| Orange County Schools in California released | | | | television they're not: interacting with |
| state tests scores with the announcement that | | | | friends and family, getting exercise, fully |
| scores had risen for the fifth straight year | | | | attending to homework, or using their brains. |
| in a row. That means that 52% of students | | | | When children watch television they: get |
| tested for English in grades 2-11 passed with | | | | inappropriate messages from shows and |
| a grade of proficient or above. 51% in math. | | | | commercials, get into a habit of inactivity, |
| Did you read that correctly? 52% and 51% | | | | eat more junk food, and tend to become |
| passing means progress to the Orange County | | | | grumpier and fussier. All of these factors |
| Schools. If you're a parent with children in | | | | are seen in poor test scores and behavior in |
| the Orange County Public Schools this should | | | | the Orange County Schools. |
| concern your greatly! The scary thing is that | | | | |
| statewide percentages are at 43% and 41%. | | | | How Less Television Can Help the Orange |
| California Schools are currently failing our | | | | County Schools |
| children. | | | | |
| | | | Now I know that Governor Schwarzenegger isn't |
| So what's a parent to do? Funding is an | | | | about to pass any initiatives to help me |
| issue. Teaching the state's huge immigrant | | | | rally Orange County Schools families to watch |
| population is an issue. The needs of special | | | | less television. In fact, you as the parent |
| needs students are an issue. And no one has a | | | | are the only person who can really make this |
| really great answer. But as a parent, there | | | | significant change for your family. But why |
| is something that you can do. It's a drastic | | | | would you want to do this? |
| measure that could impact the entire | | | | |
| population of the Orange County Schools. But | | | | Are you busy? Really, really tired? Most |
| it's not an easy fix. In fact, a lot of the | | | | Orange County Schools parents feel |
| Orange County Schools' families will have | | | | overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the |
| serious pains from making this move. But it's | | | | day. Television can be a relaxing escape. But |
| that important. Parents of Orange County | | | | think for a moment about how busy your family |
| Schools- I challenge you to turn off your | | | | is already with homework, dinner, and |
| television during the school week. | | | | activities at the end of the day. What if TV |
| | | | was no longer a factor? How would your family |
| Withdrawal Pains in the Orange County Schools | | | | spend that time? Would Orange County Schools' |
| | | | children get to bed earlier and get more |
| For the small percentage of you who are still | | | | sleep if they weren't up so late watching |
| reading, don't throw the remote at your | | | | television? Would you have to time to read to |
| screen quite yet. I know what I'm suggesting | | | | them more? Take a walk together? Play a card |
| is a scary lifestyle change that a lot of | | | | game? |
| Orange County Schools won't ever consider. | | | | |
| But for the academic and future success of | | | | If you really want to see an improvement in |
| your children, hear me out. Television | | | | the Orange County Schools, I dare you to try |
| drains energy. It doesn't matter if your | | | | this with your family for one month. No |
| Orange County Schools students are seniors or | | | | television on school days. Aren't your |
| kindergarteners. When they're watching | | | | children worth it? |