NLA: Citizenship and Civic Participation

[David J Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

There is an exciting discussion taking place on the NIFL-ESL list about
citizenship and civic participation.  

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If you want to read the messages already posted in this discussion thread,
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Here is a message I posted as part of the discussion, which may be of
interest.

David J. Rosen, NLA List Moderator

-------------------------------------
NIFL-ESL Colleagues,

On Mon, 8 Jun 1998, Fran Keenan wrote:
 
> What does citizenship mean and how do we teach it beyond  "teaching
> to" the INS test? How do we teach about civic participation? Is that
> part of our job as adult ESL educators? 

In some states, adult learners visit the state capitol at least annually
to express their views on such issues as funding for adult literacy,
welfare downsizing, legislation affecting immigrants, and other issues
which may directly and deeply affect them. The way we usually do it in
Massachusetts is to have a rally on the State House steps, with speakers,
sometimes with petitions, too.  Often, adult learners are among the
speakers.  After the rally, instead of dispersing, adult learners and
practitioners visit their Senators and Representatives in their offices.
Sometimes they see the legislator, sometimes an aide.  For many students
and teachers, this is the first time in their lives they have spoken to an
elected official, and they are frequently impressed that representatives
and their aides will take the time to listen to them.  In many of the
countries from which students come, talking to policy makers is
unthinkable.

Back in the classroom, or on the bus home, students and teachers
talk about what they think this accomplished, what this has meant to
them.  Usually it is has been a moving experience.  Sometimes the talk
goes on for days.

After one such visit, a student who spoke openly to his legislator about
the need for more adult literacy services said, "In my country they would
have shot me for doing this."  It was a poignant reminder of what a
privilege it is to live in a democracy, that many who come here seek not
only economic opportunity but political freedom, for example freedom of
expression.  _Civic participation_ is a bland phrase to measure a
phenomenon as profound and powerful as this. 

One such recent visit by ESOL students from the Community Learning Center
in Cambridge,Massachusetts is recorded on an adult learning Web site
called E-Square (part of the Metro Boston Community Wide Education and
Information Service) at:

http://www2.wgbh.org/mbcweis/esquare/meet.htm

Click *Visit to the Statehouse*

This is also a great example of how to integrate civic participation,
project-based learning, and technology.

David J. Rosen
<DJRosen at world.std.com>