AZ prison’s English classes popular with inmates

[davkakach]

Jail's inmates are lining up for 2-week English course
Classes to ease communication with jail guards
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 22, 2006
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1122b2jail1122.html

Adult-education classes are popular staples for inmates at Maricopa County jails. The classes help them pass the day and learn more.

Since Sheriff Joe Arpaio implemented English classes in October, there have been 17 graduates, another 24 are currently enrolled, and there is a waiting list for the two-week course.

At one site, the classroom could hold only eight people, but nine showed up. A man who knew some English gave up his spot so that someone else could take advantage of the program, said Margaret Brazel, who runs adult education programs for Maricopa County jails.

The program is nothing like an English as a Second Language class, Brazel said, but the idea is to give inmates the language skills they need to communicate with jail staff.

Inmates learn how to sing God Bless America and how to let guards know their blood sugar is low. They also learn about the three branches of government, how a bill becomes a law, how courts work, how to tell time and English verbs.

They are given aptitude tests before they start, and the last class had passing rates that included scores of 90 to 98 percent.

Arpaio said he started the program because 'I don't feel we should teach our officers Spanish to communicate with our inmates.'

He estimates that of his 10,000 inmates, about 3,000 are Hispanic and many do not speak English.

The classes are designed and taught by detention officer Grant Solomon, who is fluent in Spanish and used to work as a disc jockey.

The English program, Arpaio said, is not funded by taxpayer dollars. As inmates purchase items in the commissary or make phone calls, a portion of that money goes toward adult-education programs, which includes classes on parenting, anger management and getting a General Equivalency Diploma.

[fjack]

Maybe the sheriff could should them how to read a road map and find their way back to mexico.

[cjd]

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is doing some good work in his jails. I really believe Arpaio dosn't want the illegals around and would deport them all if it were up to him. His jails are run in a quite interesting manor for very little money. I think we need more people like him.