[NLA] Discussion: AELS and Higher Ed

[LVAready@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/6/02 9:18:08 AM Mountain Standard Time, 
eileeneckert at hotmail.com writes:

<< I'm not arguing for universal administration of AELS through the community 
 college system, or any other entity. I believe both Nancy and Dixie that it 
 wouldn't be a good idea in their states. But please have the courtesy to 
 consider that it may work in other states, and your experience is not the 
 only one.
  >>
I have enjoyed reading about the different ways that AELS programs are 
configured. In my own defense, I wish to point out that I never suggested all 
states should be the same, or that my experiences should be generalized to 
all states. I simply feel that changing horses in midstream would not be in 
the best interest of the AELS system in Montana. I also believe that the 
"right" answer for large rural states is not likely to be the "right" answer 
for smaller, more populous states. The perfect system needs to be flexible 
enough to work in different locations or through different delivery models. 
(Jon Randall made the point that it is difficult to craft a national system 
when different areas have very different characteristics.)

As I read through the flurry of responses to this topic, I wondered why I 
ever stopped being a lurker and actually posted a message. As soon as I read 
the first post from Eileen Eckert in response to my post, I wanted to send a 
message assuring everyone that I valued all voices and did not expect my view 
to fit well in all places. Then, Nancy Hansen chimed in with another voice 
from a rural state. About then, the views posted seemed to "take sides."  
Huh?  I thought only our local valley was filled with people who seek to 
polarize every discussion into two "sides" with a vast area of distance 
between the extreme views. Dialogue needs to include multiple perspectives, 
not two opposing viewpoints.

Thanks for listening.

Dixie Stark
LVAbitroot at aol.com
Hamilton, MT
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