Education For Prisoners
Education For Prisoners
Education is imperative in human life simply because it helps individuals face and tackle challenges they face in their daily life. According to United States commission of human rights, each and every person should get basic education in order to create an environment that assists in life challenging situations. Basic education helps an individual acquire knowledge vital to develop sound reasoning in the situations around him or her. In his writings, Goethe argued that some people stay the way they are simply because they are treated like that. This means that if prisoners are given education they might change their behaviors. This statement lays foundation of the essay discussion. Should the prisoners get an education in prisons? If yes, what education and at which level should they get that education.
Discussion
Most people argue that educating prisoners creates an environment that allows development of smart prisoners. Developing mind of criminal translates to developing criminal’s mind something that endangers the society. This argument is similar with that of a smarter mechanic. A smarter mechanic is competent in mechanic know how and would respond effectively in a mechanical situation. This argument should be based on the grounds that the smarter mechanic development revolved around the mechanical field. If the mechanic was educated in something else say education, he would not be smart and competent in mechanical situations. The person would have acquired skills in education that endangers the field of education. The argument of educating prisoners is creating smarter criminals lacks sound argument basis. In other words, educating prisoners is not harmful but depends on the angle plus the approach used to handle them during educating process, (Ubah, et al, 2010).
We fail to understand that criminals are human beings, and when exposed to a given environment, they have the capacity or the ability to change. This means that we only assume criminals do not want to change thus we lack need in giving them education. The society should create a change environment in order to prepare criminals change for better in the future. The human right that we should exercise in the community environment is to educate prisoners so that they can change for better. It only depends on the education provided simply because they have potential to change for better. Irrespective of mistakes they have committed, criminals should be treated like other people. They have equal rights in education access just like other citizens. This means that they should get an education in order to help them develop like other people in the society environment, (Hughes, 2012).
Even if, prisoners have committed crimes, they have right just like any other person thus they should be treated and given their due respect. Why do we say that? Prisoners are human, and if exposed to a change environment, they have all the potential to change and create a friendly environment. Take an example of a child in the process of growing. Most kids get in mistakes in their daily work, but when asked by their parents the first thing they alter is that they did not do. Why then should we deny prisoners right to education and we fairly know that we nurture kids by giving them directions on what they are supposed to do. No one is too dreadful for change thus we should give prisoners chance to get the education and in that process they may change and become good people. Even the common man has faced changes in life some that develops a lot of challenges. This is a clear justification as to the reason why we should give prisoners educative lesson so as to help them change, (Bosworth, 2002).
In reality, some criminals committed crimes not because they wanted but due to the environment or circumstance forced them. In such a situation, we may act unethically denying such a person access to his rights. If prisoners get treated with dignity and given the chance to learn good and bad, evidence shows that they may change into good people who are responsible and creative to the society. From a real life experience, my friend was guilty and taken into prison. In the first two years, he had not changed simply because the environment he was living was just horrible. It was after the prison facility developed a rehabilitation program where prisoners were allowed to access education in different areas. This made a lot of people change simply because they got some skills on how to handle life situations, as well as other essential skills in life. This means that prisoners have the potential to change their behaviors provided they get exposed and given proper training and education, (Hughes, 2012).
Educating prisoners helps prepare economic growth. We should see beyond jail life by creating programs that educate prisoners become reliable and relevant people in the society. When prisoners complete their jail term, they go back in the society without something to do. Evidence shows that the level of criminals in the society is increasing day after day. The rate at which criminal activities get committed is high something that prevents economic growth. Instead of doing something constructive, prisoners who complete their jail term tend to engage in criminal activities simply because they lack something reasonable to do. If we happen to educate prisoners and give them appropriate skills, they will complete their jail term and enter into the world of economy develop. Educated prisoners will find it easy to cope with life when they are done with a jail term as compared to prisoners who are not educated, (Ubah, et al, 2010).
Let’s assume that someone committed criminal activities due to the circumstance or the environment. Some possible reasons that may have led to that are due to lack of something to do simply because the person was unable to access education and build his or her future. Statistics shows that most of the criminals wanted education, but they did not get a chance to go into school. It would be a better idea if we turn prisons into schoolhouses other than punishment houses. This creates a nation that has educated population irrespective of the work an individual is entitled. In conclusion, educating prisoners should be established because this helps the face life once they get released. It is a way on making economy grow because prisoners will have the opportunity work in the economy after competing their jail term, (Bosworth, 2002).
Work Cited:
Bosworth, M. The U.S. Federal Prison System: SAGE, 2002
Hughes, E. Education in Prison: Studying Through Distance Learning: Ashgate Publishing, 2012
Ubah, C. B.A., Robinson Jr., Robert L.A Grounded Look at the Debate Over Prison-Based Education: Optimistic Theory Versus Pessimistic World View. Prison Journal; Jun2010, Vol. 83 Issue 2, p115, 15p, retrieved from, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.pasadena.edu/ehost/detail?sid=180e3405-a3fd-42e2-b33a-d950b1225619%40sessionmgr13&vid=1&hid=7&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9922077, On December 11, 2012
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