VENTURA : Ban on Ads Sought to Block Cable Show

In an effort to keep Channel One cable programming and its commercials out of high school classrooms, members of the Ventura Parent Teacher Assn. this week asked the school board to consider a proposal that would ban all forms of advertising.

The board has twice voted to deny broadcasting the controversial Channel One, which offers students a 12-minute current events show that includes two minutes of commercials.

But PTA President Pam Oestreich said November’s election bid for two open seats on the five-member panel could shift the majority of the board in favor of Channel One, a move that she said would take valuable class time away from students.

“I can’t believe that it will not come up again if certain people are elected,” Oestreich said. “This policy will ensure that Channel One is kept out of the classroom.”

In a 3-2 vote in July, board members Barbara Meyers, May Lee Berry and Vincent Ruiz voted against Channel One. Both Meyers’ and Ruiz’s terms of office end in 1992.

Board members John Walker and Terrence Kilbride have voted in favor of the programming.

The program’s commercials are for products ranging from candy bars to athletic shoes. Schools that sign up for the program are loaned televisions and other equipment.

The commercial portion has been criticized by educators, including state Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig.

Honig has argued that Channel One takes away from instructional time and violates the public trust by giving commercial interests access to schoolchildren during the day.

If the board decides to adopt a resolution prohibiting advertising, it would become the second district in the county to do so. The Simi Valley Unified School District recently adopted a similar policy.

Channel One has been discussed before the board several times during this year. When it came up for a vote in May, Walker moved to approve it, but the motion died for lack of a second.

At the July meeting, some teachers and parents spoke in favor of it, arguing that it would make students more aware of current events.

But others have said it takes away from student-teacher contact and offers information that could be read in newspapers, books and magazines.