Pulic Television Inspires Teachers to Ignite the Love of Learning

PR NEWSWIRE- Governor David A. Paterson, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt, Bill Gates, Sr., Alan Alda, Danica McKellar and the new cast of Sesame Workshop's The Electric Company Join THIRTEEN and WLIW21 to Invigorate Educators NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- During these tough economic times when education budgets are being slashed across the country, it is more important than ever to recognize the value of teachers and the vital role they play in preparing America's next generation to successfully compete in a global economy. THIRTEEN, the nation's flagship PBS station, and WLIW21 will provide a forum for the world's best thinkers and practitioners to come together and join in the conversation to improve the education of our nation's students at the fourth annual Celebration of Teaching & Learning conference, which kicked off today in New York City at the Hilton New York. The Celebration, a premier professional development conference, is where over 8,000 teachers, school administrators, business leaders, and policymakers come together to play a role in shaping the future of schools by participating in two days worth of panel discussions, over 100 workshops, and keynote addresses from international and national experts. Speaking directly to the needs of educators and parents, this year's conference will focus on literacy, math, science, global awareness, Autism, English Language Learners, technology, and whole school policy. "Teachers are facing increased demands to raise student achievement with fewer resources and less dollars. When the pressures on teachers are the greatest; that's when we need to ensure that they have the best resources and support to educate our students to new levels," said Ron Thorpe, Vice President and Director of Education of THIRTEEN. "Public television believes that by exposing teachers to leading experts, showcasing the latest in technology and trends in education and providing a platform for educators to join in the conversation to improve education, the Celebration will be a place where knowledge meets inspiration." Keeping with its tradition, the Celebration will host an incredible array of noted speakers including Governor David A. Paterson, who will give special remarks, Google Chairman and CEO, Eric Schmidt, who will be interviewed by Charlie Rose on the future of technology; the award-winning actor, director, best-selling author, and host of the new PBS production "The Human Spark," Alan Alda; and the world's most recognized autistic scholar and New York Times bestselling author, Temple Grandin. Other keynote speakers include actress and math enthusiast, Danica McKellar; internationally-recognized author in the development of creativity, Sir Kenneth Robinson; chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Sr.; and the new cast of Sesame Workshop's The Electric Company, which will focus on early childhood literacy. The Celebration will also feature prominent education leaders including Dennis Van Roekel, Randi Weingarten, John Wilson, Richard C. Iannuzzi, Joel I. Klein, Geoffrey Canada, Lucille Davy and Pedro Noguera. "Public television's mission is to provide educational content to inspire our viewers to seek knowledge," said Neal Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer of WNET.ORG. "By delivering a world-class conference that meets the needs of our nation's K-12 educators, attendees of this year's Celebration will leave with a renewed passion for teaching and with lessons that will resonate for years to come." I'm not sure how I feel about pushing yet more television on our youth. Does it not seem wrong that we are encouraging more TV time instead of the out-door time that kids really seem to be lacking.