International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

TECHNICAL FILM PROBLEMS 309 NARROW WIDTH MOTION PICTURES By William M. Gregory, Director Educational Museum, Cleveland, Ohio. Motion Pictures in the Classroom. — The narrow gauge 16m film is the best solution for instruction by motion picture in the classroom. If the classroom has a screen and the room can be darkened, it is suitable for using the narrow gauge motion picture equipment. An expensive fire booth, a licensed operator and an expensive projector are not required. The narrow width motion picture is the greatest advancement in visual instruction in recent years. The narrow gauge films are made for instruction in the classroom. If the teacher wishes to give city pupils ideas of country life, the film presents vividly activities of farm life. The cow, the horse, the pig and the other farm animals are shown at home on the farm. They are alive and real to children who get clear concepts. The picture can be repeated several times and the class room for the time becomes a real farm to the pupils. In showing pupils by the motion picture how people live and what they do, geography becomes alive with interest. Rivers, winds, volcanoes, and other physical environments are brought to children in a clear and vivid manner. No reason for geography teaching to be barren of results, careful educational tests have shown the film to be stimulating and worth while. The pictorial story of Daniel Boone is fascinating to the history class. To travel with Columbus, or ride the trail with the pioneer are worthwhile experiences possible with the classroom film. Luther Burbank at work in his garden is an inspiration to practical students of nature. The life of a butterfly from the pupae to the larvae is a story that children can see and understand. The growth of the flower, seed and leaf are all shown on the film in a way that cannot be equalled by text or chart. The film story of bread from the grain to the loaf arouses ideas, questions and problems that call forth effort activity from the pupils. The narrow gauge motion picture can be used as laboratory material in many subjects. The Cost of Narrow Gauge Films. — The low cost of the film makes it possible to organize a film library. The narrow gauge film or 16mm is sold outright to schools for $ 20.00 to $ 35.00 per 400 feet reel. When the school of the country purchase the film text in sufficient quantities, the price per reel will be much lower. In any community, schools can be supplied in the films from a central library in the country or in the nearest large city. A central library of two to three hundred reels is sufficient to supply many schools. Most of the large cities have working libraries from which teachers secure reels of film in the same manner as books are drawn from a library. This circulating library method of handling films renders the cost relatively low. The life of the 1 6mm film with ordinary care is about two hundred showings, or ten cents for each showing up to two hundred. The 16mm film is non-explosive, is easily repaired and most of the large film companies are now producing the 16mm films especially for school work. It is important that each film can be accompanied by a teachers' guide and that the guide be used by teacher and pupils. Sources for Educational Narrow Width Films. — The ! 6mm film may be rented or purchased. The rentals are usually a dollar for each reel. It is more advisable to organize a central circulating library of films and purchase those subjects which are needed in the school service. The following firms will send catalogues and prices of narrow gauge films which they produce and distribute. The above sources will supply any school with excellent narrow gauge films. It is advisable to purchase films only after they have been carefully screened and shown to teachers who are to use them. Some narrow gauge films are not properly printed and defective, hence they should be all carefully screened before purchase. A committee selected for this screening purpose will acquaint teachers with their contents and give some technique as to their use. A film is of very small educational value if it is simply shown without any discussion following its screening by the pupils in the class. The narrow gauge motion picture fulfills no educational value when it is simply shown as an entertainment in the school room. Mr Gregory, author of the Report on Reduced Size School film is an expert in the matter of visual aid teaching. Since 1922 he has studies — his first article " Problems concerning the Educational Motion