New Poverty Puppet on Sesame Street

[C.Ann]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry..

So everyone can scream: "NOT WITH MY TAX DOLLARS!!!!" ??

Your insinuation that there are plenty of programs and food to keep the hungry well fed comes from a place of ignorance. Many "working poor" families do not qualify for these programs. Yet, their low income does not provide food security for their family. Those that do qualify, do not receive an abundance of food/aid. In fact, most find it difficult to stretch that amount of food throughout the month. Many go hungry towards the end of the month, waiting for their next month's aid. There are not "backpacks full of food" given out every weekend. They cannot just walk into a fully stocked food pantry and stock up. Many are non profits and have been forced to shut down, or have severely reduced supplies these days.

Wow, the answer is just sooooo easy. 17 million children go hungry every day in our nation. Of course food banks, backpacks of food and food stamps easily provide more than enough meals for those 17 million children and their families.


Excellent point! We all know that being poor equates to criminal behavior. I'm proud to say that my home state of Florida has done something about these abusers of government aid. Welfare recipients now must submit to drug tests, since we all know that they are trading food stamps for drug money. It has been a great success. 2% of those tested have tested positive for drugs. This has helped to direct money where it should really be going - the governor's wife and her newfound profits at her drug testing facilities. Good thing the governor quietly shifted his interests in Solantic to his wife's name so as not to arouse suspicion, or give the appearance of a conflict of interest. So, who really profits from government aid?

(Underlining mine..) Excellent post.. Food banks and food pantries are shutting down left and right.. There simply isn't enough to go around.. Not everyone who deals with "food insecurity" is jobless; qualifies for assistance (because their income is $2 over the limit); or even wants to apply for the programs you mentioned - lest everyone looks down their noses at them and whines their heads off about "my tax dollars"..

Free food pantries are hurting, what with more and more people being food-insecure - and not all of those with school-age children or eligible for public assistance.

There are always going to be people who believe that if it's not happening to them, it's not happening at all - nor will it ever happen to them (or a loved one)..

 

[harleyquinn]

Just so you know, while Big Bird is a big bird (hence his name), his body shape - which is quite obviously what you're referencing - is completely normal for a bird.

I'm sorry ITA with your post, but I just had to take this sentence out... When you came on the disboards today I bet you never imagined you'd be typing that sentence out!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm sorry ITA with your post, but I just had to take this sentence out... When you came on the disboards today I bet you never imagined you'd be typing that sentence out!

You know, I once had a teacher say it's impossible to create an original sentence.

I think I proved him wrong No, of all the things I expected to happen today, that statement wasn't even a wisp at the back of my mind! Who'd have thought it would have needed to be said?

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Please don't flame me here. I actually don't like Sesame Street much. I think sometimes it can be TOO politically correct. I understand trying to expose children to different things, but sometimes I feel like every child they show is cast to exhibit a moral.

 

[NY Disney fan]

This move by Sesame Street made more sense to me when I remembered that Sesame Street's target audience is not middle- and upper-middle-class Americans, even though all kids love it. I think the audience Sesame Street is truly targeted to is likely to have this problem in their neighborhoods and schools in a way that is noticeable to young kids.

Uh...ok.

 

[harleyquinn]

You know, I once had a teacher say it's impossible to create an original sentence.

I think I proved him wrong No, of all the things I expected to happen today, that statement wasn't even a wisp at the back of my mind! Who'd have thought it would have needed to be said?

I still can't stop giggling about it.

Please don't flame me here. I actually don't like Sesame Street much. I think sometimes it can be TOO politically correct. I understand trying to expose children to different things, but sometimes I feel like every child they show is cast to exhibit a moral.

Hi neighbor! Totally OT, but the picture in your signiture is ADORABLE!

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Your insinuation that there are plenty of programs and food to keep the hungry well fed comes from a place of ignorance. Many "working poor" families do not qualify for these programs. Yet, their low income does not provide food security for their family. Those that do qualify, do not receive an abundance of food/aid. In fact, most find it difficult to stretch that amount of food throughout the month. Many go hungry towards the end of the month, waiting for their next month's aid. There are not "backpacks full of food" given out every weekend. They cannot just walk into a fully stocked food pantry and stock up. Many are non profits and have been forced to shut down, or have severely reduced supplies these days.


Wow, the answer is just sooooo easy. 17 million children go hungry every day in our nation. Of course food banks, backpacks of food and food stamps easily provide more than enough meals for those 17 million children and their families.


Excellent point! We all know that being poor equates to criminal behavior. I'm proud to say that my home state of Florida has done something about these abusers of government aid. Welfare recipients now must submit to drug tests, since we all know that they are trading food stamps for drug money. It has been a great success. 2% of those tested have tested positive for drugs. This has helped to direct money where it should really be going - the governor's wife and her newfound profits at her drug testing facilities. Good thing the governor quietly shifted his interests in Solantic to his wife's name so as not to arouse suspicion, or give the appearance of a conflict of interest. So, who really profits from government aid?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Great post.

 

[luvmy3]

Just so you know, while Big Bird is a big bird (hence his name), his body shape - which is quite obviously what you're referencing - is completely normal for a bird.

OMG, that is the funniest thing I have ever read here

This move by Sesame Street made more sense to me when I remembered that Sesame Street's target audience is not middle- and upper-middle-class Americans, even though all kids love it. I think the audience Sesame Street is truly targeted to is likely to have this problem in their neighborhoods and schools in a way that is noticeable to young kids.

Silly me, I thought their target audience was 3 to 5 year olds

 

[harleyquinn]

Silly me, I thought their target audience was 3 to 5 year olds

I think she's saying that it's targeted to low income 3-5 yos. Maybe cuz it's PBS and it's free?

 

[luvmy3]

I think she's saying that it's targeted to low income 3-5 yos. Maybe cuz it's PBS and it's free?

I get what she is saying, and I think its ridiculous.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Please don't flame me here. I actually don't like Sesame Street much. I think sometimes it can be TOO politically correct. I understand trying to expose children to different things, but sometimes I feel like every child they show is cast to exhibit a moral.

Isn't that what most children's stories are about? Here's a list of the morals in Aesop's Fables.

 

[JessicaR]

History of Sesame Street

Early childhood educational research had shown that when children were prepared to succeed in school, they earned higher grades and learned more effectively. Children from low-income families had fewer resources than children from higher-income families to prepare them for school. Research had shown that children from low-income, minority backgrounds tested "substantially lower"[16] than middle-class children in school-related skills, and that they continued to have educational deficits throughout school.[17] The field of developmental psychology had grown during this period, and scientists were beginning to understand that changes in early childhood education could increase children's cognitive growth. Because of these trends in education, along with the great societal changes occurring in the United States during this era, the time was ripe for the creation of a show like Sesame Street.

"Television for Preschool Education",[17] spelled out how television could be used to help young children, especially from low-income families, prepare for school. The focus on the new show was on children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but Cooney and the show's creators recognized that in order to achieve the kind of success they wanted, it had to be equally accessible to children of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. At the same time, they wanted to make the show so appealing to inner-city children that it would help them learn as much as children with more educational opportunities. This was the show's primary criterion for success.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sesame_Street

 

[Nicolepa]

Please don't flame me here. I actually don't like Sesame Street much. I think sometimes it can be TOO politically correct. I understand trying to expose children to different things, but sometimes I feel like every child they show is cast to exhibit a moral.

I am totally with you. I used to let my children watch it, until I saw a certain episode. I won't say which one, because I will get flamed here on the DIS, but I felt it was not appropriate for my 3 yo (way over the top PC) and have not let any of my 3 children watch it since.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I get what she is saying, and I think its ridiculous.

YOu might THINK it is ridiculous, but if you look at the history of Sesame Street and the motivation behind its development you will see that it is actually true.

 

["Got Disney"]

Umm....the age of the kids that watch sesame street won't understand what this puppet represents...IMO....seems to me it's more to bring awareness to the adults more....

Sorry but I see more behind this than just bringing awareness to children who watch the show...it's more political.


Why do we always have to bring politics to our little kids who just want to watch tv and laugh....not watch a poor little girl that lives on the street and is starving.....

They are to little to understand properly or do anything about it...the only thing it will do is every time they see her make them sa that she does not have food...

 

[Uncle Remus]

Dang, kids not havin' enough to eat these days is politically correct, who knew?

 

["Got Disney"]

Dang, kids not havin' enough to eat these days is politically correct, who knew?

When it's brought to 4 year olds that can't do anything about it yes....

And by the way how is your family doing and GLV hope your all well...haven't seen you in awhile....nice to see you again

 

[Uncle Remus]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";42869029]When it's brought to 4 year olds that can't do anything about it yes....

And by the way how is your family doing and GLV hope your all well...haven't seen you in awhile....nice to see you again [/QUOTE]

Years 'n years ago my own 4-5 year old started the canned food drive at KinderCare, I remember it well coz I had to restock after he wanted all our own canned goods to contribute.

Sesame Street releasin' Lily at this time of year shouldn't be a surprise to anybody, after all, it's one of the few times of year that we as a public actually do think to donate food to local food banks.

Family's good, thanks for askin', hope yours is well too.

 

[cornflake]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";42868883]Umm....the age of the kids that watch sesame street won't understand what this puppet represents...IMO....seems to me it's more to bring awareness to the adults more....

Sorry but I see more behind this than just bringing awareness to children who watch the show...it's more political.


Why do we always have to bring politics to our little kids who just want to watch tv and laugh....not watch a poor little girl that lives on the street and is starving.....

They are to little to understand properly or do anything about it...the only thing it will do is every time they see her make them sa that she does not have food...[/QUOTE]

How will they not understand? You just said they'll be sad she doesn't have food - they'd have to understand to understand that.

The point is that plenty of kids who watch Sesame Street are in her position and may feel alone or ashamed. Others, yes, should know that not everyone has what they do. If they're sad she doesn't have food, perfect opportunity to explain that no, everyone doesn't have as much as we do, let's collect some things for the food bank or collect some toys for kids in the shelter who don't have any or etc. Kids that age are plenty capable of understanding that level of basic - we have enough, some people don't, we can share - concept.

I mean if your kid sees a homeless person and asks you why they're asleep on the street do you say they're really tired or do you explain that some people don't have the money for a house and etc.?

 

["Got Disney"]

How will they not understand? You just said they'll be sad she doesn't have food - they'd have to understand to understand that.

The point is that plenty of kids who watch Sesame Street are in her position and may feel alone or ashamed. Others, yes, should know that not everyone has what they do. If they're sad she doesn't have food, perfect opportunity to explain that no, everyone doesn't have as much as we do, let's collect some things for the food bank or collect some toys for kids in the shelter who don't have any or etc. Kids that age are plenty capable of understanding that level of basic - we have enough, some people don't, we can share - concept.

I mean if your kid sees a homeless person and asks you why they're asleep on the street do you say they're really tired or do you explain that some people don't have the money for a house and etc.?

They will understand she is hungry yes because the puppet will state that...but the 4year olds will think to themselves..if your hungry than eat....they won't get the dynamics of not having food...

They will not get the deep nest of all that is involved....and they shouldnt have to....give them till they are a little older ...it's Sesame street for goodness sakes...theach them tje ABCand 123 ...not something they are to young to understand and change....Ate age 4 or younger....

They have plenty of time to worry about such things when they get older...

I don't know how SS will use the piper so until than I guess will have to wait and see...I have not seen this so guess I will watch than voice my opinion...