BAD PICTURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1920, Page 4

BAD PICTURES.

INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN. SUBJECT AGAIN DISCUSSED BY TEACHERS. A frequent subject of discussion at meetings of the New Zealand Educational Institute is the influence of picture shows upon the juvenile mind. The institute, discussed the following remit from Masterton •- —“That the Government be urged to purify and elevate the standard of moving picture entertainments.”

Miss N. E. Goad (Wellington) observed that the institute had ’talked a good deal about pictures,' but the pictures remained the same. She moved as an addition to the remit a suggestion that a woman censor should be appointed and that picture theatres should be controlled either by the Education Department or by the municipal authorifiesties.

Mr A. J. O. Hall (Auckland) submitted that pictures in general should liot be attacked. Quite a lot of them were instructive and very amusing \Vhat. delegates should do was single but some objectionable picture and make representations about- it. Then they should hear what the other side had to say.

; Mr J. C. Webb (Wellington) said he frequently attended picture shows and he hardly ever saw a picture without wishing that children were excluded from seeing it. The difficulty was that the censor had to consider the interests of the adults and not those of the children.

Describing a picture which, lie said, was at present being circulated in New Zealand, Mr J. F. Wilson (Grey) said that a more disreputable and rubbishy rotten thing had never been shown on the screen, Delegates should realise that it was not impossible for the institute to remedy the trouble. All the people wanted was a lead. There was already wide recognition of the evil. Mr F. A. Garry (Hawke’s Bay) suggested that the Government should supply programmes suitable for children and should take care that the children did not see other pictures. , On the suggestion of Mr A. Erskine (Wellington) the conference appointed a committee to investigate and repoi-t to the executive not later than the end of April. The members of the committee are Miss N. Goad, Messrs J. C. Webb, F. A. Garry, McNaughton, and J. F. Wilson,

INSTRUCTION IN CIVICS. Mr J, F, Wilson (Grey) moved:“That tlie department be asked tp give histoi’y and civics that prominent place in the syllabus which the great importance of these subjects warrants, and that they be given a definite place similar to that occupied by English and arithmetic.” At the present time, he said, it was possible for a child to pass the proficiency examination withouthaving an adequate knowledge of history. The subject of civics was one that was of great value to tlie pupil in after years, especially in the matter of the Government elections.

The motion was seconded by Mr L. F. de Berry M.A. (Wanganui), who considered civics was one of the most important subjects of modem education. If something was done to see that the children understood more about the interdependence of country upon country, the country would benefit from the step. The motion was lost,