During my sixth year of elementary school teaching, I took a part-time evening job teaching adult ESL. The opportunity interested me because I had been a literacy tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Massachu- setts for a couple of years prior and had really enjoyed that experience. The ESL job opened my eyes to a realm of the education world that I had never known.

Coming from an elementary school teaching background, I've heard the comments about how I'm so lucky to get the summers off, and how "cushy" it is to be a teacher (little do they know..). But by and large, I have always been met with a great deal of respect in the past for my occupation/calling as a teacher. Most people with whom I've spoken view teachers as intelligent, organized, and humanitarian. They give us credit for providing an essential service to society.

Rich History of ABE
It seems to me, however, that ABE teachers are viewed in a different light from K-12 teachers. ABE, although a newer field than K-12 and college education, is not brand new. For instance, in the past, southern churches held literacy classes for slaves and freed slaves; unions conducted ABE classes for their members, as did the Communist party. In 1942, GED programs were instituted in order to meet the needs of American GIs returning from WWII, who were drafted before they could complete high school. ABE has served varied populations of adults for decades since, providing instruction in English literacy, technology skills for displaced workers, and preparing others to attain a GED or high school diploma, to name just a few applications. It has changed many lives for the better, both on the individual and family levels.

Perhaps some think that once through the American K-12 public educational system should be enough. In some people's minds it boils down to spending more tax dollars on people that they feel should be adequately educated by the time they reach the age of 18. Without having a teacher's perspective on the situation, it's easy to see how people could feel this way. ABE teachers work with adults on a daily basis who had life circumstances that forced them to drop out of school before their time, adult immigrants who are trying to build successful, productive lives for themselves and their families, and/or adults with learning disabilities who were not well- served by the K-12 system and "fell through the cracks." But without this perspective, and without any personal contact with an adult in such a situation, who could perceive the vital importance of ABE?

Educating the Public
Perhaps the solution lies in educating the public about the importance of ABE and the changed lives that have resulted in communities all over Massachusetts. A recent example of such (unintended) publicity was the battle waged against the proposed ABE budget cuts. Higher visibility for the field and its contributions to society would certainly turn the tide of popular opinion regarding ABE. But this, again, takes money. Furthermore, we are too occupied with the business of doing our jobs to take the time to toot our own horns.

Nonetheless, educating the public can be accomplished one person at a time. If you are confronted with criticism for your profession, here are some facts that you can mention:

1. I teach people who have been failed, in some cases, by the traditional K-12 system. Before the widespread attention to learning disabilities, students were often labeled as "slow," "stupid," or "lazy," and no one understood or accommodated their needs.
2. Adult education has ramifications for children. It is a research-based fact that a child's educational success is directly related to the educational attainment and involvement of his/her mother.
3. Crime levels decrease in communities when educational levels increase. I am providing a service that benefits society at large.
4. I am helping to build a more productive workforce. It benefits the economy when adults are taught the literacy, computer, and job-related skills they need in order to reach their full potential. This way, all of society benefits, not just the students themselves.

Wendy Mongeau teaches ABE, ESOL, and computer classes at the New Bedford Adult Learning Center. She can be reached at: wmongeau@msn.com