HISTORICAL PECULIARITIES OF DEVELOPMETN OF INFORMAL ADULT EDUCATION IN THE USA

Introduction. Informal education in the USA has a long history that determines necessity of its historical analysis, for it is difficult to understand modern level of its development and determine its future development. Dialectics as a method of cognition, historical principle supply us with opportunity to study subject of research taking into account many points of view in its development, which is predetermined by external and internal factors, that in turn helps to identify its traits and links taking into account peculiarities of a certain stage. Purpose. The aim of our article is to trace historical peculiarities of informal adult education development in the USA. The main assignments of the article are to single out political, economic, social factors of informal adult education development in the USA; make comparative analysis of periodizations of informal adult education development; characterize informal adult education development in the first half of the XIX century. Results. Retrospective analysis of adult education gives us possibilities to make a conclusion that the term adult education appeared in 1924. Before this period many forms of adult education existed, but they were not systematized. But their existence coincided with demands of those times and needs of society and gave possibilities for adult education development. Launching of the first printed works, spread of mass media influenced adult education greatly, for it stimulated adults to get education. Opening of libraries was a great impulse for adult education development. Puritan church plaid important role in adult education development, which was interested in literal people, who were able to read Bible, for this reason it stimulated people to get education and open church schools. After the First World War development of the United States is characterized by economic development, beginning of the prosperity epoch, which continued to 1929. The USA became a leader of economic development in the World. Such changes in economic development demanded changes in educational sphere For this reason adult education is viewed not only as essential factor of economic increase, but also as an instrument of civil society formation. Originality. The common feature of periodizations, which were worked out by scientists, is their social, historic and economic criteria. At the beginning of the XIX century informal adult education was viewed mainly as a source of democratic society creation, for it takes into account psychological, pedagogical and age peculiarities of adults. Conclusion. Conducted research showed that informal adult education is economically, politically, socially and culturally predetermined phenomenon. The main establishments, which influenced adult education development, were church, civil associations, libraries and scientific circles. The main associations that influenced informal adult education development were Associations of doctors, Association of Librarians, Associations of Mechanics, National Associations of Universities, and American Association for Adult Education.