History of Adult and Community Education-1960s 

Rhonda Jones 

Ball State University 

EDAC 631 Spring 2021 

Dr. Bo Chang 

2/14/21 

NAME	COMMENTED ON	DATE
Rhonda Jones	Keila Escobedo-Group 2      Ann Lundy-Group 3     Erika Duplok-Group 4	2/15/21  2/15/21 2/15/21

 

Introduction 

On November 14^th ,1960, Ruby Bridges walked into the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.  She became the first Africa-American student enrolled.  The Caucasian parents withdrew their children, making Ruby a class of one. (American Educational History Timeline,2021)   The unemployment rate of 1960 was the highest since the Great Depression.  Vietnam Veterans were returning home with skills or education to join the workforce.  Immigrants of Asian and Latin American descent were coming to the United States for employment opportunities.  All of these became catalysts for changes in the Adult and Community education systems of The United States.  The 1960s was a time of many changes for adult and community education for the United Stated government.   

The Civil Rights movement was a catalyst to improving the discrimination in education based on race, color, religion or national origin.(Dept. of Edu.,2013)  The movement showed there was a lack of education and opportunities to those of color or lower socio-economic communities. The government stepped in to fund and create programs to help overcome problems of desegregation 

With the unemployment rate being lowest since the The Great Depression, the government saw a need to create programs and education to place more workers in skilled trades. The unemployment rate of 1960 was 6.6 %, with a decade average of about 4.9% between 1960-1973. (bls.gov)  There was a need to get those of low skills and education into higher paying jobs.  Continuing the dreams of President John Kennedy, President Lyndon Johnson, steered his administration towards a “War on Poverty” (Dept. of Edu.,2013).  This helped the involvement of the government in programs designed to have skilled laborers in better jobs.   

 With many Vietnam Veterans coming home without educations, skills or opportunities to enter the work force, the governments added other benefits in addition to the GI bill.  The programs included skills training, farm and home loans for new starts. (www.eds-resources.com) Not all veterans were ready for formal education, the programs helped those to enter the workforce with better skills. 

The introduction of the Immigration Act of 1965 increased the number of Asian and Latin American worker to the workforce.  The increase meant there were more adults with English as a second language.  These immigrants required an education in English and literacy.  The education for these adults would need special attention from the usual adult learners instructors were used to teaching. 

Highlights 

The 1960s saw several legislative changes to adult education and reform.  The changes brought the idea of giving adult learners the skills and opportunities to achieve better jobs and careers.  The Area Redevelopment Act of 1961, Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and others were concentrated on the low income and underserved areas of the country.  There was also legislation geared to specific areas of need in the country.  Such as, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, concentrated on the disparities of those of color, race, and religious affiliations.  The Immigration Act of 1965 allowed those from Asian and Latin American heritage come to the United States for employment opportunity.  The Veteran’s Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 was geared toward those returning from Vietnam. The country was rebuilding in many ways and needed to find a way to rebuild the citizens as well. 

With the decline in unemployment and the lack of trained employees, the need for federal aid was apparent.  On May 1, 1961 President John F. Kennedy passed the Area Redevelopment Act.  THe act was a “$451 million program in an effort to aid in alleviating the suffering in destressed areas hit by unemployment and underemployment” (jfklibrary.org) The Area Redevelopment Act set aside loan monies to give loans to small businesses, for industrial construction and construction of public facilities.  The loans were meant to increase the workforce.  The loans were sent to areas most in need of help.   

To continue on JFK’s “War on Poverty”, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Manpower Training Act into law on April 16^th, 1965. (www.eds-resources.com)  The Manpower and Training Act gave federal funding to programs to educate and training to the poor, undereducated, unemployed, and unskilled.  The Manpower and Training act “sought to aid those persons whose unemployment was caused by geographic shifts in demand labor for labor and changes in skill requirements due to technological advances.” (Dept. Of Edu.,2013)  The act was met the needs by funding the teaching of basic educational skills and career geared technical skills.   

The next legislation to focus on the unemployed, uneducated and under skilled sections of the country was the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.  The act wanted to educate any one over the age of eighteen with a deficiency in basic education, reading, writing and arithmetic.(Dept. Of Edu.,2013) Until the U.S Office of Education took over the program completely in 1966, the program was funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity.  The switch to the U.S. Office of Education was not the only amendment to the act.  In 1968 the age requirement was lowered to sixteen and older to serve those who did not finish high school. (2.ed.gov).  The Economic Opportunity Act focused on getting a basic education to those adults who had not had the opportunity to receive one in the formal education system.  A big step forward in setting up programs to help those in need. 

In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation for equal treatment of every American regardless of race. He proposed equal rights including public accommodations and voting. (ourdocuments.gov) After his assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The act allowed desegregation of businesses, schools and public places.  It also gave equal employment opportunities to those of different race.  This act also affected adult education of the time because the adult education programs also became desegregated.  Meaning each race had to have the same opportunity at education and job training.  According to www.homeofbob.com, James H. Meredith became the first African American graduate of The University of Mississippi. This was a sign we were moving in the right direction.   

With the signing of the Hart-Celler Act of 1965, the country became open to an influx of immigrants. The act, also known as the Immigration Act, stated the issue of an immigrant visa could no longer be given based on race, sex, nationality, place of birth or place of residence.(immigrationhistory.org) The Immigration Act did bring in some immigrants of high education and skill, but these immigrants also brought families along who did lack education.  Most importantly most of these immigrants needed education being English was a second language. 

The Vietnam veterans were also in need of readjusting to coming home to a country with little skills or education. College enrollment had swelled during the draft, young men were seeking student deferments.  Those who lacked the funds or education to enter college were enlisted.  In April of 1969, the most at any time of the war were enlisted. (www.eds-resources.com) A legislative solution to the return of veterans was The Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966.  The act provided educational benefits, home and farm loans, and educational counseling and placement. According to VA History in Brief, “veterans who had been on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days were entitled to one month of educational assistance for each month of service.”  This was increased to one and a half months later.  According to the Veteran Affairs statistics, 76 percent of Vietnam veterans eligible participated in the program.  Over five and a half million veterans had employment training by 1980.(VA History in Brief)   

 

Influential Factors 

The 1960s were full of political factors that influenced Adult Education.  Most of the changed that occurred in adult education were made by legislative changes.  Most of the changes were based on several big events happening during the decade.  Some of those events were The Civil RIghts Movement, the Vietnam Conflict, the influx of immigrants and the unemployment rates.    

The legislative process was highly influenced by the presidency of John F. Kennedy.  He saw an injustice for those of color.  He had a big part in starting the process towards the The Civil Rights Act of 1964.  He also saw the need to fight the “War on Poverty”. On February 6, 1962 he spoke of the need for adult education when stated the “twin tragedies of illiteracy and dependence” is passed from generation to generation.(Rose, Amy D.1991)  President Kennedy unfortunately was assassinated in November of 1963.  President Lyndon B. Johnson continued President Kennedy’s War on Poverty and Civil Rights.  President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act not long after Kennedy’s passing.   

The Vietnam Conflict utilized the draft.  For those of higher socioeconomic backgrounds, they were able to enroll in a college or university to achieve student deferment status.  This made the background of those returning from the conflict needing education and skills training.  This meant a need for training programs and education programs funded by the government.   

The Civil Rights Act gave many the opportunity for employment advancement earlier not available to them.  Those of African American descent were now in need of further education to apply for the jobs not available to them before.  The act also meant programs previously segregated to be combined and updated. 

 

 

Implications 

 

The advancements of adult education in the 1960s were fueled by legislative changes and the need for adult productivity and participation.  Adult education was put into the hands of state government to provide programs specific to the need of the area.  There was push back from some areas due to the believes of civil rights. One example, Mississippi adult education witness stated integrating adult education as a Congressional requirement would have Mississippi refuse federal money. ( Rose, Amy D. 1991)  The federal government knew the need would be different for each state.  By putting the program planning in the hands of the state, federal funding would be utilized to the best benefit of the community. 

The Area Redevelopment Act of 1961, Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, and Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 all provided much needed monies to increased skilled employees, better opportunities of the communities.  Without these legislative acts, the poor would have become poorer and the country would have folded.  Adult education was ignored and swept under the rug for several decades.  With the right leadership and people willing to take action, these acts improved conditions for all.   

The Civil Rights Act, The Immigration Act and The Veterans Readjustment Benefits Acts provided opportunities for specific areas of the underserved.  Without these acts the country would have been separated from itself.  It took the intervention of the federal government to help the states create programs specific to the needs.

 

 

AREA	SUMMARY
Social   Background	·         Lowest unemployment rates since The Great Depression  ·         Vietnam veterans returning home and returning to the workforce  ·         The Civil Rights Movement opening eyes to disparities of race, sex and religion.  ·         The influx of immigrants with English as a second language
Highlights	·         The Area Redevelopment Act of 1961, Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, Economic Opportunity Act of 1964  ·         The Veteran’s Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966  ·         The Civil Rights Act of 1964  ·         The Immigration Act of 196
Influential  factors	·         United State Presidents- John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson  ·         Legislation funding Adult Education  ·         Social events: The Civil Rights Movement, The Vietnam Conflict, Immigration and unemployment
Implications	·         When the Federal government funds education programs ran by the State government, more learners can be served.  The states can set up programs to match the needs of the communities.  ·         Adult Education has to be molded to the need, whether veterans returning home from war, the underprivileged of the community, or those seeking new opportunities in a new nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

 

 

John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Legislative Summary. Retrieved from  

https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/legislative-summary/economy-finance 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

https://www.bls.gov/ 

Federal Adult Education A Legislative History  1964–2013 U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education November 2013. Retrieved from 

https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/Adult_Ed_History_Report.pdf 

American Educational History: A Hypertext Timeline last updated 1/18/21. Retrieved from  

http://www.eds-resources.com/educationhistorytimeline.html 

 

History of The Adult Education Act: an overview. Retrieved from 

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/anniv40/silver-a.pdf 

 

American Education Timeline of Significant People & Events. Retrieved from  

http://www.homeofbob.com/pedagogy/timeline.html 

 

Civil Rights Act 1964. retrieved from 

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=97 

 

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act) 

https://immigrationhistory.org/item/hart-celler-act/ 

 

Department of Veteran Affairs: VA History in Brief 

https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/archives/docs/history_in_brief.pdf