THE BOX SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 15

THE BOX SCHEME

— ; —« WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION EXTENT OF WORK The box scheme is an activity of the Workers' Educational Association about which very little is known by townspeople. It was begun about eight years ago with the object of providing educational and cultural facilities for groups of country people who have not the opportunity to attend university lectures or Workers' Educational Association tutorial classes. Mr J. Johnson has been tutor and organiser of the scheme since its inception. Method of Study Any district wishing to participate in the scheme forms a group of 12 to 20 people with a leader and secretary. To each of these groups a box is sent periodically, the contents of which vary according to the course being studied. There is always a lecture, of which 16 typed copies are sent. If the course taken is experimental psychology, there will be apparatus for carrying out psychological experiments. Drama, music, and art of various periods and in their various aspects are largely studied, and for these sets of plays, gramophone records and prints of works of art are sent. There are 13 courses in all, typical titles being "Appreciation," "Eighteenth Century Music, Art and Literature," "Modern Tendencies in Music, Art and Literature." Each course usually comprises 24 boxes. A box is retained at a centre for a short period, and then forwarded to the next centre on the circuit. An important feature of the work is the promotion of discussions and play-reading. The experimental work also provides a valuable means of co-operative practical education. Last Year's Work Last year, according to Mr Johnson, 12 courses were in circulation, two of which were distributed from Auckland, the rest being sent from the main centre at Christchurch. In all there were 105 centres taking courses, the same number as in the previous year, though some centres had been lost and others gained. Fouriiew boxes had been acquired, and six one-act plays duplicated. In addition to the distribution of boxes to the rural centres there had also been a considerable amount of hiring of the boxes by drama societies, women's institutes, and similar bodies. This was only a secondary part of the scheme, said Mr Johnson, but was definitely a part of the educational work. During the year Mr Johnson has personally paid 30 visits to 23 groups in Canterbury, as well as to the eight groups in Marlborough.