ADULT EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 198, 19 May 1930, Page 13

ADULT EDUCATION

THE W.E.A. MOVEMENT GROWTH OF ACTIVITIES DOMINION CONFERENCE . Marked extension of its activities and a growing appreciation of its aims by the public were two of the chief features of the past year commented upon at the annual Dominion conference of the Workers’ Educational Association held in Wellington ou Saturday. Mr. H. D. Acland, of Christchurch, presided at the morning session, and. Mr. -B, Martin, of Auckland,'in the afternoon. Other delegates present were: Mrs. E. Maslen and Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, Wellington; Mr. N. M. Richmond and Mr. W. H. Cocker, Auckland; Mr. W. J. Morrell, Mr. T. R. Fleming, and Mr. F. Jones, Otago; Mr. C. N. R. Mackie, Mr. F. E. O’Flynn, and Mr. G. Manning, Dominion secretary, Canterbury; and Mr. S. J. Harris, Wanganui. Extending a welcome to delegates, Mr. M. F. Luckie (Deputy-Mayor) said that the city fully appreciated the work being done by the association. Probably no other country in the world made its education so democratic or so complete from kindergarten to university as did New Zealand. The 'establishment of the Workers’ Educational Association had provided a marked extension of the system in that it enabled those who would otherwise be excluded through lack of time from pursuing their studies to partake of the benefits of expert instruction. Movement’s Value. “The further growth of this movement for adult education during the last year in this country reveals that New Zealand posseses a favourable environment within which adult education can expand,” sta'ted the annual report of the Dominion Council. “This favourable environment consists first in the equitable climate with very short winters, a fact which makesMt possible _ for adults to attend the classes, and second the system of education which' permits most children to have access to the secondary schools. “Secondary school education meansthat a number of children remain at school at least until they are 15 years ‘ of age, while others continue until 17 years of age. This gives the children an Insight into general education which assists them to appreciate the opportunity after leaving school for further cultural education. Although the facilities for secondary school education are fairly generous, only a small proportion of youths proceed to the university colleges. “It is estimated that only 6000 were enrolled in the unilverslty colleges last year. This proves that a large proportion Of the adult population has not enjoyed a university education, while a good proportion has participated in secondary education if only for a year or two. It is to this second proportion . that the W.E.A. appeals most strongly,’! not omitting, of course, a fair number with only a primary school education. Students Increase. “The expansion of the movement last year is revealed by the fact that there were organised 168 classes with over 7292 enrolled students; three classes omitted to send in returns in time for this report Last year there were 182 classes, with 6692 students. The fact that the Wellington centre has not furnished this year the number of groups studying ‘Clear Thinking’ reduces the total recorded number of classes in session. This indicates that there is a decrease of 14 in the number of classes, but an increase of over 600 enrolled students. “The increase in students has taken place in the' Wellington and Auckland districts. The Canterbury district increased by 11 classes, but with practically the same enrolments as last year. Otago has the same number of classes with practically the same enrolments as in the previous year. The increase in the number of students in the Auckland and Wellington districts is accounted for by the fact that both these centres organised quite a number of short courses. Students enrolled in the centres were shown as follow: Auckland, 1773; Wellington, 2941; Canterbury, 1599; Otago and Southland, 979.“Various activities had been organised by the various centres. Auckland had arranged a summer school, week-end schools and radio talks, and in other places numerous special features along these lines had been held to further interest in adult education. A special work successfully organised in both Auckland and Canterbury was the introduction of W.E.A. work to the prisons. “For a number of years after the movement commenced,” the report added, “the demand was mainly for subjects dealing with industrial and political problems, this being due to the desire of the stud- ... ents, who mostly comprised trade, unionists, to understand the 'economic system and political laws so that .with greater knowledge on these subjects they would be able to contribute something to the solution of industrial, problems and become better-informed citizens. With the appeal of the movement to a wider circle of adults through its expansion into the rural areas and country towns, and the fact that the. earlier students have now studied a fair amount of industrial questions and are now seeking a wider knowledge, the syllabus has been so increased that this year there are. 38 subjects on the list.” iFinancial Needs. Discussing finance, the report said that responsibilities were increased in this connection owing to the expansion of the work in rural areas.. However, the association’s income remained stationary.' ■ Unless the Government and the publie came to the assistance of the movement in the near future the facilities offered by it could not be further extended to ■ meet the educational needs of people in the backblocks remote from any educational influence. When it was realised that 47 per cent, of the population lived in rural districts, any educational influence failing to reach that, proportion could not be called truly national. Instruction by Radio. Tentative approved was expressed of a proposal from Auckland that a depu- . tation should wait on the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Company urging the formation of an adult education section for the definite provision of educational programmes on the lines of those arrang- „ ed by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Mr. Richmond and Mr. Cocker arc to draw up a comprehensive scheme for consideration.

Wellington's suggestion that the Dominion council should be located in the capital was disapproved. It will remain in Christchurch. The following officers were re-elected : President, Mr. H. D. Acland, 8.A., of Christchurch: treasurer, Mr. A. H. Shrubshall: secretry, Mr. G. Manning. 8.A.. of Christchurch.