to be shocked at the demise of adult education?

[Goldfsh]

Now I have an empty nest, I was hoping to start some adult education classes in academic topics that interest me, e.g. history or literature.

Having contacted the two local colleges who used to drop brochures for adult classes through the door, I've learnt that they don't exist any more!

There are some online classes, or courses to get back into work, and some painting type classes - or U3A if you are semi-retired (I am far from that unfortunately!). But no general education classes.

I found this very depressing. I really wanted to learn something new and connect with local people too. AIBU to be shocked that these sorts of classes are a thing of the past?

I emphasise! U3A is great but is more about special interest groups than teaching. If you are open to online learning, or are in or near London, I recommend City Lit.

Yes, it's really sad and we (collectively) are the worse for it. People should be encouraged to expand their skills, have some horizons broadened and meet other people. There's even a dearth of adult literacy classes, which are becoming more and more needed.

I don't know when it died.

Sadly no where near London. I just can't absorb information online really - and it's so boring. I wanted lectures and discussion! And to meet local people.

It's really depressing! It feels that the country only cares about economic viability for literally everything. What happened to the joy of learning and connecting with like-minded people?

Maybe join a local historical society or something.
Meet people that way.

Yes, it's terrible. You always see people on here telling others to retrain and get a better job if they're struggling, but it's almost impossible to actually access affordable courses that would enable you to do so.

I feel EXACTLY like this OP

I feel EXACTLY like this OP

It's so depressing. When did it happen? There used to be a massive catalogue of adult evening education classes that I used to read through when my DC were young, imagining all the things I could learn when I had time!!

Now I have time and there is FUCK ALL.

EXACTLY !! I can remember joining a REALLY good GCSE sociology class in 1990 when I was 17 - a huge, really good mix of all people literally aged 17 to over 80! Made one of my best ever friends there it was very well attended as well - loads completed the course and did the final exam .

There was still good night school courses in the early - mid 2000s but now virtually nothing !

It's one of those areas of funding cuts that doesn't get enough publicity. I live in a city so am fortunate that if I wanted to go and learn almost anything I could, but a lot of courses are prohibitively expensive these days due to budget cuts. I totally understand what you mean about online learning (although I know a couple of people who learn with the Open University and they rave about how good it is).

I know you've contacted your local colleges, but have you looked on here as well to see if anything is on in your area outside of college? Lots of courses are delivered in library spaces, scout huts and community halls these days: https://www.wea.org.uk/courses Also does your local authority have a list of courses on its website? Mine does (although these are just the council-funded ones): https://www.swansea.gov.uk/lifelonglearningrangeofcourses

You've reminded me that when I was at university in the 1990s I was actually employed as a night school teacher - I had a class of adults at a local college and I taught them basic philosophy! I'd totally forgotten!! I got paid a decent amount too.

I had a friend in the early 2000's who taught night school classes in an assortment of painters - Stanley Spencer for a term IIRC.

That's the sort of thing I want to learn - all the shit I've forgotten in the last few decades - random things like philosophy or Russian literature!

The humanities have been crippled for years, particularly since Cameron and Co took over. STEM is more valued because it leads to obvious career paths, and often higher wages thus humanities has been undervalued, overlooked and crippled by falling student numbers. This has lead to courses closing at FE and HE institutions. I’m lucky to lecture at a Russell Group uni but I’m seeing changes here too. My colleagues at former poly’s have lost jobs and seen the courses close.

It’s a bit of a catch 22 because we need higher student numbers, particularly at A Level and this will only be achieved by the humanities being pushed and valued in schools again. The issue with this though is only the students with the highest grades will have access to humanities uni courses very soon. Look at uni’s like Huddersfield for example, Leeds Beckett is another local example for me. Plus look up A Level data and see the massive drop. That’s why you’re finding no courses, they had to close because unfortunately nobody wants to study them so they’re not financially viable.

Yep, our local secondary used to have evening classes in all sorts of things - photography, local history, creative writing. Now, nothing. You used to be able to do upholstery, flower arranging and things like that in local village halls, but no longer.

I qualified to teach adults a subject at evening class but all classes were stopped just after I qualified - bloody typical!

Thanks! Nothing in my county according to that WEA site. We have over 500k population. Depressing.

To be fair, back then we didn’t have the internet for self taught learning. I know it isn’t quite the same, but knowledge isn’t hate kept by experts and books the way it used to be.
There are forums for learning all sorts of things now which weren’t there before.
Open University may do meet ups - home study and occasional in person sessions.

It's definitely a budget cut thing, but it's also a safeguarding thing.

The rules around safeguarding young adults are now such that it's hard to invite over 18s to a college. And if something is hard, it's not going to happen...

Oh that is depressing! Definitely have a look at your council's website - I don't know where you are but a quick online search for adult education by county is bringing up lots of council webpages with listings. I am annoyed on your behalf!

I've found the council one - there are only classes about managing your mental health through various forms of creativity! Which is great but not what I want!

Sad, isn't it? I used to teach evening classes in 'word processing' back in the early 1990s, on top of my day job, to help pay the mortgage. I also went to sewing classes in the early 2000s to learn use my machine properly. I looked recently for a basic DIY course, and found.... nothing.

I did attend a couple of these, which are very good: https://www.seedtalks.co.uk/

But they are a bit hippy-ish. It would be good if they expanded their repertoire and had local networks of some kind.

Many creative subjects need to be taught in person though, so that you can ask questions about technique and to correct mistakes. You can't beat being able to just ask someone experienced there and then about what you should do.

Oh that's a bit limited isn't it. Anything on eventbrite?

Ooh yes now you've said that I remember they had things like "Car maintenance for women"!!!

There was a thread exactly along these lines a couple of months ago. I 100% agree because I’m in exactly the same boat: empty nest and would like to do some more learning like I did when young and single in the 90s. I’ve found languages (which I’m doing) and art - and a really interesting art/literature comparative thing that I can’t do because it’s in the middle of the day.
This lack is massively to society’s detriment, I think. And I believe there is still a demand for evening classes.