HADRIAN (not verified) — Sun, 07/20/2008 - 8:02am

I agree with Rafiq's sentiments - but not totally. I caution against 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. The television can be a great educational facility; the problem is not the TV per see, but rather the trashy programs - and the lack of guidance by parents.

With the school education system increasingly failing our children, we should not throw away the option of TV with quality education programs. It may be the best option for some children.

And talking of trashy programs, that is all that seems to offered children on Indonesian free to air TV; In many countries like Australia there is a concertd effort to ensure that there are quality educational television programs. That requires a combination of government intervention and greater social responsibility on the part of the TV station owners.

Ony a couple of my nieces and nephews in Indonesia get to see good educational television and videos - but the cost of cable TV is of course beyond the reach of millions of families.

Accept that TV's will continue to be a feature of most every home in Indonesia and that what is needed is to campaign for a clean up of Indonesian free-to-air television (incl.getting rid of promotion of tobacco)and mandatory requirement for educational programs. And to remind parents of their responsibility in disciplining TV habits of their children.

By all means 'switch off the tv' - and the TV games - but use your bargaining power to get the educational content our children deserve. If everyone switched off their TV sets the TV companies would get the message because their revenue from advertising would shrink as the audience shrinks.

There is no more important investment that a country can make than quality education for the next generation. Lets start with demanding children's educational programs on TV.

Rafiq Mahmood, bogor (not verified) — Sat, 07/19/2008 - 5:18pm

And keep them turned off!

Recent research by a brave television programme in the UK showed that when a control group of families had their televisions, games machines and home computers taken away for two weeks the children were less stressed, performed better at school - the improvement was immediate, read more, got more physical exercise and slept a lot better. Parents started to read to their children and recovered quicker from their day at the office. Eventually the children persuaded the parents to get rid of their TVs for good.

My job used to involve visiting many homes and I found that where there was a giant TV screaming at the inhabitants there was hardly any reading material (no one wanted to read with that noise going on) and the children and parents were both stressed and agressive. Conversely where there were walls lined with books everyone was more peaceful, they talked with each other instead of arguing and it was a lot easier to have a meaningful conversation and do my job when I came to visit.

The message is obvious. Kick out the space invaders and get your minds back. Throw out your TVs and games machines for good.