Scheme For Educational Broadcasts

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 12 July 1935, Page 36

Scheme For Educational Broadcasts

Comprehensive Supplementary Plan Will Cost Hach School £1/10/-- ~* Musical Treats in Store — 3ZM Club’s Meeting — Cecilia Keating’s Departure — 3YA’s New Power.

(SONSIDERING the stupendous task which confronted the Canterbury Educational Broadeasting Committee when they evolved this year’s broad: cast talks to. schools, it was natural that the scheme which is being planned hy the Auckland Education Board that cultural addresses on music and art ay-preciation should be given to pupils of :district high schools, should receive warm support in Canterbury. The plan provided for the addresses to be give by’ a box scheme of education, each box containing copies of a lecture for pupils, an instruction card, and either pictures or gramophone records. The estimated cost would be £1/10/- for each school, "It is very necessary in these days of broadcasting, in which ali kinds of matter is sent over the air, that there should be some standards of tausic and art established in the minds of children before they leave school," said Professor Shelley. Some high and district high. Schools’ in the province had of. their own ‘initiative availed themselves: of the cultural facilities provided by the. Workers" Educational Association box scheme, at thé school’s expense, and ‘the: results had. been most satisfactory. | This + idea was most interesting ‘to Professo# Shelley, sas he had ‘been. the- originator. of. the box scheme, and ‘the:plitn such as that suggested: in Auckland ‘sHould improve the. cultural efficiency of all secondary and high'schools, The chairman‘ of the. "Canterbiary ° Hducation Board, Mr. ©,.S.:'‘Ehompson, said, that he was certain that all members of. the board would give strong support to any plan which would assist in cultural education.. The cheapness of the scheme-£1/10/- for each schoolwould be a distinct advantage in haying ‘it adopted. The expenditure on such a plan would be a legitimate expenditure for the Education Department, following the example which had

been set a few years ago when teachers had toured various education board districts giving instruction in music or in art. An example of that tormer work of the department. was

‘a ‘provided by the tour of the South Island which Mr. Hrnest Jenner had lade, giving special instruction in rausic, during the time in which. the ‘teachers’ training colleges had been -ctosed, The box scheme would require that the boxes should be "self-working," and they would contain lectures which would not make a eall on teachers greater than could be expected from a reasonably educated person, THE Royal Christchurch Musical Society’s second concert for the 1935

season on Thursday, July 18, is to be broadcast, and this society has decided to cater for the taste "vf the general public, rather than for those who enjoy listening for a whole evening to one large work. In. doing this it has obtained the co-operation of a. number of soloists, and listeners, as well asthe public, will have an opportunity of hearing Mr. Alan Wellbrock.: This will be Mr. Wellbrock’s first public appearance at the Civic organ since his return from Ingland, and a brilliant future has been predicted for this young performer. ADIO 8ZM CLUB held their annual meeting last week in Christchurch, and, in presenting his report, the retiring president, Mr. D. Cossgrove, recorded an approximate increase in .membership of 2000, but another 1000 would be required to provide for the ordinary running expenses of the station. A membership anc renewal campaign had been begun. The annua] subscription of 2/6 was devoted to maintaining the station, the club and the executive depending on their own efforts to raise funds for purely club purposes, The disposal of membership fees was at the (iseretion of the station . directorate. Mr. Norton Francis -was.again elected as patron and a strong committee was formed. Mr. HU. G. Livingstone, a member of the Broadcasting Board, attended the meeting to hear comments on the conduct of broadcasting. Miss CECILIA KEATING, the clever violinist, who so reluctantly had to disappoint listeners from 38YA this week owing to her departure for England being ahead of schedule, was tendered a farewell concert in the Town Hall, Greymouth, by the various musical and other cultural organisations in that town. The concert was organ- , ised by Miss N. McDonnell, F.T.C.1L., and Mr. Harold Prescott. Tributes to Miss Keating’s ability were. paid by the Mayor (Mr. W. Meldrum), Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., and Mr. R. T. Bush, the local representative of the Associated Board of the Royal College, who also presented Miss Keating with the. third gold medal that she had been awarded, and the £10 which accompanied it. HE incredse of the power at 3YA _ from 23 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts will not be completed before the end of J uly at the very earliest. -The delay has been chiefly due to the inability of the Public Works Department to supply the necessary power owing. to the late arrival of poles and insulators from abroad. One of the advantages which will accrue from the increased’ power of the 8YA transmitter will be that in many localities signal strength will be raised above the "noise level." . —