Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

AV in the Church Field by William S. Hockman Plateau—? Or Downward Slope Across-the-board expenditures for non-theatrical films and audiovisual aids were up in 1960 over 1959. Nine percent is not phenomenal, but it is important. The largest increase was the field of education— up 32 per■ent over 1959. Civic, social welfare »nd recreation groups gained 6.7 per;ent, business and industry up 3.4 jercent, and religious groups down by 2 percent. The authors of this report, John 'lory and Thomas W. Hope, do not ;valuate these facts. They just turn hem up. How do you interpret them? Does this mean that we over-produced a 1960? Does it mean that ec-onomic ealities are catching up with us? lemember the stir in 1957 when we ired some gripes and pointed our lager a bit? Could it be that you on't grow much of a crop of usage n the thin know-how topsoil existing 1 the churches today? Perhaps what •e said last year at Boulder, Colorado, turning out to be true: fewer and 3wer to us know more and more, but lore and more of us know less and !ss. (To the Editor: Please don't (lange it this time. That's just what want to say!) Could we add, in connection with lOW-how, the idea, that fewer and !wer churches (and that means the aders of these churches) are motirted to use audiovisual materials. irst, they don't want to use films and imstrips, and secondly, they don't low how. These are the dividends the do-nothing policy of denomina3nal leadership; the returns on the vestment which was not made. In e AV field we have had some umsy rationalizations by the top ass but little effective leadership. 'e could cite several glowing exccii)ns, of course. Might we ask about the directors id ministers of Christian education? hat have tliey been doing? My own nomination must have hundreds lere it had scores a decade ago. hy have these educational leaders t caused an uppitig of AV usage? How can they meet locally, regionally and nationally and give no program time to such expensive and important and potent materials? Let me give one or two reflections on this. These so-called educators are seldom of the real breed. They don't have the instincts of educators in the first place, and secondly, they got something other than education in their training. What did they get? Doctrine, theology and polished-uj3 vocal chords. What else do you need? Methods and techniques? Such things are beneath them. That's where education went to seed, they say. Too much method; not enough content. Thus a general depreciation of all methodology by those who now lead much of America's church education. Not all, of course. But enough so that our fine A\"s just sit there and are not hitched up to the job of helping to bring religious education about. All sorts of alibis are offered. One comes to mind. This minister of education is out of seminary three years. ^Vhat's he got to say? "I had no courses on A\' in seminary and I don't think the material available is much good. Besides, I've been too busy to bone up on AV and besides this is prett\ expensive for my church." That's a nice cluster of excuses, I'd say! He's a content man, you can see that. Like a greedy bee, so loaded with contont-pollen he can't fly to the hive. His little truck's full and he's driving about, but he can't get the tail-gate open and dump it. He's short on methodology, long on theolog\' and doctrine! Loaded he is, but can't un-load! Can you find a more pathetic sight-an educator without methods and skills in relation to powerful media! Spotlight On Africa There arc many fine films on Africa. Most of these would make good program material in our churches. Even in so-called mission courses they would be useful. They can give background. The\ can present facts. They NEW ECONOMY PRICED R.-2i.r)iJ5.3srT .a.xjtolh;ctr,ic f WAlt CilLING COINICI SECISl ^E,^ra »139so Radiant brings the convenience of electrical operation within the reach of every budget Here is a new screen breakthrough. Tt)e Compact Autolectric features the famous Vyna-Flect® fungus and flame resistant glass beaded surface. Extremely dependable — and so simple to operate — rolls up and down at touch of switch, stops automatically when fully extended or retracted. A complete line of screens for every need The Radiant Une of fine projection screens also includes screens of every type for every need — wall, ceiling and tripod. FREE A-V PROJECTION GUIDE Covers motion picture, silent and sound, slide, slide-film, opaque, overhead projection for all types of users — also covers every phase of projection — proper arrangement of projection facilities, acoustics, equipment, screens. Fully illustrated. Also full information on the complete line Li^\ of Radiant modern projection screens. radTa" MANUFACTURING COMPANY 8220 N. Austin Ave., Morton Grove, III. Gentlemen: Please send me FREE A. V. Projection Guide. Also full information on Radiant Projection Screens. Namr> ES-561 Oreani/afinn Your po.sition Address Citv Zone State >ucATioivAL Screen and Audiovisual Guide— May, 1961 239