[AAACE-NLA] FCE and Workforce Development

[Debbie Yoho]

many thanks to Sandy, Cyndy and David Rosen for responding to my inquiry re:  FCE.

It is interesting to see that the term "FCE",  just like "literacy" and "adult education", mean slightly different things to different people, with overlaps, not necessarily contradictions.

I am familiar with both WIN and WorkKeys.  Part of my question was designed to seek out an FCE program that helps individuals who score so low (below Level 3) on Work Keys that they are turned away from FCE programs.  Such individuals, when I test them, almost always demonstrate severe learning disabilities and score BELOW grade equilvalent 3rd grade.  Some do not know the alphabet. One group has been diagnosed developmentally delayed (euphemism for mentally retarded) although some of them demonstrate better reading skills than others who are said to be of average intelligence.  All come from deprived backgrounds, have very limited oral vocabularies, and know little of the world beyond what they see on television.  

I suspect the One Stop, the community colleges, and the public adult ed programs send these learners to us because there is no where else to refer them. That's fine with me.  We can help many of them learn to read.  But I am left scratching my head when I am challenged to think this is not good enough, that AT THE SAME TIME I should be teaching a marketable skill.

Tom made reference in his essay to  a review he did in 1987 of "50 years of research in the US Dept. of Defense" on how to re-design programs.  Tom, does the review include the "how-to" actually do it?  If not, can you point me in another direction?  

I am personally a life-long military dependent married to a military man.  I know the Dept. of Defense (at least the Marines) has worked with people who can barely read at all, teaching them to do incredible things, improving their reading at the same time.    But is there a way to pull off such a miracle SHORT OF  a 24 hour a day residential education/training program that has no access barriers and is in the context of learning first that a lack of motivation is just not an option?  Even if the cost were no object, does the model exist?  If the model is the military, or maybe Job Corps, (with a complete lack of sarcasm) I honestly ask if we should be lobbying for enough funds to create residential training/education centers across the country, along with the funds to support the living expenses of those in training while they are learning? 

I know I sound defensive, but my heart is sincerely still looking for this Holy Grail, even though I  suspect it is not out there.  I have just finished studying the ETS report "The Perfect Storm" (thanks to David Rosen) and I think the problem I am pinpointing is the eye of this hurricane that will eventually swamp us all. 

Debbie Yoho
Division Director, Turning Pages
(formerly the Greater Columbia Literacy Council)
a community service of Volunteers of America Carolinas
803-765-2555 fax 803-799-8417
2728 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205
yohogclc at earthlink.net
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
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