ADULT EDUCATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1922, Page 1

ADULT EDUCATION.

THE WESTLAND WINTER SCHOOL AND A SUMMER SCHOOL PROPOSAL.

The fame of the Winter School held at Hokitika in May last has gone abroad. In the, August number of tho World Association for Adult Education, published in London, the following account of the School appears : A WINTER SCHOOL.

After' referring to the Summer School held in Oxford, Canterbury, the Journal goes on to remark:— The same idea lias just been worked out under different circumstances in another part of-the Canterbury district by the holding of a Winter School for farmers and teachers, at Hokitika. The responsibility for the seliol lay with three members of the World Association : Professors J. Shelley and J. B. C-ondliffe, and Mr H. Belshnw, M.A., Tutorial Class lecturer for flic West Const district. The Tutorial Class Committee of Canterbury College undertook the tutorial control of the school, while Mr Belfthow *C-operated with the local AV.E.A. and farmers’ organisations in order to secure the attendance of a sufficient body of students. Hokitika is the centre of a district which was once a great goldmining area. Sixty years ago it was the biggest town in New Zealand, with direct gomiuuuicatiou by sea with Australia. But the prosperity of the gold rushes was ephemeral, tho alluvial gold was, quickly worked out and now only the desolate “tailings” and the abandoned shafts tell of the busy, feverish search for gold. The almost deserted villages, with their barrack-like hotels anti empty houses, mostly built of galvanised iron or unpninted wood, ted a depressing story of wealth departed. But prosperity is returning t-o Westland, and prosperity of a much more enduring nature, based on the produetieo labour of the small farmer. Hokitika itself has always retained some importance as the natural point of departure for tourists who visit the line Alpine' scenery of South It estjand. As roads are made and rivers bridged there is a steadily increasing stream of visitors to the Franz Josef and other glaciers which lie on the slopes of Mount Cook. The forests of Westland also are a source- of great wealth, only just opened up and developed on modern lines by tho State Forest Service. The anti-trade winds blow steadily over the warm Tasman Sea with the result that the heavy rainfall, amounting in some places to over 200 inches in the year. brings prolific growth. For many years, however, tho West Coast has been separated from the more developed province of Canterbury by the high moim tain ranges, the crossing of which involves a very picturesque hut difficult coach ride over Arthur’s Pass. Within a year, however, it is hoped that the big tunnel under the mountains, five miles in length, will Ik ready for railway traffic, and Westland forsees a new era of prosperity. 'Flic visit of University lectures accompanied by experienced farmers from the East Coast of the Island was therefore bailed a s the beginning of a better day.

The aim of the school was double. There are many teachers on the A Vest Coast who feci isolated and out of touch with modern developments in their profession. For their sake the Professor of Education gave up a week of lfis vacation to come mid lecture daily on education principles. The economists and scientific lecturers had as their main object the discussion of the economic and technical problems that confront the farming community at the present time. The School, how ever, was not allowed to develop into two separate sections. Though each group discussed its own problems, there was each morning a general lecture attended by the whole school, both lecturers and students. These general lectures were intended to give a broad outlook on big scientific problems, and tlicv programme actually arranged consisted of lectures on “The Modern Outlook on Education,” “The Economic Prospect.” “Science and Practice ip Agriculture” “Science and Dairying” and “The Scientific Principles of Stock-Breeding.” While the lecturer oil Dairying discoursed mainly on Bacteriorlogy before the whole school, lie supplemented his general science by lecturing to the farmers alone oil the feeding of milch cows. Then in the discussion cadi farmer was able to bring his own particular and special problems to the export and (equally to the combined experience of his fellow-farmers. Similarly the veterinary lecturer gave what was in effect an exposition of the modern view of llaredity supplemented by a technical lecture on the “Diseases of Stock” and the general economic lecture was preceded by a lecture on “The Economics of Dairying Industry.” In the afternoon excursions were made to various parts of the district in inspect different crops, to investigate certain very difficult drainage problems, to visit experimental work carried on at various farms etc., and also to beauty spots such as bake Knnieri a glacial lake nestling under the forest-covered mountains. On one afternoon and evening the school trails fered itself bodily to the small township of Kokatahi,'about 15 miles from Hokitika, where the agricultural lecturers acted as judges of a hastily improvised but very representative Vinter Show of the farm produce of the. district. There, was a large attendance of the local farmers, and lectures were given on the spot which resulted in th remaining sessions of the school being attended by many farmers from this outlying area. The evenings were usually ocoup : e.l by illustrated lectures of a semi-popu-lar nature, which attracted big and-, tmees. As the week went by the | atidienee grew, till, at the last evening lecture of the school on “England m the Middle Ages” the small Town I r.ll was filled with about IKK) people. Ihe generosity of the little community ot Hokitika testitied to their appreciation of the school, and, a pan fn.m the entertainment of the visitors, a sufficient sum was subscribed more than to cover the travelling expenses of the lecturers. Since all the lecturers gave their services freely, devoting a week of their vacation to the school, this subscription means that the College has a small surplus ot funds available for use in other forms of adult education. On all sides Hie hope was expressed that the scho would become an annual function Another step has thus been taka towards the ideal of furnishing ho University with direct contacts "dH the whole community evc’J in the remoter corners of its arcs

SUMMER. SCHOOL. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE W.E.A. A HOLIDAY OF COMRADESHIP AND EDUCATION.

To those who appreciated the pleasure of tho Winter School held this year at Hokitika, it will come/ aspleasing news that tho AV.E.A. will hold a. similar Summer School at I.eitlifield between the dates December 26th 1922 and Jem 6th 1923. I.eitlifield is beautifully situated for the purpose of the school and lias an excellent beach. It is situated 27 miles north of Christchurch, and lias a daily service by train and motor from the Cathedral City.

The male members of the school will bo accommodated in tents, the ladies in a large residence, while families requiring accommodation may obtain tents near to the residences. A large marquee will be erected as a dining hall. Tho cost to students will be £2 per week, or 8s peir day for those who cannot attend the- complete course.

The central theme of the course will he “The Ethical, Psychological, and Einonomic bases of Democracy,” and a general lecture will he given each morning on some aspect of this theme.

Supplementary classes "ill be held in Psychology. Education, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, English Literature and Drama, while a director wil lbe appointed to control Hie musical side of school activities. Professor .T. Shelley will he Director of the School and will be assisted by Prof. J. Comlliffe. A. H. Looker, M.A. F.R.E.S. Lecturer in Economics, W- Johnson, M.A,, Tutor, W.E.A. Otago Centre, R. M. Lang M.A. 8.5. c., and H. Belslmw. M. A., F.R.E.S. West Coast Tutor. Miss N. Bruce M.A. will probably tutor the ladies in the school. The afternoons will lit spent in rambles, games, surfing etc., slid Hie evenings in concerts, popular lectures, etc. The school will combine all the attractiveness of the Winter School with the additional advantages of camp life. Many West Coasters have already intimated their intention of attending the school, which is open to all whether they are W.E.A. students or not.