13 replies to this topic

[Penance]

Today was the last episode of Reading Rainbow, which ran for 26 years (the third longest lasting show on PBS).

http://www.npr.org/t...oryId=112312561

I'm sure most of us have seen an episode or two at school or at home while we were growing up, its sad to see it go, but what really pissed me off was

Grant says the funding crunch is partially to blame, but the decision to end Reading Rainbow can also be traced to a shift in the philosophy of educational television programming. The change started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration, he explains, which wanted to see a much heavier focus on the basic tools of reading — like phonics and spelling.

Schools can teach kids to read, but this was actually getting kids to want to read.

This is depressing.

Edit: This is also now a book thread so talk about what you're reading, like to read, plan on reading, whatever you will.

[MistressAli]

Huh. I used to watch that after school when I was 9-10. It was a neat show for the young'ns. I'm not sure how much it inspired the reading for me, considering I was a major bookworm anyway Really, making kids want to read is going to probably going to assure they'll have better phonics and perhaps spelling anyway.

[Speedy_25]

wow, I never thought Reading Rainbow would come to an end, after 26 years..... Personally I thought it was over before that, but this amazes me even more, that it was running THIS long.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

That makes me sad... I loved that show as a kid.

[Silicate]

I find this quite disagreeable.

Even I have vague memories of the show; I recall enjoying it's content and meaningfulness. Their choice of switching it's area of focus to something inherenly elementary to reading itself is quite confusing.... Is it not the equivalent of choosing to teach children (who are already mobile and curious) the act of walking and running, as opposed to enlightening them as to the wide world and places to explore (as to make them want to go there of their own accord)?

In addition it worries me that phonetics and spelling is a focus. Has some aspect of the situation degraded enough that phonetics and spelling are a more important device than that of encouraging reading - which naturally fosters the former, anyhow?

Either way, there is a note of sadness on hearing that the show is coming to a close. It is a pity; it makes me wonder at the integrity of modern educational children's programming.

[GamemasterAnthony]

My favorite episode was when they did a behind the scenes at Star Trek - The Next Generation. (Mind you...it WAS a trip seeing Burton as LaForge when I first saw ST:TNG!) They even did a few outtakes of the show as well!

[Jman1236]

I wasn't aware that this show was still on.

[Penance]

So, I was thinking, in honor of the show, lets make this a concurrent "book thread", what is everyone reading right now? Genre, title, brief synopsis, whatever you want to post.

I'll post what I'm reading tomorrow.

[Silicate]

A fine idea, Penance!

I am involved in other projects at the time, but once I return from my week-long trip I intend to resume reading Jean-Paul Sartre's Being and Nothingness. It is a classical book of philosophy on modern existentialism.

A further book list can be found in my gallery thread; I might re-post it here at some point... The large reading list is intended primarily for this project of mine, as virtually all titles are chosen with some facet of Julian Robotnik in mind, and pertain to the development of the background material as a whole. It also doubles as a useful study of many elements of the world. Although tedious, I find it rewarding.

Besides, the project itself would never advance had I the slightest doubt that I would inflict any knowing discredit against Robotnik... Hence the copious study. I'm fascinated by the aspect of genius, although I am quite limited in perspective, myself.

[salamander]

Man, just reading the title got that song stuck in my head again.
Yeah, I loved Reading Rainbow as a kid, didn't know it was still on. I was a little bookworm as a kid, man.. book club 100, volunteering in the school library, the whole nine yards. Of course my parents being English majors had something to do with it I imagine But yeah, I don't get why people don't read, or why education shouldn't stress reading over all else. Forget about memorizing spelling and crap, when you read you learn all that anyway because you pick up on what good grammar and spelling looks like from example. All that and you get a good story too!
But.. I haven't been reading much lately, and when I do it's just for an English class. Still, my classes taught some books I really enjoyed, like Londonstani and Slaughterhouse Five. I'm afraid the internet has really shortened my attention span..

[Penance]

Yeah it doesn't have to be what you're reading right now, could also be what you like reading, favorite books, etc.

Anyway, I'm currently reading "The Song of Ice and Fire" series, I just started so all I can tell right now is that it's pretty heavy fantasy. Before that was the "Ringworld" series, which was heavy science fiction. Those happen to be my two favorite genres and I switch between them depending on what I feel like.

[chief]

I just finished Stephen Kings 6 book Dark Tower Series. Took me a while to read it as... I started in grade 9 or 10 haha.

However because it took me so long to read it (mostly cause I was slow at buying the books) I'm now re reading it, as well as reading a few other books of his that tie into the Dark Tower. Such as Salem's Lot, Insomnia, etc.

[fishtheimpaler]

My favorite episode was when they did a behind the scenes at Star Trek - The Next Generation. (Mind you...it WAS a trip seeing Burton as LaForge when I first saw ST:TNG!) They even did a few outtakes of the show as well!

Reading Rainbow TNG segment. "With the Captain, Geordi, and the rest of those jerks."

Currently reading a ton of Robert Howard Conan the Barbarian short stories and novellas in a collection. It's groovy--nice to find out where D&D really started, rather than with JRR Tolkien. Best phrase so far: "Then Conan knew the ultimate madness of blasphemed nature, for . . . ."

Also reading The Odyssey--pleased to see how much time is spent on killing the suitors, who so far as I am concerned are the best Enemies since (er, before) Nazis--and Vox a surprisingly dated novel about a toll sex line. Written in 1992 and almost immediately invalidated by the internet revolution in sex culture; it feels like it was written in 1975.

[The Man]

I've read a lot of good ones long ago. At this point I naturally balance reading and writing so the last thing I read was another chess book.

What I'm writing is a secret.

I watched reading rainbow and remember La Forge as the host. I wasn't a big fan of the show so I don't remember a lot. I'm glad I like to learn anyway.