nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

428 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
VISUAL EDUCATION SERVICE
EARL WALDRUP. Secretary
Since the beginning of the Visual Education Service it has been greatly
handicapped by war conditions. Equipment for projected visual aids has been
in most cases unobtainable. There have been times when the non-projected
aids have been hard to get. Now the future looks good. With the cessation of
war, industry has been able to turn its facilities to the production of materials
for civilian consumption. Recent estimates are that there will be 50,000 16 mm
motion picture projectors produced during 1946. This is compared to approximately
15,000 in existence in the whole United States before the war. Production
of other visual aids, equipment and materials is on the same increased
scale. Manufacturers are speeding up deliveries, so it should not be too long before
every church will be able to get what it wants.
In the motion picture field, in spite of many handicaps and restrictions,
developments have taken place which point to a bright future. Cathedral
Films has outlined an extensive program of production. The quality of their
work is good. The Religious Film Association is rendering an invaluable service.
The Protestant Film Commission is in a campaign to raise $1,000,000 to
begin its program. Its purpose is to produce, co-ordinate the efforts of independent
projects of denominational groups, and put pressure on commercial
producers to get more acceptable work from them. The Religious Film Society
of Great Britian is working in close co-operation with American producers
of educational and religious films in an effort to co-ordinate British and American
plans and productions.
However, the most promising development during the past year or two has
been the general realization of the value of visual aids in Religious Education.
Pastors, educational directors, teachers, and workers in general have become
enthusiastic about the powerful means of teaching at our disposal in visual aids.
Letters of inquiry are coming from all parts of the Convention; churches everywhere
are clamoring for equipment and acceptable materials; and more constructive
planning is being done than has ever been known in the field of visual
instruction.
Denominational agencies are making every effort to meet the needs of
local churches. Materials are being reviewed, programs are being planned,
and the best equipment is being made available through our book stores. The
Sunday School Board has recently signed a dealership contract with Bell and
Howell to handle their equipment. This has brought enthusiastic commendation
from many quarters. Bell and Howell projection and sound equipment
ranks with the best. The Board's decision to distribute this equipment came
after five years of experimenting with and studying all that is available.
The years of 1945 and 1946 have seen history made in the field of visual instruction.
The stage is all set for even greater things. With caution, constructive
planning, and enthusiasm let us move on.