W.E.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 73, 27 March 1929, Page 23

W.E.A.

CATERING FOR THE ADULT.

TUTORIAL CLASS INNOVATIONS

NOTES BY "JAQUES."

The W.E.A. classes and lectures, which open in the week beginning April 15, include several interesting innovations which will, I think, prove very popular. One which already shows signs of attracting a good number of students is the class in nature study, which replaces the botany class of last year. The lecturer will be Professor Sperrin-John-son. In addition to natural history in general, part of the course will include New Zealand natural history and field studies. The International Relations Class will be taken over this year by the Rev. W. G. Moncktori. whose syllabus includes such intriguing- subjects a-s "The Problem of China." "Oil and Politics," '• Modern India," " The League of Nations," " Russia." and many others. A class in Economics, dealing specially with currency and banking, is to be established for advanced students under Professor Belshaw, upon condition*.

which will ensure rapid progress being made. An entirely new subject, that of Art and Life, will be treated in twelve lectures by Mr. F. N. Bamford, who has a wealth of material at his disposal, and will deal with such phases of this inexhaustible subject as commercial art. architecture, furniture, gardens, painting, sculpture, etc. Six lectures on French literature will be given by Miss D. L. Miller, M.A., who announces that a knowledge of French is not required of students. Mr. N. M. Richmond, who will conduct the class at Devtfnport this year, ha> shown me a rough draft of his syliabu? under the heaeding of "The Modern Age, as Seen From Various Angles." Such lectures as " Science and Religion," '• Some Contemporary Dramatists," '•' Galsworthy's ' Forsyte Saga V' " The Rights of Women," "and " The Modern Interest in Music " 6hould have a very wide appeal. The course will consist of twelve lectures, and will be extended if desired by the students. Classes continued from previous years are those on the modern drama, by Mr. J. W. Shaw; English literature, bv the Rev. W. Jellie; economics, by Mr. *H. R. Rodwell; anthropology, by Mr. G. Archey; psychology, by Mr.'H. Becroft; and music, by Mj\*H. Hollinrake. Special

suburban classes are being arranged in Swanson, Takapuna, and possibly other centres: a in economics has been asked for by member? of the Auckland Electric Power Board Social Club: and a class on the relations of capital and labour at the Trades Hall may be formed. It is impossible here to deal with all the other activitiee of the association, but special mention may be made of a regular series of broadcast talks from IYA by expert W.E.A. lecturers, and two series of six talks each specially intended for country listeners, by Mr. N. M. Richmond. A four-day camp at Easter will be held at Orapitu Bay. Waiheke Island. Several sets of modern plays will be taken for reading, and talks "on various subjects will be given by Mr. W. H. Cocker. Mr. J. W. Shearer, and Mrs. E. S. Kolin. A box scheme lecture on " Modern Impressionism " will be conducted by Mr. E. S. Kohn. There will, of course, be plenty of boating, swimming, tennis, and *o on. These weekend camps are a valuable side activitv of the W.E.A. movement, and they grow in popularity. At least 22 members have definitely decided to attend this one. Co-opted members of the District Council for the ensuing year are: The

Hon. Sir G«orge Fowlds, Professor H. W. Segar, Dr. E. P. Xeale, Meesre. T. U. Wells, W. R. Tuck, E. S. Kohn, T. H. Jones. E. Blair, A. G. Parsons, J. L. J. Wilson. Wherever two or three W.E.A. members are gathered together you may be sure that sooner or later a gToup will be formed to read, produce, or discuss a play. The director has noticed thU development, and announces that set? of plays are beinsr built up and may be borrowed by such groups. Box scheme groups are specially invited to make use of this opportunity. A meeting of W.E.A. tutors will be held on April 5. Mr. T. Bloodworth ha.promised to address tho*e present on " Education as the Worker Wants. It." Canon H. H. Arcadall. ir. an .irti<'e written for the Little Theatre Society, puts the case for adult education very aptly;—" The spearhead oi culture will never be able to pierce very far into the pachydermatous condition of us humans unless the general level of demand for wit and wisdom be hijrh. Hence all the Hdult education movement* of the present day. It has been thought that education consists primarily in the acquisition of knowledge which can be cashed over the counter of life for so many dollars, and the result has been

that many aspects of art and cnltnrt have been pushed aside so very largely from the centre to the circumference of the educational outVok. It seem* that we live in a mechanical ape, 'which tends to discount the imponderable aspects of human nature, such as imagination, aesthetic pleasure, and the joie de vivre without which the hnm&n spirit The only- thing whilfe will put us rirht a larpe ma=? movement in the direction of emphasis on the unity of human nature and the reemerpenoe of a-peiti of life so largely neglect ed."' Mr. X. M. P>i<hmond ha* be«a appointed W.E.A. representative on the IYA musical and dramatic advisory committee. A courw of fix lecture-? on Esperanto will shortly be jriven in Hamilton. The Box Scheme »> proving of gTret value in tho»e plac«i -which a total cannot yet be >en:. and groups bar* already been formed at Te Arona, Waiuku. Kaplan. Penrose. Opua, Hoirick. Kaikcihe. Kawakawa, and Tauranga. The subject is " Modern Tendencies in Music. Art. and Literature." Office of the Workers' Educational Association. Old Grammar School Building*, Syraonds Street, Auckland.