Maple Avenue Evening High School - Progress Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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Tw There ls A Cultural Side e ALIFORNIA citizens are proud, and justly so, of the position their State holds in the field of education. A survey of the situation shows, California well to the front in all branches and holding a decided lead in many of them. In the matter of adult education splendid progress has been made and the people of California owe much to those who, both in administration cir- cles and in the school rooms, have given so much study and intelligent effort to this phase of the schoolwork. It has not been an easy task, for conditions change rapidly and the system had to be adapted to the changing conditions, and new theories and practices adopted. There were, besides, criticisms and doubts to overcome and prejudices to eliminate. ' However, those charged with the administration of education have long since realized that the educational system of at city means much more than the provision of education for immature people. Democracy demands that educational facilities be provided for all the residents of a community desirous of improving themselves either by acquiring a general education or receivingspecific instruction in a given occupation. No other form of school activity has met this demand more satisfactorily or successfully than the eveninggvocational work. gr Adult education differs from other aspects of education in that it expects from the student a greater sense of responsibility. The motives which lie behind the desire of the adults for education make a peculiar contribution to their studies because those motives are prompted by their daily experiences. The education of the young is controlled by others, in technical edu- cation of the young the choice of subject and method of treatment are de- ' 4 Page Fifty-seven

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student's mind the reason for the application of the particular rule to the branch of the subject being treated. We have found that this logical treatment of the subject of electricity in preference to the highly technical and mathematical methods, produces better results and more nearly meets the requirements of those enrolling in this school. In future it is the intention to classify the students in the electrical class having one department for those who have already had the advanced fundamentals but who desire more scientific research Work, another for those seeking practical Wiring and engineering Work and a third for the beginners . Class in Electricity QPage Fifty-six

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termined by the ends in View but with the adult we have a different set of circumstances. Must Be Democratic Adult education is essentially co-operative in character and must be based upon democratic principles. It should afford opportunity for devel- opment of that power which will enable the students to understand and help in the solution of the common problems of society and better fit them for the responsibilities of membership in political, industrial and social agencies and activities. It should satisfy the desire for fuller personal development and compel recognition of the value of human personality. To be truly democratic adult classes should be as self-governing com- munitiesiwith freedom of teaching and discussion, the responsibility of the students for the conduct and success of the class not smothered by over- regulation. The workers themselves, through whatever organizations they may have, should be 'adequately represented on bodies administering adult education. The problem is not how to get the articulate workers to absorb the cul- ture of a higher social class but how to enable them to evolve a culture of their own. There will be elements common to both. What is needed, however, is that the artisan and worker should enrich the world with a cul- ture woven out of their own deep experiences of life. While it is true that learning has much to bestow upon labor it is equally true that it has much to gain from labor's peculiar knowledge and experience and its interpretations of history and society. It has been ob- jected that vocational training is narrow, common and more or less exigent and provides no beginnings for cultural development. This attitude has retarded progress in vocational effort. It presupposes castes and favorites in society and paints culture as a degree only to be attained by fortunate onespof high birth and financial means that exempts them from the neces- sity to labor and makes it possible for them to gain a higher education. This Earth and Labor Furnishes All V The truth of the matter is that every fundamental, every vehicle and tool and physical aid of art and science and invention is supplied by this old earth and the intelligent application of labor and every inspiration is derivedfronr a contemplation of the earth and planets and the love of ser- vice to mankind. . This being so the proper kind of vocational education must contem- plate cultural development as well as skill and advanced training in the Page Fifty-eight