Understanding and Negotiating the Political Landscape of Adult Education New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, Number 91

by Hansman, Catherine A.; Sissel, Peggy A.

• ISBN13: 9780787957759
• ISBN10: 0787957755
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-10-17
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Provides key insights into the politics and policy issues in adult education today. Offering effective strategies for reflection and action, chapters explore issues in examination and negotiation of the political aspects of higher education, adult educators in K-12-focused colleges of education, literacy education, social welfare reform, professional organizations, and identity of the field. A valuable guidebook for educators meeting the political challenges in adult education policies, programs, and everyday practices. This is the 91st journal in the Jossey-Bass series New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education.

Table of Contents

Editors' Notes	1	(4)
Catherine A. Hansman
Peggy A. Sissel
Thinking Politically: A Framework for Adult and Continuing Education	5	(12)
Peggy A. Sissel
What is political about adult education? The author examines constructs within the literature of the politics of education and advocates for the use of a political framework to analyze adult education policies, programs, and practices
The Politics of Neglect: Adult Learners in Higher Education	17	(12)
Peggy A. Sissel
Catherine A. Hansman
Carol E. Kasworm
This chapter argues that adult learners in higher educational settings have limited power, privilege, and advocacy. The authors challenge adult educators to take action to counteract hegemonic policies
Negotiating the Democratic Classroom	29	(10)
Scipio A. J. Colin III
Thomas W. Heaney
Is democracy possible within adult education graduate programs and classrooms? The authors contend that democratic practice is possible and essential to graduate adult education
Achieving Voice and Security in Colleges of Education	39	(8)
Michael J. Day
Donna Amstutz
Donna Whitson
Adult education graduate programs struggle to exist within colleges of higher education. The chapter authors use their own program and university to illustrate compromises that result in increased voice and security for graduate adult educators
The Gendered Construction of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act	47	(8)
Barbara Sparks
Through feminist analysis of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the author argues that the emphasis on women's role as mother regulates and impedes women's literacy development
Living in the Feudalism of Adult Basic and Literacy Education: Can we Negotiate a Literacy Democracy?	55	(8)
B. Allan Quigley
Feudalism is an apt metaphor for the political lives of adult literacy educators. New trends in political negotiations point the way to the democratization of knowledge in literacy education
Political Hotbeds: Professional Organizations as Policymakers	63	(10)
Phyllis M. Cunningham
Professional organizations often fall short of the ideal of providing a place for collective action directed toward policies for the public good. This chapter explores the politics of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
Professionalization: A Politics of Identity	73	(12)
Arthur L. Wilson
Issues of identity and power confront adult educators on all fronts. The author explores the idea of forging occupational alliances, becoming reflective practitioners, and becoming more politically engaged as a way to expand the definition of the profession of adult education
The Political Landscape of Adult Education: From the Personal to Political and Back Again	85
Catherine A. Hansman
The author analyzes the political issues from each chapter and suggests possible compromises and strategies in order to create a view of the future political landscape of adult education