PBS

Save Big Bird, and Nova, and Nature …  

Recently, Big Bird made news in a political debate. These brief comments have even people who don’t usually talk about politics, rallying for, or against, the big yellow Muppet. I thought I would share some of my brief comments on PBS.  The presidential debate aside, PBS is a central institution to our country and means a great deal to me personally. Let us start with the big yellow bird. Sesame Street has been on the air since 1969 and I can remember fondly enjoying many hours on Sesame Street. I still count to 12 singing the pinball song in my head. Occasionally I find myself singing “I’ve got a new way to walk, walk, walk,” when the light changes and my feet step off the curb. I learned that Hola means Hello, when Maria sang this song while twirling around in a ball gown. Even though I have such fond memories of Sesame Street, I wondered, is it still necessary?  Luckily I work with about 200 kids who are at prime Sesame Street age. So I asked them about Sesame Street.  The answers surprised me.  I work with one three-year-old who is experiencing not only school, but English for the first time. She speaks only Spanish and until this day I have never heard her say a single word in English. When shown a picture of Sesame Street, she started to sing, in English! While she may have little to no idea what she was saying, she was building the linguistic structure required to learn a new language. Shows like Sesame Street allow parents to expose their children to English. This was an angle I had not considered. Looking a little closer, I realized that Sesame Street is a pretty diverse, urban, neighborhood. It mirrors the environment that my students live in. It is relatable to students who live in the city. Most children’s shows that I am aware of cater to a suburban demographic, where everyone has a car and no one speaks another language. I can’t think of a modern, relevant issue that Sesame Street has not addressed in a kid friendly way. They have talked about everything from a parent losing a job, to divorce, to homelessness and even Cookie Monster now talks about how cookies are a treat and we need to eat mostly healthy foods.

The argument was made that Sesame Street can support itself through merchandise sales and does not need to be part of a federally subsidized endeavor. But what about all the other shows? Rick Steeves has taken me across Europe showing me things that only winning the lottery could facilitate their squeezing  their way into my reality. Nature has taken me under the sea, and to the top of mountains through stunning photography and video. I adore musicals. PBS has filmed and shown Broadway Musicals that may never be seen again. Les Miserable is amazing, and I can hear the music over and over through a PBS concert. And then there is NOVA.  Quite possibly my favorite show ever, NOVA takes complex science subjects and makes them not only understandable but interesting. I can not think of a science question that I have had, that NOVA can not answer. Things such as, Could we really go to Mars? Why was the Tsumani in Japan so horrible? How did Darwin come up with these ideas? Why is Pluto no longer a planet?  It seems that every time I hear something interesting on the news in a 30 second snippet, NOVA explains it fully. 

But wait there is more! PBS hosts a pretty impressive website. The children’s website (www.pbskids.org) is a completely kid friendly site, that is updated regularly and is a safe, educational place for kids to go online. As a teacher this is key, but PBS goes above and beyond for teachers. Some people may not know this but teachers need to renew their licenses every few years. In my district, as in many others, when you apply for your re-certification you must prove that you have been learning, and improving during the time since your last certification. Many teachers take a graduate level course or get certified in a new area.  PBS is here to help. They offer teachers online courses in the latest greatest subjects for only $99! (http://www.pbs.org/teacherline) Plus, they give graduate credit for the courses. Tuition reimbursement in my district is a joke, so if I want to learn anything new it is out of my pocket.  They offer courses from everything from how to teach math using manipulatives, to using iPads in the classroom. If you are a teacher and something new comes out, you better believe PBS is offering a class on it.

So in conclusion, regardless of who you are going to vote for this November, remember that PBS is important.  It is more than just Big Bird. It is a safe place that still cares about education as well as entertainment. I fear that if there was no PBS, shows like “16 and pregnant,” and “Jersey Shore” would be the only sort of options that our families have to watch.