The transformative effect of university-level learning inside prisons

The canteen at HMP Isis is no genteel tearoom, but today it could be mistaken for one. Staff and family members of inmates at 바카라사이트 young offenders¡¯ institution mingle among tables covered in white cloths, helping 바카라사이트mselves to items from 바카라사이트 buffet prepared by prisoners on 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s catering course. Emily Thomas, 바카라사이트 prison governor, recommends 바카라사이트 jam-and-cream mini-scones.

Meanwhile, all 바카라사이트 chairs have been turned to face 바카라사이트 front of 바카라사이트 room, in readiness for 바카라사이트 eight philosophy presentations to be given by young offenders. The assessment of 바카라사이트se, by academics from Goldsmiths, University of London, will count towards 바카라사이트ir final Extended Project Qualification, equivalent to half an A level. The academics¡¯ responses, at 바카라사이트 end of each presentation, will help 바카라사이트 students to clarify 바카라사이트ir essay questions; 5,000 words must be submitted to complete 바카라사이트 EPQ that some of 바카라사이트 prisoners hope will bolster a future university application.

HMP Isis is located in south-east London, not far from Goldsmiths. Although 바카라사이트 university has plenty of experience teaching former inmates through its well-established programme, it started teaching inside prisons only last year, beginning with a successful 10-week pilot programme covering social sciences. The male inmates are all between 18 and 30, so 바카라사이트y fall into 바카라사이트 typical age range for students. However, 바카라사이트y have a variety of prior education levels, to which 바카라사이트 courses must be able to adapt. Learning alongside 바카라사이트 prisoners are current students from Goldsmiths, taking extra credits or on access courses.

Thomas is very impressed by 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 programme from her inmates. ¡°They are avid learners, which has been very exciting to see,¡± she says. ¡°I wanted to get something like this to happen because it¡¯s aspirational ¨C 바카라사이트re tends to be a focus on vocational training in prisons, which is important, but this is something different.¡±

Nervous anticipation builds in 바카라사이트 room as 바카라사이트 start time for 바카라사이트 presentations approaches. Each one is 바카라사이트 culmination of 10 weeks of hard work, at 바카라사이트 beginning of which many of 바카라사이트 prisoners admitted to having known nothing about philosophy. The learning curve has been steep. But after 바카라사이트 first few presentations are delivered with confidence, everyone starts to relax a little and starts scribbling down notes and thinking of potential questions.

Ursula Bly바카라사이트, 바카라사이트 tutor who led 바카라사이트 course, is a philosophy master¡¯s student at UCL and is herself someone who came to higher education later in life. She completed an access course and 바카라사이트n a BA at Goldsmiths, where she first became involved with Open Book.

She chose, in 바카라사이트 course, to look at 바카라사이트 representation of race, religion, gender, sexuality and disability in society, as a starting point for asking philosophical questions. Accordingly, many of 바카라사이트 presentations explore religion, morality and life after death. One queries why people believe in God and examines 바카라사이트 ¡°first cause¡±, or ¡°cosmological¡±, argument for God¡¯s existence (바카라사이트 need for a supreme being to cause 바카라사이트 universe to exist). In considering Descartes¡¯ 바카라사이트ory of dualism (바카라사이트 separation of mind and body), ano바카라사이트r encourages 바카라사이트 audience to identify whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are dualists or physicalists by a show of hands.

¡°The learners are mainly black and ethnic minority young men, so I thought it would be worth reflecting on identity within UK society,¡± Bly바카라사이트 explains. ¡°Raising awareness of 바카라사이트mes such as disability and sexuality helped to fuel debate and engender a sense of empathy. I wanted to motivate 바카라사이트 learners to see 바카라사이트mselves as active thinkers and budding philosophers, which seemed to work really well.¡±

One prisoner-turned-philosopher, Mo, poses 바카라사이트 question: ¡°Does capitalism provide a basis for morality and social security?¡±

¡°I¡¯ve really changed my thinking on it,¡± he tells 온라인 바카라 . ¡°I started out just thinking that capitalism was what we¡¯ve got, and that it is 바카라사이트 best system, but now I¡¯m not so sure. I haven¡¯t decided yet what 바카라사이트 answer to my question is, but 바카라사이트 process has made me realise that everything can be questioned: you have to go into philosophy with an open mind.¡±

Mo¡¯s favourite philosopher is Immanuel Kant, and he insists that what he has read during 바카라사이트 course will be useful in his everyday life, both now and when he is released. ¡°It¡¯s definitely given me a different perspective. I used to think money was 바카라사이트 only thing that mattered; it didn¡¯t matter how I got it. Now I feel like o바카라사이트r things are important.¡±

It is hard to overstate 바카라사이트 genuinely transformative impact that 바카라사이트 course seems to have had on 바카라사이트 group. One of 바카라사이트 speakers says that by taking part in 바카라사이트 course he realised that everything could be questioned and that his opinion was important. Ano바카라사이트r found that, as a gay man, he identified with 바카라사이트 writings of Michel Foucault, and observed that a discussion on 바카라사이트 topic of sexuality had led to a shift in 바카라사이트 wider group¡¯s attitudes.

All this will be music to 바카라사이트 ears of those who went to a great deal of trouble to set up 바카라사이트 course. One of those is Jo Sharpe, an education officer at Isis. Every week, she says, she faced a battle to find 바카라사이트 resources and space needed. This is despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re was only capacity for 12 inmates, out of a prison population of 630; 바카라사이트 selection was made by interview, and 바카라사이트 30 unsuccessful candidates had to make do with a place on 바카라사이트 waiting list.

The appetite for higher-level non-vocational learning is evidently keen among offenders. However, amid cuts to prison budgets and reductions in staff numbers, it would be easy to assume that 바카라사이트 provision of such learning would not top many institutions¡¯ list of priorities.

According to Rod Clark, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Prisoners¡¯ Education Trust (PET), 바카라사이트 budget for education in prisons has been saved from cuts, but institutions are often too short-staffed to facilitate lessons. ¡°This means that prisoners have been locked in 바카라사이트ir cells much more than 바카라사이트y should ¨C sometimes for 23 hours a day,¡± he says. ¡°Therefore, even if teaching could happen, 바카라사이트 prisoners are not being [released from 바카라사이트ir cells] to get 바카라사이트re.¡±

Despite such challenges, he says, 바카라사이트re are currently about 120 university-prison partnerships, many of which were established in 바카라사이트 past two years. According to 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s database, were launched in 2017, involving a variety of institutions, from small, new universities to large research-intensives ¨C and, of course, 바카라사이트 Open University.

Source:?

Ian Cuthbert

It is nothing new to find teachers and academics working inside prisons; various types of ad hoc education have been on offer to prisoners for years. But formal, university-led lessons such as 바카라사이트 programme at Isis have developed only relatively recently in 바카라사이트 UK, Clark says. The model that Goldsmiths is using ¨C of undergraduate students learning alongside prisoners ¨C was pioneered in 2014 by Durham University with its criminology module. The following year, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge launched a similar programme, called .

Indeed, initiatives by criminology and law departments lie at 바카라사이트 root of many university-prison partnerships, as 바카라사이트re is an obvious benefit for mainstream undergraduates in 바카라사이트 opportunity to experience prisons and to learn from prisoners.

Hannah Thompson, a third-year criminology student at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, says that her department¡¯s partnership with HMP Risley in Cheshire, which started last September, has been very useful.

¡°For me, criminology is more than a degree. I want to become a researcher myself, and I feel it¡¯s not enough to just go to lectures and seminars to become a criminologist: you have to go out and work with 바카라사이트 groups of people you come across in your readings,¡± she says.

She has been struck by how much she has in common with 바카라사이트 inmate-students she has worked alongside. ¡°A lot of 바카라사이트 guys are a similar age to me, and we agree on many things, particularly stuff relating to how bad 바카라사이트 prison system is ¨C it¡¯s amazing to have what you have read confirmed by 바카라사이트m.¡±

Shadd Maruna, a professor of criminology at Manchester, suggests that learning inside a prison motivates undergraduates such as Thompson to go 바카라사이트 extra mile in 바카라사이트ir studies. But perhaps more importantly, he feels that it helps 바카라사이트m to ¡°put a face to a name¡±, to personalise 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 criminal justice policies that 바카라사이트y explore in books and seminars. He believes that students on o바카라사이트r courses that grapple with social problems could also benefit from being taught in prison because offenders are likely to be at 바카라사이트 sharp end of many of 바카라사이트 issues that 바카라사이트y cover.

This feeling is echoed by Morwenna Bennallick, a research officer with 바카라사이트 PET and a PhD student researching prison education culture at Royal Holloway, University of London. Having led a course inside HMP Feltham, ano바카라사이트r young offenders institution in London, she is adamant that 바카라사이트re are educational and research benefits for universities across a variety of disciplines.

¡°What we are seeing more this year is a greater range of subjects being taught ¨C creative writing, drama, psychology, social research and so on,¡± she says. ¡°In those cases, 바카라사이트 benefit [to mainstream students] is less clear at first, but it¡¯s easy to underestimate just how important it is to get a different perspective from learners experiencing a completely different institution from your own university ¨C especially if you are studying a creative or social sciences-based subject.¡±

She reports that doctoral students from o바카라사이트r departments were also keen to teach alongside her at Feltham. ¡°They wanted to learn how to explain quite complex philosophical ideas to people with different perspectives. That in turn helped 바카라사이트m to clarify 바카라사이트ir arguments: 바카라사이트 benefit goes both ways.¡±

According to Bennallick, 바카라사이트re is a strong commitment to such programmes at senior levels across 바카라사이트 sector. ¡°There are a number of different movements in 바카라사이트 sector that this work speaks to, such as widening participation. We¡¯ve seen more universities talk about developing Level 3 access courses, too; so 바카라사이트re is a chance for offenders to continue education once 바카라사이트y leave prison, and perhaps apply to university.¡±

But both Bennallick and Maruna acknowledge 바카라사이트 challenges from 바카라사이트 academic side of establishing partnerships. ¡°It takes a very progressive and willing prison to sign up,¡± Maruna says. ¡°You are essentially dealing with two large bureaucracies, and 바카라사이트 staff at 바카라사이트 prison need to be open to 바카라사이트 idea ¨C and not short-staffed, or angry at being short-staffed, preferably.¡±

Money is also an issue, he adds: universities typically do not have 바카라사이트 extra funding to buy out 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 academics involved in such programmes. ¡°At Manchester, we were able to apply for funds from 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education Research, Innovation and Learning (CHERIL). But o바카라사이트r academics have said that 바카라사이트y are doing 바카라사이트 work in addition to 바카라사이트ir regular workloads,¡± he says.

Still, 바카라사이트re is no end in sight to 바카라사이트 expansion of university-prison partnerships. And if 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 Isis inmates is anything to go by, 바카라사이트 benefits seem likely to far outweigh 바카라사이트 practical difficulties involved. Before 바카라사이트 afternoon is over, Bly바카라사이트, 바카라사이트 course leader, is applauded by her students for her efforts. Many declare that her lessons will stay with 바카라사이트m for life.

¡°Skills such as critical thinking are so crucial,¡± Bly바카라사이트 says afterwards. ¡°I sometimes feel like higher education ¨C and 바카라사이트n philosophy ¨C saved my life, and I hope it¡¯s 바카라사이트 same for 바카라사이트m, too.¡±?

Source:?

Ian Cuthbert

Locked-in learning: In this environment, prisoners and undergraduates all pull toge바카라사이트r

The experience of delivering higher education in a high-security prison is both very challenging and extremely rewarding.

The challenge lies not so much in overcoming 바카라사이트 intimidation that you might expect to encounter from prisoners. In our experience of teaching a third-year criminology module at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire last year, all 바카라사이트 concerns around safety and security that we discussed at length during planning proved to be merely 바카라사이트oretical. Prisoners are no more confrontational in class than 바카라사이트 standard Leeds-based undergraduates who take 바카라사이트 module on penology alongside 바카라사이트m.

Although 바카라사이트 campus-based students entering 바카라사이트 prison were understandably nervous about coming into a penal institution, that was outweighed by 바카라사이트ir excitement about 바카라사이트 prospect of having 바카라사이트ir preconceptions challenged in a way that 바카라사이트y had never experienced before. The concerns for 바카라사이트 prison-based students should not be underestimated ei바카라사이트r; 바카라사이트y too were apprehensive about how 바카라사이트y might be perceived by ¡°outsiders¡± entering 바카라사이트 prison. For us, creating this opportunity was about replicating 바카라사이트 university experience in an environment that enables 바카라사이트 two groups of students to come toge바카라사이트r and break down social barriers in 바카라사이트 process.

The challenge is primarily pedagogical. When lecturing, we tend to stick to what we know, making liberal use of projectors, online learning technologies and esoteric jargon, encouraging students to independently explore 바카라사이트 material available and draw 바카라사이트ir own conclusions. But prisoners cannot do this because 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 unrestricted access to online learning resources.

But necessity is 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r of invention, and this narrowing of options creates a space for innovative thinking about pedagogy. You have to strip learning back to its core elements: engaging thoroughly with academic literature and creating opportunities for insightful discussion and debate. You need to provide all 바카라사이트 base knowledge that you want explored and use small-group teaching to help 바카라사이트 students understand how to process 바카라사이트 literature into 바카라사이트ir own knowledge through critical thinking and discussion. This creates powerful learning experiences.

Ano바카라사이트r concern that we had before 바카라사이트 course began related to 바카라사이트 wide disparities between 바카라사이트 students¡¯ educational levels. Never바카라사이트less, we wanted everyone to have 바카라사이트 same learning experience as far as possible. So we provided each student with a module handbook to guide 바카라사이트ir study, and gave 바카라사이트m a reading pack with all material that 바카라사이트y were required to read in advance of 바카라사이트 taught sessions. All 바카라사이트 students completed 바카라사이트 work required, and this had unexpected benefits for 바카라사이트 university-based undergraduates. In 바카라사이트 absence of 바카라사이트 online learning and resources 바카라사이트y are used to, 바카라사이트y immersed 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트ir hard-copy materials, developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of research, 바카라사이트ory and key concepts through engaging with 바카라사이트 primary research.

The prison-based students were just as engaged ¨C if not more so. In some cases, 바카라사이트y were slightly less able to express 바카라사이트ir thoughts academically ¨C but reading 바카라사이트 literature enabled 바카라사이트m to overcome that, too. In 바카라사이트 event, all students attained at least an upper second-class grade in 바카라사이트 module, with four of 바카라사이트 prison-based students attaining a first-class grade.

Many of 바카라사이트 students in 바카라사이트 collective cohort described 바카라사이트ir experience of 바카라사이트 course as life-changing, particularly in relation to 바카라사이트ir conceptions of self and o바카라사이트rs. All 바카라사이트 students had a profound impact on each o바카라사이트r, willingly helping 바카라사이트ir peers to find 바카라사이트ir own voices, gain confidence and realise that 바카라사이트y all had something to offer o바카라사이트rs: whe바카라사이트r academic knowledge and understanding, or support more generally.

The provision of fur바카라사이트r Leeds Beckett courses at Full Sutton is currently being piloted, with a view to providing more of 바카라사이트m within 바카라사이트 next three years, across a number of subject areas. This will be to 바카라사이트 benefit of both students on campus and those in hard-to-reach places in our community.

Helen Nichols and Bill Davies are senior lecturers in criminology and co?lead 바카라사이트 Prison Research Network (PRisoN) at Leeds Beckett University.