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Archie,<br><br>
So good to read and reflect upon your words. The message that you
sent to Illinois Adult educators at our annual conference this year was
powerful and passionate. I know that you are truly an advocate for
the enterprise of adult education. Bringing the voices of adult
education students to this list is very important to us. <br><br>
In Illinois we face serious funding short-falls and we are deeply
concerned. On Tuesday, April 30th, the Illinois Adult and
Continuing Educators Association hosted our Legislative Awareness
Day. Over 1100 students traveled to the Capitol in support of adult
education. Several student speakers shared their incites and sent
important messages to the policy makers. One such student advocate
was Manly Bowman from Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois.
Manly asked about you and then shared stories of your mutual interest in
the enterprise of adult education. Archie, you are appreciated by
so many of us. Be well my friend.<br><br>
peace,<br><br>
Chris<br><br>
At 06:07 PM 4/27/2002 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><b>NEW READERS OF IOWA
COALITION</b> <br>
<b>How We Can Improve Literacy in the United States</b> <br>
<b>April, 2002</b> <br><br>
The New Readers of Iowa Coalition met April 2, 2002. At this
meeting we discussed our history. <br>
Iowa has had a strong New Readers program for many years. The
reading instructional program began in earnest in 1986, adult educators
were taught methods for helping adults learn to read, and the program
began to grow. In 1990 the first New Readers Congress was held in
Des Moines, and that meeting has now become a tradition. For 12
straight years the new readers have come together to learn from each
other, to support each other, and to make their voices heard.
Following are some of the ways they have spoken. <br>
<br>
1. <b>Leadership development</b>. New readers have attended and
presented sessions on leadership. They have demonstrated those
skills by making presentations, going to schools to speak, traveling to
other states to attend conferences and meetings, and even working to
develop the national adult reading organization (VALUE). <br><br>
II. <b>Reading Activities</b>. New readers have gone to local
elementary schools, and have spoken to the children, and read with
them. Several times new readers have presented a session at the
Iowa Reading Conference, on the topic: What it is like for that child in
the back of the room. <br><br>
III. <b>Voting</b>. The new readers made an appointment with the
Iowa Secretary of State, and met with him for nearly 2 hours, sharing
their experiences when trying to vote or to get information about
voting. The Secretary met with the new readers at the Fall, 2001
conference, and the participants spent the day looking over ballots and
sharing their thoughts on those ballots. A summary of that activity
was forwarded to the Secretary. <br><br>
IV. <b>Self-Confidence</b>. Almost all the Iowa new readers report
a great increase in self-confidence. One of the shyer new readers
has taken over the summer care for her autistic grandson. She says
she never would have had the courage to do that without the new readers
group. <br><br>
V. <b>Better Jobs</b>. Several new readers have shared that they
were able to get higher paying jobs after gaining increased reading
skill. Others felt more secure in their present jobs, and were
better able to do what was asked of them. <br><br>
VI. <b>Behavior</b>. Some new readers reported improvement in
personal behavior. Because of the lack of skill, occasional
"bad behavior" made life more difficult for the new
readers. The new confidence they developed as their reading skills
increased made life more enjoyable for them and for those with whom they
live and work. <br><br>
<b>Other thoughts and comments from New Readers.</b> <br><br>
1. Sometimes people look at me funny when they find out I
can't read. I don't like that. <br><br>
2. In many places they won't hire you without a high school
diploma. I can do the work, I just can't get the job. <br><br>
3. Employers "Don't want you" if you can't
read. They seem to be scared of you, like it was catching.
<br><br>
4. If the children have trouble in school, it is important to
look at the whole family! <br><br>
5. Smaller student/teacher ratio makes learning easier.
The teachers have time to help you. <br><br>
6. Schools are graduating students who can't read. Then
they are adults who still can't read. It is like, now it isn't
<br>
the school's problem any more. <br>
<br>
7. It is really hard to take that first step, to say you
can't read and go in for help. It really shouldn't <br>
be something shameful. <br><br>
8. It is hard to know how to find help, where to go.
<br><br>
9. Look at a book with a blank page. That is how a new
reader feels. <br><br>
10. If adults don't know how to read, they can't help their children with
schoolwork. They don't want <br>
their children to go through life like
they did. <br><br>
11. It takes a long time to learn. <br><br>
<b>What can WE do to help?</b> <br><br>
1. Go to school and read. This is for both
good readers and those who are not so good. Teachers <br>
can correct the adults,
too. That shows the children that it is ok to be corrected.
<br><br>
2. Share personal stories with children and in
adult groups as well. And also share with parents of children
<br>
with special learning needs.
<br><br>
3. Get active in literacy meetings, and with the
state literacy council. <br><br>
4. Groups of new readers could and should travel
across the state sharing their stories. They should go to other
states <br>
as well. They should go
everywhere people will listen to them. <br><br>
5. They need to reach out to others. This
is very hard, and sometimes embarrassing. <br><br>
6. Try to get appointed to local advisory
councils and boards. Commit to participating if you join.
<br><br>
7. Give back. Volunteer where you
can. Let people know you and see that you have talents, too.
<br><br>
VALUE is the national voice for New Readers. This should be funded
at the federal level and by the state directors. The group needs
backing and support. Without it, the group will be less
effective. New Readers need this national voice. <br><br>
Archie Willard <br>
Adult Learner <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><br>
-- <br>
Archie Willard <br>
millard@goldfieldaccess.net <br>
FAX - 515-448-3213 <br>
URL -
<a href="http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html">http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html</a>
<br>
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