The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

January, 19}} Page 19 AMONG THE MAGAZINES AND BOOKS CONDUCTED BY MARION F. LANPHIER Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engi- neers (November) "Standards and Ktnjuirenients of Projection for Visual Education," by Chauncey L. Greene, discusses an important phase of visual edu- cation, and one that is too often neglected. Much attention has been paid to choice of material, plan- ning of sequences, photography, and editing of the finished product, but not enough to the projection of the finished product. This neglect often results in eye-strain, which may induce drowsiness or otherwise retard the mental processes so that much of the ad- vantage of the visual method of presentation may be nullified. The conditions for good projection are the same for educational as for theatrical projection: such as, proi)er choice of screen, proper illumination of screen and room, proper contrast in the brightness of all objects within the field of view, clear definition of the screen image, absence of graininess, and steadiness of the screen image. But, in most cases, the classroom imposes in addition the following handicaps: short viewing distance, unfavorable viewing angles, imfav- orable equipment locations, improper illumination due to location of lighting units and the curtaining of windows. The writer analyzes these problems and offers some suggestions for their solution. As the average classroom is unsuitable for fulfilling the requirements for good projection, the author urges the designing and constructing of special rooms for this purpose which could be made optically and acous- tically perfect. A Correction The October issue carried what we understood to be an accurate report of an interview with Dr. Samuel Renshaw of the Department of Psychology of The Ohio State University. We are glad to present here Dr. Renshaw's own corrections regarding same. "The major statement attributed to me concerning our own investigation that my 'work was not complete and the article published in McCall's is full of half- truths which are very misleading' was never made, to this man or to any other person. Contrary to his assertion, the references to our work made by Mr. Forman in the September McCall's are correct. They were read by me before publication. Will you kindly print in the section 'Among the Magazines and Books' of an early number of your journal this correction of Mr. Aughinbaugh's statements which create an en- tirely erroneous and misleading impression of my position ?" Catholic School Interests (December) Mr. Wil- liam H. Johnson, Loyola University, Chicago, con- cludes his discussion of "The Place of Visual Edu- cation in the Elementary School," the first instal- ment of which appeared in the previous issue, with a consideration of the lantern slide which, he states, "is probably the most valuable of the various visual aids," motion pictures, maps, globes, charts and graphs, giving the principles governing the use of each and the purposes which they serve. He feels that the chart and graph, while extensively used in the business and industrial world, are too little studied and used in the classroom. The rest of the article presents some concrete illustrations of how the lantern is used in first grade teaching and in fifth grade geography, and how the stereograph is used in history or geography. The High School Teacher (November) In "The Effective Use of Visual Aids in Science Instruc- tion," Mr. L. Paul Miller, Director of Science and Visual Education at Central High School, Scrariton, Pennsylvania, emphasizes the importance of pupil- activity in teaching with visual materials. Science especially offers opportunities for creative learning and science teachers have been among the largest users of visual aids. Th article lists the main types of visual material which can be planned and constructed by the pu- pils, and some references to consult for helpful directions. In addition, publications containing sources of ready-made visual aids are named. Sierra Educational News (October) The visual field is well represented in this issue by two writers, Anna V. Dorris of San Francisco State Teachers College, a pioneer in the field, and Helen Eloise Hicks of San Diego. In her article, "World Unity Through the Motion Picture," Miss Dorris recog- nizes the motion picture as one of the greatest educational forces in contemporary life and stresses the need of it to bring about a program of educa- tion for W^orld Peace. She deplores the wrong im- pressions and prejudices that American entertain- ment films form throughout the world, both of Americans and our foreign neighbors, and their tendency to depict the evils in life, the peculiarities and differences of peoples, rather than their like- nesses and the ideals and standards of groups which would tend to inspire and unify peoples of different races and nationalities. She urges educators and motion picture producers to cooperate on a con-