The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-22
fALKlNG'IQl0VIES
AS EDUCATIONAL.
FORCE E' /:
American Inventor Convinced
of Possibilities of New
PhonofiIm.

BERLIN, Aug 22-1mmense
strides in education by revolution
AIRY methods Of talking movies are
predicted by Dr. Lee DeForest.
American inventor, who has Just
given a public demonstration of
his phonohlm.
De Forest, who has been con-
Quoting experiments here on his
device. which photographs sound
as well as pictures on the same
film simultaneously. will take his
invention to America in Septenl-
Der.
The first explanation of his sue
cess was made by Doctor De
Forest last winter in an Interview
with NEA service. And now: with
experiments concluded, 5he>has
written for NEA service his views
on the application of the talking
film 10 education he says:
Education provides llmitless
field for talking motion pictures,
entirely aside from the possibility
of film operas, musical skitS and
vaudeville, scenic films, animated
cartoons. news topics and cap
lions.
The value-of the present silent
film for education is sadly limited
because. lacking an intelligent ac-
companying description as the
film proceeds,sit is apt to degener-
ate into merely a pastime for the
pupils. Film lectures are possible
with talking movies on all sorts of
subjects-languaSes, history, geo
graphy. physics and geology
Effect Huge Saving in Time
With the talking film as an aid
to education immense saving of
time can be effected; just as now
in one evening we can grasp the
entire story OF a standard novel,
which formerly required weeks to
finish.
However. am not advocating
aboli shing literature or the care
full study thereof But in most
branches of learning it is not the
language of the text books we are
interested init is merely the
story, the facts, the truths, con-
tanned therein.
must pursue the same painful,
y tCulOuSs AASluooa
acquiring knowledge which their
parents went through is equival-
ent to deprecating the arrival of
stenography and typewrters. on
the ground that the development
and discipline of the mind de-
mands that we and our clerks
write out everything in longhand!
Some people fear for the safe
ty of the human brain and the
nervous systems of the coming
generations. duo to too rapid
modes of living and working and
learning.
"Such people will surely dread
the attempt to cram IT. few
weeks. via the phonoilm. the
minds of our youth with the
knowledge which they now spend
months or: years in acquirin g-or
which more often they neglect
completely, preferring few days
of hectic examining just prior to
examinations.
Surely it would not berdiff1cul,
to devise some m ethod for improv-
ing the present inefficient and
wasteful methods of education.
My answer is that intense mental
concentration is far less damaging
to brain, nerves, and body than(to
spend ten times the time hunched
over study table.
M AXE the acquisition Of know
ledge pleasant, and the knowledge
will stay by one far longer.
Let students learn quickly.
learn to concentrate both eye and
ear on the subject before them
thus giving them time for other
or further studies, which are
otherwise quite out3of the ques-
ton, and more, time for outdoor
recreation and bodybuilding.
81 believe the talking flln.
aside from being an instrument Of
amusement. will be a potent fac
tor in education
copyright 1929