This chapter touches on the influence of the media and how it affects children in school. I think that media is extremely important and should be controlled because there is just too much that is uncensored for children. There are television shows that embrace teen mothers and glorify teen pregnancy, reality shows that are merely for entertainment and are ultimately pointless, and shows that just emphasis on the bad. When children watch these shows, they automatically want to act like the characters in the show. There are much racier shows that air on public television nowadays, and it is sending the wrong image to children. I remember an episode of Gossip Girl where a threesome was occurring and it received a lot of criticism even though the scenes were not explicit but it was obvious what the show was trying to convey. The show is very successful and is marketed towards young teens to young adults. It seems okay for adults to see shows that embody a lot of sexual innuendos, but it is not for children. And I agree that there should some limitations to what public television shows. The chapter talked about movies and radios, but in this era, there is much more freedom in what the media can show. But then again, the media is not all that is responsible for rowdy or unacceptable behavior, parents, friends, and other people around the child affects their ability in school as well.
Another thing the chapter talked about that I found true was using movies to promote morals. I think film is a great way to educate children because there are so many movies and shows that promote good behavior and actually teach the children something. The book says that there is a difference between movies that are morally uplifting and movies that are just plain degrading, and it is up to the adults around the child to determine if the movie is appropriate for children. Disney movies are almost always shown to children when they are little and I think those movies are fine because it helps foster children’s creativity and the movies create a type of hope. Other shows like The Magic School Bus and Arthur are very informative and make learning fun and more interactive. However, when parents use television as a tool to quiet down their children, it becomes a problem. The media has such great influence over children that they need to be monitored and taken seriously. Even commercials can send of the wrong idea sometimes because a lot of commercials use sex and other racy material to promote their products. If an adult sees the commercials, they would be fine with it, but if a child sees it, they may get the wrong idea. It seems ideal to control what children are exposed to these days, but it is very difficult because there are so many factors that contribute to a child’s growth, and it would be impossible to monitor everything. So do you think the government should step in and regulate television shows, movies, and the radio to make sure children are raised properly and correctly? and how can parents and other adults get involved to help?
