The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

June, 1934 Page 157 Microscopic Organisms Modeled In Glass A fascinating procedure for making "Class Model) of Microscopic Forms of Life" is described by Her- man (). Mueller, a Bavarian glass blower, in the May issue of Educational Focus, published by Bausch and Lomb Optical Co. Working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Mr. Mueller skillfully produces on a greatly enlarged scale, blown glass models of sub-aqueous organisms from drawings made with the aid of the microscope. The body is first blown in the blast lamp from glass tubes of various sizes. All the appendages are then shaped separately and welded into the main body, so that gradually the model takes the correct contour as it appears in the drawing. Internal organs are formed in the same maimer, then inserted into the body. In the case of -nine models, the innermost parts are shaped first and from this point outward the model is built up. They are colored with permanent oil paints to represent their natural colors. Colored glass is sometimes used instead of the paints. The idea of using glass came about when it was ob- served that the common pickled specimens preserved in jars of alcohol, gradually became useless for com- plete study because the color bleached out and the Specimens had a tendency to shrivel up and lose their life-like appearance. The blown glass models will preserve the color and life-like appearance of the original s]iecimen. By this method students can ob- serve the complete structure, even to the most minute internal details. P.T.A. Promotes Non-Theatrical Film Programs < Kit a year ago the National Congress of Parents and Teachers adopted a new Motion Picture Plan which emphasized the use of non-theatrical films for education and entertainment. The Plan calls for a visual education committee in each of the 19,554 local parent-teacher associations. It proposes the study of available motion picture material, motion picture equipment, and the economic and educational advan- tages resulting from the use of motion pictures in schools. The state motion picture chairmen reporting on the progress of the plan indicate that interest is quite uni- versal among parents. The reports show a decided gain in results in states where local and district chairmen have been secured. Mrs. Catheryne Cooke Gilman in her department "Facts About Motion Pictures" in Child II' el fare for April, summarizes some of the ac- tivities of the associations. State chairmen in eleven of the states reporting have made considerable progress with the use of entertain- ment films from non-theatrical sources in community auditoriums. The Illinois Motion Picture chairman, Mrs. Chester H. Greene, reports that a local motion picture chairman of Harvey, Illinois, gives motion pic- tures every Friday evening, except when other school benefits are being given. The average attendance is 600 and a charge of five and ten cents has almost paid for a projector and daylight screen. In addition to the entertainment value, the projector is used in class- rooms and auditoriums for teaching equipment. Another local chairman, Mrs. George S. Galloway, of Homewood, Illinois, reports that a children's movie program is being given in their school auditorium once a month. The admission is ten cents, and there is an average attendance at the children's movies of about 400. Mrs. Robert Denton, Motion Picture chairman of the New Jersey Congress, reports 67 associations hav- ing successful weekly programs. "Little Women" Selected for Rome Congress The American feature selected for exhibition at the International Educational Convention in Rome, Italy, in April was the RKO Radio picture Little Women, which is regarded as the most representative of the educational value of theatrical motion pictures pro- duced in this country during the last year. In con- junction with the showing of Little Women, there was distribution of and comment concerning the study guide on this subject which was prepared by the Na- tional Council of the Teachers of English, for the use of 23,000 heads of high school English departments throughout the United States. The delegates attending this convention comprised leading educators and officials interested in education from sixty nations. The Venice Cinematographic Exhibition The artistic as well as the motion picture worlds are waiting keenly for the Second National Exhibition of Cinematographic Art to be held in Venice in August. The Committee of the Exhibition has decided to organize an exhibition of shorts which will be shown in a special hall contemporaneously with the main Exhibition of the Biennale. To this effect, the neces- sary contacts have already been established with the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers of London, and with similar American organizations. The Cine Club of Venice will cooperate with the Committee so