NBC transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

12 NBC TRANSMITTER N. Y. Education Board Gives New Honors to NBC Series • NEW YORK.— New honors were given the NBC Inter-American University of the Air last month when the New York City Board of Education granted full credit toward salary increases for teachers taking courses based on two NBC programs—“Lands of the Free” and “Music of the New World.” Immediately after announcement of this distinction — the first time any radio program has been so honored — the National Education Association appointed a distinguished committee to study plans for extending these courses to every American community. Teachers in the public schools of New York — as in many other cities — are required to take “in-service” courses during their professional careers. One of the requirements for automatic salary increases is that such courses be undertaken. Heretofore, no program which did not require actual attendance in the lecture hall was approved. But the magic of radio makes it possible for teachers now to study in their own homes! Of course, the home listening will be supplemented by lectures, but full credit will be granted for the time the teacher spends alongside the radio receiver. Station managers who wish to lay a similar plan before local school hoards should write to Sterling Fisher, director of the NBC InterAmerican University of the Air, for details. The courses were accepted last March on a non-credit basis, but they proved their merit. “In accepting these courses for full credit,” said John E. Wade, superintendent of schools, “the Board of Education recognizes the important contribution to education of the NBC InterAmerican University of the Air. We have watched carefully the two courses which we approved last March and the board is now convinced that the courses are worthy of full ‘in-service’ credit.” In commenting upon the NEA action, Dr. Belmont Farley, director of public relations of the association, declared: “The National Education Association has observed the New York experiment with keen interest. It is felt that the resulting action to provide full credits is momentous in its meaning for the modernization of education and its adaptation to presentday media.” MUSICAL MEMENTO CHRIS SORENSON AND ALFRED WALLENSTEIN • NEW \ ORK. — As Alfred Wallenstein started the rehearsal of his final broadcast with the Firestone Symphony Orchestra on October 4, Chris Sorenson— the orchestra's contractor and librarian — stepped forward to give the retiring conductor a memento “from the boys.” The gift was a rare facsimile edition of the original score of Bach's “St. Matthew Passion.” After seven years Wallenstein left the NBC series to become conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony. Howard Barlow succeeded Wallenstein on “The Voice of Firestone." Richard Crooks, noted tenor, continues as featured soloist. KYW Workshop Continues • PHILADELPHIA.— Acquiescing to demands of enthusiastic school teachers, principals and superintendents of the Philadelphia school system who attended sessions during July in the KYW studios, the Radio Workshop launched a new Winter series on October 6. Designed to acquaint faculty members and educators with radio procedures and broadcasting's role in education, the workshop is under the joint auspices of the Philadelphia Board of Education, Westinghouse Radio Stations, Inc., and Station KYW. Lectures and practical instruction in the various phases of radio are given by the personnel of Westinghouse stations. Classes are scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month. Ernest H. Gager, KYW's plant manager and chief engineer, discussed the technical side of broadcasting at the initial meeting. NBC's Gilbert Chase Named Pan American Union Advisor • NEW YORK. — Gilbert Chase, supervisor of music of the NBC Inter-American University of the Air, recently accepted the invitation of Dr. Leo S. Rowe, director general of the Pan American Union, to serve as consultant in the Union's music division. Chase explained that his appointment is a preparatory step in a plan for “mobilizing” the musical resources of the Western Hemisphere. The plan was formulated in connection with the InterAmerican University of the Air’s “Music of the New World” series, now in its second year. Chase serves as script writer and handbook editor of the series. “This music series,” Chase pointed out, “provides a great outlet for the per formance of Latin American music, and, in order to f realize these possiI bilities to the full| est extent, it is I necessary to orI ganize a system for I assuring the flow I of such music to this country. Under its able chief, Charles Seeger. the Union’s music division — established in 1941— has been working to this end." While Chase was serving as Latin American specialist at the Library of Congress, just prior to joining NBC, he was closely associated with Seeger in promoting inter-American musical exchange. Seeger, coincidentally, was appointed a member of the advisory committee for “Music of the New World.” Through this mutual exchange of advisors, greater achievements in the promotion of hemispheric music can be anticipated. Chase was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1906. Instinctively, however, he refers to himself as a New Yorker, since he spent his youth in the metropolitan area. He was educated in the United States and Europe and served as a music critic in Paris. London and New York. He joined the Library of Congress music staff in 1940 and became affiliated with the NBC Inter-American LIniversity of the Air in 1942 as music research director and author of music handbooks. GILBERT CHASE