Sep 02 2008
A plea from America’s parents
Dear Mr. Yanoff and Mr. Shulman,
When I was in high school in the 90s, I was only allowed to watch Beverly Hills, 90210 in the company of my parents, who used the show as a vehicle for teaching morals and good decision making. Their concern for my moral development, and rules about watching the show without their permission, indicate this this obviously is not a show for young kids - or even pre-teens.
The fact that Bus Radio’s broadcasts and website promote shows such as 90210 and music by groups such as Bratz indicates a clear decision to prioritize advertising revenue above our children’s well-being - the same children who in 20 years, will take today’s lessons and put them into practice as they vote, raise families, and run our country. Why not give them a better foundation and choose to advertise more appropriate products, music and shows?
We know that our children have a hard time making good decisions. The fact that a national political figure’s 17 year old is pregnant shows that despite good parenting, our children and teens are still vulnerable to messages about sexuality from media and peers. And she’s not alone - “each year, almost 750,000 teenage women aged 15–19 become pregnant.” 1 While teenage pregnancy is declining, it certainly has not disappeared. Shows such as 90210 that promote promiscuity and precocious sexuality don’t help.
PLEASE help us. Help us teach our children to respect their sexuality. Help us teach our children good morals. Help us teach them to make good decisions. Help me limit my children’s exposure to shows and commercials that are not age-appropriate.
I hope you will see my letter, and the thousands of other letters that pour in, as a plea from America’s parents to raise our children with good values.
Sincerely,
Erika L. Myette, MSW
Mother of Michael (5), Jacob (2), and Maggie (9m)
1. Guttmacher Institute, 2006. (http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf).