Although some people describe television as a great teacher, others say television has caused the poor reading and writing skills of our people. Television gets praise for helping us understand the people of the world. But it also has influence on family life. Television tells us the news of the day. But it can also make us lazy by giving only short news instead of telling the whole story.

Some people think that the years before television were a better time. They believe that families talked more and did more things together. More books were read. People got more outdoor exercise.

Many people who are alive today know what it is like to live in a world without television. Television is only about forty years old. Yet it has been an important part in our lives.

But others disagree. They say that television is a good tool for education. It tells us what is happening in the world. It provides plenty of fun for us. It helps us understand how people live and work.

Even people who love television are not happy with it. They think there are too many advertisements on television. People will probably continue to discuss about television's value. But everyone agrees that it is one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century.