NCJ Number
64283
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 12-16
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF CORRECTIONS TEACHERS IN THREE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN NEW MEXICO PROVED VALUABLE IN UNDERSTANDING THE ATTITUDES AND NEEDS OF TEACHERS WORKING IN PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE AND ADULT INMATES.
Abstract
STUDIES DESCRIBING CONDITIONS PRESENT IN CORRECTIONS EDUCATION WERE EXAMINED, AS WELL AS CURRENT ROLE EXPECTATIONS, JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AND FORMS USED TO EVALUATE CORRECTIONS TEACHERS IN NEW MEXICO. ALSO, SALARIES PAID TO CORRECTIONS TEACHERS AND TO TEACHERS IN ADJACENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE ANALYZED . DATA WERE COLLECTED USING QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY CORRECTIONAL TEACHERS AND INTERVIEWS WITH RELEVANT PERSONNEL. THE CORRECTIONS TEACHERS WORKED AT THE YOUTH DIAGNOSTIC CENTER IN ALBUQUERQUE, THE NEW MEXICO PENITENTIARY NEAR SANTA FE, AND THE NEW MEXICO BOYS SCHOOL IN SPRINGER WITH ITS SATELLITE FACILITY AT EAGLE NEST. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS COMPLETED BY 40 OF THE 51 TEACHERS; RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE THEIR AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT WITH 22 STATEMENTS THAT FELL INTO THE CATEGORIES OF WORK ITSELF, RELATIONS WITH COWORKERS, SUPERVISION, TRAINING, AND PAY AND BENEFITS. NINETY PERCENT OF TEACHERS AGREED THAT THEIR WORK WAS SATISFYING, WHILE 80 PERCENT AGREED THAT THEY FACE GREATER RISKS THAN DO TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A MAJORITY ALSO AGREED THAT SCHOOL PERSONNEL GET ALONG WELL TOGETHER. THE TEACHERS APPEAR TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE RECOGNITION THEY RECEIVE FROM THEIR PRINCIPAL FOR GOOD WORK, BUT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY SATISFIED WITH THE SYSTEM USED TO ASSESS THEIR PERFORMANCE. FINALLY, A MAJORITY OF THE TEACHERS FELT THAT THEY WERE NOT PAID WELL FOR THE WORK THEY DO. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING JOB CONDITIONS AND JOB SATISFACTION ARE OFFERED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)