TV viewing and test scores

Don't blame TV for the current decline in academic achievement, says the Television Information Office, a wing of the National Association of Broadcasters.

According to a TIO survey, based mainly upon a study conducted by the California State Department of Education, socioeconomic factors are the major influence on test score results. Thus, children of professionals and semiprofessionals, even those who viewed four or more hours of television a day, did much better than children of skilled and unskilled parents, even those who who watched little or no television. The survey was a bit vague on the kind of programs watched.

Although the information from TIO is very sketchy, the conclusion would seem to be - it's not what you watch but in whose house you watch it.