The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-07-07
EDUCATION FOR
A. I. L. WORKERS
BUREAU OF EDUCATION is
RECOMMENDED TO
MEMBERSHIP

CINCINNATI, O., June 3O.-All
organizations of labor are urged to
appoint committees on education in
the report Of the committee on edu-
cation adopted unanimously by the
American Federation of Labor con-
fention.
Action of the executive council in
entering into relationship with the
Workers Education Bureau Of Amer
lea is commended and continuance of
negotiations looking toward an or
ganic relationship is ordered.
with the vast increase in the
size and power of organized labor,
the education of the adult workers
has become one of the fundamental
demands of the labor movement"
says the report. Constant progress
is achieved through the increasing
intelligence of the rank and file of
the membership. The workers must
know the relation of the industry in
which he works, not only to the la
Dor movement, but also to the struc-
ture of our modern society. He must
be conscious of the spiritual forces
which direct and shape the course
of the labor movement and inspire
the Willingness to stand by the move
ment. Workers education is the
very basis Of a permanent and re
sponsible workers organization; it
must be co-ordinated with the labor
movement and therefore should be
regarded as an integral part Of the
trade union itself. To develop this
sense of relationship on the part of
the individual worker and quicken
this feeling of responsibility on the
part of the trade union, is part Of
the function of adult workers edu-
cation.
"In addition it is becoming in
creasingly apparent that the char
acter of the American democracy de-
ponds upon the wisdom and under
standing Of the adult citizen and that
adult education is not to be regarded
as a privilege for few, nor the con-
Germ for a short period of early man
hood and womanhood, but is an in
dispensable part of democratic citi-
zenship and should be universal and
! lifelong. Adult workers education
gives emphatic support to this prin-
ciple of democratic government. IN
/ deed, as President Gompers has said:
sit may very well be that organized
labor which took such an active part
in the establishment of popular edu-
cation in the United States will now
! take the lead in another movement
of vital significance to the cultural
| development of this country"
During the past year the educa-
| tional committee of the American
| Federation of Labor, with the sane
ton and approval of the executive
| council, entered into a cooperative re-
lationship with the Workers Educa-
ton Bureau of America, for the pro-
motion of workers education in the
| trade union movement of this coun-
| try. The value Of that cooperation
was undoubted, but it was felt that
| closer unity should exist in order to
give greater strength and added sup
port to this movement. Accordingly
negotiations are still pending, it is
confidently expected that within a
short period of time the arrange
ments will be complete whereby this
vital movement as an organic part
Of it.
"Your committee recommends that
this forty-second annual convention
| commend the executive council and
| the permanent education committee
for the progress of the negotiations
with the Workers. Education Bureau
Of America, and instruct them to
continue these negotiations in the
interests Of the promotion of a COM
prehensive scheme of adult workers
education Your committee further
recommends that this convention
again urge upon all International and
National Unions, all State Fedora
tons of Labor. and Central Labor
Unions, the appointment of educa-
tional committees, one of the fun
damental functions of these commit
tees to be the furthering of such a
program of adult workers educa-
| ton"