WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18700, 2 November 1922, Page 8

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL CLASSES. (Contributed by Hie local branch of the W.E.A.) THE DOMINION MOVEMENT. A meeting of the Dominion Executive of the W.E.A. was held at Christchurch last week, and was attended by delegates representing the branches in the various, districts. In the secretary’s report the following statement of class statistics was given:—Auckland—ls classes, 420 students; Wellington—--14 classes, 489 student s; Otago—24 classes. 600 students; Christchurch—2l classes, 642 students. This puts our district at the head both as regards classes and number of students, a matter of satisfaction as far as it goes. It is to be noticed, however, that the average number of members per class is higher in the North Island classes than in those of the South; advance therefore apparently in Otago may now lie in the expansion of established classes. It was decided to urge respectfully on the Government the clamant need that in view of the expansion that is taking place a Government grant of £IOOO instead of £SOO should be considered. A committee was set up to get to work to bring out some suitable literature regarding the movement to be used as propaganda right through New Zealand. It was also decided to go into the question of supplying library books and text books? on a dominion basis ; and the establishment of a half-yearly periodical of the dominion movement was favourably regarded. The various districts are to he asked to adopt a uniform system of stating class statistics. All there matters will be reported on and further considered in the annual conference, which will probably be held in Wellington in January. HOW TO DEVELOP THE W.E.A. IN THIS DISTRICT. Tile following is an essay written by two of the students of a Dunedin class;— Ag the Workers’ Educational Association movement develops, its educational value is becoming more appreciated, and its aims are being more clearly understood. It is still a comparatively young institution in this district, and has made wonderful progress, considering that the few years of its existence have been spent in making itself known at a time when the attention of the people was focussed on the war and its after-effects. Beginning with one class, it now has nine in the city, besides a number of others scattered throughout the province. There is no doubt that the persistent efforts of individuals, especially the whole-hearted application of the tutors to their work, has contributed very largely to the success of the movement during the difficult years it has passed through. In order to make more progress some scheme might be formulated whereby members of the various classes could bo brought together at regular intervals. This has been done to soma extent by a series of Saturday evening lectures at the University. Debates between classes might be arranged for and members of other classes could bo invited to attend these debates. By this and other means the spirit of co-operation would be awakened in the minds of the members. It is not enough to have the tutors and a comparatively small number of members imbued with the importance of the aims and objects of the association. Wo must by some means enlist (ho active support of every member. Each one should realise something of the latent power that is waiting to bo developed with the growth of the movement. It is callable of doing an enormous amount of good in the community by bringing within the roach of the great - mass of people who have not had.the advantage of a higher education, (he moans of making good that great want, and making it free to all. It might be possible to further the work of the association by bringing members into contact with other organisations, either in debate or by inviting outside societies to some of the association’s gatherings, and vice versa. By this means members would be able to compare the work and methods of those societies with that of their own, and benefit accordingly. There is another way in which the work of the association might, be developed and improved upon—that is in some sort of specialisation. At present all the classes are attended by both men and women. It might be a good idea to form one class entirely for women and one class for men. The women’s class dealing with a subject such as hygiene, or some other branch of home science, and the men’s class dealing with a subject that would particularly appeal to men, such as heredity or industrial psychology. To sum up, I would point out that the W.E.A. has a great future before it yet. The few years it has passed through have only placed it on its feet, so to speak. It is still necessary for each individual member to become a missionary, and to spread the knowledge of the good work of the association among his or ber associates, realising that the success of the piovement depends as much on the members as on the tutors and officials. An effort should be made to keep the great aims and 1 ideals of the association constantly before members, either by the publication of a national magazine or by periodical lectures on the subject of adult education. Perhaps it would bo possible to bold a united conference, where remits from all the classes could be discussed and some definite idea formed of the will of the mass mind. A TASMANIAN APPOINTMENT. Under a bequest by the late Professor Pitt, Cobbett, of the University of Sydney, the sum of £SOOO was left for the purpose of: (1) educating employees in the principles of political and social economy; (2) suggesting methods for the establishment of better relations between employer and emTll This’ sum has enabled the University of Tasmania to appoint a lecturer at a salary of £SOO per annum to carry out the bequest Ho is to assist the professor of economics by lecturing on such subjects as industrial organisation, and also to conduct a special tutorial class on industrial management in Hobart and deliver courses of lectures in the industrial centres as cfui arranged. ILg will also iako ciiaigc of research work at the university in problems relating to industrial peace. A specialised piece of work of Hus kind has groat possibilities. One wonders if there are not those in New Zealand who would provide £SOOO for a similar appointment. Mr *T. Brigden is to bo the first to occupy the lectureship.