TV SMARTS

Some broadcast and cable programs contain material included in the public school curriculum and on standardized examinations. Here are some home-viewing tips:

* Today. Life and Times Tonight focuses on “The Future of Our Colleges: Admission Impossible” (KCET, 7:30 p.m.). The impact of affirmative action on admissions, increasing enrollment and rising costs are important issues in higher education and for students who anticipate enrolling in college soon.

* Friday. “Tom Jones” (A&E;, 7 p.m.). In case you missed this three-part series earlier in the week, the first segment runs again tonight, to be continued Saturday and Sunday. This miniseries depiction of Henry Fielding’s classic British picaresque novel differs from the 1963 film version, a winner of several Academy Awards, and offers students an opportunity to compare two treatments of the same great piece of literature. At 10:30 p.m., KCET brings viewers “Frame After Frame: The Images of Herman Leonard.” For students interested in photography, this show provides a window into the life and work of one of the nation’s great photographers. His portrayals of jazz greats of the ‘30s and ‘40s have recently been rediscovered and are in a permanent collection at the Smithsonian.

* Saturday. Ovation offers several one-hour shows on the work of 20th-century giants in the fields of art and literature. Among those featured are Robert Rauschenberg (9 a.m.), Aldous Huxley (10 a.m.), John Steinbeck (11 a.m.) and Gertrude Stein and her friend Alice B. Toklas (2-3:30 p.m.). These segments are worth taping for later use. On the same day, KTLA (11:30 a.m.) is running a special for children on earthquake preparedness. Everyone can use a reminder of strategies for safety and survival in the event of a serious quake. At 1 p.m., KCET will offer “To the Contrary: Smaller Class Sizes,” in which the impact--both benefits and costs--of reducing the ratio of students to teacher in a classroom is explored. Finally, at 9 p.m. the History Channel presents a documentary on the impact of polio and Jonas Salk’s solution to it. Good for students of biology.

* Sunday. “The Day Lincoln Was Shot” (TNT, 8 p.m.). This two-hour film, based on Jim Bishop’s best seller by the same title, is the minute-by-minute account of the event, told from the points of view of both Lincoln and Booth. It depicts the hours leading up to the moment Booth shotLincoln, the assassin’s attempt at escape, and ultimately his death.

--Compiled by Richard Kahlenberg in consultation with Crystal J. Gips, associate dean, College of Education, Cal State Northridge.