No subject
Sun Jan 8 12:31:42 EST 2006
<<Colleagues and Nancy, Perhaps there can be a two-pronged campaign to
> (a) retain the ADULT in literacy (in the Department of Education and
> at NIFL) and to (b) get an adult learner on the NIFL board. Re the
> latter, there are powerful possibilities .... Whatever the
> campaign, it will need to be advanced fast. GS >>
Colleagues, Gail and NIFL Interium Director Sandra Baxter,
The date on the above e-mail written by Gail Spangenburg was 12/01/01. How
*fast* is "fast" Gail? I believe there would be few on this NLA Listserv
who would disagree that we need to get organized so that our voices are
heard regarding the importance of involvement by adult learners on the NIFL
board. Which is more urgent? Is it #1 or is it #2 campaign??
It troubles me reading that there is even any *consideration* of "dropping"
ADULT from literacy in the Dept. of Education!! Where in the world and when
is this happening??? I am well-aware that dissemination of funds veered off
to the right away from the Dept of Ed to the DoL, but has adult literacy vs
childhood literacy already seperated ways, too???
I feel hasty appointments are the last thing that we should be encouraging,
though. (Especially when we hear comments like the one we heard in response
to Archie Willard's email, written by an NLA subscriber who didn't want to
sign their name.)
You listed in this e-mail "former literacy learners" as "current and former
governors, corporate heads, and others of high position and influence" -- I
hope that this doesn't mean you have chosen (or whoever is making the
decisions) to *exclude* the "John Q. Public" of the "former literacy
learners" under consideration. The "others of high position and influence"
aren't the only ones who should be considered for such an important role.
So here's the big question:
******Who do we send this input, reccommendations and/or volunteer interest
to?? ******
Is a letter to the NIFL or to the Dept of Education suggested? Who
specifically (by *name*) will be making the decision (we know it's a
Presidential task, but certainly someone is there to assist in that process
so the "best people" are appointed. Who is that person or persons?)
Sounds like there's a rush to do and here it is ... already Tuesday.
Reccommendations and answers are needed.
Nancy Hansen
sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net
Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council
----- Original Message -----
From: Gail Spangenberg <gspangenberg at caalusa.org>
To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 6:27 AM
Subject: Re: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
> Colleagues and Nancy, Perhaps there can be a two-pronged campaign to
> (a) retain the ADULT in literacy (in the Department of Education and
> at NIFL) and to (b) get an adult learner on the NIFL board. Re the
> latter, there are powerful possibilities -- the pool of former
> literacy learners includes current and former governors, corporate
> heads, and others of high position and influence. It would be
> advantageous to have a few such people on the board. Whatever the
> campaign, it will need to be advanced fast. GS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >Friends of the NLA and Gail - I have also been lurking as this
conversation
> >develops. If you allow, let me just throw in my 2 cents worth.
> >
> >You wrote: "...it seems to me to be extremely important in the present
> >political climate to put forward candidates with the highest possible
> >visibility, clout, and political savvy--people committed to adult
literacy
> >that Congress will pay attention to..." and then went on to add: "... I'd
> >hate to see us fall into 'fiddling while Rome burns.' "
> >
> >I might be missing something since I'm way away from the Washington DC
area,
> >but it seems to me that Rome is *already* burning. But I'm with you
also.
> >Yes, it *is* important, when it comes to having people in place with high
> >visibility and the means to accomplish the difficult task of keeping
focused
> >on adult literacy for the future. But we need just as *much*, I believe,
> >those who know the reality of adult illiteracy since it's such a well
> >hidden, shameful and embarrassing secret to so many who aren't even
seeking
> >services.
> >
> >Secondly, having had a limited number of experiences with elected and/or
> >appointed state/federal governmental officials where adult learners / New
> >Readers "rubbed shoulders with " (rather, gave input to) the official,
you
> >can read the following accordingly, if you wish. There is definitely a
> >benefit to having adult learners who have walked the walk, talked the
talk
> >of illiteracy and survived. I've had the advantage of seeing how
intently
> >these officials listen to adults with limited literacy skills out of
respect
> >for their strengths. The most recent happened this week. Here 'tis:
> >
> >Our local, small city New Reader Committee walked the walk of how
difficult
> >it is to vote "for people like me". Three of them were seated at a
> >conference table in the state capitol in October. Joining them at that
> >table were the Secretary of State, her Deputy and the Elections
Supervisor.
> >Things happened! FAST! I felt as though I could have just as well not
> >*been* there. At times I was the learners' interpreter to explain
something
> >in Plain English, but the attention was on these adult learners and their
> >input.
> >
> >Now, four weeks later, ahead of a Hearing at the Board of Elections
meeting,
> >winter blew in on Monday. It's snowing - all 13 inches of it fell in the
> >two days ahead of this 4 1/2 hour drive to the state capitol. The
Elections
> >Supervisor is on the phone with me on Tuesday as I tell him how awful the
> >weather is, asking him what it is going to do in the hearing process if
the
> >learners can't get to me in *my* city to head to the capitol together the
> >next day. [Two were snowbound "up North".]
> >
> >He said - and here's the punch line -"Being seated that day last month at
> >the same table with your learners had a real *impact* on **me**." Then
he
> >added, "You can come alone, but I gotta tell ya, Nancy. Do what you can
to
> >get them here. They will make a difference!" And they do! And they did!
> >
> >So the (past and present) adult learner's "clout" is their knowledge --
The
> >knowledge of the difficult struggle that they can share so vividly with
> >decision-makers -- much more vividly, face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball
than
> >any practitioner or expert or researcher ever could. NIFL's Board
deserves
> >*more* than **one** adult learner leader to be seated there -- if the
other
> >members are ready to listen and hear -- before they act. Let the learner
> >leaders lead the way. They can, you know. That is -- if *we* give them
the
> >tools!
> >
> >Nancy Hansen
> >Ex. Director
> >Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council
> >Sioux Falls, SD
> >sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Gail Spangenberg <gspangenberg at caalusa.org>
> >To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> >Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 1:00 PM
> >Subject: Re: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
> >
> >
> >> Friends, I have been following this conversation for a while, and
> >> want to throw a different kind of thought into the hopper. I think
> >> we'll be very, very lucky to get even a few ADULT literacy people on
> >> the new NIFL board. So I'm inclined to think that our energies right
> >> now might best be directed toward the goal of retaining the "adult"
> >> in literacy as part of the NIFL agenda. Whether the ADULT literacy
> >> members are students, or professionals from the field, or business
> >> leaders, or other good folks from other quarters, it seems to me to
> >> be extremely important in the present political climate to put
> >> forward candidates with the highest possible visibility, clout, and
> >> political savvy--people committed to adult literacy that Congress
> >> will pay attention to. I guess I'm being Machiavellian, but the
> >> times seem increasingly unfriendly to adult literacy. A colleague
> >> once said a very wise thing about advancing a desired goal in adult
> >> education and literacy; he said, "you've got to keep your eye on the
> >> target." I'd hate to see us fall into "fiddling while Rome burns."
> >> Gail Spangenberg
> >>
> >> >Janet, et. al.,
> >> >It is my hope that the board will include a representative from the
> >numeracy
> >> >community. The Adult Numeracy Network board includes several likely
> >> >candidates. Please, expand the national vision of literacy....
> >> >Tricia Donovan
> >> >Curriculum Developer/Writer
> >> >TERC
> >> >Cambridge, MA 02140
> >> >
> >> >----------
> >> >>From: "hartman" <hartman at thebell.org>
> >> >>To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> >> >>Subject: RE: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
> >> >>Date: Wed, Nov 28, 2001, 4:25 PM
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >> Janet
> >> >>
> >> >> The Bush Administration is currently in the process of selecting
and
> >> >> screening candidates for the NIFL Board. The terms of all the
current
> >> >> members' have expired, and they are only serving until replaced.
> >> >>
> >> >> Members of the Board will likely be selected based on both what
they
> >> >> know and who they know (or, at least, who advocates for them).
So, if
> >> >> anyone has an idea of who should be on the Board, they need to act
> >> >> quickly to get their candidate in the mix.
> >> >>
> >> >> I think having an adult learner (current or former) would be a
good
> >> >> addition. You would need to find a champion for the
> >candidate...someone
> >> >> who has "traction" within this Administration.
> >> >>
> >> >> Andy Hartman
> >> >> Director, Policy and Research
> >> >> The Bell Policy Center
> >> >> 1801 Broadway, Suite 280
> >> >> Denver, Colorado 80202
> >> >> hartman at thebell.com
> >> >>
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org
> >> >> [mailto:nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of Janet
Isserlis
> >> >> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 3:59 PM
> >> >> To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
> >> >> Subject: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
> >> >>
> >> >> Colleagues,
> >> >>
> >> >> I'm wondering if anyone is aware of the current status and
> >> >> composition of the Board of Directors of NIFL. As VALUE and other
> >> >> learner-led organizations have gained expertise in working with
> >> >> local, state and national literacy organizations, it seems that
the
> >> >> time is right for there to be representation of adult learner
leaders
> >> >> within those organizations, and particularly on the NIFL board.
> >> > > Archie Willard, former president of VALUE, is one excellent
candidate
> >> > > that comes to mind. I would like to see us take up the issue of
> >> > > supporting the work of learner leaders, and particularly, hope to
see
> >> >> NIFL add those leaders to their board. While there is still no
> >> >> shortage of need for qualified teachers to work with learners, I
do
> >> >> believe that the number of learner leaders who are very capable
> >> >> advocates has grown and that we need to recognize, celebrate and
> > > >> heed their voices. In addition to asking out loud about the
status
> >> >> of the NIFL board, I'm also wondering if others on the list have
> >> >> experiences to share around working with adult learner leaders --
and
> >> >> especially hope that those leaders will share their own
experiences,
> >> >> too.
> >> >>
> >> >> Janet Isserlis
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> 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
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> 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
> >> >>
> >> >_______________________________________________
> >> >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
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Gail Spangenberg
> >> President
> >> Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy
> >> 1221 Avenue of the Americas - 50th Floor
> >> New York, NY 10020
> >> 212-512-2362, fax 212-512-2610
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> 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
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >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
>
>
> --
> Gail Spangenberg
> President
> Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy
> 1221 Avenue of the Americas - 50th Fl
> New York, NY 10020
> 212-512-2362, fax 212-512-2610
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
More information about the NLA
mailing list