Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

A Climactic Development in Education Million Dollar Organization Formed by Eastman Kodak Company i Further Educational Films ORGANIZATION papers were filed in May for Eastman Teaching Flms, Inc., a subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Company, the purpose of which is to develop a program of motion pictures to be used for instruction in schools, colleges, universities, technical institutions, and medical schools. The capital stock of the new company is $1,000,000. Dr. Thomas E. Finegan, for many years connected with the New York State Education Department and former head of the state school system of Pennsylvania, is the President and General Manager of the new company. Dr. C E. K. Mees, Director of the Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories, is the Vice-President. Mr. L. B. Jones, Mr. M. B. Folsom, Mr. E. P. Curtis, Dr. C. E. K. Mees and Dr. Thomas E. Finegan are the directors. In announcing this important move on behalf of educational films tribute was paid to the 16mm film, developed by the Eastman Kodak Company, and so familiar to amateurs, as it is said to have made possible the extensive use of motion pictures in teaching. The incorporation, according to Dr. Finegan, follows two years of extensive experimentation by the Eastman Kodak Company in the field of visual education, including ten weeks' use of teaching films by schools in twelve cities. The decision to go ahead with a large film program is the result of tests recently given to 6,000 children who had been taught with films and an equal number who had been taught the same subjects without films. The tests were formulated and supervised by Dr. Ben D. Wood of Columbia University and Dr. Frank N. Freeman of the University of Chicago. The cities in which the teaching film experiment was made were: Chicago, 111.;. Denver, Col.; Detroit, Mich.; Kansas City, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Newton, Mass.; New York City; Oakland, Calif; Rochester, N. Y.; San Diego, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Winston-Salem, N. C. Dr. Finegan made the following statement when the incorporation papers were filed: "Two years ago the Eastman Kodak Company undertook an extensive experiment to determine the value of motion pictures as an aid to the teacher in daily classroom work. The company believed that the most practical method of ascertaining 380 H the service which films could render would be to use them in the established courses of study given regularly in the schools. "The National Education Association approved the general plan and urged the teachers of the country to co-operate in the enterprise. Twelve cities in various parts of the country readily consented to participate in the experiment. "The program which has been completed was based on a course of study covering a period of ten weeks. Approximately 176 teachers and 12,000 pupils have been engaged in it. Six thousand of these children received instruction without the use of the films. In each group the same area of instruction was covered. "The Eastman Kodak Company employed practical teachers of long experience and known achievement to prepare the material for the films. These films were correlated with the standard courses of study in geography and in general science in use in the schools of the country. "In order that the experiment should be conducted without prejudice and under established standards, the Eastman Kodak Company employed Dr. Ben D. Wood, of Columbia University, and Dr. Frank N. Freeman, of the University of Chicago, to formulate and supervise the tests to be given. These men are two of the outstanding experts of the country in the field of tests and measurements. A final report containing a complete tabulation of results and evaluations thereof will not be available until July next. When the final report is received it will be published and made available to the teachers of the country. "The data already available on this experiment, however, has enabled the experts to make a preliminary report on many of its vital aspects. Dr. Wood and Dr. Freeman stated in their report on the school tests: "We are making a preliminary report at this time because we believe that enough evidence is in to warrant a continuance of the production of classroom films and because a delay in production until after the complete report is prepared would seriously interrupt the preparation of a film program for the schools. Our own observation of the classes in operation with and without the films convinces us that the films contribute elements to the experiences of the children which it is difficult and often impossible to secure by any other method available to the school. "This preliminary survey indicated that the teachers are much pleased with films as instruments of instruction, that they consider these particular films to be excellent, and that it is their judgment that films should be made permanently available to the schools. This is our opinion, based on the testimony of the teachers and on our observation of the classroom work. "We are convinced that the production of these films, together with the guides" (each film is accompanied by a teacher's guide to the subject) , "and further production of other films, makes a decidedly valuable contribution to educational procedure. The indication is that there is a strong demand for properly planned and well organized educational motion pictures of the character used in this experiment. "Many suggestions have come to us concerning new ways in which motion pictures may be constructed. The use of these instruments of instruction is in its infancy. Further experimentation will make it possible still further to adapt motion pictures to the distinctive demands of the classroom." Dr. Finegan also said, "We shall proceed at once to develop a film program adequate to the needs of the teaching institutions of the country. Forty films are already completed and others are on the way. We shall plan one hundred additional films for the schools immediately and shall begin a development in other lines. "We shall have the co-operation of a large number of the distinguished scholars and specialists on the faculties of leading universities and technical institutions, and of well known teachers connected with public school systems in the development of this film program. "We are gratified to announce that Mr. William H. Maddock, for many years the Sales Manager of the G. and C. Merriam Company, of Springfield, Mass., publishers of Webster's Dictionaries, has already taken up his work as Sales Manager of the Eastman Teaching Films, Incorporated."