) 4 The Dallas Post Tie SDALLASC0ST Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 20, 1992 Don't let stone-age thinkers take away ‘Sesame Street’ ~The great thinkers on the far right of American politics have = taken aim at a new target, the Corporation for Public Broad- casting. And no public television show is out of their range, not even the universally acclaimed “Sesame Street.” . According to Laurence Jarvik, who claims to be a scholar at | the conservative Heritage Foundation, there's no difference between “Sesame Street” and the dozens of commercial chil- dren's shows on television. Said Mr. Jarvik in an interview recently published in The New York Times, “ ‘Sesame Street is | just another kid's show, no better than ‘Underdog’ or ‘The Flintstones.’ “ Could he be right? Let's compare “The Flintstones” and “Sesame Street.” . Both shows have a varied cast of characters and story lines . that reinforce their values. On “The Flintstones,” Fred and = Barney are likeable simpletons who bumble their way through life while supporting stereotypical stay-at-home wives whose | main entertainment is going shopping. Of course, there's not | a different looking person to be found. ~ “Sesame Street,” on the other hand, offers adult role models of several colors and races who work in various jobs and relate ~ toeach other in straightforward fashion, along with the fanciful Big Bird and other muppet characters. Strange stuff, this. ~ Educationally, “The Flintstones” encourages math compe- tence by offering children the opportunity to count how many times Barney says, “I dunno, Fred,” or Pebbles acts out and her parents give in to her tantrum. Language skills are clearly | reinforced by the familiar, “Yab-a-dabba-doo,” and similar . vocal exercises. “Sesame Street” can offer only constant reinforcement of letters and numbers, and a variety of skits that introduce critical thinking concepts with weird characters like a talking green frog. No wonder Mr. Jarvik prefers the commercial shows. It’s obvious that any parent of a school-age child is more competent to judge the value of “Sesame Street” than is Mr. ~ Jarvik and his free-market friends. And the judgement is an easy one to make; “Sesame Street” is an invaluable aid to ~ parents who want to teach their children well. The program's re gaging charactersiand fast pace have helped to make legions s comfortable with the basic skills they need to'succeed i x school and beyond. But that's not thesendiéfithis-show’s | impact, it’s just the beginning. By showihg youngsters that | people of different races and backgrounds can relate to one ~ another, “Sesame Street” fosters the kind of matter-of-fact ~ attitude toward others that is the foundation of good human Flavions. ~ Would it be better if parents did the job themselves? Maybe, but it's unrealistic to expect every parent in America to introduce their offspring to such a wide variety of material in = SO engaging a manner. | ~ Mr. Jarvik and his ilk are also off base in their contention that PBS is a large drain on the nation's budget. “Sesame i Street,” for example, has not depended on public funding since | 1988. The show is so good that licensing of the show and its | characters worldwide has become an important component in | its success. In truth, the total amount of funding directed tothe | Corporation for Public Broadcasting is barely aripple inthe sea | of federal spending. |. Those who would cut off funding for public television argue | that the “market” will determine which shows are worthwhile because those are the ones that would receive commercial support. But would “Sesame Street” be the same if it was dependent upon sponsors? Not likely; at the very least it would be broken up by interminable cormnmercial interruptions; at worst it's approach would be changed to suit the desires of Sponsors. | No, Mr. Jarvik, the “market” doesn’t always make the best decisions when anything beyond short-term profit is the goal. It is far better to spend a few dollars on programming like “Ses- | ame Street” than to have our children left only with a choice between “Underdog” and “The Flintstones” on Saturday morn- | ing. ‘Do you agree? Disagree? | Editorials are the opinion of the management of The Dallas Post. We welcome your opinion on contemporary issues in the ~ form of letters to the editor. If you don't write, the community may never hear your point of view. Send letters to: The Dallas Post; P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612. Please include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. The Post does not publish anonymous letters, but ‘will consider withholding names when appropriate. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar, but will call the author if we think editing may change meaning, Tie POALLASCP0ST Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Associate Publisher El TT Re sme Peggy Young Eric Foster 3 Advertising Acct. Exec. : Reporter alls Grace R. Dove Paul Rismiller Reporter Olga Kostrobala Production Manager : Classified/typesetting jOBticlion 9 Jean Hillard yp Ofttice Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION EL Ro CR SE Sun worshipper Photo by Charlotte Bartizek { Letters ~ Thanks those who helped with Wendy Reese benefit «- Editor: The friends and neighbors of Tom and Jennifer Reese of Dallas would like to thank everyone asso- ciated with the recent Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for Wendy Reese. The volunteers are too numerous to mention, but they know who they are, and we thank them. The people and businesses of the Back Mountain exemplified what a community can accom- plish when they pull together for a common cause. We would espe- cially like to thank: The Dallas American Legion, Joe's Grotto, Hillside Dairy, Pizza Hut, Pastry on Lace and Insalaco's for their donations and support. The money raised will offset the family's over- whelming medical expenses. The Back Mountain commu- nity’s thoughtfulness and gener- osity is deeply appreciated by the Reese family and friends. Please continue to remember Wendy in Wendy Reese's grandmother appreciates McDonald Editor: When I heard Wendy wasn't getting over her “flu” after spend- ing time in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, I thought it was time I come up North from Florida. “T arrived "here New Year's Eve, was. She couldn't eat anything without vomiting, she had to be carried around, couldn't sleep much. So we went to Geisinger in Danville and the first day there, after a cat scan found she had brain cancer. Through all kinds of tests and operations, we stayed at months. Don't know what we would have done without the conven- ience and little cost of hospitality and comfort staying there. Now going back and forth for treatments, and problems we are always welcome to stay at your prayers. Donations will conr, tinue to be accepted and can be made to “The Wendy Reese Fund”, c/o Trucksville Nursery School, 40 Knob Hill Road, Trucksville, PA 18708. 3 With deep appreciation, Friends of Tom and Jennifer Reese, House hospitality enough about the good beingsof: fered there, and ask all to { Ap support that good cause. Ol! I don't know when I'll go back to Florida and my husband, but ight now my place is here in Penns), a: nia. o Mary Menzel, surprised to see how ill Wendy Ronald McDonald House for three McDonald House. I can't say Grandmother of Wendy Reese 60 Years Ago - May 20, 1932 announced by Fred Houghwout, Dallas arranged by Dallas-Isaacs birthday. CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NEW KINGSTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL Contracts for the erection of Kingston Township's new school building were awarded at a special ‘meeting of the board of directors on Wednesday at Trucksville. General contract was awarded to Herman Mailander, who bid $46,076. . Dallas Borough Council reduced its tax millage for the second con- secutive year. One mill was cut from the light fund and 1/2 mill was taken from the sinking fund account, decreasing the total mil- lage to 17 1/2. The Junior Class of Dallas Township High School will present a 3-act comedy “Crooks for a Month” Monday and Tuesday at the Himmler Theatre. Following the play the movie “Dancers in the Dark” will be shown. 50 Years Ago - May 22, 1942 TEACHERS ISSUE GASOLINE RATIONING CARDS TO MOTORISTS Seven young men of this area Howard A. Cosgrove, Joseph G. Layou, James W. Harris, Thomas R. Clemow, Peter P. Silic, Nicholas Sosik, and Donald T. Roberts, received their examinations and were inducted into the Army it was Secretary of Local Board #1, at Wyoming. Sugar rationing just completed, teachers of this region issued gaso- line rationing cards to 2764 local motorists. The majority of ration- ing cards issued were of the B-3 variety allowing holders to pur- chase 57 gallons during the 6- week rationing period. Dallas Borough High School will graduate 24 students at com- mencement exercises to be held June 4. Louis Kelly will be valedic- torian. Wed - Elsie Sisco to Andrew Kozemchak; Lois Williams to Pvt. Douglas W. Riddell. 40 Years Ago - May 23, 1952 POST WRITER T.M.B. HICKS WINS BEST IN STATE AWARD Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks, Associate Editor of the Dallas Post received the top award for a feature story at the annual meeting of Pennsylva- nia Women's Press Association held at State College in connection with the annual meeting of Pa. Publishers Association. The story that appeared in her Pillar to Post column not only took first place in its own division but was also se- lected as the best piece of writing in all classifications submitted by Pennsylavania women journalists. Memorial Day observance in Post 672, American Legion will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery. where Atty. Robert Fleming will give the address. A firing squad under direction of Roy Verfaillee wil fire the salute. Girl Scout Alta Lou Hall, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Hall, Shavertown received the silver medal for life saving from Girl Scout Commissioner, Mrs. George Fry. Alta saved the life of schoolmate Joyce Edwards at Camp Acahela who slipped into deep water and a strong current while wading. Back Mountain Little League opened its 2nd season Monday with a parade that took it over many streets of Shavertown, with opening ceremonies at the playing field on Center and Main Streets, where three 2-inning games were played. 30 Years Ago - May 24, 1962 TESTIMONIAL DINNER FOR HOWARD RISLEY College Misericordia String Play- ers will entertain on Monday at a testimonial dinner for Howard Risley. The Hon. Bernard C. Brominski will emcee the program and the Hon. Benjamin R. Jones will deliver the address. Mrs. Calla Parrish of Beaumont will be the town's newest and only centenarian on Monday, May 28 when she celebrates her 100th A new contract has been suc: cessfully completed at Linear Inc, Dallas it was announced by Phillip H. Moore, V.P. and General Man- ager and George Marsden, Presi- dent of Local 204, United Rul” BM Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Wek. ers Union AFL-CIO, covering members of the bargaining unit. American Legion Post 672 Memorial Day parade will form at the Post Home and proceed to the War Memorial where a wreath will be presented and then paraders will proceed to Wardan Cemetery where services will be held ih memory of the dead. o LR 20 Years Ago - May 18, 1992 DAN FLOOD AWARDED HONORARY DEGREE AT MISERICORDIA Congressman Dan J. Flood and Sr. Mary Celestine McHale, RSM, first president of College Miseri- cordia were awarded honorary doctorates during the college’ 5 graduation ceremonies. Plans for Lake-Lehman Md, ing Band to compete in the Pag- eant of Bands at Sherburne, N.Y. were cancelled due to an outbreak of hepatitis in that community. . Bob Wallace, Dallas set a new District II record of six feet in the high jump. Bob broke the 5'11" record set in 1939 by Kashuba of Forty Fort. L 4 Wd Fes w Library news Sign up for summer story By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The committee for the 46th annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 in the refer- ence room at the library. Connie Scott is general chairman of the 1992 auction and Bill Jones is co- chairman. The auction will be held on the auction grounds behind the library on July 9 through thel2th. In conjunction with the auc- tion, the 4th annual horse show will be held on the Luzerne County Fair Grounds in Lehman on Sun- day, June 28. The horse show will feature English riding and jump- ing classes with 10 sponsored divisions. The Dallas Rotary Club members will be serving breakfast and lunch at the horse show. Some new features of the 46th auction will be the return ofthe Dallas Area Federated Women's Club homemade fudge and Sally Dantona manning the flower booth. The library is accepting donations for the auction; books, children’s books, cookbooks, odds and ends, nearly old items and new goods. Anyone interested in working on this year's auction committees is invited to attend the meeting on May 20. The library circulated 7,957 books during the month of April; 4,687 adult and 3,270 juvenile titles. This is an increase of 500 books over April of 1991. New books added to the collection totaled 125; new borrowers were 113 and re- registrations totaled 266. Book Club books circulated were 266. hours first week in June Reference questions totaled 401. A volunteer appreciation Koffee Klatch was held at the library on April 21 with many of our faithful volunteers attending along with Friends members and staff. Cer- tificates were presented to volun- teers along with “Volunteer” pins for them to wear while they are working at the library. Our volun- teers are a vital part of our library. The first week in June will be registration sign up for the sum- mer story hours in the children’s room. There will be a toddler story hour and 3 to 5 year old story hours. New books at the library: “Sahara” by Clive Cussler is a book donated by Dallas Area Federated Womans Club. It is a story of a mission to find the remains of a Pharaoh's funeral barge buried in the bottom of the Nile. On the mission, Dirk Pitt rescues an at- tractive young woman. Dr. Eva Rojas, a biochemist with the UN World Heath Organization, from being murdered by thugs on a beach near Alexandria...Pitt makes his way across the trackless desert to alert the world to the source ofa threat; a compelling story. “Wind Fall” by William F. Buck- ley, Jr. is the story of what the author saw on his watch. Home now is the sailor, home from the sea. All the virtues of his earlier books are here—but this is pro- foundly different. The sweetness of life inevitably filled with loss and SOITOW. Te e— i a CIE ——— et OY NO aaa: al
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers