ADULT EDUCATION

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21549, 11 October 1941, Page 9

ADULT EDUCATION

VERY SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SUBJECTS » Lectures under the heading of •'Home Field Days” have been con- . ducted throughout the South Auckland area recently, the tutor-organ-iser being Mrs D. E. Johnson, B.H.Sc., of the Auckland University College Advisory Council on Adult Education. Places visited have been Hamilton, Cambridge, Raglan, Nga- | roma, Opara - Kauhia, Pukeatua, [ Pirongia and Te Awamutu.

This is an experiment in women’s k education, and it is necessary for } many of us to alter our conception of the word “education.” Schools for children are a very small aspect of education. They merely equip us with tools well sharpened wherewith to teach ourselves, and problems of adult life cannot be solved with the

knowledge gained in schools. A talk on nutrition under the heading, i “What we should know about food, r what New Zealanders should eat and what New Zealanders do eat” was

helpful and interesting. A display of fc foods with their correct proportion m on the daily menu gave those preW *ent instructive and helpful knowledge. The keen and practical interest shown by women in this subject has been evident by the numerous questions and problems brought forward for discussion. Making the teaching of nutrition a subject for both sexes would be a necessary development in the future, from the opinions expressed in these classes. The dyeing of wool with dyes ob- \ tained from New Zealand plants was an absorbing subject. This was accompanied by a beautiful exhibit of dyed wool on loan from the Auck- , land Museum and the work of Mrs F. Hutchison, of Hawke’s Bay. This showed the wide range of colours from purple through heliotropes to pink, green, fawns and khakis to tans and brick reds and bright yel- i lows. Specimens of the plants and chemicals used were also part of the exhibit. Nucleus of New Industry It was revealed in the course of the lecture what a high degree of skill the early Maoris attained in the art, the brilliancy, pureness and lasting nature of their colours exciting the attention of the early colonists. In conjunction with the skill being developed at the new spinning clubs the revival and development of the ancient craft of home dyeing may not only meet the need for khaki wool for home knitting, but may pave the way for the future production of characteristic New Zealand homespuns that could easily equal the famous Harris or Donegal tweed r. Wherever it was possible the method of group discussion was introduced and it proved to be a valuable and enjoyable means of obtaining the active participation of all present. Other subjects taken have been: (1) What we should know about ourselves. (2) Can we increase our skill as parents? What are good relationships between parents and children? (3) Our children—this business of growing up. (4) Our philosophy of life. How we spend your money. (5) What should we \know about food? (6) How and why in furnishing a home. (7) How to read a book. (8) Sex education. (9) Life after fifty. The work of organisation has been done by the