The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-04-24
DIR. WILLIAMS OFFERS
PRIZES FOR ESSAYS
Generous Offers OF New York Nan in
Connection with Radio
Articles

DR.. J. Leon Williams of New York,
who spends his summers at his SPLEEN
did country estate in Concord. and
who recently offered 800 yearly to-
ward the maintenance of radio
broadcasting station in Skowhegan, is
now offering liberal prizes for radio
essays. In a recent communication
he says:
"In Offering my small contribution
toward the maintenance of a radio
broadcasting station at Skowhegan |
had some very definite ideas in mind
as to the possible value of such an
enterprise in the field of education.
believe, with the president of Anti
och college, that radio contains the
possibility of revolutionizing our pres
ent educational methods. Let me
hasten to add that | do not think any
one will ever acquire an education by
radio.
But radio can do TWO very imp0r-
tant things in the educational field; 1t
can arouse an interest in the many
things the sum of which constitute Il
good education. This arousing of
+ interest Is every NHcIt ltbO6hAHtA &c
the most difficult part of the problem
of education. The other important
thing which radio can do is to briefly
indicate the best paths along which
one must move to acquire an educa-
ton in any particular field. This
can never be done by long, dry lee
lures. to which very few people,
young or old, will listen, but it must
be done by short snappy, picturesque
talks, sandwched in good musical
programs. even despicable jazz
may render service here and thus, for
the first time, justify its existence).
"The Main thing in education Is
not the process of stuffing the young
mind full of more or less unimpor-
tant and disconnected facts. which
are never brought into any coordin-
ated system and practically applied,
but in stimulating the powers OF OBJ
servation and teaching the right use
of the mind in thinking about these
observed facts. The student whose
mind has been trained in this way
stands the best chance of success in
any field of lifes activities, while the
+ merely DOOk-lTdlHeu SluutHI may
ways remain a mere mediocrity.
Now, there is no locality in the
country which does not contain an
abundance of material for arousing
the deepest interest of school child
rem. My idea Is that the radio can
be made use of to arouse an interest
In many things about country life
that will contribute quite as much
! toward real mental development as
the knowledge which they get from
books in their school studies This
proposition is all in line with the
views of the foremost educational au-
! thorities in our country who see the
great need of important notifications
| in our present system.
"Pending further developments of
this idea and the working out of de-
tails in connection with the new
broadcasting station at Skowhegan,
and to concentrate attention on the
radio as a means to the end in view,
| herewith offer three priaes,~open to
all boys and girls who are regular
attendants at any public school In
Somerset County. The winning es-
says to be broadcasted from Skowhe-
gan station.
"Q) $50 for The best essay writ
/ ten under the title: "The Scientific
Principles of Radio and the Lines of
Probable Future Development"
! "(2) SIS for the best essay written
under the title: radio as a Means
| of Instruction
"(D SIS for the best essay written
under the title: Radio as Entertain
ment.'
"Details of the conditions OF this
competition will be forwarded to any
one sending a stamped and addressed
envelope to the Office of the Indepen-
/ dent Reporter"