WEEK-END SCHOOL PROVES SUCCESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17699, 20 November 1925, Page 11

WEEK-END SCHOOL PROVES SUCCESS.

W.E.A. EXPERIMENT AT TIMARU IS FORERUNNER OF OTHER SCHOOLS. (By DEMOS.) The -week-end school held at Timaru last week was very successful, both in j attendances and quality of lectures. I The first lecture was given bv Mr F. Milner, of the Waitaki High ' School, on “ Pacific Problems." The lecturer stressed the futxire importance of the countries bordering on the Pacific in relation to international problems. The awakening of China j and its racial association with Japan j were important features. As the j British Empire was' largely concerned | in the Pacific through^.Canada, Aus- ! tralia, and Xew Zeal a nek it must follow j very closely the changes that were taking place on the Asiatic border. Xew Zealand, although a small country, was vitally affected and her citizens must be acquainted with the problems that had to be considered in the Far East. Professor Shelley on Saturday morning lectured on “ The Xew Psychology in Relation to Education.’’ llis subject attracted the teachers of South Canterbury in addition to the W.E.A. students. The third lecture was given on- Saturday evening, when the room was packed to the doors by an audience eager to hear Professor Shelley on “ The Development of the Modern Drama." In addition to the lecture Professor Shelley read “ The Dance of Fife," a play illustrating the groping of youth for some reality in life. The Timaru District Council, assisted by the South Canterbury Educational Institute, # were responsible for the week-end school, and to them is due the credit of its success. Week-end schools are now becoming a great feature of the movement in Britain owing to the •close relationship between the W.E.A. and the trade unions. The council, of the National r l radc Union Congress recommended at the last conference that all trade unions should make use of the facilities ottered by the W.E.A. or by the Labour College, in order to give the rank and file an opportunity to secure education. The congress also gave a large sum of money to the W.E.A. to assist it in this work. The result has been that a great demand has arisen for lectures and tutors to address the trades unions. The week-end school has been found a most profitable method of reaching the most workers in any district under the best conditions. The school commences on Saturday afternoon and finishes Sunday afternoon, having been in session Saturday evening and generally Sunday morning. During these times the men are free from their work and can thus attend the lectures and concentrate on the subject under discussion. The four lectures have a bearing on the main subject which the school is called together to discuss. This development of education amongst the trade unions has been anticipated by Messrs Cadbury's, oi Dourneville, who have instituted classes for their work people on the lines adopted by the W.E.A. The classes meet from 5.30 to 7 p.m., tea being provided by the firm. The course includes Economic I lister:'', the Theory of Economics, Economic Geo- , graphy. Business Organisation, Finance and Credit. The lecturers are drawn from the heads of the special departments and from the colleges in Birin- ; "Thir experiment could be easily copied by firms in Christchurch who realise the value of training their men in economic science. In fact, the idea has been suggested but nothing further has been done. Xo doubt this association .will in the near future bring the advantages of such a scheme to the notice of the employers and probably supply the lecturers. A great work lies before us if the employers and workers can see the value of such education. The picnic to Kairaki Beach held last Friday was quite a success, regardless of the cold weather experienced. The .students and friends gathered under the pine trees and discussed the many subjects concerned in social progress. This gathering of the students from the various classes tends to develop a j sense of unity in the movement and j a feeling of comradeship among the i students, both essential factors in the j success of any association.