Wireless Lessons in English Schools.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 September 1928, Page 7

Wireless Lessons in English Schools.

Report of Kent Education Committee.

Pur day when the equipment of all rural elementary schools will include a wireless receiver is brought a step nearer by the publication under the auspices of the British Broadcasting Corporation of the Kent Education Committee’s report on an investigation undertaken during 1927 to ascertain the "alue of educational broadcasting in schools. °Educationists throughout the country have followed the Kent experiment with keen interest. Those education authorities who have been waiting for guidance before adopting broadcasting as a normal adjunct to the school curriculum will find in this report definite conclusions as regards its utility from an unbiased and authoritative source. For the purpose of the inquiry, to the cost of which a sum of £300 was contributed by the Carnegie ‘Trustees, wireless receiving sets were installed in 62 elementary schools of all types, large and small, in town and country, in Kent. The inquiry was launched in January, 1927, and throughout the year children of both sexes listened

aiaameeantieil regularly to the broadcast lectures with the co-operation of their teachers. Upon the evidence of teachers obtained by means of questionnaires, the report concludes that the broadcast lesson imparted a knowledge of facts. stimulated interest in ‘ways which could be definitely observed, created impressions as durable as those produced by ordinary lessons, did not encourage inattention, were particularly stimulating to clever children, supplied views and information which the teachers themselves could not have supplied. gave fresh ideas for lessons and jnterested parents in some of the work thit the children did in school. The suggestion that the loudspeaker can in any sense replace the teacher és firmly refuted, and it is reported that successful broadcast lessons depend upon close co-operation between the wireless lecturer and the teacher. A concerted plan of action must be worked out by the wireless lecturer and put into effect both in the studio and in the classroom. ‘The report also dlisproves the theory that broadcasting encourages inactivity on the part of the pupil. It is found that some subjects lend themselves more readily than others to treatment at the microphone. For example, the investigators found that music was suitable, by reason of the opportunities that it afforded for illustration; French, so that the voice of 2 Frenchman might be heard; geography, so that travellers could speak personally of their experiences ; and history, because a specialist having first-hand knowledge of the subject could supply a vivid background to history text-books, much as the traveller provides a vivid background to the Atlas. On the technical side it is reported that a certain type of small valve receiver is suitable for use in the classroom, and that consistently clear reception can be obtained where arrangements are made for the regular overhauling of the set and charging of the batteries. There can be no doubt that wireless has its place in our schools. The emaller country school with its two

or three teachers has much to gain from the introduction of a new voice, a new vocabulary and a fresh range of experience and the broadcasting of national events must. bring a new civic consciousness into the classroom. This much is evident and the report, which is the result of an impartial and scientific investigation, indicates the place which wireless should occupy in the school curriculum. Dr. E. Salter Davies, Director of Education for Kent, says in a foreword to the report :- "Every Monday afternoon at haltpast two the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation, after the manner of the well-known French Minister of Education, can take out his watch and say: ‘At this moment 70,000 children ’are taking a wireless history lesson; music on Tues: day, English on Wednesday, and so on threaghout the week.’ Two years ago he would not have claimed 20,000 pupils. Two years hence he may be devine with 200,000. In ten years, who can say how many boys and girls will have come under his influence?"