Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

October, 1 945 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE 27 Virginia Appropriates $1,112,000 For Visual Education Reported by J*M Stackhouse of NAVED The Virginia legislature has appropriated $1,112,000.00 for visual aids in the public schools. The appropriation became available July 1, 1945, and the money is allocated to each school division in the state on the basis of $2 per pupil enrolled for the preceding year. The story behind this huge appropriation involves two surveys of Virginia’s public school system, plus the intense interest of Governor Colgate Darden in improving public education in the state. About three years ago, the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, employed research specialists to make a survey of the public school system. This survey revealed that Virginia was near the bottom in its financial support of public education, particularly in reference to Virginia’s ability to pay. The survey also revealed that Virginia’s highschool graduates, taking standard achievement tests, fell much below the median scores for the country. The deficiencies revealed by the survey of the State Chamber of Commerce aroused business men. Newspapers demanded that something be done to improve the situation. This led to another survey, authorized and paid for by the state legislature. This second survey was headed by former Chancellor Denny of the University of Alabama. Dr. Denny’s committee submitted to the legislature recommendations covering a 10-year program of increased financial support. The recent appropriation of over a million dollars for visual aids is only one of the progressive and aggressive steps taken by the last legislature to improve public education. The legislature also appropriated $4,000,000 to increase teachers’ salaries during the next 12 months. In spite of the two surveys, it is doubtful whether any large appropriation for visual aids would have resulted in Virginia had it not been for the personal interest of Governor Darden in public education, and particularly in visual education. The Governor recently told a group of school superintendents that his belief in the great value of motion pictures as instructional tools was brought about mainly by experiences in one of his own business connections, where training films were used to train mechanics to do their work more efficiently, and in far less time than under previous training methods. He also referred to the experiences of the armed services with visual materials, and stated that the schools could not afford to neglect these powerful aids to instruction. The act which appropriated this money is so written that the Governor and the State Department of Education will jointly decide how the money is to be spent. The Governor has frequently referred in public to the 2,000 school buildings in Virginia not equipped with electric current, and is trying to put electric cur rent in every building in the state. Apparently, he also intends to equip every school in the state with a projector. Aside from the projectors, films, maps, slides, and other visual materials which will be purchased, the State Department of Education is not neglecting the training of teachers in how to use these materials. The professional staff of the state department is being expanded. Courses in audio-visual education are now in operation in the various state teachers’ colleges. The eyes of the nation will watch the expanding visual program in Virginia with keen interest. (Reprinted from "NAVED News") Free Projection Service in Northern New England A. H. Rice and Co., Hollis, N. H., supplies free projection service for 16mm films, covering Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The organization also sells audio-visual equipment to schools and colleges. Indiana Film Service Write to Dennis Film Bureau, Inc., 29 East Maple St., Wabash, Indiana, for a copy of the Bureau’s new school catalog. This lists titles and prices of hundreds of the newest short films in 16mm, as well as new 16mm features, such as Siviss Family Rohinsoyi, Tom Broivn’s School Days, Little Men, The Duke of West Point, Jacare, and Courageous Mr. Penn.