[NLA] Useof the term "AELS"

[Nancy Hansen]

Just can't help myself, Deb.  Have to respond.  
Your wrote:
<<  thought I remembered a thread on this list some time back when listers were asked for ideas on what to name the adult ed system, and that AELS was Tom Sticht's contribution. I do not accept, Tom, that one person can name a national program. ... using the term AELS, without further adjectives, sometimes alienates those literacy providers who do not receive WIA funds, as if they are not part of a "system", and therefore not legitimate or to be considered as part of an advocacy effort. >>
 
Agreed.  I remember the thread and I remember offering <my> input about the name. Reading on the NLA that one person named our field <was> a turn-off to me.  At the time the AELS moniker came to be, our Literacy Council was receiving DoE funds.  Isn't now, though.  But at the time, I felt my opinion mattered, so I marked and sent the survey back.  I believe an effort was made on at least two listservs to gather input about what the subscribers felt "the field" should be called.  
 
I also agree with you regarding the use of AELS without prefacing it with the "WIA-funded" adjective.  I'm feeling as though the AELS is almost an exclusionary "society" where the Bad Brother is shunned as an unworthy member of the "family" if they aren't linked to the WIA by dollar-signs.  And I think some on the NLA feel we don't deserve their attention or respect because of that.  However - naw!  Leave that soapbox back there in the corner!  It's Christmas.  
 
You were right.  My personal sense is: "Our WIA unsupported program doesn't count and isn't important." I believe that some think the big picture is reflected in the exclusionary AELS <only>.  I feel it is wrong for those who take the numbers shown as reported by just the AELS programs to draft their own reports which in <turn> are submitted to national, influential organizations -- unless the report is footnoted with a "by the way there are programs outside the system who serve adult learners, too." Those reporter-authorities are doing an injustice to people like me - to students like mine.  The AELS "numbers served" are not <real> numbers of the actual people receiving instructional help nationwide.  
 
I am guessing, but I think there are a healthy number of educational programs out there which serve very capably adults needing higher level literacy skills.  They scramble for every dime of funding they can secure from other sources in part because of the lack of financial commitment from the WIA.  Their students aren't "in the count" because they aren't part of an official AELS entity. Yet that AELS number has taken on a God-like image in the eyes of decision-makers. 
 
My program is not one of "The Society".  Perhaps I should be "kicked off to the curb", as one of my readers will say sometimes.  Maybe I shouldn't be speaking on issues as an advocate either.  After all, this Council isn't legitimate.  So guess my comments aren't either. 
 
Thank you, Deb, for responding.  I wasn't going to, but seeing that I wasn't alone in my opinion gave me the courage to write my comments, too. 

Happy Holidays!

Nancy Hansen

ProLiteracy America affiliate

Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council

sfallsliteracy at yahoo.com

 

 "Deborah W. Yoho" <dwyoho at earthlink.net> wrote:
 thought I remembered a thread on this list some time back when listers were asked for ideas on what to name the adult ed system, and that AELS was Tom Sticht's contribution. I do not accept, Tom, that one person can name a national program. I understand you means ONLY those receiving WIA funds, and I have heard your arguments regarding this. Speaking only for myself, I think using the term AELS, without further adjectives, sometimes alienates those literacy providers who do not receive WIA funds, as if they are not part of a "system", and therefore not legitimate or to be considered as part of an advocacy effort. I feel the system as described in "Leading from the Middle", which includes actually six sectors within an adult ed and literacy system, is far more inclusive and accurate. Howver, Tom has a point regarding confusion. For my part, I shall use the terms "AELS" adding the adjectives "WIA-funded" when speaking of only WIA programs, and just the vague term "system" when talking with colleagues about lifelong learning programs when I mean all providers (direct and in-direct), which is most of the time. When I read "AELS" in Tom's posts, I'll assume he means WIA-funded, as he certainly has a right to define his own terms in his own offerings. Incidentally, I did not "vote" for the term "AELS" when it was discussed on this list, and obviously the term has not been accepted by a number of national entities as meaning only WIA-funded.  The whole issue simply underscores the age-old problem of turfism within the family. I know that an acronymn is useful especially when dealing with outsiders, including political decision-makers. I receive WIA funds so I do not feel excluded when Tom makes an issue of this. But many do.  Tom, if there are specific issues related to advocacy that are raised if and when NCSALL or CAAL uses "AELS" in what you feel is an objectionable way, I'd like to hear what those issues are, for the good of the cause. (or if you've offered this before, please suggest some search terms for the archives, and I shall review your ideas there.) But everything I have read from either entity I interpret as an offering to the "system" as well as to the public, not just to the WIA-funded AELS, and the term is handy short-hand. If the only issue is the use of a term in a way different from how you individually would define it, this seems to me an unhelpful complaint.  Deborah W. YohoModerator, NIFL-Health Discussion GroupExecutive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council2728 Devine St. Columbia, SC 29205803-765-2555 dwyoho at earthlink.net  Deborah W. YohoModerator, NIFL-Health Discussion GroupExecutive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council2728 Devine St. Columbia, SC 29205803-765-2555 dwyoho at earthlink.net   

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