History of Adult Education : Modes and Methods of Delivery By David Agnew Arkansas State University.

History of Adult Education:

Modes and Methods of Delivery

By David Agnew

Arkansas State University

First an overview of the content of this presentation

• Major events in American education

• Movements related to adult education

• Malcom Knowles the father of modern adult education

• Legislation related to adult education

Major Movements

• Junto • Lyceum • Chautauqua • Farmers Institutes • GI Bill • Adult Education Act

• Night and Evening School

• Correspondence courses

• Extension Service• Smith Hughes Act

Major Legislation Associated with Adult Ed

• Smith Lever Act -- 1914

• Smith Hughes Act -- 1917

• National Adult Education Act -- 1964

• Perkins Act(s) – 1984, 1990, 1998– Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical

Education Act of 1998

• Workforce Investment Act of 1998

The Father of Modern Adult Education

• Malcolm Knowles: Apostle of Andragogy

• Made popular the term Andragogy

An Overview

• The History of Adult Education is too extensive to include in any one slide presentation….

• I have tried to contain the information within this presentation which is most relative or important.

• Also I have provided many links to sites that are related but it is not required that you go to those sites. But if you find any of the information interesting you can link to these sites to satisfy your interest.

The long and varied history of adult education

• To study methods of adult education we can take a look back in time to see what ideas or approaches have worked….and which ones are still being used.

• Some modes or methods change, some do not.• Technology has impacted the media and the

methods as we will see.• Many other variables have also impacted the

delivery of adult instruction.

Where to start ?

• There is some confusion as to when we should start the study of adult education, but for our purposes we will start it in the 1700s in Europe.

• The first notable movement was initiated by a George Berkbeck in what became to be known as Mechanics Institutes

Mechanics Institutes

• Kelly, Thomas: George Birkbeck, Pioneer of Adult Education ; Liverpool, 1957.

• Mechanics Institutes started in the 1700s continued until and even into the early 1900s.

Squanto– first Adult Educator –early 1600s

• Many of us learned in grade school the story of how Squanto helped the pilgrims survive in the new world.

• Some references call Squanto the first adult educator in America – The story most remembered

is how he taught the pilgrims to put a fish in the ground when they planted corn.

The Junto -1727

• The Junto was organized by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia • A group Franklin’s friends became members of the Junto and it

operated much as a subscription library but they had meetings and members would report on books they read and have debates.

• This is considered to be the forerunner of the American library system.

• The Junto was revived in the 1950s and operated for about 20 years. The link here and on the course webpage takes you to Temple University where the papers of the revived Junto or archived and it gives a brief history of the early and later Junto.The first portion of the following link is to Ben Franklin’s own writings about the Junto….

Off-shoots of the Junto

• The American Philosophical Society

• Franklin Institute -1824

• The University of Pennsylvania

• Franklin and the Philadelphia Library --1731

Agricultural Societies and Fairs Middle 1700s

• Franklin was also instrumental in the formation of agricultural societies which brought farmers together to show off their livestock and crops and promoted the exchange of information at meetings and in fairs.

The Lyceum MovementBegan in the U.S. In 1826

• Lyceums were groups of people who would come together to share their knowledge; to teach and learn from one another. Members were interested not only in their own self-improvement, but also in advancing the cause of public instruction. This movement helped to:– Spawn the idea of an integrated national system of local

groups organized mainly for AE – Develop the lecture-forum as an educational technique – Promote home study which foreshadowed

correspondence courses– Lead to the formation of speaker bureaus

ORIGINS OF THE WORD "LYCEUM"

• 336 BC --The Greek philosopher Aristotle, pupil of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, established a school which became known as the Lyceum. Its buildings and covered colonnade were located outside Athens in a grove sacred to the Greek god, Apollo Lyceius. Here students could study and converse with great scholars as they strolled along the peripatos (walkway).

Overview of Lyceum Movement

• The American Lyceum grew from the use of local talent and expertise to the use of traveling scholars who presented lectures throughout the U.S. The movement, which began in England, was an effort to spread popular learning among adults who were interested in improving their minds. The father of the movement in the United States was Josiah Holbrook who founded the first Lyceum in Millbury, Massachusetts in 1826. Within six years, there were more than three thousand in America.

1835 Schenectady NY Lyceum

• The building was built by Giles F. Yates as part of a permanent academy of learning.

1859 Broadside, Lectures, Kingston NH Lyceum

• A course of lectures to be presented to the Kingston Lyceum at the Town Hall in Kingston New Hampshire. The series consisted of twelve lectures, the first being a Poem delivered by B.P. Shillaber Esq. of Boston. Other named lecturers include Geo. W. Stevens Esq., of Dover; Reve O. T. Lamphear, of Exeter; Rev. I.S. Kallock, of Boston; Prof. D. L. Macurdy, of Penbroke; Rev. J.A.M. Macurdy, of Pembroke; and Hon. Geo. M. Herring, of Farmington. The Hall will be opened at 6 1-4 o'clock on each evening, and the lectures will commence at 7 1-2. Should the weather on any of the evenings appointed prove very unfavorable, the lecture will be omitted. Most lectures will be free with the exception of two for which an admission fee of ten cents will be charged. C.H. DeRochmemont is president and Thos. W. Knox is Cor. Sec'y of the Kingston Lyceum. measures 9" x 15".

Lyceum Hall at theUniversity of Mississippi

Oxford -- Ole Miss

Marblehead,MA School Exhibition

1867/Lyceum

• Broadside of School Exhibition at Lyceum Hall, Marblehead (Mass.) Friday Evening, Feb.1,1867. Musical director Thos. Breare; Pianist, Miss Lefavor. Dialogues and Tableaux listed. " Doors open at 6 1/2. Exercises to commence at 7 1/2. Tickets 25 cents."

Lyceums Today

• A few Lyceums still exist today• Programs today are mostly for entertainment• Many of the old buildings are now historical

landmarks like the one in Alexandria VirginiaThere is also a Lyceum Hall on the grounds of Ole Miss in Oxford Mississippi.

• Some public school programs were also referred to as lyceums in the early 1900s.

• The movement begin to die in the mid to late 1920s.

Historical look at Apprenticeship Programs

What is an Apprenticeship?

• Form of instruction in which a novice learns from a master of a craft or art

• Purpose was to provide a type of education in exchange for work.

• Oldest Type of Vo Ed.• Involved a formal binding agreement that

required the employer to provide formal training in return for work

Apprenticeship

• Until the late 19th century apprenticeship was the only means for people to acquire skills for most occupations.

• Used in Vocational areas as well as Medicine and Law.

• The Industrial revolution helped to bring this method almost to a complete stop by the mid to late 1800s.

National Apprenticeship Acthonored with a stamp--1962

Apprenticeships continue today:

– Adult – Youth– State Level– National Level– Most every night of the week you can go to

Delta Technical Institute here in Jonesboro and find apprenticeship classes being conducted in electricity, plumbing, etc…..

Land Grant Act

• 1862 1st Morrill Act.– Justin Morrill from Vermont– 30,000/ Acres Legislative Representatives– Money went to form a land grant college in

every state.

• 1890 2nd Morrill Act -- for Blacks

• 1995 3rd Morrill Act -- Native Americans

History of the Chautauqua Movement

Phases of Development

• Central Location-- Chautauqua NY

• Tent Chautauquas

• Permanent Chautauqua's

• Chautauqua's today

Chautauqua N.Y.The Bell Tower—a common picture

Chautauqua Movement--1874

• The Chautauqua is founded at Chautauqua Lake in New York as a normal school for Sunday school teachers. By 1878 they had added the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle--a 4-year program of home reading done in connection with local reading groups. This was the first integrated core program in adult education on a national scale. The organization has expanded over the years adding schools, lecture series, and extracurricular activities. Chautauqua developed new forms of adult education such as correspondence courses, summer schools, university extension, and book clubs.

Bishop John H. Vincent, Chancellor Emeritus of Chautauqua Institution -- FOUNDER

'SELF-IMPROVEMENT in all faculties, for all of us, through all time. For the greatest good of all people - this is the Chautauqua idea, a divine idea , a democratic idea , a progressive idea, a millennial idea.'"

Vincent wrote,

• "Education, once the peculiar privilege of the few, must in our best earthly state become the valued possession of the many."

Chautauqua at Various Stages

• 1874 founding at lake Chautauqua NY• 1878 Literary and Scientific Circles• 1883-1891 Correspondence courses • 1900s Mobile Chautauqua (trains and Trucks)• 1900s Permanent local Chautauqua

– Local communities built parks and buildings for the summer programs

• 1930s they began to die • There is still a Chautauqua Institute and there are some

active Chautauquas in the US.

Outgrowth of the movement

• Publishing house or press

• Reading circles

• Correspondence courses

• Tent Chautauquas

• Permanent Community Chautauquas

1883-84 course work required for the Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Circle

• Devotees wrote Vincent to learn what books they should read during the long winters. In response, Vincent developed a four-year home study course, known as the Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Circle, and within ten years, more than 100,000 people were enrolled. It is now the oldest continuous book club in the United States. In an age when few colleges or universities accepted women, and opportunities for higher education for married women and businessmen were almost nonexistent, Vincent's correspondence course filled a deep need.

EASY LESSONS in VEGETABLE

BIOLOGY or OUTLINES OF PLANT LIFE

by Rev. J.H. Wythe, M.D.

1883 Phillips & Hunt, Pub. --prepared for students of Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle and for

schools

Chautauqua Stamp

• The Chautauqua movement was honored in the 1960s with the development of a postage stamp. The icon of the movement was the tent.

Tents were the hotel rooms of the day

Famous speakers traveled the Chautauqua circuit

Postcard of William Jenning Byran• "The back is printed "Come to

Hear, W. J. Bryan, at Chautauqua, Le Mars, Iowa, Saturday, July 8, At 7:30 P.M., A characteristic Bryan address on questions of big public concern". probably dates to 1916.

• Jennings Bryan spoke on its platforms for thirty years.

Theodore Roosevelt Said of Chautauqua that it was

• "the most American thing in America.“

CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAM; CONWAY ARKANSAS; 1929

• BROADWAY 1929. LATEST PLAY HITS: "WHITE COLLARS"; LUCILE ELMORE--MARIMBA BAND. CAPIVATING MUSIC: THE LOMBARDS; THE MASSEYS OF NEW MEXICO; FIECHTL'S YODELING TYROLEANS. ENTERTAINING SPEAKERS: HON. CHARLES H POOLE OF NEW ZEALAND; JUDGE FRED G BALE

Home Study CoursesHome Study Circles

Correspondence Courses

• These concepts are similar yet have unique differences

• These are different from night school in that they are done alone at home. Home study circles were an exception in that they might involve some friends coming together.

• We will review these three together

Night Schools and Home Study

• These two concepts developed about the same time period.

• Both were important adult education movements but are not as clearly defined as the Lyceum or other movements.

• Home Study in a more formal sense became Correspondence Courses

• First we will look at Night schools

Night School

• Definition…. School after sun set, involves a group.

• History and overview– Not just for adults

– Began in the early 1800s however the idea really grew in popularity after electricity became common in 1880s in many large cities.

– Was mostly for the poor in society.

– Those attending were usually working during the day.

– Usually taught basics

Night School, History and Overview Continued

– Became way for the working class to advance or improve their quality of life.

– Cost less than correspondence schools since books were not required in many cases.

– Later they became vocational in nature– Many larger cities had a night school

committee– Some early night schools were free, more and

more were free as funded public education grew.

John Summerfield –1810Early Night School Teacher in England

• In the year 1810, he opened a night-school. Among the pupils who presented themselves were young men nearly twice his own age. The school continued in successful operation until the removal of the teacher to Liverpool, in the following year.

New York City,

Scene At A Night-School: The Perplexed Pupils

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper-- October, 1875Note the variations in age

Many Important People Learned at Night School

Example

Herbert Hoover worked a land settlement business as an office boy and attended night school (1880s). Then, at 17, Hoover entered Stanford University as a special student.

The PRISON SCHOOL AT SING SING,

EDUCATION, 1884

Even prisons had night school.

Wood engraving from Harper's Weekly 1929

Night School as a setting for Popular Radio and TV Shows

• Radio shows of the 1940s– Fibber McGee and Molly– Irma

• Sit. Coms of the 1960s and 70s– Good Times– All in the Family– Laverne and Shirley– I love Lucy– Life of Riley – Dick Van Dyke

Night Schools…. Now………

• The term night school has faded but he concept is still around. While it could apply to youth and adults the fact that most work for hire is done during the day reflects the reason adults were mostly in attendance.

• Night as a time for study or school will always be common since it is the only time many people can find the time.

Home Study Circles and Courses

• Perhaps the only differences in circles and courses is the level of structure of the experience which led to a more concrete outcome in course. Circles were often social as well as educational and did in some cases involve people coming together in homes, where courses were almost strictly on your own.

• This model for delivery seemed to develop in the early 1800s in Europe. In Sweden in 1833 there was an advertisement to enroll in a course at home in composition.

Home Study Circles and Courses, continued

• There was a Society to Encourage Study at Home founded in 1874 that over a 24 year time period was said to have over 10,00 learners enrolled. Their primary focus was classical studies.

• Study circles or sometimes called literary circles seems to include more traditional classical studies, history and literature. Courses covered many topics, from agriculture to religion.

Home Study Circles and Courses, continued

• Home study was popular because it did not require travel in a time when roads were very poor and transportation was not easy or fast.

• Home study courses were also good for people in remote areas where night schools were not possible.

• Electricity made HSCs more likely to occur in the 1880s-90s….

• Major sub-division of HSCs were credit or non-credit. A key difference of a credit and no-credit HSC is the source of the course. Mostly colleges/universities offered credit HSCs.

Home Study Circles and Courses, continued

• HSCs required money for book or course materials and also there was the recurring cost of mailings.

• Mostly non-credit however credit HSCs came along later (1890s) These when offered by an institution of higher learning and for credit were really what we call correspondence courses. Credit courses cost more

• Sub-divided formats began to appear where what might have been a single big book was broken down in to smaller booklets. These were sometimes mailed out after previous lessons were complete

Correspondence Courses

• The popular correspondence course idea grew out of the home study movement but was more focused on credit…. We will also see this concept discussed in a summary of the history of the Chautauqua movement.

• 1891 the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, PA becomes the first institutionalized correspondence school.

The Moveable School -- 1890s

• This was a forerunner to the extension service• Started by George Washington Carver in Alabama• Book about the movement….

– Campbell, Thomas Monroe: THE MOVEABLE SCHOOL GOES TO THE NEGRO FARMER ; Tuskegee, Alabama: Tuskegee Institute Press, 1936.

Farmer Institutes

• Late 1800 to 1920-30s• Modeled after teacher institutes and after

Chautauquas• Involved societies and universities• Connected to the extension movement• Connected with the home/farm demonstrations

that motivated the formation of CES• Died partly because of CES

The Smith Lever Act --1914 The Extension Service

• Some Texas counties started hiring agents in early 1900s to help farmers.

• Seaman Knapp, founding father – used demonstration methods

• Created the Extension Service

• Started with adult farmers but later included women and youth (4H)

The Smith Hughes Act-- 1917

• For youth AND Adults

• First Federal legislation for vocational education

• Included Ag, Home Economics, T&I and Business

• After war there was a second Vocational Act that brought vo ed to disabled vets.

WORLD WAR 1 POSTER DISABLED SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES

• "DISABLED SOLDIERS, SAILORS,

MARINES - BUSINESS NEEDS YOU START BACK TO CIVIL LIFE RIGHT UNCLE SAM WILL TRAIN YOU FREE FOR A PERMANENT JOB - PAY YOU WHILE IN TRAINING - HELP YOU GET A GOOD JOB - WRITE THE FEDERAL BOARD FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION - WASHINGTON, D.C. Poster No. 2 - Government Printing Office - 9-780. The artwork is done by GORDON GRANT,

Captain, U. S. Army

Vo-Rehab ca. 1918-1920Useful and Profitable Vocational Training for Patients

at U.S. Army Base Hospital, Camp Devens, MA.

Radio

• Radio became a means of delivering adult education in the 1930-40 in many rural communities.

Current Legislation

• Perkins Act 1998

• Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)

The End