The Passionate Educators: Voluntary Associations and the Struggle for Control of Adult Educational Broadcasting in Canada 1919-52.

The Canadian Association for Adult Education (CAAE) is examined during the three historic phases of prewar depression, wartime, and postwar recovery. Social movement groups of a rural and populist nature and traditional voluntary associations encompassing an urban and elitist point of view joined to form the CAAE in 1935, and their conflicting attitudes regarding the role of the Association are traced. External conflicts are discussed, including the changing socio-economic environment of the 1940's; the working relationship between the CAAE, the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture regarding broadcasting; and political criticism from the news media. The "National Farm Radio Forum" and "Citizens' Forum" reached sparsely populated rural Canada, and both programs are described and discussed. Noted figures in the development of the CAAE, CBC, and the Canadian educational and political scene of the day and their roles are examined, including E. A. (Ned) Corbett, James Muir, W. H. Brittain, and J. R. Kidd. Nine chapters present the material, with the 1943 CAAE Manifesto appended and chapter notes and an index provided.