Franklin School will join thousands of schools, libraries
and community groups nationwide in a coordinated effort to encourage millions of
Americans to turn off their TV sets and video games for seven days and turn on
life.
At
Franklin School, the students are creating posters of alternative activities to
TV/Screens. They are signing pledge
cards and proudly displaying them in the front hall.
They are learning the benefits of healthier choices.
Old
habits can be hard to break, and one of those habits is watching TV.
On average, the typical child in the United States will spend more time
watching television (1,023 hours) this year than in school (900 hours).
That does not include the time spent on video games.
This has negative impact on our children’s health and ability to learn.
On April 1, 2004 at 7:00 PM, Franklin School will host a parent workshop that presents the hazards of too much screen time. The workshop will address the hidden public issue of TV and violence, sexual attitudes, substance abuse, health and body image. It will also address the effects TV/screens have on the educational areas of reading, attention span, cognitive development and creativity. Carol Pellet, the school counselor for Franklin School, will present this program.