EDUCATION TO BE TAKEN TO BACK BLOCKS OF N.Z.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 13

EDUCATION TO BE TAKEN TO BACK BLOCKS OF N.Z.

W.E.A. POSTS BOOKS, WRITTEN LECTURES AND GRAMOPHONE RECORDS In New Zealand a large part of the population live in the country districts, therefore any movement of national importance must extend its influence to include the people living in the country towns and villages. This is being accomplished b}' the Workers’ Educational Association (the only free adult system of education in the country), by the formation of its classes in the rural areas. In Canterbury during last week classes were established in Waimate, Fairlie, Temuka and Geraldine, while Southbridge, Leeston, Oxford, Rangiora and Kaiapoi are already in session. For the purpose of extending the movement to Amberley, Mr C. H. Hewlett has kindly consented to give a gramophone concert there on Thursday evening May 6, the programme to include such artists as Caruso, Frances Alda, Galli-Curci, Chaliapin and others. An opportunity will then be given to form a class.

In places too small for a tutorial class a system is being evolved whereb} r each week a box containing lecture notes, library books, prints and gramophone records dealing with “ Art and Literature in the 19th Century,” will be sent to study groups. Already groups have been formed in Fairlie and Temuka. By this method it is hoped eventually to include the people in the back blocks, who, up to the present, have been deprived of education facilities.

The class on Parliamentary Practice conducted by Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., has reached a very interesting stage by the defeat of the Government on “ The Right to Work ” Bill. Last week the Government moved for adjournment which was carried. Members of the House are now anxiously awaiting the new move of the Government. Unfortunately the Prime Minister, Mr Bloomfield, is indisposed, but no doubt the Minister of Finance will attempt to carry on. The class is open to anyone, interested to learn Parliamentary procedure. Miss B. E. Baughan, 8.A., of Clifton, Sumner, will lecture on " Penal Reform ” on Saturday evening next, when the penal system of this country will be critically analysed. The Saturday evening socials have commenced, the last one being aranged by Mr James Sturrock. The artists included Mrs Temple and Mrs K. J. Edmonds, Messrs Martin, W. Worrall and George Manning.

The next, social will be given by the students of the public, speaking class and already preparations are being made, to put. on a first-class programme. The variety of the. activities organised bv the movement is an attempt to cater for all kinds of people and thus eventually to create within them a desire for cultural education. On the other hand it is always worth while to combine pleasure and relaxation with

the more serious side of educational development. ELOCUTION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS. There was another large attendance of students at this class on Monday evening, and four names were added to the roll. The usual two hours’ duration of class was extended on this occasion on account of the large amount of work that had to be done. The business of the class began with the reading of a report by the secretary (Miss C. Bloomfield) on the proceedings of the previous meeting. This ■was followed by a class reading of the conclusion of John Bright’s speech on the American Civil War. A lesson on articulation came next, and students were introducted to a number of phonetic symbols, the writing of which requires practice. Recitations were then given by Mrs J. S. Temple and the tutor (Mr J. Rigg), and, Mr Lowes having been voted to the chair, five students delivered prepared speeches on the subject of " Travel and Travellers,^” making a total of thirteen stud ents who discussed the subject. The discussion being declared closed, the tutor delivered a keen criticism of the efforts of the budding orators, interspersed with advice as to deportment, analysis of the subject, preparation of a speech, and the necessity of everything said having a direct bearing on the conclusion. To one student, who said he had had practice as a speaker and* came to the class to be cured of any bad habits, the tutor remarked that it was a bad habit to speak about earth worms, when the subject was travel and travellers.

During the evening preliminary arrangements were made for an entertainment to be given by students in the class rodm on Saturday, May 8, and eighteen students desirous of taking part in one-act plays handed in their names to the tutor.