Fund for Adult Education

The Fund for Adult Education (active 1951-1961) was a subsidiary of the Ford Foundation which supported initiatives in the field of adult education, including educational television and public broadcasting. During its existence, the FAE spent over $47 million.[1]: 1  Among its funding programs were a series of individual awards for people working in adult education to support training and field study experiences.[2] The FAE also sponsored conferences on the topic of adult education, including the Bigwin Institute on Community Leadership in 1954 and the Mountain Plains Adult Education Conference in 1957. These conferences were open to academics, community organizers, and members of the public involved in the field of adult education.[3][4]

In addition to grantmaking to organizations and projects, the FAE established its own programs, including the Test Cities Project and the Experimental Discussion Project.[1]: 2  The Experimental Discussion Project produced media that was distributed to local organizations to conduct viewing or listening and discussion sessions. Topics covered included international affairs, world cultures, and United States history.[5][6]

Educational theorist Robert Maynard Hutchins helped to found the FAE, and educational television advocate C. Scott Fletcher served as its president.[1]: 8–9 

References
  1. Edelson, Paul J. (October 1991). "Socrates on the Assembly Line: The Ford Foundation's Mass Marketing of Liberal Adult Education". Annual Conference of the Midwest History of Education Society.
  2. "Ford Fund to Give Aid for Adult Education". New York Times. 28 June 1953. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  3. "Adult Education Unit Drafts Report". Sunday Herald. 25 July 1954. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  4. "U. Conference to Look into Adult Education". The Deseret News. 19 March 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. "New Discussion Programs Offered". St. Petersburg Times. 19 October 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  6. Goldschmidt, Walter (1954). Ways of Mankind: Adult Discussion Series. Pasadena, CA: Experimental Discussion Project of the Fund for Adult Education.
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