| Orange County Schools in California released state | | | | kindergarteners. When they're watching television |
| tests scores with the announcement that scores had | | | | they're not: interacting with friends and family, getting |
| risen for the fifth straight year in a row. That means | | | | exercise, fully attending to homework, or using their |
| that 52% of students tested for English in grades 2-11 | | | | brains. When children watch television they: get |
| passed with a grade of proficient or above. 51% in | | | | inappropriate messages from shows and commercials, |
| math. Did you read that correctly? 52% and 51% | | | | get into a habit of inactivity, eat more junk food, and |
| passing means progress to the Orange County | | | | tend to become grumpier and fussier. All of these |
| Schools. If you're a parent with children in the Orange | | | | factors are seen in poor test scores and behavior in |
| County Public Schools this should concern your greatly! | | | | the Orange County Schools. |
| The scary thing is that statewide percentages are at | | | | How Less Television Can Help the Orange County |
| 43% and 41%. California Schools are currently failing | | | | Schools |
| our children. | | | | Now I know that Governor Schwarzenegger isn't |
| So what's a parent to do? Funding is an issue. | | | | about to pass any initiatives to help me rally Orange |
| Teaching the state's huge immigrant population is an | | | | County Schools families to watch less television. In |
| issue. The needs of special needs students are an | | | | fact, you as the parent are the only person who can |
| issue. And no one has a really great answer. But as a | | | | really make this significant change for your family. But |
| parent, there is something that you can do. It's a drastic | | | | why would you want to do this? |
| measure that could impact the entire population of the | | | | Are you busy? Really, really tired? Most Orange |
| Orange County Schools. But it's not an easy fix. In fact, | | | | County Schools parents feel overwhelmed and |
| a lot of the Orange County Schools' families will have | | | | exhausted at the end of the day. Television can be a |
| serious pains from making this move. But it's that | | | | relaxing escape. But think for a moment about how |
| important. Parents of Orange County Schools- I | | | | busy your family is already with homework, dinner, and |
| challenge you to turn off your television during the | | | | activities at the end of the day. What if TV was no |
| school week. | | | | longer a factor? How would your family spend that |
| Withdrawal Pains in the Orange County Schools | | | | time? Would Orange County Schools' children get to |
| For the small percentage of you who are still reading, | | | | bed earlier and get more sleep if they weren't up so |
| don't throw the remote at your screen quite yet. I | | | | late watching television? Would you have to time to |
| know what I'm suggesting is a scary lifestyle change | | | | read to them more? Take a walk together? Play a |
| that a lot of Orange County Schools won't ever | | | | card game? |
| consider. But for the academic and future success of | | | | If you really want to see an improvement in the |
| your children, hear me out. | | | | Orange County Schools, I dare you to try this with |
| Television drains energy. It doesn't matter if your | | | | your family for one month. No television on school |
| Orange County Schools students are seniors or | | | | days. Aren't your children worth it? |