EDAC 631
Adult Community Education
Molly McCabe
Group 3 – Spring 2024
Ball State Univsersity
Your Name | Commented On |
Molly McCabe | Jaici Wright Cassidy Forbing |
Introduction
The 1980s welcomed a major expansion in the world of both social and technological advancement following the vietnam war (1955-1975). Cable television, although created in the 1970s, became standard in most American households during the 1980’s. The product that introduced an immense amount of change was the personal computer. Apple introduced their first computer in 1977 and gave adults the opportunity to work on their personal finances, word-processing, and business tasks (payroll, mailing lists, and inventory) all from home or at the office. As the social climate and world of technology expanded, priorities in education shifted during the 1980’s (Ravitch). During this time, immigration reached record breaking numbers, religious practices in the classroom posed a great deal of controversy, countless historical TV shows and movies were coming out such as Friday the 13th, Indiana Jones, Beverly Hills cop, and many more, and the demand for proficient literate adults were high given the latest advancements and diverisifed new country.
Another important social construct of the 1980s were the growing careers for women. During this time, more and more women were choosing to pursue professional careers over the more traditional route of settling down and creating a family (Reading Through History). Both prices and income rose during the 1980s, putting an even higher demand on creating accessible continuing adult education opportunities. Two of the most significant events the was coming to rise in the 1980s was the wr on drugs and the adult literacy crisis, motivating members of government at both the national and state level for reform.
Highlights
During the 80s there was an exceptional push for improvement in adult education due to the increasing poor performance of students in almost every subject area. Poor educational performance could have been attributed to the various shifts in society during this time, however the war on drugs during president Regan’s presidency could argue to be one of the most influential factors contributing to poor education outcomes and worth noting. In the early 80s, cocaine (crack) was first created and sold for cheap. The crack epidemic not only contributed to poor education outcomes, but an increase in crime rates as well. After the Anti-Drug Abuse Act was put into action in 1986, President Regean’s wife Nancy launched the “Just Say No”campaign in an effort to encourage children to reject experimental drug use (History). This campaign lead to anti-drug lessons in the classroom that have been kept in practice to the present day such as the D.A.R.E program.
The literacy crisis in may of 1986 was established after researchers found that approximately 1 in every 8 Americans were illiterate from a census study. The bureau of the Census administered a basic literacy test to 3400 randomly selected citizens aged 20 years and over. About 13% failed the literacy test and 20% who were offered to take the test refused due to fear of failure. The study explained that the majority of non readers were between the ages of 20-50 years old and many held high school diplomas. During this time, more and more non-reading adults found a way to bluff their way though daily activities through memorization strategies and relying on familiarity (US department of Education, 2013). The reports surrounding this ongoing phenomenon were shocking to most and therein lies the literacy crisis. In his report, Varnum wrote that there are multiple reasons as to why literacy level may be low and in the case of the 1980. It was clear that standards had declined or in more accurate terms, expectations had increased and our education system was not leveling up with technology and advancement of the culture (Varnum 1986). Technology was advancing, increasing demand for literate adults. Immigration was ramping up, and the population was becoming more and more diverse with forgeiners entering the americn workforce.
In 1988, an article written by Zita Arocha on immigration status explained that immigration in the 1980s in the US had been expected to reach an all time high in US history. Almost 9 million immigrants reached America having no previous education and came to the country, basically unskilled and could not speak the English language, putting a big emphasis on the need adult education opportunities. David Simcox, the executive director of the center for immigration studies in 1988, stated that, “the immigrants are leading us towards a less standardized society and making us make adjustments in our cultural and language practices,” indicating that local educational resources may not have been ready to handle this many new learners. It was time for a major change and shift in the style in which we educate adults. Immigrants brought new ideas, new experiences and a new perspective. Americans had just as much to learn from the immigrants that they had to learn from Americans so that they could assimilate to the American culture. Another individual named Thomas Espenshade, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, claimed that immigrants may bring more advantages than disadvantages by “satisfying the demand for labor and adding variety to the culture,” explaining that immigrants, although different, can be impactful.
Influential Factors
In 1979 the Department of Education Organization Act was signed into law during the Carter presidency. This act provided for a department of education separate from the federal government, which still stands to the present day. This act served to strengthen the federal government’s commitment to giving equal opportunity to be educated for every American, support education on the state and local level, promote federally funded research opportunities, the improve federally funded educational activities, and to overall increase the accountability of federal education programs to the congress, the public, and the president (Congress 1979). This act encouraged the public and parents to get involved in their education and programs and prohibit the federal government from holding control over education.
In 1980, the Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) was created under the Secretary Shirley Hufstedler which served as the department in which programs are created and put in place for adults to acquire basic skills including reading, writing, english language, problem solving, and math. These services are provided to workers, family members, and citizens (US department of Education, 2013). When the DAEL had been established, adult education state grants were increased from $31 million (1968) to $81 million in 1978. Between 1977-1980, grants increased in increments of 10 million each year and in turn increased adult education enrollment to total about 11 million participants. During this decade, with it being the first decade of the Adult Education Act, there was an impactful push at the state and local levels to establish constructive learning environments and educational reform. Due to new federal legislation, state programs had expanded to community schools and institutionalized adults, and provided bilingual adult education and special projects for the elderly (US department of education).
Military special services schools were established prior to 1980, however it is important to note that during this time, by 1980, an expanded network of schools provided training for military individuals postindustrial military force.
In 1981, grants to states totaled an all time high of $122.6 million, and the federal appropriation to the US department of Education for adult immigrants and refugees as well as $17.6 million for educational services for Haitian and Cuban adults. In 1982, president Regean pushed for the decrease in the federal government’s educational involvement with the intention of giving more power to the state and local education initiatives. In 1983, the Adult Literacy Initiative was announced, of which its purpose was to raise awareness of adult education by conducting a series of conferences and national meetings. The intention was to increase the funding and establish a national literacy project that would identify model literacy programs.
By late 1984, despite the influx in grant money, the Unied States had been criticized in their education outcomes which then motivated educators to upgrade their high school diploma standards. At least 40 US state upgraded their diploma requirements during which time the American Council on Education reported through its GED testing, they had issued 450,000 GED credentials. Between 1985-1986 there was an exceptional amount of reports critical of higher education programs, federal cuts in college student loans, and teacher education reform in the US. Per the literacy crisis in 1986, congress decided to issue grants amounting to $421 million in the state grant funds for adult basic education in fiscal years 1985-1988. From this grant increase, states, the District of Columbia and six outlying areas served 11.6 billion adults in the ABE instructional levels (adult basic education). Throughout his two terms, President Regean enabled the continuation of the Adult literacy Act by signing two long-term continuing resolutions (1986-87).
Implications
The 1980s was the decade of advancement and expansion in terms of pop culture and adult education. The history of adult education during the 1980s has paved the way in practicing educational accountability. Through the expansion of adult education through increased funding for a plethora of programs, an increase in immigration population and the literacy crisis, Americans put education first, but only when the country had hit an all time low. Instead of leaving things how they were, President Regean made it his priority to pour money and resources into the local and state educational levels with the intetion for maximum improvement. The surplus of immigrants forced the US to prioritize adult education so that they could have workers acquire the necessary skills for completing their jobs. Instead of turning others away, the United States gave immigrants an opportunity to assimilate and learn.
Creating a population who could read was, and continues to be extremely important and the backbone of the country’s success. Citizens who can contribute to society in the most impactfull way they are able, will make the country stronger. The literacy crisis of 1986 serves as a perfect example of hitting rockbottom of education, but making change and educational reform one of the country’s top priorities. This decade should serve as an example for the ups and downs of society and how we can chose to react to adversity as we continue to improve our countries literacy and expand opportunities for life long learning.
Areas | Summary |
Social Background | Advancements in technology, popculture, drugs, and immigration |
Highlights | Drug crisis Anti-Drug Abuse Act The Literacy Crisis Record breaking immigrantion statistics |
Influential Factors | The Department of Education Organization act (1979) The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (1980) – Shirley Hufstedler Military special services Grant increase (1981) – President Ronald Regean The Adult Literacy Initiative (1983) The Adult Literacy Act (1986-87) – President Ronald Regean |
Implications | Resilience of the United States education against the adult literacy crisis Moving forward with the momentum from Regean’s presidency |
Resources
Arocha, Z. (1988, July 23). 1980s Expected to Set Mark as Top Immigration Decade. The Washington
Encyclopedia.com. (2019, February). The 1980s Education: Overview. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/culture-magazines/1980s-education-overview#:~:text=Evidence%20was%20clear%20that%20students,act%20to%20solve%20the%20problem
History.com Editors. (2018, August 21). Just Say No. HISTORY.
https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/just-say-no
Ravich, D. (1990, January 10). Education in the 1980’s: A Concern for ‘Quality’. Education Week.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1990/01/10/09200009.h09.html
Reading Through History. (2017, November 20). Daily life and popular culture in the 1980s. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbEYi3_LwM
Robin Varnum (1986) From crisis to crisis: The evolution toward higher standards of literacy in the United States, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 16:3, 145-165, DOI: 10.1080/02773948609390746
Sticht , T. G. (2005). The Rise of the Adult Education and Literacy System in the United States: 1600-2000. National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02773948609390746
United States Copyright Office . (1979, March 1). S.510 - Department of Education Organization Act. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/senate-bill/1946
US Department of Education. (2023, November 16). Adult Education and literacy homepage. Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education . https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/index.html
Hi Molly! I enjoyed reading through your discussion over adult education in the 1980s. I found it especially interesting to see the growth of adult education over the decade, and how that growth redoubled following the literacy crisis.
ReplyDelete