At least two test schools for Whittle Communications’ “Channel One” news program for students have decided not to continue with the program.
The Cincinnati Board of Education voted late last month not to continue participating in the 12-minute news show for junior and senior high schools. Whittle tested the program for seven weeks earlier this year at Withrow High School in Cincinnati and at five other schools across the country.
Many education groups have objected to “Channel One” because it includes two minutes of advertising each day. Cincinnati officials said that they were concerned about the commercials, and that they were not convinced students learned a great deal from the show.(See Education Week, Sept. 5, 1989).
Another test school, Gahr High School, in Cerritos, Calif., will not continue with “Channel One” because California state school officials have threatened to withhold funds from any district that shows commercials to students.