Dear About Time,
Thank you so much for the paper. It has been quite the eye opener for me, eight months into a two year sentence.
Among the views expressed, many about their time, reflecting on boredom, lack of resources and so on, and I thought to add my older prisoner view simply because so many of your readers here at Wolston are older men, though I assume many of the same or similar issues happen to women as well.
A couple of months ago I began attending education here and found a program called “BK SB”, which brings students’ ability to manage English and maths up to scratch.
I left school in 1971 and have done a few bits and pieces since, with certificates in veterinary care and social welfare, but those were years ago.
My first introduction to education inside came from an officer who felt I was a bit of a loose end and asked if I’d like to talk to someone about what was available here at Wolston. She organised another officer to see me and I did an ACER test, which assessed my level of literacy and numeracy, both of which were quite high.
I stood back for a while but when I moved to residential I was able to go to school for several sessions and fell in love with learning. I was also able to assist other students in my group, which I also loved doing.
So, for you older folk, education may be an opportunity for you to find out more about your abilities and even help others who have never had much of an education and who knows where that could head.
Thanks for reading.
Jack
