NLA Duscussion: These truths are self-evident, but are they?

[David Heath]

This is a message that supports the "commonwealth" model that
Catherine and George are suggesting as fundamental by indicating
how rights and responsibilities may factor in this model, as well as
intrinsic and extrinsic values.

George, you summarize Catherine's position as follows:

What I hear Catherine arguing through many messages and to which
I agree, is that if we believe that adult basic education is a foundational
right in a democracy not only in support of individual rights, but for the
strength of the democracy itself, then another imagery congruent with
this, is not only feasible, but eminently desirable--the imagery of the
"commonwealth" based on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
in the quest to promote the public good, particularly through the
flourishing
of self and local community (our mediating institutions). Though we
obviously need durable and well constructed organizations (taking a leaf
from the business metaphor), what is central is their purpose--the
building up of the citizenry through enlighten education and the promotion
of the public good, including the support and nurturing the organizations
which provide this valued work. From this vantagepoint adult literacy
organizations are not clients of the state, but local agents of the
political culture in the carrying out of its primary
mission--strengthening democracy through the body politic.

I agree with this summary statement and would suggest that this
vision is not only desirable, but is also one that will lay the needed
foundation for the continued realization of individual persons and
community life.

This position may be further explained and supported by a concept
of rights/responsibilities and intrinsic/extrinsic value.

Individuals are of value in themselves.  Education is of value in
itself for any individual who enters into it.  Neither needs be a means
for something else.  That is, the encounter of an individual with
education is a relation that need not extend itself beyond its own
immediacy. The relation is whole-itself and has intrinsic value.
Nevertheless, individual rights or educational rights are not an
individual luxury, something extra to be given or not, but the
<necessary conditions> to maintain the wholeness and autonomy of
individual persons.  Increasing individual rights and freedom permit the
opportunity to deepen individual personhood.  The right to educational
opportunity is a necessary right to maintain the integrity of individuals.

However, individuals and education do not exist in isolation, but live,
thrive, depend upon and exist within an environment of others.  In a
community.  In this sense they are part of a greater whole.  And in this
sense, individuals and education are of value to others.  Both are a
means to something else.  They are a part of a greater whole and
have instrumental or extrinsic value to that greater whole.  And again,
individual responsibility or educational responsibility is not something
that can be taken on or not, but the <necessary condition> to maintain
the wholeness and autonomy of the group or community.  Increasing
individual responsibility and freedom permit the opportunity to deepen
culture and community.  The responsibility for educational opportunity
is a necessary responsibility for maintaining the integrity of community.

We may not simply be discussing whether we as a community should
change the <metaphor> or not, but may be arguing for the very foundations
of individual and community integrity, as well as the necessary conditions
for the survival, health, general welfare, and continued deepening of
spirit and society.

Sincerely,

David Heath
Odessa College
dheath at apex2000.net












---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To UNSUBSCRIBE FROM the NLA list, send an e-mail message to
majordomo at world.std.com
Skip the header. In the body of the message type (only) unsubscribe nla

To SUBSCRIBE TO the NLA list, send an e-mail to majordomo at world.std.com
Skip the header. In the body of the message type (only) subscribe nla
---------------------------------------------------------------------------