Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1922)

The NATIONAL ACADEMY of VISUAL INSTRUCTION OFFICERS President: DUDLEY GRANT HAYS, Ass't Sup't of Schools, Chicago Vice-President: MRS. CLAIRE S. THOMAS, State Department of Education, Raleigh, N. C. Secretary: J. V. ANKENEY, University of Missouri, Columbia Treasurer: C. R. TOOTHAKER, Commercial Museum, Philadcl phia EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DUDLEY GRANT HAYS, Ass't Sup't of Schools, Chicago XV . H. D UDLE Y, University of Wisconsin, Madison W. M. GREGORY, School of Education, Cleveland A. G. BALCOM, Ass't Sup't of Schools, Newark J. W. SHEPHERD, University of Oklahoma, Norman CARLOS CUM MINGS, Society of Natural Sciences, Buffalo A department conducted by the Secretary of the Academy for the dissemination of Academy news and thought. Opinions here expressed are not necessarily in accord with those of Moving Picture Age THE THIRD Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Visual Instruction, held at Lexington, Kentucky, April, 18, 19, and 20, marks the close of the second year of the Academy's existence. This meeting was notable for the absence of expressions of opinions and for the desire to get down to basic truths and principles that would serve to aid the teacher in the public schools of this country. The impression has been given by some that the Academy is not concerned with the problems of the public school teacher. This idea would have been quickly disspelled had these doubting persons been present at the Lexington session. The Academy and its Executive Committee are bending every effort to make plans that will stand the test of time and will constitute the Academy of real permanent value to the educator in the field. The Academy is not a propaganda organization. At present the greatest handicap to the carrying on of constructive work is lack of funds. Research in the field of visual instruction as a basis for development of a method of using visual aids and for determining relative values of these aids, as well as to establish a correct technique, commanded a large place on the program of the meeting. F. Dean McClusky, University of Illinois, gave the results of "An Experimental Comparison between Different Methods of Visual Instruction." The General Research Council has granted a fund of $10,000 for a continuation of investigations in this field. In the absence of J. J. Weber, University of Kansas, the Secretary read a paper prepared by Mr. Weber on "An Experimental Study of the Influence of Motion Pictures upon Choice and Conduct." The Academy Committee on Research and Standardization submitted the following report, which was adopted : During the year important research projects have been carried out or begun in various parts of the country. Important among these are the results obtained by Mr. Weber at Columbia University and the University of Kansas, by Mr. McClusky at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois, and by graduate students at the University of Oklahoma. The results of their activity in research are appearing from time to time in periodicals and magazines. The Committee is glad to announce at this time that the School of Education of the University of Chicago has quite recently secured an appropriation of $10,000 from the Commonwealth Research Fund for research in visual methods in education and that Dr. F. N. Freeman, and Mr. McClusky of the Committee, will be in charge of the project. The work will be done in the Cleveland and Detroit public schools. The Committee is at work at the present time in an attempt to formulate a national program of research in visual methods in education, in which all institutions in the country interested in research are to be invited to participate. The Schools of Education in the Universities of Kansas, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Oklahoma and Columbia University have already signified a willingness to co-operate. The Committee, therefore, begs to be continued, and offers the following resolution : "Whereas, a national program of research is desirable because of the importance of the movement and the need for definite data, and in order to accomplish definitely desired results, and in order to avoid overlanping and duplication of effort, be it resolved, that the National Academy of Visual Instruction hereby urge all institutions interested that have resources and equipment available to co-operate Dudley Grant Hays, Elected President of the National Academy of Visual Instruction with the Committee in carrying on a national program of research in visual methods in education." W. M. Gregory, Cleveland School of Education, discussed "The Content of Methods Courses in Visual Education." In discussing this paper the Secretary, Mr. Ankeney, brought out the fact that there are now at least fourteen institutions offering courses in visual method. In the discussion that followed it seemed to be the consensus of opinion that teacher-training institutions should be encouraged to offer such courses. A committee consisting of W. M. Gregory, J. V. Ankeney, J. W. Shepherd, A. W. Abrams, and F. Dean McClusky was authorized to draw up a tentative outline for a first or elementary course in visual method. This outline will be available for distribution by August 1, or earlier if possible; application "for copies should be made to the Secretary's office. The Commitee on Standards is preparing a tentative guide sheet for use in judging motionpicture films and for the guidance of the producer. Also, a group of lantern slides is being produced with the plan of making it available on loan to school systems owning their slide libraries, so that they may have some standard of quality. The lantern slide came in for its share of the program. A. W. Abrams, University of the State of New York, gave two demonstrations, one on how to use lantern slides in teaching, the other on quality in slides. These demonstrations were of exceptional value to teachers and any others using or producing lantern slides. Dr. Cummings, Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, read a paper relative to the work of his institution. F. W. Perkins, in charge of motion pictures for the United States Department of Agriculture, screened some of the films his organization has produced. Special committees on the projects of a slide-negative library for the Academy and an Academy film-review service made preliminary reports. These committees are at work and as soon as definite plans can be developed steps will be taken to inaugurate this practical assistance to schools and other institutions using visual aids. It is impossible to state here all the significant happenings of the session. The Academy went on record for standard 35-mm. films on acetate or slow-burning stock. The committee on place of meeting recommended that the time and place of the annual meeting be the same as that of the Superintendence Section of the National Education Association, and that the University Extension Association be urged to meet at the same time and place. Results of the election of officers may be noted in the roster in the heading of this department. J. V. Ankeney, Secretary of the Academy. 15 THE FOLLOWING statement of general purposes was received from President Hays just before going to press: The National Academy of Visual Instruction plans to give effective aid in the development of visual instruction. It aims to make considerable progress during the coming year toward establishing a national slide-negative library that will be a source of slide supply to all sustaining members ; to give as wide circulation as funds will permit to non-theatrical films suitable for educational use and printed on standard-width non-inflammable slow-burning stock; to bring into active co-operation all factors having a direct interest in furthering visual instruction ; and to provide well-informed speakers for conventions of all sorts interested in the further development of modern educational equipment and its efficient use,