[AAACE-NLA] Delusion of Accountability in Adult Education (longer)

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Dear Andres, Jose and Nancy,

I know, as soon as I put myself in the role of "taxpayer,"  it is a guarantee  that some will get angry.

Can there be another response?  Can't there be a breakthrough, somewhere?  This list is extremely polarized over this issue.

I proposed finding an assessment, used throughout the adult literacy world, that could measure gains.  I asked further  questions about the TABE.

We use "tests" all over  the place, why not here?  The skills are not ephemeral, they are real.  We do use tests in school to measure children's ability to read and write.

I did  not suggest that  an assessment  could measure  a sense of accomplishment, only accomplishment itself.

If I went to a town meeting and there were a proposal to  support X program, I would want to know what it was supposed to accomplish, what was the goal.  How would I know  when the goal was reached? What would the standards for accomplishment be?

To take up Jose's point:  it seems to  me there are some things that can be measured that do count, and reading and writing is  one of them--it counts and we measure it in school.


Nancy:  if you were in that town meeting, how would you present  your case, not to me alone, but to the town?  You are in a community based program.  Or--how do you make a case for  your donors?  Do they want evidence, measures?  

Andres--how are your programs supported?  What kind of accountability is there?  Does being part of an institution make a difference, if so, what?  

Andrea