[NLA] Discussion: Should the NCL make Andy Hartman's proposal a priority?

[ruth & duane rankin]

            Hello to the list--

            This is my first response to the list, as I have been trying to
pick up the thread among the posts--and after thinking about the information
that both Andy and Alice Johnson provided plus this one from Federico, I
want to add a few thoughts...

            Andy and Alice certainly are close to the real world of
Washington politics so their insight is very important, and over the years
has proven to be very valuable.  However, Federico makes a point that is
critical, at least in my way of thinking--and that is that if the research
and dissemination money is appropriated to NIFL it gives a very valuable
tool to the Institute to use in ways that would encourage the broader
Lifelong Learning agenda as Adult Educators have come to understand it, and
to the concept of family Literacy/Education as Bill Goodling and others have
spawned Even Start efforts...so my thinking would be to take the money and
utilize it within the perspective of Adlult and Family Education/Even Start
as a vehicle to influence from our perspective the thinking and action of
"youth educators"

            On a related note, this discussion brings to the table a key
point, and that is the importance of Adult Education and Literacy having an
effective and common message AND an effective vehicle for speaking for "the
field".  A few years ago Sam Halperin delivered a rousing challenge-one that
was absolutely on target--to the National Leadership Conference in
Washington (convened be AAACE).  His challenge was that AAACE should gather
a group of "external folks" of good reputation to develop the requirements
for being "educated and able to function well at the turn of the Century"
and then to utilize those requirements to make the case in each state and at
the National level for the necessary funding to greatly expand the Adult
Education delivery system in order for all citizens to be able to achieve
this goal.  The discussion would shift from why adult ed programs need the
money to why society needs all citizens to pursue their full potential for
the benefit of an educated populace--and a functional society.  And he
hammered that charge at AAACE because it was the only umbrella organization
at the National level that had the broad scope of responsibility for the
education of all adults.

            Well, as Paul Harvey, the rest of that story as you probably
know is that AAACE not only did not rise to Sam's challenge, but there was
no other umbrella group that had such a charge within its purpose...so the
challenge died, the Century "turned", and we do not have the work of such an
independent group to use in making the case for an educated populace.  Not
only did the challenge lie dead, but whatever effective voice Adult
Education had at the National level continued to wither and become more
confused in both message and effectiveness.

            The Coalition came together to take up at least part of the need
for a common and accurate message and an effective voice, and most of the
current discussion on this List illustrates how far we are as a filed from
both the message and the effective voice.  I do not in any way want to take
away from the efforts of a number of people are trying to get this to
happen, but the question remains-and becomes more obviously painful in the
current discussions--What should "we" do and how should we do it.

            And this takes me back to an excellent small book written (and
revised) by Mr. Halperin entitled "Power For the Powerless-and those who
don"t know their own power" in which he uses for illustration the Chinese
saying that "you don't dig the well after the house is on fire"...This is
must reading for anyone who is asking the questions-what is the message-and
how can we exercise our power for the field that we love so much.

            The energy is here at the national level and in state affiliates
and memberships; the need is here to craft the common message for an
educated populace; and the time is here to put the power behind the message.
Is the leadership here to "take charge" and lead?

            Duane Rankin
----- Original Message -----
From: Salas, Federico <Federico.Salas at nhmccd.edu>
To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 5:19 PM
Subject: RE: [NLA] Discussion: Should the NCL make Andy Hartman's proposal a
priority?


> Andy's proposal deserves our attention, if nothing else for the
professional
> trust he inspires in the field.  I, for one, have been reading every
posting
> to the list regarding his proposal while trying to make up my mind.  But
> before I endorse the proposal, I would like to ask what "in the real
world"
> may just be a rhetorical question.
>
> Consider Andy's statement:
>
> "I still believe that in the proper climate, an NIFL focusing on literacy
> across the lifespan was in a better position to lead and grow.for adult,
> family, adolescent, and children's literacy.  But for this to occur and
work
> in the real world, there needs to be respect and support for ALL the
> elements.otherwise the balance is lost as is the work and leadership."
>
> Would it be better to work on garnering that "respect and support for ALL
> the elements..." rather than work on a proposal to give back to DOE the
> research and dissemination money (and with it the focus on K-3 ed)?   Is
it
> possible, in the current climate, to generate enough field support to make
> sure that the vision of a "cradle to grave" literacy shop continues as a
> reality worth pursuing?  Or are things so bad that a divorce is absolutely
> inevitable?  Being the type that I am, when things are most difficult is
> when I want to "fight" from within (that is maintain the larger vision and
> fight for balance between the different interests.)  However, those of you
> closer to the political climate in Washington may have a more "realistic"
> outlook.
>
> To me, Andy's proposal is both very important and very disturbing.
> Important in that it may be our only chance to give NIFL its original
vision
> back.  Disturbing in that it seems to indicate, in the opinion of a very
> respected professional, that there is currently no chance of "maintaining
> [the] balance" between the literacy of our children and the literacy needs
> of their parents.
>
> I would welcome more feedback.
>
> Federico Salas-Isnardi
> Director of Adult Education
> Corporate and Continuing Education Division
> North Harris College
> 16416 Northchase Dr. #200
> Houston, TX 77060
> (281) 618-1170 -voice (281) 618-1179 -fax
> federico.salas at nhmccd.edu
>
> "Educating Our Global Community"
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David J. Rosen [mailto:DJRosen at theworld.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 12:01 PM
> To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
> Subject: [NLA] Discussion: Should the NCL make Andy Hartman's proposal a
> priority?
>
>
> NLA Colleagues,
>
> I hear the beginning of a groundswell of support for NIFL retaining (and
> strengthening) its focus on adult literacy. I think Andy's proposal
> should be taken very seriously.  I welcome hearing from others on the
> NLA list who have not spoken.  Do you think the National Coalition for
> Literacy should make Andy's proposal one of their top priorities?
>
> David J. Rosen
> NLA List Moderator
>
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