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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 21 July 2018
Big move for Big Bird: Sesame Street is entering classrooms

By SALLY HO its famous characters and Street but that little re-
SEATTLE (AP) — Sesame meant to be used at "circle search exists on such regu-
Street is taking its beloved, time," when young children lar media use in the class-
critically acclaimed brand typically gather to sing room.
of educational television songs or hear stories. They Hill, a pediatrician, said a
into the highly profitable also are offering resources young child's brain cannot
world of classroom curricu- for teachers and parents to distinguish between pro-
lum — a move that experts help reinforce the lessons. gramming and advertising,
say could open the door for The instructional materials which could raise questions
other companies to move are on the market for chil- about the precedent that
into the sensitive learning dren in preschool through Sesame Street is setting.
space with possible influ- fifth grade, and they are "When you introduce a
ence on children. expected to be used in commercial influence on
Sesame Workshop, the classrooms as early as fall a nonprofit endeavor, I
company behind Big Bird 2019. Educators now have think everyone naturally
and Elmo, and McGraw-Hill access to review the mate- has some concerns about
Education, a billion-dollar In this Feb. 10, 2010 photo, characters from Sesame Street Live rials, but they haven't been the tension that ensues," Hill
for-profit company known celebrate the 30th anniversary of the live touring stage shows piloted in a classroom yet. said.
for school textbooks, an- based on the PBS television series. They must be approved by Sesame Workshop is a non-
nounced their partnership Associated Press school principals and ad- profit and would have to
Thursday. Both declined to ministrators. invest its revenue back into
disclose the financial terms ethical way," said Heather cord of helping kids learn, Dr. David Hill of the Ameri- its educational mission.
for their new line of class- Kirkorian, a University of Wis- portraying diverse charac- can Academy of Pediat- "With a proven whole-child
room instructional materi- consin professor who stud- ters and offering sensitivity rics, which urges parents curriculum that serves as a
als. ies the effects of media in in addressing childhood ex- to be cautious and selec- framework for everything
"Sesame Workshop prob- young children. periences. tive about screen time for we do, Sesame Workshop
ably can be trusted to do The TV program and Sesa- The new classroom materi- children, said that by age has put children first for
this in an ethical way, but me Workshop's other edu- als include videos featuring 3, kids can learn from a lim- nearly fifty years," said Aki-
the door opens for other cational pursuits have long social-emotional and lit- ited viewing of high-quality mi Gibson, company vice
companies to do it in a less been lauded for their re- eracy lessons delivered by TV programs like Sesame president.q

Rapper Common goes back to school to help teachers

By JOHN CARUCCI Common has won three but a recent visit to a New While Common has a di- said.
Associated Press Grammys, a Golden Globe York City school was "hum- verse fan base, it prob- According to Adopt-A-
NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper and an Academy Award bling" — mainly because ably doesn't include many Classroom, 96 percent
of teachers nationwide
bear the cost each year
to equip their classrooms
with the basic materials
students need to learn. The
organization estimates that
teachers spend more than
$700 out of their own pock-
et each year. The program
provides funds for teachers
to purchase school sup-
plies.
After addressing the stu-
dents in the school's gym-
nasium, Common went
upstairs to visit a classroom.
In this Feb. 5, 2018 file photo, Common arrives at the 90th Acad- He shared his love of writ-
emy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif. ing, and even recited the
Associated Press lyrics to his acclaimed hit,
"Black America Again."
"When I saw the kids I re-
many of the students were fourth and fifth graders. He ally was just trying to let
too young to know his mu- joked about their reaction them know we were here
sic. when he was introduced. because we care and that
The award-winner showed "The kids they were looking we value them and that
up at P.S. 111 in midtown like, 'Who is this dude? We they have the world at their
Manhattan on Thursday don't know him.' But I'm still hands," he said.
as an ambassador for the just here to connect with For the second year in a
Adopt-A-Classroom initia- children, and connect with row, Adopt-A-Classroom
tive. He made the surprise the people and our teach- has partnered with Burling-
appearance with his moth- ers. So, I felt that it was ton Stores. Shoppers can
er, Dr. Mahalia Hines, to more fun. It is humbling, but make a $1 donation to the
present the school with a it is fun to try and get them organization at checkout
$10,000 check. to pay attention," Common through Aug. 18.q