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

motion. Because of the relatively low donsity of these instruments' ionizahle media tlic bubble chamber and photographic emulsion technicjues offer a great number of significant events in a given period of time, and still photographs tracks produced by these techniques are presented. Scintillation counters are the last devices discussed. These differ from the ionization based instruments in that they measure the number of light flashes given off by a phosphor in close contact with a photomultiplier tube that emits electrons which when amplified can be measured using similar meters and counters as used with the Geiger tube. In conclusion the increasing number of roles all these detection instruments are playing is cited and a relatively new instrument, the solid state detector, is briefly described. Appraisal Nuclear Radiation Detectors presents an overview of the basic instruments used in detection and measuring of nuclear radiation with emphasis upon those found in most high .school chemistry and physics laboratories. The excellent visualization of concepts and their organization into a clear, logical pattern makes this film an outstanding teaching resource on either the high school or freshman college level. Among the noteworthy aspects of the film's treatment, two points are significant. First, when discussing alpha, beta, and gamma radiation only those points on which the discussion immediately following depends are included (i.e. the nature of these radiations are indicated just before they are applied to the different causes of ionization and the degree of penetration is explained as an introduction to the need for an open-air alpha particle detector) . Second, the clarity of concept development and high technical quality employed in the animated sequences set this film apart from most other productions in this content area. Omissions from the film's content that might be questioned are the failure to indicate other types of nuclear radiation, the increased sensitivity of the scintillation counter compared to a Geiger counter, and the units used to measure radiation. In addition the film's narration at one j)oint refers to alpha and beta rays while the visual identifies them correctly as alpha and beta particles. In spite of the above weak points the overall value of this film greatly outweighs these weaknesses in presenting science teachers an outstanding visualization of concepts difficult to communicate through other media. -Richard Cilkcy Our Election Day Illusions — The Beat Majority (Carousel F/7ffi.v, 1501 Rroadtvay, Neic York 36, New York) Produced by CBS Television. 54 minutes. Part I: Representation and Gerrymandering—29 minutes. Part II: The Electoral College— 25 minutes, 16mm, sound, black and white, 1961. $135 per part or $250 for both parts. Description Our Election Day Illusions— The Beat Majority explores in depth one of our most cherished values— the belief that the majority decides who shall win an election. Like many other of our values, the concept of majorit\ Ready for the oouiit. "Election Day Ilhisions" — was produced by CBS Television for its "CBS Reports." Available from Carousel Films. rule is not what it appears to be. Belief in, and preference for something, does not insure the desired results even in a democratic society. Edward R. Murrow, the narrator, through the use of interviews and graphic illustrations exposes the fact that a minority can, and often does, control elections. This is most often true on the state level of our political life but it is also possible on the national level as well. In the state of Vermont, apportionment for representation has remained virtually the same for 1.50 years. Burlington, a city of 35,000 inhabitants, has the same number of representatives as the smallest village in the state. Each has one. This means that the rural areas of the state, although containing a minority of the state citizens, control tlic state legislature. It also means that large numbers of city dwellers are not represented in the state legislature. One person interviewed justified this condition by relying on Jefferson's belief that farmer.' are more stable than city people anc are tlicreforc more capable of deciding what is best for our society. Another interviewed stated that we have a republic, not a democrac>', and thai it is justifiable for the minority tc rule, especially when the minority wa; composed of the "better people." The legislature in Iowa is controllet by the representatives of one-third ol the state's population, while the unil system in Georgia limits the count\ in which Atlanta is located to the same number of votes for governor as the most sparsely populated county in the state. In Florida the legislature controls the power to reapportion repre ■sentation. Of course, the represen tatives hesitate to legislate themselve; out of powerful positions. There are many other existing situ ations which result in vast numbers o citizens being unrepresented in thei state governments. In large, this ha resiilted from the failure of state legis latiires to keep pace with the urban ization of our society. This, in turn is somewhat due to the complicate( amendment procedures provided fo by state constitutions. On the national level, the statlegislatmes control the establi.shmen of congressional districts. By utilizin practices such as gerrymandering, th party in power can partially contrc the opposition so that national repre sentatives often represent a powe bloc, and not a majority of the vottT Example^s are .shown of situatioi where some congressmen represei three to ten times as many people ; other congressmen from the sarr state. This means that some votes a; ten times as powerful as other vote The electoral college, again depenc ing upon congressional elistricts for i membership, poses a potential thre to majority opinion in a president! election. If the electors, as they ma in many of our states, vote contra to the popular opinion, a minori candidate can be elected. The me)st serious threat to our b i lief in majority rule is the apathy e hibited by the citizenry. In the If presidential election (I960) 35 miUit adults, who could have done so, fail to vote. This apathy is exhibited evc more in state and local elections. Appraisal In this age of science some of c most serious problems are still sod and political in nature. The concept' (Continued on page 498) 494 Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — September, 19'