Blog #r: Ideology and Policy

Blog #5: Ideology and Policy:
Sesame Workshop

I have always been a fan of Sesame Street! From the time of my daughter’s childhood – over twenty years ago – I have been impressed with the way in which this television show and all of the productions of the Sesame Workshop have contributed to the development of our nation’s youth. As presented on the Sesame Workshop website, the organization’s initiatives are health and wellness, respect and understanding, literacy and numeracy, and emotional wellbeing. All of these issues are addressed through the television show that is broadcast on public television. As a show that is available to all people with a television without the expense of cable or the input of commercial advertising, it is able to reach millions of people of all backgrounds and socioeconomic status. And although the show is intended for young children, it serves the function of educating parents as well. In addition to the television show, “Sesame Street”, the Sesame Workshop produces several other children’s television shows including the newly updated “The Electric Company.”

Sesame Workshop also offers a multitude of resources for parents and teachers through their website. These resources fall under the initiative categories mentioned above. Through these resources, Sesame Workshop provides parents and teachers of preschool children an abundance of material to promote literacy, health, and tolerance. Not only does Sesame Workshop reach children, parents, and teachers in this country, it also reaches out around the world. With programs in Brazil, Ireland, Indonesia, and India, it is “working locally to educate and inspire children.”

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit organization that provides educational experiences to children, parents, and teachers around the world. It begins by identifying needs within cultures. It then proceeds to research that need and identify the best way to address it through child-friendly programming. It has the potential to impact the habits and values of the people it reaches by focusing on very young children. As we have explored in our reading, this has long been a goal of public education in this country and in other countries. It is hoped that through the education of children, we will develop citizens who can work and live together productively and in peace. I think that the Sesame Workshop approach to improving the quality of life for preschool children is effective. I have seen the results both at home and at school.