ADULT EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17776, 9 May 1921, Page 4

ADULT EDUCATION.

In launching this winter's session of the Workers' Educational Associar tion tutorial classes with a gathering to which were invited many prominent citizens, the association's promoters did a wise thing. As was emphasised at the function, in speeches and letters, the W.E.A. has only to be better known to ensure greater popularity and usefulness. Its mission is needed. Aiming to bring true and liberal culture within the reach of working men and women, many of whom, have been denied it, as much by lack of opportunity as lack of inclination, the association seeks to serve the whole commonwealth in a way that no other institution can. It represents a junctioning of forces between the universities and the labour organisations. The former provide competent tuition in subjects of a high cultural value, while the latter form the main part of the voluntary society that fosters and arranges the classes : a joint committee, composed equally of representatives of the university governing body and the association, controls them. As the expense of providing the tutors is borne by the responsible university authority out of funds variously contributed, to the individual class members is limited to the few shillings a year necessary to meet trifling contingent charges. Envisaging education as inclusive of much more than intellectual instruction, and leaving to other institutions the task of providing primary, secondary, and technical education, the W.E.A., in its carrying of the influence of the university direct to such workers as are able and willing to profit by it, fills a need felt long before Oxford began this movement 14 years ago at the request of some trade union enthusiasts. Auckland has had seven years of experience of the enterprise, with a success limited only by financial need. It is hoped that local bodies and private individuals will so support the association with donations as to ensure the extension of the work. Nothing but good can come from the workers (and, for the matter of that, many not usually included in that category) giving serious study, according to the W.E.A.'s approved methods, to subjects that, while having no direct bearing on the earning of a livelihood, are intimately related to the liVang of an intelligent, joyous, and\ serviceable life. Were it only f or '%, bringing into close touch scctionjL of the community widely separlje otherwise, the association has llgarned very practical recognition, ikWhen, in addition, it acconip]ishe^te recfcl .V so large a task in adult eci^b tion > it may confidently expect t\Wb eneral goodwill of the whole com*