Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
JBellingham · 25/01/2011 11:33

Why are you bothered about going to the prison because he is a child sex offender? You are not a child. If he was an OU tutor murderer I would maybe re-think.

Are there other sections of society you are refusing to teach? Sounds a bit discriminatory.

minipen · 25/01/2011 11:33

How do you know people who turn up for tutorials haven't been in prison? Quite simply you don't!

I have been to tutorials where one person was newly out of prison, I googled him! I agree with the others it is not your job to judge.

Rannaldini · 25/01/2011 11:37

just focus on the job at hand
if educating is seen to be a profession ? then we should try to act in a professional manner

doctors, lawyers etc have to provide a good service regardless of who requires it and I think we must do the same.
Especially if you knew it was part of the job when you took it.

For offenders to rehabilitate and rejoin society they will experience discrimination everywhere. It won't help that rehabilitation imo if that discrimination starts with the education process.

i know what you mean btw. More than you can ever imagine

mercibucket · 25/01/2011 11:37

can I just clarify? you are worried about going into the prison but are prepared to mark his work etc? If so, I think it is more than reasonable to not want to teach in a prison - it's hardly a standard teaching environment and takes a certain type of person - if you're not that type of person then don't feel bad about it. Might be worth giving it a go first to see how you get on though - you might surprise yourself

BigHairyGruffalo · 25/01/2011 11:44

Completely agree with mercibucket.

KangarooCaught · 25/01/2011 11:44

Can you refuse on the grounds you don't want to go to the prison? To compare this to being a doctor is a little unfair, she's not snapping on the gloves and clinically examining him but teaching 1-2-1 which is about exchanging ideas and building relationships. To a certain extent you can retreat behind professionalism but she hasn't signed on to work with offenders, especially a nonce, and this might be a hard ask, especially if she's a mum with children. He & she might be better served with another tutor.

MsBinbag · 25/01/2011 11:45

Yes spot on mercibucket.
I think you might be right about giving it a go.
I did not know this was part of the job - I thought that there were special prison tutors. That is why I'm so shocked.

Rannnaldini I know you are right. Will stiffen my spine.

MsBinbag · 25/01/2011 11:49

Kangaroo that is all true. It is very different.

earwicga · 25/01/2011 11:54

BoredofWinter - I don't think you are being unreasonable. There is an option for you to not give tutorials for this very reason. Don't feel like you have to do it, I wouldn't. It's not worth risking your mental health over it.

Many people taking OU can't go to tutorials anyway. The nearest tutorials for my last course were hundreds of miles away.

pascoe28 · 25/01/2011 12:02

I work as a Samaritan and have taken calls from numerous prisoners. One was a convicted murderer and another a paedophile - according to them...I have no way of verifying that, of course.

Working with people of this kind should normally involve a screening process that weeds out those likely to find this difficult and I'm surprised this hasn't happened with you.

If you think this will be a problem for you then I think you are unsuitable for this kind of work.

I'd not investigate too much into this if i were you unless you are steeled to deal with whatever you uncover.

Best of luck, either way.

BettyCash · 25/01/2011 12:03

BoredofWinter, I'm not saying YABU but I would like to hope you'll help him to make a new start.

ZZZenAgain · 25/01/2011 12:04

don't do it ifyou don't want to

belgo · 25/01/2011 12:09

The chances are you've taught sex offenders already. Just ones you didn't know about.

narkypuffin · 25/01/2011 12:12

I think people are being rather harsh. It's not part of your job- if you'd be paid 'extra' to do tutorials.

Seeing him as part of a group in a classroom is one thing but going into a prison environment to do one on one tutorials is a very different scenario. Some people do this work and find it rewarding. Some people choose not to. It's totally your choice.

wibbleweed · 25/01/2011 13:14

Why don't you arrange to have a chat with your Staff Tutor and air your concerns (be honest about 'knowing' why they are in prison too). They should be able to go through your concerns and perhaps point you to where there's some additional support (forums for prison tutors; mentors possibly?).

Remember that you do have the option of not meeting them in person, but just marking their work and giving feedback from a 'distance'.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

WW (a fellow OU tutor who hasn't (yet) been assigned a prison student)

littlemisstax · 27/01/2011 18:42

You don't need to do the face to face tutorials if you don't want to - my dad has tutored since before I was born and has always refused to meet students in prison. It has never caused a problem - he marks their assignments the same as for any other student.

MoonGirl1981 · 27/01/2011 18:56

You know what? I agree with the OP. I couldn't teach/work with/speak to someone who's abused children.

I'm not 'judgy'. I know at least two people who've done time for manslaughter and admit people make mistakes.

This guy abused CHILDREN, for goodness sake. That's a hard thing for any parent to even think about, let alone work with.

I'd fall to pieces too. There's no way I could do it.

I understand it's part of her job, but no one expects to deal with stuff like that. I work in care, and I know I couldn't care for a paedophile. I'd quit.

WidowWadman · 27/01/2011 19:00

I guess you need to request that he's allocated another tutor, as he unfortunately now can't expect to be marked fairly by you which might be detrimental to his studies.

MillyR · 27/01/2011 19:00

What area of care do you work in MoonGirl?

A lot of people have to work with child sex offenders, and a lot of people have to knowingly live near them. Having to come into contact with a child sex offender is a fairly common experience.

RailwayChild · 27/01/2011 19:06

I have worked with child sex offenders. I was never left alone with them. They were always polite and I never considered their crime. I dealt with them on a face to face basis as the person they were in front of me.

What are you fearful of? My first visit to the prison was a bit unnerving but you will get past that and the warders will look after you because they don't want any incidents

BeerTricksPotter · 27/01/2011 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovesooty · 27/01/2011 19:11

I think it depends what your contract says, but I'd question whether you're right for the post if teaching him means you can't separate the learner from his offence. I certainly think he'd be more appropriately dealt with by another tutor as feeling as you do I doubt if you can work with the appropriate professional detachment. I'm rather disturbed that you feel the need to google your clients.

Btw I've taught child abusers, sex offenders and convicted murders on life licences 1:1 in probation offices. You're teaching a learner, not an offender.

My current role means that the offender is very much part of what I deal with, and I visit prisons regularly. It's one of the parts of my job I enjoy most.

unfitmother · 27/01/2011 19:19

I have nursed many prisoners and have had to act as their advocate in disputes with guards or police officers. I ensure I never find out why they are is prison as this helps me to not be judgmental.
I think you have made a big mistake and are now seeing this person as a prisoner rather than a person or indeed, student.
I don't think this one's for you.

maddy68 · 27/01/2011 19:45

I teach many sex offenders and otherwise in my SECONDARY school!

many secondary school kids have sex offences listed, most teachers will not know this as it is strictly confidential.

Your children mix with these every day.

My job is to teach not to pick and choose.

curlymama · 27/01/2011 20:34

If you did do it, would you have any support to deal with how you feel afterwards, or would you be expected to just get on with it? I think that makes a big difference when thinking about doing it or not. You might surprise yourself and find him completely normal and likeable, which would no doubt freak you out a bit.

Swipe left for the next trending thread