No subject

..."Here, secular means that the political institutions are separate from,
but related to through dialogue, the vast institutions of education.  It's
a tenuous relationship. But it is based on a basic separateness that allows
fields
of study and education to be open to new meaning outside
of the controlling "cover" of political ideology telling us what
we can and cannot read or study; and it allows a freedom of
thought, ideas, research, speech, press, etc. to emerge from
open dialogue in the University, etc."....

Ah, Catherine, what a lovely framing of academic freedom!  I remember those
heady days in the 60's when I was on-campus, and this idea was openly
debated, protected, and cherished (although a few heads got bashed in the
process.)

However, as anyone who has worked in an elementary or high school would, I
think, agree, academic freedom does not exist in the K-12 system.  As a
principal, I was forced more than once to explain this to my teachers.

With respect to the AELS, I could make the case that the absence of
academic freedom at the K-12 level represents an argument to position adult
education alongside higher ed, and not beside K-12 schooling.  

Especially in the current political climate (tipping my hat to George for a
minute), I'm wondering if working for a national mandate to place the AELS
alongside higher ed could be a way to foster the flexibility and philosophy
that we need to improve program quality.  This would also associate the
AELS more directly with research.

So I put it to the list:  What do y'all think?  Would those of us who are
not already working alongside higher ed be better off if the AELS money
flowed through them, instead of K-12? 

Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv
President, SC Adult Literacy Educators
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street,  Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net