Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE 15 Domestic Science Taught With Films Limitations Found as to List of Branches That Permit of Visualization Though Serious Attempt at Making Such a Library Would Be of Great Value By Ruth League Mase (Instructor, Domestic Economy, Hosmcr Hall, St. Louis, Mo.) FvOM time to time discussion has come up regarding the possibilities of teaching domestic economy visually, and, in fact, one eastern moving picture company went so far as to produce a series of short subjects on cooking which were widely circulated before the general public. These films, or that portion of them that came to my personal attention, were not designed to aid the teacher of domestic science, but were simply a series of "hints for housewives" which could be shown within the limit of a few seconds' screen time. They were not satisfactory. For instance, one of them aimed to show the audience how good biscuits might be made. The editor apparently endeavored to hold the exposition down to the barest facts in the case so as not to impinge on the patience of the mixed audience. The result was that the rapid movements on the screen could not possibly remain in the mind of the really interested housewife in the audience until she could get back home to paper and pencil to make notes. Some Branches Are Proper Certain fundamentals of cookery could be easily and effectively illustrated in connection with a lesson or lecture, and I beheve in time this plan will prove to be not only feasible but of The Unizersal Screen Magazine has endeavored to visualize kitchen helps by means of short subjects great value to the teacher. For instance, proper kitchen and pantry arrangement and its advantages would make a good subject for visualization where the actual benefits could be demonstrated. It is extremely difficult to tell in words — without the aid of illustrations — the many points in arranging a model kitchen so that the student may grasp, not only the facts themselves, but the underlying reasons for same, whereas the film would show conclusively and at a glance just what the reasons are. There are other branches which permit of the use of films. The accepted standards of interior decoration could be exhibited effectively on the screen providing color films were practicable, especially since the film offers unlimited opportunities for the study of room lighting and furniture arrangement. There is no question but what a series of films picturing model homes of all types would give the instructor a valuable aid in conducting a class through a course in home building. This could extend to gardening, floriculture and even horticulture. The study of fabrics and how to judge and know them has already been filmed with success, I believe, by Marshall Field and Company of Chicago. At the present time films along the domestic science line should be largely confined to those subjects which do not deal with the mixture of ingredients or the preparation of foods and the execution of recipes. They should display the various grades of flour, sugars, spices and raw materials, showing perhaps their origin and source of supply and giving unmistakable visual guides for the student who would purcliase wisely. There could be an excellent reel or two on pots and pans, their selection, and, perhaps, in a companion reel, their proper uses, looking to economy and efficiency. There could well be a reel showing how to operate the coal range and the gas stove. There is ample material on housecleaning for the moving picture producer who desires to turn out a picture of real value to the domestic science teacher. The point is this : Such films if properly utilized by the individual teacher would result in a great saving of time. Heretofore instittitions have been compelled to maintain costly and inconvenient kitchens for experimental purposes and either the extent of the course must suffer some limitation or a costly and extensive equipment must be at hand so that the text may be supplemented with practical experience. Some Industrials Are Good Films on this subject would eliminate much of this. Properly supervised they would save the teacher's time as well as the student's time and undoubtedly would prove as effective in certain branches of the science as an actual demonstration or personal experiment. There is an opportunity for a picture on plumbing, made by means of the diagrammatical drawings which show at a glance the mechanical features of modern plumbing and piping. And no housewife to-day may consider her education complete unless she has some practical working knowledge of these matters. A number of important industrial concerns who produce household articles have produced pictures which might be of some value to the domestic science class, but for the fact that they are usually superficial and do not go deeply enough into the subject. At that, they are worth exhibition before any class if only for their value in focusing attention on the subject. The chief value of any catalog of films on the subject of home maintenance must lie in the seriousness with which they are prepared. There should be no effort made to show things which obviously do not lend themselves to visualization, so often a fault in the educational film productions that have come to my attention. They would, of themselves, stimulate interest in the subject and would practically assure pupil attention since they permit of action and actual demonstration. And, as demonstration is quite an important element in this branch of education, the film would seem to fill a real need. Bureau of Economics Shows Dental Films to Soldiers in Camps THE United States Bureau of Economics has recently secured twenty prints of a very interesting picture on dental and mouth hy.giene, made under the supervision "of Harry Levey, manager of the Universal Film Company's Industrial Department, which will be shown free to the soldiers in every cantonment in the country. While these first showings are for the education of our fighting men in the matter of a most highly important health measure, the subjects include men, women and children, making the picture available for general exhibition. One of the outstanding novelties is the Dental Automobile Ambulance photographed at Camp Upton, where officers in the dental service of the army are instructed in the use of its many conveniences. According to Captain James Clements, dental surgeon of a prominently mentioned division, this elaborate dental equipment has shown itself absolutely indispensable to the work of the dental corps. Men cannot always be brought to the dentist, so the ambulance is used to bring the dentist and his equipment to them. The portable outfit includes, in addition to the main operating room, two tents, one for an additional operating chair and the other for living quarters for the dental surgeons assigned to the unit. The picture shows many educational features of more than ordinary interest. The X-Ray section, for instance, shows various cases of infected or diseased areas, roots of teeth; how teeth should be filled, etc.