Courtesy of Scottish Screen Archive

The subject of The Children's Story (1938) is Scottish education. Director Alexander Shaw recalls the influence of John Knox and the calvinist devotion to learning which was once one of the country's strongest traditions. The film portrays new approaches to learning to equip children with the skills for modern life. Part of the commentary was spoken by the then Secretary of the Scottish Education Department.

One of a group of documentaries produced by the Films of Scotland Committee (set up in 1937), under the supervision of John Grierson and made for screening at the 1938 Empire Exhibition held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. The Committee was charged with the task of producing a series of films on Scottish life. The group of seven titles was much publicised at the time, the subject of comment in newspapers and on radio. Years later film industry observers hailed the project as unique in film history and successful in every way.

Kenneth Broom

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