FILM EDUCATION

At the Annual Conference of the Federation, and again in a radio broadcast, Dr. Philip Allingham raised the question of teaching about film in schools. Dr. Allingham made the point that it might be more appropriate to teach film than Shakespeare because the film is an influential part of a child's life, whereas Shakespeare is not. This is, of course, a very much simplified version of what Dr. Allingham said but it serves to illustrate a situation that requires facing with all urgency because of the growth of television.

Now, instead of the Saturday afternoon pilgrimage to the delights of the local picture theatre, children are being exposed daily, instead of weekly, to a medium notorious for its persuasive power. If you have ever had the chance to observe children watching television you will need no reminder of the almost hypnotic effect it has on them or of the tussle to get away and off to bed. The result of this is that N.Z. children are being subjected, unprepared, to a wide variety of ideas and attitudes which do not stem naturally from the local environment and which in many cases are not desirable from the community point of view.    

Of course, with both film and television, they are also being exposed to an enormous amount of worthwhile information which in time must produce a more cosmopolitan outlook than has ever been possible before. Anything that can help to increase a child's knowledge of the world in general must surely be of some benefit.

It is a waste of time attempting to prohibit a child from watching films or television. That course merely creates more problems than it solves. What is needed - and the sooner some move is made the better - is a properly organised course in film appraisal as a part of the educational curriculum. Only the schools can do this. Most parents do not know enough about the subject to equip their children to evaluate films. The Film Societies are hamstrung because of the prohibition on children under 16 as members. There is no reason at all , though, why Film Societies should not exert pressure through the local PTAs or through any other means that seem fruitful, to have film evaluation taught in schools.

Perhaps the most effective piece of equipment a modern child can be provided with, is the ability to evaluate and make up his own mind about the overwhelming mass of propaganda, both intentional and unintentional, that batters his eyes and ears from the moment he is born until the day he dies. The film is an ideal medium for him to cut his critical teeth on.

-John Blennerhassett.