WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 11

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

ADULT EDUCATION ABROAD The W.E.A. in Dunedin is but a branch of an association whoso influence extends not merely throughout the British Empire, but into other conntries as well. Dr Albert Mansbndgo, who founded the W.E.A. in Now Zealand and Australia, ifi completing a life’s "work by linking up the adult educational bodies in foreign lands with those in England and the colonies. Having seen the W.E.A. safely established in the English-speaking countries, ho founded the World Association for Adult Education with tho ideal of “The multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world.’’ In a recent international meeting of adult educationists, held at Denmark, he explained why the World Association was founded. “Hero we were in England receiving continually people from various parts of tho world who were talking to us about their difficulties, and fooling the necessity for some central place to which they could have recourse, some organisation which would give them information and help them, but which, most of all, would bring them into touch with other people working at adult educational problems in tho different parts of tho world, so that they could derive tho advantages which are inherent in any plan of co-operation,” So was formed an association, centred in London, but with affiliated bodies in Japan, Denmark, Germany, and New Zealand. In 1929 a world conference on adult education will be held in England. In preparation- for this conference there will bo compiled a handbook of adult education, giving facts of the methods, subjects, statistics of bodies like the W.E.A. in all countries. Tho World Association issues a monthly bulletin, which may bo borrowed from the W.E.A. library. , . Part of tho work of the association has been the organisation of a- System of exchange of tutors. Dr Eugon Bosenstock, of the University of Breslau, has recently been visiting England as the holder of a bursary awarded in Germany by the World Association for Adult Education. Ho was struck by tbo very small number of younger people m tho English adult classes. Most of the students were of a mature age; there was no .youth movement, which on tho Continent of Europe was inspiring the young men and women to take an interest in the important activities of life. This is a criticism which could very justly bo levelled ogainst the Dunedin W.E.A. Few voung people attend the classes—young people in age is meant—-for tho W.E.A. student generally possesses the freshness of outlook, the welcoming of new ideas, and the imaginative sympathy that are associated with tho young of every age. At the W.E.A. summer school at Auckland there was a majority of voung men and women, but oven there during the year the youths are missing from the classes.. The difficulty of reaching tho young is a great and n grave one. The organisers cannot address the devotees of the dance hall and picture shows, much ns they would like to, yet unless the young come forward the association will partly fail. EASTER CAMP. Arrangements are almost” completed for a W.E.A. school at Easter. The site has not - been definitely decided unon, but very probably it will be held at Hampden. The cost will not be more than 30s for week-end. Leolures will be given in the morning, while the afternoons will bo devoted to excursions. At Hampden there are many places of interest, such ns the Mocraki boulders, the Peaks, and the Trotter’s Creek Gorge. All information -may be obtained from tbo W.E.A. office (telephone 2.513). SUBJECTS OF STUDY —LITERATURE. The most successful class in Dunedin and Southland is the literature class conducted by Miss King, the principal of the Girls’ High School. Miss Kmg has been long associated with the W.E.A. (she had a class at the Bluff some years ago) and her lectures have steadily grown in popularity. Last year eighty students enrolled, and there was an average attendance of Miss King has the rare power of analysing the great writers and yet preserving their beauty and attraction. Her charm of manner, the plarity and eloquence of her reading, and her illumi,noting comments give every student the ability to appreciate tho best in literature. She was once asked whether she preferred the modern to the classical writers, and her reply was that she liked them all. Miss King gets. the best out of every writer, whether it bo an Imperialist like Kipling or an Internationalist like Shelley. At her classes are people of varying political beliefs, yet all unite in a common appreciation of the beauties that will remain long after parties have been fogotten. A deeper appreciation of tho things that matter; a sympathetic understanding of the emotions ot the great men of yesterday and to-day; a quickening of the liner feelings so that every aspect of nature and man, every flower, bird, and insect, every thought take on a deeper, finer, and mors permanent significance —those are some of the results of a study of literature. A drinking bout ends with a sore head and a mind ashamed of itself; a reading of a poem or a play gives a pleasure, lasting, spiritual, and satisfying. If we must have pleasures, lot us have those pleasures of the better self. The subjects that have been chosen by the class for discussion at the literature class this year are Shelley, Kipling, George Sand, Chesterton, Oscar Wilde, the Brontes, Shaw, Antonio Pogazzaro, Tagpre, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Few people there are who have not a desire to take pleasure in such writers, but most. have the fear tha they have not the abilities, and that those things are only for tho educated. Under Miss King’s tuition wo can all be highbrows. The class meets at the University on Tuesday evenings. DRAMA CLASS. The Drama Class is still experimenting on the best methods of achieving its purpose of encouraging self-expres-sion. Last Saturday evening, after a short discussion on the importance and definition in everyday life and the. art ol public speaking the members joined in a combined practice of the vowel sounds used in speaking. Galsworthy s ‘Strife’ was road, but owing to the lack of time tho last act was held over until next Saturday evening. In addition a series of stones will be told by students, and ‘ The Ten 1 ound Look,’ by J. M. Barrie, read. On the following Saturday the class will turn itself into a session of the W .E.A. Mock Parliament and discuss a Bill for Censorship of Films. Mr Gilchrist, the Prime Minister, who was elected on the cry of “Sand Soap for Hoi ywood,” will present the Bill, which will be opposed by Mr Harrison’s party. Mr Harrison used as his slogan, “ Save our Baby Vamps.” . . The English Composition Class, which meets at 7.30, discussed the construction of. a “sentence,” with special reference to Charles Lamb. The subject for next week is the “ paragraph ’’ with Lord Macaulay as" a model. “ Similes and Metaphors ” will bo the next subject.

NEW STUDENTS WANTED. All the W.E.A. classes will begin their session after Easter, and in the meantime every effort is being made to attract new students. Dr RadcliffeTaylor has been holding a succession of lunch-time meetings at the various factories around Dunedin for the purpose of explaining the programme of the Public Health Class; while the tutors have been addressing trade unions. Classes at Mosgiel, Green Island, Hillside, and Roslyn have been suggested. The W.E.A. is .willing to provide a tutor

for a class wherever twenty students will attend. The preliminary meeting of the Labor Club Class, taken last year by Mr M'Oracken, will be held in the Trades Hall on Monday, April 11, at 8 p.in. Mr Souter will attend to discuss the prpgramme with intending members*