ENGLISH RURAL LIFE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 10

ENGLISH RURAL LIFE

MAKING IT MORE ATTRACTIVE Dominion Special Service. London, April 19. The flow of young people from the country to the towns may in part be checked by the provision of picture houses and facilities for listening to wireless concerts. The increasing number of village institutes that have sprung up .since the war are likely to be affected materially by the recent development in broadcasting. Organisers of these scattered institutes generally find it exceedingly difficult to provide programmes that will retain the interest of the local people; the village resources are generally not large, and to bring in outside help is an expensive matter. During recent months the British Broadcasting Corporation have been broadcasting short course on a variety of subjects of general interest, and in their recently published book, “New Ventures in Broadcasting,” it is intimated that such courses are to be continued and extended. The help of institutes and organisations interested in social welfare is being sought to secure group listening, and to arrange for talks to be followed by group discussions. This provides a unique opportunity for village institutes to make up for deficiencies in their programme, and to co-operate in a most interesting educational experiment. The British Broadcasting Corporation are willing to advise as to the most suitable type of set to instal. They issue pamphlets in advance, so that the synopsis of the course may be in the hands of the listeners, and in many cases the lecturers are willing to correspond witli groups to elucidate doubtful points or to give additional information. The vicar, the village schoolmaster, or some person of culture residing in the district, would doubtless volunteer to lead the group and to guide them through the subsequent discussion. Experience has shown that discussion groups, wisely led, have great educational possibilities.