Adult Education and the Nation's Problems. W. K. Kellogg Lecture.

Overview & Synopsis

Many of the great successes in the history of American education have been in the adult learning area. Some examples include the Americanization of immigrants, the public library movement, cooperative (agricultural) extension, continuing professional education, and distance education. Despite these achievements, adult education has enjoyed little prestige and financial support. Indications of change are seen in the quickening pace of technological change with the resultant choice between continuing education and professional obsolescence, the burden of contemporary social and economic problems, and fewer younger Americans to be taught. Adult educators have improved their visibility, and adult education has received partial recognition, but this comes in a period of financial stringency. Adult educators should take this time to communicate that (1) adult education will work for the full development of individual Americans, (2) through continuing professional education they will concentrate on preparing adults to deal with current problems, and (3) they will try to understand and assist and work with the have-nots--disadvantaged, women, poor, handicapped, senior citizens, minorities, unemployed, underemployed. (YLB)