National Institute for Literacy
 

[PovertyRaceWomen 189] Re: GED programs with a popular education approach

Andrea Wilder andreawilder at comcast.net
Fri Jan 5 13:37:11 EST 2007


David,

Thank you for the list, it makes me feel very happy to have all these
values in teaching spelled out. What a comprehensive list! Lorna
Rivera I believe used the term "popular education" in her
dissertation. Perhaps you have already asked her about GED
programs--she is at UMASS Boston. She is the best source I can think of
right at the moment.

Andrea

On Jan 5, 2007, at 11:25 AM, David Rosen wrote:


> Hi Andrea,

>

> Suppose we use the term "popular education" approach. This suggests

> to me:

>

> 1. a lack of hierarchy, that teachers treat students as their equals

> in status and power although they have different roles, and the

> program or school incorporates democratic decision-making practices.

> Students and teachers, not just administrators and the board, play a

> central role in the decision-making process;

> 2. a belief that the central purpose of education is to bring about

> the conditions for social and economic justice and democracy;

> 3. a commitment to raising the consciousness of students and

> teachers, and helping them to become critically aware of how their

> individual personal experiences are connected to larger social

> problems;

> 4. a commitment to social change, often at the community level;

> 5. learning history and other social sciences from a variety of

> perspectives, for example from the perspectives of: women, people of

> color, immigrants, and workers;

> 6. knowledge and skills learned in the context of issues which affect

> students in their lives and in their communities; and

> 7. an education process characterized by discussion and debate, not

> just memorizing facts or learning skills.

>

> I doubt that this definition is complete, and some would say that

> some elements are more important than others. But when I use the

> term, those are the ingredients I have in mind.

>

> I can think of a couple of community-based programs in Boston, an

> ESOL program and an ABE/adult diploma program which -- currently or

> in the past -- fit most of these criteria, but these are not GED

> programs. Anyone know of a GED program that has these ingredients?

>

> David J. Rosen

> djrosen at comcast.net

>

>

> On Jan 5, 2007, at 10:05 AM, Andrea Wilder wrote:

>

>> Hi David,

>>

>> I would be interested to know what a Freirian approach adult literacy

>> program might look like. In your opinion, what might be the

>> ingredients?

>> thanks.

>>

>> Andrea

>>

>> On Jan 5, 2007, at 3:13 AM, Ujwala Samant wrote:

>>

>>> Dear David,

>>>

>>> This is one question that I have been wondering about

>>> for years. Aside from the 'glory days' in the 70s/80s

>>> which colleagues of mine at NCSALL told me about and

>>> one in NY, I could find no Freireian approaches to

>>> adult literacy. I have studied the 70s-80s classics,

>>> and I have been curious as to what happened since

>>> then.

>>>

>>> Thanks for raising this question,

>>> Warm regards,

>>> Ujwala

>>>

>>> --- David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net> wrote:

>>>

>>>> Colleagues,

>>>>

>>>> In a conversation yesterday I was asked if I know of

>>>> good examples of

>>>> GED preparation programs which use a popular

>>>> education, or

>>>> participatory (Freirean) approach. I am only aware

>>>> of one, a theme-

>>>> based approach that the City University of New York

>>>> adult literacy

>>>> GED program has used for over a decade. If you have

>>>> others to

>>>> suggest I would be pleased to hear about them.

>>>> Thanks.

>>>>

>>>> David J. Rosen

>>>> djrosen at comcast.net

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

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>>>

>>>

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>>

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>

> David J. Rosen

> djrosen at comcast.net

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen

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