ADULT EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 28 January 1929, Page 10

ADULT EDUCATION

CONFERENCE IN CANADA

N.Z. REPRESENTATION

An important conference on education is to be held at Vancouver in April of this year, and it is hoped that New Zealand will be able to send a strong representation to take part in tho deliberations, which are expected to have a far-reaching effect. The conference follows on the visit to Now Zealand and Australia recently by Professor \V. F. Osborne, M.A., of tho University of Manitoba, who urged on various public bodies in New Zealand the desirability of being represented at the conference.

The Now Zealand Government lias appointed Mr. 1«. Mil nor, C.M.G., of the Waitaki Boys' High SehooJ, to represent the Dominion at the conference, and it is also hoped that the Hon. Georgo Fowlds, of Auckland, a former Minister of Education, will be able, to attend. It is not known whether other delegates will go from New Zealand, although Professor Osborno while in this country expressed tho hope.that at least fifteen delegates would make the trip.

A preliminary statement of tho proceedings to be undertaken at tho conference has been received in New Zealand. It is stated that the programme will be designed as an approach lo adult education from a new angle, as an integral part of tho educational process. The conference will endeavour to demonstrate that what is generally termed adult education is education rightly conceived; that all else is a prelude; and that no scheme of education 'can serve its time and generation which omits any factor or stage cf either life or knowledge. It must concern itself with man at work and at play, and help him to shape the environment in which his life is lived. It is considered that no system of education concerned only with school and college years can. achieve its purpose in the face of tho influences- which modern conditions have produced. The conference will be divided into five main subjects, addresses and discussions on which will be held under tho direction of a specially constituted committee. Provision is made for the attractive treatment of each subject by means of addresses relating to and expressive of the general theme of the conference. Three similar conferences have -jcen held ill Canada previously, tho attendance of delegates reaching the fifteen hundred mark on the last occasion. It is hoped that this year there will be :iu attendance of at least 2000. An elaborate programme has been drawn up for tho entertainment of the delegates, including a trip right through the Dominion of Canada.

Professor Osbornu has drawn up :i comprehensive report dealing with his .visit to Australia and New Zealand, and a copy of this has been received by tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce. In his report the P.rofessor details his activities in New Zealand, and concludes: "I was in New Zealand twenty-five days, during which time I traversed virtually the whole length of, both islands, delivering fifteen addresses before Chambers of Cony mercc, Eotary Clubs, Universities, tho general public, and high schools. . . We have the official promise of the Government that it will be represented. Mr. Milncr definitely undertakes to conui, Sir George Fowlds reiterates his dcsi.:rc' to come, and his hope that his engajr/e----ments will permit. ' Then, in each of the four cities we have, under directfjem of either the Chamber of Commerce-tor of tho Eotary Club, a large eclectic committee that has undertaken, tvnil with much enthusiasm and goodwill, to endeavour to send respectively Incal contingents to a national delegation, which I ventured to picture as co nsisting of from fifteen to twenty. rwith respect to the official Government delegate, it is perhaps not incoiTdjf; for. me to say that a. General E'fcction is pending, but the Hon. Mr. Wright (tho Minister of Education) said/he felt confident that in the remote eventuality of a change the now Govornme nt would favourably consider the decision of the present Ministry." Since Professor Osborne's visit a change of Government has t:/'ken place in New Zealand, but it is understood that Mr. Milner will stil'Z represent tho Government.