The Rehabilatory Power of Education

Those of us in the field of education sometimes take higher education for granted. We serve families who expect their children to attend a four-year college and work with students who look forward to this life transition. There are others, however, for whom higher education is not a possibility. These people have made poor decisions in the past and are incarcerated in federal prison. I applaud Wesleyan University for their new program at a CT high security prison. Yes, the inmates involved in this highly selective program have committed heinous crimes, but they also have the capacity for critical thinking and a desire to learn. I am interested in seeing the results of this social experiment of sorts. Will involvement with the Wesleyan program correlate to a decrease in violent behaviors from these inmates? For those inmates with the potential for parole, how will this program affect their future behavior and aspirations? Click here to read a blog about this program.