street and Mister Roger’s Neighborhood) has been cancelled. But what’s interesting about this, is that the cancelled show, Reading Rainbow, is gone because no one — not the station, not PBS, not the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — will put up the several hundred thousand dollars needed to renew the show's broadcast rights.
The decision to end Reading Rainbow is nearly all due to the shift in philosophy of educational television programming. The change started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration, he explains, which wanted to see a much heavier focus on the basic tools of reading — like phonics and spelling.
That’s where they went wrong though. The executives want to replace fun and joy with mechanics and procedure. Its different in relation to colleges because going to college, and what college you choose is all your own choice.
But these educational public programs are directed at an audience that is still developing. At that early point in their life, it’s not about choosing one thing or another, it’s about learning to enjoy the things that become less enjoyable later.
Basically, teaching young kids to read is important, but teaching them to like to read is more important, because it’ll be more likely to keep them reading for a lifetime. If they just learn, but don’t enjoy it then they might as well just stop.
PBS, CPB and the Department of Education put significant funding toward programming that would teach kids how to read — but that's not what Reading Rainbow was trying to do.
"Reading Rainbow taught kids why to read," John Grant says (who is in charge of content at WNED Buffalo, Reading Rainbow's home station). "You know, the love of reading — [the show] encouraged kids to pick up a book and to read."
And that’s more important than knowing how. Because then they have the motivation.
(Acknowledgments to Ben Calhoun for his article and NPR.org for the information)
More Stories of Interest:
Incoming freshmen and new students to the Evergreen State College: how to stay out of trouble: Pt. 2
Incoming freshmen and new students to the Evergreen State College: how to stay out of trouble: Pt. 1
NFL star Chad Ochocinco battles ban on social media in college schools and NFLs no cell phone policy
Michael Jackson presumed alive, many among Evergreen students and other’s hope is futile
Muggle Quidditch takes colleges by storm; would be extremely loved by Evergreen (video)
Man drowns in attempt to rescue fishing pole; Evergreen may have its own waters, but do not try
Economy is finally starting to look better with an upturn, means more jobs for students everywhere
The August 2009 Perseid meteor shower, great views from dark places (ie Evergreen's beaches) (video)
Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce Da '5'9'': Slaughterhouse, the new hip-hop supergroup
Lady Gaga alleged hermaphrodite due to motorcycle incident at festival (video)
Joaquin Phoenix makes a new appearance since Letterman; accessorizing for superhero career (video)
Police give drug-dealers alternative option to incarceration: quit dealing or go to jail
Evergreen State Colleges owns over 1000 acres of undeveloped magical forest with miles of beach
John Hughes, amazing director of iconic films dies at 59, loved for his teenage angst (video)
Bank teller Jim Nicholson foils bank robbery, catches suspect and is justly fired for it (video)
John Hughes, director of iconic 80s and 90s films dies today at 59 from cardiac arrest (video)
Chamillionaire has released the Mixtape Messiah 7, the final in the series (link) (video)
Bill Clinton successful in the release of 2 journalists from North Korea prison
Results deadly in Chicago gangs mistaken retribution
Ashton Kutcher posts picture of Demi Moore on Twitter
Former president Bill Clinton arrives in North Korea in effort to help captured journalists
Gidget the Taco Bell dog has passed away
Comments