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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think about refusinfg to teach prisoners

53 replies

BoredofWinter · 25/01/2011 11:05

I just took a job with the open university and I am surprised that one of my batch of students is a prisoner. I knew they did this but I thought tutors opted in or out.
I have been told that I am not obliged to go to the prison to give tutorials but that they would like me to (I would be paid extra).
Stupidly I googled my prisoner to find he is in for child sex offences. I just feel like I can't do it, I feel sick even thinking about marking his work never mind seeing him face to face. Yet I know that lots of my colleagues do this and that ultimately it is good for society.
I had nightmares last night about this and I feel horribly nervous.
The Ou is talking about cuts & more cuts so that is another consideration - if I say no I will not be in the good books.
AIBU? Should I just grit my teeth and get on with it?

OP posts:
BuzzLightBeer · 25/01/2011 11:07

Do it or quit. Its not your job to decide who is good enough to teach.

Original poster
BoredofWinter · 25/01/2011 11:08

sorry about the typo in the title, it is the nerves.

OP posts:
Original poster
BoredofWinter · 25/01/2011 11:09

Buzz, it is not a question of doing it or quit - I could still teach the rest of them.
Do you think I am being pathetic?

OP posts:
maryz · 25/01/2011 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChiefGuacamole · 25/01/2011 11:10

Can you talk to your colleagues?

Some of them may have felt similarly, and possibly could advise you on how to get your head around it?

BigHairyGruffalo · 25/01/2011 11:11

I don't think you're being pathetic at all. I completely understand how you feel, but in this current economic climate, I would suggest thinking very carefully about your employment prospects before making this decision.

Coleysworth · 25/01/2011 11:13

I know an OU tutor who refused to do this (prisoner in question was high profile murderer). Check your contract: does it say that you're obliged to do this?

FingandJeffing · 25/01/2011 11:14

Hmm shouldn't know why he is in prison?

Really? he is still serving his time. I think if you have to go to a prison to teach you have a right to know why he is there and the right to refuse. To be honest I would have to think very carefully about it too. It is not the same is if he had finished his sentence and is trying to put his life back together.

clevercloggs · 25/01/2011 11:14

how can he become a better person if no one gives him a chance

mind you if it is law you are teaching and he is planning to get himself off the sentence, dont do it LOL

HecateQueenOfWitches · 25/01/2011 11:14

Reasonable or not, it is understandable. I don't think any of us would feel great about building a relationship with someone we knew to be a convicted child sex offender. It is a very emotional thing.

I would not want to do it, because I would never be able to forget that this person sitting in front of me abused children. I don't think I could switch off my feelings about that.

I don't think anyone can tell you you are reasonable or unreasonable. You have to do what you feel comfortable with.

Bucharest · 25/01/2011 11:15

Thank goodness you chose teaching and not medicine.

YA probably NBU in the scheme of things, but given that you knew all this when you started, then it's a bit late to whine about it now.

friedtoacrisp · 25/01/2011 11:15

You might also be teaching people who are, as yet, unconvicted child sex offenders. I don't think it's for you to judge. It's for you to teach since that's what you're being paid to do.

maryz · 25/01/2011 11:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuzzLightBeer · 25/01/2011 11:17

Pathetic no, but wrong yes. A prisoner has already been judged and punished, and has been accepted on to the course. You shouldn't get to pick and choose who you think is worth teaching.

Going to the prison if not required is entirely up to you, but the rest isn't.

BellBookandCandle · 25/01/2011 11:17

YABU - you shouldn't have googled him.
I do think you are being a `bit pathetic'. We will all come across criminals in our lives, some will have served a sentence, some will never have been caught- are you going to google everyone you teach/meet?

You need to talk to your manager about this issue, but I do wonder if you are in the right line of work.

crazyspaniel · 25/01/2011 11:17

I'm a bit worried that you could be identified from your post should your employer happen to use these forums.

I'm a lecturer too, and not sure how I would feel in this situtation. Well - I know I wouldn't like it, but I'm not sure I would sacrifice a job it took me eight years to qualify for, particularly since there are no jobs around these days, because of one student. Are you a UCU member? Can you speak to your rep? I'm sure they will have come across this sort of situation before.

One way to look at it - if he had just been released from prison, you would be none the wiser about his past as this wouldn't be information you'd be likely to come across as a tutor.

LaWeaselMys · 25/01/2011 11:20

I get that it must be scary.

But ultimately education could help stop him from reoffending. (not knowing why he's in there)

FingandJeffing · 25/01/2011 11:21

Actually going to the prison in my view does make it slightly different and I would not be keen to do this (they are pretty grim places). However I haven't seen your contract and seen what it says about this being a possiblity.

Teaching him by distance learning and marking his work, well the OU took him on so you should really be teaching him.

tibni · 25/01/2011 11:23

Doing an OU course from prison is very difficult as the OU relies on internet access which is something that is not available to prisoners. Not many prisoners now take OU for this reason.

I would question if you are the right tutor for this student - will you be able to be professional?

Rannaldini · 25/01/2011 11:24

I teach ex offenders (life prisoners) and I think you will find the experience enlightening

Original poster
BoredofWinter · 25/01/2011 11:25

When I say 'refusing to teach' I mean the face to face visits. I will of course mark his work, despite how uncomfortable I feel.

I know I know I shouldn't have googled him.

I have taught adults before in another role & I did google some I felt 'wrong' about - luckily once or twice. I was often alone with them in empty colleges.
I have to build up a relationship with the students, it is not a one-off contact.

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 25/01/2011 11:25

Prison is for reabilitating people. What good is it just locking them up and throwing the key away?

Rannaldini · 25/01/2011 11:27

just teach

it isn't your job to judge

it's your job to educate

do so

Original poster
BoredofWinter · 25/01/2011 11:30

I am always professional, I'm not worried about that. But I am worried that I might fall to pieces afterwards.

Thank you Rannaldini, that is what I tried telling myself. I imagine I will be scared and sickened - am I completely wrong?

OP posts:
mackereltaitai · 25/01/2011 11:33

'I was often alone with them in empty colleges'

Well, that was crap support from your previous employer.

Does OU have an HR dept, or are you part of a union? Is there an adviser you could talk to? I do think you need to get your head round this, as it is likely to arise again, but they must have experienced this situation before, so maybe they can help you?