Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id HAA02599; Mon, 17 Apr 2000 07:31:31 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 07:31:31 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <20000417.072541.9262.0.GDEMETRION@juno.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "GEORGE E. DEMETRION" <gdemetrion@juno.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:239] Review Essay of Contested Ground X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 Status: O Content-Length: 2033 Lines: 45 Colleagues: I have recently completed a review essay on Juliet Merrifield's NCSALL study, "Contested Ground: Performance Accountability in Adult Basic Education." The review essay is titled, "Reflecting on Culture Wars in Adult ELiteracy Education: Exloring Critical Issues in 'Contested Ground.'" Though I raise certain critical issues on Merrifield's text, my underlying respect for "Contested Ground," which I have read and reread for over a year, remains strong. I view it as one of the most important policy statements on literacy/ABE of our tiimes. Fair warning: The review is lengthy (13,000 words), an almost point-by-pont commentary on Contested Ground, though it draws some different conclusions than does the NCSALL policy study. As two of the several colleagues who graciously reviewed the essay commented, perhaps (at least as a second paper) a shorter analysis of key points would be more appropriate to the current need of more directly contributing to the shaping of the national vision on adult literacy that is high on the current agenda. I completely agree with that, though do not have time right now to do that. Perhaps someone, though, may write such a paper based on Contested Ground, my review as well as the recently completed second draft of the vision paper that is now accessible on the NIFL web page. With these caveats duly noted, perhaps some of you will find "Reflecting on Culture Wars in Adult Literacy Education," of interest. The work represents an effort on my part to step back a bit from the immediacy of the NLA discussion on federal policy (though I have re-immersed myself back in) to examine some broader issues that the review format has afforded. The essay can be accessed at http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/cultrwar/cover.htm BTW, the resources placed in the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) full text collection represenst a gold mine of information. I recommend extensive browsing. Their address is http://www.nald.ca/fulltext George Demetrion GDemetrion@juno.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 16 2001 - 14:46:51 EST