ECONOMICS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1922, Page 9

ECONOMICS

TUTORIAL CLASSES

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

The annual report on the Workers' Education Association's tutorial classes for the 1922 session was presented to the Victoria College Council last evening. The report was as follows:—"During the year the work of the W.E.A. classes has been carried on successfully, though the mobility of the population has been a factor that has reacted unfavourably on ..the continuity of the work. Sixteen classes were in operation in all, a falling-off of six as compared to last year. All the 1922 classes, however, were tutorial classes. On the whole the reports of the tutors give evidence of satisfactory work. They show interest in study by many members of the classes and a desire to read more widely. Good use seems to have been made of the class libraries, where such exist; _ . Most teachers note, however, the difficulty of obtaining written work from the" students. One of the outstanding features of the past year has been the marked decline.in the popularity of economics as a subject of study and a growing demand for classes in psychology. The. Wellington Advanced Economics Class is the only class in economics that has shown any marked increase in popularity. In point of enrolments this was the most successful of all classes in the university district. "The main innovation during the past year has been the formation of a class in the appreciation of music. This class has been remarkably successful. Sociology_ and electricity have been again taken in the city; on the other hand, botany and Maori lore have been dropped. The classes in Wellington in English literature (2), elenentary economics, and psychology have been continued. ''Early in the year applications were invited for tutor organisers for the Manawatu and Buller districts. Although £400 was offered as salary tifere was such a dearth of suitable applications that it was decided not to make any appointment for the Buller district, consequently the footing gained by the W.E.A. in the mining townships in the neighbourhood of Westporfc during 1921 could not be maintained this year. Mr. A. E. Mander, who had previously acted as' temporary tutor-organiser in the Buller ' district, was' appointed to the Manawatu, and his selection has, we believe, been fully justified by the success of his six classes in various parts of the district. i "Apart from the Manawatu district the only classes in country centres of the Victoria University College district were a class in economics at New Plymouth, and a class in English literature at Westport. The classes at Stratford and Taihape have lapsed. On the other hand, the movement has made some progress in Wellington city." . The secretary of the Tutorial Classes Committee wrote stating that it had been decided to appoint two tutor-or-ganisers—-one for the Buller and one for the Taranaki district. The registrar stated that it would mean getting £400 from subscriptions, upon . which the Government would grant a subsidy of £400. Sir Robert Stout drew attention to the report of a conference at Home in which it was asserted that the system had not been successful in Great Britain. They might have men of professional standing if it was desired to give proper higher education to the people—to those getting the benefit of these workers'! educational classes. • Mr. Luckie asked if it was certain that the necessary funds would be available to carry out an object in regard to which there was a division of opinion amongst members of the council. Sir Robert Stout remarked that, if they could get the proper men, he had no objection to the proposal. He thought it would be a useful thing to have such classes if they sifcured men who understood the subjects thej were j teaching. . I On the motion of the chairman, it was agreed that if the council could get definite information as to the necessary funds being forthcoming they would proceed to advertise the positions.