ADULT EDUCATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 22 November 1927, Page 9

ADULT EDUCATION

W.E.A. CONFERENCE HELD AT PALMERSTON NORTH. IMPORTANT DECISIONS REACHED. The annual conference of delegates from all the branches of the Workers’ Educational Association in the Victoria University College district, was opened in St. Andrew’s Hall, Palmerston North, on Friday afternoon, and continued until noon on Saturday. Hustings was represented by Ales srs Clayton and V. L. Westerman, and a total of some 35 delegates together with Professor T. A. Hunter, the director, attended. A welcome to the visitors was voiced by the Mayor (Mr A. J. Graham) who mentioned that Palmerston North had a warm corner in its heart for all those who interested themselves in education. They had afforded many facilities including grants of land, public donations of money, and borough subsidies, so that the institutions might be put upon a good foundation. Not only had this been done for primary schools but also for technical institutions. Those facilities had not been misplaced because, through the schools, the country was being presented with good citizens. There had been a tremendous advance in technical education not only as regards improvement of mind, but also in the matter of physical instruction. ASSOCIATION'S PROGRESS. The Mayor said he was glad to have the opportunity of congratulating the association on its progress which had been considerable. The difficulties of the pioneering work had been overcome along with the apathy that existed towards the movement a few years ago. He wished the association even greater success in the future. It was quite clear that the public was gradually recognising the value of tho work being done. Mr F. D. Cornwell (Wellington) President of th e District Council, thanked the Mayor for his welcome, adding that it was an honour to have the Chief Magistrate taking such a keen interest in the movement. The association had had a hard row to hoe, but had succeeded in breaking down the prejudices that existed at th e beginning. In 1916 there wjre only seven classes with an effective roll of 119. In 1926 there were 31 classes with an effective roll of 1707. In 1927 these figures read: 31 classes with 2138 enrolled students of whom .1867 were effective. These figures showed the progress that, had been made. The work was one which the Government should really be fully responsible £pr and ho hoped that one day they would realise this.

PREMIER 'S APPRECIATION.

The Mayor, as President of the Conference, received tho following tele grams:—

From the Prime Minister: "I understand that the annual conference- of the W.E.A. is being held at Palmerston North to-day. I shall be glad if you will kindly convey to members my appreciation of the association’s work, and permit me to express the hope that your present deliberations will be successful in. furthering the objects towards which your efforts are directed.”

From the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright: “I shall be glad if you will please convey to delegates assembled, my congratulations on tho splendid progress being made in the extension of adult education. I trust the conference will be successful in every way.”

From Mr P. Levi, chairman of Victoria College Council: “Please express to the conference the deep interest which I personally and members of my Council take in W.E.A. work in this district and our best wishes for tho future growth and extension of the movement.” THE MOVEMENT IN HAWKE'S BAY. The following figures indicate the growing importance of the movement in Hawke’s Bay:— In 1927 Napier had 122 enrolled students with an average attendance of 82; Hastings had 152 enrolled students with an average attendance of 106; and Danncvirke 120 members with an average attendance of 66. At the conference many important decisions were reached and these will be reviewed by tho Dominion Conference in Christchurch in February next. The; 'tutor-lecturer for the Taranaki, Manawatu, and Hawke’s Bay district, Mr A. £. Mander, indicted the growing importance of discussion, groups, small groups of six to ten students, interested in the more detailed study of applied logic. These groups had carried on in tho absence of the tutor, keeping in touch with him by weekly correspondence. Some of tho groups has proved so successful that this method was regarded as one of the most important developments of W.E.A. activities with tremendous possibilities for extension in the future. OCCUPATIONS OF STUDENTS. The following table, showing the occupations of W.E.A. students in the Victoria University Collego district, is interesting as revealing the truly democratic aims of the movement and tho very wide appeal which it makes:— Men. Professional and business men 220 Teachers 73 Civil Servants 44 Office workers 187 Shops and salemen 91 Skilled workers 2,1' Unskilled workers 74 Farmers and orchardists .... 76 Retired, students and others .. 52 Total 1029 Women. Domestic duties 543 Teachers 184 Civil Servants 26 Office workers 150 Saleswomen 58 Skilled workers 51

Music teachers 42 Nurses and others 34 Students 21 Total 1109 In response to an invitation Professor T. A. Hunter, the Director of Tutorial Classes in the Wellington district promised that he would endeavour to visit Hawke’s Bay at an early date.