In Pennsylvania where 30 percent of the adult population is functionally illiterate and another 24 percent has only marginal competence, no state funds are appropriated for adult basic education and general educational development (ABE/GED) programs. All programs are supported by federal aid. Information shows that economic revitalization and a…

Based on Heilbruner's thesis (1959) in "The Future as History," an understanding of the historical strengths, weaknesses, institutional forms, and trends in adult education can help predict its future. The flexibility and diversity of adult education have been tremendous advantages. They have also contributed to the confusion over what adult…

This guide was developed to assist volunteers in tutoring adult readers who read below the ninth-grade level. It was intended to be used as a supplement to the tutor training programs for volunteers at Drake University. The following topics are discussed in the guide in either narrative or question-and-answer format: getting started as a tutor,…

This curriculum plan contains materials for tutors to use in teaching adults to read. It was developed for the Drake University reading tutoring program. The curriculum plan is organized in four levels. The first level covers letter recognition, handwriting, auditory discrimination, sound/symbol coordination, short vowel sounds, sight words, and…

This exploration of the growing field of literacy voluntarism encompasses the literature, history, trends, and issues of the volunteer role in literacy programs. The majority of the literature is characterized as descriptive and program specific; the research is found to lack definition and theoretical foundation. The literature also reflects…

This handbook provides administrators and staffs of adult education programs with general information on volunteerism in adult education; information on specific programs and strategies, specifically Project SAVE (State Adult Volunteers in Education); and guidelines for program implementation. An overview of the impact of adult illiteracy precedes…

A two-pronged theory underlying literacy campaigns suggests that (1) the prevailing ideology of a society will determine the objectives of the literacy campaign as well as the language of justification used by the development elite in the promotion of adult literacy; and (2) the ideology, as expressed in the political culture of a society, will…

As part of a continuing series, this book contains 21 papers, the titles of which reflect the authors' attention to the theme of the conference (the nature of reading behavior and the central role of meaning in the broad definition of reading). Titles include the following topics: (1) reading as one part of language; (2) how home life affects…

Intended for reading specialists and adult education teachers, this paper assesses the current state of adult basic skills, the general education degree, and English as a second language teaching. The first part of the paper consists of a series of tables representing demographics of participants in adult education programs. The second part…

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION IS GIVEN OF THE FEDERAL ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM, UNDER THE ADULT EDUCATION ACT OF 1966, AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS) AS PROVIDED BY STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES. STATISTICS FOR FISCAL YEARS 1965 AND 1966, AND ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1967, INDICATE…

Evaluation studies conducted in 1978 at three sites yielded encouraging results regarding the ability of the Basic Skills Learning System (BSLS) to achieve the goals of adult basic education and demonstrated that effective curriculum models utilizing well-designed instructional paradigms can offer high quality instruction in the basic skills when…

IN 1965, THE TASK FORCE ON TEACHING ENGLISH TO THE DISADVANTAGED TRIED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS IN THE FIELD OF ADULT BASIC BY VISITING 35 PROGRAMS IN 15 STATES AND COLLECTING SOME 1,300 PIECES OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL. AMONG THE PROBLEMS OBSERVED WERE THE LACK OF WRITTEN OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES DESIGNED AROUND THE STUDENTS' GOALS AND NEEDS, BROAD…

Papers dealing with topics relating to college and adult reading instruction and discussions of these papers by reading authorities who offer differing viewpoints are presented. Subjects treated include humanistic aspects of reading; materials and methods in use; current and future programs; programs operated by business and industry; illiteracy;…

Tanzanians feel that their educational system, inherited from the colonial past was mainly serving the interests of the elite and inducing in them attitudes of superiority and of disdain for manual occupations and skills. Tanzania's new educational policy demands that the educational effort be directed at the needs of the society, the nation and…

This report recommends that an annual report be made to the citizens of Florida about the state of literacy in Florida. The concept of literacy is defined in terms of levels of literacy and basic skills required to achieve the different levels. A review of the literature on literacy is the basis for three suggested levels of literacy: (1)…