History of Adult Education: 1980s - Jason Spencer

 

Adult Education in the 1980’s

 

Jason Spencer

Ball State University

EDAC 631

Dr. Bo Chang

February 14, 2021

 

Your name	Commented On
Jason Spencer	Rhonda Jones  Keila Escobedo

 

Introduction

              The 1980’s are remembered as a decade filled with materialistic decadence. The rise of MTV and the Yuppie speak to this. In addition, the 1980’s saw the rise of Reaganomics, the emergence of crack-cocaine, the introduction of computers to the masses, and the AIDS crisis. Intertwined with these social aspects in the 1980’s was the focus on adult literacy and education.

The world was changing politically as Ronald Regan re-worked economic policy and by the end of the decade the Berlin Wall tumbled down (National Geographic Society, 2013). The United States focused on its efforts to defeat communism as the Cold War with Russia lingered (History.com Editors, 2019). The introduction of personal computers would play a huge part in education moving into the future. In popular culture, MTV exploded, bringing Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson into our living rooms. The term Yuppie was coined to describe baby boomers with a college education, well-paying job, and expensive taste (History.com Editors, 2019). For many, the Yuppie was the personification of a generation obsessed with money and consumer goods. The AIDS crisis, the war on drugs, and the focus on adult literacy were influential in the world of adult education.

Highlights

              The 1980’s were plagued with multiple crises that called for a focus on adult education. Crack-cocaine ravaged areas, AIDs had a devastating impact, and many adults did not have the ability to read. All these issues could be impacted by a focus on adult learning and how to reach the impacted audiences. Adult education in the 1980’s was influenced by researchers realizing the importance of the social function of adult education and the importance of varying research methods and research purposes (Chang, 2013). Adult education in the 1980’s was promoted as a platform whereby organizations for social change could launch and advance their transformative agendas (Rocco et al., 2020).

              Having the ability to read is taken for granted today, but a huge push was made in the 1980’s to educate and help curb illiteracy.  In 1983 the White House estimated that 26 million Americans were functionally illiterate (Rohter, 1986). The 1980’s saw an influx of immigrants in metropolitan areas and this also led to literacy challenges (Rohter, 1986). New York City was a great example of adult education in action during this time with how it approached teaching residents how to read. Free literacy courses were created, touting that increased literacy can lead to job promotions and higher salaries (Rohter, 1986). These courses were advertised on television and radio and were often so popular that prospective learners had to get on a waiting list to attend (Rohter, 1986). From a learner’s perspective, literacy was seen as a path forward, out of entry level jobs and onward to bigger roles and paychecks.

Influential Factors

              The 1980’s saw the introduction of some of adult learning’s philosophical foundations that have been researched and expanded upon over the years. For example, Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, which explains how adult learners use experience to learn, was created in the 1980’s (Lawson, 2015).  The foundational adult education philosophies including liberal, behaviorist, progressive, analytical, radical/critical, postmodern, and humanistic were also introduced in the 1980’s (Rocco et al., 2020).

              Adult education was made a priority as the fight against illiteracy waged on. The U.S. Department of Education and Congress worked to pass legislation that provided a total of $421 million in state grant funds for adult basic education in fiscal years 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 (U.S. Department of Education:  Office of Vocational and Adult Education, 2013). 11.6 million adults were served at adult basic education instructional levels during this time (U.S. Department of Education:  Office of Vocational and Adult Education, 2013).  President Reagan signed bills to continue the efforts of the Adult Literacy Act to help with establishing English literacy grants, workforce literacy grants, literacy training for homeless adults, and increasing program evaluation initiatives and requirements of the U.S. Office of Education (U.S. Department of Education:  Office of Vocational and Adult Education, 2013).  The goal of all these efforts to was to equip adults with the skills and knowledge to help them grow, and to help society grow with them.

Implications

              A huge takeaway from the 1980’s, from an adult education perspective, is how important it is to put effort and funding behind adult education initiatives. Adult learning programs and initiatives can be the backbone of societal transformation. Proper funding helps create programs that help to advance society and make learners catalysts for change. Once the issue of adult literacy was analyzed, it was clear that in the 1980’s the adult learner was acknowledged as an important piece to ensure growth of society.

              The foundations of adult learning that were introduced in the 1980’s are still present today. The 1980’s laid out foundational concepts that are useful, yet not entirely focused on diversity (Rocco et al., 2020). Educating adults within groups working towards societal change was a piece of adult learning in the 1980’s and is still focused on today. The fight against illiteracy is where the greatest impact to adult education was made during the 1980’s.

 

National Geographic Society. (2013, April 4). The ’80s: The Decade that Made Us. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/80s-decade-made-us/

History.com Editors. (2019, June 7). The 1980’s. HISTOR https://www.history.com/topics/1980’s/1980’s

Interview: “Teaching AIDS” in the early 1980’s. (2020, July 23). National Museum of American History. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2011/05/interview-teaching-aids-in-the-early-1980’s.html

Chang, B. (2013). "Shift of Adult Education Research," Adult Education Research Conference. https://newprairiepress.org/aerc/2013/papers/10

Rocco, T. S., Smith, C. M., Mizzi, R. C., Merriweather, L. R., & Hawley, J. D. (2020). The Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education (2020th ed.). Stylus Publishing.

Rohter, L. (1986, April 13). THE SCOURGE OF ADULT ILLITERACY. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/13/education/the-scourge-of-adult-illiteracy.html

Lawson, K. (2015). The Trainer’s Handbook (4th ed.). Wiley.

U.S. Department of Education:  Office of Vocational and Adult Education. (2013).  An American

Heritage—Federal Adult Education: A Legislative History 1964-2013. 

http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/Adult_Ed_History_Report.pdf