Switch to TV2

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 20

Switch to TV2

Sir, —In answer to Nancy Farnell, E. Marr, and perhaps others, I am no stranger to the trials of child upbringing. I am still involved with four of my own and have lived with them both in the country and the city, with and without TV. As E. Marr points out, there are good and bad points to town and country living; children everywhere need parental supervision. However, I do feel that TV does not help in the long run; the blessings of peace and quiet I may have gained while the children were watching TV were often outweighed by their corresponding loss of the willingness to amuse themselves. Were I living in the areas affected by the switch to TV2, I would probably also be incensed, but more because of the high-handedness of bureaucrats than a feeling of deprivation on behalf of my children.?—Yours, etc., ? LYNDA SUGGATE. February 27, 1987.

Sir, —I wonder how many of the 30,000 people who cannot receive TV2 were included in the national audience survey. Mr Monaghan (February 25) said the change of children’s prorammes to TV2 was a result of that survey, but one wonders how many of those surveyed had young children whose only contact with a New Zealand preschool was through “Play School.” Once again it is the rural children who will miss this valuable experience and, as a qualified kindergarten teacher, I am fully aware of the loss of this excellent educational programme as we only receive TVI in our area.—Yours, etc., (Mrs) LORETTA HORTON. Mesopotamia, February 27, 1987.