Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-25
RADIO EDUCATION
SURVEY IS PLANNED
Hoover to Be Asked to Name
Fact-Finding Group, Con-
ference Decides.
BY MARTIN CoDEL.

BY Secretary of the Interior Ray Ly-
man Wilbur to appoint a fact-finding
commission to study the possibilities OF
radio as a medium of education. Deci-
sion to call upon the President to name
such g commission was reached at
conference here yesterday of educators
and chain broadcasters, meeting at the
instance of Secretary Wilbur to discuss
radios actual and potential function in
teaching the young and old.
Assurances Of whole-hearted cooper
alton we're given by the network execu-
tives after they had heard the educators
variously propose plans that ranged
from merely experimenting public
school teaching with educational radio
nroprams to the establishment Of a
national "super-university Of the ali"
THE educators were agreed that sucn
radio programs should be free from
commercial advertising, but the problem
of financial support for the several
ambitious enterprises proposed was leit
for the consideration of the commission.
The matter of Federal policy OF eou-
cation, which is now administered by
States and municipalities, remains 70
he determined by President Hoover ana
his cabinet In the light of the develop
ment of radio. President Hoover Will
doubtless consider this aspect OF the
situation thoroughly before conserving
to name the proposed commission
National Chains TO Be Used.
There was general agreement among
the educators, who were supported IN
their view by Chairman Ira E. Robin
son OF the Federal Radio Commission,
Department of the Interior should be
the Intermediary between the radio
classrooms and the listeners in the pub
lie school rooms or at home. 1t was
the consensus also that existing broad
casting facilities, particularly the ma
tional chains, should be utilized for the
purposes suggested. The impossibility
of establishing q new broadcaStng
structure on a national scale or WITHIN
the States and devoted solely to educa-
ton was made apparent when 1t was
pointed out that sufiicient wave lengths
were physically unavailable.
Secretary Wilbur called the confer
ence on radio education, he told those
attending, out of the realization that
sit seems inevitable that great use
must be found for the radio in our
public educational system" AS the for
mer president of Leland Stanford UNI
versity, he discussed with some author
ity the theory Of auditory education.
Into this field of auditory education, he
said, radio has entered as an important
new force. It can be used to foster
education among the 'ear-minded"
class Of students.
The promise Of television, combining
the visual with the auditory transmits
sion Of intelligence, received considera-
ton. Visual broadcasting. however, Is
not yet out of the laboratory, and an
appreciation of this fact was evinced
among the educators.
Urges Scientific Study.
when with the radio can be COM
bined with the moving picture for dem
onstrations," said Secretary Wilbur,
'even more uncertainty concerning just
what will hapen in the future Of our
present methods is evident. The most
searching scientific study should be
made regarding the best way In which
the radio can find Its place In educa-
ton. It has been used until recently
largely for entertainment and amuse-
ment. It should pass out of the toy
stage into that Of community and do
nestic utility.
1.-THE changes which it has brought
about in popular elections indicate how
great the changes are likely to be when
1t takes its full place In our educational
scheme" added the Secretary.
Commissioner Robinson precipitated
q lively discussion when he questioned,
for the sake Of academic argument,
whether radio will ever be useful for
elementary and college experience
levels. John Elwood, vice president Of
the National Broadcasting Co., said that
the Walter Damrosch concerts, pre-
pared for classroom reception from
third grade to the colleges, proved ra-
dos value In this respect beyond all
doubt.
Suggested for Grades.
William Paley. president of the Co
'lumbta BroadcaSting Co., suggested that
radio In the elementary grades can be
used for instruction through music,
story telling, the dramatization of his
tory and geography and lessons in
spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary.
Tribute to the existing broadcasting
system for It's cooperation with educa-
ton thus far was paid by DR.. J. w
Crabtree, president Of the National Ed
ucation Association. He suggested that
the Bureau of Education might direct
the programs broadcast over existing
national networks as q sort Of supervis-
Ing agency. The encouragement or To-
cal experiments In broadcasting to the
schools, already highly successful in
cities like Cleveland, Atlanta, Hartford
and Cincinnati, was urged by Everett
Case, secretary Of the advisory commit
tee Of the National Broadcasting Co.
While the chains are In a position tc
devote some Of their daylight hours to
educational programs free Of charge
the matter of financing the more extern
etve use Of their facilities provoked
some discussion. Commissioner Robin.
son expressed the conviction that the
Federal Government can enforce the
use of certain hours for education as q
condition Of license grant to stations
In the course of his remarks Judge
Robinson declared his belief that "radie
was born q crippled child. birthmarkeo
by advertising. and It is the duty of al
citizens to get rid Of that deformity."
Copyright, 1919, by North American
Newspaper Alliance)