Weekly Report to Dr. Morgan

I would like to know your thoughts and feelings about graduation. I expect a three page report (APA style of course) to be presented to the class at our next meeting. Peer review references or not required, but would be considered an indication of the academic worth of the paper. Please provide copies for each class member.

 
 

It's a great feeling to have that certification exam out of the way. My job is secure. Which is good, because I like my job. Pity the young ones who still have their orals to go through.

 
 

Our Changes class curriculum has been re-written. Tuesday was the big kick off day for the new and improved Changes II. The only problem is, there have been so many requirements and restrictions about when offenders can enter and exit the class, that we do not know how we are going to keep up with it all. Changes is a class designed to help offenders transition from incarceration to living back in the world. The majority of the men are required to take it as part of their parole stipulations. They do not go home until they finish the class.

 
 

Here's the problem. The person who was in charge of re-writing the curriculum and now oversees the program has never taught in the classroom. And furthermore, this person is unfamiliar with the environment of the prison. This person has, up till now, been a forensic psychologist. This person does not appear to understand the ramifications of their requirements. I had to tell an offender that for the lack of one hour of class time, they will not be able to leave for home for about another month. He was scheduled to leave for home on February 1, 2009. Due to lock downs and teacher absences, he missed completing the class by one day. Three calls to Huntsville did not create a resolution of the problem.

 
 

I don't like it when organizations put programs before people. It goes against my concept of what an educator is suppose to do.

 
 

But, I am an optimist. I am positive we'll work it out eventually. And I am even sure that somebody somewhere will find more and better ways to totally missed the mark on what we're all about in this field.

 
 

You read enough for now. You got a paper to write.