We need soap operas in our classrooms

I have a revolutionary idea. It will help our economy, enable our children to learn and provide cultural input into our profit-obsessed society. Soap operas.

No, no. Before you cooler-than-thou types dismiss the idea outright, hear me out.

Soap operas have a strong historical link to our instant gratification culture. Introduced in 1949 to network television they quickly became the genre of choice for adult entertainment (surpassed, sadly enough, by reality TV with the advent of Survivor).

Yet, soap operas continue to be a cultural institution. They provide insight into morality; define healthy and unhealthy decision-making processes; and enable us to ascertain the important aspects of life.

And soap operas are not simply a female phenomena. Men in the British Aisles are mad about Corrie Street and Emmerdale. Pub talk usually rotates around footie scores and whether or not the local Rover's tart is sly enough to sleep with her best-mate's man. In Africa, soap operas are being used by peace movements and development strategists to impart lessons and provide alternatives to cultural practices that are sexist and out-dated. As a result, these telenovels are ideal for nations within Africa where literacy rates surpass the 50% mark.

As a result of the success of morally scripted soap operas British producers are releasing a 20-part soap serial aimed at bringing the message of peace to war-torn Palestinians homes during this years Ramadan. The series, known as Shu Fi Ma Fi (aka: What's Up?) will be broadcast into Palestinian homes across the territories twice nightly six days a week during the holy fasting month; topics include drugs, espionage, intermarriage and domestic violence, while focusing on the central message of peace.

So, my question is: if these telenovels are so successful in other areas of the world, why not introduce them into our school system?

Morality based soap operas in the school system would benefit not only our children, but their parents. How? Well, a soap opera needs to be produced, directed, filmed; actors need to participate, lighting and props and stage-hands, including make-up and hair, need to be present. That's a lot of jobs and considering the state of our film industry these days, a lot of necessary jobs. Of course, the economic benefits don't stop there. Then there are the businesses that cater to film crews: caterers, permit offices (usually municipal gains), local restaurants, car rental agencies, cellphone providers and, at times, hotels. After that you've got the post-production side of business. Economically, then, producing soap operas would inject cash back into our economy. That keeps the fiscally-obsessed happy.

Then there are the cultural benefits. In an age where TV must compete with graphic novels, gaming and the over-flowing bar-room enticement of the Internet, a good, salicious soap opera might be the right tool for drawing an eager, younger audience. What child could turn away from the lesson of "thou shalt not kill" that was played out on Coronation Street in the winter of 2003 (Canadian broadcast) when Dickie, husband of Gail, kept trying to cover up his financial mess with murder and attempted murder! Or what about the lesson of forgive and forget when viewers watched Laura marry Luke after he raped her on General Hospital. The fact is all seven deadly sins can be hashed out on a soap, and, with a little ingenuitive script-writing, so can the seven heavenly virtues.

So my vote is to nix the quiet hour and stop the study period, instead all kids aged 10 and up should be required to watch a Canadian prepared and produced docu-drama and learn about our culture like everyone else.

For more information on the Palestinian soap opera go to:
http://washingtontimes.com/entertainment/20060919-100212-6315r.htm

For more information on the use of soap operas in war torn areas go to:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1456
http://www.usaid.gov/
http://www.tamilnation.org/conflictresolution/