[AAACE-NLA] Re: AAACE-NLA Digest, Vol 28, Issue 24
Charlene Lutes
CLUTES at message.nmc.edu
Mon Sep 19 07:47:05 EDT 2005
Absolutely true.
Charlene A. Lutes, Ph.D.
Transition Coordinator---Bridge
Northwestern Michigan College
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1971 FAX (231) 995-1972
*We only achieve to the level of that which we believe about ourselves----
nothing more, nothing less."
________________________________
>>> gdemetrion at msn.com 9/19/2005 7:46 PM >>>
Janice and others,
This is an interesting message to see here on the NLA, but goes to my own interests in my alter ego as a lay theologian. For those who are interested in such matters, see below: http://www.ctconfucc.org/resources/theology/
Those of us who come to adult literacy where many hats and have much in our background besides adult literacy.
To your question on race, I would strongly recommend Yale theologan, Miroslav Volf's, (1996). Exlusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
For those working specifically out of Christian theological traditions , the following passage from Paul's letter to the Galatians is a critical text: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28. Volf's book is a very subtle and contemporary exegesis on this and related New testament passages. While Volf focuses extensively on issues of "ethnic cleansing" and the capacity/difficulty of embracing one's enemy/neighbor, the application of both the cited verse and Exclusion and Embrace is easy enough to extend to racial issues.
I am familiar primarily with Christianity, and by logical extension have a reasonable understanding of biblical Judaism. I would assume that other religious traditions deal decisively, at least by way of implication with racial bigotry.
No fundamentalist who claims to be a biblical fundamentalist can get away with being a racist and claim to be a follower of Christ. That would be an oxymoron on its faith.
George Demetrion
adult literacy scholar and practitioner
intellectual and historian
lay theologian
grandfather of 2
----- Original Message -----
From: Janice Sapp
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 7:21 PM
To: aaace-nla
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] Re: AAACE-NLA Digest, Vol 28, Issue 24
I have been frustrated by my lack of instant recall of ethics about (quotes don't leap to mind) so I've been looking over the books that I've read: Bonhoffer, H. Richard Niebuhr, Tyllich, biomedical ethicists, ancient church fathers before Darwin, theological and humanist ethicists after Darwin. MLK, in particular, holds the most interest for me because I am a teacher first and teach people ESOL. Also, I grew up overseas and see how many Americans treat people of color. I'm a practicioner, not a scholar I have been driven to do some simple research of titles on Amazon and found this particular theme of interest to me: Literacy and Social Justice. In fact, there are many books with these words in the title.
So now my task presents itself from a different point of view. Am I able to integrate the information in these books with the ethics I know and reach some sound religious reason to not be racist? Could I use my material to teach workshops in churches? etc? And then, how does a workshop leader measure change? Because it is time that I begin to teach something more than ESL; that has become clear.
This is my experience about teaching people about racism. As an ordained UMC clergywoman from 84 to 92, I found that teaching the ethical concepts and ideas and connecting these ideas with scripture ok in and of themselves. But asking congregations to take up a mission--even fund a known mission already up and running in The UMC--evoked boredom, rolled eyes, and even anger in some congregants. Living in a suburb of Dallas, TX, has also taught me more about the church's racism, except here in TX, racism eyes Hispanics, especially those without documentation. Those without documentation live in limbo, earning just enough money to keep their families afloat both in Mexico and the US. However, the UMC Conference in this area where Hispanics are about 49%, if not more, of the population, has not seen fit to give money to build a church in this area where the one ordained Hispanic minister can serve his people. Currently, this pastor is serving a Hispanic community in a borrowed UMC church. Amazing! and Sad!
Looking at and realizing that the church system was amazingly racist was only one reason that I resigned my orders and sadly, not the main motivation for me to do so. My main motivation was that itineracy had kept me apart from my family for 3 years and was going to do so for a longer period of time unless I chose to do something drastic. I felt betrayed by my own calling.
I will join with you and do whatever tasks you assign to me to help you proceed forward in your endeavor. Janice M. Sapp
----- Original Message -----
From: aaace-nla-request at lists.literacytent.org
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:01 AM
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Subject: AAACE-NLA Digest, Vol 28, Issue 24
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: The end of volunteer literacy? (gdemetrion at msn.com)
2. Re: Racism and literacy: what can we do? (tanya tweeton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 21:10:03 -0400
From: <gdemetrion at msncom>
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] The end of volunteer literacy?
To: "Debbie Yoho" <dwyoho at earthlink.net>, "National Literacy Advocacy
List sponsored by AAAC" <aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Message-ID: <BAY103-DAV40CEEF31F505CE8DED369C5930 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
"There are many on this list who work in volunteer literacy. Let's hear from you. I crave your perspective, and all others, on the future of volunteer literacy."
I am perpetually amazed and inspired by the many volunteers I've met over the past 18 years who dedicate their time, talent, and passion to the work of tutoring adult literacy learners, quite often, with consummate skill and even more often with deep sensibility and human regard for each student.
No, volunteerism alone will not do, but it is part of the solution, a highly important one at that, not only for the direct support volunteers provide, but for the culture itself as our community-based non-profit adult literacy programs provide valuable opportunities for citizens to work with other citizens in the generative work of expanding opportunities for popular education.
I am extremely grateful for all their dedicated and selfless service and how my life has been enhanced in working with my friends who have tutored in our program over these many year. In their dedication, service, and concern or the other, they serve as a role model for me, which in turn, inspires me to do my best to serve them.
George Demetrion
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 04:28:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: tanya tweeton <tweeton204 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Racism and literacy: what can we do?
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Message-ID: <20050918112856.81719.qmail at web54008.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Having
tried for many years now to make the case for literacy funding in the
name
of better serving the market, perhaps this is a moment that we can make
the
case for literacy funding in the name of better serving the people.
Ira , how exactly did you proceed with this? What are your suggestions for making the case for Literacy funding? To whom and how?
Tanya Tweeton
ESOL and GED Programs
BRoward county Florida
Ira Yankwitt <iray at lacnyc.org> wrote:
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for your post, and for giving me the opportunity to clarify what
I was attempting to say. I absolutely believe that our government's
pitiful response to this storm was racist; and that the disregard for the
people of New Orleans before, during, and after the storm was a reflection
of the institutional/structural racism that others on this list have so
eloquently described. What I was reacting to in my post was a tendency
that suggests that unless we can prove that our leaders harbored conscious,
racist thoughts/intentions, we cannot argue that their inaction was racist.
I disagree with this, and I find this position extremely frustrating
because 1) it implies that we must be able to read people's minds before we
can ever use the term racist (unless, of course, they are actually foolish
enough to articulate what's on their mind, like our President's mother
was), and 2) it deflects attention away from the institutional/structural
racism that I believe we all have a responsibility to recognize and combat.
In addition, I in no way meant to denigrate the exceptional work of
literacy volunteers or the contributions of the private sector, or to
suggest that I hold "those offering the services [I] believe government
should provide responsible for their failure to do so." Having directed a
volunteer program for nearly eight years before coming to the LAC, I am
very humbled by the work of literacy volunteers, and I recognize profoundly
the unique role volunteers can play in the lives of literacy students and
in the strengthening of their communities. At the same time, I also
believe that there are fundamental human rights and basic human needs that
all governments -- and particularly the government of the richest nation in
the history of the planet -- are responsible for providing, and that
education is one of those rights, and literacy is one of those needs.
I would like to believe that this tragedy/travesty could provide an
opportunity to advocate for greater literacy funding in the name of a
stronger public sector that addresses the fundamental inequities and
injustices embedded in our social, economic, and political systems. Having
tried for many years now to make the case for literacy funding in the name
of better serving the market, perhaps this is a moment that we can make the
case for literacy funding in the name of better serving the people.
From: KSmith1 at aol.com
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 09:51:15 EDT
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Racism and literacy: what can we do?
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Ira,
A very interesting and compelling response. In my opinion you are correct,
it is less about the cause than the effect. However, it is often critical
to identify the cause to change the result. In the case of government's
failure to respond adequately to the needs of its citizenry in crisis if
race and poverty are causes, the effect is likely to be the same in similar
situations unless and until those issues are addressed.
I am confused about your transition to adult literacy. Does government
fail to respond adequately because volunteers and the private sector have?
Or do volunteers and the private sector respond because government has not?
To hold those offering the services you believe government should provide
responsible for their failure to do so is, in my opinion, illogical at best.
Government has failed to respond to the needs of the people in the Gulf
Coast and the needs of adults with low literacy and language needs. Do you
honestly believe that if volunteers and the private sector did nothing that
government's response would improve in either case?
Unless students can pay, or someone else is willing to pay, for the
services students demand there will never be a for profit market supply. A
fundamental responsibility of government is to create supply for demand
that will not be responded to by the private market (because there is no
profit) and is deemed necessary to the health and well being of the
community. A government attempting to shift this responsibility is
abdicating its own.
Historically our government has had a most inadequate response to the needs
of adult with low literacy and language skills. Some administrations have
overtly lauded the efforts of the volunteer and private sectors to claim
that they were responding; avoid spending political or financial capital
and distract the field from focusing on demanding a better response. We
need to be careful not to fall for this ruse.
Kevin Smith
Executive Director
Literacy New York, Inc
777 Maryvale Dr.
Buffalo, New York 14225
voice: 716-631-5282
fax: 716-631-0657
e-mail: ksmith1 at aol.com
Ira Yankwitt, Director
Professional Development /
NYC Regional Adult Education Network
Literacy Assistance Center
32 Broadway, 10th Floor
NY, NY 10004
(212) 803-3356
iray at lacnyc.org
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It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming an educated person, the enormous interest it adds to life. To be able to be caught up into the world of thought -- that is to be educated.
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