Amazon
Category:
Inspirational
Publisher: iUniverse, IInc.
ISBN-10: 0595405630
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9780595405633
Front Street Book Review currently gave I Hear Your Cry Women in Prison a glowing review!
Reviewed by Carianne Carleo-Evangelist, September 7, 2007
I Hear Your Cry by Veronica Shaffer is a story of education of a whole different kind. Inspired by personal motivation, coupled with her own experiences facing powerless and desperation, emotions not uncommon among prisoners in general, but especially female prisoners, the author initiates a program in which she can work with the prisoners and encourage them.
Ms. Shaffer has extensive experience in education, but throughout the course of her program she allows herself to be taught by her students. She recognizes that, despite being incarcerated, these women have lessons which they can teach. Further, the prison system itself was educational. It appears structures, but it is not immune to change. Change which could hurt the author's programs if she didn't work with the change.
Perhaps one of the elements that made her program successful is that of respect. It's not anything that can be planned for, or worked into a syllabus, however it is crucial. When she met the pregnant inmates about six months into the program, she realized she was facing a new challenge. She welcomed them into her class, but allowed them to do it at their own pace. At the same time, she was cognizant of those who had issues going beyond the visible issues and ensured that the classes were beneficial for all. It was also likely this culture of respect which allowed some of the inmates to come to her, to tell her why they liked her class or, in some cases, why they felt they might not return.
When inmates make the news, it's often for sad situations such as high recidivism rates, prison riots or cruel treatment. Perhaps if stories such as this, and work such as that which the author has done were to make the news, it would encourage people to realize that more can and should be done for those incarcerated. There is no question that these people need to be punished for the crimes they have committed, however that does not mean they should be forgotten about. They need attention and education if they are to play a meaningful role in society upon their release.
I look forward to reading more about the author's work and the difference she is able to make.
Excerpt
I Hear Your Cry: Women in Prison is an unflinching yet compassionate look at female prisoners in a state prison, written from my perspective as an outsider whose commitment to bringing them the benefits of yoga and meditation earned their trust and their willingness to share with me the often extraordinary stories of their lives. One of the surprising lessons I have learned is that anyone, under the right set of circumstances, can end up in prison.
|
