I believe that adult education is a valuable tool for adults who wish to re-enter the workforce, to change careers and to enhance their development at any time in their life span. I especially believe that adult education can be instrumental in the life-changing experiences which allow ex-offenders to re-enter society as a productive and positive in their life’s journey. I believe that education is a main factor in a decrease in recidivism and because of the ex-offender’s experiences they have the potential to bring something positive and unique to society.
I will assist the ex-offender in discovering a life better than the one previously led and assist them in seeing that there is hope for their future. I will do this by encouraging the ex-offender in life changing skills, mentoring in character education and teaching the ex-offender workplace literacy, so they can develop to their fullest potential as human beings and make themselves employable for the 21st Century, to show society at-large that change is possible in human beings they may feel are not redeemable. I have a vision of a society where people learn to acknowledge that mistakes are made, that not all ex-offenders are unredeemable and they can be rehabilitated, that acceptance is possible in everyone if they learn to accept, society should embrace the differences between us, as the core of what makes life worth living on life’s terms and not our own terms.
My role as a teacher is to facilitate,mentor, motivate, inform and to learn from others. My role as an instructor is to teach the ex-offender with respect adults who have erred but are redeemable, so they realize that I can and do learn from them as well. My role as their mentor and facilitator is to give the ex-offender tools to dig their own foundation, assist them in planting the seeds of knowledge and watch them grow on top of their foundation. To fulfill this goal, I will teach the ex-offender with educational tools that motivate and allow the student to become better critical thinkers. To further accomplish this goal, I will teach to the needs of each adult so that all learners can feel capable and successful. I will present a curriculum that involves the interests of the students and make learning relevant to their lives. I will incorporate themes, integrated units, projects, group work, individual work, and hands-on learning in order to make the ex-offender active learners. Finally, I will tie their learning into the global community to help ex-offenders become caring and active members of society.
My learning environment will be a place of caring, understanding but one that requires the ex-offender commit to honesty and responsibility and to make the leap to life-changing experiences. Choosing correctional education is by choice. I realize that because I am an ex-offender I will be in a very precarious situation. Ex-offender students are different because of the environment that they have existed in. These are my peers so I must be an expert in my subject area and present the curriculum in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Ex-offenders are very savvy people. I must keep my sense of humor, strip myself of hubris, and be professional at all times. I believe that I can use the power and knowledge of being an ex-offender to deliver a more realistic base for their education. I believe I can make the learning experience personal for them. I do not say it will make me a better teacher but I will be a teacher that is familiar with the barriers that exist in order for the student to succeed. Teaching ex-offenders will allow me to be a better person.
I will allow the students to become responsible members of our learning environment by using strategies that incorporate adult learning styles, positive reinforcement in understanding character education, and democratic principles. In showing ex-offenders how to become responsible for themselves as well as their own learning, I am giving them the tools to become successful in life, to believe in their abilities, and to love themselves.
