Ep 2. Lesson In Citizenship

Father Knows Best is a television show from the 1950s with a total of six seasons and over two hundred episodes. Each episode is an entertaining and heartwarming story designed to explore family dynamics and life lessons in the post-World War II era.

Season 1, Episode 2 of Father Knows Best is titled "Lesson In Citizenship". The episode highlights the importance of being an active citizen and strives to teach its viewers about the responsibilities and obligations of being a part of a community.

The Anderson family is a model family living in a great American neighbourhood. They are patriotic and care about their country. In this episode, the family is preparing for an upcoming election for mayor in their town. As they are setting up a rally for their candidate, they see a newspaper headline that highlights the low voter turnout in the previous mayoral election.

Jim Anderson, the father and head of the household, takes this as an opportunity to emphasise the importance of being an active citizen to his family. He sits down with his children and explains that it is everyone's duty to participate in the election process. He also emphasises that it is the responsibility of the citizens to ensure that their government represents their values and beliefs.

The children are initially uninterested in the lesson, with Betty, the eldest, finding the rally boring. However, the father quickly intervenes and showcases to them the different ways that people can become active citizens. He references how people set up petition drives, support candidates, and write letters to their elected representatives to voice their concerns. Slowly but surely, the children start to engage with the conversation.

The Anderson's housekeeper, Mrs. Davis, takes an even greater interest in the lesson and decides to volunteer at the rally. She uses her cooking skills to make sandwiches for the attendees, and is amazed at the number of people who are willing to participate in the event.

The episode encourages viewers to take on an active role in their community and the election process. It highlights the importance of being knowledgeable of one's government, engaging in the electoral process, and being an informed voter overall.

Jim Anderson is the perfect father figure, showing the importance of being a part of the community and facilitating conversations that encourage his children to engage in civic activities. The show highlights the familial dynamics within a typical American family during the post-World War II era, showcasing the idealistic and patriotic values of society during that time.

In the end, the Anderson family and their community come together to make the rally a success, emphasising the importance of supporting those in positions of power and democracy as a whole.

Overall, Father Knows Best, Season 1 Episode 2, is a heartwarming story about the importance of taking an active role in the democratic process within one's community. It offers great insight for viewers back in the 1950s and serves as an interesting cultural artefact for contemporary viewers who want a glimpse of what life was like in 1950s America.