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Community education is more than free basket weaving classes. It’s a comprehensive plan that engages people at all ages and helps make learning accessible to all people. More than anything, community education helps adults continue to learn. In order for this kind of learning philosophy to work, there have to be several things in place.
Lifelong learning has to be recognized as important and inevitable to the residents of a town or city. We are always learning, regardless of our age. Learning should be formal and informal to meet all stages and walks of life. Often community education programs are sponsored by local colleges. The formal university setting can offer some of its resources for more informal adult education classes.
Community education will not work in a community if the residents are not allowed to take ownership in it. Instead of employing professors and certified teachers, community education classes are often taught by local experts in a particular field of study. Classes may be anything from how to play guitar to how to write poetry. The collective knowledge of the community is being shared to enrich the quality of life in that town.
Community education programs have to meet the demographic of the community. If most of the population is working class, then a class on the Romantic poets isn’t good programming. On the same note, diversity should also be reflected in the programming. Adult learners need to be able to access classes that suit their interests and needs, and most people are trying to step outside if their current reality and expand with the community. Therefore, foreign language classes, adult literacy classes, cooking classes, nature classes, various computer classes, woodworking and welding courses and fine arts like dance or theater are a good mixture for a good community education program.
