forum: TV programs

Fri, 07/25/2008 10:14 AM  |  Reader's Forum

Recent research by a brave television program in the UK showed that when a control group of families had their televisions, video games and home computers taken away for two weeks the children were less stressed and 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 aggressive.

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 video games for good.
RAFIQ MAHMOOD
Bogor, West Java

I agree with Rafiq's sentiments -- but not totally. I caution against "throwing the baby out with the bath water".

The television can be a great educational facility; the problem is not the TV per se, 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 educational 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 concerted 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. Only 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 TVs 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 (including getting rid of the promotion of tobacco) and mandatory requirements for educational programs. And to remind parents of their responsibility in disciplining the TV habits of their children.

By all means switch off the TV -- and the video 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. Let's start with demanding children's educational programs on TV.
HADRIAN
Jakarta

I agree with Rafiq Mahmood. Most of the local TV programs are indeed not suitable for children and are aired not so late in the night, at around 9 p.m.
MUBARIK
Jakarta

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.