Prison Literacy

In response to Kelly Russell’s letter (Sept. 18) on prison literacy programs:

I teach in one of California’s prisons. We offer instruction from basic levels to the General Educational Development certificate and on completion, if time permits, up to an AA degree. We offer ESL programs for non-English speakers and many vocational opportunities.

I have been teaching in the prison system only a short time and I love it. My students are well-behaved, eager to learn and responsive to instruction. They want to take their books home and work, they ask for help, and after 17 years in our public schools this has been a wonderful experience.

I can’t change these people but still being an idealist after all these years, I know that I am offering them an opportunity to change themselves and some of them will take advantage of this and we won’t see them in the system again.

MARGO L. ALLEN

El Toro