1-16-2015

Mary’s Minute

 

“Eventually you can get into the nuts and bolts of reality: nurturing, caring, and getting along.”

~ Jody Watley

I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Branchville Correctional Facility advisory committee and attend meetings there on a quarterly basis to hear about their new initiatives.  I recall a few years ago being happy to hear about their philosophy of rehabilitation with their major goal of reducing recidivism among offenders.  It seems like the obvious answer, but it differs from an approach of punishment.  I remember thinking about the core similarities between their work and ours in education.  Education is not about punishment, but about changing behaviors.  The advisory committee met again this week, and Branchville employees and offenders shared insights with our committee.  One offender talked about how his life changed when he realized that people care about him.  He said he spent his life being selfish – not caring about other people and not believing that anyone cared about him.  He said that when he realized that perfect strangers cared about him, it changed his life.  Branchville is striving to give offenders skills and attitudes so that when they are released they will be productive members of society.  I in no way want to insult our students by comparing them to prison inmates, but I cannot help but draw a comparison to the power of caring in every aspect of life.  Perry Central students learn because they know they are surrounded by caring adults.  Caring matters!  It truly is the nuts and bolts of reality.

Thank you for caring, and have a great week!

Mary