The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

lITERATUREm ■A A/U*dU^ "hi^ \k AW; ISVAI INSTMCTION Mrs. EHA SCHNEIDER RESS, Ed.D.. Editor PERIODICALS • High Points— Vol 30, no. 8. October, 1948. Board of Education, 110 Livingston St., Brooklyn, N. Y. This issue has several excellent articles in the field of audio-visual aids. "Films and Attitudes", by Dina M. Bleich, relates a school-wide program of films based on a social studies theme, which helped to build desirable attitudes among pupils in an under-privileged area. A committee of teachers served as discussion leaders, helping to select films and to preview. Basic questions for discussion were formulated for each film and placed on slides to be used before and after the showing. The technique of discussion was left to the leader. The second article recommended is "The Marshall Plan — Audio-Visual Aids", by Esther L. Berg, enumerating some of the films available from European producers which illustrate the problems which make necessary American aid. A third article is "Making a School Documentary", by Harold Edell, Morris High School. This film had as its purpose to show how high school students of mixed racial background live and learn together in harmony. It was filmed by a teacher, in color, during and after school hours and subsequently edited to make a unified presentation which takes 30 minutes. Another article, by a librarian, describes how a record library is loaned for home or class listening: "12 Inches — 78 R.P.M.", by Irma Schweikart. Finally, for recommended reading, there is "A Year of Assembly Programs at the Chelsea Vocational High School", by Mary A. Natkin. UTILIZATION • City Study in the Upper Elementary Grades^Adelaide Blouch, Hayes School, Lakevvood, Ohio. "Journal of Geography", 47:306. Nov. 1948. An interesting description of a technique which these elementary classes have learned for understanding how cities look and grow. This school is in a suburban community of Cleveland, and the first city to be studied is Cleveland; later other cities are studied in the same way. A variety of visual devices are brought in: simple diagrams, community maps, air photographs, excursions, color slides. The class is arranged in groups, or committees, for finding out information or assembling materials. The author summarizes with 12 significant outcomes from this method of study. • Postage Stamps as Visual Aid Material in the Teaching of Geography — James K. Anthony, Tennessee A. and I. State College, Nashville, Tenn. "Journal of Geography", 47:325. Nov. 1948. Here is a report on the postage stamps since 1912 which could be used as documentary information on American life and important events: a series on the national parks, the territorial series, commemorative stamps on the opening of the Panama Canal, etc. The author believes that smce stamp collecting is a very popular hobby, students might be stimulated to find visual materials in stamps as part of their own interest in stamps and in geography. Since, admittedly, many of the best stamps are already collector's Items, this would by no means be an inexpensive hobby. As a guide to the subjects available in stamps, there is a catalog published by the U. S. Post Office Department, Washington, D. C, "A Description of U. S. Postage Stamps 1847-1947". • Visual Education in Dickenson Cotmty — James M. Skeen, Supt. of Schools, Dickenson County. "Virginia Journal of Education", 41 :no.2. p. 12. A mobile projection service made available to the schools in the outlying mountain districts where there is no electricity has brought "a new world to the mountains, and some children for the first time have seen a movie." Adults have access to the projector, for education and for entertainment. Half the schools in this country have electricity, so that sound projectors and silent projectors are available in the buildings. A film library, a collection of slides and filmstrips, teachers that have had special training, and an administrative ruling that all visual materials be used with careful preparation and follow-up are some of the highlights of this article. ADMINISTRATION • AudioVisual Aids to Teaching — St. Louis County Teachers Assn., 7220 Waterman Ave., St. Louis S, Mo. A strikingly attractive brochure to catch the eye and the mind of the teachers in this particular county. The visual aids department has been created on a cooperative basis by 20 school systems and 4 rural schools, each school paying a minimum of $150 per year, but averaging 75c per pupil. In the Foreword the philosophy of the Visual Education Committee is expressed as follows: "There is no such thing as a 'visual education program'. There is only an educational program." • Training Pupils for Participation — Rita Hochhimer. "Nation's Schools", 42:54. Oct. 1948. How some elementary schools of N. Y. City make use of selected pupils from the upper grades to assist in projection, especially for kindergarten and lower grades. EQUIPMENT • A Brief Survey of Currently Available 16mm Sound Motion-Picture Projectors — Karl A. Barleben. AudioVisual Guide, Sept. 1948. pp. 15-28. A comprehensive review of the various models of sound projectors, by the major producers and some less well-known ones. Includes illustrations, construction details and prices. SOURCES • Partial List of 16mm Film Libraries — U. S. Office of Education, Washington, D. C. 28 pp. • Close-Ups — Young American Films, 18 East 41st St., N. Y. 17. Vol. 1, no. 1. Sept. 1948. A news letter for dealers and administrators of film libraries. January, 1949 23