Evening star., 1932-10-10

"\HOUGH STANDARDS OF mlcfOpnone
technique are far from being
well enough established to COM
i mand general acceptability. many
institutions of higher learning
are adding courses in radio speaking,
announcing writing and drama to their
curicula with view to qualifying young
people for radio careers. It Is an odd
commentary on the 12-year- r-old broad
casting art that it probably has a
higher ratio of college graduates In its
control rooms than in its studios, for
radio engineering has long been taught
in college courses in electrical engin-
eering.
Already a dozen or more colleges and
universities are offering courses in
radio, mostly in radio speaking. Some
times these are special courses, but
more often radio technique Is studied
as part of regular public speaking
courses. Sometimes the instructors are
ence, especially where the institutions
operate their own broadcasting stations
during the school year. All too fire.
quently the subject matter Is taught
purely from the theoretical viewpoint
by instructors inexperienced In radio.
Correspondence Courses.
Even correspondence schools have
sprung up. offering courses In micro
phone technique by mail, and in few
large cities there are studios devoted
exclusively to producing radio speakers
and actors as well as artists.
The new college year just started
found New York University adding
special credit course in radio speaking,
covering composition and delivery Of
radio talks. standards Of pronunciation,
microphone technique and other points
Of variance between radio and platform
oratory. On October 20 q course in
voice training, most of the instructors
being drawn from radio studios and
acoustical laboratories, is being started
by the New School for Social Research,
an important endowed educational In
stitution in New York City.
Northwestern University, it Is believed,
was the first to offer course In radio
writing which was established last year.
At Oglethorpe University, Atlanta,
which has a small radio station of its
own operated exactly like any other
commercial station and supported by
commercial accounts" the course in
radio Is deemed SO important that
special bachelor of arts in radio degree
is given its graduates.
<AhlOl OulFClSlty, OIllO,
gives a course in radio speaking and
announcing while courses of various
sorts are also offered at such institu-
tions as the University of Iowa. Uni
versity Of Wisconsin, University Of
Southern California, Syracuse Univer-
sity and Ohio State University. The
latter institution, which also has its
own radio station, gives a Summer
course in radio for teachers that is
designed particularly to acquaint them
with radios part in classroom work
Ohio State has been a leader among
institutions Of higher learning in offer
ing all kinds Of courses over the radio
itself.
Pennsylvania State Department Of
Education requires that all elementary
school teachers must take courses in
mechanical aids to education" mean
ing motion pictures and recordings as
well as radio. These are offered in
the normal schools and are supervised
by c. F. Hodan at Harrisburg.
For the most part. the radio net
works and stations, while inclined to
encourage the teaching Of radio tech