Our prison system manufactures violent white supremacists.

[cthulu2016]

Our prison system manufactures a lot of urban gang members, too.

A nation's prisons do not affect the nation merely in an abstract ethical sense. Our prisons are, whatever their value for other purposes (punishemnt, deterrance), just about the last environment one would want shaping violent men before reincorporating them into society.

This is something that really is overlooked. Whatever goes on in prison informs our civil society. It isn't a parallel dimension... it's real. It is part of our society. It shapes society, the same way the military shapes society, or universities or football or the boy scouts.

[Llewlladdwr]

1. Wait, what?

Are they violet or white?

[cthulu2016]

3. D'oh! Spell-check is useless when the misspelling is also a word

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2013, 02:16 AM - Edit history (1)

[Llewlladdwr]

5. You caught it though.

Thanks!

[Skittles]

10. that's MISSPELLING

you want I should kick your misspelling ass, cthulu2016? LEMME AT YOU!

[jberryhill]

11. Holy...

It said "Violet White" before? Wow.

[elleng]

2. Yes, it does.

[KT2000]

4. good point n/t

[Archae]

6. Violent black and Hispanic supremacists too.

The prisons produce violent people, period.

[MrSlayer]

7. You pretty much HAVE to join the AB if you're white in prison.

Because if you don't you have no protection from the Black and Latino majority. You'd get raped or trick bagged in short order if you don't get into the gang. The problem is that they'll do the same shit to you if you don't make the cut.

Of course, you have to be a fairly hard core dude to get yourself in a maximum security prison in the first place.

Race relations in prison are horrible.

[pipoman]

9. There are other options..'dirty white boys' and others..

but it is true that the US prison system breeds gang violence inside and out..

A hard dude like a college sophomore who is in desperate need of money, muling weed...

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

8. Anyone hear of Judge Jimmie Edwards and the Innovative Concept Academy

Me either. That is, until last week, when I heard him on the Tavis Smiley Show.

Today marks the first day of public school in the newly-inspired Innovation Concept Academy. The St. Louis community, and America-at-large, owes a lot to the courage of one man – Judge Jimmie Edwards. In less than six months, he has embarked on what others might say would be nearly impossible: 1) to assume ownership of a new community school that exists outside the lines of a public school, 2) to unite a diverse coalition of public and private interests together to enrich the learning environment, and 3) to lobby for real, no excuse community change for youth who need it the most.

From a political perspective, the Innovation Concept Academy hits on all five of the recommended steps on which now Governor Jay Nixon campaigned last year. His five points were: to invest in public school options using public-private partnerships, to recruit talented teachers to challenged districts, to reduce class size, to re-establish local community support, and to make sure that alternative schools are available and effective. The Academy seeks to challenge all of the obstacles facing those children who often get lost in the public school system without effective mentors, dedicated instructors, and guardian engagement.

This Tuesday, we accompanied Rex Sinquefield with Judge Jimmie Edwards on a walk-through of the Blewett school facility. We are excited to report that the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis will be partnering with the Academy to build a dedicated room to teach chess with its curriculum. It is our hope that students can improve their math, science, reading, and critical thinking skills using a life sport like chess in a variety of environments (for classroom instruction, after-school partnerships, supplemental learning, and as a means to connect to our greater community). If successful, such a model might provide a road map for urban progressives, mayors, governors, and civic patrons to do the same around the country.

In the coming months, Room 103 will transform itself with the opening fall classes into a dynamic place to learn the game of chess. Public school teachers, including educators as part of the AFT Local 420 Teacher’s Union have agreed to fill the classroom with ambitious goals of instruction (and smaller class size). The Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis are moving in a sub-station to assist the facility with mentoring and community needs. The community arms have even opened to accept other instructors from a wide variety of parish school environments. The manner by which so many organizations, from MERS Goodwill to local celebrities, have come together, can help pave the future of new school design.

http://www.pelopidas.com/philanthropy/brave-education-st-louis-public

Too bad Tavis Smiley doesn't have a larger platform so that more stories like these come to light. Maybe someday.