The Radio and Education for Democracy
This speech delivered by President Leon R. Meadows, June 6, 1941 describes the ways of using radio broadcast to educate people about democracy and tolerance. This and other documents may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: UW0000, Series 1, Box 5, Folder 12, Leon Meadows Personnel File.
It is my privilege and pleasure to congratulate WGTC upon the attainment of its first birthday. One year ago the station was dedicated; at that time many of the citizens of eastern North Carolina joined in foretelling great accomplishments for the new-born child which was destined to contribute much to the community life of the state; these accomplishments have been even greater than we predicted; every phase of the life of this section has been broadcast over the station, and its influence has reached out into areas that have been hitherto been little touched by such a refining force. The station has given the college an opportunity to send out to the people a cross section of the activities that are being carried on in this state-owned institution. The masses have come to know the college better through the broadcasting of such activities of sports as football, basketball, baseball, tennis and track; also the presentation over the air of lectures, the drama, and music, including that given by the band, the orchestra, the glee club, the chorus, the choir and quartettes; in addition to these, special programs have been carried for high school day, homecoming, dedication exercises, commencement, pep meetings, the Young Democrats Club, banquets, and a number of other college-sponsored organizations and functions; for this service no charge has been made. The college is deeply grateful for the privilege of cooperating with WGTC in its efforts to carry to all the people a finer culture but at the same time a very practical type of education.
This leads me to say that the radio is at present perhaps the best means that we possess for the dissemination of democratic ideas and ideals. Throughout history we have had typical forms of political organization. Autocracy is that form in which all power is vested in one man; aristocracy is that in which power into the hands of the few; plutocracy is that in which power is exercised by the rich; democracy is that in which power is in the hands of the people themselves. So when we speak of democracy we are talking more than our right to choose leaders and to make out laws; we are discussing our day-by-day lives. The radio daily deals directly with the various phases of community life, and that is why it is such an excellent medium for presenting the fundamental principles of democracy; it supplements the work of the home, the school, the church, and society in general. A recent nation-wide study made by Time Magazine reveals the fact that 83% of the people voted that the radio gets the news to the public more quickly as opposed to a vote of 12.9% in favor of the newspaper; 49.7% stated that the radio gives the news freer from prejudice, as opposed to a vote of 17.1% in favor of the newspaper. As to the accuracy of the news the vote was practically the same for the radio and the newspaper. As to whether the radio or the newspapers give the better interpretation of the news 39.3% voted in favor of the radio, as opposed to 29.9% in favor of the newspaper. These figures have been given to show that the radio can be a powerful influence in the promotion of education for democracy. For years we have talked and written about the democratization of education but in most of our institutions of learning we still have the aristocratic form of education which for generations has been superimposed upon the so-called common people; I would not minimize the value of the classics; I commend them highly for all who have the time and ability to master them. The Great Teacher expressed a profound truth when He said: "Man must not live by bread alone", but it is equally true that man must have bread if he lives, which is only another way of saying that education must be adapted to the needs of the common people. "The history of the future will deal much more with such commonplace things asthe conquest of hunger, disease, climate and distance, the domestication of animals, the agricultural revolution, the discovery and refinement of the basic food products, and the development of the moral and aesthetic senses" (Baker).
More and more the radio is being used as an instrument of instruction in the public schools. probably the Chicago school system is the most outstanding in this particular field. Dr. William H. Johnson, superintendent of the Chicago schools, gives four specific objectives for the use of the radio when teaching; they are: 1 - "To employ the singularly effective elements of radio, to aid in accomplishing the broad aims of education; 2 - to acquaint the child with his present environment and with the environment that will some day be his; 3 - to help the child to develop tolerance through knowledge of the world which he lives and the people with whom he lives; 4 - to have him establish a more permanent, dynamic conception of the responsibilities and privileges of American life". In short, Dr. Johnson is attempting through his project to produce and foster a more democratic citizenship.
The radio in its well-planned programs from Pepsi-Cola to Peter Pan is giving due attention to the fundamentals of life and is thereby promoting democracy, or the American way of life.
