[email protected]


Hi Georganne,
I have a funny story about this back to school theme. Each year, right as
school is about to start, the children's shows on PBS are completely
saturated with messages about the desirability of going to school. The
children and I have been talking about advertising for a long time, and what
messages are being conveyed through the ads, so we jumped right on this one!  
"Why would they be working so hard to tell the children that school is fun,
if it really was fun?"  "They don't seem to have shows trying to convince us
that 'Parties are fun' or 'Chocolate cake is fun'." We had a great
discussion, and for weeks after that, they were chanting (in the tone of
someone trying to place a subliminal suggestion): "School is fun. School is
fun."
Helen

In a message dated 2/7/2001 5:56:09 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:


Is there anywhere anyone knows about that will help us in the preschool
years
setting the stage for a successful life at home?  I'm already noticing how
often books and PBS children's programs talk of "going to school".  Isn't a
child disappointed not getting on that school bus to go to kindergarten?

Kerry Kibort

We always analyze the commercials when we watch tv.
Like, for instance, when we watch a hockey game , the
commercials are directed totally at males .They
advertise beer, truck, gambling(casino). Its gross to
see what they think of the average american male. He
is a sheep, who'll follow anyone with beer. He also
judges himself on the SIZE of TRUCK he drives. Read
between those lines!
I dont allow my kids to watch Nickolodeon anymore,
either , because I got tired of the phonic game ads
every 10 minutes. My 4 year old was begging for it,
convinced he'll never read without it. And dont forget
those fabulous magic pens! Only 19.95! You'll surely
be an artist with those!
My favorite channel is the travel channel, the
drawback being the "Bluossant" comercials, pills for
natural breast enhancement. You can imagine my 7 and 4
year old boys have had some giggles over that one.
Kerry

[email protected]

In a message dated 2/7/01 7:44:45 AM, HWLaP@... writes:

<< "Why would they be working so hard to tell the children that school is
fun,
if it really was fun?" >>

That is so profoundly true!

Holly is nine, and with no schoolmates to forbid her to do it, she watches
Dragontales and really likes it. She asked me to see if there was a CD of
the songs available, so I went to the PBS kids site, and read the
teached/parent/caretaker (I think they called it caretaker) page on it and
was surprised to see that it is designed to prepare kids for school. I told
her that (not in a scary or "don't watch it way" but in a "this surprises me"
way). She was surprised too, but we talked about it, and it does seem to be
heavy on emotional preparation for competition and losing, or gracious
winning, and making friends (and possibly failing).

Sad...

Tami Labig-Duquette

Animal planet is our mine channel.
But some of the rescue type shows can be very sad!
Tami

>From: Kerry Kibort <kkibort@...>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] was going to school/ commercials
>Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 08:03:13 -0800 (PST)
>
>We always analyze the commercials when we watch tv.
>Like, for instance, when we watch a hockey game , the
>commercials are directed totally at males .They
>advertise beer, truck, gambling(casino). Its gross to
>see what they think of the average american male. He
>is a sheep, who'll follow anyone with beer. He also
>judges himself on the SIZE of TRUCK he drives. Read
>between those lines!
>I dont allow my kids to watch Nickolodeon anymore,
>either , because I got tired of the phonic game ads
>every 10 minutes. My 4 year old was begging for it,
>convinced he'll never read without it. And dont forget
>those fabulous magic pens! Only 19.95! You'll surely
>be an artist with those!
>My favorite channel is the travel channel, the
>drawback being the "Bluossant" comercials, pills for
>natural breast enhancement. You can imagine my 7 and 4
>year old boys have had some giggles over that one.
>Kerry

_________________________________________________________________
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[email protected]

OK, true confession, I am a General Hospital junkie!! Anyone who
knows me knows that this is my one THING on TV! But I have to tell
you how funny I find the commercials. The first commercial I
encounter is very big busted women showing off their Victoria's
Secret bras (lots of cleavage and things like feathers on their big,
seductive lips!) then I'm treated to dancing tampons after that (I've
never actually seen tampons make water-ballet formations, but it is
amuzing), then I'm shown how I can be a better mom by getting my
clothes whiter & brighter or how wonderful I'd be if I only chose the
right peanut butter! Bloussant commercials do show me how to
increase my bustline but I've already taken care of that through
pregnancy and nursing!! And, based on these commercials, you'd never
think that someone like me could attract a man wearing cotton Wal-
Mart underwear, using maxi-pads, or washing white underwear and blue
jeans in the same load!!!

Oh, Hooked on Phonics, gotta love that!! Not only do your children
get treated to hours and years of learning to read in school, but you
can spend hundreds of dollars on that product to make them even
better readers!! Being of the John Holt unschooling mind, some of us
have children that have actually learned to read, spell, and
comprehend it all within minimal instruction and no fees! Amazing!

Just thought I'd share a laugh on-line!

Valerie Stewart

I dont allow my kids to watch Nickolodeon anymore,
either , because I got tired of the phonic game ads
every 10 minutes. My 4 year old was begging for it,
convinced he'll never read without it.

***We do watch Nickelodeon but those phonics ads drive me nuts, too. One day
I asked my 8 year old, "What do kids really need to learn how to read?" and
she said "Harry Potter!" (she's another HP success story) No Hooked On
Phonics necessary around here! :)

Valerie in Tacoma

[email protected]

In a message dated 2/7/01 8:08:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, vlos@...
writes:

<< I dont allow my kids to watch Nickolodeon anymore,
either , because I got tired of the phonic game ads
every 10 minutes. My 4 year old was begging for it,
convinced he'll never read without it.

***We do watch Nickelodeon but those phonics ads drive me nuts, too. One day
I asked my 8 year old, "What do kids really need to learn how to read?" and
she said "Harry Potter!" (she's another HP success story) No Hooked On
Phonics necessary around here! :) >>

Hi, my kids too always comment on the Learn to Read type commercials and the
commercials usually mention school. Like "now Johnny is getting better grades
in school". My daughter remarked how ironic it is that schools are not
teaching kids to read so parents have to go looking for a way to teach them
at home. At least that is what the commercials are really saying.
Candy

Carolyn

my daughter is 10, learned to read before kindgarten and still wants to
buy hooked on phonics when the commericals come on. go figure!

discovery6@... wrote:

> In a message dated 2/7/01 8:08:15 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> vlos@...
> writes:
>
> << I dont allow my kids to watch Nickolodeon anymore,
> either , because I got tired of the phonic game ads
> every 10 minutes. My 4 year old was begging for it,
> convinced he'll never read without it.
>
> ***We do watch Nickelodeon but those phonics ads drive me nuts, too.
> One day
> I asked my 8 year old, "What do kids really need to learn how to
> read?" and
> she said "Harry Potter!" (she's another HP success story) No Hooked
> On
> Phonics necessary around here! :) >>
>