The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 26 The Educational Screen r SEND FOR OUR 1 NEW 1943 CATALOG! Free Government War Information Films Free Industrial Subjects in Technicolor More than 250 features and hundreds of short subject* ... 16 n>m Sound SWANK MOTION PICTURES 620 N. Skinker Blvd. St. Louis, Mo: Utilizing the School-Made Film (Concluded from page 13) passedJ As Martin so aptly puts it "When the paying public is correctly informed as to the activities and functions of the local school system, the chances will be greatly reduced that the local tax adjustment board will remonstrate to the supposedly high tax rate in the budget for school purposes."* 7. To Demonstrate The Part Our Schools Are Play- ing In The Fight For Victory. Do the people of your community realize the essential part the schools are playing in the war effort ? Show 'em with a film. Make it a film which carries a punch. Such a film has re- cently been produced by the Illinois Education Asso- ciation, entitled Backing Up The Guns.^ It pictures the fine work of the schools in training workers for war industries, in turning out citizens who are physically fit and mentally awake. It shows how the schools stand as the great bulwarks of democracy by passing on to the generations of youths passing through their portals our great heritage of freedom. This is not the usual soft, wishy-washy series of scenes of boys and girls playing at life, but shows that youth and their schools are doing their part. Students will be glad to be seen in this type of film and their parents will be glad to see them in it. Theatres will gladly accept this film for its audiences (a short 6 minute 35mm version of Backing Up The Guns has been made available for theatrical use) for it is a morale builder of the highest order. 8. To Orient The New Student. One of the most effective uses of the school film Seeing ^tate, showing the activities of the State Teachers College, Paterson, N. J., was in its presentation as a part of the "Freshman Week" program. In fifteen minutes the incoming freshmen gained an idea of the scope of activities open to them and of the spirit of the school in which they were to bedome active participants. Similarly a school made film was used at the Milne School, Albany, N. Y., to acquaint the new seventh graders with their chosen secondary school. 7. Idem, p. 100. 8. Martin, Norval, L., "Interpreting the Public Schools Through Motion Pictures," Educational Screen, May, 1939 P. 152. 9. For a review of Behind the Guns see Educational Screen for October, 1942. P. 308. 9. To Recruit Students. Again on the college level, or for the private school, the school film may be used to present the program of the school to prospective students. The Paterson State Teachers College film, referred to above, was used during guidance weeks in high schools to show the young graduate the advan- tages and facilities which this college offered. 10. To Stimulate Others. The school film may be loaned to other communities to serve as a source of new ideas, for comparison, or to inspire student effort. If a school film attempts to interpret aspects of the en- vironment, other schools may find these films useful teaching material. Denver reports that their school- made films are used by many schools outside of Denver because "they are the only available films covering these aspects of community life, organized in terms of a community."'" 11. At Educational Conferences. Good school films may be used at educational conferences to illustrate reports of school work or to serve as discussion ma- terial for phases of school philosophy. 12. In College Educational Classes. The instructors in education at teachers colleges and normal schools welcome school films as documentary evidence of the principles and theories which are discussed in their classes. The Milne High School film, referred to above, is used each year in the general education classes at the New York State College for Teachers, Albany, N. Y. 13. For Curriculum Study. The curriculum com- mittee in the local school system or in other schools may profitably examine school films for evidence of curriculum building principles. 14. E.vtra-Curricnlar Activities Committee Study. The extra-curricular activities committee may well examine the school newsreel for aid in evaluating its program. 15. In The Speech Department. The school-made sound film may be used by the speech department as first-class material for comment and criticism of local speech habits. Silent films may be utilized by having students write and deliver the film commentary. 16. English Classes. The English classes may use the films as the source for theme material, and for the study of the film as a form of composition. 17. Social Studies Classes. The film may be shown several times during the school year in assemblies or in individual classes as a means of acquainting the students with the services available in their own school, the people who serve the school, and to introduce discus- sion on home, community, and school relations. 18. The Film As a Form of Art. Art classes may use the film to study composition. The photography club may learn a great deal by critically examining the scenes in the school film for focus, angles, and the like. 19. As Historical Documents. Finally, the films which were made last year and the year before that are still valuable as historical documents. Scenes from these films may be used in making an historical short. This film should show not only the improvement in educational method, but also improvement in school motion picture techniques. 10. Brooker and Herrington, Op. Cit. P. 17.