TEACHING GEOGRAPHY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 4

TEACHING GEOGRAPHY

LACK OF NEW ZEALAND FILMS

The Hutt Valley High School has a special geography room in which, besides other facilities, there is a cinematograph for showing moving pictures. The room proved of great interest to teachers attending conferences in Wellington last month. Mr. J. N! Millard, the principal of the school, in his monthly report, states that the teachers commented very favourably on the facilities for the teaching of geography. "In this connection I am glad to see that the Department and various New Zealand interests are beginning to realise the importance of New Zealand films," says Mr. Millard. "Last year we found it very easy to obtain films of countries such as Australia? and Canada—in fact., the Trade Commissioners of these Dominions placed their big selections of films at our disposal. The Publicity Department of New Zealand had practically nothing to offer us.

"Last term, representatives of the Manufacturers' Association and o! the Publicity Department brought out films, one of the condensed milk industry and one of views of New Zealand. Their object was to ascertain the type of film needed to advertise New Zealand industries and New Zealand scenery. The ordinary tourist films which show glimpses of various parts of New Zealand are very little use to us. We need films which concentrate on particular parts, e.g., a film on Rotorua, a film on the Southern Alps, one on the Sounds, etc. More important still would be the provision of actual teaching films, on subjects such as river erosion, volcanoes, and glaciers. The latter type of film should be provided by the Education Department, and it should be made by experts so that the important teaching points would be brought out clearly. Films of this nature would be a great advance in the art of teaching geography."-