St. Cloud Area School District is home to students from pre-k through grade 12, but District 742 serves adult learners as well. Adult Basic Education (ABE) is designed for students ages 17 and older. There are several classes available for adult learners to further their education: English as a Second Language (ESL), adult diploma by taking the General Education Diploma (GED) test, GED prep, family literacy, digital literacy, citizenship, skill enhancement and workplace literacy.
To ensure area learners have the most opportunities, District 742 partners with a consortium made up of 26 school districts. If a particular class does not fit one’s schedule locally, it may fit better in a neighboring district.
District 742 ABE instructor Joe Osgood has been teaching adult classes for 18 years.
“I love it,” says Osgood. “It’s a lot more reciprocal. You’re on more equal terms with students because they are adults. They bring a lot more experience. It’s more of a sharing experience.”
The majority of the classes Osgood teaches are in the adult diploma program; although, he teaches some ESL classes as well. His students’ ambition, drive and determination never cease to amaze him.
Osgood cites as an example a current student who immigrated from Somalia. He is currently working a mandatory seven-day work week (70-84 hours a week) and will be until the end of the year. He has a family and children. Osgood thought his student might want–understandably–a break to take some time to rest. Instead, the student refuses to quit and remains dedicated to learning.
Osgood describes his students as ranging from 17 to 90 years old and as people from many different countries.
James Jarvan, a diploma student, is one of those students. Born in Kenya, Jarvan has been working in the United States for quite awhile.
“I attended school and then worked for awhile,” explains Jarvan. “I realized, that at my age, I need a high school degree now to continue my path, get more money and be flexible.”
Jarvan wants to go into the automotive industry.
“I love cars,” he states proudly. “I bring my car to the shop and I don’t know what they do to my car. I would like to work on my own car. . . I really want to go into mechanical engineering.
For Laura Moreno, taking ESL classes is giving her and her family more opportunity.
“You can be more confident and have a better understanding [knowing English],” says Moreno. “I can communicate better.”
Jarvan, who is multilingual, adds, “I encourage anyone who wants to learn the English language to keep going and never give up.”
Osgood says that the benefits of ABE are multi-pronged. For example, there are financial benefits for the students. Statistics show that adults with a diploma or GED have higher wages than those that do not.
But, there are other benefits, too. A lot of the students are parents and serve as role models to their children. With ABE, they are able to demonstrate how they value education. In addition, parents are also able to help their children with homework.
Other basic skills can be enhanced such as typing speed, basic computer skills, career exploration and job searching.
“A lot of times now, you can’t apply online without computer skills,” explains Osgood. “Most employers require an online application.”
ABE also ties together communities. Many community members volunteer in the program, and many are retired teachers.
“We are very grateful and dependent on volunteers,” shares Osgood. “It gives a lot of individualized attention [to students] and we’re always looking for more.”
One thing is for sure.
As Jarvan says, “It [ABE] will prepare you to communicate better with co-workers, [help you] express yourself better and [help you] make more money because you can get a better position.”
Whether it’s taking ESL, obtaining a GED or brushing up on skills, these adult learners expand their education and opportunity through ABE classes.