[AAACE-NLA] Changing the end point of adult education

[Andrea Wilder]

Art---

Thanks for reminding me of the  reality in your neck of the woods.

Andrea
On Mar 6, 2006, at 10:18 AM, Art LaChance wrote:

> Indulge me for a minute here and let me tell you what can happen when 
> the
> community colleges assume ownership and control of the community based
> literacy programs - simply based on the fact that they are big-brother.
>
> a) Some vague percentage of adult literacy funding is diverted so as to
> support big brother thereby cutting basic adult literacy staff and 
> class
> availability.
> b) Literacy services are reorganized to fit more closely with "managed
> enrollment" - complete with mandated attendance requirements and 
> progress
> standards without much regard for student needs.
> c) Computer based curriculum delivery systems designed for the low 
> level
> learner are disabled - curriculum delivery is shifted to teacher led
> standard classroom scenario, with specific subjects only taught at 
> specific
> intervals.
> d) The structure of the classroom delivery is based on the "Quarter" 
> system
> further limiting class availability and setting a concrete progress 
> system
> in place.
> e) Potential GED students must have the wherewithal and motivation to 
> move
> on into credit course land and have designs on returning to work 
> following
> completion of a course of study that leads to diploma.
> f)  And for the prize winner: Literacy services, funded by federal 
> funds,
> are no longer available for the "Low Level Learner", or more 
> specifically:
> all applicants must be within 12 months of receiving the GED - as 
> determined
> by standardized assessment upon entry into the program.
>
> I could go on for a while but......These are the primary issues that 
> have
> come about in this neck of the woods during the last 18 months.
> The changes were seen by staff and the local organization's board of
> directors as so out of touch with the original purpose of the community
> based literacy program/services that a divorce from that community 
> college
> was highly encouraged and took place two months ago.  Unfortunately and
> needlessly this 501C3 program was set back over 20 years in terms of
> material losses.  BUT we've been able to continue services and 
> currently
> have over 40 students since mid Jan - and the "low level learners" 
> still
> love us, even tho they're sitting on the floor cause we ain't got no
> furniture.
>
> The clincher?  Over the last 6 months everybody in the state chain of
> command up to/including senate and representative levels have been made
> aware of the happenings and to date no acknowledgement has been sensed.
>
> So ya'll be careful out there - y'hear ?
>
> Art
>
>
> Art LaChance
> Program Director
> Gilmer Learning Ctr Inc
> Ellijay, GA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrea Wilder" <andreawilder at comcast.net>
> To: <corwins at literacypartners.org>; "National Literacy Advocacy List
> sponsored by AAACE" <aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 2:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Changing the end point of adult education
>
>
> I think yours is the better idea,actually--having the community
> colleges reach out.  We need these linkages.
>
> Andrea
> On Mar 5, 2006, at 12:54 PM, Corwin Spivey wrote:
>
>> This idea while an interesting approach jeopardizes smaller agencies
>> ability to obtain public funding to run their programs. Many adults
>> are intimidated by being in large classroom settings that would happen
>> in college settings like is suggested here. The better approach would
>> be to encourage community colleges to link with smaller agencies
>> providing an avenue for those adults who want to move on to post
>> secondary education the ability to transition smoothly.
>> Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>
>> Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2006 07:27:39
>> To:National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by
>> AAACE<aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
>> Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Changing the end point of adult education
>>
>> David, others--
>>
>> A shift to "more than high school" suggests that many adult literacy
>> programs should be institutionalized, specifically by putting them 
>> into
>> community colleges, following the line of research that CAAL has set
>> out.
>>
>> In  this way, adult education programs could be aligned with
>> institutional goals and strategic state  goals for economic
>> development.
>>
>> Besides this gain, there are at least 2 others:
>> 1) an articulated system of adult education, linked up a chain;
>>
>> 2) economies of scale would help provide additional services like job
>> placement and  child care on site.
>>
>> This would not mean cutting out other places where adult literacy is
>> taught--churches, community centers, job sites.  But it would support
>> the idea that some people want to continue on in  their own education,
>> past what can be obtained in smaller  programs not linked to
>> institutions.  It also supports the idea that people need retraining 
>> to
>> fit into a global environment..
>>
>> Andrea
>
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