You can make most subjects interesting, though probably not maths...
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown?
Brilliant example.
While it does certainly contain maths, the fact that Jimmy and co constantly refer to it as dull within the game doesn't exactly glorify maths. Plus Cats does Countdown is really more a vehicle for the comedians than the Countdown format, often the first letters game isn't till about 15 minutes in. It'd be interesting to see whether the Countdown viewing figures have gone up since they started doing it.
You can make most subjects interesting, though probably not maths, but you can't do curriculum based educational programmes as they are limiting in their audience to start with as the curriculum is year by year based - thus a programme focussing on a year 5 subject is complicated for year 4 and below and condescending for year 6 and above. At the end of the day the purpose of children's television is to entertain after a hard day or hard week at school, children who have specialist interests go out and look for books and documentaries on what they're interested in anyway. Though on the BBC children's programming has often had a slightly educational twang to it, you can't expect to instill Reithian values onto CBBC's schedule.
Something that hasn't been mentioned is that in the so called golden age of schools programmes we didn't have the National Curriculum so individual schools could almost create their own curricula with teachers cherry picking which programmes they wanted to show their class. A high proportion of primary schools back then did not set regular homework in core subjects.
It's not convention to divide educational programmes by year group. They are divided by key stage.
I disagree with you about the maths. Allegedly maths videos are more popular on YouTube than videos for any other school subject and it is far from uncommon to find parents watching them at home as well as children. The strange thing about maths is that although British society regards it as the hardest school subject, and the one where it is most socially acceptable to be bad at, it is by far the most common GCSE to be taken under age. You don't find 10 year olds with English literature or history GCSEs.
Does anybody remember Teachers TV? Although that was for teachers rather than kids or parents.
I'm starting to wonder whether this forum is inhabited by people who think that anything more intellectual or cultured than X-Factor is strictly niche stuff to be shown in a graveyard timeslot.
I have discussed the subject of educational programmes in evenings and weekends elsewhere with more interested audiences providing more positive responses than here...
I have discussed the subject of educational programmes in evenings and weekends elsewhere with more interested audiences providing more positive responses than here...
I'm sorry we're not posh enough for you or feeding you what you want to hear, I will dig out Hyacinth Bucket's phone number for you and you can chat to her about it on her white slimline telephone with last number redial. It's pronounced "Bouquet" by the way.
But seriously... I didn't want to have to say this but Riaz, you're coming across now as an arrogant toff in what you write.
I'm starting to wonder whether this forum is inhabited by people who think that anything more intellectual or cultured than X-Factor is strictly niche stuff to be shown in a graveyard timeslot.
See, when you go from having a discussion to saying things like that because we don't have the same opinion as you, that really shows how much of a bellend you are.
Does anybody remember Teachers TV? Although that was for teachers rather than kids or parents.
I'm starting to wonder whether this forum is inhabited by people who think that anything more intellectual or cultured than X-Factor is strictly niche stuff to be shown in a graveyard timeslot.
I have discussed the subject of educational programmes in evenings and weekends elsewhere with more interested audiences providing more positive responses than here...
Children's educational programmes are hardly high culture. The sort of people who want their children to become cultured and intellectual aren't going to be sitting them in front of the TV in order to become that way.
