Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 27, 1995 TAG: 9505300023
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nearly 1 million youngsters in the nation last month swore off television for a week - and none seems to have suffered unduly from the experience. To be sure, there were reports of withdrawal pains, and some kids couldn't last the distance.
But, overall, the evidence suggests most participants thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering joys of life in the real world: reading, playing outdoors, reacquainting themselves with friends and family.
(``Who's the big guy?'' ``Oh, that's your father.'' A joke? Not so funny when a survey of American children, ages 4 to 6, found that 54 percent of them would rather spend time with the TV set than with their dads.)
In many cases, parents more than kids were hurt by participating in the National TV-Turnoff Week, April 24-30. Schools and other organizations that tried to get children to take the pledge sometimes found that the kids were willing, but parents refused to go along because they didn't think they could make it through a week without TV.
Is there anyone who still doubts that this is an addiction? That people need help regaining control of their lives?
The good news is that many adults, as well as children, found the turnoff refreshing. For at least a week, they turned on - to community and neighborhood events; to lively conversations around the dinner table (about two-thirds of Americans now regularly watch TV while eating dinner); to laughter (not canned); to scores of enjoyable activities long ago cast aside in favor of passive, numbing, time-killing in front of the boob tube.
Why, the event was such a success that its Washington-based sponsor, TV-Free America, says many have suggested that a TV-free week become a monthly or quarterly happening. For now, that might be pushing its luck. But, meanwhile, TV-Free America already is making plans for a similar turnoff next year - same dates, April 24-30.
More schools, churches, libraries, civic organizations, in the Roanoke region and elsewhere, should start planning now to promote the week-long unplugging of America - endorsed this year by the American Medical Association, the National Education Association, the Children's Defense Fund, several governors and other political leaders.
Crystal Spring Elementary School in Roanoke tried it this year, with excellent results. Why shouldn't all area schools join this educational event? Advance notice ought to afford hard-core addicts time to screw up their courage and prepare themselves psychologically to be TV-zoned-out for a week. They might even discover it's something to look forward to.
by CNB