[NLA] WIA and TANF

[Tricia Donovan]

Deborah-
I couldn't agree more with your comments about TANF. 
Tricia

----------
>From: "Deborah Schwartz" <deborah at alri.org>
>To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
>Subject: Re: [NLA] WIA and TANF
>Date: Mon, May 20, 2002, 8:41 AM
>

> Tricia,
> I would often hear from adult learners, many of whom were "welfare
> recipients" how they yearned to be in the workforce. As you and many others
> have suggested that was often one of the driving motivations for returning
> to school. But I also learned from my students two important realities about
> their work goals and experience: 1. That many, if not all of those who were
> collecting welfare had been working on and off for years. In fact, they had
> been and I imagine, still are, part of a temporary and transient workforce.
> 2. These students craved work that would move them out of dependence and
> poverty-- full time, benefited work where they could truly care for
> themselves and their family.
>
> The current trend in TANF reauthorization has been one that forces welfare
> recipients, including many of our adult learners into the workforce without
> helping them acquire the necessary literacy skills and credentials (i.e. The
> GED and then higher ed. degrees)  to support them to reach their dreams for
> self-sufficiency, and to move out of poverty. In other words, the move out
> of poverty and into self-sufficiency is not just a move into any kind of
> work available. There are many folks who work hard, more than full-time, but
> because of the conditions in which they work, because of their literacy
> levels and the more demanding and specialized private sector job market
> still remain in poverty. We want policy that supports our goals of helping
> adult learners move into meaningful, benefited, stable and well-paid work.
> Right now the fairly silenced voice of activists and some liberal
> legislators who are trying to maintain language in the TANF reauthorization
> that will provide somekind of commitment to education as a stepping stone to
> well--paid and secure work opportunities is what we are struggling for.
> Deborah Schwartz
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tricia Donovan" <triciad at crocker.com>
> To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 11:53 AM
> Subject: Re: [NLA] WIA and TANF
>
>
>> Jay -
>> Just a quick note about your statement that " 'work first' comes from the
>> business community". Sometimes the desire for work first emanates from the
>> learners themselves who simply aren't making it on welfare and/or are
> tired
>> of the nosey nature of welfare bureaucracies. This means educators face
>> challenges to "education first" from two directions.
>> Tricia Donovan
>> TERC
>>
>> ----------
>> >From: JCretella at aol.com
>> >To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
>> >Subject: Re: [NLA] WIA and TANF
>> >Date: Sat, May 18, 2002, 10:05 AM
>> >
>>
>> > Christy, Thank you for clarifying the welfare discussion based on your
>> > attendance at the committee hearng. The "educate first...then work"
> attitude
>> > has  always been the position of advocates  in the field . The pressure
> to
>> > "work first" comes from the business community which often does not want
> to
>> > recognize the "basic education" issue. Some simply do not understand the
>> > issues/ others in business simply don't want to face the issues because
> of
>> > their $$ which might be needed.
>> > I am concerned about how adult education is being considered by this
>> > administration. I don't think dismanteling is going on but rather a
> radical
>> > reorganization of structure and process. It is now that we have to be
> more
>> > vigilant and involved with our contacts, fax, letters and e-mails...
>> > Just a personal opinion about the suggestion to rename the adult
> education
>> > legislation in honor of the Kennedy clan...not a good idea. They may
> have
>> > contributed but there are others more worthy of that kind of
>> > recognition...e.g. Goodling, Sawyer to name two...The other
> consideration
>> > would be the added political  issue which would probably be raised...The
>> > Congress will spend too much time arguing the name rather than the
>> > content...And this come from a John Kennedy admirerer . I was one of the
>> > first Peace Corps volunteers (just so I won't be accused of playing
> politics).
>> > We need to keep the pressure on , despite our frustrations, concerns and
>> > seeming lack of success...
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>
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