This leaves the focus on schools and schooling. The experiences of the adult learners who were kind enough to answer my questions fell into two groups, those with learning disabilites and those with learning difficulties. Descartes' error lay in putting thought ahead of emotion as a marker of human development. The brain records emotions much more quickly than it registers facts and events. Stress and trauma may ensue.
Feeling can wipe out memory.
There is every reason to believe that as adult learners' fears are exorcised their ability to read and write will improve. Again, I want to thank the organizers of the Conference for their thoughtful and imaginative planning.