I went to public school in California in the 1960s and early 1970s. I remember a lot of time spent watching films and television programs during class. Sometimes the films had relevant educational content, but I realized even at the time that the main purpose was to pacify the children and give the teacher a break.

The worst case I remember was a social studies teacher in junior high school who, during the World Series, turned on the classroom television to the game and had us all watch it with him.