Channel 20's schedule includes instructional and educational programs for everyone, from preschoolers to adults.

Educational TV used to mean Big Bird teaching preschoolers their ABCs. Today, it also means teaching truckers how to keep their licenses.

Sesame Street is still as much a part of the public television lineup as it was when the program was created 24 years ago. But Lloyd Wright, general manager of WFYI-TV (Channel 20), explained that the station's educational mission also extends to adults.

"We like to think of ourselves as a community resource," he recently told Children's Express.

As an example, he cited a program broadcast last year called Are You Road Ready?, which was aimed at helping commercial truck drivers pass their driver's test.

New federal laws were enacted that changed the way the truckers' test was given, Wright explained. "There were a lot of drivers of buses and trucks whose jobs were threatened because they weren't going to be able to pass this new test, because a number of those folks aren't able to read," he said.

So Channel 20 created nine half-hour programs to prepare truckers to take the new test. "We feel like we helped a lot of drivers of commercial vehicles stay on the road and stay employed," he said.

Another program that Wright sees as a community outreach program is GED on TV.

"It's a series of 42 half-hour programs that are broadcast to try to help people prepare for their high school equivalency diplomas. This past year, we had about 1,000 people graduate from high school as a result of watching those programs," said Wright.

Third of programs for kids

Still, about a third of WFYI's programs are geared to kids _ from preschoolers to high school students.

Besides such favorites as 3-2-1 Contact, Reading Rainbow and Shining Time Station, WFYI is offering some new programs. They include:

Barney and Friends, which started in April and is a hit with young children. Barney is a toy dinosaur that comes to life for a group of children. The show features a lot of singing and teaches young people about science, math, reading and writing.

Ghostwriter, which started in October and is geared for Grades 2 through 5. It uses a lot of word games and is designed to build reading and writing skills.

Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? which uses clues and detective work to teach geography. It is aimed at children in Grades 5 through 8.

Square One TV, which is geared for Grades 3 through 6. It uses a magazine format to teach and raise interest in math.

WFYI puts a lot of thought into its programming, Wright said. "We're trying to teach (children) that it's a great big world out there. (We're) trying to help them identify their place in the world and how they can be successful in it.

Positive, negative reactions

"We get a lot of positive reactions," Wright said. "We have a lot of fans and people calling and writing to tell us that they're pleased with what we're doing."

Although there are positive reactions about WFYI's programs, the station does receive complaints and questions.

"I think that some of the complaints or questions that exist about Channel 20 have to do with whether or not we are providing a balance in our news programs, for example. If our programs are issue-oriented (do they) represent both sides of a particular issue?"

Wright does not take his job lightly.

"I think that there's a big responsibility in being a broadcaster," he said. "You have the vehicle and tool to get messages into homes, workplaces and classrooms. I think it's a big responsibility and you have to be very thoughtful and careful about what programs and messages you are presenting to people."