[AAACE-NLA] teachers' rights? etc.

[PAUL ROGERS]

     The responses to my post were very encouraging
and so I will wade in and give my opinions on some of
the issues raised.
    First - as teachers, we should find out and put
together some for of organization or union that would
in fact protect our right to speak out against certain
policies. And, as part of this, we should be able to 
advocate other policies which we feel are beneficial
to students.
   Presently ESL teachers can join the union in some
cities but not in others. And the union seems to focus
on bread and butter issues only. Is there anyone on
this list with some experience to share that would
help us all?
   In the process it would be a good idea to list
various policies and practices which need to be
changed. In my opinion, a serious problem is the
minimum attendance requirement. 
   Another practice which is necessary to change is
"English Only" in the classroom. In some classes
students are ridiculed and even punished for speaking
their native languages. I was told once by a
supervisor that the students did not like bilingual
classes. So, I asked the students, in Spanish, and
guess what? My supervisor lied.      
     As I have made clear on this and other lists, I
believe that bilingual classes are best, and have
authored texts and a web page=www.pumarosa.com. Do any
of you also conduct classes bilingually, at least at
first? Is anyone interested in a “theoretical”
discussion on the pros and cons? 
     My own point of view is based on a desire to work
toward providing English language and other types of
instruction (such as citizenship) to the
ever-increasing immigrant population, especially to
those who speak Spanish. To do this well, we need to
find ways to protect our rights, not the least of
which is “free speech.” If we have arrived at the
point where we cannot even express an opinion for fear
of losing our jobs, well…..then what?
Sincerely,
Paul Rogers

--- Eileen Eckert <eileeneckert at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Some of us are already in the position of no longer
> having a job in the 
> field, stay involved because we feel committed to
> promoting learning, and 
> have nothing to lose by speaking out. Others see the
> risk as minimal and/or 
> worth taking. Yes, there's some fear, but there's a
> lot of outrage, and 
> courage too.
> 
> 
> From: tjjhjr at netscape.net
> Reply-To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored
> by 
> AAACE<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org (National
> Literacy Advocacy List 
> sponsored by AAACE)
> Subject: RE: [AAACE-NLA] issues of interest
> Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 10:38:38 -0500
> 
> SURE!!!!!!!!!!BUT WHO WOULD DARE SPEAK OUT ON THESE
> ISSUES (AND KEEP THEIR 
> JOB)????????
> 
> 
> 
> 
> PAUL ROGERS <pwaynerogers at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>  >I would like to know if there is any interest in
>  >dscussions on other issues, such as:
>  >1. promoting bilingual education
>  >2. protecting ESL students' and teachers' rights
>  >3. meeting the needs of the growing immigrant
>  >community
>  >4. promoting a progressive, multi-cultural/lingual
>  >agenda.
>  >Paul Rogers
>  >
>  >
>  >--- David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net> wrote:
>  >> AAACE-NLA Colleagues,
>  >>
>  >> You will find updated lists of state and urban
> adult
>  >> literacy
>  >> coalitions at:
>  >>
>  >>   http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/advocacy.html
>  >>
>  >> and
>  >>
>  >>   http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/naulc.html
>  >>
>  >> Thanks to Edith Gower, Executive Director of the
> the
>  >> National Alliance
>  >> for Urban Literacy Coalitions (NAULC), for the
> most
>  >> recent update
>  >> information on urban coalitions and some of the
>  >> state coalitions which
>  >> are NAULC members.  There may be some state
>  >> coalitions for which the
>  >> information is not yet up-to-date.  Please check
>  >> your state to see if
>  >> it is correct, and e-mail me with the
> corrections.
>  >>
>  >> This information is intended to help adult
> literacy
>  >> advocates find
>  >> others in their state or city with whom to
>  >> collaborate.
>  >>
>  >> Thanks.
>  >>
>  >> David J. Rosen
>  >> djrosen at comcast.net
>  >>
>  >> _______________________________________________
>  >> AAACE-NLA mailing list:
>  >> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>  >>
> 
>
>http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
>  >> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
>  >> goodies for literacy
>  >> http://literacytent.org
>  >
>  >
>  >__________________________________
>  >Do you Yahoo!?
>  >Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool.
> Try it!
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>  >_______________________________________________
>  >AAACE-NLA mailing list:
> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
> 
>
>http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
>  >LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
> goodies for literacy
>  >http://literacytent.org
>  >
> 
>
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> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
> goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org
> 
>
_________________________________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
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> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
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> goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org

--- Eileen Eckert <eileeneckert at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Some of us are already in the position of no longer
> having a job in the 
> field, stay involved because we feel committed to
> promoting learning, and 
> have nothing to lose by speaking out. Others see the
> risk as minimal and/or 
> worth taking. Yes, there's some fear, but there's a
> lot of outrage, and 
> courage too.
> 
> 
> From: tjjhjr at netscape.net
> Reply-To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored
> by 
> AAACE<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org (National
> Literacy Advocacy List 
> sponsored by AAACE)
> Subject: RE: [AAACE-NLA] issues of interest
> Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 10:38:38 -0500
> 
> SURE!!!!!!!!!!BUT WHO WOULD DARE SPEAK OUT ON THESE
> ISSUES (AND KEEP THEIR 
> JOB)????????
> 
> 
> 
> 
> PAUL ROGERS <pwaynerogers at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>  >I would like to know if there is any interest in
>  >dscussions on other issues, such as:
>  >1. promoting bilingual education
>  >2. protecting ESL students' and teachers' rights
>  >3. meeting the needs of the growing immigrant
>  >community
>  >4. promoting a progressive, multi-cultural/lingual
>  >agenda.
>  >Paul Rogers
>  >
>  >
>  >--- David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net> wrote:
>  >> AAACE-NLA Colleagues,
>  >>
>  >> You will find updated lists of state and urban
> adult
>  >> literacy
>  >> coalitions at:
>  >>
>  >>   http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/advocacy.html
>  >>
>  >> and
>  >>
>  >>   http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/naulc.html
>  >>
>  >> Thanks to Edith Gower, Executive Director of the
> the
>  >> National Alliance
>  >> for Urban Literacy Coalitions (NAULC), for the
> most
>  >> recent update
>  >> information on urban coalitions and some of the
>  >> state coalitions which
>  >> are NAULC members.  There may be some state
>  >> coalitions for which the
>  >> information is not yet up-to-date.  Please check
>  >> your state to see if
>  >> it is correct, and e-mail me with the
> corrections.
>  >>
>  >> This information is intended to help adult
> literacy
>  >> advocates find
>  >> others in their state or city with whom to
>  >> collaborate.
>  >>
>  >> Thanks.
>  >>
>  >> David J. Rosen
>  >> djrosen at comcast.net
>  >>
>  >> _______________________________________________
>  >> AAACE-NLA mailing list:
>  >> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>  >>
> 
>
>http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
>  >> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
>  >> goodies for literacy
>  >> http://literacytent.org
>  >
>  >
>  >__________________________________
>  >Do you Yahoo!?
>  >Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool.
> Try it!
>  >http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/
>  >_______________________________________________
>  >AAACE-NLA mailing list:
> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
> 
>
>http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
>  >LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
> goodies for literacy
>  >http://literacytent.org
>  >
> 
>
__________________________________________________________________
> New! Unlimited Netscape Internet Service.
> Only $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at
> http://isp.netscape.com/register
> Act now to get a personalized email address!
> 
> Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
> _______________________________________________
> AAACE-NLA mailing list:
> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
> goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org
> 
>
_________________________________________________________________
> There are now three new levels of MSN Hotmail Extra
> Storage!  Learn more. 
>
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=hotmail/es2&ST=1
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AAACE-NLA mailing list:
> AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
>
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and
> goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org


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