Visual Education (Jan 1923-Dec 1924)

January, 192 3 17 Visual Activities QheMbrld Over Alaska Residents are protesting against the typical Alaska of the films — a region of barren, icy wastes, isolated cabins and rowdy dance-halls. They want the American public to understand that over a large part of the year the Alaskan climate is comparatively mild, that rail and water transportation have improved, that there are nourishing. crops and rich soil, and that churches and schools have replaced bars and dancehalls. California Berkeley. Little patients at the children's clinic of the University of California Medical College, while awaiting their turn for treatment, are learning vital health lessons through the fascinating medium of marionettes. Such characters as the Fresh Air Fairy and the Dragon of Late Hours have star roles, and easily drive home hygienic rules that never could be taught without some such visualization. France Paris. The ministry of public instruction has appropriated 250,000 francs for visual education, 150,000 francs to be used for the purchase of projection apparatus and the remainder for films. Paris. Paris has prohibited the use of inflammable film after January 1, 1925, and it is expected that other departments of France will follow this lead. Importations of nitro-cellulose film will at once be curtailed, it is said, in anticipation of its final prohibition. Illinois Chicago. The Daughters of the American Revolution have invested in a motion-picture machine to be used in furthering Americanization teaching. As the initial step in the building of a patriotic film library, they have purchased a print of the Americanism film, "Hats Off!— A Story of the Flag," and will circulate it widely as an instrument for developing in the youth of today the spirit of our forefathers. Iowa Oelwein. The Sacred Heart School has installed a combined film-and-slide machine in its Parish Hall, and will use motion pictures both for educational purposes and for entertainments. Massachusetts In the recent election the citizenry of Massachusetts defeated the referendum on the censorship law, polling a vote of 350,000 against censorship. The censorship bill in question had been passed by the Legislature in May, 1921, signed by the Governor, and suspended by the petition for referendum, pending the outcome of the fall election. Michigan Ann Arbor. Showing the slow-motion film made of the Ohio-Michigan football game was the means adopted by Coach Yost, University of Michigan, to prepare the Wolverine team for its next big game. As the picture unreeled he pointed out where improvements could have been made and indicated to this man and that the correct method to follow in the future. A "closed audience" witnessed this innovation in athletic coaching, only men closely connected with the team being admitted. Lansing. A course in motion-picture mechanics is being given in each of Michigan's four normal colleges, in order to train teachers in the operation of projectors. This is by way of preparation for plans which the State Department of Education has in mind, calling for the widespread introduction of educational films into Michigan schools. The films are to be purchased outright by the state and rented to high schools. Later, a special series of films picturing Michigan industries and institutions will be manufactured under the supervision of the department and added to its motion-picture library. New Jersey Newark. At a recent meeting of the Newark Public School Visual Education Club its president, A. G. Balcom, stressed the absolute need of portable projectors, for use in the individual classrooms, in order to make a real success of visual education. "In the auditorium it is desirable to have the standard machine, but to actually put the message across the picture must be shown in the classroom, where it can be discussed informally. There is a vast difference between showing to a single class of children under the direction of a teacher and showing to an audience of different grades and temperaments." New York New York City. The Visual Instruction Association of America has appointed a committee to devise ways of agitating the question of legislation that will permit the showing of motion pictures in schools under less stringent regulations than those governing theaters. Port Henry. When "Nanook of the North" came to town, all the schools were closed to enable pupils to attend a special matinee. Not only did the village schools take this action, but two large convent schools as well, not to mention several smaller schools outside the jurisdiction of the Village Board. Rochester. The Eastman School of Music has established a special course for the training of motion-picture organists. There is a present and growing demand for a type of organist prepared to use the organ of the motion-picture theater to full advantage. He must be more than a skilled performer; he must be prepared, both by lively music memory and by ready and intelligent improvisation, to follow with his accompaniment the kaleidoscope of scenes and moods. He cannot perform compositions by rote; he must select from appropriate music such material as will be suitable to the needs of the picture; he must in a way become a composer. The. work is really a post-graduate course and is limited to twelve students. Russia The Chamber of Commerce of the Northwestern District is planning to establish a commercial museum in which the motion-picture industry is to be represented. It requests films dealing with American manufacturing methods, and points out the advantages to be gained by this country's business interests through a display abroad of industrial motion pictures in which American methods of manufacture, agriculture, transportation, milling, etc., are demonstrated.