CHILDREN AND PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 2

CHILDREN AND PICTURES

(By Irma O'Connor.)

The proposal to utilise picture shows as an educational asset for children is one which will doubtless be hailed with onthusiaem, by parents and teachers alike, assupplvinganeed loiig felt to be pressing. All those who liave much to do with young people are agreed that thero is no better way of reaching the impressionable mind'of a child than' through the medium of his own'eyes. Even missionaries, working ■ amongst primitive races, attach considerable value to coloured illustrations and lantern lectures; and the institution of picture entertainments specially adapted to the years and understanding of young people would be of 'incalculable- benefit to them and an immense boon to the teacher. If a child could see tho incidents of his historybook enacted in very truth bel'oro his eyes, thoso incidonts would no longer represent to him groups of dusty antiquities and strings of wearisome dates, but would become fnscinating, glowing realities; the characters he met with in literature would not be mere puppew, but living, breathing men nnd women i the cities nnd-countries of his geography lesson would not stand for a jumble of tiresome mimes, bearing attached to them such labels as "famous for its picture gallery," or "exports coal and iron," but would call up instead vivid scenes, to his mind. There is, moreover, another equally important aspect to the case. Such a measnre as that suegested would piobably act also as n check to the pernicious practice of taking children constantly to unsuitable or sensational productions. Many mothers refrain altogether from taking their little ones to pictures because they realise that what is screened is not, and does not pretend to be. adapted to a young mind or to a child's pnsily-escitpd * imagination. Others, though perceiving the danger, weakly yield to their boys' nnd girls' persuu-' , sions to ?,o to nn ovpninc performance of thi' picture or that, with the result flint tlio schoolmaster's desk next dav Is ' flooded with notes of excuse for neglectpd home-lessons, nnd the teacher is confronted with dull, heavy-eyed, unresponsive pupils. Thoro nr« even mothers v;ho make a roirulnr weekly practice of sulv .iocting their children to the latn honrs, the excitement and the unhealthy atmosphere inseparable from a crowded evening entertainment,;. Tho "introduction of matinee performances of a whole■sonip, instructive, interesting character, however, would greatlv minimise this dnnpor, and would on tho other hend do mi" , !' "tnn-nrds snf«gusir(li'ig the health and healthy-mindedness of young people, as well as towards educating them.