Here, here, Charlene. I started my master's program determined to calculate
a formula to show that literacy programs were the "best deal in town". I had
noted that in 2002, in central Canada, there were 225 learners who exited
social assistance in Manitoba, the instructors reported on their statistical
returns for that year. I then calculated the savings to the public purse
(approx $800/month x 12 months= $9600 per person) or $2.1M. That figure was
double the provincial literacy program budget for that same year! So, is
society "making money" on the backs  of literacy programs? The lack of
infrastructure, staff support, time for community collaboration and
promotion as a given, with this potential ROI?

Of course, this human capital paradigm is revolting and simplistic (does not
account for recitivism, and cannot be correlated so simply to tie such
positive benefits only to the literacy program intervention) but it sure
gave me pause.

Thomas Sticht has some wonderful writings on return on investment. I love
his compelling arguments and admire his appropriation of the term "double
duty dollars" to attribute the benefit of family literacy programs reaching
more than one generation at a time.

Resolution for 2007?
 Reframe literacy as a worthwhile, important, professional pursuit that has
outgrown a voluntarism model?

I still wince when I recall what one Conservative party member said to me
five years ago when we lobbied our federal representatives: "Literacy is the
purview of the charitable sector".

Sure enough, when the Conservatives came to power in Canada this year, they
cut funding to coalitions and decimated the budget of the National Literacy
Secretariat, a partnership broker par excellence.  Sad days...short-sighted.
We'd leveraged at least four dollars to each of their contributions in our
coalition activities. What more does one have to do?

Best wishes, all.

Hoping for an upcoming election call in the New Year,
M


Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 12:39 PM
To: jansapp007 at outlook.com; The Family Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 478] Re: Meeting your needs


  I just hope that whichever party is in charge decides to make adult
education a priority.  With the increasing numbers of immigrants who have
not been to school in their own countries and who don’t speak English, the
funding must be doubled if we are to even maintain our current literacy
levels.  It can no longer be only about the children.  This problem is too
big and too important to continue to rely entirely on non-professional
volunteers.  While I could not live without my volunteers, there has to be
some funding for training and materials.



  -----Original Message-----
  From: familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Janice Sapp
  Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:11 PM
  To: The Family Literacy Discussion List
  Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 477] Re: Meeting your needs



  Since this is/was the case in Plano, Tx, I started teaching in my home for
free; when the
  classes grew too large I went to neighborhood churches---you all know the
story here;
  you go to the neighborhoods where undocumented workers live and you will
find places/spaces
  to rent (because I wasn't a member of a UMC church! or any other church)
or for free if
  you find the right church and pastor.  I realize what you are doing, but
meanwhile while
  people are waiting until Bush and company get out of office (and all his
Xns), people
  need help and education.  Our community became very interested; even
physicians and dentists
  came to assist our group, etc.  We had a great time and a lot of help came
except money which
  the churches and govern (because we were not a church) kept for 'others'.
(smiling like the Cheshire
  cat).  I am very tired of this game.  Janice Sapp







----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--


  > From: ednahoover at hotmail.com
  > To: familyliteracy at nifl.gov; bigfoot11204 at yahoo.com
  > Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 14:14:49 +0000
  > Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 476] Re: Meeting your needs
  >
  > Need to support undocumented immigrant women with infants & toddlers who
  > need basic education in the native language & ESL instruction, but
cannot
  > access local childcare services.
  >
  > Need to mandate that all school districts provide dedicated classroom
spaces
  > for adult basic ed & ESL instruction for parents in local areas.
  >
  >
  > >From: Gail Price <gprice at famlit.org>
  > >Reply-To: The Family Literacy Discussion List <familyliteracy at nifl.gov>
  > >To: Family Literacy Discussion List <familyliteracy at nifl.gov>
  > >Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 473] Meeting your needs
  > >Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:30:35 -0500
  > >
  > >Dear Subscribers,
  > >
  > >Before we get too involved in the holiday season, I would like to thank
  > >all of you for your continued interest and support of the Family
Literacy
  > >Discussion List.
  > >
  > >As we move into a new year, I want to make sure the information posted
to
  > >our List reflects what you want and need. What topics would you like to
  > >see covered? What guest might you recommend for guiding us through
special
  > >discussions? What suggestions do you have for more actively engaging
our
  > >subscribers?
  > >
  > >If you could take a few minutes in the next couple of weeks to think
about
  > >my questions, I would appreciate your feedback by January 12. You can
  > >respond to the list as a whole or to me off-list. I will share your
  > >responses and suggestions with everyone.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >Gail J. Price
  > >Multimedia Specialist
  > >National Center for Family Literacy
  > >325 West Main Street, Suite 300
  > >Louisville, KY 40205
  > >
  > >Phone: 502 584-1133, ext. 112
  > >Fax: 502 584-0172
  > >
  > >
  >
  >
  > >----------------------------------------------------
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  > >Family Literacy mailing list
  > >FamilyLiteracy at nifl.gov
  > >To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
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  >
  >
  > ----------------------------------------------------
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