Overdue Program At The Libes

Just a quick note about an article I read in the March 31 Newsweek. Here's a snippet from the article:

Some libraries, including Portland's downtown branch, have already instituted an exclusion system to penalize bad behavior: one day for shaving in the bathroom, three years for fighting. But the Philadelphia Free Library, in partnership with Project H.O.M.E., a local nonprofit, has a more enterprising program. It pays homeless patrons to monitor the restrooms, and it plans to employ them at a new café. Participation in the program, like the library, is open to all.

At first read I thought how good this program in Philly is by empowering the homeless. Rather than having existing staff patrol the aisles of books, allow the homeless to police themselves. But then I thought of how this might further disrupt the situation. The library, unintentionally, will elevate those policing their fellow homeless to a new tier. Consequentially, I fear that power struggles will result where friends will have to turn each other in for misconduct.

It reminded me of the Stanford prison experiment (1971) conducted by Zimbardo where students were assigned roles of prisoners and guards. The guards quickly became authoritative and abusive.

Creating work for the homeless is a valuable and noble deed. Hopefully, the partnership will foster future opportunities for the homeless.