Tensions in Workers’ Educational Activities

Authors

• Tero Tuomisto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37456/tvt.112970

Keywords:

labour movement, The Workers’ Educational Association WEA, non-formal adult education

Abstract

The Workers’ Educational Association WEA Finland was founded on the 1st of September in 1919. From the very beginning, member organisations included those led by social democrats as well as those run by left-wing socialists. Also, the Social Democratic Party was a member of the WEA, but did not determine its actions. The co-operation was not quite flawless – to put it simply, there were different views on educational needs. The founder and chairman Väinö Voionmaa emphasized nonbiased educational work whereas the left-wing socialists (and the illegal communists) often underlined the need of political agitation, with incentive from the neighbouring Soviet Union. This division reflected in the activities. After the WWII when the Communist Party of Finland and the Finnish People’s Democratic League joined the WEA, the tensions about educational needs still strengthened. There were local fights over majority. It was not until the establishment of the KSL Civic Association for Adult Learning in 1964 that the real prospects of practical co-operation emerged between the two educational trends. Also, the times were different by then.