A Foucauldian disciplinary theorisation of inmate education in the Second Chance Schools in Greek prisons: A case study

Abstract

The objective of this paper, which makes use of the concepts of power and discipline from Michel Foucault’s theoretical framework, is the investigation of the impact that the manner of operation of a Second Chance School (SCS) has on the disciplinary work of a prison in Greece. The research was carried out using semi-structured interviews with the learners in the SCS and with those responsible for education in the particular prison. The main findings of the research revealed that the working of the SCS made a positive contribution to the disciplinary work of the prison, which was ensured through the application of a range of disciplinary techniques and mechanisms. In addition, the disciplinary mechanisms that were implemented were the hierarchical surveillance of the learners through the ‘gaze’ of the teachers, the maintenance of an attendance register, the existence of camera and a guard outside the space of the classrooms, as well as the disciplinary examination of the learners.