Prisoners of Conscience

Teacher Workshop

Please keep in mind that this program requires all teachers new to the program to attend a teacher workshop prior to class participation. The Prisoners of Conscience teacher workshop will take place on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024.

 

Applications for 2023-2024 school year are now live, please complete the Education Reservation Request Form. For instructions on applying, please see the How to Apply section.

 

 

Students participating in a high school education program inside the Alcatraz cell house.

NPS / Kirke Wrench

Overview

Grades 10-12th

ONLY BEING OFFERED IN THE SPRING

How does activism shape our understanding of mass incarceration? Does activism support our democracy?

What is the cost of resistance? Engage your students with the unknown history of men who were incarcerated on the island for their beliefs against the government. Students will use primary resources to investigate how politics, race, activism and democracy played a role in the imprisonment of these men.

Prisoners of Conscience uses the Understanding by Design framework, incorporates Common Core Standards and Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. The program is framed by the essential question - "How does activism shape our understanding of mass incarceration? Does activism support our democracy?"

 

Program Structure

The program is structured in the following three-touch model:

1. Classroom Preparation – Teachers complete 2 pre-lessons with an introduction to Alcatraz Political Prisoners. A pre-visit lesson by NPS staff is also offered before the field session – please share details about preferred NPS staff visit in the Education Reservation Request Form.

2. Field Session – students conduct a field investigation to understand the connections between early incarceration on Alcatraz and Mass Incarceration today. Please share details about preferred date in the Education Reservation Request Form.

3. Classroom Assessment – opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through essays, digital media projects, or poems. Please email or mail back student work to NPS staff.

Click on the links below to assess the programs framework and curriculum.

Please click here for the Understanding by Design Grid.
Please click here for the curriculum for Prisoners of Conscience.

 

How to Apply

Please fill out the Education Reservation Request Form to apply to an education program for your class (1 per classroom). Failure to complete this form may result in the inability to participate in program.

Pre-virtual visits with NPS staff are only offered on Tuesdays.

Field visit –In-person field sessions are only offered Wednesdays,Thursdays, and Fridays.

Program Registration Instructions

1. Fully complete Section 1, under Contact Information

*In the “Describe Need” box, please let us know if you need any special accommodations for the steep switchback roads up to the cellhouse on Alcatraz.

2. Complete the following for section 2, under Park Visit/Field Trip. You do not need to complete contact information again, please go directly to the grade section.

Complete:

Grade	Number of Students	Number of Chaperones
Preferred Date of Visit (Please keep in mind the days of the week when program is offered)	Preferred Program Start Time (Subject to ferry departure)	Alternative Date(s) (Be sure to include 2 alternative dates)
Anticipated Arrival Time (Skip this part)	Anticipated Departure Time (Please add your preferred ferry departure time from Alcatraz Landing to get to the Island: Check departure schedule here: Departure Schedule - Alcatraz Cruises | City Experiences)	Mode of Transportation (Free ferry's are offered to classes who participate in education programs with a ranger)

3. Skip Section 3
4. Complete the following for section 4, under Group Details – Virtual/Distance Learning Program (to schedule a virtual pre-lesson with a ranger)
- You do not need to complete contact information again, please go directly to the grade section.Complete:

Grade (Skip this section)	Number of Students (Skip this section)
Preferred Date of Program (Please keep in mind that pre-visit lessons with NPS staff are only offered on Tuesdays – preferably the week of your scheduled field session on Alcatraz)	Alternative Date(s) (please sure alternative dates are only on Tuesdays)
Preferred Program Start Time (Pre-visit lessons are only offered between 9am-1:30pm)	Time Zone of Classroom (Skip this section – programs are only offered to local Bay Area students)

5. After completing the Education Reservation Request form, please email a signed copy to [e-mail].

   • Please have the name of the requested program in the email Subject line.

Please Note--

• Due to a high volume of requests, it will take a couple of business days to be contacted by NPS Staff.

• Please keep in mind, it is best to take an earlier boat to Alcatraz – please check the schedule to include your preferred departure time in the Education Reservation Request Form: Departure Schedule - Alcatraz Cruises | City Experiences.