ADULT EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 10

ADULT EDUCATION.

PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND. ACTIVITIES OF THE W.E-A-CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK. The animal Dominion conference of (ho Workers' Educational Association will open in Auckland on Monday morning. Delegates will include Dr. Geo. Thompson, representing Otago; Professor J. Shelley and Mr. .11. 1). Adam!, Canterbury; Messrs. M. •). Fordo, McAllister and >l. Dyer, Wellington; Messrs. A. L. Marnier, \\. J. Scott and I!.' Martin, Auckland. Mr. Aclaml. the Dominion [(resident, will be chairman. The main subjects to be discussed will be (1) a method for securing closer cooperation between the centres, and [2) the drawing up of a constitution whereby soi.no uniform principles for the consolidation of tlio movement may be applied throughout the Dominion. During the past year the Government recognised t'.e good work being done by the organisation in the sphere of adult edueat.:ni, and voted an extra £IOOO to the association's funds. The officials of the movement are now anxious that a scheme be evolved to ensure the efficiency of Hie organisation in each district, and to stow the Government that its giants are expended in the best possible manner Progress in Ten Years. It is now ten yeau since toe .movement was initiated in New Zealand, and in that time it has expanded until last year there were 99 classes and short, courses, with over. 3000 students. '1 he association has 47 part-time .lecturer j and six full-time tutors employed in lecturing In addition, summer schools, v.d;;caiional conferences and week-end schools are formed, in which questions on education, Xcw Zealand finance and international problems are discussed. Prof.-w-or .Shelley lectures on drama, and illustrates his subject by a, number of dramatic readings. Speaking of the 'forthcoming conlcrence last 'evening, the- Dominion .secretary, Mr. George Manning, .-.aid there was no doubt that, through th;i inlluc.nc of the movement in New Zealand, a keener interest was being taken by the public in all economic questions that <oncerncd the country, and a greater appreciation: of literature and art had been created. The movement in Great Britain had done great service, in investigating the weakness of the British educational system, and in 3918 bad brought down an educational report, part -if which was incorporated in Mr. 11. A. L. Fisher's Education J>iil of that year. In Canterbury a conference was held last, vear, extending over five nights, when masters and teachers were asked to present, their views on the New Zealand educational system. The same opportunity was given to iho trade union leaders. The whole question was discussed in public alter the various speakeis had introduced the subject from their respective points of view, with the result that the New Zealand educational system was far better understood by those who were privileged to be present. During the coming session the Canterbury centre was going to organise an "Education Week," when various suggestions for improvement would bo brought forward. Claims of Country Districts. "The main problem. ' said Mr. Manning, "'as far as adult education is concerned in this country, is to extend the facilities of the workers educational movement into the country districts. On Wednesday last tho Chancellor of the New Zealand University spoke of the need of having a university in each town and village to teach agriculture, but the burden of this movement is not to take the. university to the rural districts to give vocational education, but to offer to every rural worker the facilities to develop'his latent mental power in every direction, so that his life may become fuller and richer of those realities which make life worth while. A start has been made in this direction in South Canterbury, where a tutor is employed for country classes only. Auckland is following the same plan this year by appointing another tutor for the outlying districts. ° It is to be hoped that before many years are passed every town and village will have a study circle or tutorial class in some subject that will tend to interest and improve tho intelligence of our rural workers. "This convention," he added, "is being held on the same lines as the annual convention in Britain, and is organised tor tho purpose of giving the public an insight into what, adult education means to the country. The future greatness of any nation will be determined by the standard of intelligence of its average citizen, or, as .Ruskin once said, 'the greatest nation is that, which possesses tho greatest number of happy souls within it.' The happiness of a people depends upon the opportunity given them for tin 1 full development of all their mental and moral faculties. This is the work of the Workers' Educational Association —to give the people of this country such an opportunity." On Monday evening, in the Town Mall concert chamber, Professor ,J. Shelley, of Canterbury College, will speak on "Education and Demoevacv." Mr. W. ,T. Jordan. M.P.. and Mr.' Walter Nash, the national secretary of the Labour Party, .will speak on' "Education and Ihe Workers." The chairman will be Mr. IE D. Acland.