Adult literacy in a new era : reflections from the Open Book / Dianne Ramdeholl.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ramdeholl, Dianne.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Adult education--United States.

Adult education.

Literacy programs--Evaluation.

Literacy programs.

United States.

Functional literacy--United States.

Functional literacy.

Literacy--United States.

Literacy.

Physical Description:

xxv, 140 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Boulder, Colo. : Paradigm Publishers, [2011]

Summary:

Founded in 1985, the Open Book program in Brooklyn, NY, was a long-running, grassroots adult literacy program, unique in its use of shared decision-making and practices rooted in education for social change. In this oral history study of the program, Ramdeholl, a former teacher in the program, spotlights the voices of real students and teaches as they reflect on the importance of the program in their lives. Each chapter is divided into three sections. A chapter introduction sets the stage for the conversation, followed by a transcript of an actual conversation among students and teachers, discussing the events and issues important in the history of the program and students' journeys to literacy. The third part of each chapter offers reflections by Ramdeholl, analyzing why the program was successful, why it closed, and why there aren't more programs like it. The author argues that the answers to these questions lie in the structures underlying injustice and dehumanization in education, especially adult literacy education. Ramdeholl teaches educational studies at Empire State College. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

1 We Are Grains of Sand but Together We Can Make a Beach: The Beginning of the Program 1

2 Education Not by the Book! Three Students' Journeys 9

3 An Invitation Inside Our Classrooms: A Different Way of Teaching Reading and Writing 19

4 Hands Wash Hands but They Both Wash the Face: Students as Assistant Teachers 30

5 Let Students Drive the Vehicle! Student Leadership, Power, and Decision-Making 38

6 What About Students' Rights to Dignity, Autonomy, and Respect? The Welfare Battle 52

7 Letting the Powers That Be to Be 62

8 Community Makes a Place Stronger! The Issue of Power Revisited 71

9 The Writing on the Wall 78

10 Where's East? Where's West? An Update from the Field 87

11 It May Be Finished but It Still Lives On! 98.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781594518485

1594518483

9781594518492

1594518491

OCLC:

610855518