Friday, April 3, 2009

Just a photo I saw, that made me think...



This pic appeared on the front page of one of the primary sections of today's local paper.

First of all, social service agencies and volunteers do what they can to provide skills training and education development to the inmate population.

But, this picture brings several questions to mind. The first I will pose: Is this an effort to train inmates to be circus clowns? This image strikes me in many ways.

What other questions does it bring up?

12 comments:

  1. WHO THOUGHT OF THAT? I haven't read the article or anything, maybe it says, but my god. Why? What..? Yeah, are they training to be circus clowns? Yeah, I believe any other skill in the world would be better. I'm too speechless to really comment on this right now.
    Is this a joke?
    What in the world good would that do when they get out? You've got to be kidding me.

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  2. Well, it's just something that I noticed today. Don't want to read into it too much. As you can see, there are a lot of questions to be considered regarding this article.

    Might be interesting to get in touch with the journalist to have her comment on it as well.

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  3. You don't have to read into it too much.
    It's inmates and balloon animals.

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  4. The first thought that comes to my mind is who would consider it a good idea for an ex convict to be a CHILDRENS clown?

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  5. Well... I guess not everyone can be a doctor

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  6. All good comments.

    Reny has a point: these people will at some point likely return to society.

    A further consideration is what is the context with which this class was taking place. Perhaps it was break time?

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  7. I don't think it matters. The point is- is that this class was taking place. And what's break time..?..they're inmates.

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  8. Break or no break, pictures like this allow people to arrive at their own conclusions. No one has a very high opinion of convicts as it is, now we think our tax dollars are going to teach criminals how to make balloon swords and hats...

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  9. Maybe it's teaching patients or it's some type of temper management skill. I do think it is a little odd. That's not a normal skill to have I would think someone could have come up with something a lot more useful for the inmate to put on a job app or resume !!

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  10. hey, they could always get a job at Margaritaville in Panama City Beach!! As long as they can walk on stilts!

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  11. I think we all have to keep in mind that these woman have been taken away from society and deprived for a very long time. Maybe this is like an arts and crafts class for them? Or maybe something fun for them to do so they can get their minds off of everything else. The picture, I admit, is an awful picture and makes us all want to laugh and think what in the world is going on?!

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  12. i seen this article to and thought it was odd...arent there more important things for them to be in class learning about? what good would it do anyone especially and inmate to know how to make baloon animals? eventhough i know that these woman have been cooped upin cells and in classes literally bored out of their mind for a long time maybe it was a class with kind of behind the scences meaning to it like patience or something that would also be somewhat enjoyable? but still it kind of makes jail look like a joke! not as bad as it really is and leads everyone to make assumptions

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