NLA Discussion: voc training the sole purpose of adult ed?

[AhedOfGame at aol.com]

I would disagree with Andres' take on workplace literacy programs.  I've been 
setting up such programs through California Literacy for the past six years.  
While the programs are usually targeted to lower wage workers, the majority 
of employers I've dealt with have only undertaken the programs because they 
needed their employees to be able to take on more than entry-level dead end 
jobs.  They needed the employees to have higher technological skills, or to 
be able to grow within the company/organization, or to interact at higher 
skill levels.  And while the bulk of the content in such a program may be 
job, company, or industry specific (after all, few companies operate with 
non-profit motives), we never forget that we're teaching adults with their 
own sets of priorities and interests.  To get maximum "buy in" from the 
students, we have to demonstrate how content/skills will also benefit family, 
community, etc.

Carolyn Kingsnorth
Director, Workplace Learning Programs
California Literacy
AhedOfGame at aol.com