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Complicating IssuesHealth issues impinge on both employment and education decisionsHealth issues affected the adult education and work
decisions of several study participants. As
discussed earlier, because many undereducated men are employed in manual labor
positions, the inability to work for health-related reasons is especially
damaging. One participant who had
lost his job following a serious leg injury related: My doctor wants me to get a job where I can sit down. They don’t have any work where I was that I can do. I just need to get some kind of job. I was doin’ good until this happened. I had me a good job. Because his injury was not work-related, this man received
no compensation for his job loss. And
because his leg injury keeps him from doing the kind of physical work in which
he was experienced, he feels unprepared to find other employment.
He is further disadvantaged in his job search by his lack of education.
Health issues also occasionally affected the ability of study
participants to attend adult education classes.
One woman reported that she could not sit for long periods of time
because of a back injury and another woman had withdrawn from adult education
classes after numerous surgeries. Several
respondents mentioned heart-related health problems that made them cautious
about taking on additional responsibilities.
The health of dependent family members also made it difficult for some
individuals to attend adult education classes.
This was especially the case for mothers (or grandmothers) who were
responsible for the care of young children.
One woman pointed out that it was particularly difficult to find
childcare for her young son who suffered from severe asthma that required
special treatment. She reported,
“Some daycare centers won’t take him”. While adult education programs cannot be expected to meet the health
needs of all clients, it is important to recognize that health issues frequently
impinge on adult education clients’ lives and further complicate their
decision-making.
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