Volume 6 of the European Journal of Parental Imprisonment (EJPI) is now available! This edition of the EJPI highlights the role of schools in supporting children of prisoners. Children spend the majority of their day at school, and it is important for them to feel comfortable and safe in that environment. In many cases parental imprisonment is highly stigmatised, and children can feel isolated or as if they can neither discuss their experiences with classmates nor with school staff. They often do not know where to turn and feel burdened by this secret they carry. School staff members can play a crucial role in caring for a child who may be impacted by the imprisonment of a parent, as they tend to be a neutral, stable force in a child’s life and therefore have a unique role to play.
This volume of the EJPI, while focusing on schools, also considers the importance of Human Rights Education (HRE) principles when discussing parental imprisonment in the classroom, through awareness-raising and training, in an effort to help staff learn about how to construct lesson plans on the subject of parental imprisonment. HRE can be a useful technique in promoting the understanding of rights in the classroom, as it involves an interactive and participative approach. Articles throughout the journal mention the importance of sensitivity when raising the subject of imprisonment, as some students may not want attention brought to the issue, and consequently to themselves. It is vital that staff take care to not further single out students with an imprisoned parent. Further contributions to the journal discuss the potential for caring and inclusive educational activities to take place within a prison, not only in schools. There is potential for imprisoned parents to play an active role in their child’s education, which could have positive effects on the family dynamic.
The journal includes perspectives from Croatia, France and Scotland on the role of schools in supporting children of prisoners. Download the full journal in English, French or German here.