Beware of Certain, uh, Utilities

I wonder how the notion arose that children can only be taught something through massive distraction? I’ve just been exposed to fifteen minutes of a long-running and so-called educational program—as old, almost, as the Public Broadcasting System. The first logo shown is the still sedate, the second the new and vibrant logo of The Electric Company.

The operant idea behind this program, as best as I can interpret it, is that cognitive skills can best be conveyed to the human mind by distracting it in every possible way—so that the targeted skill will become indistinguishable from a drenching downpour of silliness. Only adults can possibly imagine that such cartoonish wicky-flicky can possibly be attractive to children.

Have today’s advertisers grown up watching The Electric Company? Or was TEC founded by people in worshipful imitation of Advertising? Or should I be congratulating Screwtape and Wormwood for finally making a breakthrough with post-World War II humanity?

In its first incarnation, 1971-1985, reading skills were supposedly developed inside pretty drippy sandwiches of comedy. In this period, programs produced 1971-1977 were rerun from 1977 forward. In the 2009 version, special emphasis is placed, again supposedly, on teaching children who are slow in learning reading. In the 15 minutes I watched, perhaps three to four minutes of such learning were sliced and diced into constant distraction, unbelievable sketches, wrapping conducted by incessantly jerking almost-teens, and so on.

The website of the new program is here. It provides the flavor.

In our family we avoided seeing or being seen on Sesame Street and did not let our children become electrified. But we lived right next door, you might say, to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and Friendly the Giant was also always welcome.