Too much TV & bad grades....
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Too much TV & bad grades....
From today's Sun Sentinel.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ne...lines
Studies link bad grades with too much TV
By Lindsey Tanner
Associated Press
Posted July 5 2005, 8:13 AM EDT
Too much TV-watching can harm children's ability to learn, three new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on kids.
Critics faulted the research for not adequately considering the content of the TV watched, but experts said it bolsters advice that children shouldn't have TVs in their rooms.
The separate findings were published Monday in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
One of the studies involved nearly 400 northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs.
A second study, looking at nearly 1,000 adults in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26-year-olds who had watched lots of TV in childhood.
A third study, based on nationally representative data on nearly 1,800 U.S. children, found that those who watched more than three hours of television daily before age 3 scored slightly worse on academic and intelligence tests at ages 6 and 7 than youngsters who watched less TV. The effect was modest but still worrisome, researchers said.
The studies took into account other factors that might have influenced the outcome, such as household income. But they largely ignored other research that "found positive associations between children's educational TV viewing and subsequent academic achievement," according to an Archives editorial.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that youngsters under age 2 not watch any television, that older children watch no more than two hours daily of "quality" programming, and that televisions be kept out of children's bedrooms.
Recent data suggest that American youngsters from infancy to age 6 watch an average of one hour of TV daily, and that 8-to-18-year-olds watch an average of three hours daily.
John Wilson, senior vice president of programming at PBS, released a statement saying that other studies have shown that the Public Broadcasting Service's children's programs, which include "Sesame Street," can benefit child development.
The New Zealand study acknowledged that the results don't prove that TV is the culprit and don't rule out that already poorly motivated youngsters may watch lots of TV. But the authors said they don't think that explains their results.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ne...lines
Studies link bad grades with too much TV
By Lindsey Tanner
Associated Press
Posted July 5 2005, 8:13 AM EDT
Too much TV-watching can harm children's ability to learn, three new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on kids.
Critics faulted the research for not adequately considering the content of the TV watched, but experts said it bolsters advice that children shouldn't have TVs in their rooms.
The separate findings were published Monday in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
One of the studies involved nearly 400 northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs.
A second study, looking at nearly 1,000 adults in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26-year-olds who had watched lots of TV in childhood.
A third study, based on nationally representative data on nearly 1,800 U.S. children, found that those who watched more than three hours of television daily before age 3 scored slightly worse on academic and intelligence tests at ages 6 and 7 than youngsters who watched less TV. The effect was modest but still worrisome, researchers said.
The studies took into account other factors that might have influenced the outcome, such as household income. But they largely ignored other research that "found positive associations between children's educational TV viewing and subsequent academic achievement," according to an Archives editorial.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that youngsters under age 2 not watch any television, that older children watch no more than two hours daily of "quality" programming, and that televisions be kept out of children's bedrooms.
Recent data suggest that American youngsters from infancy to age 6 watch an average of one hour of TV daily, and that 8-to-18-year-olds watch an average of three hours daily.
John Wilson, senior vice president of programming at PBS, released a statement saying that other studies have shown that the Public Broadcasting Service's children's programs, which include "Sesame Street," can benefit child development.
The New Zealand study acknowledged that the results don't prove that TV is the culprit and don't rule out that already poorly motivated youngsters may watch lots of TV. But the authors said they don't think that explains their results.
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I don't really watch TV much, but during the school year, truthfully I spend too much time on the computer 
. Yet, I still get awesome grades in school. I wonder if there might be any sort of a reverse correlation? Kids who can't learn well are more interested in watching TV? Could be an additional factor.
. Yet, I still get awesome grades in school. I wonder if there might be any sort of a reverse correlation? Kids who can't learn well are more interested in watching TV? Could be an additional factor.
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From: limerick
This is a horrible correlation.
Watching TV obviously cannot make you get bad grades, of course if you watch TV instead of doing homework/studying...
I'd love them to take this to the next logical step and prove the real problem, parents that suck make for dumb kids...
These types of studies hurt companies/people who actually do research well.
Watching TV obviously cannot make you get bad grades, of course if you watch TV instead of doing homework/studying...
I'd love them to take this to the next logical step and prove the real problem, parents that suck make for dumb kids...
These types of studies hurt companies/people who actually do research well.
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From: socal
Originally Posted by exceltoexcel,Jul 5 2005, 01:59 PM
This is a horrible correlation.
Watching TV obviously cannot make you get bad grades, of course if you watch TV instead of doing homework/studying...
I'd love them to take this to the next logical step and prove the real problem, parents that suck make for dumb kids...
These types of studies hurt companies/people who actually do research well.
Watching TV obviously cannot make you get bad grades, of course if you watch TV instead of doing homework/studying...
I'd love them to take this to the next logical step and prove the real problem, parents that suck make for dumb kids...
These types of studies hurt companies/people who actually do research well.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,337
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From: Los Angeles, Miami
What a horrible waste of money these studies are. No shit too much TV leads to bad grades. DUH! How about instead of pointing out the obvious, use the money to improve public schools or for private school vouchers so that less fortunate kids can receive a REAL education so they don't end up flipping burgers at BK for the rest of their lives.
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From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Originally Posted by JonBoy,Jul 6 2005, 09:32 AM
I have to disagree, mainly based on personal experience. Let me clarify, though - TV contribute to "bad" grades, just "worse" grades (in my opinion).
I was raised without a TV. I now own over 1000 books (I had half that by the time I was 12). I cannot quite speed read but I can read (and retain what I've read) faster and more completely than most people can. I have an eidetic memory. I finished in the top 1% in my province upon graduating from high school and went on to get an engineering degree.
Three of the other four siblings in my family are in roughly the same boat (the other is still well above average, just not quite as focused academically). Genetics? Possibly. However, I know quite a few people that were raised the same way and the majority are smarter, more imaginative, more successful, and generally better rounded.
I agree - if you watch TV instead of doing homework, your grades will almost certainly suffer. However, regardless of when you do it, watching TV does virtually nothing to develop your mind - it requires nothing except two eyes. You don't have to create your own images or scenarios (as you do with reading). You don't have to really process anything. It's "flat line" entertainment. There may be a few exceptions - Discovery Channel, or something - but by and large, it really isn't doing a lot of development in core areas.
Just my opinion - your mileage may vary.
I was raised without a TV. I now own over 1000 books (I had half that by the time I was 12). I cannot quite speed read but I can read (and retain what I've read) faster and more completely than most people can. I have an eidetic memory. I finished in the top 1% in my province upon graduating from high school and went on to get an engineering degree.
Three of the other four siblings in my family are in roughly the same boat (the other is still well above average, just not quite as focused academically). Genetics? Possibly. However, I know quite a few people that were raised the same way and the majority are smarter, more imaginative, more successful, and generally better rounded.
I agree - if you watch TV instead of doing homework, your grades will almost certainly suffer. However, regardless of when you do it, watching TV does virtually nothing to develop your mind - it requires nothing except two eyes. You don't have to create your own images or scenarios (as you do with reading). You don't have to really process anything. It's "flat line" entertainment. There may be a few exceptions - Discovery Channel, or something - but by and large, it really isn't doing a lot of development in core areas.
Just my opinion - your mileage may vary.
I've seen studies that say watching TV takes less brainpower than staring at a blank wall, and I believe it.
I also grew up without a TV in the house until at least age 4, and I could read and had started first grade at age 3.
I've read at least 10,000 books since I was 10 years old, and have well over 5,000 books in our house. I stopped buying them when I realized how good US libraries are.
Sure, there are SOME good things on TV, but it's mostly a way to waste your life away. I have a co-worker who watches sitcoms and so-called news from 6pm to midnight every single day. That's probably 90 minutes of commercials alone...
There's a reason they call it the idiot box/electronic income reducer, right?