Adult Education in the 70’s
Claudia Blankenship
Department of Education: Ball State University
EDAC 631
Dr. Bo Chang
February 5, 2023
Your Name | Commented On |
Claudia Blankenship | Mona Patterson |
Adult Education in the 70s
Introduction
The 1970s has many of the same ongoing issues that happen in the 1960s (History.com Editors, 2023). People who fell into the minority groups, such as gays and African Americans, continued to fight for equality. At the same time, many other Americans began to join the protest on the Vietnam war (History.com Editors, 2023). At the start of the 70s, Richard Nixon was president. While in office, Nixon proposed changes in welfare programs, civil rights, and the environment (History.com Editors, 2023). In 1971 Nixon attempted to minimalize inflation by devaluing the dollar, upcharges on important and controls on hourly wages (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). This tactic worked for a year, however by 1974 wage and price control was raised and inflation grew by 12.2 percent (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). 1972 Nixon signed a formal agreement with the Soviet Union known as SALT 1, Which was a nuclear weapons agreement (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). Nixon's time as president ended in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). This Watergate scandal caused people to start to turn from politics (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023).
Other powerful politicians, such as Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, played an essential role in the 1970s as the United States saw a shift in politics to the "so-called sunbelt states" (Schulman,2001, p.4). This region was referred to as "warmer and more business-friendly" (Schulman,2001,p.6).
Ready-to-wear clothes became accessible and synthetic fibers allowed clothing to be bought at various price points (Reddy, 2020). The seventies fashion was influenced by the 1960s "hippie style," materials and handmade decorations became part of the high-end fashion styles of the 1970s (Reddy,2020,p.3). (Reddy,2020), States that "A pervasive style of the early 1970s was the prairie dress. Midi-length with flounces and delicate floral patterns, these dresses were popularized by designers and retailers like Gunne Sax and Bill Gibb." Fig 1 shows a 70's fashion that shows the homemade style fashion, embroiderers, and synthetic polyester fabric. This style was featured in the seventeen magazines of 1970 (Reddy,2020).
Fig. 1 - Vicky Vaughn. Red & White Folklore Dressing, December 1970. Classic Film. Published in Seventeen magazines, December 1970, Vol. 29 No. 12. Source: Flickr
Jerry Hall and Jane Birkin were influential models of the 70s (History.com Editors, 2023). Fashion styles during this time, according to (History.com Editors, 2023), were "Bell bottom pants, flowing maxi dresses, ponchos, and frayed jeans."
Music was an influential part of the 1970s as people began to turn away from politics (1970s Music: History, Pictures & Artists, n.d).
Vinyl records were a go-to for everyone as they were affordable during this time (1970s Music: History, Pictures & Artists, n.d). The 70s saw a mix of genres in this era (1970s Music: History, Pictures & Artists, n.d), stating "Funk, Soul, R&B, Pop, Hard Rock, Soft Rock, and Disco all carved out their place in the music world in the 1970s. The late 70s also witness the birth of another young music style: hip-hop" (1970s Music: History, Pictures & Artists, n.d).
People in the 70s also engaged in things such as "wife-swapping parties" and smoking weed (History.com Editors, 2023, p.5). Things such as handcrafts, racquetball, and yoga became famous while the idea of "do as they please" grew in the younger generation. They began to engage in activities like sex and drugs (History.com Editors, 2023, p.6).
Education improved the economic situation of the lower class and unemployed people in the United States (Rose, 1991). Like politics, fashion, and movements, adult education continued from the 60s. The Adult Basic Education program was initially passed in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act and then renewed in 1966 (Rose,1991). In the 1970s, changes were made to this act, the definition from adults to anyone who was 16 years or older and had not received secondary education (Rose,1991). According to (Rose, 1991), other changes are also included.
"Creation of the National Advisory Council on Adult Education
Allocation of 15 percent of state funds for special projects or training, effectively ending federal discretionary funding
Emphasis by the USOE on section 309 projects, the only aspect allowing direct federal intervention
Shift away from concern with grade level to functional literacy, influenced by the Adult Performance Level project."
In 1978 the Education Amendments had adult education and secondary programs created in all 50 states (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). Funding was made available to ensure that all programs had trained and qualified educators and a curriculum appropriate for adult learners (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). (U.S. Department of Education, 2013), states that "programs of outreach for those most in need of instruction in basic skills; assist these potential students, such as flexible schedules, transportation, and assistance with child care."
In 1974 changes were made to the ESEA that would now include Education for the disabled and institutionalized adults (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). During this 1974 period, a change in office increased federal aid for adult education programs (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). More changes were to come in 1978 again with a change in office. These changes would include an emphasis on research, demonstration activities, and special programs for adult immigrants (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). President carter also pushed for an increase in funds for adult education. Between 1977 through 1980, state grants increased by $10 million, and by 1975 enrollments in adult education programs would reach over 1 million students (U.S. Department of Education, 2013).
According to (Coalition of Adult Education Organizations, n.d), The Coalition of Adult Education Organizations (CAEO) was created to serve three purposes "1) to provide a forum for the discussion of issues, 2) to encourage cooperation within the field, and 3) to gain greater support from both the government and the general public." CAEO has impacted adult education at the federal level and promoted support for continuing Education.
Malcolm Knowles was another influential person in Adult education. During this time, he used Andragogy to describe adult education (Christopher Pappas, 2013). Knowles also had four assumptions about adult learners; according to (Christopher Pappas, 2013), the following
"Self-Concept
As a person matures, his/her self concept moves from one of being a dependent personality toward one of being a self-directed human being.
Adult Learner Experience
As a person matures he/she accumulates a growing reservoir of experience that becomes an increasing resource for learning.
Readiness to Learn
As a person matures his/her readiness to learn becomes oriented increasingly to the developmental tasks of his/her social roles.
Orientation to Learning
As a person matures his/her time perspective changes from one of postponed application of knowledge to immediacy of application. As a result his/her orientation toward learning shifts from one of subject- centeredness to one of problem centeredness."
Based on the research from the 1970s, there are many lessons and ideas to be learned about this period. This period was a rebellious time for young people as they began to turn away from politics. The 1970s brought many new amendments that continue improving and growing adult education. However, some negative things were happening. The government, along with community programs, saw a need for change and worked to bring some changes, such as funding or programs to the change in age requirements.
Areas | Summary |
Social background | A rebel against politics and a push to do what they wanted |
Highlights | Amendments changes for adult education |
Influential factors/people | CAEO and Malcolm Knowles |
Implications | The government seen a need and worked to change it |
References
1970-1979. Fashion History Timeline. (2019, October 3). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1970-1979/
The 1970s - history. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.history.com/topics/1970s/1970s-1
20, N. M., 19, amos.edwards N., 26, D. A., 12, D. J., 22, D. A. J., 17, pete A., 26, J. wagner N., 26, T. A., 25, H. S., 4, S. H. F., & 26, H. S. D. (n.d.). 1970s music: History, pictures & artists. RetroWaste. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.retrowaste.com/1970s/music-in-the-1970s/
An american heritage: A federal adult education legislative history. LINCS. (2017, May 10). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-719
Collection inventory. Coalition of Adult Education Organizations (CAEO) Records An inventory of its records at Syracuse University. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/guides/c/caeo.htm
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Election of 1960. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Nixon/Election-of-1960
Haugen, C. S. (2010, January 20). Adult learners and the environment in the last century: An historical analysis of environmental adult education literature. Electronic Green Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8kw8q39h
Pappas, C. (2021, May 12). The adult learning theory - andragogy - of Malcolm Knowles. eLearning Industry. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://elearningindustry.com/the-adult-learning-theory-andragogy-of-malcolm-knowles
Rose, A. D. (1991). Ends or means: An overview of the history of the Adult Education Act. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, Center on Education and Training for Employment, Ohio State University.
Vlasits, S. (2022, October 27). The Seventies: The great shift in American culture, society, and politics by Bruce J. Schulman (2001). Not Even Past. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://notevenpast.org/seventies-great-shift-american-culture-society-and-politics-2001/
Hey Claudia! I am really glad you chose to write about the 70's, because I wrote about the 60's. It's really interesting to read about how the events I wrote about continued on into the 70's. I agree with Abigail, and thought it was really interesting that you included fashion trends in the 70's. Fashion affects everyone, because we all have to wear clothes, but I had never considered how it would effect adult education. In my paper, I wrote about how in the late 60's young adults propelled the Free Speech Movement that was a big driving factor for women gaining more freedoms in college and other higher ed settings, which would include more lax dress codes. Reflecting on how that effects education today is very interesting, because at least in high school, I can't count the number of times my friends and I were 'dress coded' and how that effected our educational experience moving forward. What an interesting perspective!
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