VALUABLE MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22975, 4 June 1938, Page 25

VALUABLE MOVEMENT

POST OFFICE STUDY CLASSES CONSPICUOUS SUCCESS OF DUNEDIN VENTURE An interesting phase of adult education is to be found in the Further Education Movement which was launched abme time ago by local officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. The objects of the'movement are indicated the following rules:— (a) To promote a’ spirit of business and departmental efficiency in members. (b) To provide facilities for mutual development by suitable study, debates, lectures, and addresses., . - (o) To promote the development or S embers upon, efficiency lines in the llowing and kindred subjects: —Public tpeaking, staff control • and training, office management, the conducting or business meetings, etc. ■ (d) To co-operate with any kindred association. This venture (which subsequently proved to be a conspicuous success) was Msed partly on the Whitby Council system in England, which fosters adult education in the London Post Office, ■nd partly on the system of similar Study groups at work in Dunedin. As might be expected, the matter dealt with at the weekly gatherings. has a distinctly departmental bias, the aim being not only to provide practice in public speaking (a good deal of which is impromptu), but also to promote a greater understanding of the work carried out in the various branches of the department and a closer linking of the interests of those engaged in different divisions. Those taking part; in the movement •t the present time are divided into three groups, each group being composed of 12 representatives from different branches of the department, irrespective of grading. An informative interchange of knowledge, and opinions results from the delivery each month of an half-hour address by a member on details of his own particular work. This is followed by criticism and discussion In the .group. Topics covering a wide scope are debated upon regularly, and there is no doubt that broad ana valuable educational progress is being achieved. In all its activities the movement aims at development along sound practical Hues, rather than in the direction of theoretical study. The membership of each * group is' limited to 12 in order that each member may be enabled to take a personal and active interest in its affairs and play a definite part in the dissemination of information and knowledge. Dunedin led the way (in August of last year) in the inauguration of the movement in New Zealand, and now three separate groups are at Work here. Their programmes cover a remarkable field. While basically departmental, of course, they have been extended to incorporate, many diverse subjects coming under the heading of general knowledge. The classes meet each Wednesday evening, and much enthusiasm is being shown by the members. It is anticipated that the movement will ultimately spread throughout the department in New Zealand. Its importance and value are self-evident.