Scott Murphy taught in a classroom for 25 years, but now he is working in a different environment.

The Pinecrest resident has been teaching inmates at the maximum security state prison - the Dade Correctional Institution - how to read. For the past two months, Murphy has volunteered his time going to the prison in south Miami-Dade County and teaching inmates who want to learn not just one of life's greatest pleasures, but one of life's greatests needs.

"It takes a lot of guts to stand up and say 'I can't read,'" Murphy said.

Murphy, who buys all the supplies used for the course out of his own pocket, gives his students newspapers. They read them and underline the words they don't understand, and later go back to review. Murphy advises his students to split up the words they don't understand.

Murphy's career in education has been a long, successful one. He has taught at MacArthur North High School as well as the Miami-Dade Agricultural Center. He helped establish the Crusade Educational Center, geared towards teaching emotionally handicapped or injured children. He also is vice-principal of the Merrick Education Center, which teaches children who are too sick to go to school.

None of the inmates is forced to register for the class. All inmates are considered to be in a lower risk category.

Prison superintendent David F. Floyd said he is thankful for Murphy donating his time for inmates at the prison. "When you find volunteers like Scott, it is appreciated," he said. "The inmates in there have to be smart and peaceful, and keep away from trouble." Murphy said. "I don't feel sorry for the people in the prison, but once these people are released, they have to get jobs."

Murphy plans to continue the program through the summer, and to start an evening class by year's end. "People don't learn how to read in two months," he said.

Juran Robertson, an inmate serving a sentence for a drug-related murder, said the classes have opened his eyes to one of life's greatest pleasures.

"Right now I can't read that good but I'm learning," he said. "We have a good time studying. I have two little girls and a little girl at home. I want to be able to sit down with my kids one day and hear them say, 'Daddy, read me a bedtime story,' an I'll be able to do it."

This article is reprinted from its publication in the Pinecrest Tribune August 17 - 30, 1998.