THE W.E.A.

Evening Star, Issue 23553, 17 April 1940, Page 8

THE W.E.A.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—By the terms, of its official constitution, the -methods by which it is controlled and administered, and the way in which tutors are required t» ' conduct classes, the W.E.A. is * the - very opposite of a “ subversive ” organisation. It is, on-the contrary, a purely British invention and a characteristically British' type of institution. This may not be the ultimata, point at issue in the charges - which were made against; the- association at the meeting called i by the executive of 'the R.S.A., last Thursday. Nevertheless, it is a fact of primary import-' ance. Anybody may ' “ join ” the W.E.A,—that is, attend its classes. The association is in no way responsible ' for the opinions of class members. The i: . function of tutors is to present competently their subject-matter, and,- : where this is controversial,, to . state “ both sides ” for free discussion • byadult members of the' community .1 Tutors are. appointed by the University Council, acting on the recommendations of the Tutorial Classes Committee. This committee/consists of seven class members and seven repre- t eentatives of the University Council,-: who are either members of the council , or professors selected by, the council. In Otago for many years • the director, of tutorial classes has always been the professor of economics. The: director is ex officio a member of the Tutorial Glasses Committee. .The bulk of the expenses of theaeso ciation are met out of Government grants, rlt is . difficult to conceive -of a more ideal' form of organisation for the promotion, direction! and control of orderly public discussion by adult citizens. Only British democracy pould.- have evolved it. ■ There is good reason to believe that many of the unsupported charges and hearsay statements /against the' association which have recently been made'.. are the outcome of lack or knowledge/ misunderstanding, or prejudice. ' .'No'., one would contend 5 that the actualworking organisation' as distinct from the form of: its constitution is ideal; But every care is taken to . select the best and most trustworthy tutors avail-- ■ able: It can scarcely;; be suggested- : even at a time of considerable civil, tension, that .the Tutorial Glasses Com- . mittee, constituted as above, is a con- ■ spiratorial organisation. . If definite' and responsibly supported charges of' genuine abuse of function are brought against particular tutors it must'be accepted, I think, that a committee so constituted will give . them serious consideration and take. appropriate action, which would include a formal report to the University Council. If any such, charges are made ]to me personally or through the office of the W-.E.A. seo-- “■ rotary at the University it will be my duty to call a special meeting of the Tutorial Classes Committee to consider them. It, will, I believe,-.- be generally agreed that this is, not ~only th®.Jor-' inally correct method, of procedure, but the only one which accords with ‘British traditions of orderly democracy and fair play. In time of war other ■■ methods, besides being unfair, are, I . think, likely to increase the._ sense, of .. tension in the civil Vcommunity. The. essential facts must, I think, have been .- imperfectly known to come of-- the/, speakers at the meeting referred to. ■ - In the interests of-, the maintenanceof a sense of proportion I should like-, to add that'nearly all our W.E.A. classes .'this, year deal with .quite uncontroversial subjects in the --politicel sense.—l am, etc., R. W. Souter, Director of Tutorial Classee. ' University of Otago, April 15.