Education World – Nicole Gorman
“The researchers behind a recently published study that revealed “Sesame Street” helps young viewers perform better in school are urging others to not use the results to dismiss the need for preschool but instead to use the results to see the value of television in learning. “To be sure, our study concludes that ‘Sesame Street’ has some educational effects that are comparable in size to that of Head Start. But we do not believe that “Sesame Street” should substitute for preschool or other enriching activities,” according to researchers Melissa S. Kearney and Phillip B. Levine for NewRepublic.com. They felt the need to respond to a crop of media headlines that referred to their study’s results as an indicator that educational programs such as “Sesame Street” might serve as an alternative—not a supplement—to early education.”(more)