1939: Adult Education

The number of persons taking part in adult education in the United States decreased somewhat during 1939 because of the sharp curtailment of funds for educational purposes by the Works Progress Administration. Both general adult education activities and workers' education programs carried on under the auspices of the WPA suffered sharp reductions in teachings and administrative personnel and a resultant discontinuance of many classes. In consequence, public evening schools, libraries, museums, settlement houses, and special schools for adults have reported an increased use of their resources. There is evidence that the private voluntary adult education agencies may carry even heavier loads in the future. A bill to provide Federal support of adult education failed to pass Congress in 1939.

That there is a decided growth of local interest in adult education is proved by the number of adult education councils now in existence. Nearly sixty regional and local councils have been formed in all parts of the United States by adult education agencies for the purposes of avoiding duplication of effort on the part of member agencies and of forwarding adult education in their particular areas. Many of these organizations serve as clearing houses of information about local activities. Some of them have surveyed community educational activities conducted for the benefit of adults and given publicity to their findings.

Adult educators during the year have been alive to the dangers that beset democracy and have intensified their efforts to make available forums and discussion groups where citizens may discuss today's problems in democratic fashion. Books and pamphlets, especially written to set forth the principles of democratic living in a manner that can be understood by the average citizen, have also been the subject of their attention. The first volumes in The Peoples Library, representing one of the early major attempts of this nature, were issued this year.

Adult education programs in Europe have been suspended, in most countries, because of the war. In England, however, the British Institute of Adult Education has served as consultant for many of the social organizations that are continuing their programs on a wartime basis. In cooperation with the American Association for Adult Education, the Institute is participating in an international study of radio listening groups. In Canada, adult education efforts continue to go forward. Members of the Canadian Association for Adult Education were the guests of the American Association at its annual meeting held at Niagara Falls, Canada.

The American Association for Adult Education continued the publication of its series on the social significance of adult education in 1939 but announced that, during the coming year, there would be a shift in emphasis in its program from study and evaluation of adult education to experimentation, demonstration, and research.