Involving Students in Collaborative Coursework with People in Prison: Two Models – Justice Teaching Roundtable

Involving Students in Collaborative Coursework with People in Prison: Two Models

Philip Genty, Everett B. Birch Innovative Teaching Clinical Professor  in Professional Responsibility, Columbia Law School

Tuesday October 7th, 2014 – 4-6pm Columbia School of Social Work, Rm 312

In this roundtable session we will discuss two types of course modules that involve students in direct collaboration with people in prison:  an interactive, discussion-oriented module in which students and incarcerated people are taught together; and a module for students in professional school in which the students provide instruction in practical skills using interactive teaching methods to engage with the participants.

The session will explore the goals of each model as well as some of the practical considerations in setting them up, e.g. preparing students and incarcerated participants for the experience; choosing readings; designing lesson plans; dealing with prison administrations, transportation, etc.   In the session we will also examine the challenges involved in conducting such educational projects in a way that is both sensitive to and beneficial for the incarcerated participants.

The session will draw on two existing examples involving women in prison:

• a Prison Writing Workshop in the California Institution for Women in Chino, taught as part of the course, “Women, Crime and Punishment” at Scripps College in Claremont California

• a family law workshop series at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York, taught as part of the Prisoners and Families Clinic at Columbia Law School