Can someone Sesame Street (S/S) out?
The groundbreaking children's show is yet turns 40 and its impact is wide-ranging, yet the Children's Television workshop faces a budget shortfall, as the economic downturn has strained nonprofit funding across the board. As a result, staffing cuts have been announced, and the number of new episodes is down significantly (26 this year compared to 130 peak level).
You can't argue with the numbers. As a recent Newsweek article states S/S is definitely still relevant, as several independent studies show that children who regularly watch S/S consistently:
- score better on number and letter recognition
- have stronger vocabulary and math skills
- and the impact carries over into high school years
Take it from a new mom, I much rather start my day with Ernie, Elmo, Big Bert & Burt than those manic doomsayers on CNBC (which I did for many years). Maybe if we all watched a little more S/S, American productivity would return.
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