Comments on: Porridge Part 5 http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/2009/06/porridge-part-5/ The aimless rants of someone who should probably know better Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:48:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Fiona http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/2009/06/porridge-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Fiona Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:40:39 +0000 http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/?p=65#comment-106 The problem with providing education to prisoners is that there are numerous difficulties to overcome. Firstly, I believe as many as 50% are illiterate/innumerate when they enter the system, and all prisoners are tested on their basic levels on entering prison. For this reason they have to set the bar pretty low. Also education is provided by external sources, in Downview's case a local college and a London based university so they are limited to what they can easily provide remotely. More "able" prisoners can do open university degrees if they have a long enough sentence, funding is readily available, and average length of sentence is actually pretty short, making it difficult to justify offering what might be deemed as more "worthwhile" courses. The main problem, however, involves wages. I earned £10 a week for participating in educational courses whereas other people were earning far more in the workshops for putting earpiece covers on Virgin Atlantic headphones. I'm sure hackers aren't allowed near computers although as there's no internet connection available to prisoners they'd be hard pushed to do anything! Hide and seek was hilarious, there really was nowhere to hide! The problem with providing education to prisoners is that there are numerous difficulties to overcome. Firstly, I believe as many as 50% are illiterate/innumerate when they enter the system, and all prisoners are tested on their basic levels on entering prison. For this reason they have to set the bar pretty low. Also education is provided by external sources, in Downview’s case a local college and a London based university so they are limited to what they can easily provide remotely. More “able” prisoners can do open university degrees if they have a long enough sentence, funding is readily available, and average length of sentence is actually pretty short, making it difficult to justify offering what might be deemed as more “worthwhile” courses. The main problem, however, involves wages. I earned £10 a week for participating in educational courses whereas other people were earning far more in the workshops for putting earpiece covers on Virgin Atlantic headphones. I’m sure hackers aren’t allowed near computers although as there’s no internet connection available to prisoners they’d be hard pushed to do anything!

Hide and seek was hilarious, there really was nowhere to hide!

]]> By: Mandi M http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/2009/06/porridge-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Mandi M Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:00:45 +0000 http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/?p=65#comment-104 The concept of playing Hide & Seek is so wonderfully surreal! (I can see the movie scene now....) The concept of playing Hide & Seek is so wonderfully surreal!
(I can see the movie scene now….)

]]> By: Kels http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/2009/06/porridge-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Kels Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:29:08 +0000 http://www.squidpigeons.co.uk/?p=65#comment-103 Love this blog:-) Am intersted that most of the courses on offer were " Basic" everything and the possiblilty of any inmate entering the establishment having EXCEEDED this educational level was not a possibility?! I thought that large organisations had gone some way to breaking down sterotypical assumtions but this , sadly, proves not..........or have I missed the point completely and had you been put away for masterminding an International Computer hacking Scam they would have credited you with some intelligence and put you in a prison that offered you the opportunity to do a Masters degree in Computing ? ;-) Love this blog:-)
Am intersted that most of the courses on offer were ” Basic” everything and the possiblilty of any inmate entering the establishment having EXCEEDED this educational level was not a possibility?!
I thought that large organisations had gone some way to breaking down sterotypical assumtions but this , sadly, proves not……….or have I missed the point completely and had you been put away for masterminding an International Computer hacking Scam they would have credited you with some intelligence and put you in a prison that offered you the opportunity to do a Masters degree in Computing ? ;-)

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