Television, Public Television, and Sesame Street
Guiding Question: How did ethno-centrism, racism, sexism, class and religious values, democracy, and a developing capitalistic economy affect the evolution of public schools in America?
What was children’s / education like before the Children’s Television Workshop?
Facts:
ü Sesame Street was viewed by 50% of its potential viewing audience in its first year, mostly due to a huge awareness campaign.
ü CTW ran the Neighborhood Youth Corps, which involved adolescents in poor neighborhoods teaching preschoolers.
Abbreviated time line:
| 1952 |
FCC reserves educational channels throughout nation in first allocation of television channels |
| 1962 |
Federal government first funds public broadcasting through Education Television Facilities Act |
| 1965 |
Carnegie Commission on Educational Television begins landmark study of public broadcasting |
| 1967 |
Public Broadcasting Laboratory airs over National Educational Television stations; Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 becomes law |
| 1968 |
CPB is formed; Mister Rogers' Neighborhooddebuts |
| 1969 |
Regular national TV program distribution begins, five nights a week; Sesame Street goes on air on public TV; CPB forms PBS |
| 1983 |
Reading Rainbow premieres |
| 2002 |
CPB launches “Where Fun and Learning Click,” five Web sites for“tweens”; |