Purchasing

Mary Walker

America’s Literacy Directory (ALD)
July 12, 2007

"There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them come about through encouragement from someone else. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul." 

-George Matthew Adams
 

Most of the people that view Purchasing.com are educated; high school, college, graduate school plus attended other certificate or certification programs. Many are academias in our universities and colleges teaching purchasing and supply management classes. Many of us have jobs and are able to enjoy the “good life” and are not spending all our time studying. 

Do we consider what we can do to help other people? I have talked to a young man many times at a fast food place close to my house. He was telling me he was a high school drop out. He just decided he didn’t want to go to school. After working in the fast food business, he decided to get his GED. He did not have a learning problem, as he said he had an attitude problem.

America’s Literacy Directory is a national database of literacy programs available via the Internet and the National Institute for Literacy’s toll free number. The ALD connects employers, learners, volunteers, social service providers, and others to current information about literacy programs in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

The ALD is a service of the National Institute for Literacy and its partners; the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Educati0n, and Verizon. A variety of national, state and local literacy organizations contribute data to the ALD and help to keep the information up to date.

Within 25 miles of my home, there are seven programs offered to “Help with reading and writing.” There are seven programs offered on “Study for GED or other High School Programs.” In Texas, we have many people that speak Spanish and there are ten programs on “Learning English (as a second language).”

One of my friends that teaches math at the high school volunteers on one of the seven programs in my area on “Help with math” which is an adult program. I could have used this when I was taking a math class. Long time since I had used algebra.

Volunteers are needed for these programs. If you have some time and are interested call

800-228-8813. Check the Internet to see where these classes are offered in your area.

Did you know?

GED (General Education Development) Test: A test administered by the American Council of Education that is considered a high-school equivalency exam. It is more difficult to pass than high school because it is scored so that a portion of graduating seniors would fail. 

We had a discussion on the GED test at work and we all felt that the GED would really be easy to obtain. Not a one of us had any idea of the scoring process on this test.

I do not know how employers look on this compared to a regular high school diploma.

I hope they realize that it is just not a simple task to accomplish. 

Have you heard of the National External Diploma Program (NEDP): Program through which a traditional high school diploma is awarded to skilled adults, over age 21, who have acquired their high school level abilities through life experience. Like the GED test, is administered by the American Council on Education.

The Internet offers a lot of websites that are run by volunteers. I have received help several times on math problems on one website. The volunteers offer their services in their spare time. I think you had to allow a 12 hour turn around for an answer.

I asked the guy if I could send him my homework every week. He replied that they stayed very busy keeping up with the requests and there was actually a limit as to how many problems a person could submit.

Give some thought as to how you might be able to help someone else. 

Posted by Mary Walker on July 12, 2007 | Comments (0)