[AAACE-NLA] Framing adult literacy arguments

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Andres,

It seems we are talking about two different things.  You are talking about social rights, rights in a society.  I am talking about human rights, rights as homo sapiens. 
 
For the social rights you are talking about, I use the fourth graders favorite phrase:  It's not fair! No, it isn't fair, and I agree with your examples, they are examples of unfairness.

(You know, even the baby negotiates with the mother through being  cute and cuddly.)

I would much rather  move the discussion to what Seers called the conditions for the realization of human potential. 

Essentials = food, clothng, shelter, footware;  then paid employment (or working on the family farm) education,  health care.  Reductons in poverty, unemployment,infant mortality, other forms of inequality = the pursuit of happiness.


I know a fair number of roofers and construction people, a lot of  them are low literate (a lot aren't, too).  They have health care, schooling for their kids, can put food on the table. 

What we are trying to do is justify our  work in adult literacy, find  some reason why we think it is important.

Andrea