Controversial Channel One
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I am disturbed by your editorial recommendation that San Diego schools adopt the Channel One video program, including its mandatory commercials. Since the public does not know the contract details, we must react to what we hear. The action you suggest seems blatantly to violate educational and democratic principles, in addition to your acknowledgement that it would make the children a “captive audience for candy, soft drink, movie and clothing ads targeted specifically at their age group.”
It would remove school control over the content of the curriculum, not only with respect to the commercials but also the news which they accompany.
You advance a specious and irrelevant argument on decentralization to excuse “a reasonable gamble.” Instead, the schools would be giving up their control to commercial interests.
You suggest a one-year trial. What would be the criteria for evaluation? The amount of candy the children eat?
SAMUEL M. WISHIK
San Diego
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