Lloyd Morrisett († 93), well-known US psychologist and driving force behind the invention of the children’s program “Sesame Street”, has died – the organization Sesame Workshop announced on Twitter. Morrisett left an “indelible legacy for many generations of children around the world,” the organization continued. For the company, which he had managed for a long time, he brought his fascination for technology to bear and was constantly thinking of new ways of using it for education.
Joan Ganz Cooney (93), who founded Sesame Workshop with Morrisett, also spoke highly of the deceased: “Without Lloyd Morrisett there would be no ‘Sesame Street’. It was he who first came up with the idea of using television as an educational tool for preschool children – for example when it comes to letters and numbers.” He had been a trusted partner and loyal friend for over 50 years “and we will miss her very much,” Cooney concluded her statement.
The first episode of Sesame Street aired on US television in 1969. In the playful episodes, rag dolls like Elmo or Ernie & Bert explain to children how to deal with numbers and letters. The first episode on German-speaking TV ran in 1971. With over 100 Emmy awards, the format is considered one of the most successful programs ever. (read)
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