Why co-operative education?

Almost 50 years ago the Co-operative Union Limited (now Co-operatives UK) published Co-operative Education - A Handbook of Practical Guidance For Co-operative Educationalists. While the language may be considered as quaint and old fashioned, the Handbook provides an important insight into why co-operative education is today mportant to co-operatives and co-operators.

"To the question 'Why do Co-operative societies assume educational tasks.' we are justified in replying that in fact educational tasks have assumed Co-operative societies. The purpose for which we exist, is not grocery or laundry but education in the sense of cultivating men and women of Co-operative quality." ( p 3)

"The Co-operative aim was not ultimately to set up certain forms of economic organisation or to control certain sectors of the economy. It was to produce men and women who had cultivated those capacities for co-operation in which they would find their fulfilment." ( p 4)

There "are three tasks which arise out of the nature and needs of the Co-operative movement as it is today. They are not separate: many items of our work would find a place in more than one of them. They may provide, however, the points of reference to which our efforts should be addressed:

Self-Preservation

Self-Direction, and

Self-Reproduction."

"By self-preservation we mean literally the survival and development of the organizations which make up the Co-operative movement. mainly, therefore, under this heading we mean technical education and training, i.e. the preparation of our staffs so that Co-operative service is at least as good as any that can be found elsewhere."

"By self-direction we mean giving to Co-operative members the will and the power to take charge of this Co-operative organization....In our Co-operative organization we are after a movement which constantly and with foresight determines the course it will take. Here, therefore, we speak mainly of the education of our members to assume that responsibility." ( p 6)

"Finally, there is the task of self-reproduction. Any human organization will seek always to renew the conditions of its own existence........" ( p 7)

"Self-preservation, self-direction and self-reproduction - we must not be the slaves of a jingle such as this. In a sense, however, they sum up three tasks to which we are committed...Let us keep in mind always that these tasks are serving a Co-operative movement which cannot cease to be educational without losing its distinctive character and cause." ( p 7)

Co-operative Education - A Handbook of Practical Guidance for Co-operative Educationalists does not have a publication date. In consultation with the UK Co-operative College, howe4ver, it has been established that the Handbook may have been published in 1961. As it refers to the Copright Act 1956, it was not published before this date.