NLA Discussion: Advocates' talk

[JENNIE OLEARY]

I see some of this now.  I work for the Arizona Department of Corrections. =
 We have a mandatory literacy program for inmates who read below the 8th gr=
ade.  This is about 43% of our population.  About 23% of our population are=
 ESOL and over 80% does not have a high school diploma.

>>> Harriet Vardiman Smith <hsmith at coe.tamu.edu> 03/23 1:34 PM >>>

Art LaChance wrote from beautiful Ellijay, Georgia:
"I see three classes emerging;  the fortunate few, the minimum wage
earners, and the incarcerated.=20
Is there something I'm not seeing here??"

Sounds like a pretty reasonable perception/prediction to me.  The old
military-industrial complex is now joined by the correctional-industrial.
I've taken to prefacing remarks about long-term plans with "After the
revolution...". =20

But it is encouraging to know there are folks (like Art and many others)
who see, care about, and draw attention to the huge
social/cultural/educational/economic inequities hiding below the glossy
surface of what the media keep telling us are economic boom times. =20

Harriet Vardiman Smith
Materials/Research Coordinator
Texas Adult Literacy Clearinghouse

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