Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id hBOGvmm10069; Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:57:48 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:57:48 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <092F005EA8A1B74FBA6A8AB192537A062F3AB3@wdcrobexc04.ed.gov> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Stein, Sondra" <Sondra.Stein@nifl.gov> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2635] Re: Can EFF be squared with moderately conse X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2657.72) Status: O Content-Length: 7016 Lines: 152 Dear Colleagues-- Just a comment for those of you who are new to EFF. Certainly the vision of EFF is democratic and pluralistic and nonpartisan. We began with the National Adult Literacy Goal which was a consensus document, created by the 50 Governors and the current Persident Bush's father and then blessed by Congress. We did not enquire of any of the more than 1500 adult learners who helped define the framework (the four purposes) what their political party and political beliefs were. We included all. When we created the role maps, through a year long iterative structured feedback process we made every opportunity to include the full spectrum of adult residents of the US. Our work on the family role map was most interesting, as Meta can affirm, since the part of the role map that focuses on strengthen the family system includes highly charged issues of culture, religion, and values. We worked the consensus process very hard to arrive at language that all American families could be comfortable with. So I agree with George. EFF -- both in content and process -- represents what's best about American pluralism and democracy. It provides room for everyone to build the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to participate fully in American life. For me, that's what adult literacy education is about -- giving every adult the tools they need to get access to information, to have their voice heard, to have their decisions count, to build a bridge to the future. I am proud to be working with all of you to try to make this vision a reality for adult learners. And at this holiday time, want ot thank you all for your commitment, your vision, and your participation in the EFF community. I remain hopeful that Congress and the NIFL Board will support a vision of NIFL that includes our work on EFF, in the sense that Vaclav Havel talked about hope: "It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." Above all EFF makes this kind of sense. So whatever happens at a federal policy level it will continue to be part of how we approach adult learning. Havel's message is an important one for this time of year: "Hope in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingess to invest in enterprises that are obvsiously headed for early success, but rather, an ability to work work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed...It is this hope,above all, which gives us the strength to live and cotninually try new things." I wish you all a joyous holiday season, and hope for the future. Sondra Sondra Stein, PhD. National Director, Equipped for the Future Senior Research Associate, National Institute for Literacy 1775 I St NW, Suite 730 Washington, DC 20006 Ph: 202-233-2041 Fx: 202-233-2050 www.nifl.gov/lincs/collections/eff/html -----Original Message----- From: George Demetrion [mailto:george.demetrion@lvgh.org] Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 12:34 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2634] Re: Can EFF be squared with moderately conservative principles Andrea, Thanks, Your point is well taken on asking others to weigh in here. I think that's critical. On some of your specific comments: In terms of being squared; I'm speaking here in terms of core principles, the 8 that I laid out. That, obviously would depend on a political climate that fostered a degree of trust and a willingness to cross some ideological and political boundaries and a willingness to loosen up a bit on purity of doctrine, whether on the left or the right. Whether that is likely in fact at this time is another matter, but whether or the extent to which one has an open mind about it, is a contributing factor in itself. In terms of code words, your point is well taken. There is a wide range of code words pervasive in the political culture. In part, it depends on whether one is using the term family values or "family values," if you see the difference there. In terms if specifics, the common lineage for squaring EFF with family values would be the Parent/Family Role Map. Consider the core definition: "Effective family members contribute to building and maintaining a strong family system that promotes growth and development." This core definition is supported by the Broad Areas of Responsibilities (BAR), those being: * Promote Family Members' Growth and Development * Meet family Needs and Responsibilities Strengthen the Family System Then fill those in with the Key Activities for each BAR, all of which is intended to enhance the core definition. No doubt the interpretation of these various components could be subject to particular political and ideological explanation or even rationalization, though that's my point. That is, my point is that the core framework, in principle, can be appropriated from a moderate conservative or a moderate progressive framework based on the core values of EFF itself. Whether the political climate is receptive to such middle ground exploration is another matter and a critical one. I simply raise the point, which I have not seem publicly articulated before, that in principle, EFF can be squared with conservative as well as progressive principles because they reflect the ethos of the American dream of an inclusive democratic political culture as defined within the framework of a market economy. Whether that ideal is a worthy one to be nurtured or experimented with is a critical matter in itself; my point being that EFF squares with this ideal. Therefore, when one looks closely at the EFF framework, its vision and its many components, it is evident that it is squarable within the context of a broad political spectrum. Whether it actually squares with it is another story. George Demetrion ----- Original Message ----- From: <AWilder106@aol.com> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 11:14 AM Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2633] Re: Can EFF be squared with moderately conservative principles > Dear George, > > Squared? The difficulty with your argument is that you are making linguistic matches across a political spectrum without being specific about the behaviors the words represent. As an example, not sure how it connects to EFF, but maybe you can explain--family values. I believe this is usually taken as a code word for a two parent male and female coupled fmaily with children. I have read a ton of NIFL listserv emails, and this is not what emerges--there is quite a variety out there of family relationships. > > Are you searching for a political case to make? I'm not sure the labels will get much traction when people with purse strings look below the surface. I wonder what others think. > > By the way, I like what I know of EFF, maybe you just need to sand down your argument, get down to what the unvarnished wood looks like. > > Andrea
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Mar 11 2004 - 12:14:48 EST