Career advice for German children

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A long running theme in our office is about the relative superiority of British versus German childrens TV programming. We Brits all remember Blue Peter, while the Germans wax lyrical about Die Sendung mit der Maus.

But which nation’s programming is most likely to help kids to grow up as happy, well-balanced socially integrated adults?

So I decided to have a look back at some of the old public service programmes aimed at educating the next generation…

First exhibit, ladies and gentlemen, is Blue Peter.  Note the subliminal messages for British children:

• it is big and clever to do stunts on your bike
• you too can aspire to become Evil Knieval
• if you’re going to do motocross on muddy terrain, it’s really sensible to wear white trousers

Second exhibit, is Die Sendung mit der Maus.  Note the subliminal messages for German children:

• if you’re going to have a crap job you might as well go the whole hog and sing out of tune too
• the most aspirational heroes are those who do the dirtiest work cheerfully
• and you get to wear trendy gear… in a sort of Guatanamo Bay chic kind of way….

Is it any wonder that both nations have different types of social problem?

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Filed under German video, Life in Germany, german education, german television

Tags: blue peter, careers, children, in germany, jobs, sendung mit der maus, television