Return-Path: <nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id e9I3PE911078; Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:25:14 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 23:25:14 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <39ED143E.89EB34E3@radix.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Florence Harvey <fharvey@radix.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WORKPLACE:3829] RE: Evaluation and Standardized testing X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.07 [en] (Win95; I) Status: O Content-Length: 2095 Lines: 34 Isn't it ironic that both learners and employers use GED as a code word for sufficient skills when each requests instruction and what each really wants is skills at a level sufficient to do the particular job (like extrusion molding.). Could it be that they really mean skills certified and documented at a high level? And isn't it us (the education experts) that set the definition of high school as high level and the GED as the certification of minimum competence? Our own catch 22? KathleenBombach@aol.com wrote: > Ref: GED > Yes, the GED request does seem to be different from other requests. When > employers ask for a course in extrusion molding, it's because they have > bought an extrusion machine and need to put it in production. > El Paso is an Hispanic majority large urban area on the US-Mexico border. > Most of the manufacturing workforce has limited English (or no English) > proficiency or are second language learners. GED seems to be a code word for > employers who think that if their employees earn a GED they will be able to > read the company procedures, safety sheets, follow instructions in English, > or communicate with the supervisor in English. Rarely is a GED request simply > a GED request. Usually an ESL or extrusion molding request is just that. > This may be a situation only for communities like ours. > In our environment, there are many businesses offering ESL and SSL to > companies on both sides of the border. It is a very competitive marketplace. > If we can't deliver quickly, they have the business cards of ten others who > can. If you can't get it down to a proficient, rapid response instructional > package, you simply won't get the business. In this environment, you may get > a month or two to prepare, you may not. But after you have done dozens of > these courses over twelve or thirteen years for the same workforce employed > in the same few manufacturing areas with the same teachers, you learn > something about what to expect. I think that shortens the time necessary to > prepare and provide a quality course. > Kathleen Bombach
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 16 2001 - 14:42:45 EST