Mainstream media seems to be at the forefront of the learning experience this week; one colleague shared an article on defining the proverbial ‘mainstream’ (Chomsky, 1997).  Unfortunately the message was lost on the messenger, but it left me thinking about why I enjoy the study of adult education:

“There are all sorts of filtering devices to get rid of people who are a pain in the neck and think independently. Those of you who have been through college know that the educational system is very highly geared to rewarding conformity and obedience; if you don’t do that, you are a troublemaker” (Chomsky, 1997, n.p.).

Adult education is not so established that independent thought is frowned upon at this stage.  We are able to think original thoughts about Freire, Brookfield, or Alfred; able to create our own philosophies, and shape our own practices, without fear of repercussion for being anti-establishment.  If our field was as established as the Classics, would we be free to think original thought, or would we be forced to conform with (for example) Freire’s version of education, because he has been ‘the’ thinker for the past 2000 years?