Hungry for Learning

We spent the day down in North Ayrshire with a group of learners who met with their local councillors to talk about how important adult learning was for them.  It was a really inspiring session with groups from across the area joining in the discussion.

The discussion came back to the same place every time-we need some more funding for adult learning (not lots but some). There were a number of really good examples of people trying to help themselves but they still need to get on the ladder to get things started.

There's a notion from some quarters in Scotland, that adult learning is somehow low cost and can be conjured up from what I think must be thin air (because there's a definite reduction in staff).  We can get more from within our existing resources, we need to make them work better for us, a sincere officer advised me one day in one of those interesting chats - (well maybe you can if you have £20m in your budget).

I rather thought Plato summed up what I wanted to say back to him that day but managed to bite my tongue,  “Wise men talk because they have something to say; Fools, because they have to say something.” 

Adult learning, discourse, and participation in the city’s cultural life were the day stars of Athenian life; they were not relegated to technical or vocational night courses (Sahakian 1977: 17; Bosanquet 1900: 16). Moreover, liberal forms of learning were to be lived freely after formal education was complete.
 
Leisure, play and learning - Plato