When it is remembered that the moving picture camera may be used in
connection with the microscope, that it has an unlimited field in
geography, in the recording of social life, and in natural history--it
seems difficult to account for the fact that universities and colleges
have passed it by. The value is not so much to be sought in the
classroom, for there are, of course, objections to its use there, but
the founding of this new type of library would possess an interest for
future generations which can scarcely be over-estimated.
There is no doubt that the decision of the London County Council upon
the question of using the film as a part of the educational curriculum,
will, in the main, be governed by the nature of the Report issued by
the Special Committee appointed by the National Council of Public
Morals to consider the part the cinematograph is destined to play in
public education.
The Education Committee was instructed to report as to the provision by
the Council of the facilities on an educational basis to enable all
London school children to see cinematograph films. These were placed
under the following heads:--
(_a_) Purely instructional or educational; travel, science, and
natural history.
(_b_) Suitable in other respects for exhibition to a juvenile
audience.
Certain objections were raised. One fundamental difficulty was
eyestrain, and another, ill-ventilated rooms. The whole problem
is being viewed by experts from a technical, psychological, and
physiological standpoint.
They had exhibited before them a film showing the power to teach
history and geography. This was demonstrated in a remarkable way by an
exhibition film relating to Christopher Columbus. The scenario was in
Spain, for the most part in the actual surroundings associated with
Columbus. There could be no better way of demonstrating to the scholar
the trials and difficulties encountered by Columbus before and after he
realized his life’s ambition.
It was contended that it would be better to arrange a series of
lectures beforehand, explaining at some length the persecution endured
by Columbus. By this means an oral and visional teaching would be
enacted, leaving a more lasting impression than would be attainable
otherwise.