I’m a prison teacher. AMA

[FluentinSimlish]

I was a primary teacher for 7 years but always wanted to be a prison teacher. I eventually became so disillusioned with mainstream teaching that I made the leap and now teach maths to Cat C males.

AMA

Ex primary teacher here. I considered doing this but never pursued it and went into a different career. Thanks for doing this. Very interesting.

Had you any experience of adult education before? One of my big worries if that even if the level taught is the same, I simply didn't know how to teach to adults. I spent so many years with stickers and green cards and play times and teaching lessons in a context relevant for children that I just didn't know how to teach it to adults. I worried I would default to my primary teaching mode and "1, 2, 3 eyes on me" etc and come across as really patronising .

Was it strange to adapt to teaching adults?

How much low level disruption is there like speaking while you're speaking or just generally not paying attention and is it easy to address? Do you still need behaviour management techniques?

And finally, do you find it hard to balance wanting to help them with their self esteem with having to make sure to maintain a clear boundary and not getting too close etc?

We are provided with whatever we need. Mine love manipulative, so I have dienes blocks and 3D shapes. I actually need to order some 2D shapes too. They see them as a learning aid, rather than annything patronising, and a lot of them are visual learners so they really help them.

Just to add onto this, this is what the functional maths is. We do teach the strategies but always have a foot in reality and explain why we’re teaching it and how it might help them. I also write questions that link the skills to real life.

Apologies for jumping on the thread

Thanks for your reply. It sums up my big concern that staff are fully aware that drugs are getting into prison and accept this as a fact rather than something that needs addressing and stopping!
You clearly know what is happening and presumably so do all the staff. What do they actually do to stop it!? No amount if education is going to help if they are stoned! They will leave prison addicted and fall instant prey to the same dealers and networks as on the inside.
My relative goes out on licence to a hostel ... the dealers know where he is and the whole grim cycle starts again. Back he goes to prison.
Until someone addresses access to drugs in prisons every penny spent on education or rehab is wasted!

Comments like this are really unfair
I also work in a prison - I'm a nurse in a Cat B

Drugs are the bane of our life and it's not just corrupt staff bringing them in
Our security team are constantly challenging post , property sent in by relatives , drones , prisoners arriving already plugged with drugs
We have found drugs impregnated into baby wipes , in shampoo bottles , in post allegedly coming from a solicitor , in visiting family ( including drugs hidden inside a child's shoe and A MOTHERS ASS
Why would she do that you may ask - but when her son tells her he's threatened with rape or worse if she doesn't bring him something in - she'll do and did - was arrested by police and will face the consequences

We do know drugs are rife but try out hardest to catch the perpetrators and encourage harm reduction to those who will engage

I’d never done adult education before. The oldest I’d ever taught prior to this was Y6 and I’ll admit, I was terrified as I’m not particularly chatty with other adults either! But you can be quite blunt with them (in a way that you could never in a primary) and they do listen.

The low level disruption is not actually as bad as it was in my primary classroom and again, it usually just takes a quick, “lads, rein it in. You’re being too loud” and they apologise and get their heads down.

The balance is fine. Success & engagement comes down to building/having relationships but you’re always the teacher. It comes through setting boundaries. I can chat with mine about BGT or Love Island, then tell them to get on with their work, then praise them for doing amazing work and the boundaries don’t get blurred but I am constantly analysing the situation.

@whyamisotiredallthetime

Staff try their level best to prevent drugs getting in, believe me, it's not in any way condoned

I don't like the insinuation we don't care. We do. There are many measures taken to prevent this

This is a perfect reply and you’ve worded it so much better than me so thank you. Drugs are awful in prisons and I’ve had to send men back from education for being under the influence. Drugs will always get into a prison and the methods are always changing but at no point do any of us ignore it and just let them get away with it.

That was my point

I quoted a PP comments
Mine is the later paragraph
We absolutely do care and risk our own security every single day

I'm a tutor for adults. Teach counselling and sociology. Would love to do this job. Would I be able to?

Are the men locked for a specific type of offending ?

Sorry if someone's already asked (getting to grips with the App) - what do you teach (subject and level)

Again perhaps I have missed. What is the classroom situation? Do you have prison officers with you?

Drugs will always get into a prison and the methods are always changing but at no point do any of us ignore it and just let them get away with it.

I just don't get how it's an insoluble problem. It's can't be, if the processes are right, and everyone is signed up to it.

There is a view that a few staff enable it, and that for the prison it's preferable to ignore it because it keeps people sedated and manageable in overcrowded buildings. .

You're obviously doing a sterling job, though, OP.

No it doesn't keep prisoners sedated and manageable. It's the opposite. Drugs cause violence on the wings, puts staff in danger

Men get into debt. These are hardened criminals, gangs.... it gets in.

yeh, i imagine, difficulties regulating the emotions that come from injured egos too. Increased REACTIVITY

Absolutely yes.

There are different education providers for prison education which a Google should help with, but message me if needed.

I teach Functional maths for all entry levels and level 1.

Do you wear a prison uniform?
Haha that sounds like a bit of a kinky question but I promise it’s not 😂

The men I teach are Cat C, Res 1 males.

Cat C are the ones who are not at rusk of escaping or not a general risk to the public

Res 1 are violent crimes and/or burglary rather than sexual ones.

I just wear normal teacher clothes & the same rules apply. If you can see up it, down it or through it then it’s not appropriate!

It’s just me in a classroom. I have a maximum of 10 student as my room is really small. There are 2 officers stationed
for education so if you need them, they’ll come to you.

I teach maths from entry level 1 up to L1.

No. I wear trousers and a smart top or a dress. Our uniform rules are that if you can see up it, down it or through it then it’s not appropriate

There’s just me in the classroom with the men.

There is an officer around who will assist if needed but I’ve only needed that officer twice.

I will just add that this is the first time this Sporran name has asked a question, so to make out that I ignored their initial question is nonsense