Episode 5: 'A Permanent National Necessity'
The 19th-century 'extension' of university education to adult learners was seen as a matter of social justice and national security, and by the early decades of the 20th century was deemed 'a permanent national necessity, an inseparable aspect of citizenship'. Gail Anderson outlines the origins and growth of lifelong learning at Oxford.
Learn more about the origins of adult learning at Oxford
Browse our collection of illustrated history articles to explore in greater depth the episodes mentioned in the podcast.
Have a look through the 1919 Report by the Ministry of Reconstruction's Adult Education Committee, the text of which is freely available online. This document, written at the close of the First World War, places adult education at core to the rebuilding of the country.
Read about the Centenary Commission of 2019 and its work to put adult education back on the national agenda – and download their report 'A Permanent National Necessity'
Music credits
The introductory music: “Come Inside” by Snowflake (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: Starfrosch, Jerry Spoon, Kara Square, spinningmerkaba
The following background music for this episode was sourced from The Free Music Archive and Pixabay:
Brahms: Waltz No 15 in A flat, played by by Nico de Napoli
Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 845, Op. 42, performed by by Seymour Lipkin
Sonatina No 1 in C Major II Andante, performed by Aaron Dunn
Beethoven Piano Sonata nr15 in D major op28 Pastoral I Allegro, played by Karine Gilanyan
Dvorak, Songs my mother taught me. St. Olaf Quartet; A. Dvorak
