Recapturing the Vision

W. Franklin Spikes

doi:10.1177/104515959800900207

Spikes, W. Franklin

1998-01-01 00:00:00

REFLECTIONS By W. Franklin Spikes The "vision" thing has been a It could be said that because of tightly focused that the advance internally at matters ofnarrow major issue during the last two the nature of the field, separate ment of society-achieved concern, we must openly and col presidential elections. In 1992, for agendas for action, support, fund through the development of lectively identify and operational mer President Bush was repeatedly ing and-in some cases-pro increasingly meaningful and ize an overriding, unifying and accused oflacking any type of grammatic existence are merited, accessible learning opportunities driving set of social principles, social vision. In 1996, candidate leading us to focus our efforts on for adults-is lost in lieu of moral imperatives and philosophi Dole was thought by some to have an increasingly targeted sense of parochial and individualistic con cal beliefs that will guide our prac a retrospectively directed political professional issues. Yet, because of cerns. In the name of serving the tice in the years to come. I contend vision that was only capable of our professional pluralism, we particular interests ofa few, our that we have an important and viewing the past through a 1940's have ended up regularly con publications also seem to be driven influential role to play in improv lens. Conversely, the victorious fronting ourselves about marginal by narrowly defined topical agen- ing our world and that we can only Clinton/Gore ticket was said to ized matters rather than advancing do so through focusing our field's hold a vision that sought to carry our field and achieving new levels energy on the numerous issues the nation across their ideological of practice and service in the that affect humankind. "bridge tothe 21st century." broader social arena. Unfortunate Furthermore, I hold that this is While the notion ofhaving a ly, instead ofseeking to serve the clearly the time for our field to If we are ever going to vision for the future may seem like greater good ofthe whole profes aggressively exert the long-needed meaningfully contribute to the a tired cliche to observers of20th sion, we have tended to look only leadership that is necessary to century American society, I believe for the good that singularly and advance a truly meaningful agen advancement of society in the that just the opposite isthe case in immediately benefits each ofthe daofsocial discourse and reform new millennium, we must come the field of adult and continuing individual parts ofthe field. throughout the profession. We together with asense of education. I would argue that our In The Fifth Discipline, Peter must begin tomake our values field not only has lost any sense of Senge makes a case for the impor and beliefs known to the decision wholeness and unity of vision that it once may have pos tance ofsystems-thinking and sug makers, the politicians and the purpose. sessed, but that, collectively, we gests that social systems cannot influencers ofsocial and public seem not tocare a great deal about exist and effectively operate in an policy. recapturing ourvision and estab environment inwhich the needs of Ultimately, ifwe are ever going lishing a direction for our profes each element ofthe system are iso tomeaningfully contribute tothe sion in the years ahead. lated from the actions and needs of das that miss the big issues that advancement ofsociety in the new It appears tome that adult and all its other elements. Sadly, our affect us all. millennium, we must come continuing educators have suc field never has taken the notion of Where are the ongoing debates together with a sense ofwholeness cumbed to many ofthe same ills systems-thinking toheart. Rather, in our literature and at our profes and unity of purpose. United, we that are present in today's society. we have acted in a way that is sional meetings about social poli can fundamentally transform our Perhaps the most debilitating one directly contrary tothese ideas. In cy? Where are the opportunities for practice and profession into one is ideological divisiveness. It could the name ofinclusion, we have ongoing discourse pertaining to that possesses a global vision con be argued that we are increasingly conferences with hundreds ofcon the role ofour field in addressing sciously dedicated tomaking our affiliating ourselves with ever-nar current sessions ofa highly specific matters ofracial justice, gender world a better, more civil "and more rowing special interest groups. In nature, and few opportunities to equity, economic disenfranchise equitable place inwhich to live. the name ofprofessional inclusion address the major overriding issues ment and poverty? When have we and diversity, we have tried to and themes that should be shaping critically examined our role in lv. Franklin Spikes is a make room for everyone in our our thinking and practice. helping others overcome the terror pastpresident ofAAACE field. As a result, the profession is In a similar sense, we have ofAIDS, the trauma ofdysfunc and a professor ofadult populated with a growing number organizations, subgroups oforga tional families orthe desperation and continuing education ofsubgroups and an equal num nizations and subgroups ofsub of war and social genocide? at Kansas State University. ber ofindividual agendas. groups oforganizations that are so Simply put, instead oflooking Winter 1997-98 D 11

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$REFLECTIONS By W. Franklin Spikes The "vision" thing has been a It could be said that because of tightly focused that the advance internally at matters ofnarrow major issue during the last two the nature of the field, separate ment of society-achieved concern, we must openly and col presidential elections. In 1992, for agendas for action, support, fund through the development of lectively identify and operational mer President Bush was repeatedly ing and-in some cases-pro increasingly meaningful and ize an overriding, unifying and accused oflacking any type of grammatic existence are merited, accessible learning opportunities driving set of social principles, social vision. In 1996, candidate leading us to focus our efforts on for adults-is lost in lieu of moral imperatives and philosophi Dole was thought by some to have an increasingly targeted sense of parochial and individualistic con cal beliefs that will guide our prac a retrospectively directed political professional issues. Yet, because of cerns. In the name of serving the tice in the years to come. I contend vision that was only capable of our professional pluralism, we particular interests ofa few, our that we have an important and viewing the past through a 1940's have ended up regularly con publications also seem to be driven influential role to play in improv lens. Conversely, the victorious fronting ourselves about marginal by narrowly defined topical agen- ing our world and that we can only Clinton/Gore ticket was said to ized matters rather than advancing do so through focusing our field's hold a vision that sought to carry our field and achieving new levels energy on the numerous issues the nation across their ideological of practice and service in the that affect humankind. "bridge tothe 21st century." broader social arena. Unfortunate Furthermore, I hold that this is While the notion ofhaving a ly, instead ofseeking to serve the clearly the time for our field to If we are ever going to vision for the future may seem like greater good ofthe whole profes aggressively exert the long-needed meaningfully contribute to the a tired cliche to observers of20th sion, we have tended to look only leadership that is necessary to century American society, I believe for the good that singularly and advance a truly meaningful agen advancement of society in the that just the opposite isthe case in immediately benefits each ofthe daofsocial discourse and reform new millennium, we must come the field of adult and continuing individual parts ofthe field. throughout the profession. We together with asense of education. I would argue that our In The Fifth Discipline, Peter must begin tomake our values field not only has lost any sense of Senge makes a case for the impor and beliefs known to the decision wholeness and unity of vision that it once may have pos tance ofsystems-thinking and sug makers, the politicians and the purpose. sessed, but that, collectively, we gests that social systems cannot influencers ofsocial and public seem not tocare a great deal about exist and effectively operate in an policy. recapturing ourvision and estab environment inwhich the needs of Ultimately, ifwe are ever going lishing a direction for our profes each element ofthe system are iso tomeaningfully contribute tothe sion in the years ahead. lated from the actions and needs of das that miss the big issues that advancement ofsociety in the new It appears tome that adult and all its other elements. Sadly, our affect us all. millennium, we must come continuing educators have suc field never has taken the notion of Where are the ongoing debates together with a sense ofwholeness cumbed to many ofthe same ills systems-thinking toheart. Rather, in our literature and at our profes and unity of purpose. United, we that are present in today's society. we have acted in a way that is sional meetings about social poli can fundamentally transform our Perhaps the most debilitating one directly contrary tothese ideas. In cy? Where are the opportunities for practice and profession into one is ideological divisiveness. It could the name ofinclusion, we have ongoing discourse pertaining to that possesses a global vision con be argued that we are increasingly conferences with hundreds ofcon the role ofour field in addressing sciously dedicated tomaking our affiliating ourselves with ever-nar current sessions ofa highly specific matters ofracial justice, gender world a better, more civil "and more rowing special interest groups. In nature, and few opportunities to equity, economic disenfranchise equitable place inwhich to live. the name ofprofessional inclusion address the major overriding issues ment and poverty? When have we and diversity, we have tried to and themes that should be shaping critically examined our role in lv. Franklin Spikes is a make room for everyone in our our thinking and practice. helping others overcome the terror pastpresident ofAAACE field. As a result, the profession is In a similar sense, we have ofAIDS, the trauma ofdysfunc and a professor ofadult populated with a growing number organizations, subgroups oforga tional families orthe desperation and continuing education ofsubgroups and an equal num nizations and subgroups ofsub of war and social genocide? at Kansas State University. ber ofindividual agendas. groups oforganizations that are so Simply put, instead oflooking Winter 1997-98 D 11$

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Recapturing the Vision

Recapturing the Vision

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