WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16642, 14 March 1916, Page 8

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho Workers' Educational Association was held in the Town .Hall last night. There was an attendance of wbout 40 members, and tho president (Mr J. C. Stephens) oocupicd the chair. The President, in moving the adoption of tho annual report, said tliat, a little over 12 months ago, Mr Meredith Atkinson and Mr Stewart toured New Zealand as representatives of tho Workers' Educational Association of Australia, a branch of the parent association of England. At that, time very few of them had any Icnowlodge of the object of tho association, but after hearing Mossrs Atkinson and Stewart it was apparent it was based on a very high ideal —no leas than the creation of an educated democracy. Tho success or failure of democracy depended on tho extent to which the individual members of tho community were educated to uso their privilege of government intelligently. Ho said their privileges of government because each of them had a share in tho government of tho country. Ho did not suggest that they were all capablo of becoming leaders, but ho did say that they could become so educated as to be able to select the right loaders—to choose tho true and reject the false; —and thoy claimed tliat thi<i' tion gavo the power to do that. The education which this association offered would certainly enable it? students to deal the better with problems of social_ betterment, either in their capacity as individuals or as members of industrial, political, or other bodies. So far as the individual was concerned, they offered education primarily to the workerfirst, because he had been the most handicapped, and secondly, because they believed there was a mine of intelligence and knowledge amongst the working classes ot tho benefit. of which the community had been deprived. One of the English loaders of tho movement said: ' 'The working classes are crowded with potentially fino scholars that in tho past have had no opportunities, and tho world is all the poorer for it,'' It was !i remarkable fact that essays written by Workers' Educational Association students were circulated amongst undergraduates for the final honours schools .at Oxford University. The essays written in eight classes were examined at the close of the first year at Oxford, and 25 per cent, of them were' declared to bo of a standard similar to those essays written by students who gain firstclass honours in the final schools of modern history. In England they were still striving after the. ideal that brains and character should alone qualify for admission to the highest educational attainments. In New Zealand this was an accepted truth, and effect was very largely given to it in their educational system. But many had, through force of circumstances, been unable to take advantage of tho educational facilities that existed, and it was largely for tho purpose o£ assisting these that the assooiation had been formed. There was a tendency in modern education to become, purely vocational. One held little more than entered his teens when his path in life was selected and knowledge was acquired, not so much as an end as a means to an end. Prom tho primary school to the university teaching was directed to the passing of examinations, and tho diploma, which was the hall-mark of success, was prized as the key which opened the door to lucrative positions. Tho Workers' Educational Association" was conducted on different lines. There were no examinations and no'diplomas. Its ideal was tho search for truth and the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake. The tutor of a class was not there to force any set of opinions down the throats of the students,. but was in the position •of leader because of his greater Knowledge and training. And Professor Bedford would probably admit that it was not only tho students who derived benefit from the class, especially such a class as he conducted. In England tho subjects so far dealt with in tho classfcs _ had been industrial history and economics, literature, general history, natural science, philosophy, and psychology. In I)Uric-din they had a class in economics, and in Invercargill there were two classes—one in literature and the other in economics. The association did not choose the subject for study. The students choose that for themselves. If some 30 persons, workers for preference, expressed a desire to study a particular subject on tho lines mentioned, the association would endeavour to findi a tutor. \lt had already been applied to to start a class in modern European history. So far there had been no difficulty about finance. Tho working expenses of tho association were provided from the subscriptions of members and associated "bodies. Tne salaries of the tutors and the expense of providing, reference books had been provided entirely by the University. The internal expenses of the class were provided for by a small subscription—about 2s 6d per annum. It would be seen, therefore, that what was offer,ed was practically free education. It was' somewhat disappointing that there should not have been a larger number of students, but the movement in England .commenced in the «3ame small way. If the classes develop, as it was hoped they would, they c-xpected 'to obtain some assistance from the Government, because the funds at the disposal of- the University wore., not unlimited. The course was set for three yeans, and they asked students to pledge themselves to take the whole course, and if possible to write fortnightly essays. A class was not expected to consist of more than 30 members, and of these 26 should be workers in the strictest sense. The class already formed in Dunedin fulfillod' that condition, and was conducted on association lines. It was desired to form other classes, and as the association was primarily for the benefit of the workers, it gave them . the first chance. If they did not embrace the offer it must admit others. The dissociation was no longer an experiment. It was a proved success. It was unsectarian and non-politi-oal, and ita government was as democratic as it could be. made. They would have gathered that but for financial aid from tho University it would) have been impossible to carry on. But that was not tho only matter in respect of which they were indebted to the University. They had had freat difficulty in securing central roQins. hey expected more sympathy from these to whom they applied for aid in this respect Finally they were driven to approach the university Council, who again came to their assistance and provided them with a classroom free of any charge. Ho desired also to say that they had the sympathy and support of many of tho unions, 'that had become affiliated members and subscribed to the funds. Each of these unions had - a representative on the executive, and so took a fnll share in the government of the association. He trusted that the coming year would see the association increasingly useful. —(Applause.) Speaking on behalf of tho executive, the President saidl it was i very fortunate in having a secretary of Mr Stables's ability and force of character.— (Applause.) Tne Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., seconded the resolution. For many years, he said, he was familiar v.ith the work of the association in the Old Country through his correspondence with Mr Mansbridge. No doubt the association had played a wonderful part in the development of opinion and the standard of education in tho Old Land. This influence oould not lie stated in figures. It had reached out in all directions, and he questioned whether there was any other organisation in the Old Country with suoh great potentiality as the Wbrkers' Educational Association. It was spreading very quickly, and but for the war the report of its activities 'would have shown a very great increase. Ho( hoped an increasing number of the labour organisations in Dunedin. would beoomo affiliated with tho association in the coming year. —(Applause.) The motion was carried,

The following officers were elected:—President, Mr J. C. Stephens (re-elected); vicepresident, Rev. A. Cameron; secretary, Mr J. W. Stables; executive representatives of individaul members —Messrs 11. Ferguson and P. C. Triggs. A vote of'thanks was aooorded the gentlemen who held office last year. Professor Bedford, who was called upon for an address, said that after the excellent roport presented by the president, who had covered all tho ground particularly well and showed tho objccts and aims of the associV tion, it was not, necessary ho should say anything on the saw lines. He expressed his appreciation of tho help he had received, in connection with his class on economics, from Mr Stephens, Mr Kellett, and Mr Stables. —CAppl&use.) The work of the class had been furthered considerably by their efforts. Respecting the work of the association, he said he wcKild rather be teaching classes under the association than teaching the ordinary classes at the University. It had long been a charge against tho Universities—a charge made by working men— that the University was a class institution; that public money was dervotod to training men for the in'olossional walks of life. If there was any justification for that charge before, there was absolutely none for it • now, bccausc tho Universities lisul shown their eagerness to reect tho wishes of tho Workers' Educational Association. The object was to provide education of a thorough kind to those who were not preparing for any profession. It was education in its purest form, but; designed to fit men .to be citizens of a democracy. It war- free education at the University to anyone who, wished to toko advantage of it. Tho association did not exist only for "those known as workers. Its benefits might be- enjoyed

by any class at all, ajid ho would like to see more of class, the memliers of Vhich were not called workers in his economics class. It would introduce a little diversity, and givo more energy and upiee to tho iirfftiments. They had. had some most interesting discussions, but unfortunately roost of tne speakera wc.ro on one side. Tho consequence was they did not hear so much of what might bo called the capitalist's sido as they would have liked. In economics tho more mixed the closacs the better. As for tho work of tho class last year, one essay thiit came to him was of such merit that he purposed using it in hi« honours class at ■ the .University.—(Applause.) It was in essays of that class that tfmorists got their necessary correction. Altogether, the class,, was most illuminating, ' and he was satisfied he received us mucn instruction as anyone in it. Tho class in economies formed last year would bo continued this year, and he bad recoiycd word that diiy oi a .dozen students who desired another cLis.} in economics. If t'hey could get ten o: dozen move tho second class would formed. Then, ho had already secured ,i class in modern European history under tin; tutorship of Mr lleid, subject to Iho sanction of tho association. There was tlureiore a good prospect of three class-is in JJuncdin this year. Ho thought the work, of the association ought to be extend'.d. They did not want the teaching restricted to economics and history. lie would like the public to know that 30 jjersons, men or women, from any rank, could send in a request to tho association for a ciaes, say in Knglish literature, and a tutor would be found for them. Any subject at all would bo taught by tho association at the expense of tine University for a charge of 5s per member per annum. Tho class could choose _ its subject, and it would be instructed in it. —(Applause.) In answer to a question Professor Bedford Said -tho classes would be tailed together on Wednesday night of next week to fix a night for meeting. On the motion of Mr W. J. Morrell, a vote of . thanks was accorded the City Council for tho use of the Council Chamber for tho meeting.