THE W.E.A.

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 12

THE W.E.A.

university tutorial classes.

[Contributed by tho Dunedin branch of tho Workers’ Educational Association.]

THE W.E.B. OF AMERICA.

Tho beat of all good nows to W.E.A. members (says the ‘ Highway ') is that the cause of workers’ education, is spreading in the world. We have all regarded with the greatest satisfaction the foundation and remarkable growth of the W.E.A. in Australia and New Zealand. We are glad to think that in South Africa and Canada there are centres of activity. We have always welcomed from the Continent of Europe friends who are themselves engaged in work somewhat similar in spirit to our own. We" rejoiced at the visit of Mr Dana from the United States, and we received with pleasure Air Spencer Miller in his capacity as secretary of the Workers Education Bureau of America. The Workers’ Education Bureau of America has,made a good start, notwithstanding the difficulties inherent in cstablishing a workers’ educational movement in a country where distances are ■ so great and where conditions are in many ways less favorable to tho development of adult education than they are in this country. There is a real movement-_ in America. It has sprung into existence independently in several places in response to strongly - felt needs on the part of groups of workers for education. The report of tho the first national conference on workers' education in the United States indicates the many roots of the movement. _ Papers were given describing the -activities the trade union colleges at Boston, Hew York, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia, and the work of the United Labor Education Committee of New York, and of those extraordinarily live and vigorous unions, the International Ladies-’ Garment Workers’ and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, But the, real interest of the conference centred in the discussions on methods of organisation, control, and finance, and on the problems connected with practical educational work. These various questions were considered under the headings of ‘ Organised Labor and Workers’ Education? ‘ The Student and Workers’ Education? and ‘The Teacher and Workers’ Education.’ Teachers, students,_ and active trade unionists took part in the discussions, so that many different points of view were brought to bear. The conference must have been a source of inspiration to those who attended it. It brought together for the first time those who are interested in the education of tho American workers, and officially inaugurated the Workers’ Education Bureau. It was therefore a gathering _ of great significance, comparable in its importance with the foundation of the W.E.4-. in 1903. But it was also important because of the contributions made to the discussions by trade union officials and trade union students and teachers. Practical experience, a sincere facing of the_ difficulties, and a fine spirit of enthusiasm for education combined to create the foundations of a great movement.

Mr Arthur Greenwood adds: “ There are indications in the report of difficult problems with which the W.E.B. is faced, and signs that the American movement will develop along lines different from our own. But I feel that the difficulties will be overcome, and that, whilst tho W.E.B. will attack the problem of education in its own way, its ideals will be those which inspire our own movement.”