The Multicultural Learning Group

There is a paucity of literature dealing with racial issues among adult learners in the context of the classroom. Much of the current re search has been focused on developing student autonomy (Boud 1981), train ing facilitators for adult learners (Brookfield 1986), the andragogy/ped agogy debate (Knowles 1980), the in crease in adult learners (Cross 1981), developing critical thinking (Mezirow and Associates 1990; Brookfield 1987), and self-direction in adults (Knowles 1984). As experienced facilitators of adult students in a formal, small group setting we have often observed behav ioral manifestations that precede theory. This article will explore how racial issues currently affect the facilitat ing/learning model with adults. We will examine a small group learning model and curriculum, and we will analyze and discuss actual classroom events involving racial issues. All of the events took place at the Atlanta Aca demic Center of National-Louis Uni versity (NLU). Suggestions for incor porating racial issues into the learning process and for facilitating a psycho logically healthy atmosphere will be ex plored.