Family Knew Benefits Of Ban On TV Set Was Turned Off For A Year

When Donna Orme heard about the Chester Challenge, she remembered the year her family turned off the tube.

“That was absolutely the best year we had,” Orme said. “The kids played together more, the house was calmer, there was just a better spirit.”

That was in 1985. Donna and Steve Orme, with their children, were living in Kentucky. Going without TV was Donna’s idea. A new computer - then still considered an “extra” - was the prize for success.

The Ormes allowed a few exceptions to the TV ban. News was OK, for instance.

Orme says her daughter Rachel took an interest in the news.

“Some really significant (issues) came on that time, AIDS, for instance … She watched the news every day and became well-informed in both local and national.”

Today, Rachel Orme is a freshman at Brigham Young University.

“She loves history and world affairs. I can’t help but think it got a start from watching the news every day when she was 9 years old.”

After the Ormes earned their computer, the TV came back on. Donna Orme has suggested since then that they go back to the blackout, with little support.

“As a mother I can see the advantages. But I didn’t have anything like a computer to dangle out as a reward.”

Then along came principal Dennis Olson with the Chester Challenge.

It was all Donna Orme needed.

“Now we had somebody else telling us to do something we already knew was good for us.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: See related story under headline: The Chester Challenge