Veteran PrisonTeacher Retires
Elaine Golding
Elaine Golding recently retired from herten-year position as a full-time teacher at the HMP Northwardand HMP Fairbanks.
At any one time Miss Golding taught 60 studentsper week but, given the transient nature of the prison population,it is difficult to estimate the number of lives she actually touchedduring her tenure. She taught at Northward prison five days perweek, and in addition she taught at Fairbanks every Tuesday, Thursdayand Friday.
Miss Golding received her teaching qualificationsfrom Shortwood Teachers College in Kingston, Jamaica. Her majorwas history and she enjoyed teaching West Indian history to theinmates, as well as English language, social studies, introductionto computers and word processing. She also provided educationalcounselling to prisoners so they could know their options aftertheir release and set career goals for themselves.
Asked how she felt having taught in theprison system for a decade, she said:
"After years of observing the intensepain that so many young people undergo, it seems like I, too,have served time with my students and I deeply feel their emotionaland psychological scars. On the other hand, I am grateful to havehad the opportunity to bring a surge of hope into their lives,and in return I have received an immeasurably greater appreciationof my own freedom and the critical importance of good parenting."
Miss Golding believes that it is necessaryfor mothers and fathers to re-examine their parental strategiesto counteract the trend of an increasingly younger prison population.
"What these inmates lack," shesays, "is the understanding among parents of the importanceof teaching children from an early age to expect and cope withdisappointments as a part of life, and to encourage them to respectsymbols of authority."
Education Co-ordinator Adam McIntyre describedMiss Golding as one of the prisons' stalwart educators and added,"She brought her warm, endearing personality into the cold,hopeless lives of many inmates.
She inspired, challenged and encouragedthem to explore solutions to their problems." Evidence ofher positive influence remains, even as one is confronted at theclassroom door with a sign that reads, "CAUTION! Enter atyour own risk: Learning changes behaviour."
Miss Golding was one of three full-timeteachers, including the Education Co-ordinator, but anyone inthe community with a heart to help may assist students at theprison with remedial reading and numerical skills. Those volunteerswould help with the remedial programme only, which runs from 1:30pm to 3:30 pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while full-timeteachers handle classes at the high school level. All volunteersreceive an orientation to the programme and are given the numberof students with which they are comfortable. Persons interestedin helping with the remedial programme may call Mr. McIntyre at947-3000, ext. 257.