Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id FAA23966; Thu, 11 Dec 1997 05:15:32 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 05:15:32 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.94.971211050925.25076A-100000@philadelphia.libertynet.org> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Mayor's Commission on Literacy" <mcol@philadelphia.libertynet.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:108] Re: Information "Literacy" ??? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO My feelings about the use of "literacy" are different than Peggy's or David's. I have always liked being able to say we are all illiterate in some areas of our lives. It has felt like it put beginning reading, writing, and math in the context of lifelong learning. I also think that using a broader definition of literacy allows us to look at decisions individuls make about the purposes and uses of literacy in their lives. For example, I always point out that my literacy level is pretty low when it comes to legal documents. Not only is it currently low, I have decided it will stay low. I will not go to law school. I will consult an expert who is literate in legalize when I need access to information that is presented in that format. Also, a broader use of the term literacy allows the inclusion of more than the 3 Rs in literacy classes. I think it makes sense for adult basic education programs take teach problem solving, critical thinking and other topics only if the definition of literacy is broad. I think that using the term literacy in broader ways also helps take some of the stigma out of the term illiterate. At the first adult learner congress that was held here in Philadelphia in the early 80s, I facilitated a student group whose task was to look at terms and decide what terms they wanted to be used in referring to them. Their conclusion was that the terms don't matter. As one learner stated, "they could start calling us genius(s) and tomorrow genius would have a bad connation. What is needed is respect and understanding." I think that the idea of respect and understanding is related to David's VCR analogy. Just like there were problems in the design of the system that made many of us techno-illiterate when it came to using the first VCRs, I think that there is something wrong with the system that makes many of our adults reading-illiterate, writing-illiterate, etc. So my vote is for stretching the term literate to include some of the richness of lifelong learning and if new uses suggest some underlying causes, so much the better. Rose Brandt Mayor's Commission on Literacy Philadelphia
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