Common denominator on cable and networks this week is education

Parents and educators have complained throughout the years that kids watch too much television. But the networks and cable hope to change the perception of the small screen with Education First Week, which will feature more than 75 hours of television devoted to educationally themed programming.

Participating: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and PBS, as well as HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel, E! Entertainment Television, Arts & Entertainment, Lifetime and the Learning Channel.

NBC’s lineup kicks off tonight with the new movie “She Stood Alone,” starring Mare Winningham and Ben Cross (“Dark Shadows,”) in a factual drama about a white school teacher in the 1830s who risked her career and safety to fight social prejudices.

NBC will run education-themed episodes on several series, including “The Cosby Show,” “Carol & Company,” “Dear John,” “A Different World,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “The Golden Girls,” “Quantum Leap,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “NBA--Inside Stuff.”

NBC’s Saturday morning programs will cover illiteracy (“Captain N”), staying in school (“Rick Moranis in Gravedale High”), education (“Kid ‘N’ Play”) and substance abuse (“Saved by the Bell”). Also included will be a repeat of the anti-drug animated special “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.”

In addition, education will be highlighted on “The Today Show,” “Real Life with Jane Pauley” and “A Closer Look with Faith Daniels.”

On ABC, education will be the theme this week on “Roseanne,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Family Matters,” “Full House,” “Growing Pains,” “Life Goes on” and “Young Riders.” On Fox: “In Living Color,” “America’s Most Wanted,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose!” and “True Colors.”

On tap at CBS are educationally themed episodes of “Designing Women,” “Evening Shade” and “Guns of Paradise,” plus the CBS Schoolbreak Special “American Eyes” and “School’s in with Charles Kuralt.”

PBS’ lineup includes episodes of “The Astronomers,” “The Infinite Voyage,” “Smithsonian World,” “The Shape of the World,” “Nature,” “Sesame Street,” “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” “Reading Rainbow,” “Degrassi High,” “Square One TV” and “Newton’s Apple.”

The Disney Channel offers the specials “Barney Goes to School,” “Morris Goes to School,” “Paddington Goes to School,” “Take Me To Your Leaders,” “Gryphon,” “Too Smart for Strangers,” “Spaceship Earth: Our Global Environment” and “My Friend Liberty.”

HBO will air the feature films “Children of a Lesser God,” “Lean on Me” and “Stanley & Iris,” the specials “Earthday Birthday,” “Earth to Kids: A Guide to Products for a Healthy Planet” and the HBO original drama “First Love, Fatal Love.”

TNT’s programming consists of vintage films with positive educational messages, such asGreer Garson in “Her Twelve Men” and “Blossoms in the Dust,” Dorothy Dandridge in “Bright Road,” Dean Stockwell in “The Happy Years” and Mickey Rooney in “A Yank at Eaton.”

Lifetime offers special installments of “The Great American TV Poll” and “What’s Up Dr. Ruth” and the specials “Getting Into College, Parts 1 and 2” and “Ask Me Anything: How to Talk to Kids About Sex.”

MTV, Nickelodeon, A&E;, the Learning Channel and Univision will air public service announcements and special programming, and E! Entertainment Television is dedicating five “ON TV” segments to Education First Week, as well as special news coverage of all the events surrounding the week.

“Education First Week,” Sunday through Saturday. Check daily listings for times. For ages 5 and up.