Video: The outsized influence of political megadonors

Barney the purple dinosaur was my first English teacher. Through songs, make-believe, and games, I learned how to greet people, ask kids if they wanted to play, and talk about the weather, which turned out to be useful for conversation in the United States. I also learned about sharing, respecting others, and finding the fun in learning.

Now, with the Presidential administration’s disinvestment in the education system and the cancellation of federal funding geared toward learning, Barney and other PBS favorites like Sesame Street, Arthur, and my personal favorite–The Magic School Bus - have been put on the chopping block by a political system that alleges to prioritize children’s learning. PBS is just one branch under the umbrella of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which also includes National Public Radio (NPR) and accounts for hundreds of national and local television shows and radio stations. This information war disenfranchises everyday people from learning and knowledge. Still, it will especially affect the next generation of children, like my son, who, unlike me (and the last six decades of viewers), won’t have the experience of running home from school to turn on the television and learn about thesaurus and jazz music while watching Arthur at 4 pm.