[NLA] Volunteers and credentials

[Fay, Mary Jayne]

Jose:  
Thank you for mentioning stereotypes.  I'd hate to think that our K-12
system is littered with incompetent teachers just because they have teaching
credentials.  The K-12 system has some very fine teachers.  Also, just
because someone knows their subject matter doesn't necessarily mean that
they can teach.  (I'll use my history professor as an example of someone who
clearly knew his subject but only knew how to lecture and belittle his
students.)
 
Does this mean that all of our ABE teachers are good teachers?  Just as with
K-12 and higher ed there are some ABE teachers who clearly need to improve
their teaching skills and/or need to improve their subject matter knowledge.
 
Back to the thread of this discussion, is credentialing a way to achieve
better ABE teachers?  If so, what would that credential look like?
 
Mary Jayne Fay
Mass. ABE Licensure Coordinator
 

-----Original Message-----
From: LitNetJose at aol.com [mailto:LitNetJose at aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 7:23 PM
To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
Subject: Re: [NLA] Volunteers and credentials


Dear Partners: 

Here is what I am reading and inferring from recent postings related to
credentials and volunteers: 

1.  People with experience may or not have credentials to do a job better
than others. 

2.  People with credentials may or may not have the knowledge and ability to
do a job competently. 

3.  Volunteers who have experience, who produce, who are effective, and who
have no credentials are really not experienced or effective at all.  In
fact, what they are is "nice, well-intentioned ladies"! 

There are a lot of things wrong with recent postings.  Mostly, they are
filled with convenient stereotypes and other inaccuracies.  I just pray that
there are only a few in our field who believe them!   

There was a period, over a decade ago, when "some" of the stereotypes that
are carelessly and irresponsibly shared on the listserve with adult
educators and literacy professionals, occasionally had a semblance of
relevance.  In the past fifteen years, the field, AS A WHOLE, has become
more experienced and informed.  WE are the "experts" in the field.  All of
us have been lifted by the initiative.  That's why it becomes harder and
harder to put on relevant literacy and ABE conferences:  We know "this
stuff" and are in need of new information and best practices. 

I am not clear about what the service issues are in El Paso.  It has not
been a challenge in my community to set up quality community based literacy
organizations when the community...the volunteers or whatever you want to
call them...have interest.   

None of the programs which I have served by technical assistance...are
Laubach programs.  I am not even sure what that is anymore..because it is
just a name...and, for some, an image that some love to embrace to support
philosophy.  This "imaging" is certainly an injustice to many programs,
Laubach, LVA, or non-affiliated, that have historically demonstrated
successful instruction and results.   

Yes...new and established community-based literacy programs can rely upon
volunteers, inside and outside of the community.  And, yes, they get
results.  The reality is that the scarcity of community based literacy
programs is felt everywhere.  The fact is, we need more of them and more
investments by communities and community members...which means more
volunteers. 

Some communities rely upon  volunteers for virtually every aspect of their
functioning existence.  And while we could use more funds for fire
departments, community safety, literacy and more, volunteers are delivering
like professionals in more places than in literacy. 

There are many reasons why people volunteer.  Our society has issues and
shortcomings...and our people are good enough to respond to these
shortcomings, not because they need to "appease" their "moral sense"...but
because there is a need...and filling that need is rewarding, helpful,
changes lives, and affects generations.   

We need FEWER perspectives that assign limitations to what is humanly and
humanely possible. 

More about credentials/assumed credentials, intellectualism, and the NLA
listserve: 

Just because you have access to the NLA list serve and make
submissions...does not mean you are qualified for anything.  It just means
you have access and make submissions. 

Let's get real, again, huh?  We have work to do.  The divisiveness is just
killing me.  Those who have been paying attention know, and might even
acknowledge that the second-class status given to community-based
organizations has already backfired on the field.  Our numbers are
down...and it is not because there are fewer programs...but partially
because the service cultures are clashing unnecessarily.   

How can we advance the field and affect policy while lopping off our own
arms and legs?   

We will surely bleed to death by carving our initials into our own hearts.


The NLA brings very experienced and well-meaning people together.  ALL OF
THEM ARE VOLUNTEERS.  The discussions here have unfortunately deteriorated
to smoldering ashes.  The people who initiated it and who committed good
sense to it deserve much better.   

Jose 



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