In a ceremony held at the H Unit chapel Thursday, March 5th, an additional 25 students joined the over 300 inmates who have successfully completed the course curriculum of the Conflict / Anger: Lifelong Management (CALM) class.
The course, a mainstay of the STAND-UP program, is designed to meet the needs of inmates newly arriving in the H Unit and, according to instructor Ms. D. Searle, is intended as an initial safe haven for them as they adjust to the structured prison environment.
The 272 hours over 34 days of classroom instruction feature the use of intensive journaling as a tool of introspective self discovery intending to lead each student to better self awareness, says Searle. She leads one of the two CALM classes, the other is taught by Ms. A. Sufi.
Each class, composed almost entirely of volunteers, studies topics which include: Anger Definitions, Communication Skills, Relationships, Personal Health, Job Preparation and Community Resources. . A variety of outside speakers are brought in to share information with the students throughout the eight weeks of instruction.
“The goal,” Searle said, “is to have each student better equipped when they leave. To have the tools.” If you get people to change the way they think, according to Searle, then in turn their behaviors will change.
The brief ceremony, during which the students received certificates of completion, was attended by Education Principal T. Roberts, Vice-Principal D. Sheldon, Distance Learning Coordinator (STAND-UP) Dr. V. Matheny and Lt. D. Dorsey.
From all appearances the graduation was intended to signal a beginning, rather than an end, for the students.