Pomp, praise for inmate graduates

California State Prison Solano inmates march in procession at the start of commencement ceremonies held on Wednesday.

[Fred]

Free college level education. All you have to do is get convicted of a crime in California. Meanwhile, all the good boys and girls in the state have to make good grades, get jobs, get loans, and pay it all back. And people wonder where the prison money is going...

[teacher]

Yes, even my children who's father spent 23 years in the military and we have to pay. Be illegal and you get more!! Oh yeah, but let the prisoners out due to budget cuts.

[Sarcasm]

teacher wrote:

Yes, even my children who's father spent 23 years in the military and we have to pay. Be illegal and you get more!! Oh yeah, but let the prisoners out due to budget cuts.

They should be let out with their educations... but with the restrictions that they live in the same home as the judges that let them out...then let justice prevail...liberals shoud support them and hire them in their homes as servents and share their bedrooms.

[Sister]

My brother was one of the inmates that graduated with an advanced degree. My parents paid for every dime of his college education. The state did pay for his vocational degree. But when (and I did say when) he gets out he will be employable. And wouldn't you rather have him working on something positive and when he gets out he is productive? Or would you rather just let them out and then back to the streets?
By the way as an inmate it takes great sacrafices to get an education. Under the conditions that they live and the process that is required. Please don't think that it was a cake walk. And don't think I am asking for sympathy. It is their choice and they made it. But don't sit on your high horse and pretend to know what it's like. Ignorance is not pretty inside or outside the 'walls'. Thank you Vaca Adult Ed!!!!!!!

[Penne]

Sister wrote:

My brother was one of the inmates that graduated with an advanced degree. My parents paid for every dime of his college education. The state did pay for his vocational degree. But when (and I did say when) he gets out he will be employable. And wouldn't you rather have him working on something positive and when he gets out he is productive? Or would you rather just let them out and then back to the streets?
By the way as an inmate it takes great sacrafices to get an education. Under the conditions that they live and the process that is required. Please don't think that it was a cake walk. And don't think I am asking for sympathy. It is their choice and they made it. But don't sit on your high horse and pretend to know what it's like. Ignorance is not pretty inside or outside the 'walls'. Thank you Vaca Adult Ed!!!!!!!

Absolutely we want them to be contributing members of our society, why wouldnt we? We just dont want to have to pay for it. Maybe there could be some kind of restitution for them to pay back to the state for their stay in our wonderful Hotel system?

[Erika Hernandez]

I just wanted to say that these group of gentleman are not only role models for their inmate peers but for their families on the outside. I as the sister of Roger Hernandez am so proud and honored to see my brother accomplish his goals. He has taught me that their are no boundaries when it comes to reaching for your dreams and goals. He has motivated me that its never to late to go back to school and make your dreams come true. Thank you my brother, i love you and respect you so much. Stay strong and always keep your head up high.

Erika Hernandez

[Erika Hernandez]

This is for all the ignorant bitter people out there, yes you!

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

[sandy Lopez]

My nephew was one of the graduates. I am so proud of him. My heart is full with joy. our family has helped him pay get to where he is in his education. Those of you who think the prisoner have easy You are wrong. regardless of the mistakes that put them in the prison they continue to be human and deserved the right to be treated like humans.They are paying for the mistake they made and will pay for that mistake the rest of their life. Before creatizing other we need to look at ourself and make sure we are perfect. Is better that they get educated so they can became productive individuals. so when their time to be introduce into their working world comes they will have the skills to work. Most people make comments out of ignorance, they really do not know what happen to prisoners.

[Max]

Getting an education even in prison can only help change a person.

If an uneducated inmate with any chance of getting another chance wants to get away from his cell mate butt buddy Bubba, education is the ticket.

[Pat]

We both spend and waste so much money within the prison system that it is disgusting. However, if we can take even a small percentage of the inmates and give them the tools to survive on the outside, then I am willing to go along. I have very little sympathy for those on the inside, and a lot of respect for old Joe in Az. But lets face it, you cannot take the average inmate and parole or release them back into society and expect much more than problems. Many of the guys didn't leave anything behind. No worthwhile job, no real home, no stability, just hustling another buck. They get out and have no more than when they went in. What do you expect them to do. They go back to the old nieghborhood with the same old friends doing the same old things. And back they go. If they can get the education they never got, for whatever the reasons were and become productive, I say its great. Perhaps they won't recycle right back through the system. Prisons have many mmore people who have made stupid decisions, than are actually stupid. But once inside they must find ways to survive. Just possibly if we can get enough pointed in the right direction, the real hard core won't have as much influence. Only time will tell.

[Pro Ed 4 All]

I hear a lot of you complaining about having to pay taxes for inmate education but I didn’t hear you criticize George Bush’s $50,000,000.00 inaugural diner party, $420,000,000.00 to study ice on Mars, or the untold billions America spends trying to police the world. Education may be the one of the opportunities these inmates missed out on in younger years. Maybe their families could not afford to send them to good schools or colleges. Maybe you should try to educate yourselves.

[Pro Ed 4 All]

Erika Hernandez wrote:

This is for all the ignorant bitter people out there, yes you!
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Thank you Erika!!!

[Oh well]

The problem is, to get a good job, there is a background check. Most are not employable for a GOOD JOB. And, I also taught at the prison. They don't pay for their education like we do.

Sister wrote:

My brother was one of the inmates that graduated with an advanced degree. My parents paid for every dime of his college education. The state did pay for his vocational degree. But when (and I did say when) he gets out he will be employable. And wouldn't you rather have him working on something positive and when he gets out he is productive? Or would you rather just let them out and then back to the streets?
By the way as an inmate it takes great sacrafices to get an education. Under the conditions that they live and the process that is required. Please don't think that it was a cake walk. And don't think I am asking for sympathy. It is their choice and they made it. But don't sit on your high horse and pretend to know what it's like. Ignorance is not pretty inside or outside the 'walls'. Thank you Vaca Adult Ed!!!!!!!

[Max]

Pro Ed 4 All wrote:

I hear a lot of you complaining about having to pay taxes for inmate education but I didn’t hear you criticize George Bush’s $50,000,000.00 inaugural diner party,$420,000,000.00 to study ice on Mars, or the untold billions America spends trying to police the world. Education may be the one of the opportunities these inmates missed out on in younger years. Maybe their families could not afford to send them to good schools or colleges. Maybe you should try to educate yourselves.

$50MM was never spent on an inaugural dinner by any president.$420MM to go to Mars, that's cheap!

[Penne]

Pro Ed 4 All wrote:

I hear a lot of you complaining about having to pay taxes for inmate education but I didn’t hear you criticize George Bush’s $50,000,000.00 inaugural diner party,$420,000,000.00 to study ice on Mars, or the untold billions America spends trying to police the world. Education may be the one of the opportunities these inmates missed out on in younger years. Maybe their families could not afford to send them to good schools or colleges. Maybe you should try to educate yourselves.

I would complain if that were the subject matter, but it is not, so I wont.

[Max]

Penne wrote:

<quoted text>
I would complain if that were the subject matter, but it is not, so I wont.

Isn't a comment that you won't comment because the previous comment is off topic actually a comment?

[John]

I believe everyone makes mistakes and these perticular inmates have done something positive with their time and should be proud to know that they have givin themselves a chance to stay out of jail. If we pay a little to help the cause than I am OK with that, we pay $40,000 a year to incarcarate them whats a few extra bucks to rehabilatate and educate and make our country safer. Some of you need to get the F__ k of your high horse and show some compasion for our fellow man.

[Paul Domeier]

John wrote:

I believe everyone makes mistakes and these perticular inmates have done something positive with their time and should be proud to know that they have givin themselves a chance to stay out of jail. If we pay a little to help the cause than I am OK with that, we pay $40,000 a year to incarcarate them whats a few extra bucks to rehabilatate and educate and make our country safer. Some of you need to get the F__ k of your high horse and show some compasion for our fellow man.

I'd much rather pay for education than weight lifting equipment in our prisons.

Good on any and all inmates who use their time in the lockup to try and improve their chances for not returning to prison after release.

Congrats to all the grads, and to all who have worked to make this program available.

PD
http://presstotest.blogspot.com/

[Penne]

John wrote:

I believe everyone makes mistakes and these perticular inmates have done something positive with their time and should be proud to know that they have givin themselves a chance to stay out of jail. If we pay a little to help the cause than I am OK with that, we pay $40,000 a year to incarcarate them whats a few extra bucks to rehabilatate and educate and make our country safer. Some of you need to get the F__ k of your high horse and show some compasion for our fellow man.

WHOA NELLY, hold on while I get off my horsie poo. Yes, people make mistakes, like cuss in front of their children or make a typo while writing a resume. Thats why there are erasers, because gosh darnit, people arent perfect. Well, people have to make choices as well, and some make bad choices, and have to pay for it. Whether it is having an affair and then getting taken to the cleaners by their spouse after catching them, or cheating on a test and getting caught and not allowed to re-take it. Some, make even worse choices, like holding up a liqour store or choosing to sell drugs. They make choices that they KNOW are wrong and can put them behind bars. When someone knowingly commits a crime, then I have NO COMPASSION, and I WILL ride my high horse, freely, all over fraking Vacaville. Kudos to those that do learn while in there, and make it when they get out. But I STILL, DO NOT want to have to pay for their BAD CHOICES. If they didnt have their weights and fast food and cable tv and their conjugal (sp?) visits that the taxpayers pay for, then maybe I wouldnt be so bitter.

[walker]

prison is prison not the freaking country club, the california inmates have it way too good, and if they dont get want they want to do lawsuits so they have their rights in prison. i have had a brother who has been in and out of prison for baout 23 years now, he cannot function on teh outside since hs is so used to being in prison, every time he gets put he goes right back in. we need to make prison more like prison and not the country club. just my opinion.