[AAACE-NLA] Help Needed-Constructs for the Message

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Debby,

The "sacred calling" aspect  of education is one I usually keep to myself, others tend to roll their eyes over the  phrase,and i expect your business people would, too.

If you use the school analogy--and why not--then  can you drop the consumer lingo?

If you go to "return on investment," which is OK for me (though not for others) then you have to demonstrate from past record that there has been a return, that you have a track record.

I would go into "improve life chances" language, myself.  maybe even "second chance at education."

Then you have to answer why the students didn't take advantage of the first chance, and here you can probably hew close to the truth--poorly trained teacerhs, poor life circumstances, whatever it seems like to you.  Lots of legitimate reasons.

You can turn the  problem around by saying that  these students WANT a second chance, attendance is NOT MANDATED  the way it is in public school.

Under the rubric of education you could still mention small "c" capital--and say education is also about improving what you've got.

Move onto Tom's issue--making life better for these student's children.

You have been in this situation before, and since you raise the question again, I deduce....this is an uphill battle. 

If we knew more specifically what these people would throw up as roadblocks, or the questions they are likely to raise, we could more likely write a tighter script.  (All life is performance. and  negotiation.)

But...they are willing to meet, hence, they are willing to hear you and to negotiate.

Andrea