WORKERS’ SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 13

WORKERS’ SCHOOL

Spanish Experiment Recently, in a former Jesuit school, Spain's first 'Workers’ School was established. Hernandez, as chief director, addressed the 1-10 young miners, factory hands and farmers. Forced to work at. an early age, denied a formal education, his greatest ambition has always been to establish schools where workers like himself, freed from economic worries, can receive the education he was denied.

He pointed out the responsibility which falls on the shoulders of these students. On a visit to th© front line a small band of militiamen had turned to him during a lull in the firing and said—“ Revenge us. We fun the minor danger. Ignorant men, cut off from all culture and denied all possibility of study, we must fight for the new Spain so that you to-morrow can build for others like us, for our sons and for the sons of free and new Spain, a generation 'which will not be as unfortunate as ours.”

The object of the school is to provide in two years work and education which would normally be spread over seven years. Established by decree on November 21, 1936, it is for workers between the ages of 15 and 30 But for the duration of the war no able-bodied entrant will be accepted who is over 18. The present class of 140 was selected by rigid examination from a group of 500 aspirants proposed by the trade unions and youth organisations. A second elimination will take place at the end of the first year. Those students who show exceptional ability but have not had sufficient primary education can receive courses in the subjects they require.

The currmulum .provides for the study of language and literature in Spanish, French and English, geography, history, economics, natural sciences, mathematics, physio-chemis-try and drawing. The courses are not obligatory. At the discretion of the committee of professors, a student may omit certain courses. Graduates will later form an advisory committee.

The college had been converted to its new use in a space of 15 days. Renovation was going on everywhere. The former dormitories, large halls filled with* tiny windowless alcoves, just large enough to hold a bed, are being torn out and replaced by small, airy, single rooms with running water. At present 50 of the students sleep in the building, the other 90 returning to their homes at nightfall. But all receive free schooling and meals. Those who have given up some job or who have parents to support are given monthly scholarships.

This'is only the small beginning of a wide network of similar schools which will be esatblished shortly all over Spain.