Literacy Day will soon be here (in September 2000). This day should be a day for adult learners and for the literacy field to celebrate.

We should look back over the past year at our successes. I congratulate all adult learners and life-long learners who have found new skills to make your lives better. As I look back to October 1984, when I first became an adult literacy student, I see the many things that have happened to me. Because I decided to seek literacy help, each year exciting new things have happened in my life. When we go to literacy programs for help we do improve our reading and our writing. Our reading and writing successes will help us, but many of us never become good readers and writers. However, with our new-found reading and writing skills we do well when things are written in plain English.

Most adult learners are seeking their lost hopes and dreams. The foremost things all adult learners want to do are to fit in and to give back. When we try to evaluate the success of our literacy students and our literacy programs, we should look at where the adult learners have been, then look at how they have improved their lives. I ask that adult learners not be judged by facts and figures alone, but be judged by the things they can do well in their lives. We all have hidden skills that are never looked at or measured. Many adults learners can now look people in the eye and talk to them because they have learned better communication skills. They think and talk on their feet and function in our society, just because they gained confidence from attending an adult literacy program. When we succeed we find new and different ways to work around our literacy problems.

To me, the greatest thing that has happened for adult learners at this point is the formation of VALUE. VALUE is a small miracle. It seems amazing that a group of adult learners from across our country could find the time to get together to form an adult learner organization. VALUE is a place where adult learners can go to identify with others like themselves. VALUE is a literacy home for adult literacy students and former adult literacy students. VALUE belongs to all adult learners, wherever they are.

I invite you to celebrate with us on Literacy Day and to look for our hidden successes.

Archie Willard
Chairman of the VALUE Board

Revised 7/25/00