board of education and is responsible to it; in the others, except patterns VIII and IX covering States without State boards of education, he is on the same level of government as the board or, in fact, on the same level as the governor. It seems evident that the organizational patterns result to a large degree from the manner of providing for the State board and the chief State school officer. Obviously a majority of the States are equipped with an obsolete framework upon which to build a central education agency. The parts are not constituted to form a single agency; where they work as a unit it is because of cooperative efforts of the chief State school officer and the board and not the structure within which they work. In many States the structure is inflexible and fosters division of authority and responsibility, duplication of effort, and impotence. A reexamination of State education machinery with a view to bringing its parts into closer harmony constitutes a matter of prime importance in most States. The consequent modernization of this machinery would provide the foundation for improved services of State departments of education. T Motion Pictures on Democracy by Seerley Reid, Assistant Chief, Visual Aids to Education HAT OUR SCHOOLS should be teach ing and practicing democracy is indisputable. Our children and our youth-and we adults, too—must have an understanding of the principles and processes of democracy, a belief in those concepts, and a determination to practice democracy at home, in school, in the community, the nation, and the world. Motion pictures are particularly effective in achieving this understanding and this determination. Intellectually and emotionally, they are a powerful educational tool. Wisely used, they can help bring about in American youth a better understanding of and a greater faith in democracy. In the belief that democracy should be taught in American schools and colleges and that motion pictures should be widely used in this teaching, the Office of Education in May 1948 initiated a project calling for the preparation, for subsequent publication, of a selective bibliography of visual aids on democracy. In this undertaking, the Office of Education requested the advice and judgment of leaders in the field of visual education, particularly those individuals with extensive experience in evaluating visual materials. A work conference of such leaders was held in Washington, D. C., on June 22–24, 1948. At this conference the scope of the bibliog raphy was defined; criteria were established for the selection of specific visual aids; and a preliminary list of 371 motion pictures (prepared in advance of the conference) was examined and evaluated, from which certain films were recommended for inclusion in the bibliography. Others were rejected, and still others were suggested for further study and investigation. The con ferees agreed to act as an Advisory Committee in the preparation of the bibliography. Procedure of Evaluation Since this work conference, the Office of Education, acting upon the advice of the conferees and following the criteria established at the conference, has screened and evaluated more than 200 motion pictures. For the most part, the reviewing was done by a committee of five staff specialists, all of MEMBERS of the Advisory Committee on Motion Pictures on Democracy: PATRICIA BLAIR, Library Film Advisor, American Library Association; JAMES W. BROWN, Supervisor, Instructional Materials Center, University of Washington; VERNON DAMERON, Harvard University; LESLie E. Frye, Director of Visual Education, Cleveland, Ohio, Board of Education; HERBERT HITE, Head, Bureau of Visual Teaching, State College of Washington; CHARLES F. HOBAN, Associate Professor, Department of Education, Catholic University of America; KATHARINE M. HOLDEN, Assistant Librarian, Mount Vernon, N. Y., Public Library; NELLE LEE JENKINSON, Assistant Director, Division of Audio-Visual Education, St. Louis, Mo., Board of Education; FRANCIS W. NOEL, Chief, Bureau of AudioVisual Education, California State Department of Education; ROBERT QUICK, Manager of Publications, American Council on Education; ROBERT SCHACHT, Director, Bureau of Information and Program Services, University of Wisconsin; ROBERTSON SILLARS, Assistant to the Director, American Association for Adult Education; ERNEST TIEMANN, Audio-Visual Center, Indiana University; NORMAN WOELFEL, Director, Teaching Aids Laboratory, Ohio State University. whom had participated in the conference, namely: Floyde E. Brooker, Chief, Visual Aids to Education; Howard Cummings, Specialist in Government and Economics; J. L. Phalan, Specialist in Economics; Jennings B. Sanders, Specialist in History; and the author. Reviews of the films-both those recommended for inclusion in the bibliography and those not so recommended-have been sent periodically to all members of the Advisory Committee for editing and approval; and all film selections and recommendations have been made upon the basis of the group thinking of this Committee. Criteria of Selection In the first place, only 16mm sound films have been included in this bibliography. This limitation in no way implies that other visual aids should not be used in the teaching of democracy. They most certainly should be. But for practical reasons, the bibliography was limited to motion pictures. Secondly, only those 16mm sound films which deal directly with the principles and processes of democracy have been included in the bibliography. The Committee recognized that, to a certain extent, any film on American history or geography or econom ics or social problems might contribute to an increased understanding of our democracy, but such an interpretation would have resulted in a bibliography covering practically the total field of the social studies rather than a selective bibliography on democracy. While the bibliography is concerned primarily with films portraying specific democratic concepts, the Office of Education and the Advisory Committee felt that it should also list certain general-interest films which, even though they did not deal directly with the principles or processes of democracy, might be profitably used on patriotic occasions. Such films have been included in the bibliography under a definitive heading, Films for Patriotic Occasions. Within this definition of scope-16mm sound films presenting democratic concepts the following criteria were applied in the evaluation of specific films: (1) Relevance to subject, (2) accuracy and authenticity, (3) objectivity and impartiality, (4) clarity and comprehensibility, (5) interest and audience appeal, (6) quality, (7) availability and accessibility. Present Status and Next Steps To date (November 10, 1949) 198 different films have been screened and evaluated according to the criteria named above. Of these 198 films, 89 have been accepted for inclusion in the bibliography; 109 have been rejected. The 89 films, all of them recommended by the Office of Education and the Advisory Committee for the teach Key to Sources of Democracy Films Listed tion, 369 Lexington Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. National Conference of Christians and Jews, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York 16, N. Y. National Probation Association, 1790 Broadway, New York 19, N. Y. Nu-Art Films, Inc., 145 West Forty-fifth Street, New York 19, N. Y. Ohio State University, Colum- RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., United Nations, Film Board, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Motion Picture Service, Washington 25, D. C. U. S. Department of the Treasury, Savings Bonds Division, Washington 25, D. C. University of Wisconsin, Bureau of Visual Instruction, Madison 6, Wis. Young America Films, Inc., 18 East Forty-first Street, New York 17, N. Y. ing of democracy, appear in this article. There are still a few films to be screened and reviewed. As soon as this is done, so that the bibliography will be as complete as possible, the Office of Education will publish the bibliography, with film descriptions and utilization suggestions, and copies will be available at a nominal price from the Superintendent of Documents. We are hoping that the final bibliography will be available for your use by March 1, 1950, so that you may be guided by it in planning your use of films, not only during the remainder of this school year, but for the next school year. In the following listing only a minimum amount of information has been given. All of the films are 16mm sound. Whether they are black-and-white or color is indicated, as is the running time in minutes. The primary distributor is identified by code letters which are detailed in the accompanying box. Most of the films may be borrowed or rented from your State or local film library. These libraries are listed, by States and cities, in A Directory of 897 16mm Film Libraries available for 15 cents from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. I. OUR DEMOCRATIC HERITAGE The United States and Its Traditions THE FLAG SPEAKS (color, 19 min., TFC) LAND OF LIBERTY-1805-1860 (b/w, 20 min., LAND OF LIBERTY-1860-1890 (b/w, 20 min., TFC) LAND OF LIBERTY-1890-1938 (b/w, 20 min., OUR MONROE DOCTRINE (b/w, 20 min., Post) WINNING OUR INDEPENDENCE (b/w, 37 min., TFC) Law and Justice ENGLISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE (b/w, 22 min., BIS) The Declaration of Independence DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (color, 19 min., TFC) OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (b/w, 20 min., Post) The Constitution OUR CONSTITUTION (b/w, 20 min., Post) OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (b/w, 10 min., KB) SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE (b/w, 21 min., TFC) The Bill of Rights THE BILL OF RIGHTS (color, 17 min., TFC) Abraham Lincoln LINCOLN IN THE WHITE HOUSE (color, 21 min., TFC) THE PUBLIC LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN (b/w, 35 min., Nu-Art) YOUNG MR. LINCOLN (b/w, 105 min., FI) II. THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY "Melting Pot" AMERICANS ALL (b/w, 16 min., MOT) IMMIGRATION (b/w, 11 min., EBF) NEW AMERICANS (b/w, 17 min., RKO) ONE PEOPLE (color, 9 min., ADL) Racial and Religious Freedom THE COLOR OF A MAN (color, 20 min., IFF) Respect for the Individual BOY IN COURT (b/w, 12 min., NPA) DOES IT MATTER WHAT YOU THINK? (b/w, 15 min., BIS) ENGLISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE (b/w, 15 min., BIS) JOURNEY INTO MEDICINE (b/w, 38 min., Castle) NEW PRISONS-NEW MEN (b/w, 20 min., Pict) PROBLEM CHILDREN (b/w, 21 min., OSU) Free Public Education BETTER SCHOOLS FOR RURAL WISCONSIN (color, 29 min., Wisc) FREEDOM TO LEARN (b/w, 17 min., Castle) SCHOOL HOUSE IN THE RED (color, 41 min., THE WILSON DAM SCHOOL (b/w, 20 min., TVA) Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly DOES IT MATTER WHAT YOU THINK? (b/w, 15 min., BIS) THE FLAG SPEAKS (color, 19 min., TFC) THE STORY THAT COULDN'T BE PRINTED (b/w, 11 min., TFC) Democracy Versus Totalitarianism DEMOCRACY (b/w, 11 min., EBF) DESPOTISM (b/w, 10 min., EBF) III. DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES In the Family BILL GARMAN, 12 YEAR OLD BUSINESSMAN (color, 11 min., Frith) FAMILY TEAMWORK (color, 18 min., Frith) PATTY GARMAN, LITTLE HELPER (color, 11 min., Frith) YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (b/w, 8 min., Assn) In School DISCUSSION IN DEMOCRACY (b/w, 10 min., Coronet) LEARNING DEMOCRACY THROUGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROJECTS (color, 20 min., Locke) LEARNING THROUGH COOPERATIVE PLAN- WE PLAN TOGETHER (b/w, 22 min., TC) In the Community ARE YOU A GOOD CITIZEN? (b/w, 10 min., Coronet) BOB MARSHALL COMES HOME (b/w, 22 min., BOOKS AND PEOPLE (color, 15 min., ALA) SCHOOL HOUSE IN THE RED (color, 41 min., THE SCHOOL THAT LEARNED TO EAT (color, 22 min., Gen Mills) THE WAY WE LIVE (b/w, 64 min., BIS) In Government GENERAL ELECTION (b/w, 20 min., BIS) HOW WE ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES (b/w, 10 min., Coronet) JOURNEY INTO MEDICINE (b/w, 38 min., Castle) MEET YOUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (b/w, 15 min., YAF) PENNSYLVANIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN STATE LEGISLATURE (color, 20 min., Acad) In the World TFC) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS IV. FILMS FOR PATRIOTIC OCCASIONS AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (color, 20 min., TFC) THE BILL OF RIGHTS (color, 17 min., TFC) THE FLAG SPEAKS (color, 19 min., TFC) GIVE ME LIBERTY (color, 20 min., TFC) HYMN OF THE NATIONS (b/w, 29 min., Castle) INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE (b/w, 10 min., TFC) LINCOLN IN THE WHITE HOUSE (color, 21 min., TFC) THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY (color, 21 min., TFC) THE NATION'S CAPITAL (b/w, 15 min., MOT) THE PERFECT TRIBUTE (b/w, 20 min., TFC) THE POWER BEHIND THE NATION (color, 17 min., UST) SING A SONG OF FRIENDSHIP-Parts 1 and 2 (color, 10 min., each, ADL) THE SONG OF A NATION (color, 19 min., TFC) New Books and Pamphlets Constructing Classroom Examinations: A Guide for Teachers. By Ellis Weitzman and Walter J. McNamara. Chicago, Science Research Associates, 1949. 153 p. $3. The Cost-Quality Relationship on the Growing Edge: A Study of Returns for Money Spent in High Expenditure School Systems. By Lorne Hedley Woollatt. New York, Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1949. 80 p. (Metropolitan School Study Council, Research Studies, Number 4) $1.75. Early School Leavers: A Major Educational Problem. By Harold J. Dillon. New York, National Child Labor Committee, 1949. 94 p. (National Child Labor Committee. Publication 401) $1.25. Education for Social Competence: Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary School Social Studies. (Part of the Report of the Stanford Social Education Investigation). By I. James Quillen and Lavone A. Hanna. Chicago, Scott, Foresman and Company, 1948. 572 p. $3. Federal Grants-in-Aid. Chicago, Council of State Governments, 1949. 322 p. $3.50. Growing Points in Educational Research. Official Report of the American Educational Research Association, A Department of the National Education Association. Washington, D. C., American Educational Research Association, 1949. 340 p. $2. How to Make a Play School Work: A Manual for Teachers and Group Leaders. Written by Members of the Play Schools Staff. New York, Play Schools Association, Inc. (119 West 57th St.), 1949. 36 p. 40 cents. Manners Made Easy. By Mary Beery. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1949. 327 p. Illus. $2.40. 100 Plays for Children: An Anthology of Non-Royalty One-Act Plays. Edited by A. S. Burack. Boston, Plays, Inc., 1949. 886 p. $4.75. Our Teachers Mold Our Nation's Future. By Geraldine Saltzberg. New York, The Macmillan Company, 1949. 189 p. $2.25. Your Child's Speech and How To Improve It. By Amy Bishop Chapin and Ruth Lundin. (Accompanied by a PictureWord Test.) Cleveland, The Press of Western Reserve University, 1949. 30 p. 75 cents. -Susan O. Futterer, Associate Librarian, Federal Security Agency Library. tendent and the principal in most school systems in cities of 100,000 population and over. Discusses duties, responsibilities, and unique professional services which he performs. The Pre-service Preparation of Elementary Teachers at New York University. By Clara S. Platt. Doctor's, 1946. New York University. 156 p. ms. Evaluates the curriculum designed to educate prospective elementary teachers for teaching in the public and private schools in New York and neighboring States. A Study of the Content and Organization of the American History Course in the Senior High Schools of Medium Sized Communities in Metropolitan Boston. By Max Weitzman. Master's, 1949. Boston University. 78 p. ms. Reveals a trend to establish a link between the classroom and the problems of the socio-economic world; and that isolated bits of information and unrelated skills are merging into courses built to provide a broad basic understanding of modern life. A Study of the Extra Cost of Free Education. By Floyd E. Tyree. Master's 1947. Indiana State Teachers College. 49 p. ms. Studies the amount of money spent for clothing, food, school supplies, school entertainment, musical instruments, music lessons, and special rentals and breakage charges by pupils in a consolidated school in Francisco, Ind. -Compiled by Ruth G. Strawbridge, Federal Security Agency Library Bibliographer. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1950 |