Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j81IB5G27780; Thu, 1 Sep 2005 14:11:09 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 14:11:09 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <s316efbe.015@nmail.epcc.edu> Errors-To: listowner@nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Andres Muro" <AndresM@epcc.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:3291] International literacy day X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.5.2 Status: O Content-Length: 4684 Lines: 82 Her is an article for international literacy day for El Paso. If anyone wants to use some of the info in your community, do so. You may need to change the data. Andres Article for International Literacy Day (September 8th) In El Paso, 133,000 adults (over 25) have not obtained a high school diploma or GED, and 83,000 of these adults have less than 9th grade. In addition, 200,000 adults report that they speak English less than well (2,000 census). Limited education prevents adults from fully participating in all aspects of family, education, vocation, and community life. For example, adults may have difficulty helping their children with homework, reading directions for taking medication, filling out job applications, accessing and using health care services, or preparing healthy meals. El Paso gets approximately 2.5 million dollars annually, form the state and federal government, to provide adult basic education classes. These funds barely scratch the surface when it comes to provide educational services for economically and academically disadvantaged adults. Not only many adults have limited literacy skills, but, they are also poor and lack resources to access needed services. So, they, or someone in the family may be ill and they will not be able to access a doctor. They may lack transportation. They may live in precarious housing or may be homeless. They may not be able to afford daycare. They may be victims of domestic trauma. They may not be able to afford educational materials or pay for tests, and they may not have adequate space to study. So, providing classes for economically and academically disadvantaged adults does not suffice. They need support services such as counseling, day care, health care and economic assistance. Some may argue that we should focus on children rather than adults. However, the evidence shows that the best predictor of the educational achievement of children is the educational achievement of the parent, particularly the mother. So, if we consider that over one hundred thousand adults have limited education, it is likely that their children will not exceed their parents' accomplishment by much. Reasons for these are obvious. Children benefit from parents that can talk to teachers and understand them. They benefit from parents that can help with homework. They benefit from parents that create a literacy rich environment at home with books, newspapers and magazines and other forms of print. They benefit from parents that have and use technology at home. They benefit from parents that serve as role models. Many of us live in homes with books and computers and have the literacy skills to support our children, talk to their teachers, buy supplies for them, create time and space for them to do homework at home and encourage them to succeed in school. Still, many of our kids struggle with school. From this, we may be able to understand the struggles that economically and academically disadvantaged parents face, when helping their children succeed academically. Therefore, in order to prepare children for a better future we must invest in their parents too. In El Paso, there is great potential to brake the cycle of poverty. Research shows that children of 1st generation immigrants have a greater chance of succeeding in school provided that the parents can support them and become economically independent. First generation immigrants believe in the American dream of educational and economic achievement and they came to this country by choice. They try to transmit these beliefs to their children. If their children are not able to overcome poverty they lose hope and will not transmit the same hope to next generations. As poverty passes on to future generations it becomes extremely difficult to eradicate so we must prevent it. In a community with many first generation poor immigrants, there is tremendous potential to change our economic trend. If we miss this opportunity now, future generations will not accomplish our task Unfortunately, the funds that our community gets for adult education and support services from outside are minimal. Therefore, if we want to prepare our children to succeed economically we must invest in the education of their parents. There are entities in El Paso working hard to provide adult education, including the school districts, the Community College and others. However, they all need financial support to improve and expand services. If you have questions or want additional information about adult education and literacy you may contact me at 831-4161. Andres Muro, Manager Community Education Program/El Paso Community College
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