Help solve a dispute: Is watching the old TV Star Trek series educational?

[claire up north]

I don't want to say too much, cuz I don't want to influence your thinking on this. I won't even say if it's me or dh who likes Star Trek.:)

Arguments for Star Trek are that it is a cultural mainstay (along with Little House on the Prairie and Elvis) and that it brings up some ethical issues (how much to interfere in another society, the nature of life (vs. machine), and the values of different societies (money, beauty, peacefulness, etc.)

Arguments against Star Trek are that it is totally cheesy and lacking in educational value.

There seems to be more appreciation for The Next Generation series, but this question focuses on the old TV series.

So....anyone care to discuss the educational benefits of Star Trek???

[Mama Lynx]

Honestly, we have had some of our best discussions with the kids after Star Trek episodes, classic or Next Gen. I can argue for some educational value, here.

[dirty ethel rackham]

I would probably say Next Gen. is pretty educational. It can spark some interesting philisophical discussions. I just can't get past the cheese factor in the original series. Maybe I've seen way too many parodies of William Shatner (even done my himself) to see that show as anything but pure camp!

When dh and I were newly married, we used to race home after work to watch Next Gen together. They had reruns all week and the new episode was on Saturdays. A couple years ago, my son was reading something for book club (this swiss-cheese-for-brains in my head can't remember which one), it reminded me of an episode so we got it out of the library to watch.

hth,

[Lolly]

:DThey are educational. Why is there any question about that? All the people who watch them are smart; doesn't that tell you something?

[GothicGyrl]

They are all educational. Old shows like that not only teach about nostalgia, but the science part of it is a total lesson in and of itself.

In fact, to whomever is naysaying the "educational" part.. there is an entire book written called "The Physics of Star Trek" (http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Star-Trek-Lawrence-Krauss/dp/B000GG4ZEK/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201361254&sr=8-1) or something similar to that.

There are entire books in the series; Science, ethics, computers, even a techy guide. So yeah, I'd say it is highly educational. :)

[WTMindy]

I'll let you count it if you let me count Giligan's Island (come on, remember the one where they performed Hamlet?) http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/winking/winking0070.gif (http://www.allboxingstats.com/)

Truthfully, I wouldn't call them educational, but that doesn't mean they are not worthwhile.

[Dana in OR]

It just depends on the discussions and thoughts that can occur as a result. Star Trek is part of my past, and our family has fun remembering old episodes. Back when I was working as an engineer our entire computer lab would take the afternoon off to go see a new Star Trek movie on opening day.

Always the nerd,
Dana

[OnTheBrink]

Well, I'm not sure about the educational value, but if you were to ask my exMIL, she'd say it's responsible for my ex (her son) being gay. Don't try to follow the logic; there isn't any. :rolleyes:

[Michelle T]

Cheesy, entertaining, promotes philosophical discussions, educational sometimes, nostalgic, and just plain fun.
Michelle T

[Audrey]

I watch it, so it must be educational. :D

[LadyNancy]

Star Trek fan here. I think what I enjoy most in the original series, Next Generation and even Star Trek Voyager, is watching how the characters develop and seeing the strong bonds of friendship and loyalty grow between them. Throw in a little exciting science fiction without being too scary, evil or violent...perfect for me.:p

I don't know if I would say it's educational though. :)

[Maria from IN]

It reflects the fashion and thinking of the times, if nothing else.

At Indiana State the English department offers every couple years a fiction class called "Science Fiction as Social Criticism." I still wish I had the time to take it!

[Jean in Newcastle]

Well, as a Trekkie raising a future Trekkie, of course it's educational!

[Mama Lynx]

Well, I'm not sure about the educational value, but if you were to ask my exMIL, she'd say it's responsible for my ex (her son) being gay. Don't try to follow the logic; there isn't any. :rolleyes:


ROTFLMAO!

Oh, dear.

[Lady Katherine]

:D ROTFLOL!! That's quite a reach. You can use anything in life to teach life lessons to your kids, of course, but as far as academic educational value... Sorry, but no. (Nice try, though!)

[Cadam]

I would have to say it's educational value is more along the lines of philosophy, appreciation for other cultures and ethics. My preference is for next generation, but this is also colored by the family I grew up in. My parents fully supported my little brother learning Kingon, for example.

[percytruffle]

I vote for educational. You could develop and entire world view/philosophy/ethics course around any one of the Star Trek series. You could even show the historical significance of the cultural time period each of the series was written during and how the shows were influenced by the issues of the day. Why, the whole Star Trek series is almost like a guidebook to the hot topics of the 20th century!! ;)

...and how could you even think of depriving a young mind of the Gorn or the Tribbles. Unspeakable.

[Katia]

I like the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education that says 'everything in life is education'.

So, yes; Star Trek would definitely qualify as educational in our house, although I must admit that I, personally, would see more educational benefit from Next Generation as opposed to the original, but that is personal preference ;)

We often stop and watch Oprah or Rachael Ray or Monk and call it "school".

Sure. Watch it and call it school. We would.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

So much of our popular culture is tied into the Star Trek phenomenon. We have watched some or all of several old TV series (get them from Netflix), and I consider it Cultural Awareness study. :o)

The kids got bored with the original Star Trek series after about three episodes. They much prefer Stargate SG-1. I think they like the modern special and visual effects, and the modern people. Plus, 10yods hates "kissing and stuff". He thinks all that Kirk kissing stuff is hokey.

[Amy in NH]

I haven't read the other replies, yet.

Original Star Trek is cheesy.

Next Generation is educational.

[AngieW in Texas]

I see a lot more educational value in Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. I love Star Trek though. My favorite Star Trek series is Voyager.

My kids each get to choose an educational show to watch on Sunday evening. Their most common choices: Numb3rs, Mythbusters, Unwrapped, Rough Science, Wishbone.

My 14yo watches Monk, Psych, and Stargate Atlantis with me after the younger kids have gone to bed.

[Plaid Dad]

I've hung out with enough serious Trekkies to know that some people really do think deeply about the implications of the shows, old and new. To the extent that they do that, I'd say Star Trek can have some educational merit. But I guess I don't really see why it has to. Can't it be enjoyed purely for its entertainment value? I mean, we are talking William Shatner here... :rolleyes:

[Amy in NH]

appreciation for other cultures

Oh, yes! I especially loved that in the Original, *all* of the other cultures were made up entirely of pretty young women in tin-foil mini skirts!

[Linda in NE]

At a state university that shall remain nameless I received 1 credit hour for a class based on Star Trek -- the original series no less. It was team taught by a number of professors from different departments -- philosophy, science, English, social science, etc. We met once a week for three hours, watched an episode or excerpt from an episode, and discussed implications of the series in the different fields represented by the different professors who taught the course. Overall, it was a lot of fun, but educational too. However, I would not say that the show is educational in and of itself in the absence of this type of guided discussion, especially for kids who may be unaware of connections that can legitimately be made between various academic subjects and the issues covered in some of the Star Trek plots.

Linda

[WTMindy]

So Claire, which one of you was lobbeying for educational? Do tell;)