The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-09-16
CITY MOVIES
FOR EDUCATION
4 VS.
Educators and Elm Men Of.
New York Have Opened
a Campaign -
~ - ss
MAY BE MADE
EQUAL WITH BOOKS
First Pictures VIII Embrace Anatomi-
cal Studies, Historical and Scientific
Studies Claimed Pictures Are More
Impressive-Wiil Not Tire Pupils.

NEW YORK, Sept. l6,-Motion pic n
lures may have an equal place with text
books in the schools, and colleges of the
United States, according to an announce
ment of campaign to this end to be
launched by educators ia New York city
in conjunction with proaGeefs of education-
al films One reasqn.for the inauguration
of. a school campaign is the, recent devel-
opment of a projection machine which
can be used without the protection booth.
and is said to meet the requirements OF
fire underwriters in various states.
: The screen text campaign will be /
launched by many large moving picture
companies and allied business interests, |
and also by the. American Educational
Motion Picture association, which has
just been organized to act as a bureau OF
information for 1.-The cooperation of ideas
and wants of educators z The association,
which does not produce or distribute, has
enlisted the cooperation OF many educa-
tional and civic organizations, and such
names as P p. Claxton, United States
commissioner of education; Mrs. Freder-
| lex Schoff, president National Congress OF
| Teachers association: the Rev. Chester I.
Marshall, pastor st. James NJ E. church;
| O. IL. Bension, IN charge of boys and
girls club work. department of agricul-
ture: the Rev. Christian F. Reisner, and
/ William A. Brady. president National As
ISOLATION of the Motion Picture industry.
THE amusement branch of the bust
ness will not undertake this matter seri-
! ously,' said Thomas A. Edison when dis
] eussing the project ''They- lack interest,
he continued, and always will, In the
educational and religious branches. 1t Is
one of the greatest things in the world s
The first pictures shown in the school
field will embrace such branches as ana
tomical studies, historical and scientific
subjects. The elaiasis made by some of
the educators wheit have approved the
project that there ISL scarcely branch of
study in. the public, school that cannot
be translated upon the screen in ia more
kimpIessiye manner than, by means, of the
printed word Nisualzing the relations
of elements, it is declared. will leave the
mind of the child untired, and there viii
be more likelihood that the child will
remember what he has been shown rather
I than what he has been told.
Arthur S. Sonsrs. president of the New
York board OF education, said yesterday
IlclufeS are one Inlng ana the text
book is another They each have their
place and each serves in the education OF
the child But, after all, it is the teach
er who really does the teaching. Not
much Importance, IN comparison, should
be attached to picture or textbook. The
important thing is the way in which the
4 picture Oh text-boo is shown to the child
The moving picture field in the schools
is a proposition which ought to be inves
tigated, and | would not be inclined tt
look unfavorably on. the project without
the most thorough investigation.
1t was learned yesterday that several O
: the large motion picture companies ar,
4 starting extensive plans for the takin!
of educational films At the offices of tn.
Famous Players it was said that they hae
formed an educational department, ans
that one of the first textbooks they vii
undertake to film win be the screenin,
i of the American History. The Universe
md other companies, it was said, will ais,
take up the educational branch.
Il William Z. Grady district superintend
! ent of the New York board of education
? approved the project and promised hi
support in the work among New Yorl
schools Many principals of public school
in the various states do not approve tn
idea of having movies" in classrooms
i They point ont that the pupil might gai
2 clear knowledge of certain subjects an
be much more happy in school, but tina
= he would not secure the required min
training.