Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

The Great Debate by Elmer H. Wagner J. ODAY, through the miracle of short wave radio, it is possible for you and your students to have a real "in" on world news developments. Programs in English and many other languages can be heard as they originate in distant capitals throughout the world. Perhaps the greatest debate the world has ever known is going on constantly between the Voice of America and Radio Moscow. They represent two of the world's greatest powers and use every known skill to influence the minds of men. Each nation uses radio transmitters of tremendous power, located in strategic spots, to beam their messages to other areas of the world— in their own languages. The cleverest propagandists and most convincing announcers attempt to "sell" their nation's ideas in the biggest, most expensive sales campaign in the history of the world. In many countries these programs are anxiously anticipated and they are frequently the only source of outside news. In some areas strictly enforced laws forbid the citizens even to listen to news from the free world. In Amrica, most of us read the daily paper or tune in on a local radio or TV news report. Few of us have ever bothered to listen in on the "great debate." We have the complacent attitude of "We're right, and we know it." We are, but we wouldn't think of trying to teach any other controversial issue by presenting only one side of the matter. Surely none of us believe that Democracy would suffer in a side-by-side comparison vdth the "isms" of the world. Our students need to be made aware of the constant attempt to undermine our government and its reputation. Firsthand knowledge of the opponent's unscrupulous attacks and misrepresentations teach the desired lesson better than the "edited" articles of the daily news. Many times a distortion of facts will seem funny to us, but what will the effect be in some other part of the world? Does slavery really exist in the United States? Radio Moscow told the world that we slipped and accidentally admitted it a few years ago when our headlines admitted "Cardinals Sell Schoendienst." Would anyone believe a story like that? Unfortu nately some people do— because they want to. Other jibes against "that capitaHstic country" are sent out to a waiting world in daily broadcasts. It is most interesting to hear how different the story can sound when both sides present their views on issues such as the summit conference, the Cuban revolution, the U-2 Spy Plane incident, Spy Satellites, the election of Kennedy, and happenings in Africa. If your school has a tape recorder and an equipped Radio Club, or just a good short-wave receiver, you already have the basic equipment that can bring these experiences to your classes. The tape recorder is necessary only because broadcasts of interest may not occur during class time, but they can be recorded for playback whenever and as often as needed. Exact schedules and frequencies of broadcasts cannot be listed here because they are changed with the seasonal variance of radio propagation and reception conditions. Schedules are published, however, in some of the monthly short-wave magazines. A few hours of listening will soon show you the variety of programs available. Evening hours are usually best. If you do not have a schedule, try tuning 7, 12, 15 or 22 megacycles. If you lack the necessary reception equipment, try to locate a local "ham," or amateur radio operator. These fellows ( and girls ) take great pride in their hobby and its equipment, and it will be easy to enlist their help. The author of this article became pointedly aware of the possibihty of using all this "free" teaching material when some members of his own high school Radio Club commented that they were able to contribute more to class discussions and had greater interest in world affairs because of things they heard on their short wave receivers. Some of their teachers dubiously questioned whether they were actually able to hear the things that they reported. When they were assured that these programs reallj can be heard, the teachers expressed interest in hear ing them. An offer was made to make available some sample tape recordings to play to their classes. These were enthusiastically accepted and used by severa teachers— with requests for more. (Continued on Page 296) 278 Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — June, 196!