[NLA] Discussion: Media, Adult Education and September 11

[Catherine King]

Hello David:

I know what you and Pat Fina means by her "fondest
wish."  I think you are right in this.

You also commented:  "Incidentally, I think 'return on 
investment' is a useful concept.  I want American 
taxpayers to agree that more of their tax dollars should 
be invested in adult literacy education, and I want them to 
see what the return on that investment is to their family, 
community, and the economy."

I agree with you and with Tom as far as it goes, and as
long as the fuller meaning of "investment" is continually
made clear (though I doubt that it is).   

But I don't think we are pumping the well deep enough 
with our arguments about the "why" of adult education, 
especially if we are going to represent America in the 
international arena.  

Since September 11, it may be a little easier to make the
connection between **all** adult education around the globe,
and the civilizing aspects of this education, especially when
we speak of long-term "continuing education."  

There are many aspects to "civilization," but since September
ll, we can see more clearly the aspects of adult education in
all cultures that relate directly to setting the conditions for us (1) 
to get along peacefully with other people's, cultures, and 
religions, and (2)  to break the bonds of provincial or even racist,
sexist and classist thought.  This part of adult development is
how adult education as an institution relates directly to 
civilizing ourselves and our citizens.   

All education, regardless of content, carries this broader kind
of development with it as a kind of rider, just because a person
is "out there" talking and developing themselves **with others
from different walks of life.**  And regardless of what adults 
want or what adult education teachers think they are doing,
this process, slow as it is, is a part of their hidden curriculum.   
As long as we are talking together and meeting in groups
with a common purpose, it would be impossible to wash this 
civilizing aspect out of our curriculum.   

At National University where I teach, we **directly **address 
these issues in variously labeled courses, i.e., Diversity in the
Classroom.   I haven't inspected all adult education programs,
but I don't think there is much out there that directly addresses
living together with those who are different from us and who
may not agree with our way of doing things.   It is the indirect
aspects that are clearly operative, however, in all adult education.  

But if there was ever a time when we in adult education in the 
United States, and other cultures, need to understand the 
power of education **in the long run**, it's now, in the light of the
present problems of single-minded terrorist children and adults
killing others and blowing themselves up for an idea.  They do 
this in cultures who still have "schools" where they, instead of
introducing children to other cultures, they are taught 
weaponry and hate, and where sultans cannot see the difference 
between themselves and the office of the President of a 
democracy.  

Made clear, all the other adult education "investments" and 
benefits are important.  But we should also know the more 
comprehensive and global meaning of what we are about.   
With technology the way it is, and its apparent access, adult 
education and its "rider" of civilizing people in the sense of 
the above, is not a luxury nor a guarantee; but adult education 
is a necessary "investment" if we are to survive in the coming 
century.  
    
Happy Holidays,

Catherine King
    
----- Original Message ----- 
From: David Rosen <DJRosen at theworld.com>
To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 5:07 AM
Subject: [NLA] Discussion: Working effectively with the media


> NLA Colleagues,
> 
> Among Pat Fina's many useful suggestions to get media attention, I would
> 
> like to comment on this:
> 
> >"....One of my fondest fantasies is that Hollywood discovers us. One
> > sympathetically portrayed adult learner as a cast member of a TV
> > series or one dynamic hit movie would do more to educate the
> > public than a raft of midnight PSAs. Another fond fantasy is that
> > professional sports teams discover us. ......"
> 
> Some may remember the Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS) campaign launched
> several years ago by major television media.  There were
> made-for-television movies with people who had reading difficulties,
> PSA's, newspaper feature articles and more.  The PLUS campaign had many
> benefits, and some disappointments.   Americans became aware that many
> family, friends and community members may have difficulty with reading,
> writing and other basic skills.  In some areas of the country the
> campaign resulted in adults coming forward to get help, and more
> volunteers to offer help.  I was disappointed that PLUS did not result
> significantly increase public resources to meet the needs, that some of
> the PSA's and T.V. programs which incorporated literacy issues were
> condescending to adult learners, and that little attention was paid to
> the need for English for speakers of other languages.
> 
> We need another national media campaign, an improvement upon PLUS, which
> 
> focuses not on literacy, English language, and other basic skill needs,
> but on the benefits of addressing these needs.  (Incidentally, I think
> "return on investment" is a useful concept.  I want American taxpayers
> to agree that more of their tax dollars should be invested in adult
> literacy education, and I want them to see what the return on that
> investment is to their family, community, and the economy.)  I invite
> others on the NLA list to share their thoughts about what a national
> adult literacy media campaign should look like, and I hope the National
> Coalition for Literacy, or some of its member organizations might work
> with the national television, radio and newspaper media to take this on.
> 
> Pat's suggested that we need Hollywood involved, so I also want to call
> your attention to a beautifully done, useful short video on learning
> differences called Ennis' Gift.  It will be found (free, in QuickTime
> video) on the Ennis Crosby Foundation Web site at
>             http://www.hellofriend.org/store/gift_bb.html
> The video includes well-known actors, athletes, artists and other
> prominent people who have learning differences (what some call learning
> difficulties or learning disabilities) such as:  James Earl Jones, Henry
> 
> Winkler, Charles Schwab, Danny Glover, Lindsay Wagner, Robert
> Rauschenberg, Bruce Jenner, Jack Horner and others.  Perhaps some of
> these celebrities might become (or are?) national advocates for adult
> literacy.  Shall we ask them?
> 
> David J. Rosen
> <DJRosen at theworld.com>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> NLA mailing list: NLA at lists.literacytent.org
> http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org
>