I don’t know how many of you listen to NPR - National Public Radio - as I do, but if you do I know you must feel the same as I about the excellence of their broadcasting. I love classical music, and after 7 years of keeping In-School Suspension Rooms at two middle schools, I have actually turned on my students to the music. I know it is hard to believe, but it is the truth. There are days when some of the worst of the worst come in asking me to PLEASE turn my music back on so they can listen. They tell me it calms them helps them to get back on track so they can do their work. It is absolutely amazing. I love it, and now my students love it.
The music isn’t the only programing I enjoy. I adore Click and Clack and Prairie Home Companion....in fact, I put PHCompanion on my iPod so I can listen to it when I walk. Their news is the best, and the lack of commercials is wonderful.
Public Radio is really hurting financially with all of the cutbacks. This year our local station coming from Virginia Tech is telling us their need for donations is the greatest ever. Our faculty has been trying hard to get out the word, because not only are those of us who listen for pleasure going to feel the results of the cutbacks, the children that view the programs produced for the educational setting are really going to suffer. Many programs are up for the chopping block, and it is very sad.
I guess we as citizens of the greatest country in the world have become terribly complaisant over the years and have come to take things like NPR and PBS for granted. Well, it now appears we are all going to need to become more proactive and work harder to keep those things that really mean the most to us up and running. For me that is definitely NPR and PBS. This is the year for me to step up to the call and help all I can. I do not want to see the programming of my Blessing #21 be cut. It just means too much to me and to many that I know.
“The whole world is held together by radio. We all experienced the same heroes and comedians and singers. They are giants.”
~Woody Allen - 1935
“It’s not true I had nothing on. I had on the radio.”
~Marilyn Monroe - 1926-1962
“When television came roaring in after the war (WWII) they did a little survey asking children which they preferred and when p television or radio. And there was this 7 year old boy who said he preferred radio because the pictures were better.”
~Author unknown
