Today's Quest for Continuous Learning

Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation ... even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind!

-Leonardo da Vinci

This fall, children will not be the only ones headed back to the classroom.

In recent years, adults have become increasingly more interested in continuing their education. According to a 2001 U.S. Department of Education study, the participation rate in adult education increased by 6 percent from 1 995 to 2001. The report also found

There also seems to be a trend regarding gender and adult education: Women appear to have a higher rate of involvement than men. The 2001 report indicates women have been more likely than men to participate in these educational activities, which include everything from a college or advanced degree to non-degree basic skills and life enrichment courses.

So, what is behind the increased interest in adult education? Many adult workers are recognizing the fact that furthering one's education can increase the possibilities of staying competitive and obtaining opportunities in the business world. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2005 reveals a trend for higher degrees leading to higher median salaries, with earnings for women with college degrees increasing by 34.2 percent since 1979 (on an inflation-adjusted basis.)