NAEB Newsletter (Oct 1958)

HILL-ELLIOTT BILL GRANTS FUNDS FOR RESEARCH The Magnuson Bill reached Congress in its 85th session. On the 29th of May, 1958, the Senate ap¬ proved this bill which grants up to $1 million to each state for the development of ETV facilities. Under the bill, the federal government would finance TV broadcasting equipment by providing grants-in-aid up to $1 million to state educational institutions or agencies organized for ETV purposes. In the final rush before adjournment, it failed to reach the floor of the House. The fate of the bill must wait until next year ana the first session of the 86th Congress. However, the Hill-Elliott Bill (National Defense Education Act of 1958) did pass both houses of Con¬ gress. It provides certain funds for research and ex¬ perimentation in educational broadcasting. The sec¬ tion applicable to educational broadcasting is Title VII. For the convenience of our members it is re¬ produced here in full. TITLE VII—RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTA¬ TION IN MORE EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF TELEVISION, RADIO, MOTION PICTURES AND RELATED MEDIA FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES Part A - Research and Experimentation FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER Sec. 701. In carrying out the provisions of this part the Com¬ missioner, in cooperation with the Advisory Committee on New Educational Media (established by section 761), shall (through grants or contracts) conduct, assist, and foster research and ex¬ perimentation in the development and evaluation of projects in¬ volving television, radio, motion pictures, and related media of communication which may prove of value to State or local educa¬ tional agencies in the operation of their public elementary or secondary schools, and to institutions of higher education, in¬ cluding the development of new and more effective techniques and methods— (1) for utilizing and adapting motion pictures, video tapes and other audio-visual aids, film strips, slides and other visual aids, recordings (including magnetic tapes) and other auditory aids, and radio or television program scripts for such purposes; (2) for training teachers to utilize such media with maximum effectiveness; and (3) for presenting academic subject matter through such media. GRANTS-IN-AID; CONTRACTS Sec. 702. In carrying out the provisions of section 701, the Commissioner— (1) may make grants-in-aid, approved by the Advisory Committee on New Educational Media, to public or non¬ profit private agencies, organizations, and individuals for projects of research or experimentation referred to in section 701; (2) may enter into contracts, approved by the Ad¬ visory Committee on New Educational Media, with public or private agencies, organizations, groups, and individuals for projects of research or experimentation referred to in section 701; and (3) shall promote the coordination of programs con¬ ducted or financed by him under this title with similar pro¬ grams conducted by other agencies, institutions, foundations, organizations, or individuals. See You Part B - Dissemination of Information on New Educational Media FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER Sec. 731. In order to disseminate information concerning new educational media (including the results of research and ex¬ perimentation conducted under part A of this title) to State or local educational agencies, for use in their public elementary or secondary schools, and to institutions of higher edubation, the Commissioner— (1) shall make studies and surveys to determine the need for increased or improved utilization of television, radio, motion pictures, and related media of communication by State or local educational agencies and institutions for higher ed¬ ucation for educational purposes; (2) shall prepare and publish catalogs, reviews, bibli¬ ographies, abstracts, analyses of research and experimentation, and such other materials as are generally useful in the en¬ couragement and more effective use of television, radio, motion pictures, and related media of communication for educational purposes; (3) may, upon request, provide advice, counsel, tech¬ nical assistance, and demonstrations to State or local educa¬ tional agencies and institutions of higher education under¬ taking to utilize such media of communication to increase the quality or depth or broaden the scope of their educational programs; (4) shall prepare and publish an annual report set¬ ting forth (A) projects carried out under this title and the cost of each such project, and (B) developments in the util- zation and adaptation of media of communication for educa¬ tional purposes; and (5) may enter into contracts with public or private agencies, organizations, groups, or individuals to carry out the provisions of this part. Part C - General Provisions ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sec. 761. (a) There is hereby established in the Office of Education an Advisory Committee on New Educational Media (hereafter in this title referred to as the “Advisory Committee”). The Advisory Committee shall consist of the Commissioner, who shall be chairman, a representative of the National Science Foundation and twelve persons appointed, without regard to the civil-service laws, by the Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary. Three of such appointed members shall be individuals identified with the sciences, liberal arts, or modern foreign lan- uages in institutions of higher education; three shall be individuals actually engaged in teaching or in the supervision of teaching in elementary or secondary schools; three shall be individuals of demonstrated ability in the utilization or adaptation of television, radio, motion pictures, and related media of communication for educational purposes; and three shall be individuals representative of the lay public who have demonstrated an interest in the prob¬ lems of communication media. (b) The Advisory Committee shall— (1) advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Commissioner on matters relating to the utilization or adaptation of television, radio, motion pictures, or related media of communication for educational purposes, and on matters of basic policy arising in the administration of this title; (2) review all applications for grants-in-aid under Part A of this title for projects of research or experimenta¬ tion and certify approval to the Commissioner of any such projects which it believes are appropriate for carrying out the provisions of this title; and (3) review all proposals by the Commissioner to enter into contracts under this title and certify approval to the Commissioner of any such contracts which it believes are ap¬ propriate to carry out the provisions of this title. (c) The Commissioner may utilize the services of any mem¬ ber or members of the Advisory Committee in connection with matters relating to the provisions of this title, for such periods, in addition to conference periods, as he may determine. (d) Members of the Advisory Committee shall, while serving on business of the Advisory Committee or at the request of the In Omaha 2 NEWSLETTER