NCJ Number
64907
Journal
CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 59-80
Date Published
1978
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A BRIEF STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW OF THE EDUCATION SITUATION IN MEXICAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS PRESENTED, WITH DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT IS CALLED A MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENT OF PRISON EDUCATION.
Abstract
USE OF THE TERM 'EDUCATION' IMPLIES A CONCERN FOR THE FORMATION, OR REFORMATION, OF THE STUDENT'S CHARACTER IN ADDITION TO THE IMPARTING OF KNOWLEDGE. CHARACTER FORMATION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO PRISON INMATES, WHOSE FAMILY AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS ARE OFTEN CRIMINOGENIC RATHER THAN CONDUCIVE TO EDUCATION. HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS FOR PRISON EDUCATION SHOW THAT PEDAGOGY IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL AN INMATE'S BEHAVIOR AND A BRIEF COMPARISON OF PRISON EDUCATION PHILOSOPHIES IN RUSSIA, BRAZIL, CUBA, AND PERU ILLUSTRATES AGREEMENT AMONG THESE COUNTRIES THAT EDUCATION AND WORK ARE GOOD THERAPY FOR INMATES. MEXICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN GENERAL SHOWS AN ORIENTATION WHICH HAS OFTEN CHANGED ACCORDING TO THE POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES OF PRESIDENTIAL INCUMBENTS. THE NECESSARILY REMEDIAL CHARACTER OF PRISON EDUCATION IS, HOWEVER, TO BE UNDERSCORED. OFFICIAL STATISTICS ARE DISCOURAGING IN THEIR REPORT OF THE DEGREE OF EDUCATION, OR EVEN LITERACY, OF MEXICAN PRISON INMATES AS WELL AS THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED FOR THEN WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH SPECIALIZED CURRICULA FOR TRAINING CORRECTIONAL TEACHERS ARE NOW BEING OFFERED IN SOME MEXICAN COLLEGES, THIS TYPE OF TRAINING IS TOO RECENT TO ALLOW PROPER EVALUATION OF RESULTS. WAYS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL SITUATION IN MEXICAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS INCLUDE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION IDENTICAL AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM, REALISTIC VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ATTUNED TO THE OUTSIDE MARKET; PRISON LIBRARIES WITH ADEQUATE COLLECTION AND TRAINED LIBRARIANS; CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES UTILIZING RADIO, MOVIES, AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS TO COMPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL COURSES; AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS. STUDY RELEASE OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED WHENEVER FEASIBLE. ABOVE ALL, INMATES SHOULD BE MOTIVATED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OFFERED BY A SYSTEM OF INCENTIVES, FOLLOWING THE MODEL OF ONE MEXICAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN WHICH 1 DAY OF THE PRISON SENTENCE IS REMITTED FOR EVERY 2 DAYS OF PRODUCTIVE WORK AND SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)