ARMY EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 139, 9 December 1942, Page 5

ARMY EDUCATION

CIVILIAN HELP

REGIONAL COMMITTEES

"The scheme for Army welfare and education will require considerable assistance from civilians, stated the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason) today. "A complete plan for Army welfare and education, prepared by the Director (Lieut-Colonel D. G. Ball) has been approved by the War Cabinet. As far as possible the Army will provide its own lecturers, instructors, and equipment. But with so many men and so great a variety . of activities to cater for a considerable amount of civilian help will be needed."

In'each district where there^ are military camps, a civilian regional committee for Army education will be set up. The committees will include persons who have special contacts with university and adult education, the schools, business., or industry, and employees' organisations. Each/ committee will .collect, information about all ,ithe civ^ian - educational-, facilities m its area that could be used by the Army, imd pass it to the educational offices 6t each Army unit, and to arouse civilian interest in providing the facilities specially asked for by the Army. It is. hoped, also, that the committees will create amongst the soldiers, a demand for a wide range of educational activities. The work of-, the commit- : tees • will be voluntary? .but their travelling similar. adxnMstrative expense! will be paid.^ The Education Department will have the-general.re-sponsibility for the civilian, organisation involved, and for co-ordinating the activities of the regional committees. Mr. W. B. Harris, Supervisor of Teaching Aids, has been appointed by the Department to act as liaison officer with the Army.

OBJECTS OF SCHEME. "The scheme for Army education," continued the Minister, "aimsr •at building up morale and maintaining mental activity amongst soldiers who are cut off from their interests of civilian life. It is of .the> first lmnortance that soldiers should become critically aware of the values for which they are fighting,, that they , should have an understanding of current problems and broader aspects of Allied strategy, and that they should consider the problems of post-war reconstruction. "Lectures, films, arid discussions will serve these ends. Many soldiers miss keenly the activities; with which they filled their leisure time. For (> them will be provided libraries, hobbies, craft work, music, and • drama. Others, and especially those younger, are iiot getting the vocational training.which is necessary both for efficient soldiers and good citizens. For these it is hoped to provide training courses, either m the camps, or by correspondence, or part-time in schools. The National Broadcasting Service will materially I assist in providing all kinds of entertainment, from variety concerts to musical recitals, but in every district the assistance of those interested in music and drama will be needed. j WAYS TO HELP. "There is a great diversity of interests amongst the soldiers, and a great need ifor assistance from the civilian popu[lation. It is not just a matter of obtaining the help of professional teachers and the schools. .Anyone who can talk' interestingly about his own job, who can demonstrate his own hobby, who is willing to let a few soldiers use his workshop or his studio, who can I provide a quiet, warm room where a i soldier can study, can help. Any club !or society which can lend its rooms or equipment, or give- soldiers, a share in its activities can assist. "In England the two factors, which have limited the success of the Army education scheme," the Minister concluded, "have been the shortage of*suitable instructors, and the lack of suitable buildings and equipment. It is hoped that the regional committees in New Zealand will be able to overcome these difficulties with the active support of all civilians who have the welfare of our soldiers at heart."