“Will you accompany me to Seven-Block?” the special
education teacher asked. She held The Kid’s
report in her hand. She briefed me about him and offered up his file. I started
reading. “He wants his special education services,” she continued, “and by law,
we have to provide it.”
The Kid spent most
of his prison sentence in soft ambulatory restraints due to earning
ninety-seven citations for possession of weapons, assault, destruction of
property, threatening behavior, and disobeying direct orders. His latest
episode involved lacerating his arms and draining his blood in a toilet—his way
of avoiding detection. A month later he was fitted with a state-issued
“indestructible suit” and handcuffed as a precautionary measure before being
interviewed by a social worker regarding school matters and community
placement.
We came next.
My initial thoughts were for us to conduct his IEP
(Individualized Education Plan) through the food slot of his cell door … but
... I changed my mind. “Let’s have him come to us,” I said. “We can meet him in
my classroom.” It seemed fairly obvious
from what I had read that he hadn’t changed. He had a lengthy criminal record
dating back seven years where at the age of thirteen he robbed a store. I’m not
sure why, but he was allowed to come to my classroom for his IEP WITHOUT AN
ESCORT.
The Kid was
nothing like the reports portrayal of him. He did seem a bit hyper at times,
but he had all his faculties. In fact, he knew his situation regarding
education and had specific goals in mind. “When I get out,” he said, “I want to
become a personal fitness trainer.”
I couldn't help but
think about "The Catcher & the Rye."
He noticed my running t-shirt and commented on it. From that
point forward we connected. I asked him about his exercise routine. He told me
he ran the prison track whenever allowed but most of his exercise was confined
to his cell. I asked him about his bipolar disorder. He told me that he takes
Abilify. “It helps,” he said. He saw the puzzled look on my face so I commented
on the scars running up and down each arm. He told me he takes Lamictal to
decrease his urges.
“Stay positive,” I said. “Stay focused.” We conversed like most normal adults would.
After the meeting the special education teacher shook her
head. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“You talk to these guys about anything and it seems so
natural, as if you can relate to their pain.”
“I can,” I said. Then I added, “I’ve been horriblized.”
6 comments:
How goes your novel, JR? Pieces like this tell me you're in the groove for it.
Experience is a helluva teacher.
Wicked ~ I wonder how your counterparts do things in, say, China or Bangladesh?
Your writing is inspiring JR. Tom Sawyer 21st century. Erik, I found the book "Shantaram" to be an eye opener for prisons in other countries. Also, Correctional Eduacation Asscociation has branched out to an international which produces studies and abstracts on other countries prison systems. Interesting for comparisons. I understand that Shantaram has been made into a movie starring of course: Johnny Depp. Enjoyed the read JR feel your pain. MW
Cool -- I'll look for the book ~ Cheers ~!
horriblized as good a word as any for it all.
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