WORKERS' EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2371, 29 January 1915, Page 7

WORKERS' EDUCATION

AaPLEAJOR HELP i UNIVERSITY SENATE I APPROACHED ' ] ' \ ...:■.' ./'I E»-*MeEm»n.-Pre£a.AesoolaUoa.) V j Chrlstchurch, January 28. At the University Senate to-day, Mr. ' Meredith Atkinson, a delegate of the ■Workers' Educational Association of \ Great Britain,, was heard iu a plea for. the assistance and co-operation of the ' Senate in an effort to introduce the movement of University -. education amongst the workers in. New Zealand. Professor J. Macmillan Brown, who was in the chair at the time, heartily (velcomed Mr. Atkinson, and said that ,'the movement was the most important ! which had ever arisen amongst " the t workers in New Zealand. He hoped < (Mr; Atkinson would impress them with \ the necessity of doing something, and f suggest methods by which University < education could be extended to the i workers. Our ideas had to be clear; t tf they were not, then they were at the f mercy of the demagogues, who' would I seize the reins of office. Mr. Atkinson thanked tho Senate for < the opportunity of explaining the move- j niont of the association. in Australia '. End in England. It was eighteen 1 months emoe the movement had been i extended to Australia, and he himself i »sent to take charge of the tutorial t ■ classes, at the Sydney University. The j association began its life in England i some.ten years ago, because of the i recognition of the necessity for training and educating the-' workers. The *\ chief -expression of the association's 1 .activity was found in tutorial classes' Jat the Universities. These might con- ( 'sist of from twelve to thirty students, i ■jwho chose their own subjects; AYhen ' .a tutor was appointed he visited the 1 -.locality most suitable for the class to ] 'meet and organise it. The class met j •■for two hours on each occasion, and sat j .'for twenty-four weeks during the win- ; fter, and lasted for three years. Tho ( '■ work was required to be as intensive i }ae University work. It was natural i that the most popular subjects were phases of sociology and economics, i UMch member of the class was required i to write essays. The class meeting was \ devoted to one hour for lecture and one \ihour for. discussion. The classes arose ] out of the distinct desire for man.- < technical education on the part of work-, j ers and were' achieving a distinct sucx*s6 in Great Britain. To each class : •"was usually attached a sound library '■ ■selected by the teacher, but to which : mother volumes might be added.' In the i summer special schools were held, but (the principal work was done in the ■ winter. As to the quality of the work i done, the testimony of Oxford profesjsors might be cited. These -had examined some essays and declared that (the students would have secured "bon'ours" in University examination. The .value of the work to ' - students was incalculable. Among all artesans ■there were a considerable number of ■really clever men, who, however, someitimes had half-baked ideas. It was Jreally stimulating to teach these,, and (to secure amongst the workers a balianced judgment and sound knowledge as to the principles of Government and history and all. economic government. Touching upon the system of finance, (Mr. Atkinson said that in Britain half iof the cost was paid by the Governtment and half by the Universities. In tAustralia the Government bad pretty Well financed the whole scheme. In (New Zealand no scheme had yet,been . formulated, and his plan for touring :New Zealand had been made before the /war began, and he deemed it wise not to delay it, because it was impossible rto say how long the war would last. He jthad therefore no definite financial plans • '.to suggest. If the Senate set iia seal . "upon the scheme, doubtless the . •Senate would be able to make some i suggestion for the guidance of % those i ■directing the movement. It seemed j; ■certain that they oould not expect very : much money from' the Government for I. •expansion purposes. It was recognised ! that to benefit the workers fees would . have to be as low as possible. In •Britain the fees were as low as 2s. 6d. fer session, and in Australia, the fee ad been put at ss. per session. The movement could.never be self-support-ing if the workers were to get real . /benefit. So far as teachers were. con- , terned, many Home professors took the -classes along with their own, and numbers of junior assistants also 'helped. Where it was impossible to keep this idirect connection with .the Univesrity Maffs, full time tutors were appointed • who were paid at the rate of £80 per .'class form, classes being regarded as lifree time work. This was the develop|anent at Oxford. Sir G. Maurice O'Rorke said he was touite convinced by Mr. Atkinson's [speech and he was satisfied the work pould go ahead. '.He had never heard Vof tutorial classes before, but theTe fwere enough professors and ex-profes-aors associated with the various colleges in New Zealand to make the .■scheme a. success. He hoped it would I flourish. . In answer to Dr. Hight, Mr, Atkmison explained the method in Sydney. The governing council was composed »n one half by members of the ExtenItion Committee of the University and ion the other half by members of the ICouncfl of the Workers' Education Association. The scheme was working exr cellently in New South Wales. There ,were twenty tutorial classes, and half "a, dozen each in Victoria and Tasmania, gnd three or four in each of the other /States. Dr. Chilton expressed his great ploastnre at Mr. Atkinson's explanation and (mentioned how he had first heard of Uhe association in London at the Universities' Congress. He had desired to (establish, the scheme in Christchuroh, ►and was therefore glad to hear of Mr. visit. The demand of course ■ would have to come from the workers :and when that demand was expressed the University would be glad to supply Vthe want of teachers. In answer to Dr. FitchettMr. Atkinson said that half of their lecturers in Sydney were engaged in teaching work in Sydney University. The professorial staff was too busy in Sydney though this was not the case in Melbourne. He hoped, however, that during the present year the Professor of Economics in Sydney would take a class. The junior teaching staff of the "University was giving great help. In answer to Mr. fiogben Mr. Atikinson said that wherever possible the classes met at the University itself jaji.d were kept directly in touch with life. The* first class formed In Sydney met at the University and (still mot there. In England 'even more Tvas done, for the summer schools were 'Jield at the University, ■ Their effect was wonderful upon the students, for they formed a passionate regard for the University. If the same could be effected in Australia by bringing the elasses into touch with the University great results would follow, and when tho movement extended to the country the Came plan could not be followed altogether, but even then the effect of tho •University could be pressed home. He W>ed i n ft 1 "8 to split New • South Wales up into districts and instal in leach a resident tutor who would form /the centre of the class movement. In answer to Professor Macmillan Brown it was said that the subjects •taught _ in Sydney now were history, feconomics and biology and a class for psychology was being formed. In Melbournn the subjects were literature, history, and economics. Asked if any reward or certificate 'were granted to students to _ record their progross Mr. Atkinson said that ifc',; noin± popped up in England wbara

on a vote being taken 90 per cent, were., against any form of certificate or "pothunting." He felt sure the same thing would be recorded in Asutralia. Professor J. Macmillan Brown said that responding to the suggestion of Sir Mauricw O'Rorke he would b» glad personally to do what he.could to help , the moyement. Ho had always felt keenly interested in such a spread of knowledge* but had never known how , to get it. He would, however, be glad to lend his personal assistance to the , movement, (Applause.) ( Mr. Atkinson tanked the Senate ( for- its hearing and courtesy. It still ( remained for the Senate to formulate | a working plan for New Zealand. Dr. Fitchett moved that a vote of thanks bo accorded Mr. Atkinson, and . ba recorded on the minutes. This was < carried with applauße.