frombehindbars

It's been awhile

2008-02-29T23:02:00.000-08:00

Hello! I have recently transferred back to GED instead of a lower level where most of my students barely spoke English ... yay! This past week we were recruited to cell search and I guess that brought out my old writing demon. Below is a poem about my experience. Ta ta.

Cell Search

We, the non-security, the extras, were
recruited to search men’s lives stored in
concrete boxes. We collected no honey
in our combing, usually just property
altered, bartered, or pack-ratted, and
perhaps a lucky few found a few well
hidden distractions like tat guns, porn,
or tobacco. Push, pull, open and bend,
I’d find a way to hit my head on metal
bunk beds and shelves, and wondered
how many times the inmates bowed a
day. I learned too much of how a his-
tory intertwines on skin and paper like
a black web or tear, notes to a lawyer over
years, or a child growing up in two dimen-
sions. The dust of poverty wasn’t really
under a missing TV or radio, the worst
was perched upon a wall with only mag-
azine cutouts and a recycled container
saved for lacking letters. But, my sym-
pathy was reserved not for my students
but my coworkers in their sixties; these
teachers about to retire, who hung their
bones and eyes unsteadily as these ham-
ster men they strip searched. A few made
it through arguing, a few shrugging, but all
were ready to bite the bars into their own time.

Where'd I go?

2006-08-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm engaged, that's where I went, :). Not sure how much posting I'm going to do in the next sixth months ... A few of the inmates noticed my ring and said something.

-"Are you engaged?"
-"Yep."

That pretty much sums up my responses to any of the guys. Another change is that I got that day job I spoke of before. Now I'll be able to teach at the prison and go home when it's still light outside!! Yay! Some of my GED guys wanted to come with me to this 1st-3rd grade level class. I told them, "You're too smart." Earnestly they replied, "No I'm not!"

Most of my new students will be Spanish or Latino, (half of my GED students were as well.) I do not speak Spanish, so I'm hiring some bilingual inmate assistants. I am a little hesitant about having an inmate interpret for me, but what can I do? If the inmates want help from me, they'll have to speak in English :)

We are having a graduation next week, it'll be my last one as a GED teacher, I'll definitely miss having students graduate, that was the best perk of being a GED teacher.

More interesting news about my prison. We are overflowing with inmates, but very low on staff. We were low about 44 Correctional Officer positions, so the Warden requested and received a pay raise of 75 cents for Officers. We are also adding beds where ever we can ... I bet that'll keep my classes full. There's also a $500 incentive for referring correctional officers to work at my prison, so if you're interested, email me ... I'll split it with you ...

Front row fight seats

2006-08-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today I got my first taste of pepper spray.

Right near the cafeteria food slot, I sat near one of my supervisors, a tiny woman in her fifties, (we don't have a teacher's lounge, so we eat surrounded by inmates.) I heard a cup drop, then "Fight." We had front row seats to the fight - the closest seats in the chow hall. Officers seemed to appear out of nowhere, (perhaps coming out of the white walls?) to dash through the inmate crowd. Two inmates were struggling like high school wrestlers as the officers barked commands to them to separate and lie down. They continued clinging to one another. An orange-red liquid spewed forth onto the men, and the officers separated them, laid them face down, and cuffed them. I had shot straight up when I realized what was going on, eager to get out of the way. The lady next to me sat perfectly still, (she knew we'd have to stay until everything was secure.) A reddish orange goop on the ground was all that was left of the tumble as the inmates were escorted away. Then it happened.

I was the first one to cough. I thought nothing of it until the lady next to me coughed, and the inmates sitting around us joined in the barking chorus. Even the inmates along the walls waiting to be fed started the pained chant. Finally, the lady and I were told we could go, and we left with our throats burning and tingling, and our eyes watering. That was four hours into my twelve hour shift.

In my night class a student asked, "Can I go home, the pepper spray really affected me?" "I'm still here," I barked. He thought for a moment, "Oh, you were there?"

Another student joined in, "So, how was your lunch today?" "Spicy," I replied.

Rooms and Rumor - ville

2006-08-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

There's a rumor going around that our prison is going to install more beds in some of the cells ... I heard it from "inmate.com," (an inmate) so who knows if it's accurate. We've been sending the guys out of state and well, we made the news when one of our state's inmates was beaten down by an assistant warden in Texas. Apparently, my state's exploring other options.

My TA said that the bed issue was probably why my class was so hyper today. I gave out a couple "verbal warnings" to students who wouldn't stop picking on one another and distracting the class. I asked the adult men, "What grade are we in now?"

Once, during a fractions math game, it got so bad I asked, "Am I going to have to give out written warnings?" And like a five-year-old, one of the inmates said, "I'm done. I'm not playing anymore."

Perhaps these guys need to live in playpens ... no pun intended.

Feelers

2006-08-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about applying for a day position that came up ... because I've worked evenings for a year and a half. The thing is, I'd be teaching the equivalent of first grade. Am I crazy enough to teach adult inmates with the abilities of first graders? Does anyone have thoughts on this?

I was in a bad mood today, cause I feel like my boss(es) think I'm the young kid without much experience ... one of my bosses once said something like, "All of you have many years of teaching experience except (insert my name) in a meeting in front of all the teachers! And today he brought up my experience when I discussed the day job opening with him, (the job description says it prefers a different emphasis than I have). I have to apply and interview for a position with the same exact job title, I can't just transfer. Urghhhhh!

I'm younger than many of my students, and all of the other teachers ... that doesn't mean I should be treated like a dumb inmate :p. I'm probably over-reacting, but that's how I feel. At least I'm not an inmate who can't read or write ... they have to trust other guys to write their letters home for them.

Resource

2006-07-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

I worked at the prison library today, Sunday. One teacher a week volunteers to supervise the library for a few hours on Sundays and get hours off during the week for it. The library is open on Sunday to satisfy some policy or something, but the few times I've been there there's hardly any inmates, it's such a waste! I guess inmates, like the rest of us, don't make use of nearly any of the resources given to us. I think I agree with people who say that inmates should be in school/work for forty hours a week ... I know it costs money to get these guys to work, (just like the free peoples) but I think a solid chunk of whatever they earn should go to funding their living accomodations and their families on the outside ... afterall, who's out there making sure their children are given access to the resources they need ... just to survive.

Or, perhaps they should donate to my student loan fund ... jk

Tedious misadventure pic

2006-07-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

Tedious Misadventure

2006-07-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

I enjoy adventure pc/console games, but some aspects of them I do not like. Today I saw some similarities between prisoner's actions and those annoying quirks of adventure games.

1. In adventure games, you have to find the "key" to the next task or level, or you end up doing the same thing over and over again ... nothing. Keys are things inmates rarely come across.
A. Inmates look for keys to parole through programs, work, and therapy.
B. Memos, callouts, (callouts inform the inmates of appointments), and concern forms, (forms to request information, services, or appointments) are keys I come in contact with every day, "Teach, can I have a memo to go to early chow, so I can come to class," "I need a memo to go to the GED test or the COs won't let me out," "I have a callout for ... medical, legal, etc. so I can't come to class." "Who do I send a concern form to for ... (insert anything imaginable here).
C. Another "key" some inmates try to get is a staff member or visitor who falls for their scams. These "dupes" are keys to the outside world, a world of contraband.
D. Inmates also like to sue to try to get stuff from the prison or government. Most are frivolous and earn nothing.

2. In adventure games, there is a lot of communication, sometimes you have to sort out what is useful in each communication, wading through junk to get to what you need, and sometimes returning to the same source a few times before you succeed. Similarly, useful knowledge and action in prison can sometimes be slow in coming, because of the shear volume of inmates to staff, and the somewhat low communication levels possessed by many inmates.
A. Needed Information: Some inmates have other inmates write concern forms for them, because they can't write in English or just can't spell simple words. Inmates sometimes run down the wrong path by buying into rumors perhaps more for entertainment purposes rather than the seeking of truth.
B. Inappropriate/Useless Information: In class, inmates like to spout off inappropriate information, including their medical histories and criminal histories, in every disturbing detail. (I've heard descriptions of teeth being pulled in their tiny cells, various reasons why guys get diarrhea, exactly how a guy robbed a place, what various psych. prescription pills are used for, and much more.) I tell them to use the information for something productive ... write a GED essay about it.

3. Finally, in adventure games, it seems like items found are put together and used for purposes the average human couldn't think up. Inmates aren't the average bears, they just have more time to hunt and gather. They make weapons out of toothbrushes, pens, locks, tweezers, and much more. I've seen art made through and by various means, including drawing on hankerchiefs and underwear, using a pen repeatedly to press tiny dots into a coffee mug to make intricate portraits, paper pieces folded to make baby shoes, crucifies out of dental floss, and more.

Gambling Life

2006-07-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

I told my class that they were going to gamble today. "What, gamble, you said the magic word," one student eagerly stated. "Yes, gamble," I coughed, "I mean do a stock market project," Sigh, what I do to prompt interest in math.

These dudes will gamble/barter anything, and if caught, they could go to seg for it, because it's criminal thinking, not to mention it starts fights and could be used for special "favors."

When the cafeteria has "real chicken," we call it "bet day," because many inmates use this meat to pay off former debts. They also use deserts and ramon noodles ... no cigarettes like in the movies, our prison is technically smoke free.

I heard we might go "porn free" as well in a few months. I think someone said that sexual crimes go down when the facility is "cleaned," of this stuff. I'm so glad I am not the one who makes decisions about what the inmates can have on their plates or in their cells, those have got to be the most thankless jobs.

Most of all they bet with their time. First they bet with their freedom by doing a crime. Next, every action, every day, the bet their parole date by deciding whether or not to get in trouble, or participate or not participate in their programs. Summer seems to be the season of failure in prison. I fail guys who decide "they just don't want to," go to school. I bet they will pay for this decision with their future.

Lost within

2006-07-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm tygresstwin, and I'm a caffeine-a-holic. I'm a fairly reserved person, so when I get too much caffeine, it's like my nerves are stretched into rubber bands within me ... in other words, I get way too nervous. Nervousness in prison probably isn't a good thing. In a way you have to distance yourself from your inmate students to begin with, and when you're on too much diet pop, it's like your a nervous little dog barking at all of the big dogs. Yet, my class was fairly good today, but I couldn't enjoy it.

I barked at this one group of guys who told me, "Hey, thanks for excusing us from class to work our jobs, those few days, we helped get the cleanest pod and earned pizza." I replied, "I guess now you can work towards earning your GED." Needless to say, they were looking for a compliment, and I wasn't ready to serve it up. One of those two kids, I mean guys, later said he felt, "lost in the system." He said that because he's one of the guys in my class just to "wait" on their GED transcripts. See, if they don't have their GED, or have it and can't prove it, they have to be enrolled in class in order to work at the institution. This particular guy has been waiting on a transcript for 10 months (he got his GED in another state's prison system) ... but he doesn't want to try just taking the GED over yet at this point. Maybe he's letting himself be "lost." I'll add a picture soon.

Questions and Answers

2006-07-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

So, I let my students vent for a couple minutes at the beginning of class about the cell searches teachers "got to" participate in last week. Inevitably, one student said, "You guys messed up my cell." I told him, "We had to search everything." Most of the other students were fairly cool about it. One student said, "So, what kind of cell searcher are you?" I said, "That sounds confidential." Students murmured and laughed about that one. "I guess it depends on who I'm with." I added.

After that, class got started in a fairly uneventful evening. I gallivant around the room tutoring for the first part of class, asking them if they need any help. One guy said, "I'm finding lots of interesting stuff," as he pointed to a crossword. "I found the word pot," he said, smiling mischievously. "Like a planting pot?" I replied. "Yeah, I guess I have the word plant in here too."

In a group game I had today, one of the groups named themselves "Jokers," but kept referring to themselves as "The Tokers." I even accident's said "Tokers" instead of "Jokers," and a guy replied, "Hey, we're rubbing off on you, teach." "No, you're not," I replied perhaps too hastily.

The oblivious

2006-07-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

When I first started working at the prison, another teacher said of me, "She can't work at a prison, she's too oblivious." I guess I'm still working though. Also, while I'm not working full time with inmates, I work part time with children and adults with disabilities. I mention my other job to my disabled groups, cause it gives some of them kicks. I even took one teenage boy out to look at the outside of the prisons. I think he enjoyed it, although by nature he seems energetic and it's difficult to tell from one emotion to the next. I on the otherhand, am usually more mellow, that's probably why that teacher thought I was too oblivious. I told another disabled man that I've even worked with an inmate who has killed a child. The man said, "Doesn't that make you angry?" I said, "No, I don't really think about it ... he did that a long time ago ... and it's not likely he'll do that while inside."

I suppose my "calm exterior" (of course, on the inside I'm as nervous as any teacher with a room full of students) has equipped me well for working with these guys. They can't get a rise out of me too easily. I think I'd have to thank some of my family members for this trait. I look out at my inmate students and think, the only difference between him and a certain member of my family is he committed a crime ... I look at another inmate and think he's just like another member of my family ... he just got caught. Maybe my not-so-nifty childhood was what influenced me to completely stay away from the lifestyles these men have chosen.

Movies Inside

2006-07-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Movies are the "social" topics I let my students ask about in my life. I'll even ask them what movies they see over the weekend. Most of them complain about the movies they get of course, probably because they aren't shown anything with too much violence ... go figure.

Prisoner's Top Movie Choices

Anything where the prisoners are wrongly accused, or are freed: Examples: The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, Con Air.

Anything were thieves or other lawbreakers are portrayed in a good light, and cops/business owners in a bad light: Blow, Ocean's 11, etc.

One movie I think about a lot in Prison is "Total Recall," because that's a term used when all of the inmates have to return to their cells when a drill or actual security concern arises.

When I choose a movie for my classes to watch on Holidays, I choose much more wholesome movies than those listed above. Many of them have lessons/morals or at least breathtaking views the inmates aren't subjected to, and I haven't really had any complaints. Some of these include: The March of the Penguins, The Bear, The Snowwalker, Stand and Deliver, Missing in America, etc. I think I've even heard some sniffles in my classroom during some of these flicks ... of course, they joke through their emotions, trying to protect their machismo. I had a TA tell me that the movies I showed were movies that he'd probably never pick for himself, but he enjoyed them.

Yep, the TV is one of the inmates' most prized positions. Other than the visitors who may or may not come, and the various staff who have to put up with them, the TV is their best link to the outside world, including social issues, news, and new technologies.

locked sleep

2006-07-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well, there wasn't much to report yesterday, same old cell search finds: garbage, items not belonging to the residents, altered stuff, etc. One guy was upset because we were told to take away his fan because he didn't have a receipt, (they barter and bet to win stuff that doesn't belong to them). He kept repeating, I have 26 days left, I don't want to deal with this. I told him, "I guess you can buy yourself a better fan then." He can also send a "kite" which is a form of concern, to property to get his fan back. It's almost as if prison has some of the effects a world depression has, people save everything for fear of loosing it. Every box and folder they get they stuff full, they scrounge and steal paperclips, tape, twist ties, and more throw-away junk just like little kids, they find value in every little nothing. So, we get to clean house for them a couple times a year ... I almost wish someone would come through my apartment and do the same.

On a positive note, I got to leave work early yesterday!!!! I guess if they subject the teachers to such physical labor, they feel sorry for them. I think I felt the effects, I slept 12 hours last night ... now that's in league with cat nap hours, or inmate nap hours.

pic for last entry

2006-07-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

cell searches

2006-07-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

I hate cell searches, (I know I'm not alone.) We are searching about half of the prison, (the half with the most recent fights), and most of the people doing the searching are the teachers, (security is low staffed). It's funny because a lot of the teachers are 50+, but here they are, bending over, picking up stuff, and searching through little cells. It's difficult not to make a little mess when there's three bodies in a cell trying to sort through books, toiletries, papers, mail, hobby craft, clothes, medicine, small appliances, food, and much more. Did I mention that the inmates haven't been given the opportunity to shower for a few days? One group of inmates I encountered had bad attitudes, I guess it's a distressing process for them, as people go through their stuff getting rid of who knows what. Inmates can have a limited amount of stuff because they have limited space, anything extra, or altered, we confiscate. They also cannot have penetration porn, or anything gang related. The inmate who was the biggest pain for me was complaining about a small cardboard box that his domino set came in, (no, not the main black snapping container, just the outer most throw-away packaging). I was angry for a few hours after that encounter. I wanted to beat the bleep out of the inmate because he was so arrogant, but instead I told higher ranking security personnel that the inmate had a bad attitude and they spoke to him. Yes, I'm a rat, and proud of it, that means I don't have as many criminal thinking errors to work out as these guys. But, most of the other inmates were pretty quiet about the process, so I got over the s.o.b. Usually we just find that the guys have too much state issued stuff, trash, and altered stuff they collect (steal), and then adapt, (destroy) for their environment. For instance, old containers used for other purposes, and office supplies that probably came from education. The only things of note the group found was some make-shift tattooing equipment, (can you say hepatitis?) an inmate who had a black eye and some explaining to do, and an inmate's case file that was not supposed to be in the possession of an inmate. Tomorrow we have some more fun searching to do, I'll let you know what we find. I made a pic for this but I can't get it to work for some reason, so I'll post it when I can. The pic's my interpretation of a (very clean actually) cell.

Shank

2006-07-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I found out what the gurney that almost ran me over last night was headed for. It turns out there was a gang related stabbing/fight last night. It seems a couple of dudes had a shank made of a melted pen and tweezers, and a pillow case full of locks to use on one dude. So, today I had a curriculum day where I was bored to death, doing lesson planning and data entry. I'd much rather have had classes. Tomorrow the education staff as well as any other available hands will search cells, aka house cleaning for inmates. A few of us filled in our newest teacher on this process and he said, "There's just more and more to this job ... that wasn't spoken of in the interview." The pic is my feeble interpretation of a shank.

fights, medical, and swearing

2006-07-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

It seems we've had six fights or more in the last 24 hours. The "education" based pod was locked down today and couldn't come to education .... ironic isn't it? I barely made it out tonight, I was almost run over by a "code blue" medical call and a gurney to go with it. When there's a drill or anything going on, sometimes I have to stay past my 8:30pm class. The prison sort of reminds me of myself and a couple of my sisters back in the day when we were all stuck up in a camper on a hot day ... all at each other's throats.

Through everything, I even try to encourage my students away from swearing. I try a lot of different things. Today I asked a guy working on his GED to use more of his vocabulary instead of swearing. He said he probably had a vocabulary just as big as, or even bigger than mine. I said something like, "Then use it, I can't tell from your swearing." Then I walked away and helped another student. It's amazing to me that he doesn't have his GED, and I have three college degrees, but somehow he believes he is more educated than I am. Sigh, he has a lot to learn. I'm glad I only technically have to help him get his GED. (pic. from http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/Warwire.htm)

globe

2006-07-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

I gave out a verbal warning yesterday. One of the guys took a small blow-up globe I have, and threw it at another inmate. But, the globe hit me. I turned around and I heard some "oooos" from the class. I wasn't mad, just annoyed, it did not hurt, in fact, I barely noticed, but I did catch whose arm was lowering in a post throw way. I haven't given a verbal warning for a few months, my guys have actually been pretty good ... I don't know what's going on ... maybe they're all afraid they'll go out of state if they're bad. I know we keep shipping them out because we don't have the room.

The education staff at my site visited another prison on Thurs. and this was a huge prison that actually had good food! I think we spent at least half of our tour in the staff cafeteria. I was astonished, the food we have at our prison is nasty. Too bad for the inmates that this isn't the prison they'll go to if they're shipped off.

X and Bullets

2006-07-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

A few young attractive women walked by my classroom today. One of the inmates asked who they were; if they were counselors or teachers, (we have some young women counselors/teachers including myself). I took a look and didn't recognize them. I said they're probably on a tour or visiting. Another inmate said of one of the women, "She's my future x." I guess everything in life seems throw-a-way when you're thrown away without a key.

Later, a guy was drawing in my class and talking to another student. When I see a student doing something other than work, I usually walk up to them and ask them if they're taking a short break, or I tie in what they're doing to an academic subject so they get the hint that they need to be studying. I told the guy, "Hey, are you drawing an area problem, are you going to add up all the sides of that to find the total area?" The guy looked at me. "No, I'm drawing a bullet." Trying to be cool, I said, "So, are you going to find the area of impact ... of a popcan of course?" The guy next to him said, "No, that's a drawing of the bullets he's had in his back." Apparently, the guy just had two bullets removed from his back - that were lodged inside him since November.

Pre-Req

2006-07-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have some new pre-reqs for my classes.

1. You must learn to get rid of BO by showering everyday and using deodorant.
2. You must try to save your farts for when you are at least 10 feet away from the teacher. After relieving your body pressure level, you must wait at least 10 minutes before asking for her help on a question.
3. If you throw a piece of crumpled up paper at the garbage can, make sure the lid is off of the garbage. And, you might as well not try to make it, student basket averages are low.
4. If your teeth are brown or green, visit the dentist before smiling or laughing.
5. If you belly or anything else itches, you must keep it covered with an article of clothing with all times. I don't need to see your beer belly or tats.
6. If you stare off in space for more than five minutes, you must have something to show for it: a story, an essay, a math solution, or a soil sample from a distant world.
7. You must speak English. Your teacher doesn't have the money for Spanish classes as of yet, (no, you can not ask to give private lessons in your cell.)
8. Do not ask personal questions of the teacher, remember, you're a prisoner, just cause you don't have a life, doesn't mean I'll share mine with you. (and no, I don't want to see pictures of the children you've left in the streets.)
9. If you're over 45, remember, it is going to take you about 1.5 billion years to learn algebra, don't freak out ... You don't need a heart attack ... it'll cost tax payers way too much.
10. Ask questions, you obvious haven't learned the lessons you needed to the first time around.

Actually, my students are fairly mild for criminals, I tell ya, I think I have the hillbilly criminals. If you want to read about some tougher criminals, try http://jrtomlinson.blogspot.com/

warden's office

2006-07-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I was called to the warden's office. That's sort of like being called to your boss's boss's office, and the school principal's office at same time. When this happens, many times people are "walked out" of the building, (fired). I kept running my mind trying to figure out what I'd done wrong. I even thought that maybe someone found out about my blog and thought that it might be harmful to the prison's rep. or something, (No, I don't say which prison I work at). Thankfully, it wasn't directly about me, it was an investigation about some of my co-workers and a meeting we attended where staff feelings were hurt ... and that's all I'll say about that. I swear, sometimes I think the weirdest people sign up to work at a prison, (perhaps myself included). Some of the staff are pretty normal, or at least mind their business ... but some seem like emotional firecrackers lit at both ends or have something else up their ends ... but I guess you get some of those no matter where you work.

I wonder how my inmate TAs view me as a boss, (really, I don't care so much). Perhaps I shouldn't keep telling one of them that they "don't count" when they try to participate in the class activities instead of their duties. Although, that same one tells me I'm a good teacher ... but that was when I let him have time off to take a class ... One of my co-workers has being a boss down pat ... his TAs pretty much run his classroom, somehow I don't know how to motivate my TAs that much cause it seems like they don't breath without asking me first, and they seem to need winding or something cause once they finish a task, some of them just plop down like dolls ... so, do I trust them to run my class? No, and that's probably the difference.

inmates trying to be funny

2006-07-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Inmates trying to be funny are hazardous to the room's intelligence level.

For Example recently I've heard,

Inmate 1: This guy is as smart as the dog I'm training. The dog's really smart. Well, except it sniffs its own butt.
Inmate 2: I'd sniff my own butt if I could.

Inmate: (to staff) So, are you going to get plastered this weekend?
Staff: Nope, don't drink.
Inmate: That's not any fun. Are you going to rob a place?
Staff: Then I'd end up in the women's prison.
Inmate: Nah, you wouldn't get caught.

I've also told inmates they can write what they'd like in my class, but I can read it and edit it. A student asked if I'd look over a letter he'd written to a parole officer. The inmate started to read it aloud in front of the class. With dates and sentences he pretty much tried to relay his whole criminal record, and parole violations, so that his parole officer would remember him and write him a recommendation for parole.

One thing that I've heard that actually made me laugh was the following:

Student: (to my TA who was taping something on the wall): Quiet, I'm trying to study.
TA: Shh, I'm trying to make noise.

On an assignment:

Inmate: I'm a journeyman carpenter, why do I have to do this?
Staff: It'll be good practice.
Inmate: How do I find the area again?

Inmates are also fed too many beans. Do not feed the inmates beans please!

Touch

2006-07-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

EWWWW an inmate touched me today. He was trying to get past me and he lightly touched my sides with a couple fingers in order to not trip over me I guess. On the outside, I'd have thought nothing of it if a co-worker did that. But an inmate? Not happening. I told him not to touch me. I could have emailed his counselor, made a note in his case plan, and other stuff, but I didn't feel like doing paperwork, and this guy hasn't given me any other clues that something is going on. After all, he's sixty if he's a day and probably harmless to everyone except the children I bet he played with to get incarcerated. Hey, I found out one of my inmate tutors has a life sentence for two counts of L&L, (Lewd and lascivious behavior) must have been child abuse or somethin' bad, and it runs in the family, he has a nephew who is incarcerated for the same thing, but, he actually has a future date ... say in twenty years. But, inside, these guys make the best TAs, not out to prove anything, they just cower to hide the fact that they're "cho mos."

Fourth

2006-07-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

To all inmates who think they don't get anything in prison, I'll tell you, you had a nice fourth. The prisoners got to listen to inmate bands play today, and some of them are actually pretty good. I didn't stay to listen much, because the sound reverberated off the enclosed rec yard like a cyclone. While I was out there, one of my students said hello, and introduced me to his "partner," not sure what that meant, and I'm sure it's none of my business.

Many of the guys wanted to know why I showed up on the Fourth. Thankfully, I can actually rearrange my holidays and take it some time on a Friday perhaps? Still, that doesn't make up for having to work the summer, but oh well, I don't have to deal with parents. Somehow, I'm more intimidated by them than murders, rapists, druggies, gang bangers, or thieves. Although, most of my students are pen-pal dads and husbands.

Unofficial kids

2006-06-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

Today my students were belching loudly and throwing crumpled paper at one another ... and these are adults. Perhaps they're uneasy because we have a new warden, maybe that's like getting new parents, an elected official, and a new boss all in the same day.

On a brighter note, a first-day student said, "you make this class a little fun," on his way out. Maybe that makes up for those students missing in action, aka - enjoying outside recreation.

Vo-cab-u-lar-y

2006-06-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

My classroom is a lot like the one room school houses back in the day. I have a student working on a high school algebra text, and I have a few students working on phonics, not to mention every subject and level in between. One of these phonics guys raised their hands and asked, "What's this word?" The word was vocabulary. Talk about not having one. I had him sound it out. It's pretty amazing that there are two class levels being taught below my lowest students' level. There are guys inside who can not only not read or write in english, but they're illiterate in their native language as well. Upon entering the facility and before given a name badge to wear everyday, a select few might not have been able to spell their own name.

Looking

2006-06-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Another reason I haven't written lately is that I've been looking for another teaching job. As entertaining as my job is, I would actually be paid MORE as a regular school teacher, (and finally work days and get summers off). Pretty sad, huh? Mostly it's because we don't have a pay scale based on experience or degrees, and any raises are dependent on many factors. I have a Masters so, the cost of my monthly student loan bill is overwhelming. Perhaps like many of my students' restitution or child support bills, these things just find themselves not getting paid.

Brush up

2006-06-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile. I've been busy finishing up some classes. It's funny how I have two jobs and am taking classes online, yet, many of my inmates complain about their full schedules. In class recently, I had one guy ask the age old student question, "Why do I have to do this?" He then continued, "I could be doing something more important - like nothing." I'd like to tell him he could invest some time brushing his brownish green teeth, but what do I know, I'm just a teacher here to waste his "down time."

Snooze

2006-05-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

My inmate teaching assistant fell asleep in class! He had his elbow on his leg and his face against his hand as he sat at a computer. Perhaps that means my class wasn't that entertaining ... and that he probably isn't making any shank if he feels that safe. I don't think I'd try it. Actually, Correctional Officers are fired for falling asleep. I don't think I'll fire my TA though ... I don't have the best applicant pool to choose from. The last TA I had left to work in the library, and promptly went to segregation for gambling on Nascar and stealing glue. I wonder if he has a mini Office Max from my classroom. Perhaps he should give me a cut from his earnings ... unless he receives special favors that indigent prisoners supply.

yum yum fail

2006-04-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I had the flower dissection assignment yesterday, and one of my TAs asked me if I thought the flowers were poisonous. I said probably not. He told me that last year he ate one of the flowers I brought because he doesn't get enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

I failed another student yesterday. He hadn't come to class the last four class periods, and policy says they get 2 unexcused a month. Apparently he had "at home" problems with his family. I hear that a lot, of course these guys have at home problems, they're not at home, and their wives and children are living without them, (consequently, I bet they have more "at home" problems than the inmates!) Well, his "problem" with schooling happened when he didn't communicate with me. Can you imagine taking a week off of work without telling your boss in advance, or at least during the first couple days?

Vacation

2006-04-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

I've been on vacation to beautiful California for awhile! California was great, but for some reason, I came back with a wicked cold! Oh well, I guess I can't smell the various enclosed aromas of the prison when I return. I told my inmates a few weeks prior to leaving when I'd be gone, and some of them were quite moody before I left. I guess they don't get vacations .... oh wait, they're in prison! One prisoner actually said that he's used to more work in class than I give ... wow! (part of my class is self study, part is class work: I teach all academic subject areas in many grade levels). I guess I'll have to keep these guys busier now that it's spring and they have extra energy. I think I'll have them dissect flowers sometime soon, I did that last spring. I think they actually liked that last year, perhaps because they got to destroy something, and see part of the outdoors!

Springggggg

2006-04-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, spring is here, and my inmate students are springy too. I've had to separate inmates this week because they can't stop joking around and being loud. I've also noticed students have begun touching each other more often lately. They poke each other in the ribs or slap each other on the back. It's almost as if they're flirting. I tell them, "enough touchy feely," and perhaps because I'm female and they want to seem macho, they try to play it off like they're just buds. Uhh huhh.

There's also been a lot of fighting recently in their cells, so the Warden is starting to take away their perks purchased through general inmate funds, (money made from their commissary purchases.) Some people believe that inmates get a lot of cool stuff like tvs, game consoles, and gym equipment from the government, but that's not true. They pay for it themselves by buying stuff like ramon noodles and candy off a commissary list. Prisons over charge, not only to pay for the delivery of the items the inmates buy, but also, to be able to purchase items that will benefit the inmates, (keep them occupied, educated and not fighting.) Sometimes I wish that would include people friendly duct tape for those few who feel it's necessary to disrupt the majority of my students who actually come to class to learn.

Down

2006-03-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

Last week the inmates were locked down for a few days while most of the staff, (including teachers) searched their cells. A full facility search happens once or twice a year, and let's just say it's not anyone's favorite day at prison. One of the teachers went so far as to hand in a two weeks notice the day after the searching was over ... coincidence, I think not. I thought the way it happened was kindof amusing. One teacher came up to another and said jokingly, "Is that your pink slip." The other teacher replied, "No, I'm giving it to them, they're not giving it to me." None of us were expecting that.

Shrooms, teeth, and death

2006-03-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

I decided to show a harmless PG movie in my class for St. Patty's Day. Little did I remember there was a drug scene in it where a character mistakenly eats a special mushroom. Let's just say I was a little uncomfortable during it when I heard the enthusiasm with which my students enjoyed that scene. I told them, "Don't try this at home," and one student immediately replied, "already have." Of course I'm not surprised. I can tell by their low teeth count that many of my students have experimented with everything and anything.

I believe on this same day I had a student ask to leave class because his tooth hurt and he's waiting for it to get pulled. This dude's 40 years old and has very few teeth left. He even informed me he'd pulled some of them on his own before while on the wait list for a dentist.

Some prisoners don't take care of their bodies - we had a death recently of a dude in his 40's who had a heart attack - 60 days before he was to be released, or so I heard. The staff I heard the news from told me they guy was into drugs and was on borrowed time anyway. Or, maybe God wanted to be his parole officer.

Fighting Suicide

2006-03-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

Looks like we've had about four fights this last week or so. All are believed to be gang related. My classes were late a few times because of them. I can tell spring has sprung - whatever happened to my nice winter depressed inmates who sat and did work quietly? Now I've started to separate guys for talking too much or "trying" to be funny. I say "trying" because usually they joke inappropriately.

One day I said, "Everyone, go ahead and try this math problem," and a student said, "Or we could just kill ourselves." I asked him after class why that comment might be inappropriate. He couldn't come up with an answer, so I lost my nerve and threatened him with suicide watch. That got his attention. In suicide watch, guys have to wear those hospital robes and cannot have access to anything that might be used to hurt themselves. Also, they get to have an officer stare at them all day, taking notes every fifteen minutes, without any moment's privacy. Perhaps if they weren't suicidal going into suicide watch, they might be coming out.

Fight!!

2006-03-08T20:49:00.000-08:00

One of my TA's and a few of my students arrived very late to my class. Apparently, there had been a fight in the cafeteria and they were stuck with an officer between the cafeteria and education, which are actually located only a few feet from one another. As the late guys were telling me about it, I heard another conversation between inmates describing the details of the fight. It seems that one of my students got "beat down" as they put it and is now in segregation. Many people don't realize that segregation is not always a punishment, it is sort of a jail for inmates awaiting trial, which includes not only the defendants but the witnesses and sometimes victims as well. That way, each individual involved can be secluded before any disciplinary hearing, which could very likely get overturned because of undetailed report writing. So this guy who got "beat down" gets to miss my class for some quiet seg. time, which I like to call "vacation."

Black Out Days

2006-03-01T22:11:00.000-08:00

Working as a teacher in a year round prison, means you don't get summers off or snow days or the like. In my last facility, we got "fog" days because it was a campus like prison where prisoners had to walk outside to go between each building. Teachers still had to come to work, but could work on curriculum or grading during that time. In my current prison, the whole prison is one building, so no fog days, but we seem to have power outages once in awhile. I don't mind so much when the power goes off and I'm in the office, or even when it goes off in my classroom where I know most of the guys. But, I feel a little odd when the power goes out during movement when I'm walking in a hallway with a bunch of criminals I don't know from Cain. When the power goes out in prison, all there is is darkness hugging your eyeballs, even in the middle of the day.

Rape

2006-02-25T18:26:00.000-08:00

We all hear and see references to prison rape in movies. I'm sure it's not quite as prevalent as the movies suggest, but apparently it does happen. We've been hearing about G.Bush's Zero tolerance for Prison Rape Policies lately at work. Even though many people think prisoners deserve what they get, I think it is unfortunate and wrong even if one prisoner gets raped at a facility a year. Think about this, what if your 18 year old son stole a car and had to room with an older male who was a sexual predator? I know my prison is very responsible at screening these sorts of hazardous situations, but one never knows what goes on outside of their patrol. Yet, the prison I'm currently at is very strict, sexual activity of any kind is not allowed. I even heard one guy got written up for masturbating. I didn't hear any details, but I'm guessing he must not have been as discrete as possible.

Score

2006-02-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

I got a rush on Wed. when I took GED Test scores down to the units where the prisoners live. In the pods, there is a control center in the middle looking over a couple gigantic windows and doors to each pod. The pods start off with a door only the control center can open, and then there's a large common area, and showers, toilets and finally cells lining the walls. I know some of the women staff, (who aren't security) like to go down in pairs. But, I went down alone and wasn't exactly scared, but felt sort of a rush. I'm sure if I was one of the many female officers, I couldn't care less because it'd be part of my routine. Still, I felt somewhat like an intruder, although I'm not sure if the inmates or myself felt more like specimens as I walked in and shut the steel door behind me, opening myself to many pairs of questioning eyes. I tried to keep my view wandering so as not to land on any naked men. Usually the tables in the center of the room are a good bet but the showers and cell doors aren't. I have of course, seen a few furry lower bodies by accident. This time I was lucky and didn't have to. I also got to relay some happy news to quite a few of the GED testers, many had come one test closer to becoming a graduate.

Fire

2006-02-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

In meetings you tend to hear some interesting battle stories about the prison. I heard that an inmate in segregation recently set his cell on fire. Some people believe he was trying to commit suicide. He was unsuccessful anyhow. But, he did have to pay for what prison owned stuff was destroyed, which came to over a hundred bucks. That's a lot considering most inmates make like 30 cents an hour. Ouch, I guess suicide doesn't pay.

Bruised Fruit

2006-02-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

Recently I had one of my fairly decent students become a little more disruptive in class. I had him stay after and I gave him a good talking to. He said he's been upset because his teenage son just went to prison, and he wants to quote, "beat his ass." Sometimes I think that I'd be more suprised when children with incarcerated role models like this guy, don't go to prison themselves.

Honestly

2006-02-17T22:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes my expectations of inmates are exceeded. I've had inmates return a pen to me that has fallen out of my pocket unbeknownst to me. I've also had inmates return coins that fell out of my pocket or bag. Then there are the other inmates who try to get everything out of me they can without putting forth any work in turn. Sounds like a regular classroom, right?

Of course there are those types wanting to "just take the GED test" without studying. Some also ask for free pencils, paper, folders, rulers calculators, food, movies, and more. At least none of them have asked me for drugs, or perish the thought, sex. Still, I think their ultimate favor to ask is, "Can we have a field trip?" Think about that one.

Professional Cons

2006-02-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

I'm in training all this week, and we had an info session on the main gang members in our institution. It seems I have and have had, a few gang bangers in class, (I could pretty much tell already because of the "tats"). But, somehow, I have been blessed with the middle tier or higher ups who have already proved themselves. These guys are smart and quiet, and want to stay low. I can honestly say that my experiences working with gang bangers have been pleasant, most likely because I haven't had many "high schoolers'' or newbies in the gangs out for their first rights. It's funny that most of these "higher up" gang bangers are probably only in their mid-twenties to thirties. I spoke to another teacher who said the "proven members" are so young because in their profession, they either rise up quickly in the gang by going through their crimes and prison times, or they die trying. Kids, if you are reading this, do not join a gang, dying young or spending your life in prison are not good career options! Well, perhaps being a prison teacher doesn't pay much either, but at least I get to leave the gates behind me at the end of the day.

Excuse Me

2006-02-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I need to pay more attention to what inmates say. Yes, you read that right. Usually the most sultry thing I hear is "nice shirt," but I think that may have changed last week. I almost fell on an inmate, clumbsy as I am. Of course I said something like, "that would be bad if I fell on you." And, I am not sure, but I think I heard another inmate say, "you can fall on me." But, I think I decided not to deal with that statement if that was in fact, what I heard. I told my boyfriend about it and he told me that I should have had the inmate repeat what he said, that way, if it was inappropriate, he probably wouldn't have repeated it. UGHHHHHHHH, and I thought the rare winks from inmates in my general direction were disturbing! (Of course, ask an inmate if he just winked at you and undoubtedly he'd say, "I just had something in my eye.")

Play Nice

2006-02-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

So, last week I had a "fun" math assignment for the guys to do. They got in two groups and were to create a structure using tape and paper they "bought" to see who could create the lowest ratio of cost and/or the tallest free standing height. Things went fine until two guys started arguing. Apparently, one of them felt another was "doing things just his way." I followed this guy as he left his group and asked him what he was going to do for "math of the day," because he was now just sulking with his back turned towards his group. He said he'd still participate as long as he could go to the other group. Actually, that was a fairly civil response, considering this particular guy just a few weeks ago would break out in hives at the very thought of working in a group. Once I even had a guy go into convolutions shortly after speaking in front of the class and a medical team had to show up. Sheesh, either some of the prisoners are on touchy medications, or my classes must be mental and emotional boot camps.

Too bad, so sad

2006-02-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

We are going to have a graduation soon for vocational and academic graduates. As I mentioned before, we had a father and son both graduating on the same day with their GEDs. Alas, the father and two other inmates are in segregation and will miss the ceremony. Way to go dad!

I only bounced a check... yeah, right.

2006-01-28T23:01:00.000-08:00

I've had a few people on the outside tell me that they know someone who "just bounced a check," and wound up in prison. I've had prisoners say that as well. Well, someone as seasoned as I am, is skeptical. Usually when prisoners say, "I just had a drink," or "I just bounced a check," or "I just went to see my friend across town," it's usually because these were violations of their parole contract, not the "real" crimes they did. So, when an inmate told me, "I'm in prison just because I bounced a check, I decided I'd look up his crime just to satisfy my curiosity. Yes, he bounced a check, but, he also was in for aggravated assault, and oh, let's see RAPE of a victim under the age of 18. Hmm, that would hurt more than a banker's checkbook I believe.

Silly Walk

2006-01-21T22:34:00.000-08:00

As I was leaving my classroom one night last week, I heard a noise. Well, the same noise many times from either end of the hallway. It seems, the last few students exiting the education hallway, took this as a chance to release some pressure before they went into the main hallways of the prison. On one end was one of my TAs, and I swear with every step he let one rip. On the other end of the hallway, two inmates seemed to be having a contest. Each would lift their leg and noise would escape beneath them. Unamused, I yelled, "Nice, you couldn't wait until you left?" The two inmates started fast walking and giggling like schoolgirls caught talking about a crush. But, perhaps with more fear. Somehow, I don't think I would have written them up on anything, anyhow, what would I say?

IDAHO

2006-01-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

An inmate informed me once of what Idaho stands for. "I didn't ask how old."

Separate Honeymoons

2006-01-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

I learned something yesterday. A student approached me and told me that he's not going to make it to class one day next week because he's getting married in visitation. I've been working in prisons for almost two years and I didn't know inmates got married there.

What are these women thinking? A pen pal husband? I don't know, maybe it's a cheap wedding and you always know where your man is, but really, what are the other perks.? Does absence and abstinence make the heart grow fonder? You don't get someone you can grow old with, or "a man around the house," you usually don't get a second income worth anything, (and nope, no sexual visits in this prison). What you get is some guy asking for letters, money, collect phone calls and short visits. I think they might as well call it adoption. Adopt a highway or adopt an inmate, it seems you'll spend as much quality time with one as the other ...

I don't need no education

2006-01-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

Occasionally we get guys who "just want their GED," they don't want to go to school for it. I had one of those guys talk to me today and I just sent him to the counselor. Afterwards, I had a few laughs with some teachers about these types of students, here are some tidbits of our conversation, as well as some I just thought up myself.

"If I wanted a Masters Degree, could I go up to the college and tell them, "Yes, I'd like to just take some tests and get my degree ... Could you work that out for me?"

"Wait a minute, he's an inmate, he doesn't have to pay for his damn GED Test, and now, he wants to get it without going to school too?"

"So, like, the government, (the taxpayers) are going to pay for him to take the tests over and over and over and over and over again, until he finally gets it out of sheer luck just because he doesn't feel like being in class?"

"Can I get paid, and like not go to work?"

Murderous Attention

2005-12-31T22:37:00.000-08:00

I was just remembering one of the murderers I knew. Of course, he was first and foremost, a student of mine. But, he made the mistake of making me cautious of him and I ended up looking up his crime. This individual was very clingy, and after having finished my courses, he suggested I visit him in his cell because he may not be able to see me anymore otherwise. Something inside me went, "ding ding ding," and I knew I had to check his history. He was not only a murderer...but a child murderer... I then understood first hand why mothers always tell their children not to talk to strangers...

Happy News

2005-12-20T21:54:00.000-08:00

So, recently I had some more GED graduates, one of which wanted to make sure he got on the list for the next graduation ceremony because his father just got his GED as well. That way, father and son can graduate together. Ahh, what a nice, big, incarcarated family.

Well, I'll be an Inmate's Uncle

2005-11-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

So, I am currently interviewing inmates for a couple TA positions in my classroom. One of the applicants is my current TA's Uncle. I thought I'd ask my TA how he felt about that.

Me: Do you think it'd be okay if you two worked together?

Inmate: Yeah, it's up to you.

Me: So, would you recommend your Uncle, do you think he'll be good?

Inmate: He has bad handwriting.

Me: Do you have anything else to say about him?

Inmate: I don't know.

I reserve the right to refuse service to everyone

2005-02-07T22:17:00.000-08:00

Staff: Customer Service is important for every business.

Offender: I won't need to deal with customers in my job.

Staff: What job are you going to have?

Offender: I'm going to run my own business.

Offender Served Marinated

2005-02-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

Offender: I don't want to do any programming or classes.

Staff: Isn't it boring not doing anything? What do you do?

Offender: I only have a few months, I'm just marinating.

Staff: Do you have a GED or HS Diploma?

Offender: No, I'm a class short.

Staff: Isn't it hard to get a job without a GED?

Offender: Yeah.

Staff: You sure you don't want to take any classes, you could finish your GED.

Offender: Yeah, I'm just marinating.

Good News About Taxes

2005-02-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

From an offender who sold drugs: "There aren't any state taxes, only federal taxes."