Evening star., 1936-11-14

eTal government through
~ series Of daily Federal broad
east programs Is now an accomplished
fact.
These broadcast programs, consti-
tuting a radio school Of the air, are
meeting with tremendous popularity
throughout the United States. More
than 1000 letters daily are coming into
the ONCE of Education, sponsor of the
programs, attesting their popularity
They have been going but very short
time.
Analysis of radio programs in the
past has indicated that the average
educational program has stirred little
enthusiasm in the public mind. Pro-
grams were not listenable. Yet the
radio is regarded as one of the greatest
mediums ever given into the hands of
man for educational purposes-if 1t
could be utilized.
Today five radio programs are put
out by the Federal Radio School, and
all are listenable. Four of these pro-
grams are based upon findings and
QSCOt6Tl6S VI IllC 1lOct-4CA4oWACeS
scientists in the world.
From every corner Of the universe
there pours into Washington material
used in these scholastic broadcasts.
This material ranges from data on the
beginning of the earth, the moon, the
stars, to the developing story of man
and his civilization; from the first
bateau of primordial man to the
winged clippers of today's skies and
future possibilities in very field Of en-
deavor.
Have You Heard" the first of these
Federal programs, is made up OF a
body of facts of natural science tidbits
that tempt the mind and make it eager
to want more. These curious and spec
tacular facts range the entire scien-
tifc world. They catch the listeners
attention and focus his mind on the
story to come, the explanation of the
fact so curious and unnatural.
Have you heard that your clock is
never correct?" Have you heard that
ants plant gardens and grow their own
food?" Have you heard that all the
insects in the world would weigh more
than all the rest Of the animals put
together"
There are thousands upon thousands
Of such scientific morsels lying around
our doors daily for ediflcation and in
crease Of the knowledge of our minds.
"Have You Heard?" asks you about
them and then gives the answers.
zach broadcast in Have You
Heard" Is devoted to one special
subject-the moon, earthquakes, how-
ers, fish and so on. Following the
broadcast supplementary material sup
piled by the radio school is sent upon
request. This material has been pre-
pared from accurate scientific data,
checked and rechecked for accuracy.
Further, in order to make the pro-
gram more listenable, sound effects. to
convey realism, music and dramatiza-
ton are used. The speech, the talk,
the lecture are taboo.
The second of these experimental
educational broadcasts is called. AN
swer Me This" This is social
science program. 1t covers current
events, civics, economics, government
and related subjects. Answer Me
This" usually is series of about 20
questions and answers. 1t covers a
particular subject. Say that subject
Is the Olympic games, recently COM
pleted in Germany. Questions are
asked about these games, their origin,
their development, the number of ma
tions participating in them today. the
significance Of the circles interlocking
In the flag, whether the men and
women athletes compete against each
other, and so on.
The answers to these questions are
given Immediately. After such
broadcast the radio listener has the
complete story Of the Olympics, or any
other subject that may be chosen.
This broadcast embodies distinctly the
element of contest. 1t presents a
challenge to the mind seeking in
formation. In addition to being a
popular broadcast with the public,
Answer Me This" is having quite a
run now as parlor game. It is being
used to make pleasurable the long
Winter evenings In the home, both
with children and guests. Here again,
music, sound effects and dramatiza-
ton are used to make the program
more gripping and entertaining.
The most interesting and by far
the most popular of these scholastic
broadcasts of Uncle Sam is that titled
"The World Is Yours" Response to
this program by the public has been
overwhelming.
The Smithsonian Institution is q
storehouse of treasure. It has ex-
hibits at which the intellect must
marvel, exhibits gathered from the
four corners of the earth. from the
sea and the dark interior Of caves and
bottomless canyons. These exhibits
trace the scientific and historical de-
velopment of man and his civilization.
There are stuffed animals, birds.
cases Of beautiful butterflies, skeletal
remains Of prehistoric monsters, and
fossils replete with natural history
lore; human artifacts replete with the
ancient cultural history Of man,
steam engines, airplanes, automobiles,
all telling the. story Of our progress in
the arts and sciences. There are hui
man skulls, precious stones, gold and
silver ornaments, rings, pendants.
beads-each telling q story fraught
with some romance Of life--of love,
Of birth, Of marriage, Of success and
death. Stories of intrigue, of despair,
Of happiness and foul murder.
RUT as these things stand in the
grim. red walls of the Smithson-
ian they are Just SO much dead stuff
50 much stone, clay, alabaster. To
bring them to the ear of everybody
they must again be brought to life, to-
be made to live again, to be stirred
again by feelings of hunger and fear.
The educational program 1.-THE
World Is Yours" does this very thing.
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