To Co-ordinate Adult Education

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 4

To Co-ordinate Adult Education

Dominion Council Announced MINISTER EXPLAINS NEED FOR SCHEME Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Alinister of Education, Hon. P. Fraser, announces the appointment of at Council of Adult Education whose duty it will be to consider the co-ordination and extension of various adult education agencies and movements throughout the Dominion. The membership of the council is Air. N. T. Lambourno (director of education), Professor James .Shelley (director of broadcasting), Professor T. A. Hunter, and Dr. Elizabeth H. B. Bryson, of Wellington (representing the Senate of the University), Mr. P. Alartin Smith, of Auckland (representing the Workers' Educational Association), Mrs. N. A. R. Barrer, of Mastcrtou, and Air. W. G. {Simpson, of Hawera (appointed by the .Minister of Education and generally representativo of tho other organisations actively interested in adult education. The duties of the council will be:— (1) To co-ordinate tho different activities of adult education and take any action desirable to further the interests of adult education. (2) To recommend to the Alinister of Education the amount of the annual grant for adult education to be paid to the University of New Zealand. (3) To recommend to tho Alinister the allocation of a grant among such bodies or agencies engaged in adult education as the council may approve. (4) To receive annual reports from the University College Council and front any other bodies to which the grants for adult education are made. “It is intended to ask the council to sit at an early date to consider the coordination of adult education throughout the Dominion and it is obvious,” declared Air. Fraser, “thht the work which the council may perform is of the utmost value and importance to the community. With the increase in adult education and other community organisations,” continued the Minister, “the need for some such co-ordinating agenpy becomes increasingly apparent.” Jt v.as necessary to bring together tie national organisations concerned so as to secure mutual help and prevent overlapping and waste of effort. “In New Zealand as elsewhere, adult education to-day has a two-fold aim—to provide the means of serious study for people who are interested as students and in its second and very important aim, to provide the means of raising the level of culture and stimulating the talent of people as a whole. Until a few years ago adult education hero was largely provided by W.E.A. classes and university extension lectures but more recently the movement expanded and we had such organisations as an association for country education with classes in practical domestic subjects, library service and catering for those who arc interested in drama. In addition there have been such bodies as the Women's Institutes, Townswomen’s Guilds, Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, Young Farmers' Association, Drama League and other agencies, •ill of which have developed and engaged in work of an educational character. They arc nil assisting people in some way to develop new and wider interests and new skills and abilities to enable them to meet new opportunities. The educational activities of these organisations are all capable of expansion and with recent developments in other countries, we should be preparing for even greater expansion in the near future. “The extension of adult education in country districts, the greater use of radio and modern films dealing with events and activities of current as well ns historical interest, the popularity of dramatic art and increased use of better library facilities which must follow' from the inauguration of a country library service—all these should enable the individual to enjoy liis life better and make better use of it. Public authorities throughout the world are accepting responsibility for adult education on progressive lines. Two of the most important reasons for this are tho increasing amount of leisure time now available to the people and also the increasing interest in social and economic affairs. Various organisations in New Zealand have also been aware of these changes and of the needs of the future. “A conference of delegates of the \ Workers' Educational Association, the Association for Country Education and other bodies interested in adult education, was held in Christchurch in 1933 and carried a resolution asking the | Minister of Education to invite thcUnivcrsity of New Zealand to set up a committee including representatives of the University, to prepare a comprehensive scheme for adult education in New Zealand. The Alinister thereupon asked the University to set up the committee suggested by the conference and to submit for his consideration a scheme for adult education. The committee, which consisted of Professor T. A. Hunter (vice-chancellor), AJiss V. MacMillan, Professor .Shelley and Messrs. G. Alanning, A. D. Mclntosh, W. H. Cocker and Professor von Zcdlitz, duly submitted a report which was adopted by the Senate at a 1937 meeting. That report recommended the setting up of a Council of Adult Education and the appointment of the present council is generally in line wdth the Senate’s decision.”