Blackboard Jumble

AMID THE VIDEO JUNK FOOD OF CHILDREN'S TELEVIsion are still such educational entrees as Sesame Street, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, G.I. Joe . . . G.I. JOE? Who would call a weekly cartoon plug for war toys educational? Your local TV broadcaster, that's who. A 1990 law forces stations seeking license renewal to show a commitment to educational programming, but some have stymied the legislation by solemnly labeling such frivolous fare as The Flintstones, The Jetsons and G.I. Joe "educational."

The Federal Communications Commission may have had enough. The agency has announced it will "seek comment on whether rules might be revised to serve the educational needs of children." But the FCC is already hinting displeasure with current standards for kidvid, noting "little change in available programming directed at children's needs" and insisting that "the primary goal of children's programming should be educational and informational, with entertainment as a secondary goal."