W.E.A

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12284, 5 April 1918, Page 8

W.E.A

President, Air H. D. Acland; secretaries, Mr J. B. Struthers, 129, Holly Bond, and Air L. G. Whitehead, M.A., Boys’ High School. Tutorial Classes—Economics, Riccarton, Monday, 7.30; Christchurch, Wednesday, 7.30. Philosophy—Thursday, 7.30. Voice Culture and Elocution— Friday, 7.30. Popular lecture, Saturday, April 6, “ Massage,” Dr Thacker, 8, Headquarters: Trades Hall. , ”He who opens a school closes a prison.”—Victor Hugo.

The local centre of the Workers’ Educational Association must again feel indebted to the “Star” for allowing a column devoted to recording the activities of the association to be published every Friday evening. The movement since its inception, four years ago, has not only greatly increased in membership,, but has become of sufficient importance to hare attracted to its assistance many of th© leading educationalists of the Dominion, until now few would be found to gainsay the fact that it is an institution of immense educational influence and considerable potential utility. The founders of the association, like the endower of the famous Smithsonian Institution, believe that “it is in his knowledge that man has found his greatness and his happiness, the high superiority which he holds over the other animals who inherit the earth with him, and consequently no ignorance is probably without loss to him, no error without evil.” It is hoped that in the widely circulating “Star” the W.E.A. appeal for educational preparedness will result in a vast influx of seekers after “the light of the world.” Dr Thacker has previously been prevailed upon to lecture under the eegis of the W r -E.A., but it is safe to say that no previous lecture given by him, and even by a large number of otlVor lecturers, will prove so interesting and educational as the address which he will deliver in the Trades Hall on Saturday evening. The subject, “ Massage,” may not arouse a spontaneous desire to he present in the minds of the ordinary individual, but, as Dr Thacker has a large number of entertaining and wonderful experiments to prov© the value of electricity, etc., in the treatment of wounds, there should he a very large attendance- Members of ambulance classes and all those interested in the therapeutic value of massage should find Dr Thacker’s subject of considerable practical worth. The 'lecture will commence at eight, and i s free. The establishment of a voice culture and elocution class, under the charge of Air W l . Deusem, marks a departure in the association's activities, which have been concerned in the past with the sciences. Hie fact that a gentleman u ith the credentials that Air Densem has will be its tutor augurs well for the immediate success of the new class. Unlike the other classes, it will he a self-supporting one, and consequently the fees will he considerably higher, s , bei ?B,. the , c harge for men and 10s bd for ladies for the course. Th© fees, however, ar e much smaller than tli'o usual charge, and a large number of students are expected to enrol. Tills class will meet for the first time in the U .E.A. lecture hall at 7.30 this evening. ii are t, ' 3ose I '' lo s f>ll regard the V-E.A. as merely a dilettante cqn-

cern for the refuge of smatters and impossible idealists, then there is no bettor method of seeking their disillusionment than by persuading them to carefully peruse the third annual report of the association, which has just been issued in attractive booklet' form. It will give an excellent indication of the pi ogress of the movement, and confirm the enthusiasts who founded the organisation in their belief that the W.E.A. will become a force of the greatest possible value in the realisation of the ideal of a n educated democracy. Following will be found a brief resume of the progress of the association's activities in Auckland Wellington, Dunedin and Invercargill during 1917: Auckland: During the past session ten classes were at work-, and of these six completed the three years’ course for which they were organised; two were m their second year; and the remaining two in their first year. The hygiene class organised for women was again a pronounced success. Although the association was not actively engaged in organising public lectures on the orthodox lines, yet to its credit must be placed a great experiment in educational lecturing. Vi ith the assista'lc® °f Messrs Hayward, Ltd., a. series * l lectures tvhs given, in vie Lyric Theatre on five consecutive weeks. The subjects wore scientific, and were treated in popular language. The films were selected from the supplies held in New Zealand, and though these were not of the first order or 9uite up-to-date, yet they demonstrated the possibilities of the kinematograph as a popular educational medium. Arrangements are now being made to develop this branch of the work, and the association, through Messrs Hayward, Ltd., are in communication with London and Paris for the latest scientific, literary and industrial films. These films will probably bo. used by the association in other centres of New Zealand. An effort will also he made to have supporting programmes in keeping with the high character of the educational films. The following is a list of the lectures given during 1917 “ The Making of Steel Rails and Plates,” Mr A. Jarman; " Some Marvels of the Microscope,” Mr G. A. Hawson: ‘‘Experiments With Air,” Mr A. B. Chappell, M.A.; “ Flower Culture,” Mr A, B, Chappell. M.A.; “ Oceanography,” Professor Johnson, M.A. During the season several strenuous debates were also held, in each contest the W.E.A. representatives prevailing. 'Wellington:—The conditions during the year were very unfavourable for educational work. Nevertheless, the Wellington centre was again able to report an extension of its sphere of influence and continuance of its spirit of enthusiasm. The five tutorial classes in existence last year continued their work, and the .Wellington classes in economics, English literature and electricity completed their third and final year of study. A new tutorial class in economics was established at Feiiding (with Mr B. E. Murphy as tutor), and a _ preliminary class in psychology in Wellington (under Professor Hunter). A preliminary class in economics was also organised at Westport. Owing to the operation of war conditions on its membership the class in industrial law was at the beginning of last year forced to suspend its activities for a time, but this class will resume work this year, as a number of students have signified their desire to take the. course. The centre is again indebted to the University of New Zealand for its grant, of £3OO to Victoria. University College for W.E.A. classes; to the Wellington City Council for its grant of £IOO, and to the Palmerston North Borough Council, the Westport Harbour Board, the Westport Council, and,the Puller County Council for grants for classos in those centres. An appeal for a. grant was made to the M’Carthy Trust and it is on the success of this application that the immediate future of the W.E.A. work depends. Dunedin:—'the report for (lie past year, although not recording any remarkable advance in the movement, is, nevertheless, very satisfactory in regard to the Tutorial Classes. The work done by the four classes was most favourably commented upon by the different tutors, and the students also seemed to fully appreciate the advantages of this form of study. The economics class, which had been conducted by the late Professor Bedford, finished its third year with practically the same students aa it originally started with, only losing members through the call of military service and removals from the district. The University Council continued to be, most helpful in its support of the movement, and both the Dunedin Economic Classes thanked it for the free use of the class room. The tragic death of Professor Bedford, who had been tutor in economics for the past three years, east quite a gloom over the- movement in the southern city. He was of considerable assistance to the W’.K.A. in Dunedin, while his work among the students can only be productive of immense educational benefit.

InvercargillTwo classes were conducted, the subjects being .Economics and Literature. The Economic Class attracted twenty-one students, the average attendance being 10.37 ; while for. Literature twenty-seven enrolled, with an average of sixteen. "While these averages were not a? high as were desirable, it must he remembered that several students bad to discontinue, the classes owing to removal from the district, and for other causes, chiefly arising out of the war. AVitb the increase, in membership the funds of the association benefited, making it possible to spend more in making known the aims and methods of the association. The association was also deeply indebted to the Borough Council for a donation of £lo. which will enable it, to make the "W.E.A. a still more, important faetor in the educational life of the town and district.