Reality T.V.

When “Big Brother” came on television here in the Netherlands I watched the first season with the famous Ruud, Bart, and the playboy girl. I missed a few episodes, but I saw most episodes and I liked them. After the first season the second and third came and I didn’t watch them because I saw so many episodes from the first season and I’d had enough. After Big Brother came The Bus and Big Diet, reality TV as well. I didn’t watch The Bus but I have watched Big Diet and I liked it more then Big Brother because in this program the people had an actual goal.

I think that reality TV just gives the reality that people want to see and a result it is manufactured by the producerers. But I do think that the people on television are changing a bit because whole the country can see them. And since they also have to live with ten other people they don’t have privacy. But it still is reality and I think that that a lot of people want to watch this.

Reality television has to be invented by Americans. It is a typical American idea because they always want to watch something strange where they can make a lot of money. The Japanese could also invent something like this because they have the same strange thoughts. But this is certainly not created by European television makers.

The first reality television was a very good idea but I think that all the other are just made for the money. It’s very easy to create a new reality program and it is cheap to make. As a result you get very bad and easy TV programs, and I think that are too many already on TV now.

Piet P

Woorden 305

Dear Charlotte

Recently I heard your story about your abortion and I think that you have to be very brave. It is very difficult to be pregnant when you're fourteen years old and I think that this has big influence for the rest of your life. I can understand it you when don’t have relationships with boys, I think that that will come later and that you have to take the time for it. But that you don’t want to go to university is a problem. Instead of making money now you should better go to school and become a vet. Maybe it is difficult now but later you will regret it that you didn’t go to university and than it is too late. You want to get married in ten years but when you don’t want children and your man is working all day, what do think you can do all day? Still working in a local café? Or just stay home the rest of your life? When you don’t want children you can think more of your own career and become a vet.
Your mother doesn’t know anything about the whole abortion situation and you better think about that. Otherwise you have to live your whole life with a big secret and you can never talk about it with your mother. But when you tell her this she can better understand you and support you. This isn’t only regarding leaving school but also that you've changed a lot and she will definitely notice. She will also want to know why you don't want children.  When you don’t tell her you have to lie all the time and the situation with your mother won’t be better.

Piet P

290 woorden

14 September 2004
Dear Laura,

I read your letter about truancy and I think it is an interesting subject. A few months ago I heard something about it from a Dutch teacher and he says that parents can’t send their children to school when they are 15 years old (or older) and that the fine is too high. When a child don’t want to go to school, for any reason, you can’t make the parents pay that kind of amount.
I partly agree with that. I think you should first find out what the reason is for truancy; maybe is the school level too low, or too high, or maybe it is because of their home situation and it has nothing to do with school. When you know this you can maybe solve the problem and/or help that the child go back to school.
Parents can’t make their children go to school-of course it is their responsibility, but when children get older it became more and more their own responsibility. It is impossible for parents to put the children in the classroom and after fifty minutes go back to school and put them in the next room. Students have to do this themselves and if they don’t want this, you can’t force them.
But every child has to go to school and every taxpayer pays for this, so I think it is sin that the children gets the possibility but don’t go to school. I think that they have to leave school with a diploma, and when they want to they can go work.
I think that the fine is much too high, so instead of the fine you can call the parents every time when their child isn’t in school. I saw on the television a program about an internet site where parents can see if their child is in school, as well as things like their school grades. I think this works much better.

I’ll hope you think about this and think about all the options you have against truancy, I wish you good luck with it.

Love,

Piet P
350 woorden.