WORKERS’ EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 19410, 19 November 1926, Page 2

WORKERS’ EDUCATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION The annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Workers’ Educational Association was held at the Town Hall last evening, the president (Dr 6. E. Thompson) presiding over a fair attendance. . . -' In moving the adoption of the twelfth annual report, Dr Thompson said ho wished to make a few supplementary remarks on the work done by the association during the past year. He said: “ 1 do not need to remind you that the movement is still in its infancy. Twelve years are, after all, a mere moment in the history of a movement such as ours, and the extent to which it has grown and consolidated during this brief period leads us firmly to hope that in the years to come adult education will not be merely an adjunct to the University, but will be a separate and integral part of our educational system. The progress already made is remarkable. The association began its work in Otago in 1915 with one solitary class, held" by the late Dr Bedford in the University building, with thirty students. During the past year twenty-nine classes were held in Otago and Southland, and the total number of students enrolled was 911. The subjects taught hav©_ increased greatly in number and variety. But the success of an educational movement cannot be estimated by mere figures. Indeed, in no department of human activity is effective work more difficult to evaluate. One thing, however, can be said, that there is abroad in the community to-day, among those sections that have not had the benefit of University education, a knowledge _of economics, history, and literature which did not exist before this movement began. And there is also greater desire for such knowledge. This is_ in spite of the tremendous growth in those counter attractions which tend to create a craving for amusement and emotional excitement.

“ Again, there is abundant evidence of the effect of the work_ on individual members of the organisation. As I previously said, one of the most pleasing results of our efforts is the number of men and women who have found themselves, to whom attendance at our various classes has become not merely a habit, but a joy, and who look forward to each recurring session with keen anticipation. The movement has, of course, its critics, and we cannot too strongly stress tho_ fact that the spirit of the movement is non-partisan, nonsectarian, and democratic. Another criticism relates to the standard of the education given. W_hen_ the tutorial class system was first instituted in England the principle adopted was that of a consecrated three-year course, working up to a standard comparable to that of University honors. This was the constitution adopted in the first class established in Dunedin. But it was not long before it was ffound that such a system was quite unsuited to our conditions of shifting population and the inevitable modification of the original system naturally affects the standard of the work done. On the other hand, it widens the appeal, spreads knowledge oyer a larger area, and keeps interest alive by varying the subject. Further, it must be remembered that the education at which wo are aiming is cultural, not vocational. It is impossible to draw a strong line of demarcation between cultural and vocational education, but, broadly defined, vocational education is for a man's working hours, and cultural education is for liis leisure. On© of the greatest influences for good that the work of this association may have lies in the direction of the child, for many boys and girls labor under the permanent handicap throughput school life and after of nearing no intellectual or even intelligent conversation in the home—-at the fireside or round the dinner table. If this organisation can reach the child through the parent, and can give a right direction to the tastes and ideas of the young by giving high ideals to the adult, its work for good will be more than doubled. 1 ’

In seconding _ the motion, Mr T. R. Fleming said it had ben stated at Home that the W.E.A.’s_ educational standard was not very high, but he considered that such criticism was unfair in view* of the splendid achievements of the movement. The essays submitted by the members of one-third-year class, for instance, were claimed to be up to honors standard, and this was from men and women who only had an elementary education. A number of adult educational movements had been started in England, but they all failed to develop tho individuality of the workers, and the founder of the W.E.A. (Mr Albert Mansbridge) had attempted to make good this defect when he conceived the idea of the Workers’ Educational Association. Mr Fleming, in dealing with tho movement in Otago and Southland, said he had been particularly impressed with the good work that was being done in a literature class in the south, and he had been informed that on one occasion no less than four of the members had contributions in the same day’s newspaper, which all went to show that the classes I were well worth while. The association thoroughly deserved tho support of tho whole community. Tho Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) congratulated, the association on the work that had been done in the Otago district. He had been unable to attend any Jectuires during the past year, but he had been greatly im- ■ pressed with the lectures given tho previous year by Mr G. M'Cracken. ! The City Council had recognised tho value of the work done by making a grant, and he would like to see even a more generous contribution. He noticed that one of tho remits for tho coming municipal conference proposed that all public bodies should be allowed to make grants for educational purposes out of the general revenue. At the present time such grants came out of tho unauthorised expenditure fund, which was very limited. Ho personally would support the remit. Tho association could do a tremendous amount of good in many directions, and he thought it would assist in ultimately bringing about a hotter understanding between ah sections of the community by clearing away misunderstandings. He trusted that in the future the association would have classes in every country town, because he felt the progress of the movement would be to the good of the people, the country, and the Empire. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., said it was news to him that there were more W.E.A. students than University students. The speaker congratulated Dr Fisher (director of the W.E.A.) on his work in connection with the association, and also referred to the services rendered by Dr Thompson and Messrs Bradley (the treasurer) and M'Cracken. Mrs Christie spoke very euiogistically of Miss King’s literature class and Dr Radcliffe-Taylor’s health lectures, and Mr M'Cracken’s classes also came in for praise. The speaker hoped that a summer school would be held by the W.E.A. in Otago, and she considered that badges should be issued to members. ' The Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., said that although the University had been established in 1871 it was not until the W.E.A. came into being that jfc reallv got into touch with the community* as a whole. He did not agree that the association should go to the Government for more money. They should develop self-reliance. When the technical classes were established in Dunedin nearly forty years ago, the promoters did not ask the Government tor anything, the students themselves contributing substantially. He believed the. people who had to nay for a thing valued it more highly, but unfortunately to-day many sere losing

their self-respect and independence. Why, he asked, should the man in the street pay for the cultural education of those who attended W.E.A. classes? ■ Mr W. Tuckey thought that the number of students attending the W.E.A. classes in Otago and Southland exceeded the numbers attracted to the classes in Sydney. He considered the classes should bo held all the year round. He did not agree with the previous speaker’s statement regarding financial assistance from the Government, pointing out that all education was of value to the community, and should be supported by the Government, . Dr Fisher did not agree with the distinction that had been mad© between cultural and vocational education. The W.E.A. ideal was a happy fusing of the two. The association was democratic, and welcomed assistance from members, Mr P. C. Triggs deplored what he described as the “'deadly effect of the apathetic mind,’’ and it appeared to him that most of the people simply accepted everything without question. The motion was carried. Mr J, T. Paul moved the adoption of the balance-sheet, which showed the association to be in a fairly healthy financial position. _ He appreciated what had been said about the necessity for self-reliance, but ho pointed out that the movement really existed for those who had not been fortunate enough to have had a university education. Many of their students were attempting to make good’ the deficiency in middle life. If they had a larger income, the community would benefit all the more, and lie hoped that the Government and philanthropic citizens would help. Mr Christie seconded. Mr H. Brasch suggested that a. committee should be set up to consider tho question of obtaining more money. Mr J, B. Turner hoped that citizens would support such a worth-while movement as tho W.E.A. was. Tho election of office-bearers resulted as follows President, Dr G. E. Thompson; vice-presidents—Messrs T. K. Sidey, M.P., W. J.. Morrell, and F. Jones; Honorary auditors, Messrs F. Jones and H. Brasch. . . On the motion of Mrs Christie a vote of thanks was accorded those who had helped tho association during tho year.