My teaching experience is limited to a for-profit post-secondary "community college" that sounds an awful lot like your prison. The bulk of our students came to us courtesy of "Welfare to Work" programs, the Trade Adjustment Act, post-prison programs, and the occasional innocent bystander. One of the things I learned quickly was that these students -- particularly the "bad" ones -- could spot bullshit a hundred miles away and they weren't afraid to call you on it. They were aggressive because they were frustrated; they were uncommunicative because they had trust issues; they were manipulative because they had been in environments where that was the only means of advancement. Likewise, work as its own reward was not something they had any experience with. Like you, there were (and are) environmental concerns, problems with instructional technology, poor attendance, and pressure from above to "pass the trash." An administrator once used that exact term when I attempted to fail a student. That moment was an epiphany! Administration really WAS completely unconcerned about the student's education. They wanted the tuition dollars. They wanted to program to get renewed. They wanted to keep milking the big ole' cow called the Department of Education. Academic integrity had no bearing on the matter. It triggered my first rebellion.

The very next class, I asked everyone who had kept the syllabus to pull it out and read the fine prose about "opportunity for advancement," "equal opportunity," and all the other promises in the packet. After reviewing the syllabus, I asked them "How much of what you just read is absolute bullshit?" The class was unanimous in the appraisal of the mission statement and syllabus as "100%" bullshit. At that point, I offered them a confession: Although I looked at the syllabus as largely a "cover your ass" document for the school, I also believed that the spirit behind it was honest in its educational mission. It turns out I was wrong. I was recently told by my boss to "pass the trash" in order to keep the money rolling in. I asked them "Are you people trash? Are you people simply too fucking stupid to learn this material? For the most part, they were rather offended. I made them a deal: "I'm going to present the material that YOU need to learn to pass a certification exam. I'm going to give you homework that allows you to apply what you've learned. I will offer remediation when it becomes evident that I've failed to communicate. I'm going to give you a final exam based on the material I've presented. Most of you will pass. The few that fail this class will probably have such poor attendance or actually drop-out before the end so that I can justify a failing grade. When final grades are calculated, I'll drop the highest and lowest score and do the math to make sure everybody finds a sweet spot on the bell curve. You probably won't get an 'A' unless you work your ass off, and even then it's a tough subject. If you want to learn the material, let's go for it. If you don't, go home now and quit wasting our time."

A pretty lame speech, I know. Yes, the content got back to the administration but I was fortunate that the man making the "trash" comment got slammed worse than I did. They didn't want to go to all the trouble of hiring somebody else to do my job, so they grudgingly kept me on for a few more years. I kept my word to the students and presented the material. I wasn't a prick about homework or in-class exercises. I tested on the basis of "critical knowledge." I failed two students (out of 22 in that particular class) with no objections from the higher-ups. Fifteen of the remaining 20 passed the certification exam for that particular class.

I give myself a "C."

Soooo, if I go to prison, I get a free college education? Orrrrr, work my ass off and get nothing? And we wonder what is wrong with this country.

That's a challenge, all right.......I see that you are troubled by the people who either couldn't or wouldn't try to learn, but remember, you can only do what you can, and I am sure you helped a lot of people too, and that could make the whole experience worthwhile....keep up the good fight.

I taught for thirty-two years. Those who don't want to learn, or want to interrupt - let them do whatever they like, but they MUST allow you to teach those who DO want to learn. Offer up "B's" to those interrupting, in my mind grades meant nothing - it was about learning, not grades. Your favorite profs from college or teachers in high school, I remember what I learned, not the grade.

I'm not a teacher H, but what I can see is that the employer is exploiting you and you're suffering extreme stress and anxiety because of it. Perhaps you need to ask yourself if it's worth it. At the very least you need reliable ways of off-loading the stress on a regular basis. No-one should have to put up with this sort of nightmare.

I am not a teacher and utterly unqualified to advise you, specifically, BUT, it appears to me that you were setup to fail. The prison wants to ram this thru and wants you to pencil-whip it to give the appearance of success to make the administration look good. Why were you placed into a situation where you had a compressed timeline when they must have known you were dealing with "students" who would, if anything, require MORE time, more hand-holding. From my perspective, you aren't to blame for anything. It's political.

Student teaching in a prison. Kudos you were up for the challenge.

I've never taught at a prison, but did Adult School in the inner city for almost a decade, and college for several decades. Sadly this doesn't surprise me. The trend of blaming the teacher for the students' behavior and performance has totally gotten out of hand. It's the standard M.O. in K12 now, and sadly, it's starting to creep into college. This cartoon basically sums it up: [goo.gl]

Now obviously behavior is going to be worse in this situation, but what you describe sounds typical for a public school teacher: student participation, pressure to grade well just to get them out of there, unhelpful administrators, bad pay, bad conditions, all of it. Again, I would expect a prison situation to be worse, but more amplifying what a lot of teachers experience every day.

You have taken on a lot there. You need support too. Don't go looking too far inward and like people have said here be super straight up with all parties. Back yourself up too if need be. You can record like a dictaphone on a phone now. Or get a small dictaphone. Keep a record of all communications backed up. You are doing an incredibly difficult job that someone with decades of experience could find very challenging! Give yourself a massive pat on the back first of all. You sound pretty amazing.

You only have to record them ignoring you in a conversation once. Then if they ever turn it around on you you can take it to their directorship / board / trust .. etc

I would say trying not to feel so concerned about what she or anyone else things and just go about doing the best you can. Be honest about the struggles, brutally and painfully honest or those struggles will go on. You might also get some suggestions or a little help in the areas that need attention where you cannot give alone.

If there is a psychologist available it wouldn't be such a bad thing to colab with them to see if there is something you could do differently to reach the more difficult ones.

Is the PD stationed on site or off? Is there a way to meet up with her very regularly? Print up your emails to her and walk a paper file to her. Tell her you need more direct communication because she doesn't seem to be answering emails. Don't make it a challenge but be firm in your own needs and convictions. It isn't easy, not by a long shot but you can and should be getting more support than all that, especially being someone who isn't trained for teaching in that sort of environment.

What are the odds you can take these experiences and make the proper authorities aware?

A completely inexperienced teacher dumped into prison with no support?! They should be kissing your feet for finishing the semester.