The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

March, 193 S Proceedings of the Department of Visual Instruction Meeting Page 89 A central purchasing agent, together with the probable re- duced cost of prints, will encourage or promote the estab- lishment of new libraries, both state and local, which will in turn aid in making a\-ailaWe more pictures at lower cost. Any arrangement whereby individual libraries can gain access to new and much needed materials would prove to be one of the greatest ser\ ices that could be rendered to the visual in- struction movement today. I believe that one of the real dangers to a free and un- trammeled education system is the present deluge of the so- called free films upon our schools. Industry- and other selfish interests are now flooding our schools with advertising and propaganda films of subversive nature. .And I am sorry to have to say that many of our school leaders do not seem adverse to imposing these materials upon their defenseless pupils. Within recent weeks I have heard several men boast that their school film programs are costing their schools no financial outlay. One of the most effective means of combat- ing this practice will probably be to make availaWe a much larger range of legitimate films at lower cost—and, of course, at the same time we should attempt to bolster the morale of some of our faltering school administrators. A survey of the educational pictures now available indi- cates an almost total lack in certain fields. Considerable ma- terials are available in the various sciences, in health, in geo- graphy, in the industries, in conserx ation. etc. However, in the social sciences, in history, and in literature, for example, there is practically nothing. It is to be expected when pro- duction and distribution is left strictly to commercial in- terests that production will be limited to those fields in which production costs are lowest and in which there is likely to be the greatest demand, regardless of where the actual need may be greatest. A national organization could through its study of the educational needs and through its contect with the various educational groups make known the film needs to the producers, and at the same time assure them of a market for sixrh productions. Such a national association of film libraries, of course, should have sufficient influence and prestige behind it to see that such production would be car- ried out. Even though many of the films not a%-ailable now, and this is also true of many films already available, may be tnade available to us. it is an inescapable fact that practically all of these films will not be suitable for teaching purposes without revision. It is impracticable for individual libraries to do this. This could be handled satisfactorily only through a na- tional educational organization, with the aid of panels or com- mittees of teachers in the \-arious fields. Fortunately most of the teaching films now available to schools have been pro- duced by such producers as Eastman and Erpi with their staffs of experieiKed educators. These companies have done an excellent job. It would seem though that the educational profession ought to take a hand in determining the types of films and their contents which are used in our schools. Any effort along this line should be done at the source, in co- operation with the producers. Little can be dcme on a local basis. In our state of Wisconsin there have been produced dur- ing the past several years, by educational and governmental institutions, a ntmiber of excellent educational films—films which ought to be made a\-ailable to educational institutions in other states. But since these institutions, including our own university, have no marketing facilities, the distribution of these films is limited to their local communities or at the most to distribution within our own state. National distribu- tion and sale would insure some return on the production cost as well as to render a greater educational service through the wider use of such materials. A means of distributing their productions would also encourage increased production by edu- cational institutions. WTiat is true for Wisconsin is true for other educational institutions. Certainly this sort of produc- tion should be given every possible aid and encouragement. Sometimes I w-onder where the whole motion pict>ire move- ment, theatrical, cultural, and strictly educational, is heading us. Are we as educators going to direct and control it, or is it to continue in its present unguided state? I for one am satisfied to allow the artists, the literary folks and other associated interests to attempt to do what they can for the en- tertainment field, because I believe we educators lack the imagination to do anything worthwhile about it, but in our field of education it seems to me that if we wish to maintain our leadership it is time for us to assert such leadership. It would seem that it is about time that steps be taken to give the educational motion picture program a fimdamental social orientation; that the purposes or objectives be defined; that standards be set up and that studies be made to determine the types of films which are best suited for the various purposes. In a word, it would seem that educators ought at least to help shape the trends of the educational motion picture movement. To do this an actively functioning national organization is essential. Each year we at Wisconsin receive many dozens of letters from administrators in other states and cities and other uni- versities asking for information and advice to guide them in the organization of visual instruction departments. Btjt ap- parently progress in getting departments organized is slow. Each day we receive requests from schools scattered through- out many states, which do not have film libraries, for the use of our films. And I know that everj- person present here today who has the responsibilitj- of administering a motion picture library has the same experience. In my visual instruction class at our University last summer there were teachers from thirteen different states. In only one of these states was there a film library from which the schools could procure films. A national organization which would not only promote but which would actually aid in the formation of film libraries in the various states and in all the larger cities to the end that all schools would have access to educational motion pictures would render a truly great service to education in America. The organization of a national association of non-commercial educational motion picture distributors will be considered at another meeting at this convention and it is hoped that steps may be taken to meet these needs. Having been raised in the cooperative movement in my own state, I believe I realize better than many others the many obstacles and discouragements that have to be overcome in bringing to a successful fruition any cooperative movement. A national educational film asso- ciation of the kind now being proposed can only succeed through the whole-hearted cooperation of the entire educa- tional profession. INFORMATION WANTED on Summer Covirses In Visucd Instruction Ever\- spring the Edlxatioxal Screen- aims to print a complete and nationwide list of these Summer Cotirses— giving subject, place, time, and instructor. We urge our readers to send in data on any course planned for the coming summer which has come to their knowledge. Such reader cooperation has kept this list growing every j-ear. A Postal Will Sugice.