Our math textbook is from the early 80's. Maggie was doing a lesson on graphing. So there's a graph of TV-watching habits of the kids in this hypothetical classroom. A question started with "53% of the students watched the special on Monday night."
And the modern child asks me, "Mom, what's a 'special?'"
I find that question astounding. But just in case I have other young readers who don't know what a 'special' is, they'd need to understand that once-upon-a-time there were THREE television channels and no VCRs or DVDs or TIVO or Netflix or Hulu. Everybody watched what everybody else watched, and at the same time too. And sometimes, instead of the usual Monday night line-up, there might be something different and "special" on. Hence, a math question that starts with "53% of the students watch the special."
It's almost bizarre to consider in today's world of 100's of television channels and on-demand movies.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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Oh, dear. . .
ReplyDeleteThat was also back when we would all have 2 children apiece and die at 35.
I didn't expect having to EXPLAIN television!
-Jane S.