21st November World Television Day

In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21st  November as World Television Day. 

World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalisation in the contemporary world.

Because of the increasing impact television has on the process of decision-making, television was  acknowledged as a major tool in informing, channelling and affecting public opinion. Its impact and presence and its influence on world politics could not be denied.

The theme this year is:  Recognising the impact television has had on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts, threats, peace and security.

For those of us who grew up in western countries, the television is almost taken for granted; it has always been there in the corner of the front room, entertaining us or satisfying our need to learn something new. The television, invented by an assortment of individuals in the late 19th and early 20th century, but often attributed to John Logie Baird, has revolutionised the world. Now televisions are computers and we can watch anything at anytime. My parents talked about 'too much television', but parents today are more likely to say 'too much screen time'.

How could we celebrate this day? We could watch television! Start by watching this short film which summarises the evolution of television and demonstrates the rapid development of technology. The webpage outlines the major milestones.

Evolution of Television 1920-2020

Then as this blog is about using books and reading with everything, look for some of these:

• Mr T.V.  by Julie Fulton and Patrick Corrigan

• John Logie Baird  by Nicola Baxter

• The Boy Who Invented TV: The story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull and Greg Couch

• Who Invented Television? Philo Farnsworth  by Mary Kay Carson

• The Invention of the Television  by Lucy Beevor

• What Did We Do? Before Television  by Lisa J. Amstutz

Then of course you need some stories:

• Mouse TV by Matt Novak

• The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• SOS Television  by Germano Zullo and Albertine

• Square Eyes by Craig Smith and Scott Tulloch

• When the TV Broke  by Harriet Ziefert and Mavis Smith

• Arthur's TV Trouble by Marc Brown

• Mama Rex and T Turn Off the TV by Rachel Vail and Steve Bjorkman

29th July Kathleen Krull (1952)

Kathleen Krull's name appears in my library quite a lot at this time of the year because it is when Year 2 and I are completing a wide-reading contract using picture book biographies and Kathleen Krull seems to specialise in writing biographies so I was pleased to learn that today was her birthday.
Two of her biographies are included in the contract.  We have others of her biographies but I especially like these two because they are very relevant to my students' lives.

They are:
• The Boy on Fairfield Street (the story of a young Ted Geisel aka Dr Seuss)
• The Boy Who Invented TV (the story of Philo Farnsworth)

Some quotes I would share with my students from Kathleen's own biography would be ...

"When I was fifteen, I was fired from my part-time job at the library. The reason? Reading too much--while I was supposed to be working." 

"As a child I thought books were the most important thing in the world, and that perception is actually more intense now. I’m grateful, for so many reasons, to be able to work in a vital and exhilarating field: preserving literacy. One of the benefits of the writing life is that I can't be fired. Especially for reading too much."