THE WORKERS & EBUCATOIN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 6

THE WORKERS & EBUCATOIN.

• In connection with, the article on "Education,and the Present Crisis," which appeared in .Monday's Dominions a correspondent has sent Us some interesting, particulars -of the good wark which is being done by the Workers'. Educational Association* _ the aim of which is to provide working people with- opportunities of raising; themselves- educationally and keeping themselves in touch with the best thought of the day in the various departments of knowledge. It is an unscctarian, nonpolitical, and democratic federation, consisting of over 2000 organisations, including trades unions, co-opera-tive committees, adult schools and classes, university bodies, and teachers' associations, banded together for the purpose of raising the standard of culture among the- masses of the people. The idea-is both to stimulate the intellect and to arouse the social sympathies. The district chairmen include such- men as Sin Oliver Lodge, Professor F. B. Jbvons (Durham), Mr. Will Crooks, ILP., and Professor J. S. Mackenzie (Wales). The president is the Rev. William Temple, headmaster of Bepton, who is a strong advocate of social reform and the betterment of the masses. He is.a son of the late Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Frederick Temple), who in his youth knew what it meant to < be poor, but by dogged . determination and hard work became" a great scholar and rose to the highest position in "the Anglican Church. MR. Tejiple states., problems before the'association in the following terms:—"How arc we to- do justice to the abilities of gifted individuals without alienating them from their own people 1 How are we to help forward education while individual conditions remain as they arc] How are we to get the conditions altered until education has supplied the necessary knowledge and enthusiasm 1 How are we to kindle a geal for education in the working classes as a whole, which at present care for it no more than the well-to-do— which is, broadly speaking, not at alii" The association's latest annua] report states that in Australia the universities and the State Governments have been making inquiries regarding the work 1 , and it is ex«' peoted that a great impetus will he given to the movement by the visit which the General Secretary (Mr. Mansbjiidge) is now making; It is very hard to kill the mischievous idea that a lad's education is complete when he leaves school. As a matter of fact his education is then only beginning, and thegreat value of the Workers' Educational Association is that it gives the children of working people a chance to build upon the foundations which are laid in their school days, and enables them to broaden and deepen their mental outlook and to think for themselves. It is not intended that they should cease to be workers—far from it; but that their lives, as workers, should bo brightened and enriched by the refining influences of modern culture,