Wider Use Of Schools For Adult Training Suggested

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28231, 20 March 1957, Page 16

Wider Use Of Schools For Adult Training Suggested

The wider use of public schools for adult education could be explored in New Zealand, according to Dr. Clarence D. Jayne, director of the department of adult education in the University of Wyoming. He is half way through a year’s visit to the Dominion under the Fulbright scheme.

Dr. Jayne is based in Wellington. as the metropolitan tutor there (Mr Hilton Power) is on an exchange visit to Wyoming. Dr. Jayne is spending about six weeks in the South Island. “Ninety per cent, of our classes are held in the public schools,” Dr. Jayne said. “They are the natural community centres; they are available without charge; they

have on hand furniture, blackboards, demonstration benches, film projectors, and many other facilities which have been paid for by taxes and would otherwise not be fully used. It seems logical that the community should base its adult education activities there. There is an immediate link with a very wide local community.” Dr. Jayne was told that university authorities in New Zealand had sometimes questioned whether such classes as millinery, although very popular, should strictly be catered for under adult education. Bread View He said he would not object The United States took a very broad view of adult education and activities of almost every kind would be provided if wanted. The schools generally provided evening classes in “practical” subjects, but if there was a demand unmet, adult education would fill the need. In this way people could gradually be attracted to such classes as economics, international affairs, political science, community development, and so on.

Adult education in the United States was responsible for many services which, in New Zealand, were extension activities of Gov-

ernment departments. Agricultural extension services and the in-service training of teachers were two examples. The advantage claimed was closer co-ordina-tion under one adult education authority, although the more direct liaison with Government departments in New Zealand also had its points, Dr. Jayne said. Otherwise the services offered by adult education in New Zealand and America were very similar. “Well Ahead” But in cultural work, Dr. Jayne thought New Zealand was well ahead. Courses in painting under adult education were new to him. So was radio group listening, travelling chamber music ensembles, the New Zealand Ballet Company, which opened a regional tour in Waimate last evening, and art exhibitions. “You are bringing these to outlying communities and the response has been more enthusiastic than anything I would expect,” he said. Dr. Jayne said that his North Island observations had not shown much attention to the training of leaders through adult education. He was interested to hear of Canterbury efforts, particularly in music, to train local leaders and make local communities largely self-supporting in the direction of their own activities.