ADULT SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 88, 7 January 1908, Page 6

ADULT SCHOOLS.

DESCRIBED ENTHUSIAST. THE.WORKINGIMAN, HERE AND ELSEWHERE. Mr. Edward Smith is a man of broad shoulders and broadisympathics. He is tho kind of man' that' people naturally chooso to take the chair at parish meotings or national conferences, to manage big enterprises, and to preside over 'federations,- leagues;. and unions. He is hero on behalf o£ the London Missionary Society, and is a member of tho'central governing'authority of that body. People- in the English' western Midlands seem to have a habit of putting 'him at the head of their' religious a'nd'social betterment movements. At any rate, a Dominion reportor induced him 16 own up to being president of the Midland Adult School Union, president of the 'West Midland Federation of Free Churches, presidont of tho - Midland Temperance' League, president of the Dudley Teiriperance Society,'and tho Dudloy Y.M. C.A and an active member of associations for the aid of prisoners. He is also managing director of a firm of woollen merchants and clothing manufacturers, having branches in seven town's arid cities, from London to Preston, and' from Birmingham to Belfast, and he--is.a Justice'of tho Peace for the County of Worcestershire. . But tho thing he. wanted to _ talk about when the reporter discovered ■ him was the Adult School movement. On this ho spoke with-an enthusiasm that ignored tho clock, forgot tho luncheon hour, and slighted the afternoon's engagements. impossible to hoar him without believing that there must bo something in a movement which could bo so spoken of by a typical, hardheaded, practical, successful, English business man. ' ■" " 1 ' NO! " STAItCH." Adult Schools, the reporter learnt, really aro : schools', a'nd not just Bible classes. They teach many things, and the teachers aro always trying to learn and to induce tho scholars to teach. Hero is ono definition:— " A oa-operativG religious society, or brotherhood, knowing neither sect nor party, for tho making of good citizens, whero all are teachers'and »U are scholars, in which the only qualification for membership is a wish to join." Tho movement began in 18-15, in Birmingham, and'one month later in Sheffield.- It was Josejih' Sturge—not "Mr."' J. Stiirge, for :he'was a Quaker, and it was sixtv years' ago —who called a few young men together, to talk.-about the idle fellows ho saw lounging at-the street corners in Birmingham. That was the origin of the Severn Street 1 Adult School, which has now 45 branches and thousands of members. For a long' time ' the- movement was entirely in the hands of tho mombers of the Society of Friends, but in 1870,- schools began to be opened by others, in Birmingham and in the Black Country. District Unions were formed, and (in 1899) a National Council. Tho movement now (says. Mr. Smith) is wholly undenominational. The. number of tho schools ■has.reached-1378, with,.an approximate membership of 98,300. Though it began in great cities, it now flourishes also' in rural districts. It. has spread all over England, and into' Wales, 'Ireland,' and 'Scotland. It is represented m'Canada iaiicl the States. There aro three schools 'at Sydiiey and a small one at -Auckland. In short-, the Adult School ' movement,is now a big thing, and the London " Times," 1 which takes notice of things when) they get big. 'has described it as " common sens'o Christianity, with the starch, taken out and brotherliness put in." , ' WHAT THE SCHOOLS DO. The Riglit Hon. John Burns-is responsible -for tho statement that in 1876, 148 men out of'every 1000 who were, married had to mark their marriage certificate with a cross. Today, the number has dropped to 16 per 1000. For many years one of tlio strong features of the Adult Schools, and one of their chief attractions for working men was that:they taught reading and writing. They still teach it when necessary, but they have classes for other educational subjects, and short- lectures , are- givon ; on, scientific, hygienic,., or other ipstructivo topics. Tho men s schools usually 'meet at 9 o clock on Sunday morning, and tho women's schools on Sunday afternoon or some evening in the week. After the educational classes, or lecturottes, comes the Bible lesson, which is regarded as tho centre of the school-life. Tho leader . or teacher starts it, and.ithore is a largo freedom of discussion. „T,ho schools aro mainly 'self-supporting, and'they aro thoroughly democratic. All tho members voice in tho management. Connected with tho schools are such auxiliaries us. savings banks, boncj volent funds/ coal clubs, sick funds, physical Culture classes, social and recreative clubs, lectures, .libraries,,',and book funds. SOME OF Tlfti SCHOLARS.' For purposes of comparison tho reporter mentioned the Young People's Bible Classes, which flourish in. this country. "They don't get hold of tho same class," ssio Mr. Smith', and tlien he told anecdotes to show tho kind of; men tho Adult School has taken, and tho. kind of mon it has made of them. Thero was the ignorant working man who drifted into a Birmingham school one, Sunday morning, under the impression that he was going to see a prize fight. He was amazed—and - much more —when - a wealthy citizen shook hands with him, called him ."Sly friend," and hoped he would come again. "When I was there last," said Mr. Smith, ,"he was ■ teaching a class." Making a - raid .upon liis Gladstone bag, Mr. Smith, produced photographs, family groups. "This was tho worst man in- the li'lago. Now see him surrounded by Ill's family—all well-dressed and happy." He told of 'a man, who had been a prize-fighter, and is now secretary of an Adult School, and described a meeting where, out of 34 adult scholars who. wore seated on tho platform, 31 had been in gaol. Ho told of "Old Sol," whoso back kitchen was papered with tho 120 summonses that had been served upon him—beforo ho began going to the Adult School. Ho read bits of letters from such mon, all.glowing with enthusiasm for tho schools thai had done so much for them. THE NEW ZEALAND .WORKING MAN. "And do you think Adult Schools would prosper in Now Zealand?" asked tho interviewer. "Well, of course, tho conditions aro not jus! the same. But hero is a letter from a young man, who is now in England, but who was formerly connected with ono of tho schools at Sydney. Ho says tho Adult School movement is noeded nowhoro more than, in Australasia. But there seems to bo a sort of a hard cako on the men out here. They havo so much 'side.' They are so self-confident. Wo say at Home that wo can't got hold of a working man when ho is 'at tho top of his fling.' Wo havo to wait until ho is down. And in this country, it seems to me, they loso sight of the truth that tho very secret of lifo is labour. 'Whatsoever' thy hand gnideth to do, do it with thy might.' But hero tho great idea seems to bo to reduce tho working day. It is down to eight hours, and now, I am told, fhey want, to bring it down to six. Tho geroral goal seems to be easo, but I think 'Satan finds somo mischief still, for idlo hands to do.'. I supposo if somo of thom heard me • say that, they would call mo a sweater. Well, I hope wo run our business on Christian lines. We realise, and wo ask our workers to realise,'that we aro really cooperating with them." A. PROFIT-SHABINO BUSINESS. In answor to an inquiring look, on tho faco of the Pressman, Mr. Smith said that in ono department of tho clothing business, which he manages, the employees are credited yearly with a percontago of tho profits, and their shares arc put asido to accumulate against sickness, death, or leaving the service,. In another department tho wages are raised at tho beginning of the year, if tho profits, on a caroful study of tho position of business, warrant it. Tho workers aro loyal and contented, and tako an interest in tho business. They havo no trades union. Religious services aro hold regularly with the employees on tho premises. Mr. Smith expects to leave for Christ-, church ,on Thursday,