The Violent & the Bland

Are children better prepared for life's realities by 1) insulation or 2) exposure?

In Los Angeles, the National Association for Better Radio and Television, an earnest organization headed by a dentist's wife and staffed by eleven housewife "panelists," put out its sixth annual ratings of juvenile TV programs, condemned 31 out of 67 as "objectionable" or "most objectionable." Hopalong Cassidy, said NAFBRAT, is "objectionable because of typical Western crime element." At Captain Midnight, "even the stronghearted falter," and Jungle Jim episodes are a "mixture of kidnaping, torture, unbearable suspense, horrible screams." NAFBRAT also condemned Superman ("Youngsters believe his 'super' talents to be within the realm of possibility. In this lies the danger") and Little Rascals (". . . flaunting their impudent behavior before the helpless adults. Could there be a worse example for our children?").

Conceivably Hopalong and Superman may overstimulate young imaginations. But a steady diet of such modern-reader characters as Dick and Jane may result in something worse. To Mrs. Frances C. Sayers, former superintendent of work with children at the New York Public Library, one reason so few (17%) Americans read books after leaving school is just because their early ones are so simple and so pleasant. "This seems a paradox, and it is. The paradox is in the word 'enjoyment.' We rob the children of the initial enjoyment of wrestling with reading by making all the words too simple and making the sentences too short and saying too little and feeling nothing at all. Children want all the emotions. If they do not suffer, they want to know what suffering is. Why else do they ask you, 'Have you got a book that will make me cry?' or 'Have you got a book that will scare me to death?' "

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