Broadcast for N.Z. Schools

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 40, 17 April 1931, Page 5

Broadcast for N.Z. Schools

Important Extensions to Radio Service —

ON Tuesday last, April 14, a definite move with respect to utilising the broadcasting service in the New Zealand -educational system was made. Working in co-operation with the Department of Education, the Broadcasting Company has extended the hours of transmission at 2YA, and the station is now to go on the air every Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 8 o’clock for the purpose of broadcasting special lecture-lessons, given by the educational authorities, for the benefit of the schools. :

The first session was inaugurated by Mr. T. B.. Strong, Director of Edueation, Mr. McKinnon,-of the Training College, following with a talk on a nature study topie. A third lecture was on music, given by Mr. Douglas Tayler, Supervisor of School Musie. The daily sessions will comprise three lecturettes, one of which will be on music and will be given by Mr. Tayler. . When we consider the tremendous use that is being made of radio through out the world for the dissemination 0:

information and for propaganda purposes, it is strange that so far more has not been made of it in schools. There have been. and still are. many obstacles, particularly in regard to the equipping of the schools with receiving sets, but these will be overcome. The Department of Education has realised the value of broadcasting as a purveyor of information and instruc tion to schools, not only in the country but in the eity areas, and over two yeurs ago a test transmission was car: tied out from 2¥A. Now. howeyve1, the proposal has taken more definite shape and is to be thoroughly. tried out. The department is to be conmended on its enterprise, as also is the Broadcasting Company, whieh has thus placed 2¥A at its’ disposal: qs America and in some of the countries of Europe there are schools very elaborately equipyed for the reception and distribution of radio prevrammes, Usually there is nn receiy-

) ) ing set in the headmaster’s room, and this is linked by wiring either to individual class-rooms or to a common auditorium, equipped with loudspeakers. Where such an installation exists it is not used solely for radio. Switching arrangements are included for transmission from gramophone records and for lectures or lessons spoken into the microphone. Moreover, the transmitting stations are usually colleges or other institutions of an edueational nature. The consensus of opinion in regard to these special services is that they have a certain. limited and definable value. but that for the ordinary purposes of teaching they are ineffective. THE New Zealand proposal, as we understand it, is not on those lines, It is intended to make available to schools the services of experts in particular branches of knowledge or experience where personal visits to sehools would be out of the question. By broadcasting, the work of these experts will be manifolded-instead of speaking to the pupils or the teachers of one school, he will address many. Much of the work done by itinerant instructors will be expedited. When ' broadeasting technique has been thoroughly mastered by the radio instructors, combined with the collaboration of the teachers, xadio lecture-lessons will prove very efficient. The departure made by the Educa-. tion Department opens up vast possibilities, and Tuesday, April 14, is likely to be an important milestone in the history of education in New Zealand. There is no limit to the subjects which may be dealt with over the air. In addition to the project undertaken by the Department of Education in respect to the schools, the Workers’ Educational Association also proposes to make use of the broadcasting ser- . vice of New Zealand for the purpose of aiding its study classes located throughout the country. Thus the power of broadcasting as a factor in modern life, capable of being developed for the welfare of the people, is becoming more fully realised and broadeasting is rapidly advancing to fill its rightful sphere.