tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673527.post8590034090694229809..comments2024-03-25T04:40:28.281-05:00Comments on Dr. Z Reflects: Bill Strickland: A Man Who Changes the World with his VisionDr. Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420546861775303616noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673527.post-30500886565966473032010-09-12T20:23:04.855-05:002010-09-12T20:23:04.855-05:00Leigh, I just finished listening to Bill's boo...Leigh, I just finished listening to Bill's book via the "Niebors" link at CF Public Library.<br /><br />I was struck by a number of things, but here are a few. Bill was greatly influenced by two H.S. teachers -- the art teacher who taught him how to make clay pots and an English teacher who encouraged his reading of great books.<br /><br />He also showed tremendous loyalty to his neighborhood and its people. Due to that loyalty he was supported by money from wealthy individuals and organizations in and around Pittsburgh.<br /><br />The book is a great record of his personal efforts to bring practical education to a tough area of Pittsburgh. Because he lived among the frustration of these people, he understood why they dropped out of school, turned to drugs and alcohol etc.<br /><br />It's a great story of what what one man did to truly make a difference in his community. I encourage all to read or listen to his book.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing the TEDTALK. I've been watching these for several years as they are much better than TV!!Mike Rothamelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673527.post-10097492220298683642010-09-12T19:31:04.869-05:002010-09-12T19:31:04.869-05:00I saw this talk, and my only issue is this. He tal...I saw this talk, and my only issue is this. He talks about moving his students up a number of grade levels, from illiterate to GED ready within the programs time (about 6 weeks?). This did NOT match what I knew about adult literacy learning from my stint as pres of a friends of the library group that did a lot of fund raising around the library system's adult literacy program. I remember looking up ERIC to see if there was some substantiation of this, and it what little I found should more modest gains. I think what he is doing is great, and I don't think it needs to work at light speed to be valuable. I just hate when people get an unrealistic idea of how much time, and work it takes to get an illiterate adult reading. He is truly doing some incredible work, I just don't see why he needs to fudge what's going on.Alice Mercerhttp://mizmercer.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.com