FILMS FOR CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 9

FILMS FOR CHILDREN.

AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS.

PREVENTION OF EYE STRAIN

The principal recommendations of a sub-committee of the Australian Council of Public Education regarding the attendance .-of children at picture shows, | as submitted to the Public Health Commission, were:— < " Capable and experienced attendants should be present in the hall to look after the" welfare- of the children; the projection of the pictures should be in the hands of highly-skilled operators, as out of foscus films caused immediate eyestrain the ideal standard would call for a new copy of each film' at each; perfor-: mance, or at frequent intervals; titles should be projected on the screen for a sufficient length of time to. enable children to read the text without strain; between the showing of euch film, the theatres should' be suffused : with light. -';.",.-. .'•'.. /./' •' " Programmes ■< might -be/ , advantageously broken if musical items were : interspersed : between ; the . films /children should visit' the theatres ,at such hours as would ensure that their night's rest would not be encroached upon, and children should not be allowed to carry to bed exciting incidents \ which they have witnessed. '/. ''■'-•-.' .■'•;'■'■.".• '-'\- : '.-'. y ■■'■■ ■■';'-•"'. Their attendance at the picture shows should not be frequent, in some cases three times a'fortnight might prove too often; pictures should not lead; to undue mental strain, '•* and should aim [at enlarging the mental horizon and exciting the finer emotions; films of an educational character should be explained .by capable lecturers; strict ;. supervision should be exercised to prevent • loitering in the vestibules.' , •" '■■" No children/ under 15 years of age should be . allowed - to attend - picture shows after 6.30 on any school day, even if accompanied by parents or: guardians children should be seated in ' the > centre of the hall at a distance from the screen of not less than one and a-half times its own height." '