WORKERS' EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19298, 10 April 1926, Page 14

WORKERS' EDUCATION.

CONFERENCE OF TUTORS. AIMS AND METHODS OF WORK. A conference of tutors of the Workers' Educational Association took place in the University College on Thursday evening to consider tho problems and difficulties raised by the aims and methods of tho association. Thirteen tutors were in attendance. Dr. A. B. Fitt presided. Mr. L. A, Mander, director of the association introduced a discussion on technique. He pointed out that tho estimated expenditure for 1926 was about £2600, of which £9OO would come from Government grant, £350 from tho College Council, £4OO from class fees, and £l5O from other sources, leaving about £250 to be raised from voluntary donations, which would carry an equal subsidy. Mr. .Mander then traced some of the difficulties of the work, such as the varying standards of adult students and the scarcity of suitable text books, making it more and more desirable that special text books should lie written. Dr. Fitt introduced the question of the tutorial standard of work, and drew attention to the remarks of the 1925 University Commission, which suggested that perhaps in the enthusiasm for spreading the benefits of adult education tho university tutorial standard had been somewhat lost sight of. A keen discussion ensued from which it was clear that all the tutors present emphasised in their own work the cultural aspect of education—education for life and not for knowledge only. Resolutions were carried unanimously affirming the tutors' recognition of the necessity of maintaining a high standard of work in classes, and that tho tutors were doing their utmost to attain that standard under New Zealand conditions. A further resolution favoured tutors being allowed wide libertv- in the method of conducting classes, any attempt to fix indexible metl/bds (jeing held likely to have a detrimental effect. The conference considered that tho judgment of the University Commission was based on insufficient knowledge of tho association's aims and achievements. It was decided to hold another tutors' conference in July to give tutors an opportunity of pooling their experiences of tho present year's work, and putting into practice for the rest of the year any hints that might so bo gained.