WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18887, 11 October 1929, Page 5

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(Contributed). The value of education is often in these days interpreted as meaning a value in pounds, shillings and pence. This is due largely to the fact that University education is the preparation for some professional career. This is true to an extent, but University education embraces the study of other subjects than those which appertain to business, law or the church. It is the study of these other subjects, such as History, Psychology, Literature, Art. and Music, which give culture and which the Workers’ Educational Association desired to extend to all workers who had not the opportunity to enter the University colleges of the country. The study of these subjects and the benefits arising therefrom cannot be evaluated in terms of money. What can measure the depth and richness of life ■which may be attained through the study of these cultural subjects? What can measure the value of the interest that is aroused in the study of the literature and history of past generations which have laboured and toiled to make possible our present civilisation! The W.E.A. was called into being so that all persons may have the chance of enriching their own experiences and of giving a meaning to life so that they may more adequately perform the functions of citizenship in its broadest interpretation. To facilitate that function of the W.E.A., the secretary visited the Leeston class on Wednesday evening ai.d lectured on “Historic London.” Lantern slides were used to show the ancient buildings and monuments of that great city, in which various social and political institutions received tfceir birth. The students were given an in■ight into various historical events connected with the history of Britain, and they were also able to see the evidences of the craftsmanship that constructed the cathedrals in the earlier centuries. They were enabled to see the differences of ancient Norman architecture and the later Gothic styles. This experience must react on the interest of the students in their ordinary lives, particularly when it is remembered that New 7 Zealand’s social development is largely conditioned on the institutions and traditions of the Old Country.

In organising the visit to the residence of Sir Heaton Rhodes at “Otahuna,” last Saturday afternoon, the W.E.A. provided the facilities for many citizens of Christchurch to see the beautiful flowers and the lay-out the grounds of that estate. More than 200 students and friends made the trip, all of whom expressed their appreciation of the privilege of participating in such a pleasurable experience. The Rangiora class, with an enrolment of 54 students, will wind up the session on Monday evening next, when one or two plays will be read by the students, followed by a social evening. The class has had a most successful session, thanks to the assistance of the staff of the Rangiora High School Four members of the staff gave six lectures each on their respective sub jects, which included Literature, Astronomy, Horticulture and Pacific Problems. Every one of these subjects has

lll!lUlirni!UI!iUmuni!llllllHif!!lllirmiIllJ!lt!ll(IIIi!!!l((UIIU!lill!l!!ililll!IIIlUtlim added to the mental horizon of each student, and thus to a deeper interest in life. Rangiora has proved that this organisation is successful in its endeavour to meet the educational needs of the rural population of this province.