Adult Education in Canada and the United States: Now and Throughout History
Adult education has grown and changed throughout the years in both Canada and the United States; however, the specifics of the system, programs, and advancements in these two countries have not been the same. Both Canada and the United States have reached a great point in their adult education programs, but improvement is always welcomed, as there have been developments throughout existence. The history of adult education dates back as long as the countries do and has evolved an unimaginable amount.
The start of adult education programs can be traced back as far as the 1700s in the United States and the 1600s in Canada (Sticht “Rise...,” 2007; “Chronology,” 2004). During the Colonial and National periods in the United States, a large portion of adult education involved apprenticeships for those aged fourteen or older and many opportunities for learning reading, writing, mathematics, and trades in commercial schools (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). Tutors placed ads in local newspapers advertising adult education tutoring in the evenings (between 1733 and 1774 there were more than four-hundred of these postings) (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007.) Benjamin Franklin played a great role in the advancement of andragogy by starting the first subscription library in 1731. The library consisted of a group of volunteers that donated books to be purchased by the members. He later established Junto- “a club whose members studied and discussed intellectual concerns such as morals, politics, and natural philosophy (science and technology) as a form of self-improvement” (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). These establishments later developed into present day libraries and “intellectual institutions” (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). The Navy also played a great role in the advancement of adult education by employing schoolteachers for reading and writing tutoring for the seamen (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). The Lyceum Movement-a national network of study groups whose goal was self-improvement through
The start of adult education programs can be traced back as far as the 1700s in the United States and the 1600s in Canada (Sticht “Rise...,” 2007; “Chronology,” 2004). During the Colonial and National periods in the United States, a large portion of adult education involved apprenticeships for those aged fourteen or older and many opportunities for learning reading, writing, mathematics, and trades in commercial schools (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). Tutors placed ads in local newspapers advertising adult education tutoring in the evenings (between 1733 and 1774 there were more than four-hundred of these postings) (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007.) Benjamin Franklin played a great role in the advancement of andragogy by starting the first subscription library in 1731. The library consisted of a group of volunteers that donated books to be purchased by the members. He later established Junto- “a club whose members studied and discussed intellectual concerns such as morals, politics, and natural philosophy (science and technology) as a form of self-improvement” (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). These establishments later developed into present day libraries and “intellectual institutions” (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). The Navy also played a great role in the advancement of adult education by employing schoolteachers for reading and writing tutoring for the seamen (Sticht “Rise...”, 2007). The Lyceum Movement-a national network of study groups whose goal was self-improvement through
References: American Institute for Research. (August 2007). Adult education annual report to Congress 2004-05. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/congressionalreport04-05.doc Bates, Tony Chronology of Canadian adult education. (2004, August 9). Encyclopedia of Canadian adult education. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from http://www.ucfv.ca/aded/encyclopedia/Chronology/Chronology%20Aug%202004.html Dover, Kimeiko Hotta Draper, James A. (2008). Adult education. In The Canadian encyclopedia historica. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC815630 Employment and Training Administration