[NLA] Celebrating 35 Years of the AELS

[Thomas Sticht]

Celebrating 35 Years of the Adult Education & Literacy System (AELS)
of the United States of America
Tom Sticht

In February I announced a speaking tour of six cities in the U. S.
celebrating the 35 years of the growth of the AELS from the passaging of
the Adult Education Act of FY 1967 to FY 2002. I am now one half of the
way through the tour with talks in New York (April 12), San Francisco
(April 30, May 1), and Las Cruces, New Mexico (June 22).  Altogether, over
450 hundred adults have heard about the AELS as I’ve made the case for
considering it the third branch of public education in the U.S.

Following my talk at the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, David Godsted,
Executive Director of the NMCL told me that he had heard many good
comments about the talk. It is gratifying to meet colleagues who are
members of the NLA list in person to say hello and exchange ideas. It is
also heartening to learn that so many people are anxious to learn more
about the AELS and the results of research that has provided important
lessons for adult literacy education practice and advocacy.  Now its on to
three more cities by the end of October. Following is a list of dates,
places and contacts for those interested in attending any of the remaining
three presentations.

August 13, Breezy Point, Minnesota
Deborah Simmons,  St. Thomas University
dasimmons at stthomas.edu

October 18, Seattle, Washington
Delight Willing,  Seattle University
dwilling at seattleu.edu

October 23, Marlborough, Massachusetts
Charlie Houghton,  Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education
charlie at mcae.net

PS: I have been constantly reminded as I have visited with adult educators
in these different cities of just how little is known about the AELS as an
adult education system, especially by hundreds of volunteer tutors who are
good citizens engaged in benevolent educational activities. Most of the
ones I have spoken with have very little, if any, understanding of the
Adult Education System of the United States. My guess is that they are not
unlike millions of other adults in our nation. Clearly there is a need for
a massive effort to educate both adult educators and the public in general
about the AELS, what it does, who it serves, how to access it, and why
additional support is needed.




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