Continued from previous page....
- Support issues. For single women with
children daycare is a problem. No single men with children were interviewed,
but the case of the househusband suggests daycare could be a problem for such
men. The problems are availability and affordability. Many women are not as
aggressive as the men and need confidence-building courses and
self-assertiveness training. Many who have been abused, bereaved or separated
have to sort out their emotions and rebuild their lives. Counselling support
and advice is required.
People interviewed also asked for more
counselling support and help in the transitions from one program to another.
Such bridging points were seen to occur on entry, on transfer between
community-based programs (one-to-one or drop-in centres) and college programs,
on transfer from low-level literacy classes to higher ABE classes, and in the
transition from part-time classes to full-time classes.
- The school system. Much of what the interviewees said
about their past school experiences is useful in giving clues as to how ABE
literacy programs should be different. Teachers must help children having
difficulties in school. Sympathetic, trained teachers are needed to detect
problems as soon as possible and give children the individual help that is
required. Different techniques are needed for these children. Study skill
courses are needed. Many of the parents felt that their children were headed
the same way as themselves and they were trying to intervene. The "sight"
method and "memorization" were often mentioned as being the only ways children
were learning to read". The parents are concerned. Behavioural problem children
who are now adults suggested good alternate schools were required to motivate
"problem" children to learn and help them back into the mainstream.
Summary
The above issues may not appear to have much to do with
recruitment and retention per se. Yet, at a deeper level, they have everything
to do with recruitment and retention. For, if the general environment, the
needs and attitudes of the target population are not known, how can ABE hope to
reach and retain its population? |