Book Description

Throughout the United States today schools and community colleges are putting greater emphasis than ever before upon adult education. Obvious reasons for this include the manpower demands of national defense, the spreading desire for educational upgrading, and the impact of technological change upon the daily lives of millions of workers. For each individual, and consequently for the expanding productive strength of the Nation, continuing education voluntarily during the years of maturity has become a vital necessity. Fortunately school and community college leaders have not hesitated to recognize their responsibility for extending to the entire community at all ages opportunities to learn. Their chief problem in developing sound programs of adult education is frequently a financial one. How can the costs of adequate instructional opportunities be met? There is no easy answer; there is no common pattern. In thousands of places, however, good programs of continuing education for adults are being initiated or expanded. Ways are being found to pay the bill. The present list of case studies shows how the job is done in 45 communities in 19 States. Since this report is a "status study" showing current practice, it does not evaluate the various plans. Every State--indeed every school district--has its own plan. A much more analytical study than this would be required to determine best practice. It was found that in most of the 45 public schools and community colleges studied, the principle of free public education for adults has widespread acceptance. In a majority of these cases, taxes bear over 90 percent of the costs, with State and local taxes carrying the burden of support. It is hoped that the information presented in this bulletin will point the way for many more communities to expand their support of adult education. (Contains 3 tables and 1 footnote.) [Best copy available has been provided.].