The Tube Invasion.

Many Americans found a new source of entertainment in the 1950s — television. Before long, critics worried that the "boob tube" would have harmful effects on education. In 1950, 3.875 million American households, or 9 percent, owned a television. By 1960 that number had increased to 45.75 million, or 87.1 percent. This dramatic jump led experts in several fields to examine the effect of television on the nation's children.

An Educational Opportunity.

Television without doubt increased the amount of information available to children and their parents. Up-to-the-minute visual news about the country and the world became readily available. Universities that could afford the high start-up costs could potentially establish production facilities and become the cultural and intellectual beacons. Many predicted great educational opportunities arising from television. McGrath stated, "Through the use of television, educational institutions will be able to bring the greatest teachers, the finest...