Closed Circuit TV Aids Classroom Instruction Closed circuit television, an exciting innovation in education, has become a reality for the students and faculty of Maine South. Consisting of two RCA Viewfinder cameras, an Ampex one inch Video Tape Recorder, operating and control consoles, and 12 monitors, the new equipment wiU improve and expand the current instructional faculties. Mr. Hal Chastain stated, "This equipment is not intended as a teaching substitute, but as a communications medium. Teachers will find it extremely helpful in almost any kind of class." "The basic idea behind educational television," continued Mr. Chastain, "is to enable us to do things we could not do before." As an example of this, Mr. Chastain referred to the English department. "Every year, we have one play here at Maine South that is tied in with the curriculum of the English Department. Productions in past years have been The Miracle Worker, Inherit the
Wind, and Diary of Anne Frank. We can now video tap* segments of these plays to show to future classes who will study the same plays." Or, explained Mr. Chastain, one can look at the Home Economics Department. Every year they have a program dealing with student care of preschool children. This equipment can be used to provide a record of observation of some of the activities for class analysis and discussion. Hie equipment is able to broadcast to any classroom in the building, live or on video tape. Thus, it could also be used for such things as orientation to counseling procedures, vocational guidance, familiarizations of library and reading room facilities, direct instruction, o'' classroom demonstrations in any of the wide range of departments, from the physical education area to the science laboratories. At the present, members of the Radio-TV class are receiving instruction in the operation
and care of the equipment. For the rest of the year, operations will center in the drama classroom. When the additions to the school are added on, including the new cafeteria, the present dishwashing room will become the television studio. Mr. Chastain stated, "In the future, we expect that student operators will be drawn exclusively from the Radio-TV class, an elective course open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors." Initially, the biggest problem with the system, according to Mr. Chastain, will be that some people will look at this as something that is or should be comparable to commercial television. Mr. Chastain expounded on this. "It is important to realize that this will be used for instruction and not entertainment. Yet, we will do everything we can to keep it from becoming a dull form of instruction." "Time will also prove to be a challenging aspect of the system," he added. "If we plan
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Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, III.
to prepare a twenty minute program and then distribute it for class use, the time involved can range anywhere from twenty minutes to twenty hours. However, as we progress even more this problem will gradually solve itself." Continuing he said, "It will be a long time before we can say that we have discovered all things that educational television can do. We know that there are hundreds of schools throughout the nation who use
it. It is a basic agreement of all educators that they have not even scratched the surface in discovering the potential educational television has." Aptly concluding, Mr. Chastain said, "1 think that the basic theme in introducing educational television to any school system is that it will be used exclusively to help us do things which we can not do without it, and to do a better job of meeting the teaching problems we have now. This is our goal."
Southwords and Eyrie staffs participate in filming a T V show for South's new television equipment. The film will be shown in English classes to explain to students the variety of classes and activities available in the communications program at South.
January 26, 1968
Seniors Wendy, Tom Selected Outstanding Teens of America Wendy Carlsen and Tom Spotts were named today as Outstanding Teenagers of America by the Outstanding .\mericans Foundation. Wendy and Tom were nominated for this honor by Maine South and will compete for stale and national awards in the Outstanding Teenagers of America Program. The Outstanding Americans Foundation, a nonprofit organization, sponsors this award annually. The foundation is dedicated to honoring, inspiring, and encouraging young people to take full advantage of America's opportunities. Senior Wendy Carlsen said. "It took me by complete surprise. I feel quite honored about being selected from so many capable students at South." Among Wendy's achievements have been: biology, French, and chemistry awards, four years on the high honor roll, membership in the National Honor Society, and Quill and Scroll, an honorary writing society.
Wendy has been active in extracurricular activities at South. She is news editor of Southwords, has been on Student Council for two years, and on Class Council for three years. Wendy was class treasurer for two years. Athletic ability is well represented in Tom Spotts '68. Tom has earned his letter in football and track and his numeral in cross country. ITurec of Chicago's four news papers have cited Tom's outstanding athletic ability. Sun Times proclaimed him best prep football player of the year. The Daily News named Tom to their all state prep squad, while the Tribune named him to their all star squad. Tom has also been on the honor roll, in spite of his time-demanding extra-curricular activities. Wendy and Tom were selected for this honor on the basis of ability and achievement. They will compete with the other winners in Illinois for the Gover-
nor's Trophy awarded annually to the most outstanding teenager in each state. They will also be eligible for one of the top ten national awards and college scholarships made available by the Outstanding Americans Foundation. Mr. John Putnam, president of the foundation, said that the goal of the awards program is to "recognize and encourage the ability and achievements of today's young people." Outstanding Teenagers of American Program is guided by a Board of Advisors representing major youth organizations and educational institutions.
M r . Hal Chastain, left, shows Mr. Beatty how to focus the zoom lens on one of the new television cameras as they begin work on taping the schools first T V program. The program features communications classes and activities at South.
W M T H Airs Wesf Basketball Tonight WMTH 88.5 FM, will feature full coverage of tonight's basket ball game with Maine West. Larry Getz '68, will start the evening off with the pre-game show from 6 to 8 p.m. Doug Chapin '69 and Roger Hofeldt 70 will announce the play-byplay. The after game show will feature Bill Jones in a special entitled "Wingin, With Willi" a show featuring soul music.
An engineer from Rich Engineering makes final adjustments on the control panel.
Funny Company To Play at Dance
Tom Spotts, left, and Wendy Carlsen, right, receive congratulations and awards from Dr. Clyde Watson, principal, as they learn they have been named Outstanding Teenagers at Maine South by the National Outstanding Americans organization.
Tomorrow, January 27, Tri-S will sponsor an after dance featuring the Funny Company. The dance will be held in the west spectator gym after the Maine South-Maine West basketball game. However, this dance is only the beginning of the plans Tri-S has for the second semester. Gary Johnson '68, president, said, "Among the speakers we hope to get for this semester arc the Republican candidates for Governor of Illinois. As of the moment, we have only one of the two scheduled." They also hope to get as
speakers the Counsul General of at least one or two countries represented in Chicago. Two of these countries are England and Israel. Some projects that Tri-S will sponsor this year include an Intemation Simulation, another contest with Faces in History, and a drive for hard-cover books for Asian students. The Intemation Simulation will take place some Saturday afternoon early in spring. In this, students will simulate the condition of imaginary countries as regarding economics, politics, and military accomplish-
ments. In the past this simulation has proved to be not only educational, but also interesting fun. Last year Tri-S sponsored a contest called Faces in History which they will repeat again this year because of its popularity. At the end of the year Tri-S will sponsor several banquets, one for History awards, and one for its club members. Sometime this spring Tri-S will also hold a meeting of the Maine South Historical Society. Tri-S is the parent organization of the Maine South Historical Society.