ERIC Number: ED180569
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1979-Oct-19
Pages: 24
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
General Education for the Too Late Generation.
Quistwater, J. M. R.
Rapidly changing patterns of birthrates over the past several decades have created a Canadian and North American population whose age structure shows continuing and potentially oscillating changes in its age group distribution. The increased participation of women in the workforce and their promotional aspirations further complicate what were already complex societal problems resulting from the post-war baby boom. This variability in age group distribution leads not only to marked changes in community college enrollments, but also to major job and promotional difficulties, and finally, to possible changes in retirement patterns for current and prospective graduates. For demographic reasons, those born at the end of the post-war baby boom and in the mid- and late 1960's are likely to find themselves particularly disadvantaged with respect to career development and job promotion. Governmental fiscal policies, transnational corporations, and third-world development patterns are likely to have a major impact on the career prospects of this group. An examination of these three factors provides an insight into the future working world that suggests general directions in which student and program resources might be reallocated, and, in particular, some general education courses that might be developed. Such courses might be in the areas of future studies, cope-ability development, and personal growth and development. (Author/AYC)
Descriptors: Age Groups, Birth Rate, College Role, Community Colleges, Educational Needs, Employed Women, Employment Opportunities, Employment Problems, Employment Projections, Enrollment Trends, Futures (of Society), General Education, Individual Development, Population Distribution, Population Trends, Social Problems, Two Year Colleges
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A
Note: Paper presented to the Annual Assembly of the Education Section of the World Future Society (2nd, Minneapolis, MN, October 19, 1979)