Creative learning
Sesame Street: the longest street in the world
Learning through entertainment
Elita Karim
In 1968 a concept was developed in the USA for children's learning through a television show. This idea evolved over the years and today it is a major platform for building a better future in many countries. Sesame Street, a production of the Children's Television Workshop in the United States, is an integral part of a child's education. From a very early age, children learn to recognise letters of the alphabet, count, add, subtract and also learn about culture of other countries. This show also develops the day to day skills of children, be it crossing the road, wearing the seat belt in a car, tying shoe laces and getting in and out of a school bus. Today, Sesame Street, which is termed 'the longest street in the world', has been adapted in many countries around the world, such as in China, Egypt, Kuwait, South Africa, Israel and Palestine. The children are taught to develop an appreciation for other cultures and countries. Sesame Street is about to build a niche for itself in Bangladesh. Nayantara Communications has joined hands with Sesame Workshop from New York to develop this educational programme. To mark the beginning of this journey and also the end of a three-day seminar, a press conference was held at the ballroom in Sheraton Hotel. Present at the conference were the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Harry K Thomas, the Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, the Secretary of Information Najmul Alam Siddiqui , Gene George, Mission Director of USAID, Daniel Victor and Charlotte Cole from Sesame Street productions. The participants agreed that Sesame Street will play a first hand role in the development of education in Bangladesh, especially health and safety measures for girls. It will also expose the young children to the outside world and develop their thinking methods and communication skills. As all Sesame Street viewers know, not only do people of different races, colours and cultural background live on the street, a whole bunch of living and talking Muppets live there as well. For more than 30 years, viewers have been truly fascinated by Big Bird, the gigantic yellow bird, Snuffle-up-a-Gus, the huge elephant and Big Bird's best friend, Oscar the Grouch who actually lives with his whole family in the garbage can, Bert and Ernie, the two room mates, Cookie Monster, who eats cookies all through the day and other popular characters like Grover, Telly Monster, little Elmo, the Count, Kermit the Frog and many others. In September 2002, the first HIV Virus Muppet was also introduced on Sesame Street, where it was said that touching, hugging or kissing the Muppet would not pass on the virus to the other Muppets around. In Sesame Street Bangladesh, Muppets will be more localised, where the Bangla language will be used and the Bangla culture along with foreign cultures will be portrayed. Mustafa Monowar, the pioneer in this field and who was also present at the conference, is also working in this project to bring puppets and Muppets to life in Bangladesh. Children in this country need a reason and also a chance to dream. This show, which will begin in 2005, will undoubtedly create a positive image of Bangladesh around the world. It will fulfil the educational needs and also create cultural awareness amongst young minds in the country today. Charlotte Cole pointed out that in this project, a group of individuals will come together and merge education with creativity to actually develop this programme. The researchers and educators will build up a curriculum document which the creativity team will work on to mix fun and entertainment with learning . Mustafa Monowar remarked that imagination is the power to all discoveries and inventions. If this show can enable the children of our country to imagine, think and contribute to the building of a better Bangladesh tomorrow, then Sesame Street is surely a street worth having in Dhaka City.
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The Sesame Street family |
