Roaring Twenties
Produced in 2005
Musical intro: That’s The Way We Do the Varsity Drag; photo of woman’s
legs dancing; flapper (woman) and man in tuxedo pictured: photo of
Babe Ruth swinging a baseball bat; Charles Lindberg pictured standing
in front of his airplane, The Spirit of St. Louis;
Narrator: During the Roaring Twenties, California's Americanization
program expanded and became more professional. At the same time, adult education
progressed from a way to serve immigrants to a means of meeting the educational
needs of all adults.
In 1921, legislation was passed requiring that Americanization classes be
formed when requested by 25 or more people. This mandate for adult education
is still a part of the California Education Code.
Description: Red slide with gold lettering showing 1921 — Legislation
was passed for Americanization classes
Narrator: Classes were conducted where the foreign born were,
sometimes in rented store buildings and community centers.
Description: Photo showing store building with two men standing out
front and a second of a community center with crowd gathered out front
among old cars and bicycles; photo showing a city scene in the 1920s
Narrator: They were scheduled at times convenient to them
— morning, afternoon, or evening. The California tradition of education
on demand, any time, any place, any pace, had been established.
Description: Slide showing 3000 teacher certified to teacher Americanization
classes by 1924.
Narrator: Courses for training teachers for Americanization
classes were developed and a special credential was issued. Special techniques
for teaching adults were recognized. The first State Plan for Adult Education
was presented at a conference at Asilomar by Ethel Richardson, then Assistant
Superintendent of Public Instruction for Americanization. Reorganization
in the State Department of Education recognized the importance of adult
education. In 1926, the Bureau of Parent Education was formed. In 1927,
the Division of Adult Education was formed. Ethel Richardson Allen was the
first chief.
Description: Slide showing timeline: 1926 – Bureau of Parent Education;
1927 – The Division of Adult Education formed: photo of stately woman
wearing dark dress with wide white collar and pillbox hat.