The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

May, 1941 Page 203 The Use of Visual Materials in El- ementary Science—Mary B. Steel, Texas — Science liducation, 25:144-8 Mar. 1941. The various types of visual aids, in- cluding the school journey, museum ma- terials, pictorial materials and the like, are mentioned with special application to the field of science. For example, school journeys would be made to the local ice plant, the telegraph office, the Weather Bureau station, the furnace room, etc. Museum materials would in- clude specimens of animals, leaves, ■ nlants ; models of houses, trains, airplanes. The use of visual materials in elemen- ,ry science classes creates interest, owever, much depends on the teacher id the presentation of materials. .SCHOOL JOURNEY j'ield Trips Develop Community Interest —Lawrence R. Winchell. Vineland, X. ].—Education. 61 -.2,77 Feb. 1941 xcursions Need Direction—Charles Uger, P. S. S, N. Y. C—School Ex- ecutive, 60:32 Mar. 1941. The first article of a series. Describes w the curriculum bureau may suggest rips to various places in the community that bear upon the school program. A ery helpful guide to curriculum makers. SOURCES OF INFORMATION I ^^■Ims on War and American Policy— ^^B Blake Cochran—American Council on ^^H Education, Motion Pictures in Educa- ^H (10(1 Scries, vol. IV, No. 4 1940 63pp. ^B 50c. ^^K This compilation of evaluated films on a crucial modern problem was formerly distributed in mimeographed form. The first section of the book reviews the factual information dealing with the cur- rent war and its origin. Woven through the context are references to specific films. The major portion of the book, however, is the critical analysis of each of the films mentioned. This volume is a vital aid to high school teachers of social .studies. Sources of Inexpensive Teaching Aids— compiled by William G. Hart— The Ne2i-s Letter, Feb., Vol. VI, No. S. An annotated bibliography that should tie on every teachers desk. Forty-odd publications on .sources ot teaching aids are listed, with briet description ol the contents ot each. 1 he collection will give teachers a good idea ol the mass ot material available to them at low cost. Visual and Teaching Aids in the Realm of Biology—Visual Aids Service, New Jersey .State i'eachers College, Mont- clair. 1-red VVolt, Malcolm Cairns and Margaret Shank, compilers. Edited by Margaret C Cook. .Assistant Li- brarian. 1941. 21 pp mimeo. 50c A wealth ot supplementary aids with sources tor the teaching ot Oeneral Sci- ence and High School and Junior College Kiology—charts, exhibits, hlnis, pictures, slides, and publications—a large amount of which is tree or inexpensive. 1 he material is classihed, hrst, into three large groups—Biology, Botany and /Zo- ology—then turther under specihc sub- ject-headings in each ot these groups. .•\n Index provides quick reference. BOOK REVIEWS American History on Parade—Edward J. Casey, Instructor in Social Studies, Farlin School, hverett, Mass. Key- stone View Company, Meadville, Pa., 1940, ix and 90 p. $1.25. This book presents over 300 cartoons setting forth outstanding developments in .American History, together with an explanation of the theory and practice in using them. Included also is a list of possible subjects tor original car- toons. 1 he cartoons in the book are used tor direct teaching and to this end are especially designed tor tracing on handmade slide materials. The book also provides a basis from which the pupils are encouraged to de- velop their own cartoons, the be.st ot which should be rewarded with posi- tive academic credit and projection on the screen. The point is not expression of artistic ability but the clear presen- tation ot an important idea. J he com- pelling attraction ot this new system is so great that pupils willingly do supple- mentary reading to gain a background for their own original cartoons. In searching tor a background tor cartoon- ing their chosen themes, they learn to read with a dehnite purpose and plan. America At the Movies—Margaret Farrand Thorp — Yale Universitv Press. New Haven, Conn. 1939 313p $2.75 This book has now reached its second printing. It is most heartening to the future of photoplay appreciation and to the future of better films that Mrs. Thorp's book was well received. The best piece of literature in the world is worthless if it has no readers. If there are 85 million paid admissions repre- senting about 40 million movie-goers, there ought to be that many readers for this book. It is apparent that Mrs. Thorp regards the motion picture industry as a social force and not as a glamour factory for feeding es-ape to worried or inhibited people. Her perspective is that of the enlightened movie-goer who wants to get more for her movie money. We are shown how our choice of films, for ex- ample, depends very slightly on our own independent standards but rather on the publicity campaigns waged by the producers. The chapter on "The Vampire .'\rt" is very provocative because it reveals the constructive contribution of the motion picture in the fields of literature, paint- ing, music and related arts. "The movies are furnishing the nation with a common body of knowledge. What the classics once were in that respect. what the Bible once was, the cinema has become for the average man. Here are stones, names, phrases, points of view '.vhich are common national property . . . The movies span geographic frontiers; they give the old something to talk about with the young; they crumble the bar- riers between people of different educa- tions and different economic backgrounds . . . there is no question of the richness and pervasiveness of the common knowl- edge and there is no reason why its quality should not improve with age." The book gives the "inside story" of glamour at the movies, describes the influence of Hollywood films on fashions throughout the world, gives the details of the production and distribution prob- lems of the industry and describes efforts of various religious and lay groups to improve movie themes. The final chapter is very timely and refers to an unending problem, "The Lure of Propaganda." It is the aspect of motion pictures most worth pondering. Thus we are stimulated to further activity and challenged to ex- amine points of view depicted in "harm- less films for entertainment." The Use of Visual Aids in Teaching, by Ella Callista Clark. State Teachers College, Winona, Minn. 24 pages, 25 cents. Inasmuch as the above booklet is now available from the Edu- cational ScRHKN, we reprint our review which appeared in a previ- ous issue: A concise and highly inform- ative little pamphlet, ably written and attractively printed, that packs in small compass a deal of scholarly discussion and helpful directions for the sound use of visual materials. Aher a compact introduction of a page or two on visual aids, what they are. why use them, and how not to use them, the author discusses in detail the Excursion, the Still Picture, the Stereograph, the Lantern Slide, the Film Slide, and the Motion Picture. The booklet is rich in suggestions for a wider range of uses for familiar materials and equipment, every page giving hints for procedures that will be novel to many who liave long used visual aids. There is no theoretical utter- ance here, no wasted words, no padding. It is sane, direct, stimu- lating. It has all evolved from Miss Clark's ripe experience in the classroom, in preparing teach- ers in visual instruction, and in serving as a leading influence in tlic notable developments and ex- panding interest in visual instruc- tion becoming so apparent in the Minnesota area. Local demands for this pamphlet required re- printing soon after its first ap- pearance, but its value will be the same for teachers anywhere who are interested in improving their use of visual materials. N. L. G.