Closely related to this is the need for a class analysis of adult basic educators, similarly focusing on their potential role in class struggles at various levels. This would include the identification of various segments within the profession, their relationship to the state and to dominant classes, their potential for conscientization, etc. Finally, another vital area of study at the political economic level is that of the specific nature of the present economic and political crisis in Canada, involving an identification of both obstacles and openings to collective intervention by democratic movements, particularly those embodying educational demands as part of their larger program.

The foundation of critical political economic assumptions that the above studies would provide would in turn strengthen the basis for research into objectives, methods and materials of ABE and literacy programs and projects. At a fundamental level, studies could focus on arriving at a materialist definition of literacy, examining language as an ideological form 2, exploring the subject of class languages, 3 and ascertaining the manner in which ideology becomes materialized in our educational practices 4 and how all of these topics relate to ABE and literacy practice in Canada. Furthermore, a study could be conducted into the meaning of various theories of reading--psycholinguistic, phonetic, etc.--for the critical perspective. An interesting inquiry might be made into the history of literacy methods from a critical standpoint. As regards instructional methods, a critique could be mounted of the liberal-progressive ideology and practice of 'facilitation', and the elements which might be appropriated from it for a critical approach.

With these studies underway, various interesting possibilities are opened up for comparative study of literacy and literacy practice in Canada in relation to other countries, including other capitalist nations like the U.S. and those post-capitalist societies in which critical perspectives have been embodied in government policies and large scale literacy campaigns--e.g. Cuba, Nicaragua, etc. Such studies could identify models and precedents which could assist in the advancement of the critical perspective here and help build one with broad generality for movements in various nations.