I have often seen and heard the slogan: Educate to liberate. Yet New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving a whole new meaning to this clarion call. He has proposed a plan that will bring professors into prison classrooms, and for prisoners who desire it: a college degree.
Talk about transformative education. His proposal has the potential to better-prepare prisoners for life after prison and cut the recidivism rate. If prison studies can show prisoners who have dehumanized or oppressed others how to become more fully human as a form rehabilitation, then I am all for it. For example, if education could help prisoners see themselves as productive, worthwhile human beings, and not the dregs of society, that so many of prisoners no doubt have internalized, that in of itself could be liberating. If they could as Freire puts it: "reject this image and and replace it with autonomy and responsibility," then that would be transformative for themselves and their communities.
I can imagine that prison might be a good place for praxis. There would be plenty of time for reflection, and pursuing a college degree is a good form of action. More importantly, prisoners might develop their own voice through education. They could put in words or name the situations and circumstances that may have led to their incarceration in the first place.
Talk about transformative education. His proposal has the potential to better-prepare prisoners for life after prison and cut the recidivism rate. If prison studies can show prisoners who have dehumanized or oppressed others how to become more fully human as a form rehabilitation, then I am all for it. For example, if education could help prisoners see themselves as productive, worthwhile human beings, and not the dregs of society, that so many of prisoners no doubt have internalized, that in of itself could be liberating. If they could as Freire puts it: "reject this image and and replace it with autonomy and responsibility," then that would be transformative for themselves and their communities.
I can imagine that prison might be a good place for praxis. There would be plenty of time for reflection, and pursuing a college degree is a good form of action. More importantly, prisoners might develop their own voice through education. They could put in words or name the situations and circumstances that may have led to their incarceration in the first place.
No comments:
Post a Comment