Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 113

I 'i "Win IK bit 3' ftf.v 4-x ifii Iff -i 4 it i it -mm' IM' IIIHIHMIl ill' I'lHI Aluppet characters add spice to 'Sesame Street' presentations early risers termed "remarkable" by Russ Widoe, director of NEVVIST, and a veteran of many years in children's television. He said other shows have received more letters, but only when they are solicited by the offer of some item or request for response. The acclaim is easy to verify. Almost every time I raise the subject I get an enthusiastic response. But, the qualities of the program that promote such a response are more difficult to pinpoint.

Underlying the successful show are about two years of planning and testing with pre-school audiences. "Sesame" took advantage of children's attraction to the commercials, using the pictorial qualities that have been successful and the short time span. All of the segments on the show are limited to periods ranging from about 30 seconds to six minutes. In these segments which include bold, graphic displays, superb cartoons, short single-concept films, guest appearances by well-known person-a 1 i i "The Muppets," puppet characters, "comic" sketches by two bums, quick discussions, explanations and songs by two teachers and illustrated story readings the producers teach the alphabet, numbers, elementary reasoning concepts, songs and games children can repeat at home. My favorite portion was a film sequence on the life of a manhole cover that opens with a closeup of an insect crawling among the ridges on its surface, a policeman directing traffic while standing on it, a man coming out of the hole it covers and traffic rolling over it.

In addition, the delightful way in which all characters teach so that, as one mother explained: "the youngsters don't realize they are being taught," they demonstrate other valuable concepts. The cast, for example, is integrated with live, cartoon and puppet characters of many races unselfconsciously participating together. "What's most interesting about their reaction," one mother said of her children's addiction to the program, "is the fact that they have never mentioned that half the people are black," even though they have seen very few black persons. "The use of black children with while children in a casual and acceptable manner is one mother wrote. "I personally feel that integration is going to be accomplished through our children (especially in this area) and this program and programs like it do a lot of good towards this goal." One of the few men who wrote WLUK echoed the observation.

"The program promotes," he said, "the kind of standards that will again restore our country to a country of love and understanding and caring. The many races of children on the show illustrate this! Many mothers reported that in the short time "Sesame" has been on the air locally their children have learned a great deal. One mother said her 4-year-old knew some letters and numbers but did not know their sequence until the program brought repeated presentations of them into her home daily with Pat Paulsen, Bert Lancaster and Jackie Robinson, among others, reciting the alphabet. Other children have learned songs or games that are used as exercises in reasoning and observation. "Sesame Street" was intended to provide preschool learning readiness for deprived youngsters that many other families provide for their children through nursery school and parental interest and help at home.

For the two-to-six-year-old ghetto youngster or the parents' inability to see the show that is disturbingthe children watch it excitedly while the adults are busy with other chores. There is little chance the time will be changed, Widoe said, except, possibly during the summer if reruns are available. He was clearly satisfied that those who really want to watch it, or want their children to, wiil make an effort equivalent to WLUK's commitment to air the show without benefit of commercials. While all the writers wrote in praise of the show, some expressed fear that the program would expire after the first year's series for lack of continued funding. Many offered help to NEWIST in campaigning for its continuation and sought advice on whom to contact with their campaign.

Funding has now been assured for another year of programming, according to Mrs. Joan Ganz Cooney, who directs "Sesame." But, in a recent interview, she urged supporters to write their congressman of their enthusiasm and encourage them to vote for long range federal funding after foundation money is no longer available. poor rural child, which the program is aimed at, the show provides the first introduction to such skills and concepts. For other children, it is a reinforcing agent, helping them remember what they have learned. Parents of children already in school, where they have learned most of the things taught, also report their children are avid viewers.

They repeat the letters and numbers along with those reciting them on the screen, laugh at the silly illogic and become, in essence, activated and captivated by what is going on on the tube. One mother notes that her children were usually bothersome during the morning when they were watching the cartoons they previously tuned in every day. Now, she said, they slay and watch "Sesame." "There's less running back and forth and no fighting," she said. They are, as one mother explained, "glued to the set." A father describes the change in his 4-year-old son's behavior. "He takes an active part in the show, talking and laughing almost throughout.

There's more reaction from him on this show than on the cartoons he formerly watched. He never reacted much to those, but he sure gets enthused over 'Sesame'." Despite the praise outlined in every letter and interview, almost a quarter of the writers aired displeasure over the time because of its effect on family life. This impact on the daily routine in many households, however, is significant, too. It has forced many families to come to grips with the conflict between a superb experience for their children and the mundane activities like dressing, sleeping and preparing or eating breakfast. "We'd have to get up at six o'clock in order to get anyone organized if my kids watched it," one otherwise interested father explained, reporting he had yet to see the show.

But another father reports his 4-year-old son has become "a regular viewer of the test pattern," as he gets up as early as 5:30 a.m., waiting for the program to begin. Many parents happily state that bedtime is no longer a problem because the youngsters realize they will sleep through "Sesame" unless they get to bed early. Some of the criticisms of the time indicate it is Qkvft 7b Fun EACH LADY had 25 eggs. When counted out in groups of five by lady No. 4, there was no remainder.

Therefore, the number of eggs was divisible by five. So, there were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, possible number of eggs. However, counting out by three left a remainder of one. So, the number of eggs was not divisible by three. Thus, there were 5, 10, 20, 25, 35, possible eggs.

Likewise, the number was not divisible by two, so there were 5, 25, 35, 55, possible number of eggs. From here, simple trial will show that the number of eggs had to be 25. Green Eay Press-Gciette April 12, 1970 9.