The life adjustment movement was a short-lived effort following World War II to provide a high school curriculum that was more practical for what was then a majority of high school students who did not go on to college or other postsecondary training. To understand the purpose and impact of the movement, it is first necessary to look at the educational situation following the war. Then, in looking at the response to that situation, it is important to examine the relationship between what was intended by advocates of life adjustment education and what ultimately happened in schools. With those events in mind, the criticisms of the movement and the resulting calls for reform might make more sense.

In 1944, in response to poor working conditions for ...