Don't look north through rose tinted spectacles: tensions, struggles and guiding lights in Scotland - a reflection

MacLachlan, K. (2006) Don't look north through rose tinted spectacles: tensions, struggles and guiding lights in Scotland - a reflection. Research and Practice in Adult Literacy Journal: RaPal Journal, 60, pp. 32-36.

Abstract

‘Scotland has been developing a remarkable adult literacy and numeracy strategy….[it is]…..one of the most dynamic and exciting places in the world right now to be an adult literacy or numeracy practitioner’ (‘Why England should look North for inspiration’. Merrifield, J. 2005, pp 21 and 22). Juliet’s and three other articles in the Reflect journal, October 2005, collectively paint a wonderfully rosy picture of policy, strategy and provision north of the border though Juliet herself recognises the ‘frustration, confusion, dissatisfaction and resistance’ (p 22) that inevitably accompany radical change on the scale that Scotland is striving to implement. Whilst not intending to counter the key tenets of these articles, nor to deny the innovative work that is undoubtedly happening, I want to talk about the flip side of this ‘remarkable’ coin; to balance the hype a little and to offer what I see as a more grounded perspective of ALN in the country. I do this because I believe that whilst we justifiably celebrate the ‘moment of opportunity’ (Hamilton, Macrae and Tett, 2001. p 39) we are presented with, if we cannot publicly debate the tensions, contradictions and shortcomings that we encounter in our literacies’ work, we may be in danger of losing the direction, the ideals and ultimately the opportunities that currently excite and spur us forward.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: MacLachlan, Ms Kathleen
• Authors: MacLachlan, K.
• Subjects: L Education > LA History of education; L Education > L Education (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Research and Practice in Adult Literacy Journal: RaPal Journal
• Publisher: Lancaster University
• ISSN: 1747-5600
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 Lancaster University
• First Published: First published in Research and Practice in Adult Literacy Journal: RaPal Journal 60(Summer):32-36
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with permission of the publisher.