NLA Discussion: Metaphor

[Senitila McKinley]

Hi all;

  I have been watching this discussing for a while and think it is time to
join in.  This response is not to argue the many good points that have been
made nor to discourage the good works many of you are doing.  It is only to
viice a concern.
  I am concerned about the way Adult learners, especially the way ESL
students are refered to as, "Confused co-dependent, undependable, impatient"
and worst of all,"not appreciative of the free education which is provided
to them."   
  The bonding issue raised here concerns me, because in  public schools
students are with a teacher for a whole year, and move to the next grade and
bonding hardly becomes an issue.  Though, some studies show that it is
best for students to have the same teacher for a long period of time.  I
believe this is true in any setting where we expect learning to take
place.  Remember, it takes two people for any bonding to take place.  The
question that comes to mind is, which one of the two is unwilling to
change, the teacher or the learner?   Speakers of other languages seem to
take the beating in the area of Adult Education, as women on Welfare are
blamed for our countries debts.  I think that this is very unfair. 

Senitila McKinley 
<melemck at teleport.com>





At 08:09 AM 4/11/97 -0600, you wrote:
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>Dominique,
>
>This is another example of program differences.  In most of our programs,
>especially ESL, students may stay with a simgle level and instructor for 6
>months to a year.  This leads to some bonding that is both helpful and
>harmful.  It is helpful if it keeps the student attending and reduces their
>affective barriers to learning.  It is harmful if as one program bragged "Our
>students don't want to be promoted because they don't want to leave their
>teacher'.  This is definitely not healthy for student or teacher as the bond
>is not based on learning. Very interesting.  
>
>Jan S. 
>------------------------------
>Date: 4/10/97 5:42 PM
>To: Stotts, Janet
>From: nla at facteur.std.com
>
>
>Janet, Interesting analogy! However isn't a good mom or Dad someone who 
>sends you on your way and teaches you to be independent?.. Teaching our 
>students to be independent learners esp. with low literacy ,low educ. 
>backgrounds students is as much of a feat as it is to teach the rudiments 
>of literacy.  Also program leaders or coordinators may view the program 
>as their "baby" but as teachers, every ten weeks (or less for some 
>programs), we get a new batch and there is little time or inclination to 
>claim ownership for the student's learning. 
>
>Dominique
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