Karin Gilbert-History of Adult and Community Education in the 1960’s

History of Adult/Community Education

Karin Gilbert

Ball State University

EDAC 631 Adult and Community Education

Professor Dr. Bo Chang

9/15/2019

History of Adult and Community Education in the 1960’s

Your name	Commented On
Karin Gilbert	Micah Maxwell Bob Phelps

Introduction

The 1960’s experienced powerful economic and social forces that resulted in legislative responses to previously neglected educational and training needs of those adults who were poor, unemployed, unskilled and undereducated. One of these was an economic recession, with unemployment rates climbing to the highest levels since the 1930's. The other major force was the civil rights movement, which demanded an end to social, political and economic discrimination and redress of the inequities suffered by its victims (Ulin, Jessie K. 1976). 

The economic recession in the 1960’s was compared to second industrial revolution that brought a crisis in unemployment. As factories became automated, unskilled workers could not be retrained because they lacked the basic education considered necessary for more advanced training. The unemployment of the 1960s was considered to be different from that of the 1930s. The Great Depression of the 1930’s had meant "mass unemployment"; the 1960s were experiencing "class unemployment" and the remedies needed to be geared toward a particular class (A&E Television Networks, 2015).

The civil rights movement was a struggle for social injustice for blacks, women, and minorities to gain equal rights under United States Law. Arguably one of the most famous events of the civil rights movement was the March on Washington in 1963 led by civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech became the slogan for equality and freedom (A&E Television Networks, 2009).

President John F. Kennedy and later President Lindon B. Johnson responded to these economic and social challenges by leading a handful of legislative acts aimed at improving employment and civil rights. These legislative acts impacted fast growth of adult education during this decade. A 1968 report on adult education by A.A. Liverright showed that if the federal government invested in improvements in adult education it would lead to a better society and the good of life.  As a result, congress during this time provided more funds for adult and continuing education than any previous congress (Liverright, A.A., 1968).

Highlights

            A series of Legislative Acts in the 1960’s released millions of dollars for adult education that brought attention to adult education as being a field of practice and a field of study: The Area Redevelopment Act (1961), Manpower and Development Act of 1962, Vocational Education Act of 1963, Civil Rights Act (1964), Economic Opportunity Act (1964), and the Adult Education Act (1966). These Legislative Acts were aimed at improving the economy by educating and preparing adults to enter or advance in the workforce.

Two programs designed to stimulate economic growth were The Area Redevelopment Act (1961) and the Manpower Development and Training Act (1962). These federal programs provided funds for teaching basic educational skills to unemployed adults and out-of-school youth to prepare them for participation in skills training programs. Persons receiving this aid were unemployed due to geographic shifts in the demand for labor and changes in skill requirements due to technological advances. A third program, the Vocational Education Act (1963) provided funding for people with academic, socioeconomic, English Language or other handicaps as well as adults who needed training to achieve stable employment or advancement. These three programs began improving general unemployment, although unemployment remained high for Blacks, non-English speaking adults, and for the undereducated (Ulin, Jessie K. 1976).

The Civil Rights Act (1964) and other executive government orders were established to prohibit the discrimination in unemployment practices based on race, sex, age, religion or national origin. However, large numbers of adults with limited education were still at a disadvantage in labor market. It was the Economic Opportunity Act (1964) and Adult Education Act (1966) that addressed the inequalities of educational disadvantage.  The Economic Opportunity Act (1964) initiated instruction for all adults 18 years and older to develop reading, writing, language, and math skills to obtain or retain employment.  The Adult Education Act (1966), hailed as a landmark piece of legislation, expanded basic education programs.  Enabling adults to overcome English language limitations, to improve their basic education in preparation for occupational training and more profitable employment, and to become more productive and responsible citizens. Funding was available to state and local education agencies to support the costs of instruction, to employ and train qualified adult educators, and develop curriculum and techniques appropriate for adult learners.  Enrollments in programs funded by the Adult Education Act (1966) saw a major increase for the remaining decade and beyond. Enrollment of 37,991 in 1965 jumped to almost one million in 1974 (Ulin, Jessie K. 1976).

Influential Factors

There were several influencers to the development of adult education in the 1960’s including political leaders, adult educators, and organizations. First, it was the political leaders that brought national crisis support to the state and local level. President John F. Kennedy supported labor force training, education, and civil rights with the vision to improve the lives of individuals, their families, and their communities.  President Lindon B. Johnson supported the poverty crisis by establishing a comprehensive poverty program supporting community action and development, job training, and education (Rose, Amy D. (1991). Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a Dream” speech inspired equal rights for all. The vision and influence of these leaders led to federal funding and inclusive practices that positively impacted the awareness and growth of adult education in our nation.

            A second category of influencers is adult educators. The social and political trends of the 1960’s opened the door for revolutionary education opportunities. M.S Knowles is widely known as a founder of adult education as a separate discipline. Knowles introduced the term “androgyny,” which he defines as “the art and science of helping adults learn” Merriam, Sharan B., 2007).  He pioneered the idea in the 1960’s that adults learn differently from children and must be taught in their own social context. Also influential in this decade was Paulo Friere. Friere was a contributor to a theory of radical adult education. He’s a world leader known for his legacy of commitment, love and hope to American educators. He came to the US after being exiled from his native Brazil in 1964 for his progressive work of teaching reading and writing to the poor.  In the US, his pedagogy work was inspired by events of the economic recession and civil rights movement (Learning Unleased, Educators For Justice, 2019). These two leaders influenced some of the most foundational principles still used in adult education decades later. 

            Agencies/organizations/associations is the third category of influencers. One organization that influenced moral and financial support to adult education was the The Adult Education Association of the United States.  They focused their efforts on encompassing all activities to further the acceptance of education as a process continuing through-out life; to afford opportunities to professional and non-professional adult educators to increase their competence; to receive and disseminate information about adult education; to promote a balanced development of educational services for adults; and to cooperate with adult education agencies internationally (Adult Education Association, 1994). The responsibility of The National Advisory Council on Adult Education was to report its findings to the President of the Adult Education Act and give recommendations for progress; including recommendations on this Act and other federal laws relating to adult education services and activities. Their recommendations influenced multiple amendments throughout the decade that focused on improving educational opportunities and providing broader and better services for millions of Americans (National Advisory Council on Adult Education Annual Report, (1974).  The success of these two organizations and others alike can be measured by the growing enrollment in adult education programs through the decade and beyond. For example, enrollments in programs funded under the Adult Education Act have increased from 37,991 in fiscal year 1965 to almost one million people served in fiscal year 1974 (Ulin, Jessie K. 1976). 

Implications

            The awareness and rapid growth of Adult Education in the 1960’s is a result of the federal government’s response to addressing the nations’ economic downfall and civil rights crisis.  One lesson to be learned is that the federal government can influence change at the state and local level with financial assistance support. A.A. Liverright’s 1968 report on adult education implies that much responsibility lies on the federal government to strengthen the freedom to learn.  The federal government did respond to this need. Improvements to the 1960’s economic recession can be attributed to financial aid that educated and prepared adults to enter or advance in the workforce. Improvements to the civil rights issues can be attributed to financial aid that created equal and inclusive workplaces and educational opportunities for all.

            A second lesson learned from this time period is that equal and inclusive education must be available to all. If adult education leads to a better society and the good of life, as A.A. Liverright suggests, then education must be available and accessible to every American (Liverright, A.A., 1968).  The Economic Opportunity Act (1964) and Adult Education Act (1966) addressed the inequalities of educational disadvantage by offering adult education to all Americans over the age of 18. The decade provided opportunity for basic skills training for those adults who were poor, unemployed, unskilled and undereducated, as well as continuing education for adults seeking job advancement due to technological advances.

            Practitioners of our time can learn that the federal government’s support of financial aid and equal education opportunities directly impacted the growth of adult and community education in the 1960’s.  Although this decade was a time of hardship for many Americans, legislative changes provided opportunities for Americans to obtain education and training to seek a better life for their future.    

Table 1. Summary of the History of Adult/Community Education

Area	Summary
Social Background	Civil Rights Movement (social, political and economic discrimination) Economic Recession (poverty, unemployed, unskilled, undereducated)
Highlights	The Area Redevelopment Act (1961) Manpower Development and Training Act (1962) Vocational Education Act (1963) Civil Rights Act (1964) Economic Opportunity Act (1964) Adult Education Act (1966)
Influences	Leaders: President John F. Kennedy, President Lindon B. Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Educators: M.S. Knowles and Paulo Friere Organizations: Adult Education Association of the United States, The National Advisory Council on Adult Education
Implications	Lessons learned: strong government support provided financial aid and equal education for all

References 

A&E Television Networks. (2015). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from

https://www.history.com/topics/1960s

A&E Television Networks. (2009). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement#section_9

Adult Education Association. (1994). Adult education association (AEA-USA)/American

association for adult and continuing education (AAACE) records. Retrieved from

http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/a/aaace.htm

Learning Unleased, Educators For Justice (2019) Retrieved from

http://www.alu-c.com/paulo-freire

Liverright, A.A. (1968). A Study of Adult Education in the United States, in the US. Brooklyn,

MA. Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults.

Merriam, Sharan B., Brockett, Ralph G., (2007). The profession and practice of adult education

(2^nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

National Advisory Council on Adult Education Annual Report, (1974). Washington, D.C.

National Advisory Council on Adult Education.

Rose, Amy D. (1991). Ends or Means: An Overview of the History of the Adult Education Act.

Information Series No. 346, Columbus, OH. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education Center on Education and Training for Employment

Ulin, Jessie K. (1976). An Historical Perspective: The Adult Education Act 1964-1974.

Washington, D.C., National Advisory Council on Adult Education.