W.E.A. WORK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19532, 15 July 1925, Page 10

W.E.A. WORK.

PROFESSOR STEWART’S CRITICISM. REPLIES TO THE, ATTACK. SUGGESTION TO OTAGO UNIVERSITY (Peb United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 14. The W.E.A., which w,as attacked at the University Education Commission by Professor H. Stewart yesterday, found several friends and champions at the commission to-day. One of these was Mr W, Thomas, rector of the Timaru Boys’ High School. Mr Thomas said he felt that the Government subsidy to the W.E.A. should be increased. . The organisation had had an effect on the whole mental atmosphere of the smaller towns. Mr F. Tate: You find that many different classes of students attend? —Decidedly so. They come from a very different strata of society. We had evidence by Professor Stewart yesterday that in his opinion there should be an inquiry whether the W.E.A. was doing the work it was originally intended to do? —I have not seen the report of his evidence, but I am certain that in a place like Timaru, the VGE.A. does splendid work. There is a method of lecturing?—Yes. There are lectures for a fairly long time. There are, for instance, economic classes and English classes. And definite text books are used? —Yes. The movement is only in its infancy, but it has affected the whole mental life of the community. The W.E.A. work should be actively promoted by the four university colleges in their different provinces. Mr F. Milner, head master of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, said there should be a proper university organisation of such work with local representatives in influential intermediate towns. Combined with the W.E.A. work there should be facilities for university extension work in the interests of extra-mural students, teachers, and the general public. Adequate financial help should bo given to the university for that work. In reply to the commissioners, Mr Milner said that he conducted a class in literature at the W.E.A. in Oamaru. The work undoubtedly was of supreme importance. The Otago Unvdrsity should ask for the appointment of a special university man at an adequate salary to attend to W.E.A. work In the smaller centres of Otago from Invercargill to Oamaru. The work was sufficiently important to justify a much larger grant. Professor J. Shelley, who takes an active part in W.E.A. instruction, submitted the following numbers of students at Christchurch W.E.A. in rebuttal of Professor Stewart’s statement that the classes cater for teachers; Retired tradesmen and semioultnred ladies and manual workers 192, domestic duties 232, office workers 119, teachers 109, men of the salesmen tvpo 81, other professional people 28, miscellaneous 41; —total 802. More than half the numtor of students. Professor Shelley added, belonged to the class of manual workers and people in their homes. EFFORTS OF W.E.A. PRAISED. Views of dunedin WORKERS. CRITICISM NOT JUSTIFIED. The strictures passed by Professor H. Stewart were mentioned to a number of persons connected with the W.E.A. movement in Dunedin yesterday, and the opinion was generally expressed that the underlying facts did not justify the criticism. Dr 'G. E. Thompson, who is a member of the council of the local W.E.A., said that the association officially adapted the British Labour Party’s view that the term “worker” included a worker by hand or by brain, and accordingly attempted to diffuse general education of a university typo among all'those sections of the community whoso members had been precluded by economic conditions from availing themselves of regular education of a post-school standard. “In our own classes,” he added, “we have a large percentage of workers, male and female, and I could point to many of working men who. through this movement, ‘found themselves’ and have become our most valuable members. . . . The existence in our midst of a steadily-rising demand for adult education is one of the most hopeful and encouraging features of (he times, and the best evidence that can be desired of the realisation by men ntid women of the need for the continuance of education.” “I know,” declared the Rev. L. G. Whitehead, who conducted the first W.E.A. class hold in New Zealand and who materially helped to promote the movement in New Zealand, “from my own experience that as the result of attending the classes many people have a much wider and, I believe, deeper outlook on the fundamental things of life than otherwise would be the case. I believe that the work has been irnmonse.lv valuable in every way.” Archdeacon Woodthorpe, when approached on the subject, said it was his experience of the classes which ho had conducted hero that thev were largely attended by working men, with a sprinkling of employers. In some cases the workers hail brought their employers, and in others the employers had brought their employees. The subjects dealt with here were economics, psychology, and sociology. It was perfectly true that many school teachers and shop assistants wore attending the classes in Otago and Southland. Ho bad always maintained that in such places as Invercargill, where there was no university, shop assistants and clerks should to as welcome ps other working men. because they had no other means of obtaining some university education. The Archdeacon added that there was a fa’rlv wide difference between what was undertaken in Dunedin and in Christchurch iu connection with the movement. In Christchurch the movement largely took the form of university extension work under Professor Shelley, who specialised in literature and the drama, those subjects naturally attracting persons who were not purely working men. Professor Shelley had done good work in such a way. and that probably was the reason for the criticism that had been aroused. Whether the university extension movement should depend so largely upon literature and the drama was another matter. It had not taken that form iu Otago and Southland. According to Mi J. C. Stephens, the proportion of workers —i e., those coming within the usual acceptance of the term—in atteudnn.ee at W.E.A. classes this year is a record, and proves that the classes are fillin" a very valuable place in the community. He added that many times the association had received the commendation of trade unions, and to his certain knowledg the classes had _ been a means of pleasure and inspiration to very manv. bona fide workers. “There is.” he added, “one class meeting in Dunedin that is wholly composed of workers, and that class i, as been carried on for years. I refer to the Railway ■■■lass. Anyone who has the privilege of visiting that class, and realises the sacrifice the men., make in order to nfir'-d :t„ would not need anv other answer to Professor Stewart’s remarks.”