[NIFL-FAMILY:1558] Is it 'resistance' or is it 'choosing?

From: PETER HANNON (P.Hannon@sheffield.ac.uk)
Date: Mon May 19 2003 - 10:56:34 EDT


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From: "PETER  HANNON" <P.Hannon@sheffield.ac.uk>
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Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1558] Is it 'resistance' or is it 'choosing?
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I wonder if a more flexible concept of 'family literacy' would help us 
think about 'parental resistance'?

Must all the components of programs be simultaneous for it to count 
as family literacy?  After all, don't we know from our own 
experiences that at some times in their lives parents' main interest 
is in helping their children's learning; at other times it is in learning 
themselves.  It could be very positive in some circumstances for 
parents to put themselves first.  Furthermore, that could lead them 
later to get involved in PACT or parenting education.  

Why not think of family literacy programs as having components 
that for some families are simultaneous but for others might be 
sequential (e.g., "This year I want to improve my reading and 
writing; next year I'll help my child." or conversely "Right now I only 
want to work with my child; I might do something myself another 
day")?

This is only a problem for providers who have a restricted view of 
family literacy that says you must have all the components at the 
same time (or maybe for funders who have a restricted view).

Let's think of family literacy programs as any that seek to enhance 
literacy by recognising and using individual learners' family 
relationships in their learning.  Let's allow parents to choose the 
components they want in the order they want them.

I tried to discuss this in an article I wrote a couple of years ago.

"If the parent's interest in adult basic education coincides with their 
interest in in getting involved in their children's education then there 
is evidence that restricted programmes can be valuable but there is 
as yet no research evidence to justify such programmes being the 
paradigm into which all families must be squeezed."  (from 
'Rhetoric and research in family literacy' in  British Educational 
Research Journal, 26, pp.121-138)

Peter Hannon



Date sent:      	Sun, 18 May 2003 19:59:11 -0400 (EDT)
Send reply to:  	nifl-family@nifl.gov
From:           	kate northcott <katenorthcott1@yahoo.com>
To:             	Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject:        	[NIFL-FAMILY:1555] Parental resistance

> Hey there -
> 
> I am trying to find articles that discuss (or at least
> acknowledge) parental resistance to the PACT time and
> parenting education components of Family Literacy.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Kate
> 
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
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------------------------
Professor Peter Hannon

Department of Educational Studies
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2JA
England

Tel. 0114 222 8117
Fax. 0114 279 6236



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