Evening star., 1932-02-21
NE. A. SETS DOUBLE
CONVENTION TASK
New Allies in Character Edu.
cation and Slump Preven-
ton Sought.

Conversion of the radio. cinema,
press and the automobile from poten-
tial enemies" of character education
to active allies in the training of youth,
and the founding of methods by which
education may cope with and even pres
vent national economic crises, Is the
dual task set for themselves by the Ma
tons leading educators in the sixty
second annual convention of the De-
partment Of Superintendent of the
National Education Association in
Washington during the next five days.
This was revealed at the official
opening of the superintendents' ses-
sions late yesterday when 1000 dele
gates saw for the first time the printed
Tenth Annual Year Book" Of the de-
partment which deals with character
education.
The part which national economic
questions play as they pertain to the
country at large and, in particular to
the field of education, was outlined
eaaarly in the convention program.
Year Book to Be Presented.
(hs tenth annual year book will be
presenueI Immediately after the open
Ing of the session at 8:45 o'clock in the
AEning. The year book is 535-page
VI Vic QCpdl
~ character education and it deals
harshly with the hazards of modern
tA&ention.'
SharacteriZing radio as another gift
of the gods the reports re- aluS /. as
"a powerful agency of moral education
which, like the press, the cinema and
many of our recreational agencies" has
been developed with utter disregard OF
its cultural possibilities.
Indeed" the report asserts, "as the
radio patron knows only too well,
splendid musical number may be en-
ployed as bait to lure him within reach
of a salesman who wishes to sell him
certain brand of hat or chewing gum.
Could the prostitution OF great gift
60 any further?"
The question of control Of the radio,
the report continues. would seem to be
more urgent than the question OF the
control of the press because the danger
of monopoly is so much greater.
Cinema NegIects Culture"
Because the motion picture is re-
garded as an industry. the report says
of the cinema, it has been neglected as
a medium of culture.
The all too common result, there
fore" the report contends, lis sensa-
ton, insipidity and absorption in sex"
Continuing the report suggests:
HOLLYWOOD might become great
center for the development Of richer
and more humane American culture; at
present the thesis might well be de-
Tended that it Is more of liability than
an asset. The conclusion should, OF
course, not be drawn that the moving
picture is having little influence on
American life. The contrary IS most
certainly the case. But to what end?
Primarily. the accumulation OF profits!
The newspapers come in for their
share Of criticism in the report which
asserts that while the press is instru-
mental in introducing new ideas and
conceptions of life and thus brings
about changes in life standards. its
chief purpose for existence is private
gain"
Main Function SubOrdinated.
"a great cultural instrument is being
conducted in the interests Of personal
profit rather than in the interests OF
popular enlightenment" the year book
charges The committee reports, how
ever, that it does not mean that the
press does not give enlightenment but
that ''its central function is subordi-
mated to improper considerations" The
problem, the committee contends, Is
particularly acute in the case of the
daily newspaper.
"Ths newspaper" the report con-
tinues, "being in fact a great business
enterprise, must secure well paid ad-
yertising: in order to secure we'll paid
: advertising, it must build up a wide
circulation: and in order to build up a
wide circulation it must purvey those
wares which will make it the widest
appeal to sensation and amusement
hunting public
Automobile Is Blamed.
The automobile as the symbol Of
modern transportation, Is criticized In
the report for weakening parental
restraint and offering dangerous free
dom to youth, and praised for stimulat-
ing ambition Declaring that the auto
mobile has destroyed the physical
isolation of the farm, halted the de-
velopment of a distinctly rural culture,
liberated the individual from the
domination of the small group, and has
extended to the remote countryside the
influence of the city," the report asserts:
1T has given such freedom OF move
ment to the younger generation as the
youth Of no other age ever enjoyed.
1t also offers moral dangers. 1t has
weakened the power Of parental
restraint and has brought the sexes
together far from the influences of
ancestral taboos 1t also has greatly
widened the range of social contacts,
opened up new opportunities Of ad-