ED 125 523

AUTHORTITLE

INSTITUTIONSPONS AGENCY

BUREAU NO%PUB DATEGRANTNOTE' -

EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS

IDENTIFIERS

ABSTRACT

DOCUMENT RESUME

95 IR 003 158

Cooney, Joan Ganz[Children's Television Workshop) Quarterly ProgressReport, 0Otober 1, 1975 to December 31 1975.'Children's Television Workshop, New York, N.Y.Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, D.C. Bureauof Research.R080475F760EG-60-75-0007832p.; For related documents, see IR 003 157 and 703;Not Available in hard copy due to marginal legibilityof original

MF-$0.83 Plus Postage. HC Not Available from EDRS.Community Services; Early Childhood Education;*Educational Television; Ethnic Groups; FormativeEvaluation; Games; Instructional Materials;*Programing (Broadcast); Retarded Children;*Television Research*Childrens Television Workshop; Electric Company;progress Reports; *Sesame '"Street

A three-month suymaky of the producticn and'programing activities of the Children's Television Worksho,, producerof Sesame Street and The Electric Company, is,presented. Specialprograming for the mentally retarded and for ethnic groups, ongoingresearch efforts, and community tupport activities are summarized.Projected budget figures from October 1, 1975 to June 30, 1976 andnews stories frcm 11 newspaperg are included'. (NR)

***********************************************************************Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpulalished *

matekials nat available from other sources. ERIC makes every effort'*to obtain the best copy'available. Nevertheless, items of marginal *

reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality *

* f the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERIC makes available *

* a the ERIC Document Reproduction 'Service (EDRS)..EDRS is not* r sponsible for the quality of theioriginal document. Reproductions ** s pplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original.*** *******************************************************************

;!

4.

4

One Lincoln Plaza New York. N. Y 10023 / 212 595- 3456

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

TITLE : QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT

SUBMITTED TO: OFFICE Or EDUCATION, BUREAU OF RESEARCH;5' #R080475F

GRANT NUYIEER:4

PERIOD:

NAME OFINSTITUTION:

GOO-75-00078

October 1, 1975 to December 31, 1975

Children's Television Workshop'Qne Lincoln PlazaNew York, ry 10023

(212) 595 -3456

. PROJECT DIRECTOR: Mrs. Joan, Ganz Cooney

11/

U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION & WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO.DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINA TING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFEDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY

2C4 BLI: SI,SAAfl.ST NEV YORK I TIVX 710-5Q 25,13 IWCA 2 36168

PP'

TAPIE OF co!,..Tr,n-rs

1.

2.

SF ME STREET RESELRO

SgCA:'!E GTT-ZET PnODUCTION

PAGi:

1

6

3. T I LLE CT C COM P1-0. SE ARC I 1 4

4 . THE ELECTLC CONPANY PRODUCTION 10

5. PU3LIC11

6. COMMUNITY EDT:CATION SERVICES 13

7. PER.S ON27318.

8. BUDGETa

19

9. CERTIFICATION20.

SECP.:,T. ;711_7 I:7

MAJOR ACTIVI'LIES AND :.ccr)717-LisH=7:s

Researchers continued work on the Sesame Street Curriculum Renorming Study.

This study, currently in the testing stage, was designed to measure present

competence levels of the Sesame Street target audience with the Sesame Street

curriculum. The follo::irg stages of the study were completed during the

Octcber-Decer.her quarter of 1975:

1. UNCO Corporation of Wac::lington, D.C., completed pretesting program

with sample test iter.ls. Pretest report completed and submitted.

2. Sesame Street researchers net with UNCO staff to select itcms for

final versioh of the test*

3. Revisions of items and artwork were completed; test was printed.

4. Sesame Street researcher Emily Findlay designed a coded data sheet

for teachers to use in the administration of test items.

Sesame St-reot researchers traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend

a tecte.t:-aining r,emn,7,r and to discuss data treatments with

Ul:CO

6 Test z,inistration begun; at the time of this report, it was about

half completed.

This study will be completed during the first quarter of 1976.

Sesame Street1 researchers designed and completed a program of formative

testing of program segments taped in New Mexico. These segments sere designed

to give a'fresh,Vpok to the program and to focus on the emotions involved in

entering social groups. An attempt was also ..macle to present a distinctive

culture, different from Sesame Street's usual inner-city culture, in a positiye

light. Reixiarchers performed testing to investigate children's attention to

and comprlicnsion of: those picceT-,.

4

Mr

2/

Researchers '..orked intensively with Barbara Kolucki, a student of'DL

Abraham Tannenbaum of the Siecial Education Department, Teachers College,

Columbia University. Ms. Kolucki is under con t with the Children's Tele-

vision Workshop to develop a taxonomy of educational objectives and television

treatments which will help researchers to order and evaluate existing and new

Sesame Street segments for theitd*usefulneSs to mentally retarded children.I

The taxonomy has Leen developed and is now being revised and refined.

Researchers cortpi.ed data tb amend the Sesame Street Pictureable Word List.

This document informs book editors, magazine feature creators, and others, how

children characteristically label pictures of familiar items. It is important

to know, fo'r example, that in a feature meant to teach the letter H, that most

children will not spontaneously label a picture of a-horse as a "Doggy."

The pictureable word list was ascended with test results obtained from

child testing pictures of items representing 130 simple words.

A new staff of student interns was interviewed and selected for the Spring

semester, 1976.' The students, affiliated with colleges and universities in New

York and New Jersey, will receive training in formative research ,practices and

methods, and will also be awarded academic credit by their host institutions.

Sesame Street .res.earchers assembled a panel of exPWts to review segments

which have thus far been produced in the format of the Joseph P. Kennedy.

Foundation's Play to Grow activities. These segments model simple physical

activities for mentally retarded children to practice with parents, teachers,

siblings, or peers-. Thy segments, each introduced by a distinctive logo, 'axe

)

scheduled for presentation during the first twenty minutes of each Wednesday

Sesame Street program.

These segments were reviewed by Mr. Herbert Kramer and Ms. Jean Smith of

the Joseph P. KeLedy Foundation, by Mrs. Bebe Bernstein, Director of the New

York CiLy CRMD Program, Dr. Brickner of the Univenlity of Miami. Aesemeetings

yielded vroduction guidelines and additiondl Writers Notebook suggetions fdr

producers to use in preparing materiaJe in the future.

3/

Researchers continued the ongoing process of review which is applied to

scripts, animation storyboard.,_ and the production videotaping process.'

Researchers assembled data regarding a class of segments referred to as the....

"George's Farr" format.. Producers were advised regarding the workability of

this format in the past, and a recommendation to produce further such segments

was offered.

Researchers met with Dr. Gerald Lesser, Head of CTW's Research Advisory

Committee, _and with Joa Stone, Executive Producer 017Sesame Street, to discuss

curriculum additions and revisions for Sesame Street's eighth broadcast season.

DISSEXI::.ATIX: ACTIVITIES

October 3, 1975: Sesame Street researchers presented a seminar wherein

Dr, Ken O'Bryan and Tim Hodapp, researchers from the Ontario Institute of Edu-

catidn, discussed resu s of their eye-movement research on Sesame Street

problem-solving and ,1assification segments.

October 7, 1975: A researcher discussed formative research methods with

a guest researcher from India.

October 7, 1075: A researcher Met with Leslie Halliwell, Head of Granada

TV, one of, the independent broadcasters in Britain.

October 14, 1975: Mr. Kale, guest reqearcher. from India, accompanied Se :e,40

Street Researchers to a research site to observe testing methods.

October 16, 105t Meeting heween researchers and Dr. Charles Steinberg

of Hunter Colic:6Jc, to discuss the Sesame Street research internship program.

October 17, 1975: Associate Director 'of Research visited Dr. Robert Liebert

of Stony brook University to explore new research methods and ongoing projects.

Sesape Street researchers,discuf,sed projc.ft,; with several student and

ifaculty visitor:, representing various academic i stitutions.

4/

November 6, 1975: A Sesane Street researcher gave a presentation before

an Education seminar at :,tony Iroc;,: :;niver:,ity.

November 20, 1975: AssoCi 1:e Director met with Dr. Tony BAtes, Director

of London's Open University.

Trovember 20, 1975: Associate Director met with Ms. Diana Bander, producer

of- a Brooklyn College Television special about learning

December 4, 1975: Sesame Street researchers net with a panel of experts in

special education to review newly-produced Sesame, Street sej,ents for mentally

retarded children.

Associate Director made a trip through New England to discuss research

methods and studies with:

1. Dr. Glen Brickman, Motive Research Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island

2. Dr. Aimee Leifer and Ms. Earbara Flagg, Harvard Center for the Study of

Education in Television

j3. Dr. Dan Anderso, Dr. Jennings Bryant, and Dr. Bernadette Nelson-Shapiro

of the University of Massacnusetts

'4. Dr. Robert Krull, Reniallaer Polyteciplic In.:='_;titute, and Dr. James Watt,

Un4,verz,,ity of Connecticut

OTIM% ACTrVTTIES

International: Associate Director screened segments from Sesamc:strasse.

4"

Product,; Division: 'Product testing and/or keview was provided'for the

following items:

1. Oscar Card Game

2. .Four coloring hooks

%3. Memory Game

4. Pbp-Up (Where',; Cookie Monster, Sesame Street Mother. Goose)

5: Bookmobile hooks

G. Friends TndusLries Sesame Street crafts

7. Milton flradley Puz2le!:

*7

1

5/

8. Floor puzzles

9. Big Bird Jack-In-the-Box

10. Institutional Division filmstrips

11. Sesame Street Fair Game

As,in the past, ongoing research was continued on the Sesame Street Magazine.

Community Education Services: Researchers helped to create -guidelines

for producing the CES Sesame Street Activities Manual. Researchers continued

to review Sesame Street Program Highlights.

STAFC UTILIZATION

Ms. LaMarian Hayes was promoted to Assistant Director, Sesame Street Research

FUTURE ACTIVITII:S PLArl:ED

1. Furt'cer curriculum c:evelopment for Sesame Street's eighth broadcast seaso

2. Completion of Sesame'Strect Curriculum. Renorming Study.

3. Completion and application of Barbara Kolucki's taxonomy. 4

4. Formative research on selected new Sesame Street-segments. produced for

the seventh broadcast season.

5. ,FOrmative res6arch designed to investigate 'the effectiveness of existing

Sesame Street sebmentl with mentally retarded children. Characteristic format

will he examined for therability attentjon and comprehension from6

mentally retarded children.

8

jJ

SESAME STREET PRODUCTION

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The quarterly period of September through December 31, 1975, was spent

in the writing of scripts, casting, and the preparation of all productions

elements for the second half (January.:March) of the Sesame Street taping season.

FUTUPE ACTIVITIES PLANIMD

Daring April, remote taping of five Sesame Street shows will take place

in Louisiana in preparation for next season.

O

9

(le

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY RESEARCH

41

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The completion of a study of responses of preschoolers to The Electric Compan

A final report is due on January, 1976. The continuation of a project to do a

content analysis of all The Electric Company segments. Also the continuation of

a project to investigate possibilities for teacher intervention to enhance the

classroom effectiveness of The Electric Company.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND FINDINGS

44

The initiation of an Eye-Movement research program in conjunction with Harvar

University. Initial projects to be conducted by The Electric' Company including

an evaluation of responses of preschoolers to The Electric Company and an evaluati

of.the visual responses of poor readers to The Electric Company with and without

introduction of a "learning set" prior to viewing.

The continuation of a Pre-school Transition Study. The data is being col-

lected and analyzed. A final report will be completed by January, 1976.

DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES

i,

A formal presentation of all eye-movement Tindings was prepared for delivery

in Janary of 1976.

A4 article entitled, "A Suggested Research Strategy" was publisHed in the

Journdl of CorrpinicLion,(1975) Vol. 25, No. 14.

2

10

iet

A member of The Electric Company Pesearch°Division served as gueldcturer,

at Teachers College, Columbia University, on the topic of research in children's

television.

A special presentation was made by The Electric Company Research Division

to Swedish d6legates from National Television on the CTW model'of Research.

A member of The Electric Company Division sat in at the oral defense of an

OISE Student whoecompleted a dissertation on The Electric Company.

A, proposal to explore the use of foreign language co-productions-for the,'

teaching of foreign languages in the U.S. was developed with Middlebury College

A member of The Electric Company Research Division presented a paper on

directions in Children's television at the National Association for the Educati

of Young Children in Dallas, Texas on November, 1975.

An interview was given to Newsweek magazine on The Electric Company.

The development of.'TheElectr.ic'Company and its research was presented to

Jennie McKenzie, Direct of Research, for the Australian Broadcasting Corpdration

during this period.

The proposal for the Spanish langip7.qc version of The Electric Company for

possible co-:production has been reworked during this period.

/. DATA CC LFECTIONk

A three-phased study of childrens' responses to the humor on"The Electric

Company program was conducted.

An investigation of the appeal of characters and formats used on The Electric

Company is now in progress.

Field testing of new animation technicpzes kor The Electric Company is also

underway. Bost-hoc data on reading achievement has been initiated in Alcoa, Tenn.

OT;IER ACTIJTTIES

9/

The Elect'ic Company Research Department has participated in the development

of filmstrips by CTI1 and Guidance Associates for kindergarten throigh 3rd g44ade.

A systematic schedule for research production interaction in connection with

The Electric Company ndy Line has-been sta-rt d

Plans for the development for bilingual in-sbhool materials based on both

Sesame Street and The Electric dompany-have been confirmed.

FUTURn Ao,r;-I\ITTTms pr,AN,IED

The ,Electric Convany Research Department will play a major role in a pre-.

sentation on, instructional television 'AERA convention \i San Francisco, in April,

The Electric Company will also participate in the International Conference

on Evaluation andResearchOin Milton Keynes England, in April, 1976.

-I

1'2

11"

1

6

9

0

ThT, ELECTRIC CO:',IPAs_71

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHME=

From October 13 through DeceffLer 19, the last half of the fifth season

was taped at the'studio.

DISSEnTNATION ACTIVITIES

Weekly studio production meetings and general production staff meetings

. relating to the taping of the show were.held during this peribd.

DATA COLLECTION

op

The Production Department is continuing to help the'outside study on ways

' in which a specific teacher's role can be programmed into the series.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES PLANUED

The last half of the fifth season will be edited in February. Writer and

general staff meetings beginning on the first of February will be held to dis-t,

cuss the sixth season.

13

10/

1

11

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

.MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACCO%!PLISJI:IENTS

Sesame Street embarked upon its seventh season with curriculum and production

,innovations that include its first outdoor-based programs (in the Rocky Mountains)

experimental programming for mentally retarded children and educational contri-

butions to the nation's bicentennial.

The Electric Company entered its fifth season in this period and Public

Affairs Completed a press package and a five year historical summary of the

project and distribuqd it to television and education editors and writers.

The 'division also created and distributed to public television stations'a'set of

photographs of their use in bringing the 105-76 Electric Company season to the

attention of educators, children and parents.

Public Affairs created and distribute& a "photo album" describing the first

location videotaping of Sesame Street, as told through the eyes of Big Bird. This

featured JICast. visit among Spanish - speaking Americans and Indians in New Mexico

A press package describing the new season',s experiments was also prepared

and distributed to television and education editors and writers plus public

broadcasting stations. Screenings were conducted for telAvision and education

writers in several cities and interviews arranged with the appropriate production

and research personnel.

Public Affairs disseminated information about Sesame Street-1.s bicentennial-

related episodes linking the program to official activities of the American Issue

Forum (the only nationwide treatment of bicentennial themes devoted'strictlY to

preschoolers).

de*/e-'

14

1

12

SIGNIY70:T EVENTS AND ITI':Dr.:GS

A major new experiment is the production and research of materials for

mentally retarded children shown each week this season. Public Affairs worked

with the research, production and community education divisions and the Kennedy

Foundation in calling attention to this new curriculum, including distribution

of a story about, the experiment to specialized educationalpublications, dis-

tribution of a similar story in the general press. package, and photography to

illustrate the new curriculum.

Sesame Street's visit to New Mexico resulted in its first location interacticn

with Spahish-speakir.gAmericans and American Indians. Buffy St. Marie, the

Indian singer-composer, also joined the regular hosts this season and Public .*

Affairs distributedphotographs and a story about her to the general press as

well as numerous Indian publications.

The description of the new experiments resulted in widespread commentary

and coverage.

Public Affairs also arisistedthe Research Division in the graphic' design

and printing requirepents for test book, and began working with that unit on

a newsletter that will report on research findings at CTW. It also worked with

the research and advisory staff on responding to educators and journalists

interested in learning more about a critical study of earlier studies of Sesame

Street by,..,the Educational Testing Service.

\J

CO',1T:TTY EDUCATI(2,.: SERV3CEF,

The Community Education Services Division (CES) is charged witi the'

responsibility of reaching out to initiateactivities leading to the use

of Sesa'e Street and The Electric Company as a supplemental, resource in

formal and informal settings. The following descriptions are selected

highlights of CES activities during the October through December, 1975

period.

SELEC. :CD S

Sesame Street has embarked upon experimental programming designed

1.1

to teach Tsentally retarded youngsters.This new direction is an effort

to reach the country's estimated si> million mentally retarded youngsters.

The taniet audience consists of children whose mental age approximate's

that of a three to five year old. The special segments are based to a

large extent on the "Families Play to Grow" program of the Joseph P.

Kennedy Foundation and include physical activities with some simple

cognitive skills added. The Community Education Services Division is

coordinating a nationwide effort to alert parents and teachers to the

many possible applications of these p2'ogr ms and encouraging post-viewing

learning reinforcements activities.

In the western region, CES focused upon contacting the directors 92

special education within schools systems and utilizing them as a focal.

point for the distribution of material to teachers, parents and agenCies

conc.(.rned with mentally ruLarded children.

I 6

The follo:!ing school and school related organilations arp coopeLating

\I\ith CES in thiseffort: ....--

Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Country Schools

Compton Public ,Schools. 1

San Diego Public Schools

California State DTrtment of Education

Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Fbcreation.

!1/4

California State FederatiN of Council for Eiception Children

California P.:,-;ociation for the Retarded

L.

Valley Instructional Television Association cif Sacramento

KQED - TV of San francisco

HonolUlu School District

KCTS - TV of Seattle

Seattle Public Schools

Yakima Public Schools

Spokane Public Schools

Olympia Public Schools

Tuscon Public Schools

'Las Vegas Public Schools

Through those contacts and the dissemination of material to parents;

1

teachers and others the CES Regional Coordinator in; puilding an audience

for the experimentalprograimirig for mentally ratayded children. Fat4lowing

this period of alerting and informing concerned ir'li4iduals and organizations,

the CES Coordinator will engage in a series of worksp6ps explaining the

goals or the curriculum and suggested methods of reinforcing the content

of the broadcast: [n the post-viewing situat19ns. The activities con-

ducted by the Coordinator in the welera region are illustrative of7.

the efforts of CE:; staff in other areas4of. diecountty.

15

The Community Education Services Division in cooperation with the t

Universidad Boricua of Washington, D.C., an experimental post secondary

institution designed to serve peopleof a Hispanic origin, conducted a

ten week course for students,.parents, teachers and others working with

young Spanish speaking children. This pilot project used Sesame Street

and The Electric'Company to demonstrate the use of television as a sup-

plementary educational resource, for Spanish speaking children. The

curriculum included units on

An Understanding of Television

Educational TV as a Learning Resource

Parent Involvement in Using TV as a Learning Resource

The Local Spanish Speaking Community and Early Childhood Education

Using Sesame Street and The Electric Company in the Home or in Day

-Care Centers

Reinforcement Act;ivities with Children

- ,

,4,

The course was-structuredto'provide a mix of classroom lectures,

discussions and practidal "hands on" experience working with children.

Due to the enthusiastic response to this project, it is anticipated that

the Univeridad Boricua will repeat the 'course and conduct a similar

project through its affiliate in New York.

The Community Education Services staff in cooperation with the

Massachusetts Edupational Television Authority initiated the development

of a reading bomic strip to complement the basic reading skills taught

on The Electric Company. The reading comic strip will appear in the Sunday

comic section of the Boston-Globe for thirty consecutive weeks, beginning

in the tarty part of December 105. The strip is designed to motivate

children to learn basic reading skills through a high interest comic strip

U:sing, The Electric Corhpany characters and a "cast of children 5,et in Boston

and surrounding localef,". 18

_.

The primary emphasis is upon actively involving ti children; parent

participation that is encouraged 'f-trough a brief weekly section of

teaching tips for parents.

The staff menbers in conjunction with the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Schools serving. the Choctaw tribe in Philadelphia, MissisSippi developed

a project utilizing Sesame Street'and The Electric Company. Workshops

were conducted for the pre-school staff and the K-3 staff. Both staffs

have enthusiasticialy adopted the use of CTW productions as supplementary

resources. The programs will be viewed on a daily basis by approximately

50 preschoolers and 200 K-3 students. In the K-3 classrooms space has

been set aside as an Electric Company activity area. As a follow up to

this project, CES is conducting exploratory discussions with the tribal,

chief about the use Of The Electric Company as a resource for .functionally

illiterate adult tribe-members.

Another element of the CES outreach to Native Americans, Wiaa a two

day wore hop conducted for Indian Education Training, Inc., in Al-

burquerq-.2e, New 'lexico. Indian Education Training, Inc., is a non-profit

organi%ation set up to provide educational services and information to

Indian parbnt groups, Indian educators, teachers, school administrators,

and tribal organizations. The participants in workshops Were trainers

employed by Indian Education. The trainers prov.i.ded.serviceS to the

Navahoes and Pueblos in Arizona and New Mexico and other tribes in the

Southwest. The objective of the workshop was 1::) equip them with the

information and skills necessary to train other groups, in the use of

CTW productions ar; supplementary resources.

The staff members of the California office has developed a project

with the State Motor Vehicle Bureau. The bureau provides child care

19

services for e,pployces with preschool children. In order to broaden the

educational options available to the preschoolers, CES is promoting the

use of Sesame Street as a supplementary resource with the staff of the

Sacramento child Care Center. It is anticipated that this center will

serve as a pilot site for the other centers on the Motor Vehicle Bureau.

The Coinmunity Education Services Division and members of the School

Volunteer Service (SVS), conducted two workshops for a total of three

hundred parents in 1:ew York City.' The objective of the workshops was

to demonstrate simple inexpensive activities that could be carried on at

home,, to reinforce the educational goals of CTW productions. These

workshops grew out of a two day training session, conducted for SVS staff,.

in the first quarter. The CIS Regional Coordinator and national staff,

as indicated in the foregoing highlights of their activities continue to

be the majortecIlnical,resource for CTW to reach out directly to teachers,

parents and others involved in the education of preschoolers and young

children in tornal and informal settings.

DISE=T77i,TIO:: ACTP7TTIFS

During the October through December1975.period, CES staff dis-

simated information about CTW at conferences and exhibits with the

following agencies and institutions interested in the range of services

proVid6d by CES:

Conferences of the Association of Puerto Rican School Workers (NYC)

Action for Children's Television Fifth National Symposium on

Children and Television (Atlanta, GeorgiaI`

Conference of the North Carolina A,,sociation for the Educationof

Young Children.(Winston Salem, North Carolina)

State Convention or. the Texas; Foster Parent Association (Dallas, Texas)

20

e-

4-1

Conference of the Intercultural Development Research Association

on the State of Education for Black Children and Youth in Texas

(Dallas, Texas)

South Alabama State Fair (Montgomery, Alabama)

Governor's Conference on Education (Jackson, Mississippi)

Conference of the Alabama Federation of the Council for Ex-

ceptional Children (Montgomery, Alabama)

Convention-of the Arkansas Association of-Teacherso(Little Rock, Ark.)

Conference of the California Federation of the Council for Ex-

ceptional Children (San Diego, California)t

California Junior State Convention (Los Angeles, California)

PE PS ONITEL

STAFF UTILIZMION

During the period of October through December 1975, no new hires

or terminations were done.

21

JJ

1. FEDERAL AGENCY AND ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTFINANCIAL STATUS RERCRT Department of Health, Education & Welfare, Off. of:

;

3. NAME AN ADDRESS OF GRANTEE ORGANIZATION

Children's Television WorkshopOne Linccln PlazaNew York, Now York 10023

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO

11=2655731

S. GRANTEE ACCOUNT NO. ORIDENTIFYING NO.

S.S/TEC/76

8. PROJECT PERIOD (Month, Day, Year)

FROM 1 ITO I 6 30 I 76

to. sTATus C.' F _INDS PROGRAMS - FUNCTIONS - ACTIVITIE

(1)

Sesame Street

(21

The Electric Co.

(3) (4)

a. Total outlays previouslyreported $1,744,700 $2,908.900-

b. Total proram, out IdyS thisperiod 740,700 586,300

c. LESSPrOgrarn :.-:.orne credits .

. _

d. Net progras outlays this period740,700 586;300

e. Total program outlays to date2;485,400 - 3,495,200

. -

1. LESS.;qon-Fedr fa: share ofprogram. c..tlays.,

4.

g Total Federal share of prograrnoutlays

.k.,

h. Total unpaid obligationsR

i. LESS ties- Federal chore ofunpa.td obli,zotions

w.

_..1 ....__i_e-doz-a-I-stra-e-- 61 uhpoid

obligations .

k. Total Federal shore of outlaysand unpa:d ..bligations . .

I. Total Federal funds authorized _T

r

.rn.Unobligated. balance ofFederal funds

11. INDIRECT E \ PENSE a. TYPE

* OPROVISIONAL

OF RATE (Mark box)

El FINAL-

El FIXED h

12. REMARKS (Attach adds Iona: aheta tf necessary)

* To be determined..

/ I.

t

IN PREOE TERmiNFOb. RATE c. BASE

el. TOTAL AMOUNT . FEDERAL SNARE

HFW.A111T

"Sx GG

/

Ova NC% eo-R01e0

2. FEDERAL GRANT NO.OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NO.

Pending

6. FINAL REPORT

CI YESF3 NO

9. REPORT PERIOD (Mon th. Day. Yar

FROM I 10 I 1 1 75

7. BASIS OF REPORT'

0 CASH]ACCRUED ExPENDITURES

TO' I 121

31 1_ 75

s

(s) (6)TOTAL

$4,653,600

-

1,327,000

5,980,600

580,600

5,400,000

T

5,400,00

.._

13. Cerhf cation I crtify that to the best of my knowledge and belief this report is correct andcomplete and that' all outlays and unpaid obligations are for th. purpos mt forth in thegrant award-documents. ,

NAME; TITLE TELEPHONE

CE. Harnett AREA COOE NUMBER EX 1.

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SiGNATU:E OF_AUTHORI ED OFFICIAL/ ii 0

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THE NEW-YORK TIMES, TUESDAY DECEME1; 197S

TV: 'Sesame Street' Takes Some New DirectionsBicentennial Themes

and Visits Are Used

By JOHN J. O'CONNORDodging the slings and ar-

rows of suspicion automat-ically attracted by success,'public television's ".SesameStreet" has raised. about S5-million for still another newseason. The seventh season,which began yesterday, ,.111add 130 hour-long tide°taped segments to the seriesdesigned for preschool chil-dren. The p:ograms will bebroadcast weekdays, usuallyin both moTnings and after-noons, for 26 weeks.

After getting past the al-phabet and basic numbers,where does a children'sseries go for variety? Thisseason "Sesame Street" ven-tures firth in three nnw di-rections. And the results aremixed.

Onc Innovation, which be-gips today, will 'attemptfrtorelate Bicentennial themesto occasional segments Atieein with the American Is-sue; Forum will be used toexploic nine subjects duringthe current year. However,tic-ins with the Americanlssun Forum can be tricky,as WNLI/13's "Our Story"series has discovered. 1 he"lessons" tend to be as la-.bored and about as valuateas those comic-book dra-ings stuffed with notso-hidden images and refer-.ences.

0The "Sesame Street" ap-

proach is harmless enough, asort of children's, version ofth usical "Of Thee I Sing."In day's episode, Big ,pird

\runs .r President, propoSingt to he White House into

use, from which hethout fear of con-

t, as he is re-of his con-ation is notof birds."

a rd Ican uletradic 'on.mindedstituents,just madLesson dcliv ed.

At the .end this 'month,from Dee. 22 to 26, the serieswill leave the studio bordersof Sesame Street to visit a

y" o"This

up

Chicano family in the RioGrande Valley of New Mexico.Using the real-life Romofamily as the family of Luis,one of the regulai series char-acters, the five episodes arefilmed on location. Jon Stone,executive producer,, believesthat ."by presenting childrenin the settings where theylive, we add realism and dra-matic Impact to our goal ofteaching about different cul-tures."

Perhaps, but the "SesameStreet" format also gets ahealthy injection of badlyneeded variety. The switchto a rural setting opens theway for introducing newcharacters and situations.Gordon learns how to milka cow', Big Bird make newfriends in a chicken coop.The Spanish-speaking familyand the Amencan Southwestare used most attractively.

One of these shows fea-tures a trip to an Indianpueblo. The guide is thesinger Buffy Sainte - Marie.who has composed several

songs for -the program. Thetrip and bnef tour of Indianmusic and lair,uage are han-dled with skill and imagina-tion. Miss SainteMarie willappear as a guest on otherprograms during this season,and "Sesame Street" is al-ready planning to take fur-ther trips out of the studio.It should. This one worksbeautifully.

0The third major new ele-

ment in the sends this seasonis one on which the pro-ducersare "moving very cau-tiously." This is a collectionof special segments, to bepresented e,aeli Wednesdayduring the first 20 minutesof the intigram, aimed atchildren with learning dis-abilities. Based largely on re-seare,h developed by the Jos-eph P. Kennedy Foundation,the segments include physicalactivities mixed with 'somesimple cognitive skills.

There is no question thatsuch efforts are laudable fortelevision. With a target

C. tJ

Special Segthents Set. for the Retarded

audience of youngsters whosemental ages approximate 3to 5 (years old, "Sesame'Street' is attempting toreach the country's six mil-lion mentally retarded chil-dren, for whom no .specialTV programming has beendesigned so far. Using handi-capped children, the segmentsare limited to simple exer-cises, with a minimum ofbackground clutter.

Two problems, though, areimmediately apparent. Mhome, such children will needthe participation of a parent.And it is still difficultanticipate how the normalviewer will react to the in-clusion of the special ma-terial. Only, time and theenormous research connectedwith any "Sesame Street"project will tell. Meantime,any work Jins this sensitivearea demands encouragement.

1

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-17k7it,ors on the 216 stations oftn( Public BroadcastingService on 1)ec I. is ox-

perimential programmingdesigned to teach learning4

mental ages approximatedisabled yonnigsters .\31los

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E101.' TON CRC:JNICL5HOUSTON. TEXAS

D. 299,223 SUN.30a7.51

NOV 2 2 1975 06: 7'

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Si:reet`a:TEr

BY THOM SHALES1975. Los Aoa'Ies Timos-

Viashinoton Pcst Notos Scrvicc

Washington Big Birdruns for President on aplatform of "birdseed foreverybody" and hisses forall babies. But when thepertly yellow fowl wins theelection, ill learns thatpeople expec lifn to sohe

. their problem and notJtt go toilerska Tg, he is'isibly shaken.

mean," he ays.do amthin Ieen if I'mluint to,

days, Iv101)9"',Sures peaThis levain f o r frost- disabled"

dents as well as children addition.is included in the second ing nrogrep6de of t h e seventh the broadyear of "Sesame Street,"

The ascent, of Bird isone of several' feature.; OnBic'entennial themes ,a'ld"dto this'year's show. Therewill be other n e w ele-ments. For the first Time.the cast wilt leave myth-

ie2I Sesame Street and hitthe road. Five shows weretaped in rural New Mexicoand will be shown theweek of Dee. 22.26.

nd so we find Big P.irdrah on the back of Apicku truck with Oscarthe Gro t nearby in hisgarb c, while evei v-bi slags, " 're a lon,lont, g, long, t.

Sesame Sxico they learoyo" is and

cow.

11

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howAlso n'e on spp1;i2eldnrveas-.

"loarninr-en. In"

4tciullearn-sist; are beingigstarted id t w o l'exasprisons, where volunteernutites v,11 tutor dutch enof other inmates. and inan Arkansas 3vokshop

'where English will hetaught to young Vietna-mese refugees.

t

Thif document was processed for the ERIC Document Reproduction Serviceby the ERIC Clearinghouse at Stanford. We are aware that some pages probably.wilj not be readable in microfiche or in Hdrdcopy form. However, this is the bestavailable copy, and we feel that the document should not be withheld frominterested readers on the basis of these unreadable pages alone.

26

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WKAR-TV Highlights

Dt-rnL

It "1 he Elec 0 nc Company"; has returned to 'KART'. Ch.

Si. Michigan State University'spubIR' television station. Mon-day though I rtd6-v at II a m.%col' a repeat al 5 .10 p ni . andYourdays or 9 a in and IIil in

Ha' I ellIrll of this popularWI e-, from the ( hildren's Tel -e rain Wcokshop s a directresult of public contributions,to \ lei/ er supported (. h. 23ilitough the nonprofit organi-/at ion. People foi PublIcMoat!, asting puling ppfc'sMau ti fund raising drie, coo-t! ibutors.v,c le asked to specifyif they Nam( d then donations,to go toward ai (ation of this

, I i les 'I he got Ilion pone; atedilOlin It suppoii - na both dotis and enthusiasm ,thatII '2_1 made the purchase of

7,11is prolarn a high iii 'Orgylot the 19,a it; season

\'tv,ers familial v, oh thest i it s %Alit notice a fewclianoes in the trading senes.

ii

'773 1iri,,

II

which is entering its fifth sea-son on the air There's a newShort Circus (the teen rockgroup), increased audience in-vol% einem and adventures andskits more adaptablc to class-room use. A nev, character has'been 'added Spiderirran. acomic nook stmtr hero liedoesn't talk on the in ograro so

iev.ers have to lead 1Lhat heis sa mg or thinking in the hal.loons over his IH.ad, much thes v they %s ould lead histhoughts in a comic book

E% en v, oh these chang,:s,the goal of the wiles ternamsthe same The major ,.inphasisis still the tea( long of hastetPachng skill, to secondthrough fourth glade's

0 Ern 10 r\

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THE STATE JOURNALLANSING, NCH.

D. 82,480 SUN. 84,541

arm fr6 V75

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The cast of The Electric Company Is shown en route

to the new season" that premiered Monday of this

week: (left to right) Jim Boyd as J. At thin. Cranf;;

Morgan I reeman as Easy Reader; I lattid Winston

as Valerie the Libra man; Luis Males as fli .Dtiolot!,; Rita Moreno as Pandora the brat; Skip

Ilinuant as Vargo North, D oder; Judy Craubart

as Jennifer of the Jut , and Danny Seagren as

Spidei Man,

se:!

NAPLES, FLA,

REV'S

D. 10.4500 SUIT. /mom

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This is just a sample of the many characters played

by the repertory cast within The Electric Company

format, which uses entertainment as it vehicle for

teaching important reading skills. The half-hoot

program, produced by the Children's Television

Workshop,' is seen twice each day and again onweekends on most of the 25(i n:lober stations of P1

(Public Broadcasting Service).4.-

Locally The Electric Company can, he seen Mon-.

v day-Friday at 9.30 am and 5:30 pm and Saturday at

9 am and II ant CITICiAG2)

2? .

..,

, ........ ,' '

ti

L' tie c'r1 41r P "gn

TV Editor Ron Hutchison

'Electric Company' Opens Season

6.

I The involvement of kids in the readinglessons of 'The Electric Company... TV'sarlainied reading 'series. takes on added

:importance m the 1975-76 season as itsleen rock group the -Short Circus." withnew members and new sounds. plays a

...ett central role in encouraging in-school,nd alhome vicuers to get turned on to

..eading1Iso to he seen in the series. fifth sea-

%thief] opens ;oda% %till be some genare grade school pupils taking part in a

A dumber of teaching sequences and amore re-idable. Spidelan netting ahole crop of nett ,arch- villainsfine Einar au ard-u inning series. prod.

ant cd ht Children's Television Work-amp opens its season on 1% N11:1,-TV. Chan-- ael 33 and 11 SWR.TV. Channel 9 Most of. the inembei stations air the half-hour pro.:cram to i<e daily. once during school

it s for cl-assroom use and once in lateal ternoon (or home-Yining and reinforce-

. nu at; Woild-tuck The Electric Company is'hating an increasing impact. Great Brit-

411)this t ear became the 17th Englisheakng nation to adopt the series. To the

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general approval of British teachers andthe press. the British Broadcasting Corporation t BBCt aired a number of ElecrtiCompany programs in an experiment forthe benefit of 10 -to 16year-old problemreaders

In the United States the series has had ameasurable impact on its target audienceof 7 to 10-year olds according to a twoyear study by the Educational:resting Ser-vice of Princeton. N J The second part ofthe study. conducted in The Electric Compay s second season. revealed that manyof the reading skills acquit ed by youngs,ters rn their first ear of viewing were stillapparent a year later.

A recently reached agreement betweenPBS and CTW provides (or the airing ofThe Electric Company through the 1980-81bioadeast season Accoiding to David DConnell. CTW vice president for produc-tion. the arrangement calls (or two yearsof nev production follou al by (our yearsof altei nate repeats of these shows Re-search and outreach activities related tothe sera, s will be continued through all si%sears and researth findings at the end of

that period ^will determine the future ofthe series.

Spider-Man, who debuted on the serieslast ear and quickly became a viewer fa-vorite, will be "mine readable- in thefifth ceason. From the start the superrrohas only communicated through comicbook-like speech and thought balloons that

enco age viewers to read Spider-Ma1'ssim ^ sentences in order to follow hi,actions.

SIIAI THOUGH IS. Justice, triumphs on The Electric Company," asSlade -Man. the popular colon hook boo who now appears on the %V read-ing, !grins, nett a villain named "Sandman" I lans Avalos and shares his re-sult uilh through a "thought balloon."

TIMESALBANY, N. Y.

80,048 Pitt. 195,691

mu 24 275 es-

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JUSTICE TRIUMPHS Spider Man, the popular comicbook hero who now appears on the TV reading series,"Electric Company," nets a villain named "Sandman"(Louis Avalos) and shares his results with viewers through a'Motor? balloon.' The series in its to, season airs in thedayfi e at 5:30 pm. over WMHT. -

VrertiMOBILE, ALA.

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JUSTICE Tili:iiI;;PITS on The Eleetri':puny, as S.,yi..:zr Mon, 11,e popolai co; 0

- who now appears on the TV reading sqr,..?s, rict:villain named "Sandman (Luis Avalos) andshares his results with vir!wers through a"thought balloon." His thought balloons' giveviewers the opportunity to,ollow the action foran enjoyable reading experience. In the series'fifth season prmiering Monday at 3:30 p.m. onChaniy..1 42, the balloons will grow 411 ger on thescreen in order to give the 5lowes,t readers thechance they heed to read what Spider Man, whois played by Danny Seagren, is ti;lYinif

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[vrbics eitd e vs d enc.]:Buffy St. Marie is t, ring "Sesame Street"

to the Indians and a prominent Indian,herself, to Sesame Street.

The versatile minstrel, arn ?.d with amouth bow, original songs and a mission topresent the "Indian reality" tc a nationwidetelevision viewing audience of youngchildren, leads Big Bird and other SesameStreet characters to the 600-year-old Indianpueblo near Taos, N.M. this season.

Buffy plays a key role in two "firsts" forSesame Street during 1975-76: the firstcreation of programs on location and thdfirst presentation of Indian culture on the"street" portions of the show.

( Buff2,r's Sesame Street methcd is at oncesimple and complex; she composes andsings music that combines Indian ,rhythmand English lyrics. "I want to get ari Indianfeeling," she explains, "and at the sametime I still want to be understandable to allchildrewho watch Sesame Street."

A scene: Buffy -alongside a mountainstream with Sesame Street's Maria (Sonia,Monzano) and a dozen Tewa Indian children.She teaches them her new composition, "I'mAnIndian and I'm Real." They are clappinga Southwest Indian rhythm but the words are

= in English.--To Ms: St. Marie, "Indians are special andunique in many beautiful ways but arehuman like eveone else. So the trick is tocombine the iwol.ealitie,s on a child's level.These kids at the Taos Pueblo are real In-dians and real children so they help to make'it easier."

A critic once described Buffy as "anaboriginal original blessed with a rarecommand of the powers that communicate.Her compositions and songs, for SesameStreet demonstrate that she wants to corn-

-

"The problem in many places is that kidshave only heard of Indians in stories, and forthem to see Indians and Indian children intheir own homes on television establishesvery gently the Indian reality. I want toreach all children and that's why I chose tocombine Indian feeling with English lyrics."

Ms. St. Marie and executive producerStone began talking early in 1975 about howSesame Street, which is seen by anestimated nine million youngsters, couldbest approach its first presentation of nativeAmerican Indians. They agreed that theprogramming should convey a sense offeeling about Indians to non-Indian viewersthat would be understood and appreciated byboth groups of youngsters.

Ms: St. Marie, who devotes much of hertime to correcting perjurious stereotypesabout American Indians, describes herpresence on Sesame Street as one effort toillustrate the uniqueness of Indians and thefact that they are human like everybodyelse. She says: "I'm trying to do this gapbridging which is essential to Americancontemporary life, to build, mutual un-derstanding on the level of charm."

She is back in a New York TV studio withher guitar, her mouth bow and her charm.Instead of singing with Indian children intheir homes, she is demonstrating Indianmusic and culture to the kids on SesameStreet and playing ."Buffy" as a regularguest host on the program..:.She's making new friends there, too, in-

cluding the Muppets. One of them, thecompulsive enumerator Count von fount,helps solve the Cree number problem posedin New Mexico. The Count stopped countingat five, avoiding`humbers of more than twosyllables in the qree language. So on SesameStreet this SP.2 vin rliaraltt nicti

r

29

11

- a.

gLarge r role lor youth I

Special to The TimesNEW YORK The involvement of

youngsters in the reading lessons ofThe Electric Company.' Public TVs

popular reading series. takes on addedimportance in the 1975-76 season as itsteen rock group. The Short Circus."with new members and new sounds.plays a key role, in encouraging in-school and athome viewers to getturned on to reading."

Also to be wen in the fifth season,opening Monday are some genuinegrade school pi;p116 taking part in anumber of teaching seq,:ences and a"more readable" Spider. tan netting awhole crop of new arch-villians

The Ernmy.award winning series isproduceC by the Lin Wren s I elevisionWorksh' (CTW1. Most of 256-memberpublic stations including Chs 24 and 2air the halfhour programtwice daily, once during school hours forclasbrooni use and once in late after-noon for home-viewing and rein-forcement

World-wide," ''The Electric Com-pany" is having an increasing impact.

Great Britain this sear became the

1110English speaking nation to adopt

series.The general approval of British

teacheis and the press. the Bi itishBroadcasting Corporation (BBC) aireda number of "Electric Company"progi arcs in an expei iment for thebenefit of 10- to 16-yedrold problem

. readers. The experiment will berepeated next year

In the li S the series has had ameasurable impact on its targetaudience of seven- to 10-year-olds ac-cording to a two year study by theEducational Testing Service ofPrinceton, N.J.

The second part of the study, con-ducted in '"fhe Electric Company's se-cond season, revealed that many of thereading skills acquired by youngstersintheir first year of viewi'ne'were stillapparent a year later.

A recently reached agreementbetween Public TV network and CTWpros ides for the airing of "The Elect: is i

Company" through the 1930-81 broad-Icast season.

According to David D. Connell, CTW1vice president for iroduction, the-arrangement calls for two years of new

4itoduction followed by four years ofmate repeats of these shows,esearcli and outreach actIvitle.31

relater: to the series will be continuedthrough all Si., >cars and research fin-dings at the end of that period willdetermine the future of the series.

"The Electric Company" researchstiff is ealliating all materials produc-ed in prevaA, seasons in order to in-clude the molt effective elements inthe 260 progiams created for airingduring the ne:;t six years

Spider-Man, who detuted on theseries last yGir and quickly became aviewer favcrite. will be "morereadable" in ,,he fifth season.

Frorii the shirt the super-hero has onlycommunication thrcugh comic book-like speech ';nd thoight br.11oons thatencourage v,ewers to read Spider-Man's sunpl,t sentences in order tofollow his aci ions

,

In an experiment this season theill opand to Kulp, most of

the scram avid become more readableand then diss?Ive back to the action

"What we't e doing," said Andrew B.Ferguson Jr , the series' producer, "isgiving the lids at home and in theclassroom evrry chance to gel involvedwith reading Sul words and sentences.In the case of,,lie expanding balloons theballoons blozli out, potentially dis-tracting elements so the viewers get apure reading7;xpencnce. The complex-ity of the print used is of course gearedto the slow readers who are the core ofour target audience,

The new ";liort Circus" is like theold "Short grew`' in number onlyfive members/ but four of theyoungsters ale' new this year and newtoo is the iiroup's central rote inmotivating viewers to acquire readingskills

"Our studi;s have shown us," saidDr. Vivian /loner. series director ofresearch, "that viewers can becomeactively involved in the program ac-

.

tually work out reading elements onpaper and in their heads through par-ticipatory activities as long as we havebelievable kids on the screen takingpart In other words kids relate best tokids and the 'Short Circus' will reflectthis in season five. They will also act asa youthful bridge between youngviewers and the series' adult castmembers.

The types of inatenal the kids willbe doing," Dr. Horner continued, "willreflect recognition of the fact that theseries is used extensively in thenation's elementary schools. `The ShortCircus' members will be modelingmore behavior, frequently in games andother activities familiar to viewers butprovided with a twist that draws theminto the reading process."

"The Electric Company's" regularadult cast mem'bcrs include Oscar-andTony-winner Rita Moreno. familiar to"Electric Company" vievs as Pan -'dora (the brat), the movie director and lrrrthe "Hey You Guys!" shouting Millie- '1'the.lfelperg Hattie Winston, who waslast season in the new role of Valerie theLibrarian (girl friend of Easy Reader)and who continues The Fox; MorganFreeman, who has played the word.loving Easy Header since the show firststarted (along with many other roles);and Luis Avalos, who sets modernmedicine back centuries as the Dr.Doolots and horticulture back an equaltime span. as Pedro of "Pedro's PlantPlace."

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esam

e S

tree

t "sh

ow a

s a

' bab

y si

tter"

and

neg

lect

dea

l-B

y th

e en

d of

the

first

gra

de y

ear,

the

inen

th th

e ch

ild o

n a

pers

onal

bas

is to

twin

s ha

d be

en In

trod

uced

to th

ird g

rade

dete

lop

lang

uage

and

com

mun

icat

ion

leve

l pho

nics

and

com

plet

ed tw

p th

irdlv

,w11

11b.

TN

muc

h te

lem

saon

may

Mie

ngr

ad*

read

ers

-

L..

" ha

mpe

r a

child

'sea

rly d

evel

opm

ent a

use

bons

had

an

'ext

rem

ely

high

whe

al p

syds

okig

ut s

ays.

It" c

ame

Rom

an

adva

ntag

ed h

ome-

and

"Man

y ed

ucat

ors

are

givi

ng "

Ses

ame

,_re

ceiv

edat

tiotto

sfr

om th

eir

pare

nts

-S

tree

t" 1

high

rat

ing,

" S

ays

Ora

`.."

'al

l fac

tors

that

con

trib

uted

I-t

hear

aca

-ed

Mac

tey,

ittc

ctor

of e

lem

enta

ry e

du-

denu

e se

ars.

Mrs

Bla

ine

dca

non

for

the

Ilavi

essC

otm

ty s

choo

ls.

Tea

cher

sre

reh

Icta

. how

ever

, to

."M

any,

_stou

r el

uldr

en c

ome

to u

s vn

thsa

y ho

w m

u, b

of

nipa

et 'S

esam

ela

agna

ge k

kith

l and

a g

reat

er r

eadi

ness

toS

tree

t" h

as u

s pr

ing

child

ren

for

fre

ad,',

she

Lar

k "M

any

of M

ourn

e sk

ills

scho

ol. a

lthou

ghsa

y th

ey e

ncou

rage

are

tritg

lat 0

11 -

Ses

aMea

reer

aala

ds a

nt,

pare

nts

to Y

et th

eir

child

ren

wat

ch '

Sk-

i,ta

ngtii

in g

iam

troo

ma.

"'e

-,;..

._...

.

sari:

27'4

nd"E

lect

ric C

ompa

ny "

Ann

Tot

er. a

km

derg

arte

n te

ache

rD

oris

Sub

lett,

a fi

rst g

rad.

teac

Ns.

ai-,

t at

ens

Me

mea

tary

Sch

ool.

says

she

sIT

hj.te

lvill

e...

..Ele

mes

42r,

Seb

o°I s

ari

nota

ted

mor

e aw

aren

ess

in s

tuck

sas

t ash

es =

urea

that

her

stu

dent

s "s

eem

to/e

lse

my,

she

d as

k st

uden

ts w

ho th

e11

2v11

1 be

tter

intr

odne

titet

t4 le

tter,

and

/pre

side

nt w

as a

nd o

ften

be to

ldG

eorg

ew

ordr

Ytth

ata

cadr

e' p

olls

,W

ashi

ngto

n N

crw

som

eone

will

say

Sfr

..

40ei

getab

ated

oft

Last

er."

she

314.

For

d,"

she

saiti

st'

the

ones

that

get

sta

rted

, fas

ter

iii d

,.Inj

..km

w a

that

's b

ecau

se o

f TV

......

.ese

einf

o be

tty "

ii)bo

a og

ats

edta

/ re ''

''P

oynt

er s

aid

`.

___.

oe-p

eopi

e am

, mor

e in

tere

sted

." M

rs

peel

edB

oma!

Tes

ting

Ser

vice

toey

fttoO

m

Res

eara

itidi

ees

by th

e hi

ghly

re

,nea

aare

's

Str

eet's

" ef

fect

ive-

ness

afte

r its

firs

t sea

son

prod

uced

thes

e

iindm

gs*

aco

me

honk

Led

acce

Pile

slib

liiee

a l

grad

eE

lem

enta

ryS

elso

ol.

We

Jul g

et d

irt lo

t fas

ter

and

it's

nor

i/-

7 7

of.

.sa

ys J

ean

at T

amar

ack

-01

4.1.

,

get h

igh

mar

ks fr

om lb

w! t

each

ers

'OP

/11C

50.5

C11

9Ct a

s IN

QU

IRE

R

MO

ND

AY

, DE

CE

MB

ER

15.

197

5S

EC

TIO

N s

- C

hild

ren

who

wat

ched

the

prog

ram

show

ed g

reat

er le

arni

ng g

ains

than

chi

t

=et

;they

wer

e fr

om in

ner-

city

, win

-o

didn

't w

atch

- r

egar

dles

s of

urba

n or

rur

al h

omes

or

whe

ther

they

wer

e bo

ys o

r gi

rls b

lavk

or

whi

te-

The

mor

e ch

ildre

n w

atch

ed th

e

gral

heir

lear

ning

gai

nsIls

bes

t lea

rned

Wer

e th

ose

who

hw

ed th

e m

ost t

ime

and

atte

ntio

non

the

prog

ram

suc

h as

rec

ogni

zing

let

tern

wor

ds, n

umbe

rs a

nd c

ount

ing

Thr

ee-y

ear

old

child

ren

mad

egr

eate

r ga

ins

than

okl

er c

hild

ren

- C

hild

ren

from

'dis

adva

ntag

ed '

(tow

inco

me)

situ

atio

ns w

ho w

atch

edfr

eque

ntly

mad

e ga

ins

that

sur

pass

edth

ose

ofm

iddl

e-cl

ass

child

ren

who

wat

ched

infr

eque

ntly

Ano

thtik

lyng

- a

nd It

s a

n im

por

'rem

embe

r, s

ay lo

cal t

each

ers

an s

choo

l psy

chol

ogis

ts -

is th

at th

ose/

child

ren

who

wat

ched

and

gai

ned

mas

tte

nded

to h

ave

mot

hers

who

wat

ched

and

disc

usse

d th

e pr

ogra

ms

with

thei

rci

nMre

nQ

ty s

choo

ls p

sych

olog

ist D

uane

kill

ersa

id th

at fi

ndin

g do

esn

t sur

pris

e hi

mbe

cam

e ' a

par

ent i

s th

e pr

imar

y'le

arn-

ing

agen

t up

to th

e ye

ar fo

ur o

r fiv

e A

lot

mor

e ha

ppen

s be

caus

e a

child

is d

epen

d-en

t on

pare

nts

Par

ent i

nvol

vem

ent w

ith th

e ch

ildw

hen

wat

chin

g ' S

esam

e S

tree

t' -

oran

y ot

her

prog

ram

- is

Impo

rtan

t to

ach

ild's

acq

uisi

tion

of v

erba

l abi

litie

ssa

p D

e Jo

hn, M

aure

lli p

sych

olog

ist f

or

Y

the

coun

ty s

choo

lsM

aure

lb, a

form

er u

nive

rsity

pio

ies-

sor

offe

red

som

e in

tere

stin

g -

and

criti

cal -

per

sona

l obs

erva

tions

aoo

ut tn

eIm

pact

of t

elev

isio

n ge

nera

lly o

n a

child

sea

rly d

evel

opm

ent

Par

ents

shou

ld, s

erio

usly

cons

ider

whe

ther

the

bene

fits

of te

levi

sion

vie

win

g by

chi

ldre

n ou

twei

gh th

e de

ficie

nci

es,fl

e is

con

cern

ed th

at p

aren

ts m

ayus

e 11

1111

pro

gram

s as

Ses

ame

Str

eet

asa

' bab

y si

tting

dev

ice"

with

out p

rovi

dm

g en

ough

inte

ract

ion

with

a c

hild

that

wou

ld p

rom

ote

verb

al d

evel

opm

ent

And

tele

on w

atch

ing

shou

ld b

eco

ntro

lled

by th

rent

s' I

do

thin

kin

disc

rimin

ate

use

oV

is Il

amag

ing

toth

e co

gniti

ve d

evel

opm

ent o

f chi

ldre

nhe

sai

d' G

ener

ally

, Ife

el c

hild

ren

who

are

allo

wed

to w

atch

TV

con

stan

tly a

rebo

mba

rded

with

ext

erna

l stim

uli w

hich

cuts

off

inte

rnal

thin

king

"he

sai

dA

sked

if h

e w

ould

rec

omm

end

that

pare

nts

let t

heir

i ful

dren

wat

ch S

esam

eS

tree

t," M

aure

lti s

aid

"My

answ

er L

s, y

esle

t the

m w

atch

"Ses

ame

Str

eet "

The

rea

soni

ng b

ehin

dth

is ts

that

TV

pla

ys a

n im

port

ant p

art I

nou

r ev

eryd

ay a

ffairs

If th

e ki

d is

doi

ngot

her

thin

gs, w

atch

ing

' Ses

ame

Str

eet '

prob

ably

won

t ha

ve a

ny d

etrim

enta

l ef-

fect

s How

ever

, ' h

eavy

dos

es"

of te

levi

slo

view

ing

by c

hild

ren

with

out t

he in

tera

cLo

n w

ith p

aren

ts m

ay "

arre

st"

a V

hild

sve

rbal

com

mun

icat

ion

rath

er th

an d

e-

velo

pM

aurc

lii-Y

ou g

et 3

and

4ye

ar o

ld p

resc

honk

f. w

ho c

an't

spea

k ip

sent

ence

she

uid

"Sty

ow

n pe

r...s

it bi

as U

that

if y

ouca

n co

ntro

l it

Msa

idT

V is

as

good

as

a bo

ok In

tl "le

nt p

eopl

e do

lw e

with

it a

nd c

ontr

ol It

Unf

ortu

nate

lyth

ose

who

hav

e M

t iea

st c

ontr

ol u

se iv

in a

flig

ht in

to u

nte

I ty

"

A s

peci

fic e

ritiv

i-ith

st S

tam

en, h

isO

fS

esam

e S

tree

tvo

lyes

the

fligh

tIn

to u

nrea

lity

Se

Inc

Str

eet d

oesn

hand

le th

e se

pal a

of n

uke-

belie

vean

d re

ality

as

wel

l*o

ther

chi

ldre

n s

show

s

' The

guy

who

bin

dles

that

bes

t is

Fre

d R

oger

s -

Miu

rtlli

sai

dbe

caus

ehe

mak

es a

rea

l rte

a d

istin

ctio

n be

late

nm

ake

belie

ve a

nd r

e ab

ly T

hat i

s a

little

mor

e di

fficu

lt to

It io

dic

with

' Ses

ame

Ste

elbe

elin

e th

i cha

ract

ers

take

on

real

per

sona

litie

s

Ano

ther

atti

c-is

m. a

rtno

wle

ile1

byth

eC

hild

ren'

Tel

evis

ion

_Wor

ksho

pw

hich

pro

duce

s'S

esam

e S

tree

tan

d'F

ieso

nc C

ompa

ny,

is th

at th

ere

may

be a

bac

klas

h ef

fect

whe

n ch

ildre

n en

ter

the

first

gra

deT

he a

thei

sm is

that

chi

ldre

n m

ay b

ebo

red

with

a c

lass

room

erw

ironm

eet

expe

ctin

g to

lint

' the

flas

hy a

nd R

ambo

)an

t cha

ract

eris

tics

ofS

esam

e S

tree

tth

ere

Mau

r el

ls b

elie

s,"

the

criti

cism

'has

ae.

awfu

l lot

of v

alid

ity. '

a v

iew

poin

t sha

red

by M

rs. P

oynt

er w

ho s

ays

its tr

ueIn

L.so

me

SitU

atha

lw b

ut U

se c

lass

room

s ar

eS

chan

gine

"K

inde

rgar

ten

and

first

gra

de c

lass

room

s ar

en't

the

stod

gy p

lace

s m

ost p

eopi

e th

ink

they

are

. say

s B

etty

Dun

nW

itrrc

tor

of p

resc

hool

pro

gram

s fo

r O

w,

enst

oro-

scho

nts

,We

try

to h

ave

all

kind

s of

acu

mtw

a go

ing

on a

Cie

the

child

ren

mov

e ar

ound

.- s

he w

its.

\i:--

"""1

.re

\...p

.irk

- -

)

I '

OE

C 1

519

/b

-

r-1C----"- 7, (-Ikm) O-

...

''' Ti lZ Ciii,DBEI'S Television V,,o,Isslop

(C1W), \Ade.. produ..xs tbc 6..ric., is rdcl ,;

cater In.:ovations in the new seascn. It will

:,ct into the .ict on 111.s. Bicentenni..1, for :a-

_ stiince, but i.. Its own way.That includes Big Bird's campaigo fo.- Pi ; , :-

. ; (iit, with a plodz,,e to turn the V.'hite ioi :.e

...o a Liichiou:;.-... There is )nfcvmati.,i on

l ow t'.1e r.7;tion itnetias a;ong writ ,' .. : 1.

:, -r; i;e3 -;71 t ,:: 1'..? tirotrican I.Fso, S .Thi .in

r+ro;;,;..-, fo:,.,.rin:.; aational dialogue o.-. U.S.

1.,...-.6,.hler.t;-1:.

'Y.' v -.. c..7 Cori -.,r.ter will be wcel,ly 5..,-;-

"is (...!.:,., (. to.- cl.ildren with iearr.,-;.

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:r..',1 -.1.J.,ion. Seve-..ai others 'J.:we an

Hell. T. A-1

-1 L.

"Cpz:r. Sc-r--y.2" series shorter segments in

i:12 ;1lire ,ant;uap, reflecting ioccl culiore.

Viev..crs ha,fle roi;_ht be suipriscd rt fhe

umisual uses to which the show is pl.A. .1

ericile :)..c.;.:.ct this year is at fcdcr;i

t th and Seagoville;, Te::

Cf17 ;ersonnel helped train 57 /who vehia eered to tutor the children 0;

cl..;.;..(n have benefited frc.ri ti.:

tutrin,!. built aronad the series. :odlgained eq,:..ic..cc

.-r.i.;ht be helpful III considc

later c atte.-natives.

l'i10.3ECT is at For:re a CT V: divis..oa 15 V1'011:1Z;; .1:1

Corilinuntt-: Collezc to halp

:cft.,-_,ze children learn via Si.7...za,c.

Strc6...%.1

:1.1. sante C''W'IRIVceS4C.P,1 riorriqua use aso,n,-.. SUL:.

Spar.ls.i.s,)eakinf; students a:4, daypersonnel how to use telcvisior,

tool.;sod t'...ere is to dave;op rim .CI

call be adapted In

cc ramunitics around the [Jilted States.

1