[MD] Pirsig the Prophet

[Platt Holden]

Hi SA:

>      [Platt] 
> > I trust social values if used properly to control
> > biological quality. But,
> > I agree that today's public authority by and large
> > hasn't a clue about the
> > battle going on between social and biological
> > values, and therefore can't
> > always be trusted to do the right thing. On the need
> > for education and discipline,
> > I think we agree.
> 
[SA]

>     What are social values?
>      Here's a starting point that works well where I
> work - safety.  Once safety is established then
> therapy nurtures the process.  Safety is established
> with - "NO", "Ask nicely", "Don't demand", "Say
> please."  Discipline has a Pavlo's (spelling?) law
> approach where I work.  If they don't follow the
> routine with the rest of unit or swear, are physically
> aggressive, steal, etc... then they are removed from
> the routine.  That means, no recreation room, no gym,
> no free time, etc...  They are confined to their
> bedrooms or Time Out Areas.  It is a if you do this
> incorrectly and disrupt the unit, then your not part
> of the unit.  Then we have therapists that try to get
> them to talk about their problems, and staff on the
> units do the same.  So, it is a discipline/therapy
> dichotomy, but this is not exclusive
> discipline/therapy.  They work together.  Its' never
> one or the other.  But without safety and the
> necessities met (food, shelter, clothing), then the
> therapy part will not take hold.  Then the problem
> after they leave.  They may discuss problems with
> dialogue more and more without reverting to yelling
> and screaming about dinner (to cover up what's really
> bothering them, such as a bad phone call earlier,
> etc...), but then these residents go home.  I'm
> hearing about what's going on with some of the
> residents that left this summer.  One began
> prostituting and smoking crack.  She was doing very
> terrible when she showed up where I work.  Wanted to
> fight to get her point across.  She eventually figured
> it out, that we would help her and talk with her
> without hurting her.  Then she left, and fell right
> back into the same old mess.  Without safety, then all
> else will not happen.  I think if we start with how do
> we make people safe?  Then go from there, it would be
> easier to see where these troubled youth are in their
> lives and how we might help them.
> 
>      So:   How do we make people feel safe?
> 
>      Safety needs to be defined.  I don't think safety
> encompasses biological life or death situations only. 
> I don't safety is exclusively defined as such.

I wonder: 1) Is there a requirement that the inmates work to provide some 
of their own necessities (food, shelter, clothing). and 2) is a religious 
or spiritual program part of the therapy, such as a 10-step program?

Thanks,
Platt