International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

CINEMA AND THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE 185 States, various observations have been made proving the importance of the teaching film. Dr Pritchett believes that out of one hundred words in common use, sixty are unknown to the pupils of culture centres, and Miss Elde Merton assistant superintendent at the Wisconsin elementary schools, has stated that only 50 per cent of teaching is assimilated. According to Mr C. F. Hobard, the only possible remedy for this state of things is the use of means appealing to the senses, especially the cinema. A report issued in August 1932 shows that there were at that date 640 educational films in preparation. The number is certainly larger now since the National Academy of Visual Instruction and the Visual Department of the National Education Association have merged in order to give a fresh impulse to visual teaching and to coordinate for that end the various cine-educational units in the United States. At Barcelona, a course of cinematographic culture has been founded, and an institute will come into existence to carry on such studies. In France and North Africa, the educational cinema depends on regional and departmental bureaux. Many important centres possess film repositories for the use of schools. The Ministry of Public Instruction in Paris, the Ministries of Fine Arts and Agriculture, the Pedagogic Museum, etc., send their pictures gratis to all members of the official teaching corps. In France and Italy, a project is being considered to create a state Cinema Establishment. The prefect Malvy has proposed its formation with capital furnished in part by the State which would also give the site. The superior committee would be composed of representatives of the various ministries. The films required for the repository will be produced by the institution in question. In Italy, the LUCE Institute represents the official organization of the cultural cinema, the technical organizing of state cinematography being under its control. An important position is given to the cinema in teaching in England. In London, in 1932, about 10,000 boys attended special morning projections every week. The Empire Marketing Board distributed 2,000 pictures from its stock to schools in the first three years of its existence. A catalogue has been distributed to the schools containing a list of 130 pictures which will be sent on payment of the carriage only. Messrs. J. Russell Orr and H. W. Samson have between them opened a central Information Bureau for the purpose of centralizing the distribution of teaching films. The bureau possesses a good repertory of pictures, a sub-standard film collection, and a number of works on the cinema, etc. One of the most important film archives is possessed by Sweden, where various associations engage in distributing pictures. The tenth general meeting of the Swiss Institute for the National Scholastic Cinema devoted a good deal of its time to debating the ideal format for school films, deciding eventually for the 16 mm. size. Russia has given a big impulse to the cultural film, and the Sovkino has an establishment in Moscow for producing cultural pictures. The Russian Mejrabpomfilm, the capital for which is furnished almost entirely by the State, has an important teaching film section. Bulgaria has its State Cinema, while in Turkey, Holland, Brazil, etc., great efforts are being made for the development of the motion picture in teaching. It becomes necessary to establish a perfect understanding between the book and the teaching film if we are to obtain satisfactory results. The motion picture must form a regular part of the scholastic curriculum, and lend its aid. It must help to bring about an international accord on the question of curricula for schools. The final test between silent and sound film has not yet been made, but what we must look for in the sound teaching film is reality which is not often found in silent films to which sound has been added. I am, however, of the opinion that the sound and talking picture will make rapid progress in technical training.