LESSONS BY CINEMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 13

LESSONS BY CINEMA

VALUE TO EDUCATION DISCUSSION BY MINISTER An outline of the nature of the investigations to bo undertaken by the Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lambourne, during his tour abroad was given by the Minister of Education, the Hon. ~S. G. Smith, in an address in Wellington. Mr. Smith made special reference to education by means of the cinema. Ho said that the subject of the cinema in the schools naturally divided itself into two parts. First, concerning the attendance of school children for instructional purposes at picture theatres for viewing films produced on standard machines, and possibly intended for the amusement of adults as well as the instruction of children, and secondly, films specially made for exhibition in school classrooms on midget machines. A further . question which arose more particularly in the case of 16 mm. films is that of the silent picture as against the talking film. These points would be investigated by Mr. Lambourne. "The difficulties in the way of utilising the school films in ordinary classrooms are very considerable, sii>ce the rooms have to be specially constructed to ensure good ventilation *and, at the same time, sufficient dimming of the light to enable „tlie film to be shown,'' said the Minister. " The equipment is also fairly expensive, running up to some £2OO to £250 for a talking machine and requiring handling with somo care and skill." Mr. Smith said there was no doubt that teaching methods and topics would have to be considerably altered if the school film came into general use, but the use of the cinema could not interfere with the educational influence of the teacher, nor with the effect of.his words. The teacher would still remain the pivot on <which the system depended. .