What is the Purpose of Adult Schooling? By: Anthony S. Pellegrino

A headline recently appeared in the Tribune stating “Less Students Complete Adult School This Year.” The Adult School Program at the NMC under the direction of Fe Calixterio reported that only 21 students would be graduating from a high of 80 students who finished a couple of years ago. The reason given is it appears that the passing score has been raised from 40 to 45, an increase of 5 points.

It is about five months that I have been focusing in this newspaper on the value of education both for youth and adults. So it was only natural that when I read this article, I felt disappointed that despite my efforts, the efforts of employers and the community begging for the improvement of its people, the message is falling on deaf ears.

Too many adults still believe that they can slide through life without knowing how to read, write, speak and do simple math well enough to hold down a decent job. Regardless of all the data showing that education is the strongest and most positive way to obtain a high paying job with responsibility, it appears to make no impression on these losers.

With so many applicants looking for jobs in the private sector, I decided recently to write a simple literacy test for all prospective applicants applying for a job in my companies. The math test was taken from a fourth grade math workbook. A sample word question asks-. Joe bought a coat for $70.00. The sales tax on the coat is $3.50. What percent is the sales tax? Another question: A service station sells gasoline for $1.71 per gallon. What would be the cost of 15 gallons at the station?

The test also asks: “Write a 35 to 50 word paragraph explaining why you want to work in our company.” There is also a fourth grade 350 word reading comprehension short story with four multiple choice questions. The test is basically on a fourth and fifth grade level.

To date about eight job applicants have taken the test. All of the applicants were over 20 years old and several were married with children. The highest score, believe it or not, has been 45%. Many of the applicants gallantly wrestled with several questions. But when they got to the essay portion, they caved in and wrote nothing. Despite these dismal low scores, we hired some of them. The problem is what quality of work can the company expect from them. We have only so many brooms to push.

All employers need employees that possess simple arithmetic, writing and reading ability. What kind of training are we supposed to do? Are we to teach them the basics of education which they failed to master throughout their school life? We can train these employees to bag ice in a few minutes, but can we teach them to count and keep records. We can teach them to make deliveries, but can we teach them to speak with the customer intelligently when billing them?

I feel sad that these handicapped people fail to realize that they have cheated themselves from obtaining a decent paying job. The private sector is begging for educated people. Training is easy and short when a person knows the fundamental rudiments of reading, writing, speaking and arithmetic.

The NMC is ready to assist. The library is open to all. Many other learning opportunities are awaiting to help. What more can I or any of us say if our message continues to fall on deaf ears? Please, those of us who are fairly literate, let’s encourage the less literate to improve themselves. Reach out and help our less fortunate neighbors now! The CNMI needs them.