In El Paso, TX we set up classes in both rural and urban areas. In the rural areas we serve a lot of first generation Mexican immigrants who are less cynical about educational efforts in the US, and they are really trying to learn to improve opportunities for themselves and their families. Also, we are often the only program that is offered in many rural communities. So, the students are often very willing to learn. 

Urban students have often been exposed to prior educational experiences and they may have been unsuccessful. So, they are sometimes cynical about new educational efforts. Still, 1st generation immigrants are always very willing to learn. OTOH, 2nd, third+ generation immigrants from families that were unsuccessful in their educational pursuits are often very hard to serve. 

________________________________________
From: diversity-bounces at nifl.gov [diversity-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Daphne Greenberg [alcdgg at langate.gsu.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 7:49 PM
To: diversity at nifl.gov
Subject: [Diversity 1110] Re: rural vs. urban vs. suburban

Hugo,
Thanks for your response. So based on what you have written below, it looks like some differences in rural Wales are:

a. access issues (most programs in cities)

b.people in small rural towns have to go distances to find an adult literacy program where the whole community doesn't know you.

Do people in other countries also find the above to be true? Are there any other differences between rural/urban/suburban adult literacy issues?

Daphne


>>> <HKerr at aol.com> 10/13/09 3:46 PM >>>



In a message dated 13/10/2009 19:34:46 GMT Daylight Time,
ALCDGG at langate.gsu.edu writes:

Specifically, are there unique differences in the delivery of adult
literacy services in rural vs. urban vs. suburban  settings?


I have taught adult literacy in urban and rural settings. Once you  have
your student in the class I think there is little difference - but the  rural
dweller is a lot more difficult to induce into the classroom in the first
place! Here in rural Wales, people often travel 'over the mountain' into the
next valley for provision in order to reduce the chance of being seen to be
 attending, the rural world being capable of sustained personal cruelty.
You  could find tutors fairly easily, but students...?

Provision has, as a result, tended to concentrate in institutions in the
larger towns, so there can be many miles between centres and many who would
benefit from tuition do not get it. It is a daunting effort at any rate.
There  was some actual research done in Scotland, parts of which are very rural
 indeed.

Hugo


at: _http://www.hugokerr.info_ (http://www.hugokerr.info/)

"We're here to help each other get  through this thing - whatever it might
be." (Kurt Vonnegut)

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