READING - WHERE IT'S AT - IN PRISON

• NCJ Number: 13856
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Bar Assoc.
• Sale Source: American Bar Assoc.; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DISCUSSION OF THE ILLITERACY PROBLEM OF INMATES, SUGGESTING ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEMS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION.

Abstract

BASED ON THE RESULTS OF A 1973 SURVEY OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES BY THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR OFFENDER LITERACY PROGRAMS, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE LEVEL OF READING WAS BELOW THE SIXTH GRADE, WHICH IS A FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE LEVEL. THE RELATION OF LOW READING LEVEL, RECIDIVISM, AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS DISCUSSED. IT IS CONTENDED THAT OTHER COMPETING PRISON ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS PRISON INDUSTRIES OR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TAKE MANY INMATES AWAY FROM REMEDIAL READING PROGRAMS. AN EDUCATIONAL SITUATION INVOLVING INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING, WITH EMPHASIS ON BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES AND WITHOUT HARMFUL COMPETITION IS SEEN AS NECESSARY. CURRENT INNOVATIVE READING PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE PROGRAMMED READING COURSE DEVELOPED IN ELMORE, ALABAMA ARE ALSO INDICATED.