Motion pictures for instruction (1926)

xiv EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION scientific use of this instrument of learning in their school system. It was inevitable, however, on account of the mushroom-like rapidity with which this new industry has developed, that the problem of selecting and securing suitable films became serious. Many films advertised as educational, upon examinations seemed to be utterly unsuited in every way to use in public schools. Not infrequently superintendents have become discouraged after spending, to them, rather large sums of money by finding that much of this expenditure had been wasted. On the other hand, during this same period, on account of a steadily increasing seriousness on the part of many moving picture producers, there has been a steady accumulation of films of genuine educational merit which when properly analyzed may be utilized in public school systems to the finest advantage. The question as to the practicability of seriously incorporating the motion picture into formal educational work became sufficiently important to justify the granting by the educational committee of the Commonwealth Fund of a sum of money to be used for the purpose of making a scientific study of educational motion pictures. The results of this study, while tending to overthrow some of the claims made by the more enthusiastic advocates of the moving picture in education, confirmed a growing conviction of editors that, properly used, many films could constitute a most invaluable supplement to other more conventional types of learning. The realization that an immense body of suitable visual educational material was available with