Prison Education (03:35)

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In New York, approximately 51,000 men and 2,400 women are incarcerated. Of the 950 that can access higher education, 300 are working to earn college degrees. Prisoners discuss studying "Moby Dick." (Credits)

Eastern Correctional Facility (05:01)

Over 100 men are enrolled in the Bard Prison Initiative; 37, including Rodney Spivey-Jones and Giovannie Hernandez, enroll in the BA program. Dyjuan Tatro is an AA student. Salih Israil and Max Kenner discuss teaching in a prison.

Recidivism and Education (04:14)

BA student Jule Hall will soon go before the parole board. Every year, 630,000 people are released from prison; nearly half return to prison within three years. Prisoners attend a literature class; Sebastian Yoon reads his Declaration of Inflection paper.

Higher Education in Prison (03:07)

Yoon plans to obtain his BA in social studies. He and Israil discuss life in prison and education challenges.

BPI Admissions (03:07)

Israil discusses earning his BA while in prison and program availability. Shawnta Montgomery and Brian Gaertner recall the AA admissions process. Students undergo program orientation.

Taconic Correctional Facility (02:54)

Thirty-five women, including Montgomery and Tamika Graham, are enrolled in the BPI program. Students attend a classical studies writing workshop; they reflect on independent thinking.

Facilitating Growth in Prison (04:57)

Christina Mengert teaches first year students. AA students learn about paragraph structure and literature. They reflect on learning challenges, improvement, and behavioral changes; suicide is a concern.

At Risk Youth (04:00)

Hall helps a student with his paper. He discusses his initial love of school and home life. Hernandez reflects on growing up in a rough neighborhood and his outlook on life.

Education Challenges (06:28)

Dyjuan Tatro is in the third semester of the AA program. Prof. Craig Steven Wilder reflects on teaching in prison. Students attend algebra and intermediate Chinese classes. Experts discuss the history of higher education in prison and the 1994 federal crime bill.

Funding Prison Education (02:30)

BPI's success is judged by recidivism rates. Gov. Cuomo launches an initiative to provide prison college classes but withdraws the proposal after weeks of opposition.

First-Year Seminar I (02:13)

AA students at Eastern Correctional Facility reflect on a passage from "King Lear" and Plato's "Republic." John Gonzalez finds classes difficult but rewarding.

First-Year History Seminar (02:01)

Prof. Craig Thurtell evaluates student papers at Taconic Correctional Facility; students reflect on the impact of the class.

Security and Prisoner Treatment (04:32)

Students use computers but cannot access the Internet. Prison officials and inmates discuss behaviors, staff/prisoner dynamics, and consequences for breaking rules. James Kim attends art class.

Personal Growth (06:06)

Students attend Rana Saadi Liebert's literature class. They reflect on identity and the benefits of education in prison. Hall discusses his conviction.

Credits: Part One: Nobody Ever Taught Me Any Of That (01:02)

Credits: Part One: Nobody Ever Taught Me Any Of That