The Soapbox: Rants and Commentary: Learn, Damn It! Composed by Mike O'Leary (oleary@pegasus.montclair.edu) It seems our good friends at the FCC have decided that those members of the entertainment industry known as network television stations should spend less time entertaining and more time educating America's children. Recently a bill was passed requiring all television networks to have 3 hours of educational television per week. Several questions come up. Should networks be forced to be teachers? Is 3 hours @ week enough? Or too much? What exactly constitutes educational programming? I rather don't like the idea of forced educational programming. If I own a store, I shouldn't be forced to sell certain items, especially if the public doesn't want it. In the end, though, nothing will change. About a month ago, the Daily News of New York asked the local television stations what show of theirs is most educational for children. It went as follows: WCBS - Bill Nye Science Guy.. I have no real problem with the show, except that I don't find it very interesting. WNBC - Saved By The Bell. Snicker... FOX - Bobby's World. Fairly educational and entertaining. WABC - Winnie the Pooh. If cute were education it would be college-level. WWOR - Bananas in Pajamas. "Ooooooooh, I'm dyyyying!" Barney squared. WPIX - Captain Planet. Poorly animated annoying teens fighting villains who are obssessed with polluting - why? Not subtle. It would seem that the downward spiral will continue with or without government intervention. Mike O'Leary Gravity is my housekeeper. Back To Rants and Commentary

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