[467] GREAT BOOKS’ PRISON COURSES OFFER DIFFERENT VIEWS

‘GREAT BOOKS’ PRISON COURSES OFFER DIFFERENT VIEWS
MTSU Professor in 2nd Year of Expanding Educational Opportunities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Dr. Philip E. Phillips, pphillip@mtsu.edu or 615-898-2699;
Gina E. Fann, gfann@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5385

(MURFREESBORO)—An MTSU professor has returned to prison for a second time.
Dr. Philip Phillips, director of “Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons” and an associate professor of English at MTSU, recently finished teaching his second literature course at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.
The 10-week program, which is a partnership with the Great Books Foundation, the Tennessee Department of Correction and MTSU, also is conducted at the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility and the Tennessee Prison for Women by other MTSU volunteers.
Prior to the class, Phillips conducted a workshop to prepare other MTSU English faculty volunteers for the experience. Each class is taught by the Shared Inquiry method, in which teachers ask an open-ended question at the beginning of class to get the discussion started.
“The idea in these classes is that the role of the instructor isn’t to lead so much as pose questions to the class and generate the discussion,” Phillips said.
This year, Phillips chose to use The Seven Deadly Sins Sampler, an anthology of short stories published by the Great Books Foundation. He said the book explores real human situations with which students can identify.
“It’s made me look at things deeper, just from the story lines and the way that they end. There’s always something around the corner you’re not sure of,” class participant Jasper Lewis said. “I’m just trying not to judge people so harshly and give them a chance.”
Of the 15 participants at Riverbend, about half, including William Murphy, are returning students. Murphy was one of the first to register for this year’s course after last year’s experience.
“I like the different views people bring to the discussions. We have so many people from different cultures that you can read the same story and have 20 different ways to interpret it,” Murphy said.
Phillips said the RMSI students don’t hesitate to contribute to the discussions, and they’ve developed as critical thinkers. Inmates learn not only to express their ideas but to also listen respectfully to others in the class.
“I’m pretty quiet myself, so reading something and being able to discuss it with others, especially in here, where a difference in opinion sometimes can cause conflict, is nice,” Lewis said. “This is a chance to do it in an open forum where everyone is pretty open about what they are saying and it’s OK.”
Lewis and Murphy both expressed their gratitude to those who volunteered their time to the program and gave them the opportunity to broaden their horizons.

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“This is a group of people who are hungry for this kind of opportunity, an opportunity to read books and talk about books at a higher level,” Phillips said.
“Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons” is an opportunity to do something good, to help people help themselves and, ultimately, to help the community, Phillips said, adding that he hopes to continue the current programs and expand to more facilities.
“Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons” has seen positive response not only from the participants, but also from MTSU faculty, including Dr. John McDaniel, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
To learn more about the “Great Books” program, become a volunteer or donate to the program, contact Phillips at pphillip@mtsu.edu or 615-898-2699.

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IN BRIEF: An MTSU professor has returned to prison for a second time. Dr. Philip Phillips, director of “Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons” and an associate professor of English at MTSU, recently finished teaching his second literature course at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. The 10-week program, which is a partnership with the Great Books Foundation, the Tennessee Department of Correction and MTSU, also is conducted at the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility and the Tennessee Prison for Women by other MTSU volunteers. “It’s made me look at things deeper, just from the story lines and the way that they end. There’s always something around the corner you’re not sure of,” class participant Jasper Lewis said. “I’m just trying not to judge people so harshly and give them a chance.”

For MTSU news and information, visit www.mtsunews.com.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: This release was written by Bonnie Bailey and Erin Bridges, seniors majoring in journalism at MTSU. We request your use of their bylines if you use the release in its entirety.
For color JPEGs of the “Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons” class in progress or a group photo of the second-year participants, please contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!