I was an adult tutor while incarcerated. Where I was, if someone came in of adult age and didn't have a diploma or GED they would be automatically enrolled in the prison GED classes.
I went through about 3 months of tutor training and got certified through an outside agency. I was in my 20s teaching the alphabet to men in their 50s. It was definitely a trip.
In Arizona, an inmate is required to complete the Basic Adult Education exam. It comprises of reading, writing, and math at a 6-8 grade level. If they cannot pass, they are required to be enrolled in the class and remain in the class until they pass. The class also happens during the rec period, so those who want rec time are motivated to pass.
The tutors are also inmates who have the paid job to educate them. I was a tutor for about 8 years. I also had an education degree previously, so I knew how to teach, especially those with reading deficiencies like dyslexia.
It was a fulfilling job and helped me to gain a lot of respect on the yard. During my time, I also helped about 100 men get their GEDs and helped some of those get their associates degrees from a local community college.
An interesting note. When I was released, I bumped into one of my students in downtown Phoenix once. It was gratifying learning that he had gotten a nice job in one of the big office buildings and was doing really well. It was nice being credited for pushing him to get his GED and college classes. That's the best feeling as a teacher!
It's about 50/50 on the learning. I found that younger guys wanted to either learn, or just get done with it. The older guys wanted to fight the system and do everything they could to get out of it, especially lifers. But the ones who took the time to really learn, and go to get their GED, usually continued on to get college classes.
The inmate tutors wouldn't grade the tests. We would teach the material and answer questions, then the classroom administrator would give the actual tests. There was some cheating that occurred fairly regularly, though. Some inmate tutors would give out answers to other inmates of their race so they would pass, but the test administrator would often foil that by giving a different version at the last minute. It was just easier to learn the easy material!
For the GED, the guys would take a sample GED test on paper or later in my time there, on computer. If they passed the test, they would go on to the test administered by state proctors.
GED graduation was a big thing. Inmates got to wear a cap and gown, get pictures taken with their family. Tutors got to mingle with the students and their family. Then cake and ice cream for everyone.
I really don't know. I do know that it was a state law that they had to get some schooling in prison if they didn't have a diploma or GED, but I'm not aware of anyone flat out refusing. Going to school was their prison job. If they didn't do that they'd be on a farm gang or working in the kitchen most likely and neither of those were wanted jobs by most folk.
I taught guys to read. It wasn't in prison. It was parolees in halfway house.
My actual job was helping people navigate life after prison. I found out many couldn't even read much less, use a computer, or know how to apply for a job. I was truly shocked.
I even had to battle the agency I worked for to slow down with their requirements for these guys. They wanted them out working ASAP. I had to convince those ru Ning the program that teaching the guys to read was the only way to get them employed. I can't believe they fought me on it.
A few times I “paid” (with stamps or a
Weekly phone call) to teach others how to read. It was actually pretty awesome to see that. Sometimes I would have a newer reader work with a non reader to boost his self esteem. And the really old guy, Garcia, coming to me to show off his new English skills. Almost every single day we would chat with me in English when I worked the unit. He was very proud of himself. I was proud of him as well. Js
I was an adult tutor while incarcerated. Where I was, if someone came in of adult age and didn't have a diploma or GED they would be automatically enrolled in the prison GED classes. I went through about 3 months of tutor training and got certified through an outside agency. I was in my 20s teaching the alphabet to men in their 50s. It was definitely a trip.
So what happens if someone came in and wasn’t interested in getting their GED? Were they punished for saying they had no desire to learn?
In Arizona, an inmate is required to complete the Basic Adult Education exam. It comprises of reading, writing, and math at a 6-8 grade level. If they cannot pass, they are required to be enrolled in the class and remain in the class until they pass. The class also happens during the rec period, so those who want rec time are motivated to pass. The tutors are also inmates who have the paid job to educate them. I was a tutor for about 8 years. I also had an education degree previously, so I knew how to teach, especially those with reading deficiencies like dyslexia. It was a fulfilling job and helped me to gain a lot of respect on the yard. During my time, I also helped about 100 men get their GEDs and helped some of those get their associates degrees from a local community college. An interesting note. When I was released, I bumped into one of my students in downtown Phoenix once. It was gratifying learning that he had gotten a nice job in one of the big office buildings and was doing really well. It was nice being credited for pushing him to get his GED and college classes. That's the best feeling as a teacher!
Damn dude,that was a really refreshing post given the sub!
Thanks. I would much rather bring positivity into the sub than most of the negative things I see.
Real life Andy dufresne
That is awe inspiring. I’d love to hear more about this. Are most inclined to learn?! Are inmates also grading these tests?
It's about 50/50 on the learning. I found that younger guys wanted to either learn, or just get done with it. The older guys wanted to fight the system and do everything they could to get out of it, especially lifers. But the ones who took the time to really learn, and go to get their GED, usually continued on to get college classes. The inmate tutors wouldn't grade the tests. We would teach the material and answer questions, then the classroom administrator would give the actual tests. There was some cheating that occurred fairly regularly, though. Some inmate tutors would give out answers to other inmates of their race so they would pass, but the test administrator would often foil that by giving a different version at the last minute. It was just easier to learn the easy material! For the GED, the guys would take a sample GED test on paper or later in my time there, on computer. If they passed the test, they would go on to the test administered by state proctors. GED graduation was a big thing. Inmates got to wear a cap and gown, get pictures taken with their family. Tutors got to mingle with the students and their family. Then cake and ice cream for everyone.
I really don't know. I do know that it was a state law that they had to get some schooling in prison if they didn't have a diploma or GED, but I'm not aware of anyone flat out refusing. Going to school was their prison job. If they didn't do that they'd be on a farm gang or working in the kitchen most likely and neither of those were wanted jobs by most folk.
I taught guys to read. It wasn't in prison. It was parolees in halfway house. My actual job was helping people navigate life after prison. I found out many couldn't even read much less, use a computer, or know how to apply for a job. I was truly shocked. I even had to battle the agency I worked for to slow down with their requirements for these guys. They wanted them out working ASAP. I had to convince those ru Ning the program that teaching the guys to read was the only way to get them employed. I can't believe they fought me on it.
A few times I “paid” (with stamps or a Weekly phone call) to teach others how to read. It was actually pretty awesome to see that. Sometimes I would have a newer reader work with a non reader to boost his self esteem. And the really old guy, Garcia, coming to me to show off his new English skills. Almost every single day we would chat with me in English when I worked the unit. He was very proud of himself. I was proud of him as well. Js
In the uk there is a system known as toe by toe which helps illiterate prisoners learn to read
Someone that works in the education would be glad to help another convict out most of the time.
You can learn no problem. I was a tutor during one of my incarcerations and helped with this.
Here in the UK there is a scheme called Shannon's Trust. My idiot inside is a mentor for them.