All Mod Cons By Jim Higo (1/2)

(1/2), (2/2).

Jimmy Pursey once sang There's gonna be a borstal break out but I don't remember him going on to say, Just as soon as me and Andy get out of double Geography and Johnny finishes that History essay that has to be in tomorrow. Mind you Pursey also said Angels from nowhere places. So what does he know? A recent Government report has suggested that the current provision of prison education is unacceptable. Apparently in some prisons education standards are so bad that parents are considering moving their kids to another jail in an effort to improve their future life chances.

Teachers working in prisons blame a break down of discipline and a lack of respect for the failures saying, twenty years ago if an inmate misbehaved a screw would come into class and kick the shit out of him, but these days you can't even punch them in the face without them filing a lawsuit against you. One parent said that although she had always been a staunch labour supporter she was so disgusted with the condition of state run prisons that next time her son got sent down she was considering paying extra and sending him private.

The Government report wrestled long and hard with the tricky question that is, Does not being able to read or write prevent people from getting a job? After lengthy debate and consideration the conclusion was that, yes it does, unless you want to sell cars or work in a call centre.

The report suggests a number of improvements that should be made in order to provide a better education service for the prisoners. The aim is to increase the employability of prisoners and to reduce the numbers who re-offend and return to prison, which are both noble ambitions, in theory.

To do this they intend to ask prisoners what sort of training they might want rather than just teach them to read and write. Apparently teaching prisoners to write only encourages them to pen damaging exposés, when they're released on appeal due to unsafe evidence.

The report also says that providing prisoners with education is the right thing to do in a civilised society, which again I can't dispute; but then, providing healthcare for everyone, honouring pension agreements and not fawning to big business are also the right things to do, yet the government doesn't seem too concerned about being honourable and fair in these areas.

It's thought that Blair wants to extend his obsession with choice to all walks of life. If you've broken your leg and you're not happy with your hospital treatment then move to another one, (although you may have to limp there as your chances of getting an ambulance ride will be pretty slim). If you're not happy with your council house then save up a £25000 deposit take out a £100,000 mortgage and buy your own place; there's always a choice!

Continued Next Page (2/2),

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