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Show Students turn off TV for 15 days By DONETA GATHERUM LAYTON Whatever happened hap-pened to the days when family members talked to each other and children ran outside to play as soon as the school bus stopped? The PTA officers at East Layton Elementary School wanted to find out answers to these and many other questions. They wanted to know if kids can survive without television. Under the direction and general chairmanship of Geri Con-lin, Con-lin, PTA Education and Family Life Commissioner, a special "TV Turn Off' program was conducted during the month of March. The idea was introduced at a special spe-cial studentbody assembly which recreated the Bernstein Bears no television story. Faculty members and parents took the roles of the bears. Next, students were asked to pledge themselves to stop watching television for a specific length of time. Fifteen days without with-out television was worth a gold medal. Those who lasted ten days received a silver medal and the ones who went five days without television during the month of March received bronze medals. The results were unbelievable. East Layton Elementary has an enrollment en-rollment of 803 students, and 550 participated in the TV Turn Off and received medals of recognition. Forty earned a bronze, 75 turned off long enough for a silver medal. and, surprise, 400 met the ultimate challenge and lasted 15 days without with-out television, an achievement worthy of the Gold. Mrs. Conlin said family response to the program was very positive. Comment sheets that were returned re-turned to the school after the "television-less" month mentioned that families did more things together. There were more outside activities and children found time to take care of assigned chores and spend more time with their pets and their friends. One mother noted her young daughter took a game to her and asked, "Mom, will you play this with me?" The mother said with emotion, "I couldn't remember the last time I played a game with my children." Comments from some of the students stu-dents who received gold medals were enlightening, Jared Conlin, a first grader, said he played with his friends and rode his bike. "I didn't miss television that much. I usually just watch the Christmas and Halloween Hal-loween specials anyway," he claimed. Sixth grader, Jared Gilleland also claimed he limited his normal TV watching regularly. "I usually watch sports. I really missed this, especially the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I will return to watching watch-ing sports now," he confessed. Jared filled his free time by reading read-ing books and doing homework. He completed two entire books during the month. Three children in the Gilleland family participated in the TV Turn Off. Giving up "Alf ' was a challenge for Laura Handrahan, a fourth grader, who confessed she usually watched about five hours of television televi-sion a week. She spent her time playing outside and practicing a dance for the Cultural Arts Festival in which all students at East Layton were involved. The experience experi-ence was valuable. Laura said, "It taught children there are better things to do than watching TV." Kati Griffin was another confessed confes-sed TV addict who watched about five-hours-a-day before the TV Turn Off. This second grader said she really didn't miss it that much and she was not bored. "I jumped on my trampoline," Kati said. Earning a gold medal taught Kati to be more selective in the programs she will watch in the future. Kristalyn Bird, another "Alf fan, said she read more and did her homework. "My Dad really thought this was a good idea. He felt the four kids in our family got along better without TV. In the future fu-ture we will watch less and read more," this sixth grader concluded. con-cluded. While student participation was great, very few parents claimed they were able to turn off the television televi-sion to follow or set the example for their children. |
