Making Radio Part of School Life

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 15 March 1935, Page 20

Making Radio Part of School Life

Professor Shelley, of Christchurch, Has Plans for Extending Educational Broadecasts-State Control of Religion? — Christchurch Royal _ Musieal Society’s Jubilee.

ROFESSOR JAMES SHELLEY, of Canterbury College, Christchurch. has kept in touch with England regarding educational broadcasts, and this year the lower class work is going to be confined solely to eurythmics. For infants and juniors an experimental course in rhythm, movement and musical appreciation will be taken during the first term, beginning March 20, and will be under the joint direction of Miss D. Baster and Miss Jean Hay, the latter holding a certificate of the Da!crose School of Wurythmics, London. Both women are on the staff of the Normal School, Christchurch. The course is primarily intended for the six, seven and eight-year-olds, and it is hoped that it will be of some value, especially where the teachers’ musical ability is somewhat limited. The main aim will be to provide a joyous approach to the study of music and movement. The lessons will include work in listening, pitch, intensity of tone, relaxation and contraction, recognition and tempo, and so on. Singing will be included and the use of musical records. An attempt will also be made to introduce rhythmie handcurving movements. Bare feet, stockinged feet or soft shoes will be essential by the pupils for the experiment, and it is hoped that a large degree of co-operation will be given by the teachers of the listening classes, ADVENTURE and personality is the scheme to be worked on for the upper classes, and centred round pioneer adventures through the ages. This is to include adventures in literature, art, science and invention, exploration, musie and social work, different members of the Training College staff taking each section, and having assistance if necessary. In connection with the course a pamphlet is being produced which will include a little summary of the person’s work and portrait, and with the arts section, reproductions of good pictures which will be discussed. In the music section, Mr. Jenner is going to teach a typical song from.each composer that he deals with, and the music and words will be reproduced in the booklet. HE two principals of this ambitious scheme, Professor James Shelley and Mr. A, J. Campbell, M.A., are yery much alive to the fact that it Is

purely experimental still, but one section of the work will include reports from the schools with suggestions, Mr. I. Brew, vice-principal of the Training College, collecting all this information and. keeping in touch with those broa‘dcusting the talks. PROFESSOR SHELLEY intends (0 install a radio set at Canterbury College, and whilst a talk is being given, observations can be taken as fo how that class responds to the talk and technique. Much thought and work has had to be given to find out the most suitable lectures to be broadcast, and the claim in the whole scheme is to supplement the teachers’ work to a great extent, and open up a new field to them. Professor Shelley speaks on March 20 on "How to Listen-in to the Radio," and on March 27 the ful course will be started with ‘"Adventures in Art." "RHE possibility that through its control of broadcasting the State might eventually control the expression of religion, was the subject of comment by Mr. H. Sturge, the chairman, at the session of the annual Assembly of the Congregational Union in New Zealand. Mr. Sturge said that many people held that the advance of broadcasting would finally do away with church-going, and that the microphone would replace the pulpit. If that ever did occur it would mean that the State would control religion, or at least the expression of religion. Although the view he had stated had a fairly wide acceptance, said Mr. Sturge, he himself did not believe it. There would, he hoped, always be that impulse for people to assemble so that in unison they might assist each other in the attainment of spiritual welfare. It was only by the assembling of people in the churches, that the ehurch could grow, and failure by the people to assemble could lead only to spiritual atrophy, decay and death.. Ti Oommercial Travellers’ Concert Party is planning a programme for its next performance before the microphone. These Saturday evening coneerts are a delight to listeners-com-prising vaudeville combined with good singing. The last two concerts represented both*the army and navy, with all the popular land and sea songs. Judging by the standard set, the Commercial Travellers’ Concert ‘Party’s next performance can be looked forward to. HAT well-known and splendid male quartet-the Christchurch Harmony Four-is to have a counterpart in a women’s foursome, which will be known ag the Dulcet Quartet. It is a long time since a combination of women’s voices Was heard over the air. and their appearance in the ballad hour on March 29 should be interesting,

HIS month marks the 75th annivers-, ary of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society’s foundation. This society was originally known as the Canterbury Musical Society; and the committee has arranged some suitable celebration. An effort is to be made to increase the present number of subscribers, the list being considered too small for the society to operate on a sound financial basis. The first concert of the. season was Coleridge Taylor’s "Hiawatha," the second concert will probably be miscellaneous items, and the third either "Bride of Dunkerron" or "Merrie EMngland." R. A. JACKSON-THOMAS is the composer of the successful one-act comedy, "The Great French Duel," to be presented from 3YA on Thursday, March 28. This play is full of interest. and Mr. Jackson-Thomas is to produce ‘as well ag taking a part in the production. He jis assisted by Mr. Norman Harrison and Mr. Selwyn Davies, two well-known artists in Christchurch. T the monthly meeting of the executive committee of the Radio 3ZM Club held last Thursday, the following resolution was carried :- That this meeting of the executive committee of the Radio 3Z41 Glub, representing approximately 5000 subseribing families (roughly 20,000 listeners), request Parliament to consider favourably when dealing with the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, 1935, our requests, as follow: (2) That if the Broadcasting Board be given the right to control and interfere with B class stations’ programmes, then B elass_ stations should, in equity, be afforded the equivalent right of direct representation (by an election by B class stations) on the Broadcasting Board; () That the Broadcasting Board be not given authority to interfere with the existing programme arrangements by B cjass stations unles¢ epproved by ‘the B class stations. (c) That the Broadcasting Board subsidise all B class stations placed under the control of the board-such subsidy to be not less than £300 per annum. (d) That B class stations be allowed te continue their existing arrangements for raising revenue "for operating expenses. ° (e) That B class stations be permitted to continue broadcasting the. birthday and other greetings and also request items. ME. A. W.. CURRIB, : chief announcer at 38YA, was involved in an accident with his ear last Thursday in Christchurch while motorfng vith his parents, The three received injuries, and Mr. Currie is at present being relieved from his duties at 3YA.