Show School and Home Mome by I. I Dr Daryl Doryl J j. j McCarty Executive Secretary Secretory Utah Education Association TV murder Ever stop to wonder how many murders the average American has seen on TV by the time he or she reaches the age of 14 One estimate puts the figure at killings SOME PARENTS are loudly complaining about all that bloodshed before their childrens children's eyes Others are griping about the sly a and d so not-so- sly sexuality in many TV programs More parents are simply disgusted with the pure- pure simple and shoddiness of many television show Poor TV programs are like the weather Everybody talks about them but nobody does anything about them But hold on One organization is actually suggesting that something can be done by us individual viewers to make the programs better Its It's all outlined in a highly intelligent PTA brochure titled For Your Viewing Listening-Viewing Pleasure First the the booklet in all fairness mentions that there are some bright oases in the dreary wastelands of TV territory both for child children en and adults The way to better your family's TV habits requires only two things according to the booklet selective dialing and self SELECTIVE Dialing means turning on the TV set only when theres there's a spec specific ic program the family or a member of the family has some purpose in seeing Self discipline means turning the set off when the selected program is over The PTA booklet argues that the most effective stimulus to quality programming will be a refusal of many people to watch worthless shows That's correct TV programs live and die on their ratings If you and millions of others switch off the TV because the only programs in view are a silly game show a poor situation comedy and a kill em dead cop opera you can bet your TV set that things will change |