Students Plug In Their Minds After Going Without TV All Fall, Students At Chester Elementary In The Valley Report Their Views Of Television - As Well As Their Viewing Habits - Have Changed

Two thirds of the student body at Chester Elementary School turned off television last fall to read more.

Three months after the program ended, televisions are back on in the Spokane Valley neighborhood. But students and faculty say they’re watching it differently.

Jennifer Wilson, 11, only watches certain programs on Friday night - when she has time.

“I hardly watch at all,” says Wilson. “I’m reading a lot more.”

When principal Dennis Olson proposed turning off television at least one night a week to boost reading skills, he admits he was the “remote control king of the Northwest.”

Now, when he and sons Ben and Brandon watch “we turn on a game or ‘Home Improvement”’ but then we turn it off. The important thing is, we do it as a family.”

Watching selected programs instead of whatever happens to be on and watching together are among the top recommendations for families.

Marilyn Cohen is a University of Washington research associate professor of education who looks at how media influences body image and teen sexuality. When her daughter would watch the sitcom “Friends,” Cohen always plopped down alongside to point out that the guy with three girlfriends was pretty stupid.

“After awhile she got real tired of it and said, ‘This is kind of stupid.”’ Cohen says. Watching silly programs is fine - as long as children and teenagers can discuss the reality of what’s presented and whether it should be taken seriously.

Talking about the images on television can greatly dispel impressions that violence causes no pain or that racial and sexual stereotypes are true.

Other recommendations:

Don’t use television as a reward or punishment. It encourages indiscriminate viewing.

Question stereotypes, ask children if they think all Asians know martial arts or all drug dealers are people of color.

If you use the television as baby sitter, ask yourself what this baby sitter is teaching your child.

Prepare for the quiet house. Chester parents reported family squabbles, tension and anger when they first began limiting television, but those problems disappeared when parents and their children read, or played board games or musical instruments.

Consider taking part in National TV-Turnoff Week April 24-30.

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