23939: Wendy Goodman : (Discuss) Engle's work (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: wendygg@usadatanet.net


I am heartened by the reaction on the list to Jean Lenoir’s negativity and
recognize how strong one voice of negativity is. I know there are ways to
challenge without attacking, I wish we would all employ them a bit more often.
It just doesn’t ever seem that attacking moves us forward.

 I have many comments on this dialogue, but will try to be brief, limiting to
these 3:

First:  I want to go on record, commending this undertaking.  I am familiar from
both participant and facilitator roles in processes such as those Engle is
bringing to Haitian Education.  While some errors in judgement may have been
made in his piloting process, through observation, assessment, correction and
sharing of information so as to reduce repeating the same mistake they have
elegantly modeled the learning process.  And let us not forget that there was
implemented follow up that allowed them to learn from and correct their errors.
 The checks and balances of their process worked.  If we ridicule each other
for our mistakes, we impede coalition and progress.  I believe we should at
least appreciate if not reward such forthrightness and integrity.

Second:   I also believe that participatory education and democratic process do
not exclude authority.   The question of  role and degree of authority is much
more to do with  the situation and level of  competence of those being engaged
than an absolute approach.   Indeed, there are many approaches necessary to
effectively manage education, and in appropriate balance for the
participants/audience.  If youth are not taught or  encouraged to inquire, to
test, to attempt to act  then what does the future hold?  This is what these
techniques encourage.

I agree, we have problems with US education, much of this I believe is because
that balance I just referred to is way out of whack in our society in general
and in schools in particular.  But that doesn’t mean that innovative techniques
and approaches shouldn’t be explored and investigated. It is not necessarily to
take the authority out, but to offer alternative ways to be in authority and to
balance it with knowledge and techniques that will allow that authority to be
used in ways that are more productive and lead the learner toward
independence.

Third:  To attack Engle for being compensated for  the work he is doing is
ridiculous, elite and just unfair.   I found Jean’ssuggestion that if it were
‘on his own dime’ he would have more right to do this work perplexing.  If the
work is helpful, it should be done.  It will never be done perfectly the first
time, and that is an absurd measurement criteria. What is that quote about you
only fail once you’ve stopped trying and learning.  Why should someone
sacrifice their livelihood because they are working to improve a poverty
stricken country?  Why does that mean that we need to have poverty stricken
leaders as well?  I’d rather raise the standard in Haiti.  When one is in the
role of Engle w Lambi, we must  return to the US to do that work,  we must
sustain ourselves in the process.  It is a dilemna, but it is a fact.  You seem
to assume that he is eating funds that could be better  used elsewhere, and
that someone else is loosing out because Engle got the funding.  Who says there
wasn’t and isn’t still more $ available.  Is it not also possible that there
might also be a lack of viable applicants (for a variety of reasons).

When people come to Haiti and are motivated to act it is not always paternalism
that is at play, often it is humanitarianism!  Engle and Werlin are introducing
new approaches.  They are focusing on education and schools….good for them.
These techniques/approaches can also be applied in community development and
governance., decision making etc.  They give voice to many people and may ,
just MAY be able to begin to provide alternatives to the current  ‘decision by
chef’ or ‘change by violence’ solutions.

John and Steve are working to share a new and different model of learning and
communicating. I think its great! I wonder that Jean Lenoir couldn’t find or
imagine anything beneficial in this undertaking and its sharing to highlight.

May Peace Prevail on Earth!
Wendy

PS:  and why do you imagine that this article was written for Haitians?  I find
it much more likely that it was written for others in the ‘development world’.


Wendy Goodman
Director SKAKAJ/Avanse
www.AvanseOrg.org