[AAACE-NLA] adult literacy & the U.S. political tradition

[George demetrion]

Hi Tayna,

I realize I'm pressing the envelope here. The basic argument is the need to ground public and policy support of adult literacy education within a convincing set of values that go to the core of the political culture, wherein the power/knowledge nexus most fully resides.  For the United States, any substantial reconstruction of the politics of literacy (and reconstruction is what is required, I am arguing) requires a firm linkage with the democratic, constitutional and republican value system reflected initially in the ethos coming out of the American Revolution.  That hermeneutical work, if you will, requires a profound grappling with the key symbols, documents, and values stemming from the entire period (18776-1791) in ways that travel both with the grain of the nation's Founders as well as pushes the boundaries of the means of visualization and application beyond what they realized, but which has been realized (clearly in part) at various aspects and key moments in the nation's history.

The metaphor of literacy itself and its various significations is part of this essential work of reconstruction.   

Let us be clear, this is a longer-term outlook, but a journey that can begin, at least in part in the present.  Thinking and acting out of its premises, and justifying the field's legitimacy based on its value system is important work in such a process.

Otherwise, what?

George Demetrion

----- Original Message -----
From: ttweeton at comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 10:14 PM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] adult literacy & the U.S.political tradition

George, I understand  and "hear you" that you do not agree with the Supreme Court decision, however it is what it is. Perhaps some day, as in all things, the penduleum will swing the other way  with other Justices, and there may be a different interpretation of the Constitution in some other case, but for the moment...........

  You said " The issue is not so  
much whether literacy among the adult population is a right or a privilege.   
The issue is the role of adult basic education in providing the population  
with the basic tools and knowledge to participate in and contribute to the  
very blessings of liberty to which the Constitution aspires."

I too agree  of course that  adults should be educated. We discuss endlessly here  the good  reasons to do so. But that decision that you take issue with, I can see,  has,  most probably, repercussions with funding  of Adult Education. So if anyone questions why there is such a lack, perhaps that case is part of the background for the  reason. Maybe a big part. It seems clearer to me at least, now, why funding Adult Education  is not  seen as such a priority......... right or wrong.  
Tanya Tweeton
ESOL and GED
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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