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How did a small gathering at the dinner table launch the world's most influential children's program?
In the late 1960s, a simple family gathering changed the landscape of educational programming for children around the world. By this time, almost every household in the United States had a television set, and children watched 27 hours a week. This background prompted an exploration of children's education, which ultimately led to the birth of "Sesame Street." The project, led by planners Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morissette, is undoubtedly one of the most important television developments of our time.
"When we designed this program, we hoped that it would not only be entertainment, but a tool for children to learn and grow."
In the winter of 1966, Cooney held a small party in her apartment and invited several guests, including her husband and several friends who were engaged in education research. At this meeting, they discussed how television can be used to improve the education of children, especially those from low-income families. Such conversations led to a long-term professional partnership between Cooney and Morissette and sparked two years of intensive research and planning. Their goal was to create an educational television program specifically for preschoolers.
“For us, this is not just a TV show, it’s how we change society.”
Over the next two years, Cooney and Morissette secured $8 million in funding to establish Children's Television Workshop (CTW). Their thoughts have always centered on how to distribute educational resources more equitably to every child through the medium of television. By November 10, 1969, "Sesame Street" was broadcast in the United States for the first time. With the success of the show, CTW also began to diversify.
"The birth of Sesame Street has opened the door to learning for countless children."
However, during the 1970s and 1980s, the studio faced various challenges, including funding issues and changing business models. Despite this, CTW did not give up and they continued to explore innovative ways of producing television. From the production of "The Electric Company" to the science-focused program "3-2-1 Contact," these programs continue to solidify CTW's position as the standard for quality educational television.
"Education should not be limited to classrooms, but should expose more children to knowledge through various media."
After entering the 21st century, the show not only continued to be successful in the United States, but also expanded to the world. CTW cooperates with a number of international media to make "Sesame Street" one of the most famous children's programs in the world. To this day, the influence of Sesame Street is unquestionable and has become an excellent example of educational research and practice.
"What you get is not a TV series, but a change in the entire education system."
Behind such a change, there are still many things worth thinking about, including how to extend the advantages of education to a larger range of children and allow more people to benefit from all this. This is not only love and care for children, but also It is the driving force for social progress. So, how will this educational concept affect our education system in the future?
