The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

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382 The Educational Screen Development and Extension of Visual Education in Michigan Thomas E. Johnson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. THE use of all visual aids except slides and films has for years been taught in all our state institutions of learning. Students there also to a certain extent have been made acquainted with the use of slides and the operation of lanterns, through their frequent use in some classrooms. However, the idea of consciously using all visual aids as tools under increasingly skilful control, to accomplish expert results without waste of time, is only now being adopted. The old attitude is to consider visual aids as conveniences rather than tools — a passive rather than an active attitude. For special purposes, such as health instruction, physical education propaganda, and information as to the resources of the state, we in Michigan have been sending occasional motion picture films out to schools for several years past. One of the men from the Department of Public Instruction, with a portable projector, had to accompany the film. From these experiences and from other observation, several facts became more and more impressive, until it was felt that some action should be taken. Some of these outstanding facts are: The increasing need for the use in schools of films to show pupils the natural appearance of processes and moving objects which can not readily be studied in the original ; The financial impossibility of sending a man and a projector from the offices of the department every time a film for teaching purposes should be shown in a school ; The lack of knowledge among teachers of how to handle films and operate projectors, how to make the best use of films in teaching, and where to secure suitable films. During the first half of 1923 we experimented with serving all these needs, and believe that it can be done — and done profitably, from an educational standpoint — in any well-populated state where local school boards will appropriate funds for slide and film equipment and supplies as freely as for maps, pictures, blackboards and pianos. To stimulate the use of school films, the department purchased a small library of reels related to public school subjects of study. These films have been loaned as requested by schools scattered over the state. During this half year there has been no attempt to establish regular circuits nor to dictate what films should be used or when. Information has been given to all inquirers as to where films and projectors of various kinds can be secured. School leaders all over the state were told of the advantages to be had from the use of motion picture equipment in actual teaching work, and were urged to secure serviceable equipment which can be moved about from room to room or from building to building as needed. Quite a number of schools have responded in this brief time, in addition to those which were already equipped. The list promises to be greatly increased during the coming school year. As has been stated, teachers generally are unfamiliar with the steps necessary to the proper use of films in teaching. Seeking