Grouping Practices in Child Care Institutions a Critical Study of the Horizontal and Vertical Methods of Grouping Children as Practiced by Four Children’s Institutions in New York State, 1962
Abstract
Background of the Study. The care of orphaned or dependent children is one of the oldest forms of charity known to mankind. While the inclination to aid such unfortunate children is almost as universally instinctual as sex or self-preservation, for a long period of time it remained solely the object of religious charity. However with the growth of humanitarian groups and social institutions it has so increased in importance that it is now the greatest single concern of the entire field of social welfare. Colonial America’s policy toward the care for dependent children was greatly influenced by its British background and more directly by the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601. The large and unchecked numbers of immigrants who sought refuge in the new world, and the high mortality rate of these newly arrived left numerous children alone and destitute. The Colonies were ill prepared to meet such a crisis. The social philosophy of Calvinism and Puritanism had instilled in our founding fathers a horror of laziness and poverty. Bitter memories of the oppressive heavy taxation in England as revenues for poor relief did not dispose them kindly toward the destitute. Older children were indentured for many years and served as cheap labor. Young children were boarded out to foster families or were later placed in almshouses. While relatives, church members and certain other groups showed some Interest, "placing children out” was considered the cheapest way for the community to care for dependent children.
Subject Area
Social work|Social research|Social studies education|Individual & family studies
Recommended Citation
Helbig, Martin J, "Grouping Practices in Child Care Institutions a Critical Study of the Horizontal and Vertical Methods of Grouping Children as Practiced by Four Children’s Institutions in New York State, 1962" (1962). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30725059.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30725059
