THE FILM IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1923, Page 4

THE FILM IN SCHOOLS.

ITS' USE IN EDUCATION. DEPARTMENT’S NEW SCHEME. TRIAL IN TARANAKI. The value of moving pictures for educational purpose* w stressed ij Mr D D. McDonald,'*'ho been authorised by the Department of Education to arrange special educational subjects to the elnU'™ of schools throughout -New Zealand, in th course of au interview with a Da.lj News representative yesterday. Mr. McDonald is in New Plymouth arranging for the use of pictures in the iocs schools wider the (Education Board, and he hopes to complete arrangements f a trial of the system here about March. Mr. McDonald stated the system of visual education, which was approved by the Department of Education, is one which will bo made available to schools throughout the Dominion. The pictures to be contained on the programmes u 11be chosen in the first place by edneational authorities as being suitable subjects for presentation to the school children. Through this rigid censorship by the Department of Education and headmasters themselves only pictures of the best educative value will be screened, thus saving school time and preventing exploitation of pictures not in the least suitable for viewing by children. Thi-s is a very important point, which will at all times receive first consideration by those in charge of the programme. Each programme will contain pictures of geographical, historical, scientific and literary value, thus overcoming a difficulty which has been met with in recent educational programmes. Up io the present educational programmes to school children have consisted of practically one long subject. However admirable such subjects may have been they have proved too long to hold the full attention of the pupils viewing them' and, as stated, the programmes are to be broken up into subjects covered by the headings mentioned, thus providing for full attention from start to finish.

All programmes will be covered by explanatory lessons, which will be made availably to school children through the medium of the School Journal. These will be in tlie hands of the children at least a month before they witness the screening of the programmes, thus enabling teachers to instruct their pupils on the subjects covered. In this manner the information received will be made permanent. Experiments have proved that text-book and oral instruction followed by pictures of the subjects covered give licst results. There are many forms in which Visual education can be presented’. The use of mans and diagrams on the screen will explain in detail subject's difficult, to present in the class-room. Every development of the screen art will be harnessed to make as perfect as possible this fascinating means of study. Mr. McDonald si)id, that, Mis?, Uarson. representative in Australia and New Zealand for the 'Chautauqua movement, had stated that the system to bo adopted in New Zealand is even in advance of that employed in the United States. “It is my aim to make visual education in this country equal, if not better, than that in any other country, and with the S'.dehearted support T am receiving from every Education Board and Headmasters’ Association which I have apnroaclud I am confident of success,” added Mr. McDonald.