Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12

photoplay producers. Since
the first flicker picture was
thrown upon a screen, 30 or
more years ago, this entertain
ment medium has been the re-
cipient of bludgeoning, kicks and,
in some cases, barrages from
heavy artillery. Every man, wom-
an and child became a critic.
Each and every effort at improve
ment, honest and otherwise, re-
ceived its share OF condemnation
and very little praise. So now,
when the Nations educators are
closely watching certain expert
ments In Washington, photoplay
magnates feel that their medium
has at last reached large proper
lions.
Certain educational leaders
have for a long time realized the
special value Of the cinema, and,
after considerable effort, they
have paved the way for series
of tests here in the Capital. These
tests started last Wednesday and
were completed yesterday, the
idea being to determine just what
knowledge a child acquires
| through the medium of moving
pictures of special educational
value. The tests, aside from their
recognition of the motion picture,
are revolutionary, inasmuch as
they may, in the years to come,
change the whole system OF school
training. It is within reason that
they may, eventually, result in the
diScarding of textbooks. All this,
of course, if the tests turn out
satisfactorily to the movie in
| terests and the ideas of modern
educators.
Ninety-four school children,
grammar school graduates. were
assembled in Washington for the
tests, and each day they were
shown educational pictures, after
which they were tested on the
amount of knowledge they had
absorbed from the films. The ex-
perimentS were conducted by the
Society for Visual Education, with
| the sponsorship of President
Hoover. Two children from each
State and the District of Column
bia were selected for the tests.
The first examination was given
at George Washington University.
The sound films used in the tests
were produced by the Fox COM
pany. In addressing the children
before the start of the tests,
Joseph M. Dixon, acting Secretary
Of the Interior, said:
president Hoover has asked the
Department of Interior through
the United States Commissioner
of Education, to conduct demon
stration and a test of the use of
sound motion pictures in school
work. I am sure that you chill
dren feel as we do-that you are
| taking part in an important oc-
casion, out Of which will come
advancement in teaching methods
We are sure visual education can
quicken the processes of educa-
ton, enlarge the culture and in
! crease the earning power of the
boys and girls who leave our public
| schools"
According to Harley L. Clarke,
! president of the Fox corporation,
who is in Washington for the tests,
| his company proposes to develop a
complete library of sound films, to
supplement textbook teaching in
American schools. I'VE are begin
Ming" he says, with the produc-
ton of films in the fields of sci
ence, geography and civicS. Even
tually, we hope very soon to have
films covering the major subjects
| of education suitable to the needs
| 80 III to-
! to the university. In this work our
texts will be edited and our lee
lures will be given by nationally
known educators, and our tech
nical work will be done by the
experts who produce succeIful
feature pictures. We are deeply
appreciative of the cooperation
of the officials of the Government
and the leading educators. We
feel that, while approximately
| 100000 boys and girls of today
will have no formal education
beyond the eighth grade, we can
do something to give them a
broader culture and wider vision
of life. If we can add but few
cents a day to the economic value
of each, we shall feel justified the
faith, the patience and the eff
forts of advocates Of visual
education"
This Washington demonstration
was largely inspired by group OF
city school superintendent, repre-
sented by a committee In the
Capital.
Any way you look at 1t, these
tests place the modern sound pic
ture upon a higher plane. 1t is
a recognition of the real value of
the films; it should do much to-
ward elevating public regard for
| the workers in that particular
field of endeavor.
FOR those who closely follow the
studio doings, United Artists
sends out an interesting little
sheet with it's new pictures listed,
and some of these recently COM
pleted films should do something
toward raising the quality scale of
the Summer. For instance, we
are to have Eddie Cantor in
'Palmy Days." an original pros
perity picture, with a happy,
| Joyous return Of American humor
"a rushing, impetuouS tidal wave
of fun with the theatrical worlds
greatest gift to the screen in his
most frolicSome mood"
Ronald Colman is to appear in
two pictures-the "Arrowsmith"
story of Sinclair Lewis and 1.-THE
Unholy Garden" an original story
written by Charles Macarthur and
Ben Hecht. The successful stage
play, Street Scene" is a vehicle
| for william Collier, jr.; Estelle
Taylor. Sylvia Sydney and others.