FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

{ringing The World In A Classroom ! By: Goverdhandas Aggarwal M. A, ^g. Director: National Educational and Information Films Ltd., Bombay I.) "I realize the importance of ecoimy, but at the same time I feel at education is a matter which nnot brook suspension or even :lay". declared the Hon. Maulana bul Kalam Azad. Minister of Edution to the Government of India, iring his address to the Central dvisory Board of Education at llahabad last month. He annound that in order to make the proamme of basic and social educapn one of immediate interest and ility. it was decided that the ihools will in future be not only jaces of instruction but centres of immunity life which in addition to e usual task will also serve as aces of recreation and sport. The i.elve-point programme given by |e Education Minister contained |e audio-visual aids also and read A number of motor \ans fitted with rojectors and loud speakers are ;ing secured to visit village hhools. Films and magic lanterns iill be shown and recordings of Iks played. It is proposed that pch school will be vi<ited at least pee a week. " It is really a ma'ter great rejoicing that due recojrnion has thus been given to the aims of visual education. The main aim of education is to ain people in a manner to make them good citizens and useful units of society. In order to mould the nation s character we have to make our educational system perfect. The greatest task today is of the educator in whose hands lies the destiny of the country. The right type of education can never keep itself detached from the economic developments and forces at work in the society. The age of individualism has passed and the desire for unity and joint effort has taken its place. The old philosophy of life has changed and the community has grown. The world around us is changing swiftly while we have failed to keep pace with it. We lack ability and talent most necessary to cope with the burden of the present age. the reason being that our training and knowledge are not up to the standard recpiired. Our methods of education have not changed with the times and we still stick to the old obsolete system. A newconcept of education has to be thought out and in doing so employ the most modern means of imparting knowledge. It is only by this method can our children be made competent to serve our country well. New tools and technique for the dissemination of knowledge are required. Audio-visual equipment for edu 'eter Hopkinson of the "March of Time" visited the studios of Famous Pictures during the shooting of "Buri Batten" directed by D. D. Rashysp. Mr. Goverdhandas Afigarwal cation is the only means at our disposal to achieve this object. Visual education is a system of imparting knowledge and instruction through sight and sound. This is not new. Teachers have always felt the need of an equipment capable of illustrating their lessons. The blackboard has served through ages towards this end. recently aided by maps. charts. diagrams. picture cards, models etc.. but all these have not been completely satisfactory. The great progress in the film technique and development of the 16 mm projector opened a new era for the teachers, and now they can bring the big wide outside world inside the small area of the classroom instead of satisfying themselves by taking their students to museums, zoos, and places of historical importance. Films have become a means of living illustration, for thev are capable of illustrating a subject more vividly than any other medium and they show the movements, growth and various developments as they happen. The expert knowledge and experience of any one subject can be made available to different schools simultaneously. Films as audio-visual aids have far wider functions to perform than only instructional. Such films provide that mental and spiritual stimulation which is necessary for accumulating w ider know ledge. WAR TIME EXPERIMENT As far back as 1917 attempts were made to study the problem in England by the National Council of Public Morals but it was onlv in 67