Adult Learning Center Celebrates End of Year Accomplishments
Brockton’s Adult Learning Center recently celebrated the end of the school year with four ceremonies honoring graduates and adult learners who accomplished educational milestones during the year.
Founded in 1973, the Adult Learning Center offers four core areas of academic instruction. Basic literacy courses provide students with reading and mathematics comprehension to a 9th grade level and High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) preparation courses help adult learners prepare for the HiSET (formerly the GED) test. English Speakers of Other Languages courses teach students how to understand and speak English and Family Literacy courses are geared toward ESOL students who have children in the Brockton Public Schools, teaching them how to help their children with homework, meet and talk with teachers and understand the expectations for parent involvement in their child’s education. The center also provides citizenship classes, computer assisted training and counseling and mentoring services.
This year, the Adult Learning Center enrolled 444 students in its programs and the need for the center is so great that nearly 1,600 Brockton-area adults are signed up on its waiting list. Currently, 402 are waiting for adult basic literacy courses, and 1,196 are waiting to learn English under the tutelage of certified instructors.
“We know that lifelong learners are the best learners and I congratulate you for continuing to learn,” Adult Learning Center Coordinator Suzanne Martin told a group of 50 students at a culminating ceremony June 23rd. “Most of you are working one and two and three jobs, you have families and commitments, and yet you recognize the importance of education and you are here to make a better life for yourself and your families. I applaud your dedication.”
Marie Jose Pierre grew up in a single parent household in Haiti. Education was not a priority, but she understood when she came to America that it was the only way to success, she said.
“When I came to the United States, I began to plan my future. I was given a second chance to make it happen. I learned that the ALC staff were dedicated to their students and would do whatever it took to help people like me obtain a GED. I enrolled in the GED program, and from that day forward, I knew I was destined to succeed,” Pierre said. “I’m not going to say that everything was easy. I had to balance the stresses of work and class. Then, on top of that, I had other responsibilities as a daughter, wife and mother. “
But through hard work and and perseverance, she passed the HiSET and earned her equivalency degree. In the fall, Pierre will be studying to be a nurse at Quincy College.
“I want to thank God who made such an achievement possible. I’m truly grateful to the staff at the ALC for all of the opportunities they provided for me,” she said. perseverance, she passed the HiSET and earned her equivalency degree. In the fall, Pierre will be studying to be a nurse at Quincy College.
Superintendent Kathleen A. Smith, JD, state Reps. Michael Brady, Christine Canavan, and Claire Cronin, and Sen. Thomas P. Kennedy addressed groups of participants, congratulating them on completing ESOL, HiSET and citizenship classes.
“You have shown yourselves, your families, your neighbors and most importantly, your children, how important education is,” Smith said. “You have set a tremendous example.”
ALC students are parents to more than 400 Brockton Public Schools students, and many have said they enrolled in adult education courses so that they can help their children with homework, speak to a child’s teacher or get a better job, Martin said. The average age of an ALC student is 39, and most are immigrants: 158 students are originally from Haiti, and 156 are from Cape Verde. Twenty-nine ALC students became citizens this year, and all are registered voters.s, your neighbors and most importantly, your children, how important education is,” Smith said. “You have set a tremendous example.”
“Knowledge is power and with that power your lives will be improved,” Kennedy said. “I tip my hat to you.”
