NO CONSENSUS: Parents and teachers are divided on whether children benefit from television or not.

Bangalore: Parents and teachers are sharply divided in their opinion on whether children benefit from television and the Internet or not. While a total ban is ruled out, most parents feel children need not watch prime time soaps because all are not suitable for young minds.

High school teacher Prabha Swami says: "We encourage students to watch certain channels such as National Geographic or Discovery because they are informative. However, we advise parents not to let children watch late-night slots on any channel, because they are meant for adult viewing only." The History Channel is another she recommends, especially since some of the programmes match lessons at school.

There are parents who take a more lenient view. "Teenagers will watch music channels and cartoons too. If some time is set apart for watching television after homework is finished, what is the harm," Sheila Raj, whose children are studying in eight and tenth standards asks. As to the lyrics in some of the rap numbers, many parents are blissfully ignorant.

What worries many teachers even at the college level is that the Internet and TV may be keeping youngsters away from outdoor activities. But parents have another story to tell; watching live sports action on television does inspire many children. The World Cup has set off a lot of interest in football. But not all children who watch sports on television are inclined towards actually playing the game, some teachers point out.

Child psychologists say that since television has come to stay as an entertainment medium, children can learn about geography, history and perhaps some general knowledge from quiz shows, in a less laborious manner than in the classrooms.

But children and even college students should be encouraged to read books, besides browsing the Internet, they say.

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