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find themselves being categorized. They have to deal with bureaucrats on provincial and federal levels and have to complete numerous forms.

"The forms are almost a front or symptom of the total situation," says Dr. Fagan. "The total situation is the power behind the scenes. This is where literacy is changing because these people have to know how to use literacy to address that power which is using literacy as its medium of communication." .

Dr. Fagan believes the power of literacy extends beyond simply being able to help a child with homework.

"You need a certain kind of literacy to address the power behind the literacy which is somehow controlling your life," he says. "You have to understand that power structure. It's all a part of a change in literacy. Some people call

it institutional literacy, knowing the institutional framework which has the power to rule on whether you achieve what you hope to achieve by way of written language."

As for the future of literacy, Dr. Fagan says it will always be an issue.

"Since society is always changing, and since there are always new players in the game, there is always a need for literacy. Literacy must keep up with the change in the social, economic and political scene. This is one area in which the Council can play a key role by opening avenues of communication on literacy issues."

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Long-Term Strategic Plan
More than 20 people met on Wednesday, September 23 to discuss the Long-Term Strategic Plan for Literacy on the Baie Verte Peninsula.

"The discussion proved to be quite productive and informative," says Cynthia Matthews, Literacy Coordinator in Baie Verte. "It was agreed there are a lot of good things happening , however, a lot more needs to be done if the changes are to be effective.

Ms. Matthews says the group also agreed that economic, social and political development depends on the literacy foundation of its society.

"Government must come to realize and, more so, act on the belief that education is an investment," she says. "Communities must take advantage of the various training programs and opportunities offered to them. Also, individuals have a responsibility to educate themselves in whatever way possible and become actively involved in the development of their community."

Attending the conference were Gerry Byrne, Member of Parliament; Paul Shelley, Member of the House of Assembly;

Adrian Papanek of National Literacy Secretariat spoke to the group by telephone from his Ottawa office.

Another Successful Year
The provincial Laubach Literacy Summer Reading for Fun Program is once again being deemed a success having had 28 sites operating throughout the province.

A total of 72 students were hired and funded under the Summer Career Placement Program through the province's various Human Resources Development Canada offices and by the Community Services Council under the SWASP program. The Summer Reading for Fun program was introduced by Marilyn Forward in 1989. Since then, it has proven to be a valuable program, both in the skills taught to children and in teaching young tutors new skills.

"Each year, workers and volunteers contribute to the program to make it the enterprise we have today," says lsabelia Fry, Laubach's Field Services Coordinator. It is hoped that the program will continue to spread to other areas in the future."

Free Peer Tutoring Package
A limited number of the adult literacy peer tutoring resource package, Common Thread, will soon be available - free of charge - to selected adult literacy programs.

Developed with peer tutors and students, the package will include a 12 minute video, a workshop leader's guide, and copies of a booklet for peer tutors.

This resource package will be available in January. Selection will be based on plans to introduce peer tutoring in your program and on a commitment to provide feedback about the materials. To request a copy, write to:

The Learning Centre
101 16 105 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5H 0K2
Fax: 403-425-2205

Please include a description of how your group will use the resource package. The deadline to request a free copy is January 31, 1997.

Don't Forget!

The deadlines for the submission of literacy project applications to the National Literacy Secretariat are: May 1 - Federal/Provincial, TAGS and Literacy Corps October 1 - TAGS