Recurrent Education: "Apple Pie" ...or..."Atomic Bomb"?

Overview & Synopsis

The author conceptualizes recurrent education as organized, structured, institutionally sponsored learning activities with intentional outcomes, which are distributed over the life span of the individual in a recurring way. Some problems to which recurrent education proposes solutions include: alienation at the inter-generational level, institutionalization of students, and blocking of young adults from the work force during a critical life-state. The author suggests a more equitable education system to include: a basic education or common competency base at the elementary level, provision of job-entry skills to all students at age 16 at the secondary level, and further secondary or higher education from an "educational drawing account" guaranteed to the individual at later stages of his/her life cycle. Implications for education are the linking up of academic/professional, vocational/technical, and adult/social mainstreams. Major problems of the concept include existing inertia in education and employment, implementation of the notion of equity, and the lack of conceptual or practical limits. Although elements of recurrent education are currently emerging and developing, it is unlikely that parents would accept the student control necessary to truly actualize the idea of providing equity through equalized opportunity. (EA)