THE NEW EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 3

THE NEW EDUCATION

BROADCASTING AND FILMS INTRODUCTION IN SCHOOLS WORK DONE BY WOMEN . have often wondered if women in outlying parts of the Empire realise what is being done by women in England," said Miss Margaret Latimer, of London, who arrived at Auckland this week by tho Wanganella. Miss Latimer, who is a member of the London County Board of Education, said although many people were of the opinion that women had achieved little and made no significant use of their franchise, in London they were playing a very prominent part in public affairs, and many were successfully combining careers with marriage. Tho most important development in connection with education, and one which possessed unlimited possibilities, was the introduction of films and radio, Miss Latimer said. In England broadcasting and the use of films in education were being gradually but very efficiently introduced. In connection with educational films Mary Field, well known for her "Secrets of Nature" productions, was, in conjunction with Miss Margaret Lockett and Professor Julian Huxley, bringing the camera into schools. Films were particularly valuable in tho education of young children, who were more inclined to believe their eyes rather that their ears. Work of Professor Cullis Miss Latimer said she had often como into contact with Dr. Winifred Cullis, professor of physiology and hygiene at the London who was one of the women most interested in broadcasting as a means of education of children. Iji London Professor Cullis had done a great deal of good in broadcasting tho principles of health and hygiene, so that they could easily be understood by very young children. One of tho most outstanding women in educational broadcasting was Miss Mary Somerville, director of the Broadcasting Education Council at the 8.8.C. in London. Associated with her were the Misses Rhoda and Eileen Power, writers of children's history books, whose broadcasts on history were becoming increasingly popular among children. The famous children's author E. P. B. Mais, as well as Mr. Vernon Bartlett and Monsieur Stephan, were other associates of Miss Somerville's in connection with educational broadcasting programmes.

Little Government Aid Receiving sets were not yet very widely established in schools, but it was hoped that before long all the schools in England would be connected in this way and controlled by purely educational aims. Teachers, pupils and individual boards of directors were doing all in their power to install receiving sets in their schools, as very little aid was being offered by the Government. Miss Latimer thought, however, that tho facilities gained by such endeavour would bo more genuinely appreciated that those provided by the State. In Italy more than 6000 receiving sets had been established in schools throughout tho country by order of Signor Mussolini and 1,250,000 children received a large part of their education by this means. , „ . Miss Latimer, who left yesterday by motor-car on a short visit to Rotoriia And Waitomo, expects to sail for England from Wellington next month.