Turn off the TVs

IT’S great news that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has ordered more class time for learning basic literacy and numeracy.

An increasing problem for teachers are children starting school suffering from “word poverty” — ie they have spent too much time watching TV that Eadequate level. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends under 2s should not watch any TV (in France they recommend under 4s should not watch TV).

Parents have a duty to present their children for school with an ability to communicate. Keep the TV switched off for the under 4’s.

John Devlin

Erne Terrace, Dublin 2