Business screen magazine (1967)

American Oil Company's driver education film program Ict.s teachers show iini)ortant aspects of car operutioii and safe driving habits that can't be horned through verbal discussion in the high school classroom. American Oil Films Encourage Dri\ er Safetv; Build Company's Image Among Teen-Agers 'W/'hen Dad Was a Teenager " learning to drive, his car had about 60 horsepower and was one of 30 million motor vehicles on the nation's streets and highways. Today, his teenage son or daughter learns to drive a car with three to five times more horsepower on highways carrying more than 82 million motor vehicles. Consequently, training competent drivers now is both more important and more complex than when Dad first lurched along a secluded country lane in the family car years ago, while his father shouted instruction and, perhaps, epithets. Eight Single-Concept Films For this reason, American Oil Company, the nationwide marketing subsidiary of Standard Oil Company ( Indiana ) , is helping young people to become assured, safe drivers through the use of eight, 8mm, single-concept, blackand-white driver education films which visualize special road situa tions otherwise impossible to represent adequately in the classroom. American Oil is one of the first, if not the only, company to work with schools in this Smm, singleconcept medium. The chief goal of the film program is to assist high school drivereducation instructors to graduate safe, competent drivers. But, of course, the project also serves to introduce young motorists and potential future customers to American Oil. Teenagers, in fact, constitute one of the fastest growing portions of the population and represent the company's future business. Inaugurated in 1964, the film project follows a tradition of youth programs supported over the years as an aspect of American Oil's corporate citizenship. For example, the company and The American Oil Foundation, for many years has sponsored the 4H Tractor Program in 40 states. American Oil Foundation also contributes to the Chief goal of American's driver education film program is to help high school driver education teachers to develop safe, competent drivers. But the widely-used series is also inirnd\ii iiej, imti nlial euslonurs tt> cmnpantj. Future Farmers of America foundation. Pro\ided Booklets and Posters The company, in the early Sixties prepared four booklets telling the story of the petroleum industry in terms of research, marketing, transportation and exploration. Each of these booklets was mailed to more than 17,000 high schools in the country with an offer to make them available in quantity free of charge for classroom use. The response was very good. A poster program was also established in which, each month Driver education students at the Xaperville, 111. Communitij High School were among the first to use American OiFs Smm film program. during the school year, a poster covering a science topic in petroleum is mailed to each high school. In addition to highlighting science, these posters help to build the image of the teacher and promote interest in the petroleum industry from a job standpoint. However, in the past, most corporate youth activities had been generally concentrated in rural areas. There was a need to level out this activity so as to incorporate more teenagers in urban-suburban environments. In the search for a common denominator through which to contact teenagers, only one appeared; the high school. Meanwhile, at various nationwide meetings American Oil dealers suggested that a program be developed to promote safe driving among today's youth. Form An .\d\isory Committee As a result, the National Education Association's National Commission on Safety Education was approached and, with American Oil support, a special committee of professionals in driver education, traffic safely, and audio-visual instruction was formed. This committee developed the concept of a driver education film program to counteract the inade by R. L. Ultley, Supervisor Youth & Educational Activities American Oil Company quacy of words, charts and still pictures to portray road situations realistically — a problem further complicated by the limited experience of the beginning driver. Series Produced bv Parthenon The committee working with the National Commission on Safety Education and Parthenon Pictures, a leading Hollywood production company, produced the eight films. The films do not bring a moving car into the classroom. But they do the next best thing by realistically simulating special driving situations — at a cost so low any school can afford one or more sets. Titled Schooled in Safety, the motion pictures are designed as a special supplement to the national driver education program. Each of the eight films is 4' 2 minutes long. They allow teachers to show, on screen, important aspects of driving that could not be practicably demonstrated in class discussion or on the road. Cover These Essential Topics Topics discussed include how to cope with highway emergencies, how to drive on urban superhighways, how the brakes and ""power train" of a car work, what physical forces and laws are involved in operating a car, and the limits ot lights in night driving. The film program includes a guide book to assist the teacher and a special booklet on safe driving for students, called "Tips from Pro Drivers." The films tie in directly with existing driver education textbooks (CONCLUDED OS PAGE 201 I 'Schooled in Safetv" program ineludes eight Smm, singlc-concei>t films (each AH min.), plus the teacher's guide and a booklet ft students on "Tips from Pro Drii ers." Series is available in both n • a>\d cartridge format and is also »• leased in IBnvti sound film formal. BUSINESS SCREEN • 1967