Intended for reading specialists and adult education teachers, this paper assesses the current state of adult basic skills, the general education degree, and English as a second language teaching. The first part of the paper consists of a series of tables representing demographics of participants in adult education programs. The second part discusses the problem of low self-esteem found in many adult basic education students and how this affects the qualifications required of adult education teachers. The third part of the paper outlines the responsibilities of an adult education teacher, and discusses the frame of mind necessary to be successful and to make the experience of teaching adults a rewarding one. (HTH)