Adult Learning Celebrates 25 Years

Twenty-five years ago, in 1989, a U.S. postage stamp cost 25 cents, The Simpsons debuted on television; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Little Mermaid, Dead Poets Society, and When Harry Met Sally projected on movie screens; and Duran Duran, Prince, Madonna, and New Kids on the Block sang their hearts out (The People History, 2014). Presidents Ronald Regan and George H. W. Bush resided in the White House, and Microsoft released OfficeSuite[R], a new software package including a spreadsheet, word processor, database, and presentation software. Internationally, the Berlin Wall fell, reunifying East and West Germany, and newly elected Prime Minister of South Africa, F. W. deKlerk, began the dismantling of apartheid. In September 1989, Adult Learning first appeared as a nine-issue-per-year journal, self-published by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE). As historical context, in 1982, AAACE resulted from the merger of the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Education (NAPCAE) and the Adult Education Association (AEA; AAACE, 2014). At that time, according to Ralph Brockett (1992), AAACE inherited two periodicals-Adult Education, focused on research and theory, and Lifelong Learning: The Adult Years, focused on research to practice. In 1983, the journals' names changed to Adult Education Quarterly and Lifelong Learning: An Omnibus of Practice and Research. Over the years, the former journal's focus remained the same, but association members debated the latter's focus on research to practice, more specifically the amount of focus on research versus practice (Brockett, 1992). As a result, in 1989, Lifelong Learning ceased publication in the spring, and Adult Learning began publication in the fall. In the early years, Adult Learning used various Departments to organize the journal's content. For example, in the inaugural issue, Jeanette Smith (1989) titled the Editor's Notes Department "Great Expectations" and introduced the new journal to readers: Everything--almost--is new. A new name, a new process of managing and producing the magazine in-house, a new association body--the editorial board for the magazine ... We want each issue of Adult Learning to contain a variety of practical, how-to articles that will help you, as an adult educator.... We want you to find every issue of Adult Learning usable information that affects you in your daily professional life. (p. 6) Other Departments included (a) President's Podium; (b) Up Front, introducing the issue's theme; and theme-related (c) Directions for Research and (c) Feature; (d) Time Out; (e) Resources; and (f) Personal Reflections. The inaugural issue's theme was educating the workforce, and the Feature section included two- to three-page articles such as Elizabeth Dole's "America's Competitive Advantage: A Skilled Work Force," Governor Bill Clinton's "The State's Role: Leadership & Partnership," Edwin Simpson's "A Challenge for Higher Education," and Donald Jones, LTG, and Lenore Saltman's "Educating the Military Work Force: A Worldwide Initiative." Over the years, Editors included Jeanette Smith, Cheryl Poison, Ralph Brockett, Lilian Hill, Paulette Isaac-Savage, and Mary Alfred. Adult Learning continued to publish a wide variety of articles related to adult education practice with varying formats and production schedules. Common themes highlighted over 25 years included diversity and multiculturalism, international, literacy, teaching and learning, technology, and workplace learning. Although featured less frequently, other themes represented the breadth of the adult education field, including assessment, development, economics, environment, ethics, faith and spirituality, feminism, the future, mentoring, military, partnerships, peace, philosophy, politics and policy, and professional development. Today, Adult Learning continues the legacy of serving adult education practitioners. …