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