Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly

Does It Matter What You Think? (See page 18)

The Flag Speaks (See page 1)

The Story That Couldn't Be Printed (See page 10)

Voices of the People

16mm sound, b/w, 18 minutes, 1949. Produced for the Armed Forces Information and Education Division, Office of the Secretary of Defense, by the U. S. Signal Corps. Released for civilian use through the U. S. Office of Education. Purchase from United World Films Inc., $24.26.

Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Presents a disagreement between a college professor and a business man concerning the importance of freedom of speech, their trip through the Freedom Train, inspection and discussion of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, and their agreement on the importance of freedom of speech.

Committee Recommendation This film reviewing the historical and present-day importance of freedom of speech and portraying two of our great historical documents, can be used in high-school social-studies classes and in adult citizenship courses.

Democracy

Democracy

versus Totalitarianism

16mm sound, b/w, 11 minutes, 1946. Produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Inc. Purchase from EBF, $50. Rent from EBF or from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Identifies and defines two characteristics of democracy: shared respect and shared power. Explains two conditions. under which democracy works best-the existence of a large middleincome group and an enlightened, well-informed public. Companion film to Despotism.

Committee Recommendation

Like its companion film, Despotism, this picture presents some of the factors characterizing democracy. While the two films cover much of the same ground and can be used independently, they also may reenforce each other when used jointly. For grades 7-12 and adult audiences.

Despotism

16mm sound, b/w, 10 minutes, 1946. Produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Inc. Purchase from EBF, $50. Rent from EBF

or from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Identifies and explains four scales to use in measuring the extent to which a community or nation is democratic or despotic shared respect, shared power, distribution of wealth, and freedom of information. Companion film to Democracy.

Committee Recommendation A companion film to Democracy, this picture on despotism covers the same ground and, in the opinion of some, does it more interestingly. The film presents a lucid and practical guide to the evaluation of social practices in a given community, and is particularly valuable in its recognition of the relativity of the terms democracy and despotism. For grades 7-12 and adult audiences. Rated "acceptable as a discussion aid for the more serious-minded adult groups" by the Institute of Adult Education.

In the Family

Bill Garman, 12-Year-Old Businessman

16mm sound, color, 11 minutes, 1947. Produced by Frith Films. Purchase from Frith Films, $65. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Shows some of the everyday activities of Bill Garman, including caring for his rabbits, selling rabbit skins, caring for his hogs, buying baby pigs, and going to a ball game with his boy friends. Emphasizes Bill's responsibilities and his relationship to Patty, his younger

sister.

Committee Recommendation Like its companion on Patty Garman, this portrayal of Bill Garman is a simple, sympathetic picture of democracy in action within the family. For grades 4-9 and for adults.

Family Teamwork

16mm sound, color, 18 minutes, 1947. Produced by Frith Films. Purchase from Frith Films, $95. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Portrays activities of the Garman family-Mr. and Mrs. Garman, Barbara, Bill, and Patty-and their relationships with one another on their farm milking the goats, saddling the horse, baking a cake, washing the dishes, attending the 4-H Club Fair, and putting Patty to bed at the end of the day.

Committee Recommendation A companion film to the ones dealing with Patty and Bill Garman individually, Family Teamwork brings in Barbara, the teen-age member of the family. Like the other two films, it is a demonstration of democracy in the family. For grades 7-12 and for adults.

Patty Garman, Little Helper

16mm sound, color, 11 minutes, 1947. Produced by Frith Films. Purchase from Frith Films, $65. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Portrays some of the everyday activities of Patty Garman, age 6, her duties and responsibilities on the farm, and her relationships with her father, mother, and older brother. The film shows her helping collect eggs, feed the baby goats and calves, and water the goats and cows, and trotting along with her parents and brother as they perform other household responsibilities.

Committee Recommendation The story of Patty Garman and her family is told so simply, almost naively, that it is only after the film has been shown that one realizes what an excellent example of democracy it is respect for Patty's individuality, responsibilities in accordance with her abilities, cooperation among members of the family. For grades 1-6 and for adults.

You and Your Family

16mm sound, b/w, 8 minutes, 1946. Produced by the YMCA and Look Magazine. Purchase from Association Films Inc., $32.50. Association Films or from other 16mm film libraries.

Rent from

Film Summary You and Your Family presents three common problems frequently encountered in a family- whether a 15-year-old girl should accept a date, who should help with the dinner dishes, and how should a teen-age boy explain his coming home late at night and gives three or four alternative ways of solving each problem. The film gives no specific answers but suggests that the audience choose those which seem best.

Committee Recommendation Not only is this film an object lesson in family democracy, but it is an intriguing presentation of social problems at the junior highand senior high-school levels.

In School

Discussion in Democracy

16mm sound, color or b/w, 10 minutes, 1948. Produced by Coronet Films Inc. Purchase from Coronet, $90 (color) or $45 (b/w). Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Portrays four high-school students arguing vociferously about fires in their town, the leader asking advice of a town councilman about the conduct of discussion; the group studying the problem, gathering data, discussing the facts rationally, and planning a course of action.

Committee Recommendation This film is not so much a presentation of discussion techniques as it is a portrayal of a high-school group working together democratically in the study of a community problem. While the situation is somewhat artificial, the film can be used as an example of democratic behavior within a small school group. For grades 7-12.

Learning Democracy Through School Community Projects

16mm sound, color or b/w, 20 minutes, 1948. Produced by Educational Film Service in collaboration with The School of Education, University of Michigan, and the Daughters of the American Revolution of Michigan. Purchase from Locke Films Inc., $150 (color) or $75 (b/w). Rent from Locke Films or from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Shows various activities of children and youth, mostly extracurricular, which the commentator points out serve as experiences in democratic processes. Activities portrayed include an elementaryschool student council, a high-school student council, safety patrols, a school clean-up campaign, vocational guidance clinic, rural field day, and a youth center.

Committee Recommendation This film is a pictorial survey of activities being carried on in Michigan schools and, as such, should be a stimulant to teachers and parents to evaluate their schools.

Learning Through Cooperative Planning

16mm sound, b/w, 18 minutes, 1947. Produced by the Horace MannLincoln Institute of School Experimentation, Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Kansas City, Mo., Public Schools. Purchase from Teachers College, Columbia University, $75. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Shows how the children of "Parkview School” decide, through their school council, to take part in their city's clean-up and beautification campaign; form into groups with different self-chosen projects; plan cooperatively their activities; and put their plans into action.

Committee Recommendacion While this film was prepared specifically to help teachers-in-preparation and teachers-in-service gain a better understanding of the