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Monday, August 31, 2009 | 9:25am
PBS Cancels LeVar Burton’s Reading Rainbow after 26 Year Run
An important piece of our make up is laid to rest
Now while we ordinarily wouldn’t report on Public Broadcasting news, I must ask for a brief moment of silence as a slice of my and I’m sure many members of the Nation’s childhood, was laid to rest Friday. The once popular childrens program “Reading Rainbow,” hosted by LeVar Burton signed off for the final time Friday.
While you might take it as a joke, laugh or quickly dismiss the post, think about the importance of Reading Rainbow and LaVar Burton. Living through the 80′s and the crack epidemic, I knew many kids whose primary guardian was the television. Whether it was drugs, neglect or parents working insane hours to make ends meet, in my neighborhood returning from school to an empty home was the norm. It gave rise to the latchkey generation. If it weren’t for Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton and PBS some adults today wouldn’t know how to read.
Even today with so many kids being babysitted by television and internet an intervening force is almost necessary to induce learning. I was never one to love to read but as a youth, LeVar Burton made it fun, interesting at the very least. With accompanying Reading is Fundemental programs at the local library where a kid like me could actually build my own library, it was just the boost I needed to propell me to read. Now wile I stil can’t spel wurth a damm I can honestly say Reading Rainbow will be missed.
Now a moment of silence……
FILED IN Need to Know, News
I wonder why they decided to cancel it. This was one of my favorite programs, along with 3-2-1 Contact, the show with the dude painting, and MathNet.
You may not be able to spell but you do have a better vocabulary than most. I would just suggest using tools such as Word or your very own browser (hopefully FireFox) for spell check.
Its the words that I spell right but in the wrong context. Most people don’t realized the level of activities on my plate so I rush a lot and the first thing that gets cut is spelling and proof reading. I’ll dedicate more time to it though. 3-2-1 was a good one. Square One?
Sounds like you need an editor. I don’t even know how you post so many stories these days knowing you wear an executive had. Sounds like you need an editor.
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Yep, it was Square One. LOL
You’re probably right. A full-time editor is what we need. Grinding man…grinding.
READING RAINBOW!!! That show was on point! Had me singing at the beginning everytime it came on. Why would they cancel it though? Couldn’t possibly be because of the ratings…maybe LeVar felt it was his time. Well whatever the case it was still a good show. Shout out to the old white man who painted! That show was classic!
Bob Ross. The Joy of Painting.
Here is a link to an article explaining why they may have canceled the program. It states something about a lack of funding and a shift in education policy. They also mention they have not recorded a new episode in three years.
Yeah we have to remember this was public broadcasting so it was all funded by the support of “viewers like you.” I think the internet and YouTube have diminished the need for such programming.
You’re so right. And it isn’t even about reading these days. I believe most people need to learn to write. The art of writing is diminishing as we move into this online media world. I cannot recall the last time I had to write a full sentence on a piece of paper. I barely write my signature these days.
Reading, writing, no one really takes the time to do either anymore. With Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, all the new outlets this generation has now pretty much erases everything from our past. You know how they say writing is a good way to let out emotions or artistry? Well I think texting and web pages overpowers that now…..Damn no new episode in 3 years??!!
Yeah can you believe that…no new reading rainbow since 2006.
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I’m going to have to disagree with regard to the internet though. Even though I type more than actually hand write I feel that I do a lot more writing then I ever did as a kid. The problem comes with the “txt” shorthand. While blogging and the free writing you do on your blog Thought are productive, the new generation is busy trying to fit their entire lives in 160 characters.
I guess I didn’t stop to think that typing is just another form of writing….(backhands self in the face) I guess I’m an active writer, lol.
To be honest, I had no idea it even made it into the 90′s, let alone 2006. Toobad, it was a cool show. I always loved the episode with RUN DMC on it.
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