ADULT EDUCATION

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1938, Page 5

ADULT EDUCATION

NEW SCHEME FOR N.Z. A Start in Feilding EXAMPLES OF OTHER COUNTRIES. [Per Press Association. 1 MASTERTON, February 8. Proposals for an experiment to be Instituted in Feilding for an adult educational scheme were announced by the Minister of Education, Hon P. Fraser, when speaking at the opening ceremony of the Wairarapa College to-day. At the Feilding Agricultural High School, Mr. Fraser said, he hoped to undertake an experiment which would, he hoped, be of great and lasting value to the people of the Dominion. If it were successful, the experiment would be extended elsewhere. Continuing the Minister remarked that it had been said that education ceased only with the grave. There was a great need for educational institutions holding out friendship and a welcome to boys and girls after they left school, and to adolescents and also adults, giving them the opportunity, after they had taken up their working life of obtaining still further education. The Headmaster of the Feilding Agricultural High School, Mr. L. J. Wild, had recently visited the United States. Great Britain, and parts of Continental Europe, paying particular attention to Denmark and its folk schools. The Headmaster of the Rangiora High School, W. Stachan, was now abroad carrying out a similar course of study, and Mr. H. C. D. Somerset, of the Oxford District High School, had returned to the Dominion, after making similar investigations. The Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lambourne, and himself, Mr. Fraser continued, would very shortly discuss • the experiment which_ i.t was proposed to institute in Feilding It was proposed that Mr. Somerset should go to Feilding to undertake the supervision of the adult education work, not only of the W.E.A., but of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, the Women’s Institutes, the British Drama League, and all of the other organisations of the kind which were doing such wonderful work in the country to-day. Mr. Somerset would, they hoped, organise a series of lectures, not only in Feilding, but in the district round about. Domestic science classes, dramatic classes and other classes could be formed and when an important lecturer- came along, the various classes could assemble to hear him. There was also, he said, the question of physical education, including the utilisation of the school grounds and of all the school appointments and equipment to the maximum for the benefit of the younger part of the population. Physical education did not amount only to games and gymnastics and physical exercises, but also called for some elementary knowledge of anatomy and physiology. and above all, of dietetics. Examples like that of the Danish folk Schools, Mr. Fraser observed, must be adapted to our economic cultural and climatic conditions. There was no question of slavishly following the example of any other country. The aim must be to take the best from all, and to trv to adapt it to the conditions in this country.