Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education: John Ohliger and Contradictions in Modern Practice »

André P. Grace is McCalla Research Professor and director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services in the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Tonette S. Rocco is associate professor and program leader of the Adult Education and Human Resource Development Program at Florida International University. She is a Cyril O. Houle Scholar.

Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education reminds readers of a vital tradition of radical, community-based, activist adult education championed in the life and work of John Ohliger. Leading figures in the field examine the contemporary relevance of Ohliger's contributions and the profound and powerful influence that he had on the social philosophy, pedagogy, and practice of adult education.

John Ohliger was a radical educator who deeply valued social democracy. Many of his contemporaries found his extreme liberal approach to adult education problematic and peripheral to the professionalization they believed modern practice required. The authors of this volume offer insight into Ohliger's eclectic collection of writings and present a comprehensive assessment of the contributions of this important figure. They explore Ohliger's roles as an adult educator, social activist, and cultural worker, investigating his varied career and diverse educational, social, and cultural interests by examining his perspectives on media usage, labor education, mandatory continuing education, civic education, social education, and library and community work. The authors also reflect on the legacy of John Ohliger's contributions to modern practice and the tensions his critique of adult education created.

Gathering the many threads of Ohliger's influence into one volume, this invaluable collection helps clarify John Ohliger's unwavering goal: to assist adult educators to become more socially conscious facilitators who remember the historical emphases on voluntary learning and learning for citizenship in North American adult education.?

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

The Authors.

Part One: Introduction.

1. John Funnell Ohliger: A Brief Biography of His Life and Vocations (André P. Grace and Tonette S. Rocco).

2. Mediating Challenges in Adult Education and Culture: John Ohliger’s Radical Social Project (André P. Grace and Tonette S. Rocco).

Part Two: In Ohliger’s Words: Accent on the Social from a Radical Liberal Perspective.

3. Adult Education: 1984 (John Ohliger).

4. Is Lifelong Adult Education a Guarantee of Permanent Inadequacy? (John Ohliger).

5. The Social Uses of Theorizing in Adult Education (John Ohliger).

6. Lifelong Learning as Nightmare (John Ohliger).

7. Forum: You Shall Know the Truth and the Truth Shall Make You Laugh (John Ohliger).

8. A CautiousWelcome to the New Millennium (John Ohliger).

Part Three: Challenging Professionalization in an Emerging Field of Study and Practice.

9. Contesting Adult Education as a Venture: John Ohliger’s Critique of Modern Practice (André P. Grace).

10. The Adult Educator as Public Intellectual (David Yamada).

11. Informing Learning for Today’s Professionals: Lessons from the Social Critique of Mandatory Continuing Education (Tonette S. Rocco).

12. Icons and Pariahs: Mentorship and the Archaeology of Adult Education (Jeff Zacharakis).

13. Moving Beyond Radical Pessimism: Valuing Critical Perspectives (Michael Collins).

Part Four: Narrations on the Life of a Radical SocialEducator: Legacies and Critiques.

14. Outside Looking In: Challenges to the Professional Field (Phyllis M. Cunningham).

Reflection: Critical and Radical Themes Abetting Learning for Life andWork (André P. Grace).

15. A Mindful Commitment to ConnectingWomen Toward Intellectual Community (Lee Karlovic).

Reflection: On Bread, Roses, and Paradox (Elizabeth J. Tisdell).

16. CulturalWork in the Trenches: John Ohliger and Paul Robeson (Stephen Brookfield).

Reflection: God Damn the Pushers (André P. Grace).

17. John Ohliger’s Legacy to Building Social Democracy:WORTS and All (Christina (Chris) Wagner).

Reflection: Honoring People, Valuing Ideas, Honoring John (André P. Grace).

Name Index.

Subject Index.