end of his career (“ Fred Rogers ,” Biography Today ). They eventually moved on to separate projects after eight years . Rogers pursued new career opportunities in Pittsburgh until he was able to gain enough funding to start his own show “ Mister Rogers ’ Neighborhood ” in 1966 ( Warner 37 ). However , the president at the time , Richard Nixon , made a proposal that could cut funding for public broadcasting in half . In disagreement , Rogers made a speech against it , stopping the funding cut and showing his commitment to television (“ Won ’ t You Be My Neighbor ?”). Fred Rogers showed compassion and determination toward making a change throughout his career and was able to pioneer the topic as a whole .
“ Mister Rogers ’ Neighborhood ” stood apart from other shows at the time because of its consideration for the well-being of impressionable young viewers . Other shows “ were inane , violent , and completely unrealistic in terms of how they dealt with the problems of the real world ” (“ Fred Rogers ,” Biography Today ). A key difference with Rogers ’ show was his use of bringing his viewers on “ field trips .” Rogers would visit places like bakeries and zoos , which kept the kids engaged with the show while teaching them something about their communities ( Warner 49 ). Additionally , he played and composed music during the show to emphasize the theme of each episode . Using his musical ability , he made catchy songs that were about anger , the fear of being sucked down the bathtub drain , and other issues a child may have (“ Fred Rogers ,” Biography Today ). Finally , the most important difference from shows at the time was his choice of material . Rogers ’ show tackled lesstalked-about issues that affected children . He taught his young viewers how to handle tough situations , such as divorce and strong emotions , rationally . These lessons helped younger generations to be better people ( Warner 53 ). The different structure of Fred Rogers ’ show showed his love and care for his audience , making it entertaining yet educational .
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