WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19041, 11 December 1923, Page 8

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

TUTORIAL CLASSES REPORT. The annual report of the Tutorial Glasses Committee of the Workers’ Educational Association (Otago branch) states; Upon his appointment to the chair of economics, Professor Woodthorpe assumed the position of director of the W.E.A., and in that capacity has attended all meetings of the committee. Ho paid a visit to Southland to confer with the Invercargill Centre, and while there visited some of tlie tutorial classes. The Invercargill officials have testified to the helpfulness of the director’s efforts. As part of his directorial duties, Professor Woodthorpe conducted a tutorial class in "economics and finance.”

While this year there was a decrease of two in the number of classes, . there was an increase of thirty-six in the number of enrolments. Thus there was promise of a record year, so far as attendance was concerned. Unfortunately, the weather and t-lie influenza epidemic spoilt the prospect, and both the ■ effective and average attendance show a decline upon the figures of last year. There can be no doubt' that the two adverse influences referred to were the cause of the decreased attendance. Something in the nature of a slump took place in most of the classes when’-the epidemic was at its height. Another outstanding feature of the statistics is the growth in the number of women students, ivhich is very marked. There is a preponderance' of women, in seven out of the sixteen classes, and in the two .largest classes the women greatly outnumber the men. This year eight tutors were engaged, as follows:—Professor Woodthorpe, 14 lectures; Bov. L. G. Whitehead, M.A., 12; Miss M. H. M. King, M.A., 22; Dr J. R. Elder, 24; Mr John Johpson, M.A., 121; Mr F. Milner, M.A., 23; Mr A. C. Watson, 8.A., 10; Mr George M’Cracken, 73. The committee desires again to record the fact that the director and ‘ Mr Milner officiated without etnolument. The following is the list of subjects dealt with during the 1923 session:—Economics, four classes; psychology, four; literature, two": history and literature, one; , essaywriting, one'; sociology, three, history of Now Zealand, one The reports from Southland are of a hopeful’ character. Upon the recommendation of the Invercargill Committee and of Professor Woodthorpe, Mr S. G. August was appointed lecturer to four classes. His subject was literature. Mr G. D. Francis took the class' in economics. The tutors’ reports show good results. _ Suggestions towards overcoming the difficulties in regard to tutors for the southern district were made by Professor Woodthorpe after his visit to Invercargill. It was resolved by the Tutorial Committee—“ That nn effort should be made to obtain a permanent . tutor for Southland, who should engage in W.E.A. duties and perhaps also work in connection with the Education. Board and Technical College.” It would be interesting, and useful to know the extent to which the W.E.A. is exercising an influence upon public opinion. It; is, however, almost impossible to gauge the effects of the association’s efforts, and it has no examination results to tabulate. That there ate certain very definite and permanent results cannot be doubted. The value of adult education has been recognised by the highest authorities in England and elsewhere; and the instilling into mature minds, by means of consecutive series of lectures and discussions, of the essential principles of economics, sociology, and other cultural topics cannot but be productive of lasting results. In regard to economics alone, it is certain that hundreds of persons, who a few years ago had no knowledge -whatever of the subject-, have to-day an insight into its fundamental principles, and are able to discuss them in an intelligent way. Such education has great community value. The same claim may be made respecting sociology, history, literature, and psychology. And the fact cannot be over-emphasised that the association dispenses cultural and not -technical or vocational education. That is not to say that the W.E.A. depreciates or .disparages education of the latter type, but that its own efforts are consciously directed towards the production of citizens and the cultivation of the civic spiritj Keeping this ideal steadily in view, the) association may claim a place among tfie really purposeful and influential institutions of this dominion , s