What happens when you put regular people together with inmates in a prison? Sometimes you get the situation we had this summer in Northern New York when two inmates escaped from the prison in Dannemora with the alleged help of civilian staff members. But there are prisoners in northern New York who are enjoying a much more fulfilling interaction with people from the outside. Dr. Bob Cowser is a professor of English at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He’s part of a program that brings students into prisons to attend class with inmates. The results have been fulfilling and, sometimes, life changing. In the aftermath of the Dannemora escape, Dr. Cowser authored an op-ed that called for continuing programs like his, even in the face of what will surely be increased security and scrutiny at prisons across the country. I spoke to Professor Cowser about his work with inmates and talked about teaching in jail being a family business. His father did the same thing years ago in the south.
We’ll also spend an academic minute finding out what most Americans think of their college experience.
