THE W.E.A.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 14

THE W.E.A.

Sir, —I notice that adverse criticism has been made in the Legislative Council, relative to tho Workers' Educational Association. It was contended that the latter institution is a school for the propagation of extremist political views. May I bo allowed to say a word on the other side. I have had oxperience in two districts (Canterbury and Otago), both as student and as lecturer. I attended as a student in Cliristchurch, the town where my friend the chiof critic resides, and my knowledge and experience .have led me to conclusions as follows:—(1) That ibe W.E.A. is a place where-people of all shades of temperament and political opinion meet on a common platform, and discuss their differences in an amicable manner There is no favour shown; nil have equal opportunity. Reason and common sense fire tho tests applied to every view put forward, and if any view cannot., stand tho tost, it is set asido by the lecturer with tho support of every roasonably-mindcd student But, of course, economics is not the only subject taught. There ore many subjects—psychology, history, literature, etc.-—and their number is increasing; (2) the political tendency, when there is one, resulting from tho W.E.A. class, is to bring all its students, whatever their original differences may be. into closer agreement. Tho wild, ultra-radical extremist is timed down and the ultra-conservative liberalised. Since truth lies usually between extremes, this tendency is as it should be. The object of all true education is being attained, vir... the lending of men into tho direction of truth. I was tutor for two years to an economics class in a coalmining centre in Otago. Some of my friends told me when 1. took on the class that 1 was in for a "tough time." seeing there were extremists in that class; but I found to my surprise that these "extremists" were quite prepared to sit down quietly and calmly and reason out; the various problems with which tho science of economics is concerned, and to chango or modify their opinions if shown to bo wrong. I criticised these opinions adversely when necessary without hesitation and made no apology for doing so. They took it all like true- "sports." Of course, when views differing from their own are expressed, they demand evidence in support of the same, but surely no ono is 'going to find fault with them for that. We tutors have always tried to eliminate tho element, of personal bias. The .standard text-books in any subject always supply tho substance of our lectures. During the past few years I have noticed a chango coming over the temper of disputes between capital and labour in this country, and I attribute this change very largely to the influence of the W.E.A. The extremist element, which was s6 prominent, in the Labour camp a few years ago, is dying out., and employers and employees are to-day not usually adverse to the holding of round table conferences. Tho W.E.A, has taught both industrial camps that there are two points of view—thoir own and the other fellow's. C. B. Jordan. J Mothodist • Parsonage, Now Lynn. I