The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

November, 1942 Page 3 53 I For Wider Distribution of Govern- ment War Films to School and Community Groups THE United States Government recognizes the mo- tion picture as an important method of educating and inspiring the American peo])le. The motion picture is an excellent means to portray the History of our Country and the sacrifices made by those who preceded us to establish and preserve "The American Way of Life." The "movie" pictures vividly the sacrifices our boys are making in the present battles. The need for the support from the home front must be emphasized. The importance of scrap metal, the urgency for saving waste fat and grease, the need for intelligence in what to buy to prevent using that which is needed by the armed forces, making plain the necessity for the financial support of the war by taxes and by the purchase of bonds, what to do in an air raid, how to apply first aid to the injured, the opportunities for service in the production line and on the farm, how to operate a drill or lathe in the factorj'^ educating our people for better inter-American relations—these vital lessons are easily taught through the motion picture. There are many motion pictures already produced for this purpose by the Office of War Information and by the Coordinator of Inter-American Aflfairs. These sound motion pictures (some in color) are being made available through many film distribution agencies at a service charge of fifty cents for the first subject and twenty-five cents for each additional subject used the same day. These excellent pictures produced at great expense as a vital part of the Government program are not reaching a large proportion of the people. What can be done about it? Every meeting place in the com- munity should be turned into a War Information News Theatre. Every group should include the show- ing of these films as a regular part of its program. Schools should use these films as a part of the school program and should serve as centers for the use of these films in the community. The films, projectors, screens, and operators are available on a non-profit basis from Boston University School of Education, Division of Teaching Aids. This service is available to homes, schools, and to all other groups who wish to co-operate with the Government in its educational program for Victor)'. ABRAHAM KRASKER Editor's Note —We are glad to print the above communication from Abraham Krasker, describing the service of the Division of Teaching Aids, Boston Uni- versity School of Education, in supplying Government Films, projectors, screens and operators on a non-profit basis—^and earnestly inviting home, school and com- munity groups to avail themselves of the opportunity to serve the national educational eflPort. Dr. Krasker's urgent invitation to the New England territory is typical of others that could be printed from the other educational centers distributing the same films. They are equally eager to serve their own areas. Ob- viously economy dictates that users address the nearest distribution center. Some 46 State educational libraries, and numerous commercial film libraries now distribute the Government's War Information films. On the industrial side of our national war efifort pro- duction is still far ahead of transportation. Solution of that problem is a matter of rail, road, air, and water transport. On the educational side of our national ef- fort. Government film production is still far ahead of circulation to our national citizenry. The solution of that problem rests primarily with the schools. Every school can bring these vital films to its own community. It is merely a matter of making a start—right now!— by writing to your nearest distribution center. N. L. G. Amateur Sound-Slide Films {Concluded from page 347) Sound-slide film pictures, while without anima- tion, can be nevertheless dramatic enough to imply action vividly. The watcher has the restful sensa- tion of looking long enough at a picture to have it thoroughly explained. The record can be stopped at any point to permit supplementary explanations. Also portions can easily be played back or reshown with the minimum of distracting effort. The sim- plicity and inexpensiveness of the equipment for both production and presentation make the tech- nique more available for small schools and clubs than motion picture materials. Color film, which may still be prohibitive in cost for some school use, can easily be employed in this type of presentation. The possibilities for programs are limitless. As yet nothing has been done in the foreign language field. A few travelogues have been made, numerous commercial programs, and recently an excellent series of Kodachrome reproductions of great paint- ings with an accompanying lecture by a famous art lecturer has been released. As a market there are hundreds of women's clubs, Red Cross units, Pan- American clubs, teacher's colleges, Sunday schools, sales forces, citizenship classes, university extension schools, 4-H clubs, etc. that are awaiting enrich- ment programs about travel, how to do things, con- sumer education, foreign cultures, Bible stories, experiences from the field, appreciation of art and music, local history, and first aid demonstrations. For as little as ten to fifteen dollars, to as high as thirty to forty dollars, these programs can be turned out by amateurs or professionals. They can be used dozens of times over and will shortly pay for them- selves outright and give bonuses too. With the increased emphasis upon visual presentations for education and entertainment and with the desire to hold costs to a minimum, many groups can well look to sound-slide films to aid in putting over their ideas to a visual and sound conscious public.