Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id iBF53AU09190; Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:03:11 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:03:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <001e01c4e263$092e1070$b50a1845@DeepThought> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Woods" <woods@ncia.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1242] Re:Focus on Basics on Correctional Education X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2639 Lines: 50 Janet Isserlis wrote: > Could you please say more about the process of negotiation that you > entered > into with the prison to enable inmates to tutor others? > ...I was told that that wouldn't be allowed... Contact the Corrections Education Association, in particular Steve Steurer and the Maryland DOC. I attended a conference a few years ago in which they presented an overview of their peer tutoring program for basic reading skills. Everything about it was excellent and I have emulated many aspects of their program in my own situation within the VT prison system. The curriculum used to train the tutors in reading instruction was very sound. Maybe they can provide some insight into how to present your ideas. I do have a few thoughts on your situation based upon my own experience.Using inmates as tutors can present difficulties if the tutoring program is poorly planned or not carefully monitored. We have occasionally had problems when rules were violated in the learning center and the tutor found himself in a difficult position of having to violate the "prison code" in order to enforce the rules. Most prisons give inmates the opportunity to work at various facility jobs. Could your tutoring positions be made into facility jobs, which would then fall under the supervison rules of all other facility jobs? As I am sure you know, there is no better way to learn something than to teach it. Maybe you could call your tutors students and they are receiving education in teaching reading, and living as responsible members of the community. The benefits your reading students get are incidental. Sometimes if you package an idea in terms of the educational benefits the recipients will receive, it goes down better. Check out the RI Corrections mission statement and goals. If they say anything about preparing offenders for success outside of prison, developing employment skills, or assisting offenders in becoming positive contributors to society, I think you will have some powerful arguments in favor of the tutor program you want to create. The traditions in prison management sometimes lead to the perception that to maintain order and security, one must tightly control everything in the prison environment. There are different approaches such as unit management that seek to give inmates more control over their lives and direct participation in their prison communities. Such approaches actually strive to create inmate leaders. When people have a degree of control in their lives, prison security is actually enhanced. Good Luck, Tom Woods Community High School of Vermont
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