The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

November, 1931 Page 267 A Pennsylvania School Reports on Its Use of Film Over 100 miles of 16mm movie film have passed through one projector in the Aliquippa, Pa., High School in the last two school years, according to Lambert E. Broad, head of the school's science department. While this is not set forth as a school projection record, it is interesting to note that schools are keeping accurate count of their film activities. The Aliquippa High School has only ten reels of film in its own library, but it makes good use of them and is also a generous user of free films. Films are used in the geography, science, industrial history and health classes of the high school. Also during the last two football seasons, slow motion pictures have been taken of some of the early games, and the films have been used to show the players their faults. "The use of these films, in connction with chalk talks, has been a big help to the coach in the development of the players," says Mr. Broad. The Third International Educational Film Congress The Third International Educational Film Conference was recently opened in Vienna under the honorary presidency of the Austrian Minister of Public Instruction and the mayor of Vienna. There were 330 members present, representing 21 diff^erent states, reports the Motion Picture Division of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Following the greetings of the president and of representatives of various countries, Dr. de Feo, President of the International Educational Cinematographic Institute in Rome, outlined the various problems belonging to his institute, especially in technical and pedagogic questions. Among other things, the institute is endeavoring to obtain the abolition of all import duties and taxes on educational films. This question has been submitted to the League of Nations, and it is expected that the latter will call a diplomatic conference to study the ways and means of bringing about this abolition. The institute further plans to release educational film catalogues for international use. The aims and significance of the conference were then outlined by Dr. Walther Gunther (Germany) and Professor Imhoff (Switzerland). The principal aim of the educational film move was stated to be that of aiding school lectures. "Although even in future we would not like to miss the silent film in schools, we are deeply interested in the sound film as an educational factor both for children and adults, since it provides the only possibility of acoustical object lessons," said Dr. Gunther. "The congress also is interested in practical questions," he further stated, "especially insofar as concerns the kind of films and apparatus wanted in schools. It will thus serve as an intermediary between producers and consumers and be able to suggest to educational film manufacturers just which production programs have exploitation chances. It is also a task of the congress to bring about a close connection between science and practical film work, so that new means of scientific research can be found by scientists working in connection with film professionals." The second day of the conference was devoted to the question of narrow film stock. The sizes used as a rule are of 16, 9>4, 17J/2, and 24 millimeters. The majority insisted on an immediate decision concerning the unification of the film size to be used, and this latter motion was carried. It was further decided : (1) To institute sound film informational courses for teachers; (2) To arrange for sound film apparatus to be purchased by schools ; (3) To appeal to the sound film apparatus manufacturers to turn out a good, cheap-priced sound film reproduction apparatus which could be used by schools and educational organizations ; (4) Educational films should be produced in both silent and sound versions ; (5) To intensify the sound educational film propaganda in agricultural circles; (6) AN'ith regard to the education of adults, it was decided to establish a close connection between cultural film stages of various countries. As regards its attitude to the sound film, the following motions were carried by the congress : (1) The technical improvement of sound films should be favored in principle; (2) Their use for educational purposes, especially in its pedagogical aspects, should be sponsored; (3) This does not exclude the development of the silent film which will no more be supplanted by the sound film than it has ever supplanted the use of slides. Each of these three factors has its own significance in the educational domain. At the suggestion of the German delegates, the fourth International Educational F'ilm Congress will take place in Berlin in 1933-34.