IMMATURE ADULTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 271, 15 November 1937, Page 12

IMMATURE ADULTS.

The Responsibilities Of Educationists.

Members of the Kpsom-Oak group of the Xew Education Fellowship were addressed on Saturday .afternoon by Mr. C. L. Gillies, hon. secretary of the Auckland branch of the fellowship. There was a good attendance, Mrs. V. Archibald, convener, presiding.

Mr. Oillies eaid that he -was very satisfied with the progress that the fellowship had made in this district so far; the members were very keenly interested in the various lines of study taken up, and there were many inquiries for the literature distributed through the fellowship, which reflected the new outlook in education and social organisation as it affected the welfare of the child. He outlined the aims of the fellowship, and gave suggestions for methods of group working. After discussion, it was unanimously decided that the Epsom-Oak group should take ax its field of study ''the environment of the child." Speaking on the problem of the child in society, Mr. Gillies emphasised the importance of a broad and well-informed Outlook towards education. The normal characteristic of the young child, he pointed out, was self-centredness, which later should evolve into the normal attitude of the adult, co-operation. The trouble was, lie said, that the world was full of ungrown-up adults, who not only in their self-centredness but in dress, word, thought and social behaviour, showed various degrees of immaturity.

In such a world the educationi-t had j a great responsibility. The economist, tbe scientist, the politician, the sociologist, turned to the educationist .ir. one primarily concerned with the growth of the individual. At a recent conference held overseas, it was said: "Here are our difficulties-—with the world as it w we cannot extricate civilisation from the present inipai-se. We look to you to produce a new attitude which will make our modern interdependent world a workable going concern."' To this educationists reply: "Jf society will support uo in the home and in the school, the new education is perfectly competent to create this new attitude. Jn doing so it will make possible that democratic and co-operative world community which has for so long been the dream of mankind.'' Notice, said Mr. <;illies, that it was the new education referred to. To those who taught the new outlook must be a reality if they were to help mankind towards transforming the world. The responsibility of parents and teachers alike was very great in respect to the young child. In the past emotional development had' been most at fault, and since the seeds of all future troubles and faults of character were sown in the early years, this had affected the adjustment, which the individual had to make in relation to his fellow*.

Members of tbe group will attend the meeting of Auckland Fellowship members at the Penwomen's Club, next week, when an opportunity will be given for the various group members to meet and discuss their work.

During the afternoon Miss Carrick sang several enoyable songs, Mrs. Grace accompanying her. Among members and friends present were: Mosdames Archibald, Mere Newton, J.P., M. Hurst, Grace, Booth, Killip, sen., Ardern, Grace, Harris, Max, Robb, Gibson, Stenlake, Young, Bradford and the Misses M. Booth and Carrick.