Carl DeLine

the back door: an experiment or an alternative, by Carl DeLine (2002)
1) Foreword
2) Why This Book, at This Time?
3) What We Do Today
4) History: How the back door Came About
5) Belief Systems
6) Philosophical Nuances
7) Variables – The Experiment Began: “An Introduction to a Life of Variables”
8) What Others Have Said
9) In Conclusion

The title of this book, the back door, an experiment or an alternative, arose out of the process of writing it. In 1988 we perceived ourselves to be an experiment. Today we are no longer an experiment. The contract/bonus process has offered a potential alternative to traditional ways of thinking and working with this population. The contract emphasizes personal ownership for change while nurturing the capacity and values each person has for change.

In 1988 the use of money as an incentive, the use of a contract for accountability, and the choice to believe in people were seen as quite contentious ideas within social welfare circles. The idea of applying everyday principles taken from the work force and home life really did work. At the core of the issue is the belief that a human person can and will change.

This is not a grandiose plan to recreate society in someone’s image. It is a statement that people live in society. Sometimes society gets out of control. Sometimes society gets too much in control. All we ask is there be a balance allowing for people to discover their personal sense of direction within a framework of others doing the same. With a little more personal responsibility, trust and dignity we might be able to see a safer place for our children at least for one more generation. the back door is offered to you as an alternative, a means to encourage more responsibility and self-respect.