Evening star., 1942-04-19

direction OF Mrs. Florence Massey
Black. In addition, the students
often speak before microphone in
the classroom to simulate as closely
as possible actual radio broadcasts.
All of the script writing and re-
search work on the Chamber of
Commerce broadcasts is done by
committee of seven students. They
are Peggy Spencer, Ruth Capella,
John Church. Georges Edelen. who
acts as announcer; Sam Furlow,
Betty Waits and Betita Martinez.
The youthful radio artists also have
their own broadcasts, in which the
future Graham McNamees and Cor
nelia Otis SINNERS give impromptu
talks without scripts.
AnBach Program.
Subjects of the Chamber of Com
merce broadcasts. in which an aver
age Of 10 students participate, along
with the schools A Cappena choir,
have ranged from a discussion of the
advantages of living In Bethesda to
an interview with Mrs. B. Peyton
Whalen, chairman of the Montgom-
cry County Women's Division of the
M6ryland Defense Council.
A recent broadcast featured an
all-Bach program and was given in
honor of DR.. Edwin w. Broome,
county superintendent of schools.
Each musical number was announced
by different student, who also gave
a brief analysis of conditions exist
ing at the time Bach wrote his IA
nous works.
For example, in announcing that
the choir would sing the chorale.
Prayer for Peace" the student re-
called that, at the time the COM
poser wrote it. Prussia had just
emerged from the Thirty Years War.
Unrehearsed short talks, with or
without gestures, are a regular daily
feature in the four public speaking
classes. Unlike radio audience,
however, the rest of the class and
Mrs. Black lombard the student
who has given the talk with bar
rage of criticism, both favorable and
unfavorable.
Involved Sentences.
One hapleSs student. after telling
the class of trip he had made re-
Gently, was told by Mrs. Black that
he lacked "oomph."
Another, who told Ct the hardships
he encountered while sailing down
the Potomac on an 1l-foot boat on a
winter day. was praised for his
enthusiasm"
One member of the class. how
ever, didn't like the use of. the word
''unstuck" in the talk, while Mrs.
Black thought the speakers SEN
tences too involved"
The use of slang by a student in
telling about her recent trip to
Fort Washington was severely criti-
cized by Mrs. Black. Words such as
mess around" hep" and scout
around" were termed particularly
Objectionable
One of the students pointed out
that the speaker had used the word
calvary" instead Of cavalry" This
precipitated an outburst Of laughter
from the rest of the class
Specific Topics.
Mrs. Black explained that. some
times, specific topics are assigned
to the students, such as: Present
Gift to Mr. So. -and-So," or My Phi
losophy of Life" Generally, she
said. the students are asked to give
types Of talks-informative, persua-
sive and so on-rather than talks
on specific subjects.
In explaining the emphasis placed
on radio broadcasting in the class,
Mrs. Black said, We feel that radio
is such an important part of every
day life that persons must have
radio experience in order to be eff
cient public speakers"
Mrs, Black said the school is the
only one in Montgomery County
which combines radio work with
public speaking. More than rs per
cent of the students taking the
course already have participated in
oroadcastS, she added.
Every student in the public speak
ing classes must make a recording
of a talk twice a year to show
whether there has been an improre-
ment in speaking technique" The
course is elective and is taken prin-
cipslly by seniors. Several students
have indicated their intention to
continue in radio work after gradua-
ton, Mrs. Black said.