Learner centeredness is a naive position that does not account for political and ethical dilemmas arising from the newly central position of adult education in social and economic life. Adult education must be seen as a struggle for the distribution of knowledge and power in society. (SK)

Planning is a social activity in which educators negotiate personal and organizational interests in constructing programs. Four concepts encompass a planning model: power, interests, negotiation, and responsibility. (SK)

Summarizing the case studies and critique in this issue, the authors conclude that planners must (1) learn to negotiate power and interests responsibly because their actions validate whose interests matter; (2) anticipate sources of support and opposition; (3) determine power relationships; and (4) know to whom they are responsible. (SK)

Effective workshops must pay attention to power relationships that do not disappear in the workshop setting. The myth of the generic teacher and learner and the phenomena of gender, race, ethnicity, and class must be accounted for. (SK)