NCJ Number
170834
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 160-165
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Through his book published in 1931, Austin MacCormick provided the prescription for the education of the adult prisoner that is still relevant in the 1990s.
Abstract
Austin MacCormick, the Assistant Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, wrote "The Education of Adult Prisoners: A Survey and a Program," based on an extensive survey of U.S. correctional facilities. His work detailed an ideal model of how institutions could establish and operate effective educational programs for incarcerated adults. His primary belief about inmate education was the need for the individualization of all aspects of the program. From this belief followed the need to assess and plan for each inmate's success within the institution and after release. He viewed the institution and all staff as totally involved and interrelated in a world directed for the betterment of the inmate. The necessity for adequate funding is reinforced throughout MacCormick's proposals. This paper discusses the implications of MacCormack's writings for what to expect from inmates as students, program components, the physical plant, the school schedule, supervisory and teaching staff, the library, the teaching of literacy, fundamental education, English language programs, mathematics, social sciences, health education, vocational education, social education, cultural education, and correspondence and university extension.