The 1945 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures (1945)

praisal. This usually includes a statement of the grade level and the school subject in which the picture is judged by the panel probably to have its greatest usefulness. The panel's estimate of the film as a whole, or of its educational promise is expressed by such phrases as "highly recommended," "recommended," "should have value or be useful for," or "suggested by panel as having limited value, or some degree of value for . . ." The panel appraisals of these films are, of course, quite subjective and preliminary. The ultimate test of their educational usefulness is in the classroom. The Advisory Committee wishes to emphasize the experimental nature of this work and invites the cooperation of all teachers who use these films. It is hoped that records of the responses of pupils will be kept and that copies will be sent to the office of the trustee. These reports will be used as guides to the selection of additional pictures which are not now available. Schools of education and other research agencies are invited to send in the results of any investigations that they may make on the educational values of these films. Classification of Pictures Animated Cartoons Architecture and Design Art Appreciation Music Literature and Biography Domestic and Trained Animals Wild Animals Birds Insects Marine Life Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy Geology and Meteorology General Science Anthropology and Psychology Economics and Government GeographyAfrica Central America North America South America Asia East Indies Europe Miscellaneous Travel HistoryUnited States European Sociology Crime Does Not Pay Series Religion Major Sports Minor Sports General Sports and Recreation Play Grounds and Entertainmem Health and Hygiene Agriculture Home Economics Industries and Industrial Arts Vocations A cross index of films for elementary grades, films for guidance programs and films for courses in education for democracy is provided in an appendix. Character Education Films Included in this distribution of films for classroom use is the series of pictures prepared by the Commission on Human Relations of the Progressive Education Association. These films show life situations, excerpted from non-current feature pictures and are based on human relation problems of adolescence as indicated by general studies made by the commission. The general studies indicate that American youth passing from childhood through adolescence to adult development is likely to encounter as many as 175 difficult human relation situations. These transitions are required by the culture into which the youth is born. It is an educational responsibility to aid him in making these adaptations. It is an educational opportunity to give him an undersanding of why the adaptations are required. The Commission believes that approximately 100 of these situations can best be approached and understood through the distinctive film discussion method originated by the Committee on Social Values in Motion Pictures under the leadership of Dr. Howard M. LeSourd and further developed by the Commission on Human Relations with the cooperation of the member companies of the MPPDA. Up to the termination of the first contract with the film companies on July 1, 1939, approximately 75 of these situations had been covered by excerpts from non-current feature pictures edited and prepared by the Commission and used in 20 experimental schools. Before the expiration of the contract, the producing companies agreed to extend its terms for a period of two years. This has been further extended. It was agreed also that the Commission be permitted to distribute the film to educational institutions which would agree to use the film discussion technique under the general direction of the Commission. Information regarding the 16 mm. distri bution of films for classroom use, including the distribution of films in the Human Relations Series, may be addressed to Teaching Film Custodians, 25 West 43rd Street, New York 18, N. Y. 750