In explaining the support given the report by the MCL, one might argue that in spite of its shortcomings, the report calls attention to the problem of illiteracy and suggests an avenue for the development of new opportunities for adults--and so deserves support. One cannot fault this view. However, it would seem that any support given the report would best consist of a public stance of critical, conditional support, indicating areas of disagreement as well as agreement. However, this would involve the taking up of an overtly critical political stance -by the MCL organization, something which its structure and nature presently make difficult. Thus, the official "neutrality" of the organization contains, in Freire's words, a hidden choice--for the political and economic status quo.

Address

An address by the national President of the Movement at the conference touched on the themes of the Adams Report.18 It highlighted what is a progressive aspect of it, the case which is made for greater availability of literacy and upgrading opportunities for illiterate workers. The address expanded on the theme by arguing for what would be a valuable development--greater funding and support services and flexibility on the part of educational institutions. However, the address also embodied a straightforward and uncritical defense of the liberal perspective:

Nowhere is the prospect of advancement so bleak or the productivity so limited as with the adult illiterate worker .... Statistically the illiterate adult is highly represented on unemployment and social assistance rolls and, as a group, their rate of participation in the labour force is well down the scale and they are disproportionately represented among the poor of the nation. ...Support for literacy programs...is a means of changing the under-educated adult from an untapped and under-utilized human resource to a valuable and productive asset to business and industry.19

It is unproblematically assumed here that illiteracy causes underemployment and poverty. Furthermore, the speaker went on to say that:

Workers who are in dead-end jobs are often frustrated, dissatisfied and counter-productive. They need upgrading of skills and retraining to approach their potential contribution to the work force.20