The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-26

This tremendous expansion in education via the air waves will be made possible through the use of frequency meditation, the new type of broadcasting which insures static-free programs of superior tone fidelity. FM which is expect ed to reduce materially educationS dependence on printing as tool for learning, is especially adaptable to group listening
 Educational Networks
 Some 28 states, representing three fourthS of the countryS total popu- lation, are planning statewide net works of educational stations. Many are remembering not only the big city audiences but the isolated re- gions often ignored by commercial broadcasters. Small town bands and debating teams will he competing in regional and state radio contests and mountain folk in Tennessee and Kentucky will have a whole new world opened to them when they come down the valleys on muleback to see what's going on at the little rtd Schoolhouse.
 In the cities 1t will be harder than ever for young Johnny to avoid exposure to learning, With his homework likely to arrive over the radio within the sphere of par ental supervision. And, too, he can continue school by radio in the event of an epidemic of severe | weather.
 Network programs and policies vii. be carefully planned by state committees, composed of business and professional people, and repre- sentatives of parent- teachers as sociations and state governments as well as educators. according to R. R. I,owdermilk, radio specialist in the U. s. Office of Education, which is advising educators on their radio problems. Persons rep resenting many fields of interest will be chosen to assure impartial ap- praisal of program scripts, he said, There also will be similar regional ana local committees.
 Special Local Programs
 "Take region in Ohio, for eX- ample." he explained, "the one in- cluding Dayton, Springfield, Troy, Piuua. London and Yellow Springs. The life in that community springs from dairying, market gardening and mixed light industry Educa- tional stations in this area Will specialize In vocational and educa- ton problems of particular interest to the people there. Of course there will also be programs in music ap- preciation and other cultural sub- jects," ...-.
 Housing, juvenile delinquency and such community problems will DC treated in programs planned by local committees, he added.
 After the sound programs so OH the air at night. Lowdermllk sald, educational stations might be able to carry on with facsimile the transmission of still pictures, charts maps, diagrams and the like. Teach CTS then would arrive at school tC ! finu master copies awaiting them ready for duplication and early CluSoL
 In proposals for postwar radio Ill America the Federal Communlca- tons Commission has assured edu- cators of an expanded home on the air by reserving a sizable DOT ton of F'M broadcaStng space solely for educational use. Families own ins F'M receiving sets can tune III educational stations as well as com mercial programs.
 Many Forced On Air Educators had their chance tt exploit radio in the early POS whel broadcastng was first sweeping tn, country. Scores of educationa
 institutions had built radio stations before 1894, but commercial com
 petition and lack of funds anC |, trained personnel gradually droy' most of them off the air,
 , With the coming of high-frequen n cy broadcasting, educators aRail , evinced interest in radio and In l94' , the EGG recognized their claims. II
 l942 James Lawrence Fly, then FCC
 chairman, warned that If school ant
 colleges did not use the space alloteC
 to them history Is going to repea
 itself and education will again fint that 1t is left with memories ot {
 lost opportunity"