THE W.E.A.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 8

THE W.E.A.

JTOTHEK EXPANSION

WORK OF THE PAST YEAR

Expansion in. tho activities of the Workers' Educational Association in all districts is revealed in tbo annual report, presented at.the annual meeting- . ' Tho "Wellington district attained the greatest increase in class attendances. The statistics and tho classes for cacli district arc as follows:— * Classes.Students. Auckland District .... 40' 1628 Wellington District ... '74 2605 Canterbury District .. 36 1441 Otago and Southland . Districts 32 1018 182 ' 6692 The Wellington figures include the 37 groups organised to study "clear thinking" and a number of short courses of four lectures each. ' VALUE APPRECIATED. / "In most countries," states the report, "the adult education movement has become one of the chief features of the present century. New Zealand has participated in this development to such an extent that- during the last session this association organised 182. classes with 6692 enrolled students. The increase over the previous year is 49 classes and 535 students. ' When tho movement commenced in 1915 there were only 8 classes with 249 students. Thus in 13 years there has been an increase of 174 classes and 6443 students. This appreciation' of tho value of adult education is no doubt largely due to Uro - greater leisure, perimifcted the workers than formerly, audAto the need that has arisc-n for a, quickened intelligence. in all spheres of industrial and commercial activity. In addition, the adoption of" universal suffrage with its consequent responsibilities has encouraged an interest in political and social problems. ' COUNTRY CLASSES. 'The further expansion of the movement into the country districts is a very, pleasing feature of the work of the last session. 'In fact, the four main cities have between them only about' 40 classes, while the remaining j 142 classes are distributed amongst the country towns and villages. This is as it should be when it is recognised that New Zealand is mainly an agricultural country. ' ■ . THE LIST OF SUBJECTS. "The W.E.A. has since its inception endeavoured to bring educational facilities within the reach of those who desire , it. But' the education offered is not for tho purpose of improving tho students' technical or professional skill, but rather as an aid to the development of human personality and- for tho enrichment of the lives of tho ordinary people. That being so, any subject, that lends itself to those ends is included in the syllabus. Last session 27 different subjects were taught. The list of subjects,".with tho number ' of classes and students, is as follow:—

Subject/' ■ (JJass.'Stud'ts. ;Psychology ......... IS 900 English literature 15 614 Modern drama ■, 6 776 Art, niusic.& literature 28 GO!) , Economics ............ 18 516 Music .8 431 ■■ Social problems 13 -467 Inter, problems 7 . 224 Public speaking ...... 3 220 History .., 7 15!) ■ ■Pay.,'hygiene,and ecoii. 7 380 ■ Psy., phil. and eeon. ... 3 389 Psy\, phil. literature .. 1 106 Clear thinking ....... 37. 315 Botany and biology .... 2 40 Geology '. 1 40 Philosophy - 1 40Public health ........ 1 32 Natural history ' 2 57 ' Astronomy .......'... 1,. 46 'Greek life • 1 02 Politics 1 34 Genetics ...;... 1 35 Health 1 85 Esperanto ...' 1 29 Anthropology 1 43 ' Polk dancing ........ 1 28 - Totals : 182 6692