The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

May, 194} Page 175 The War Against War Movies (Concluded from page 163) troubles, under all kinds of pressures from people who'd like to keep the ideas of a responsible Ambassador to Russia locked tightly in the comparatively ineffectual minds of the five per cent of the nation who read books. Despite the fact that Hollywood is full of talented actors and writers who've been burning to tell the world the dangers of fascism, it's been a long, hard struggle to get anti-Fascist movies to the screen. The lid has been kept on tightly by the little minds who are all for democracy and freedom—as long as the script-writers don't get too specific about it. Movies out of Wash- ington have been a leak in their censorship. Over a long period of years the friends of fascism in America have learned well the art of applying the heat to Holly- wood. And their results have been impressive—a huge majority of boy-meets-girl romances and a brave minority of thoughtful movies keyed to the Year of Our Lord, 1943. But the leak in Washington has presented them with a problem. Accustomed to working in comparative secrecy, the little men with the blue pencils now have to button-hole Congressn^n. And the sabotage in the war of ideas has to be achieved in comparative day- light. True, these Congressmen don't have to attack directly. They can merely deny an appropriation for war niovies. Or they can deny funds for so-and-so's salary. But they've given the game away. And thought- ful American people concerned about this war of ideas can follow this play-by-play. I say Vice President W^allace's Price of Victory is a moving challenge to a democratic people, that Western Front is a stirring tribute to our allies in China, that Manpotver, Men and the Sea, Bomber and all the others are essential to civilian morale and essential to the fighting unity which alone can defeat the enemy. I say that drastic rationing, drastic taxation, drastic bond drives, drastic manpower restrictions cannot be achieved unless the American people know what those programs are all about and are convinced that the sys- tems involved are sound. I insist they can get that in- formation best through war movies. There may be some criticisms, yes. There are bound to be a few mistakes. But I urge the experts in the movie field to make their criticism a constructive sug- gestion to the agency involved, rather than grist for the mill of those who would undermine the whole program. President Roosevelt recognized quite clearly that this ■ was a war of ideas when he enunciated the Four Free- doms. Our whole war effort has been keyed to the idea that there is nothing wrong with democracy; our whole peace program to the idea that we must inake democracy work. Someone has said: "Public opinion is everything; with it nothing can fail, without it nothing can succeed." Government war movies must play an increasingly im- portant part in the moulding of that public opinion. Democratic government cannot survive, if "films for victory" become words understood only by the enemy. Department of Visual Instruction A Word to Members The present status of the D V I—despite the endless distractions and dislocations of war time—should be called eminently satisfactory! The recent report of the Auditing Committee shows the Department not only safely solvent but with a 1942-43 membership equalling that of the best years past! The foundation is already laid for a growth next year to surpass all previous records. And that growth can start NOW! Cancellation of the N E .'\ meetings in February and June of this year—and hence of regular concurrent meet- ings of the D V 1—has prevented the normal election of D V I Officers for 1943-44. By emergency action of the Executive Committee, the present national Officers are retained for another year. The Zones may wish to take similar action in their own elections. Certainly those who have held the wheel steadily through the hectic period just past are best prepared to do the steering through the still uncertain period ahead. A letter is on the way to every member, inviting his Renewal Now whatever his expiration date, past or to come. Wholesale response will not only give the D V I a running- start for next year's activities but permit another year's membership at $2.00 before the fee rises to $3.00 (as per action at Denver in June, 1942). Visual education is on the march for war. It will march on, faster and farther, when peace comes. A real future looms ahead for the D V I, if it but keeps pace with the forward march. Membership growth will do it. Nothing else will. We must get some real growing done before the peace comes. Renew the moment you get the letter. Summer Courses in Audio-Visual Instruction {Supplementing April listing) California San Jose College, San Jose June 29-Aug. 7 Workshop in Elem. Education (3 to 9) Visual Aids stressed in curriculum courses Harry T. Jensen Illinois University of Chicago. Chicago July 12-Aug. 21 Auditory and Visual Instruction (2'/4 or S) A. VanderMeer Maryland University of Maryland, College Park July l-.Aug. 14 Visual Education (3 qr.) Henry Brechbill Michigan Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. East Lansing June 21-July 30 Material Aids to Learning (2) Carl W. Dalrymple New York St. Laurence University, Canton June 28-Aug. 6 Workshop in Audio-Visual Aids (4) Harold E. Speight Pennsylvania Hucknell University, Lewisburg June 21-July 30 Visual Education (2) John W. Rice Drexel Institute of Technology. Philadelphia June 28-July 16 Visual Education for Home PLconomics (3 qr.) Prof Ebersole Maryzvood College. Scranton June 26-Aug. 4 Audio-Visual Aids to Teaching (2) ; Motion Picture .Appreciation (1) Sister M. Sylvia Temple University. Philadelphia June 28-Aug. 6 Audio-Visual Education I and II (2 each) Blair E. Daniels Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, June 7-July 16 Visual Education (3) Harry Gardner Washington Seattle Pacific College, Seattle July 19-Aug 19 The Educational Motion Picture (2^4 qr.) J. Wesley Crum University of Washington. Seattle June 16-July 23; July 26-Aug. 27 Auditory and Visual Aids to Teaching (2J4) Alice Hayden