Curse of TV and children has very long history

INCLUDED in your “Briefly” column (Yorkshire Post, October 9) was a most interesting and significant reference to a psychologist’s opinion about the length of time children should be permitted to watch tv and consoles.

Some television programmes are most educational and informative, but I agree it is 
vital that parents should endeavour to be especially selective over what their offspring may see.

I am fully aware that so many channels are available nowadays, particularly since Sky TV has become commonplace in the majority of households, thus exacerbating the problem somewhat.

As a child in the mid/late 50s, our school had an opportunity to contribute to some radio programme involving a panel of scholars/academics, inviting the pupils to submit a question on any topical subject.

Mine was considered reasonably pertinent and I vaguely remember was on the following lines: “Does the 
panel think that the increasing family addiction to television is a sign of a failing culture in this country?”

I most certainly recollect that the panel unanimously agreed that this may well become a serious issue and that indiscriminate attention to television was likely to damage and inhibit the future development of those of us in the formative stages of our lives.

I should be most interested to hear the views of your readers.