[NLA] What is advocacy, who are policy-makers?

[Debbie Yoho]

Sometimes I get the idea on this list that the term "advocacy" is used as a
euphemism for "lobbying", and that "policy-makers" means "politicians."  So
I ask sincerely, and I hope without any hint of any kind of unintended
"attitude", what is meant by the terms "advocacy", "policy" and
"policymakers" for the purposes of our list?  Specifically, does "advocacy"
include discussion that may be part of a search for a concensus among
practitioners about why and how we do the things we do?  In short, as we
"advocate" for this or that to one another, is this part of the purpose for
the list?  Also, sometimes I wonder if there is an unspoken double standard
when offering comments about instructional approaches and their application
to "policy".    Extensive offerings about sophisticated research reports
seems relevant; comments directly from classroom experience may be received
as "drifting" from discussion about "policy" and "advocacy".

I post these questions to encourage reflection about the listserv as a
communications forum, and frankly, to suggest a need for deeper awareness
of our individual points of reference.   


Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health  and
Executive Director
Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street,  Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net



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