Professor Joan Parkin, Ph.D., Director of the Feather River College’s Incarcerated Student Program (ISP), generated excitement and interest with her announcement that an additional course will be offered at San Quentin this fall.
Feather River College began offering college level opportunities at San Quentin in May of this year beginning with a French Language course. About 50 students enrolled in the class. Parkin’s return visit on July 26th allowed her to speak with students, gather assignments, show videos, and converse with FRC students about future goals with the college.
Director Parkin show students the French movie Battle of Algiers, a film about the resistance to French occupation of 1954. “It’s an inspiring film that the students can learn from,” said Parkin. “It helps students to better understand the French language by listening to pronunciations, and studying the flavor of the culture,” she said.
The French language is largely used all over the world, “in many many places,” said Parkin. The language is closely connected with the arts and literature, allowing the student to work toward an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts.
One of the questions raised from a student was, “Why French? What is so important about French as opposed to Spanish or some other language?” Parkin said that taking a French class is actually “stepping outside the norm, it’s a bigger challenge, and greater challenge,” she said. “French has always been associated with power and culture. There’s something about French that exudes a sense of confidence,” said Parkin.
Parkin also went over midterm examinations, reviewing dozens of tests turned in to San Quentin Literacy Coordinator Tom Bolema. “The Voluntary Education Program (VEP) ensures student access to college programs. Students can transfer these credits to Cal State and UC upon parole,” said Bolema.
“To obtain a transferable degree into the California State University system, classes such as the FRC French language is essential to fulfill that goal,” said Bolema.
This fall, FRC will be offering a new course in American Nature Literature. Parkin said that this course is required in order to obtain the Associates Degree via the FRC program. More information about this new fall course can be acquired from the VEP study hall (C-1) Education Department.
Many of San Quentin’s FRC students are first time college students and are very excited about the possibility of receiving a diploma. According to Parkin, “The first group of students to graduate with an FRC Associates Degrees will take place in the spring of 2015.”
Parkin’s next visit to San Quentin will be the last Friday of August 2013. For information on fall semester applications, San Quentin’s general population as well as those on condemned row, can contract Literacy Coordinator Tom Bolema via U-Save-Em envelope or at the Education Department on the lower yard.
