SMAS and Harvard "Shaking Hands" for Adult Education

On Saturday, April 26, San Mateo Adult School Student Leaders took part in a special Summit on Adult Education at Harvard.   Harvard is a very old, very famous , and very prestigious university.  It is in Boston, Massachusetts.

The title of the Summit was "When Do Civil Rights Expire?"  If education is a human right, then how about adults?  Do they have the right to an education, also?

SMAS Advocate Marina

SMAS Evening VP Maricruz
and SMAS Morning President Marco

SMAS ESL Morning Student Council President Marco, Advocate Marina, Evening Vice President Maricruz, and Morning Student Council Advisor Teacher Lisa went to the San Mateo Public Library and through the magic of the Internet, they took part in the Summit.



Here is Marco's account of the experience:

 

SMAS and Harvard "Shaking Hands" for Adult Education

I never imagined when I enrolled at San Mateo Adult School that I would be able to go in many places, like Sacramento's hearings, workshops at the CCAE, representing my school and my fellow students.  It's something that comes from my heart to do, and I love doing it. I always try to be positive  and do my best, as I can.
 

I would like to thank,Adult Education for making all these possible, also to all teachers who are doing an outstanding job, to people and organizations from the community for your support and generosity, behind each Adult Learner are families and children who will be benefited if mom and dad do better. 

Thanks Brenda! For inviting us to participate in the CAELA Harvard summit. It was an honor to speak and be listened to by a special audience, like the one we spoke to.  It's amazing to see that people from a  prestigious university like Harvard take the initiative to do something positive for Adult Education, two thumbs up for you guys!!

 

Definitely, if we want to see AE in a better position than where it is now, it's critical the media's support, as well as recognized institutions playing an important role, turning" non believers" into supporters.  Probably people ignore the existence, or what AE has done, how it has improved communities where it exists. For example my beautiful San Mateo, which I love like my own home town and feel goosebumps when  I think about moving somewhere else with its diversity in population, people get along with each other, its crime rate is lower than many other places, gang related issues, have not heard that much in all these years. 

 

 And all this is great for business. People work, spend $ and  that keeps the economy moving. 

Isn't that great?  Who doesn't want to live in a place like this?   But on the other hand in communities where Adult Education  has been cut, or what is worse, been closed, you can see the devastating effects that this has brought to them.  

 

People need a positive place, where to get skills required by these days' jobs, to  learn how to be responsible citizens, to invest their time and energy  -- I could go on and on giving examples. 

Is obvious that Adult Schools are working, doing what they are supposed to do, improving people's lives. 

 

I believe in education, that it should be a human right.  People of all ages benefit from it. 

 

Thank you, Marco, for sharing this account.

 

Thank you, Maricruz and Marina for attending the Summit, also.

 

Thank you, Teacher Lisa, for your support.

 

Thank you, Adult Education students and supporters everywhere.  You matter.