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Nun: Connect with youth by TV

If you are looking for a good way to connect with today's youth, turn on your television.

"Kids spend an average of three to five hours a day watching TV," said Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP, director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies. "How can you talk about things with them on their level? Go against yourself and watch something from that age group."

Sr. Pacatte recently presented "How to Be a Media Savvy Teacher in 10 Easy Steps" at a teacher in-service at St. Norbert College, De Pere. While her talk was designed for educators, the steps also apply to parents.

"It's important to take the approach that we are all equal television consumers," she said. "Shakespeare is not any better than The Simpsons. Who knows? In 50 years,we may be paying a lot of money to see Bart portrayed on stage. It's important to respect one another's opinions when discussing television shows. Entertainment media productions and technology are gifts from God with great potential for human and spiritual development."

Sr. Pacatte explained the importance of articulating values when talking about the media with young people. Communicating values can enhance your relationship, she said. To improve communication, it's important to understand the culture in which young people live. She showed clips from The Merchants of Cool, a PBS program which demonstrates the marketing strategies used to attract teens.

"We live in a world made of marketing," she said. "Approximately 75% of teens have televisions in their bedrooms. There is a blizzard of brands that speak their language. It's important that we also understand that language."

She also played a scene from the CBS drama Judging Amy where the character Maxine, portrayed by Tyne Daly, lectures a young man about the importance of telling the truth in court as an example of good values displayed on television.

"Did you see this episode when it aired a couple weeks ago?" she asked. "Did you tape it? Always run a tape. There may be something of value in a show which you wish to use."

The 10 steps she shared to be media savvy include:

1. Know who God is for you.

2. Know what the church really teaches about the media.

3. Honor your students'/child's tastes even if you disagree with their choices.

4. Watch TV.

5. Go to the movies.

6. Listen to the talk and conversation of young people around you.

7. Become a critical thinker with a heart.

8. Learn and apply the faith principles of media literacy.

9. Develop a spirituality for today.

10. Fall in love with the world today.

Watching television and movies extends beyond your own personal tastes, said Sr. Pacatte, adding that the show Alias is her guilty pleasure.

"You need to watch shows that you do not necessarily like, but adolescents watch," she said. "Watch shows like South Park and Will & Grace. Watch shows for younger children such as Barney. Watch them with your children and talk about them. Talk and talk and talk."

"Listen to the music young people hear," she continued. "Know the artists, at least one. Don't ask them their favorite kind of music, but ask for a favorite song."

Sr. Pacatte also suggested that parents and teachers become informed about media choices for young people, especially movies. She recommended subscribing to magazines with movie reviews such as Entertainment Weekly or reading online reviews including those provided at www.pauline.org.

Among the other television and movie clips incorporated into her talk, was a look at the career of Fred Rogers.

"What Mr. Rogers did so well was help children feel safe and feel that they have some control over the events of their lives," said Sr. Pacatte. "Pray about the day's events. Pray the news with your children. Talk about what is happening in the world."

"Keep an eye on what your kids are watching and listen to what they have to say," she added. "Adults have the water cooler, kids have the playground."