THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHING

Some experts say that 'it is possible that with the increase in the use of technology for teaching in schools, learners will come home absolutely sick of television and will choose to read a book, instead of fixing their curious eyes on the TV.'

Wishful thinking! A recent survey reveals that the average child watches between 22 and 30 hours of Television a week and that over 80% of parents don't control what their offspring watch. Teachers say that this report confirms why children are falling asleep in class. This is not because of the quality of the lessons but because of what occupies them the night before.

Uncontrolled TV watching

According to a 17-year study reported in the Science Journal, adolescents who watch more than an hour of television a day are more likely to commit aggressive and violent acts as adults, than those who watched less than an hour a day. The study tracked down more than 700 adolescents into adulthood. Girls, as well as boys, displayed an increase in aggression which was confirmed by psychologists and social scientists as more evidence of TV's harmful effects.

Reading is so important

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Thanks to Thomas Edison

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In the meantime, dutiful parents who try to get their kids to bed early, or to read a book, are failing miserably in their efforts. Parents just don't seem to to have the authority to make children switch the TV off and do their homework. How sad and how unsurprising. For the past hundred years, parents have been losing control. More and more, the so-called experts have been taken the role of the parents over: teachers, psychologist, nutritionists, sports coaches, social workers and more. The idea that 'mother knows best' is rubbished - and kids go their own way.

Agression

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Is this the way things should stay? Shouldn't parents take control again, no matter how hard they work? They should and must have the final say. With technology, the cell phone, blocking devices on TV's and computers, and the like, parents should be able to call the shots. Until they do, the 'experts' will continue to dream up reasons for an illiterate generation.

When TV broadcasting began in the United States, fears about the negative influence of TV have been voiced almost since 1946. "The implications for parents is that unfettered access to television is not good for your child," Cantor said. "It has these negative effects - which affect them personally in terms of feeling more hostile. And it looks like it affects other people too, through an expression of that hostility in aggressive behavior towards others"

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"The implications for parents is that unfettered access to television is not good for your child," Cantor said. "It has these negative effects--which affect them personally in terms of feeling more hostile. And it looks like it affects other people too--through the expression of that hostility in aggressive behavior towards others."

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