EDUCATING THE WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 6

EDUCATING THE WORKERS.

________ TEACHERS' SUPPORT. OF THE NEW MOVEMENT. The aims and objects of the Workers' Educational Association were this morning explained to the members of the Auckland branch, of the New Zealand Educational Institute by Mr. M. Atkinson, of Sydney. "Social service" is the key woTd of the association, and the idea is to bring the man who knows hi s subject into touch with the man who wants to know, but has not tad the opportunity of gaining knowledge iSrrough the ordinary channels. As tax as practicable the association aims at extending the benefits of L'niverjity education to workers; and is really a federation of the societies and institutions Interested in this work. It has been established for some twelve years in the Old Country, and for almost eighteen months in Australia, where Mr. Atkinson, director of tutors in the Sydney University, is the lea-ding spirit. He has met with considerable success in launching the association in New Zealand. In the various University districts he has toured he has been cordially received, and the Senate gave him much encouragement. On Monday next'he will address the Auckland University College Council. The movement is already under way in Auckland, where two tutorial classes—which are the practical outcome of the work—have been formed. Each class consists of not more than 30 pupils, and the nominal charge of .i/ a year is devoted to funds of the class. The students select their subject, which is generally economics. A feature of the classes is that each student is required to write an essay at least once a fortnight. Naturally many of the students, like most men whose education has been neglected, are at first diffident about expressing their thoughts in writing, but this gradually wears off, and wonderful results have been achieved. Some hundreds of these papers were submitted to an Oxford professor, who said thai at a number of them would have obtained first-class honotfrs in any University. Two of the best papers Mr. Atkinson has ever corTeoted in the course of his professional duties were written by members of classes started by the association. At the close of a most interesting address, Mr. Atkinson was heartily thanked by the institute, and it was decided to suggest tha£ the institute should affiliate with the association.