WORKERS' CLASSES FOR BETTER EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1915, Page 2

WORKERS' CLASSES FOR BETTER EDUCATION

DEVELOPING CLEAR-THINKING CITIZENS. The aims of the Workers 1 Educational Association were placed before the members of the Victoria College Council yesterday by Mr. Meredith Atkinson, the organiser of the association. Mr. H. H. Ostler, chairman of the council, was unavoidably absent, and the chair was occupied fey Mr. C. B. Watson. Mr. Atkinson explained the methods adopted by the 1 association in connection with its tutorial classes. A session consisted of twenty-four lectures, and each lecture was followed by an hour's discussion. The subject was chosen by the class itself, as it was found that the best way to interest > the students was to allow them to, discuss the topics which most interestea them. The movement, although young, had given astounding results in developing clear-thinking citizens. The tutor was a man of academic attainments, and in England the standard was very high. The most popular subjects so far were economics, history, and literature, while in Australia there had been a demand for botanical biology. The classes were controlled by a joint board consisting of half the workers' representatives and half of the College council. In England the University paid half the expenses and the Government paid half, while in Australia, where the university was more dependent on the Government, the Government paid the whole of the expenses through the joint committee. Each class had a small library of specially-selected books, and every student had to write an essay once a fortnight. A tutor was paid £80 per annum a class, and a full-time man, taking five classes, received £320. The total cost of a class was something over £100. ' B In reply to questions, Mr. Atkinson said that in England the fees were as nominal as possible, 2s 6d per term, while in Australia it was 5s per term. As far as he had gone, there was certain to be full time for one man. The first demand in 'Wellington would be for economics and industrial history. The tutor would take four classes of those subjects, and if a man were paid £450 the total cost for the classes would be £530. Mr. C B. Morison remarked that if the Government would provide the necessary funds there should be, in his opinion, no difficulty in the undertaking. Mr. Atkinson was warmly thanked for the information he had placed before the council.