The Liberal Perspective

It is clear that adult educators have had a noteworthy influence on the development of views on the meaning and significance of illiteracy in Canada and programs based on them. From 1961 through 1972, they lobbied governments, consulted with them and on occasion pressured them in order to influence the availability and shape of basic education opportunities for the poor. The outlook on illiteracy which guided them, and in turn they helped to shape, can be called the liberal perspective in recognition of its roots in the political philosophy of liberalism, especially post-Depression liberal welfare state doctrine. This doctrine has placed increasing responsibility on governments for providing social welfare and educational services which the private market economy either can not or will not provide 34

It is helpful at this point to summarize the liberal perspective in succinct terms so that it can later be compared with those alternative perspectives which are challenging it.

The Liberal Perspective: Deficiency and Remediation

An important point of reference for the liberal perspective has been the body of empirical data which show the link between level of education, labour force status and income. Table 2-1 (below) divides the population of Canada into families (of two or more members) and unattached individuals (i.e. living outside a family setting). Low income is determined according to the Revised Statistics Canada Poverty line. The table shows that the low income family heads and unattached individuals have markedly lower rates of educational attainment, showing disproportionate representation in the 0-8 grade completion category. For example, 46.9% of low income family heads possess this level of education, while only 27.8% of non-low' income family heads do so. The disparity is even more marked among unattached individuals. The figures confirm the statement made by the Economic Council of Canada in its 1968 Review that "the association between low income and lack of education beyond the elementary level is particularly strong 35

Further evidence of the economic position of those with low levels of schooling is found in Table 2-2 (below). Those with 0-8 years of education show a higher rate of unemployment and a lower rate of labour force participation.

According to these measures, it is apparent that Canadians with low educational attainment tend to suffer serious economic hardship.