by Lewis J Rhodes

Created on: December 20, 2008

If television improved the society in which we live, I would have voted yes! Unfortunately this media has been a force for major change in our society, and unfortunately not all of it, good.

As an entertainment, television has a place in our homes, but what has actually happened overshadows any positives presented by the 'goggle box'.

To start with, this media format can take responsibility for much of the the breakdown of communication within the home. It has removed necessitating conversation, and in many homes taken the place of important family interaction. It is an ideal tool for overstressed and tired parents to devolve parent child communication, and in extreme circumstances, remove interactive responsibility. Much of the material produced for TV has little or no positive influence on growth or development in children. In fact, if we were to ask children the contents of a previous night's programme, many would struggle to remember. Of course they may remember the violence or negative impact a programme might have, but regrettably those aspects of society which are needed to improve and educate our youth, are rarely retained.

General household conversation has been relegated to single word communication, with 'yes or no' the limit to which many of our children extend. The effects of TV are however, truly reflected in our classrooms. Children have lost the art of listening. Even in the home, how often is it necessary for a parent to have to repeat a request or a statement before an answer is forthcoming?

The question has to be asked: How would our world change if there was no television?

To start with, children would either have to be entertained, or more importantly seek their own entertainment. It is assumed that computer and electronic games would also be a limited. We might even return to the days of having a meal round a table, of talking about the day, of story telling and, perhaps the greatest benefit of all, reading. There could of course be more imvolvement physical activity, playing sport or just playing around. Goodness, some children might even indulge in a hobby?

I would like to issue a challenge to the interested readers of this brief: how about trying one day a week without television? The howls of disapproval and disbelief can already be heard across the world! For one night a week, why not try a family board game, or perhaps meander out on a walk, maybe even count stars, if you're lucky enough to live in a place where the night skies are clear.

Television is an entertianment, which like any other entertainment, should have its limitations. It should not be the focus round which the family, the group, and indeed the society live their lives.

Parents who are able to raise their children without television, will in the long term, grow up with their kids, and their kids will grow up learning to listen the first time someone makes a statement.

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