The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 290 The Educational Screen a few illustrations of possible film strips will be out- lined. Our consideration of visual aids in mental hygiene leads us, then, (1) to listing films now avail- able, (2) evaluating them, and (3) suggesting what may be done in the future. Recommended Films The list does not include an)- of the many films, which are designed for vocational guidance. Their factual and informational emphasis reflects a fairly complete ignorance of the primary and fundamental importance of personal adjustment in successful vocational adjustment. Analytical, rather than in- formational films that deal with the normal prob- lems of normal youngsters in personal and social relationships, were sought. Unfortunately, very few suitable ones were found. Though the teaching of mental hygiene in the secondary school is no longer in its infancy, the development of visual aids for this work has hardly begun. Indeed, the few films listed were not planned to focus attention upon the basic problems with which a high school course in mental hygiene deals. However, until such time as better ones are produced, these may be used to advantage. All are 16mm films. Abraham Lincoln —2 reels, silent. (Eastman Kodak Co., Teaching Films Division)—A portrayal of leadership that may be used advantageously in dis- cussing the behavior elements of both leadership and followership. Courtesy Comes to Town —2 reels, sound. (Forum Films)—The value of courtesy in social and busi- ness life is graphically enacted in this film and provides opportunities for analyses in class. Early Social Behavior —1 reel, sound (Erpi Classroom Films)—This film has been used successfully in senior high school classes studying psychology. Responses of infants and young children to novel and social situations make up the content. Honesty Is the Best Policy? —1 reel, silent. ( Harmon Foundation)—Suitable to precede discussion on fairness, honesty, and consideration for others. Not One Word —1 reel, silent (Harmon Foundation) A study of jealousy in which the emotions of fear and anger are shown through action. Opportunity Knocks —1 reel, silent ( Harmon Founda- tion)—A real life situation involving honesty and behavior under conflicting loyalties. The Human Relations Series of Films. This series of forty-one excerpts from Hollywood feature movies produced between 1930 and 1938. is available from Teaching Film Custodians, Inc. Most of this series are more suitable for adult discussion groups, but some excerpts can be used effectively with adolescents. A few of the latter are given here: Alice Adams (Money Sequence)—2 reels, sound— Financial difficulties and family troubles make this film a fruitful source for discussion and under- standing of motivation in behavior. Black Legion —2 reels, sound—Difficulties arise when a factory worker becomes envious because another man is promoted in his place. Captains Courageous (School Sequence)—2 reels, sound—A spoiled boy bribes others to get his own way. He is rejected by his schoolmates. Photograph by Kenneth F. Space Production unit at work on the Harmon Foundation film, "Honesty Is the Best Policy?" Educating Father, yi reel, sound—Evidence of jeal- ousy. Old versus young in a conflict over choice of career. The Good Earth (Famine Sequence)—Ij^ reels, sound —A film showing how the desire for self-preser- vation activated the Chinese in famine. Additional titles, recommended by the Commission on Human Relations of the Progressive Education Association for use in senior high school, are the fol- lowing (figures indicate numbers of separate excerpts from the same movie) -.Arroivsmith, Ceiling Zero (2), Cradle Song, Dead End (2), The Devil Is a Sissy (2), A Family Affair, Four Daughters, Fury (3), Hit and Run Driver, I Am a Fugitive jrom a Chain Gang (3), // / Had a Million, The Informer, La Maternelle, The Last of the Pagans (3) The Life of Emile Zola, Make Make Way for Tomorrow, Men in White, The Road to Life, Rnggles of Red Gap, The Story of Louis Pasteur, (2) White Angel, White Banners "(2), Wild Boys of the Road, and Woman Against Woman. Of these films it may be said that their usefulness in connection with mental hygiene courses is lim- ited by one or more of the following characteris- tics : (1) They deal with abnormal, rather than normal deviations in behavior, (2) They present complex than than simple or elemental behavior situations, (3) Motivation is inadequately devel- oped within the excerpt, (4) The film is blurred and sound recjuires strained attention, (5) They stimulate general discussions rather than analyses of specific elements, and (6) They are more suitable for adult discussion groups. The same limitations also apply to some extent to the annotated excerpts given above. It is unfortunate that a survey of the field provides so meager a list of visual aids for mental hygiene courses. However, the titles given are better than nothing, because they do contain dynamic visual material which, with the guidance of the teacher, can serve to supplement the more abstract descrip- tions in textbooks. Adroitly used, they can provide