F ³: Options

 

I happen to know a lot of church musicians. This is probably what comes of spending my junior year at Westminster Choir College, which offers majors in church music, music education, and performance. So I wasn’t surprised to see a Facebook post from a old acquaintance promoting his church’s Christmas Eve services.

That must be a big church, I thought. Five services!

And then: hmm…look at all the choices. 

• Modern
• Kids
• Traditional

Clearly traditional is the favored option here. Perhaps many folks like to celebrate their major holidays with a traditional flavor.

And this is where my brain did that inexplicable thing and wondered what it would be like if everything in life was divided into these three categories. Perhaps many of them already are. Restaurants, for instance. I don’t think it’s too big a stretch to imagine one’s dining choices as falling into: Modern, Kids, and Traditional.

And what about education? While there are undoubtedly schools using modern methods or deeply entrenched in a traditional old school approach, sign me up for the kid-centric school every time. 

Now that we are on a roll, just imagine local government. Which County Council hearing would you choose? And what would that look like? If the Kid’s version were shorter, more hands on, used visual aids, and gave more opportunities for engagement/participation - - yeah, I’d probably go with that. 

Here we arrive at the intersection of my original idea and something else that’s been on my mind lately: Sesame Street. You may have heard that HBO has cancelled future episodes of this beloved educational program for children. Individual citizens are being asked to make donations to “save” the show. How did we get here?

Sesame Street was originally funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which, in turns is funded through government allocations. When that money was no longer forthcoming, a decision to save the show was made by partnering with a commercial network. And now that commercial network is axing Sesame Street as a “business decision.”

Have you seen Sesame Street since it went to HBO? Were you familiar with old school Sesame Street? In your opinion, how do they compare?

Honestly, my favorite Sesame Street would have to be Traditional. I have found the Modern version to be much less creative and it feels to me to lack the true essence of what made the original show so special. Relationships were deeper, playfulness felt like a core goal. (Heavens! Have I become a Make Sesame Street Great Again agitator?) Does my personal nostalgia color my support for the show?

Maybe a little. 

Mostly what I yearn for is a Sesame Street which is truly a Kids version, and by that I mean one that meets the needs of children today and appeals as much to their imaginations and sense of humor as their educational development. In the end that wouldn’t exactly be the Traditional show that I remember. But it would reassert the value and importance of a program meant to connect with kids and lift them up.

There are some breathtakingly wealthy companies and individuals in this country. Isn’t there someone out there who shares this vision? Who wants to carry this show and its mission into the future? Sesame Street is basically asking the public for small change. What they need is someone who will provide major funding.

Can we really divide all of life between Modern, Kids, and Traditional? Probably not. It would make a great party game, though. I think I’d almost always choose Kids but maybe not in the case of major surgery. I have my limits.

Thoughts on options or on Sesame Street? Let me know.

Village Green/Town² Comments