Practical results of the boarding-out system in England / issued by the Howard Association, London.

Date:
[between 1870 and 1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical results of the boarding-out system in England / issued by the Howard Association, London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PRACTICAL RESULTS OF THE BOARDING-OUT SYSTEM IN ENGLAND. * [Issued by the Howard Association, London.] The moral and physical contamination resulting from bringing up children in workhouses amongst a promiscuous crowd of paupers, including thieves, vagrants and prostitutes, is being gradually dimi¬ nished by the erection of institutions named “ Union District Schools,” where the juvenile paupers are separated from the adults. These schools present a favourable contrast to the old system, especially where under such excellent management and supervision as those near Heading, and those of Sutton, in Surrey, Swinton, near Manchester, Forest Gate, near London, and some others. Nevertheless, even the best of these District Schools are open to some serious objections ; for, however careful their supervision, they congregate the children and orphans of the virtuous poor with the degraded offspring of the vicious and criminal classes. Their inmates are also, even under the best of circumstances, debarred from “ God’s own method of training—that of family life,” and are educated in a manner by no means the most suited for their preparation for, and gradual dispersion amongst, the ranks of honest industry, to say nothing of the stigma of ‘ ‘ workhouse brat ” wdiich might follow them on discharge. In a large “District School” of, say 500 children, how can the kindest of managers provide for the individual training, the home sympathies, and the care in sickness, which are to be enjoyed even in humble cottage homes under the friendly supervision of philanthropic lady visitors, clergymen and others ? In one such district school lately inspected (one of the best of its class), a number of sick children, of about five years old, were found in the “infirmary,” sitting in rows on unbacked forms before a fire. With no toys or amusements, the poor little things were moping drearily with drooping heads, raised shoulders, and listless, heavy eyes—a dismal sight. Even amongst the healthy portion of the school, a large number of children were afflicted with weak eyes, whilst a general aspect of spiritless and unchildlike clulness seemed to pervade their ranks. (During their singing exercise, when “The Orphan’s Hymn” was given out, beginning “ Fatherless, motherless, lonel}r, I am,” tears were seen trickling down the cheeks of several of the older ones.) This institution is under the care of kind-hearted and efficient caretakers and teachers. But they cannot, with such a multitude, effect the impossible. The guardians of some Unions, availing themselves of the legal permission to pay (from the rates) for the boarding-out of pauper children in cottage homes,* have found very favourable results to ensue, in addition to a saving to the ratepayers of nearly £4 per child per annum, or £40 on every ten children so placed out. The average 'cost for food, clothing and education of the boarded-out children is, £12 10s., that of each in the district schools is nearly £17. (Fiv& * N.B.—Metropolitan Guardians.—To encourage the London Guardians, to. hoard-out their children, the “ Metropolitan Poor Amendment Act” of 1869, enacted, as regards unions and single parishes in the London district: “The costs op thb: maintenance and instruction of orphan or deserted children, placed out by the Guardians of any parish or union, with the consent of the Poor Law Board, shall, be. repaid to the Guardians prom the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund.”