ABSTRACT
The development of educational programming for older adults was encouraged through a variety of conferences and workshops for those who were considering involvement. Early adult education, then, had an underlying concern for the development of good citizenship; the capacity to read and write was cultivated so that the individual could participate in the decisions of the nation. The Western Gerontological Society made education of older people a major part of its annual conferences for several years. Through the Elderhostel Programme, week-long courses of instruction, discussion and entertainment for older people are provided by colleges and universities across the nation. The growth of educational programming for older people did not result because any single government agency or philanthropic foundation supplied funding. The Adult Education Association of the USA has had a Section on Ageing since its creation in 1951 and has generally included some sessions on older participants in its annual conferences.
