Tuned In: Channel One keeps FSHS students in touch with world

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Fort Scott High School students in FSHS English teacher Polly Herman's class watch the daily broadcast of Channel One, a 12-minute news broadcast created specifically for middle-school and high-school students across the country. (Tribune Photo/Rayma Silvers)

Fort Scott High School have access to a beneficial instrument which not only allows them to keep up on major news events, but also provides them with the latest information on teen-related topics.

According to FSHS Media Center instructor Monta Saker, students at the high school have the opportunity to watch Channel One news presentations throughout the week. Middle school students also watch the news shows in their classrooms during the school week, according to FSMS librarian Stacy Sinn. The Channel One Network creates short news clips specifically designed with students in mind, according to the Channel One Web site, www.channelone.com.

"Broadcasting since 1990, Peabody Award-winning Channel One News is the leading source of news and information for young people," the Web site said. "The 12-minute news broadcasts are delivered daily to more than six million teens in middle schools and high schools across the country."

FSHS Principal Bob Beckham said the news broadcasts are beneficial to the students in the schools who participate in the program.

"It's (Channel One) a valuable tool for us," Beckham said. "In the world our kids live in today, I don't think they see a lot of news. I don't think this generation sits down and watches the news. I think we all understand the importance of knowing our country's history. This is one way they can study history as it happens. They (students) get to see history unfold in their time and in front of their eyes."

By giving the students the opportunity to watch the news program, schools and Channel One are helping to create students who are well-rounded, Beckham added.

"The more they know about the world around them," Beckham said. "The better decisions they will make in the future."

FSMS Assistant Principal DJ Brown said he too thinks the news broadcast is helpful for the students at the school.

"It keeps them up on current world affairs," Brown said.

According to Saker, Channel One not only keeps the students informed about current national news, but also enlightens students on some international news. In addition, the broadcast often includes self-help information on youth-related topics such as smoking and depression, Saker said.

"They (Channel One) hit upon just about everything," Saker said. "For some of our kids, it's the only time they get news."

The information students see during the 12-minute news broadcasts is useful in the classroom, according to both Saker and Beckham.

"It is a good discussion starter," Saker said. "The kids will talk about what is on there."

According to Beckham, several high school teachers use the Channel One broadcasts to enhance the lessons they are teaching in their classrooms. One example of this, Beckham said, occurs in the school's constitution class. FSHS constitution teacher Tami Campbell, who teaches her students about the election process, used this year's Channel One election coverage to help her students understand how elections in the United Sates operate. Tom Restivo, a social science teacher at the high school, encourages his students to use the news broadcasts to complete their current event assignments.

Channel One also offers curriculum videos which help supplement the lessons the teachers are teaching on a daily basis, according to Sinn.

"They (Channel One) do a different curriculum video everyday," Sinn said. "Teachers can use these in their classrooms."

The Channel One Web site offers teachers additional resources that can be used in their classrooms, according to Saker. In addition, there are activities for the students to partake in on the Web site. Also, parents can visit the Web site to stay informed about the news their children are watching in school.