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TV Violence: From Road Runners to Road Warriors Hasn't there always been violence in cartoons and other children's programs? The answer, of course, is "yes." However, lately violent portrayals seem to be increasing both in quantity and in realism. A recent fact sheet from the Teachers' Campaign Against Media Violence, has some startling statistics. It reports that the average child will see 8,000 murders and 100,000 other violent acts by the end of elementary school. A few children's programs are particularly violent. According to Professor Diane E. Levin of Wheelock College, in Boston, the popular children's television show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers averages 200 acts of violence per hour -- more than any other children's program currently on TV. This is twice as many acts of violence as distant competitor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which averages a mere 100 violent acts per hour.

Reality and Fantasy Growing up, many of us enjoyed watching Road Runner cartoons and witnessed poor Wile E. Coyote having countless anvils dropped on his head or falling off cliffs, only to stagger back for more bad luck. But we also understood he was not a real person, and that in real-life, people can't have anvils dropped on their heads nor fall off cliffs unharmed. There was a clear distinction between the fantasy we saw on the TV screen, and the reality that we knew existed outside of TV. And we never tried to mimic this behavior. Wile E. Coyote was also a rather likeable villain -- quite tame by today's standards. Current children's programs often feature villains who are extremely grotesque, demonic or satanic. Half-man/half-skeleton and "robo-man" themes seem very popular on TV cartoons. And the kind of violence they engage in is graphic, murderous and, unfortunately, very realistic. For children today, especially young, impressionable children (who often watch programs with older siblings or adults), the lines between fantasy and reality are fuzzy. "Special effects" have revolutionized TV viewing and some programs that blend live action with animation can be very frightening. Professor Levin states that "the mass media plays a significant role in socializing young children into violence." This is done through repetition, -- which desensitizes children by the sheer number of violent acts shown, and by implying that violence is the only way of solving personal problems. Children 2 to 5 years old watch an average of four hours of television daily. That eventually adds up to about seven years' worth of TV by high school graduation. While we should be concerned with what all children are watching, the early years are probably the most critical. To that end, TV12 provides a safe haven for impressionable young minds, by offering programs that are educational, inspiring and worthwhile. -- Samuel M. Lemon, M.S. Manager, WHYY Community Education Services