Law and Social Controls (1949)
Title
Law and Social Controls (1949)
Subject
Law
Social Controls
Morals
Instructional Films
Teenagers
Social Guidance
Custom
Social Guidance Film
Cold War
Description
Law and Social Controls is a black and white instruction film, published in 1949 by Coronet Instructional Films. The film is one of many such films made for teenagers of the post-war, Cold War, era. This film encourages youth to conform to the norms of acceptable society; the law, social codes, and mores of society at large.
Creator
Wright, Wendell W. (Educational collaborator)
Altschul, Gil (Director)
Smart, David (Producer)
Source
Prelinger Archives
Publisher
Coronet Instructional Films
Date
1949
Contributor
Kranz, Madeline
Rights
Public domain
Format
jpeg
Language
English
Type
Moving image
Identifier
Law and Social Control. Directed by Gil Altschul. Educational collaborator Wendell W. Wright. Glenview, IL: Coronet Instructional Films, 1948. Video. Accessed 30 January, 2016. https://archive.org/details/LawandSo1949
Coverage
Glenview, IL
United States
Original Format
13mm film, sd, BW
Duration
9:37 minutes
Producer
Smart, David
Director
Altschul, Gil
Transcription
Narrator [male voice]: Law forbids us from doing the wrong things that destroy social harmony: but law is more than the policeman on the corner; more than the courthouse where laws are enforced, more than the jail where lawbreakers are punished. Law is one of three forms of social control that regulate our daily lives: custom, what we usually do; moral code, what we should do; and law, what we must do. Now just how do these social controls affect us? Well, in the Teen Canteen in our town you’ll find part of the answer to that question. You see, the canteen is always busy early in the evening, but on weeknights the crowd thins out gradually. So, as the clock approached closing time, things quiet down in a hurry. The club has its own laws about closing and the members obey them. After closing time you won’t find anyone there, except for the three members whose turn it is to clean up. But did I say three?
Jean: Just us Betty? Aren’t there always three on the cleanup committee?
Betty: Yes. I wonder who’s missing. If it’s that Jack McGregor again. It is. I heard he always steps out early.
Jean: It’s bad enough with three to clean up... But only two!
Betty: And he’s supposed to be business manager of the canteen!
Jean: You know Betty, I’m going to bring this up at the business meeting tomorrow. I’ll show that Jack McGregor.
[Business meeting]
Jack: I meant to tell you and Betty, honest Jean. My dad insisted that I be in the house by eleven o’clock.
Jean: Can’t you explain to him? He wouldn’t want you to run out on your responsibilities, would he?
Boy: Take it easy. We’re not getting anywhere this way. Staying to clean up is a problem with a lot of us. Even though I’m the chairman of the canteen I’ve had to skip cleanup duty, to keep from being out too late. Say, maybe weeknights we ought to close the canteen earlier.
Jack: You’ll never get anyone to agree to that.
Jean: I don’t know. Maybe that is the answer.
Boy: Tell you what, let’s meet again when we can have our advisors in, to help us work this thing out.
[Later meeting with adult advisors.]
Mrs. Brown: As you know, our civic association has been with you from the start. I believe I can speak for the association, and as your advisor, in recommending that it would be very wise for you to close the canteen on weeknights at 10:30 instead of 11. After all, that’s customary in our town; the drugstores, the ice cream stores, most of the places of business are closed by that time, and, well, it seems to me you might close too.
Jack: But the theatre stays open later than 11.
Jean: But we’re not a theatre. Some people may question our behavior when we keep the canteen open till 11. I don’t think it’s right for us to stay out so late.
Jack: Who’s to say what’s right? We know what’s good for us. Nobody has to stay here till 11, just because the canteen’s still open. There’s no law that says you have to stay or you have to go. You’re a lawyer Mr. Parks, there’s no law, is there?
Mr. Parks: No Jack, I don’t think there is... now. But I have heard people talking about your hours here. You better realize that the town could pass a law which would compel you to close at 10:30, or 10, even 9. You see, whatever the community decides is best for itself usually become law.
Jack: The community? Well aren’t we part of the community?
Mr. Parks: Of course you are Jack, but thinking of the community as a whole. Well, I wouldn’t like to see our town pass a curfew law, as some other towns have. Don’t you think it would be better for the community, and for you, if the canteen were to pass its own law to close weeknights at 10:30?
Narrator: And so Jack is learning about social control. “It’s customary,” said Mrs. Brown. “It’s right,” said Jean. “It’s the law,” said Mr. Parks. Yes, they can all see how these social controls, custom, moral code, and law have always played a part in the activities of the teen canteen.
Here, as in our general society, there are a great many customs, and we accept them. Customs of dressing; we’re neat and clean. Customs of courtesy; we’re thoughtful of others. What happens if we violate a custom? It isn’t serious, perhaps we only lose a bit of prestige. Nevertheless, customs do control us. We make a habit of following them.
And then there are the moral codes, sometimes called the mores. These are societies standards about what we should and should not do. They are more deeply engrained in us. We simply don’t cheat in games. We and the society in which we live think that’s the proper way. In the canteen there’s no drinking and gambling. That’s in line with the moral code of this group.
And what happens if we break the moral code of this group? He loses social status. He no longer belongs. He’s an outcast.
And then there’s law. Let’s return to that business meeting, where a new law or rule has been under consideration.
Boy: It seems we have four good reasons for setting the closing time of the canteen at 10:30 on weeknights. For the convenience of the cleanup committee, we need an earlier closing time. Then there’s the custom in the town. And some feel that it’s not right for us to stay out late. Finally, we wanna be sure that we stay within the laws of the town so that we can continue to govern ourselves without outside interference. With all these reasons I’m sure that the majority of canteen members will vote for 10:30 closing. Wouldn’t you say?
Jean: I think it’s the only thing to do.
Jack: I’ll agree.
Mr. Parks: Well, we’re only advisors, you make your own laws... but I think you’ll find that your new law is a good law.
Narrator: Law is a whole body of rules for our conduct made by representatives of the people, and enforced by established means. We all know that there are many don’ts in the laws we make. [pictures] Law prohibits what the majority decide is wrong. Law directs what is agreed to be right. Laws require you to go to school, so that you and society will benefit. And law provide the schools for you to attend. Thus everyday you come in contact with social controls. With custom, with moral code, and with law.
Suppose this were you, what social controls affect you? Well, in your family, in your school and your church, in your whole community there are customs and moral codes which guide your actions. Many of these customs and mores are enacted into formal law. The town or city in which you live has laws which control you. There are state laws passed and enforced by state governments. And the federal government in your name makes laws which affect you. And we are hopefully working toward a still higher level of law; the law of nations united for world peace. You are guided by all these laws and controls.
The new law for closing at 10:30 was agreed upon by a majority of the members of the teen canteen. It’s a good law because it agrees with the customs, the moral codes, and the laws of this group and this community.
In a democracy, such laws and social controls belong to the people who live under them, these laws are yours, to make wisely, to change intelligently, to understand and live by.
Jean: Just us Betty? Aren’t there always three on the cleanup committee?
Betty: Yes. I wonder who’s missing. If it’s that Jack McGregor again. It is. I heard he always steps out early.
Jean: It’s bad enough with three to clean up... But only two!
Betty: And he’s supposed to be business manager of the canteen!
Jean: You know Betty, I’m going to bring this up at the business meeting tomorrow. I’ll show that Jack McGregor.
[Business meeting]
Jack: I meant to tell you and Betty, honest Jean. My dad insisted that I be in the house by eleven o’clock.
Jean: Can’t you explain to him? He wouldn’t want you to run out on your responsibilities, would he?
Boy: Take it easy. We’re not getting anywhere this way. Staying to clean up is a problem with a lot of us. Even though I’m the chairman of the canteen I’ve had to skip cleanup duty, to keep from being out too late. Say, maybe weeknights we ought to close the canteen earlier.
Jack: You’ll never get anyone to agree to that.
Jean: I don’t know. Maybe that is the answer.
Boy: Tell you what, let’s meet again when we can have our advisors in, to help us work this thing out.
[Later meeting with adult advisors.]
Mrs. Brown: As you know, our civic association has been with you from the start. I believe I can speak for the association, and as your advisor, in recommending that it would be very wise for you to close the canteen on weeknights at 10:30 instead of 11. After all, that’s customary in our town; the drugstores, the ice cream stores, most of the places of business are closed by that time, and, well, it seems to me you might close too.
Jack: But the theatre stays open later than 11.
Jean: But we’re not a theatre. Some people may question our behavior when we keep the canteen open till 11. I don’t think it’s right for us to stay out so late.
Jack: Who’s to say what’s right? We know what’s good for us. Nobody has to stay here till 11, just because the canteen’s still open. There’s no law that says you have to stay or you have to go. You’re a lawyer Mr. Parks, there’s no law, is there?
Mr. Parks: No Jack, I don’t think there is... now. But I have heard people talking about your hours here. You better realize that the town could pass a law which would compel you to close at 10:30, or 10, even 9. You see, whatever the community decides is best for itself usually become law.
Jack: The community? Well aren’t we part of the community?
Mr. Parks: Of course you are Jack, but thinking of the community as a whole. Well, I wouldn’t like to see our town pass a curfew law, as some other towns have. Don’t you think it would be better for the community, and for you, if the canteen were to pass its own law to close weeknights at 10:30?
Narrator: And so Jack is learning about social control. “It’s customary,” said Mrs. Brown. “It’s right,” said Jean. “It’s the law,” said Mr. Parks. Yes, they can all see how these social controls, custom, moral code, and law have always played a part in the activities of the teen canteen.
Here, as in our general society, there are a great many customs, and we accept them. Customs of dressing; we’re neat and clean. Customs of courtesy; we’re thoughtful of others. What happens if we violate a custom? It isn’t serious, perhaps we only lose a bit of prestige. Nevertheless, customs do control us. We make a habit of following them.
And then there are the moral codes, sometimes called the mores. These are societies standards about what we should and should not do. They are more deeply engrained in us. We simply don’t cheat in games. We and the society in which we live think that’s the proper way. In the canteen there’s no drinking and gambling. That’s in line with the moral code of this group.
And what happens if we break the moral code of this group? He loses social status. He no longer belongs. He’s an outcast.
And then there’s law. Let’s return to that business meeting, where a new law or rule has been under consideration.
Boy: It seems we have four good reasons for setting the closing time of the canteen at 10:30 on weeknights. For the convenience of the cleanup committee, we need an earlier closing time. Then there’s the custom in the town. And some feel that it’s not right for us to stay out late. Finally, we wanna be sure that we stay within the laws of the town so that we can continue to govern ourselves without outside interference. With all these reasons I’m sure that the majority of canteen members will vote for 10:30 closing. Wouldn’t you say?
Jean: I think it’s the only thing to do.
Jack: I’ll agree.
Mr. Parks: Well, we’re only advisors, you make your own laws... but I think you’ll find that your new law is a good law.
Narrator: Law is a whole body of rules for our conduct made by representatives of the people, and enforced by established means. We all know that there are many don’ts in the laws we make. [pictures] Law prohibits what the majority decide is wrong. Law directs what is agreed to be right. Laws require you to go to school, so that you and society will benefit. And law provide the schools for you to attend. Thus everyday you come in contact with social controls. With custom, with moral code, and with law.
Suppose this were you, what social controls affect you? Well, in your family, in your school and your church, in your whole community there are customs and moral codes which guide your actions. Many of these customs and mores are enacted into formal law. The town or city in which you live has laws which control you. There are state laws passed and enforced by state governments. And the federal government in your name makes laws which affect you. And we are hopefully working toward a still higher level of law; the law of nations united for world peace. You are guided by all these laws and controls.
The new law for closing at 10:30 was agreed upon by a majority of the members of the teen canteen. It’s a good law because it agrees with the customs, the moral codes, and the laws of this group and this community.
In a democracy, such laws and social controls belong to the people who live under them, these laws are yours, to make wisely, to change intelligently, to understand and live by.
Files
Citation
Wright, Wendell W. (Educational collaborator) , Altschul, Gil (Director), and Smart, David (Producer) , “Law and Social Controls (1949) ,” Post War Teen Tuning, accessed May 2, 2024, https://postwarteentuning.omeka.net/items/show/11.