The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-16 00:00:00

tke Sitinutritg 04serber.

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1870.

BOARDING OUT PAUPER
CHILDREN.

One of the gravest problems presented to pup
lie men for solution at the present time is,
" What are we to do with our pauper children ?.•
It is very true that their position even uow is
unmeasurably superior to what it was in the old
days, when Binutiledom was rampant, and when
poor Oliver scandalised the whole staff of the
workhouse by his plaintive request for " more e'
but the present system with all its advanteges,
and it has many, does not satisfy the minus of
men who do not stop when studying the ques-
tion, at the present position of the pour little
waifs but keep in mind their future welfare.
Those who do this have no difficulty in coming
to the conclusion that the plan of keeping boys
and girls at the workhouse is dot conducive to
Ihs formation of that character which they re-
quire when sent out into the world. Their
whole of their experience from their birth am-
ounts to little more than what can be obtained
within four walls. They have no commuuica•
time with their fellow boys and girls in the great
world outside, who are to be their competitiors
and co-workers in the great game of life, their
existence is zuonotonons,— day after day the
same scenes, the same duties, the same pas-
times, come ronnd with a clock like regularity,
which has the effect of depriving them ot all in-
terest, and tending to render the children thor-
oughly unfit to euter the lists against their fel-
lows who are outside the workhouse walls. It
is very true they are treated with (Note, kind-
ness consistent with their position, their physi-
cal wants are carefully attended to, and their
educational requirements are not neglected ; lot
this very kindness aliewn to thew has the ellhet
of producing in their minds ii kind of affection
for their home and companions, wbich makes it
difficult to fall in with the ideas they meet with
outside. They become attached to the work•
house associations, and when sent out into the
world very often return again and again to their
old home. Indeed they show the greatest re-
luctance in many cases to leave the workhouso
at all, preferring the certainty of food, clothing,
stud a warm fire in winter, to the uncertaintice
of a life they know nothing of. And what is the
remedy for ail these evil effects ? There have
been many Utopian schemes proposed, but, like
everything couuected with that mythical regions
they have bean tumid utt••rly " wanting when
" tried'" and the ouly it ay to dispose of telt
questiou eatisfactorily is supposed to be board-
ing the children out i.e., placing them with ap-
proved persons to live, that they may have the
benefit of out-door iolluence. The plan is not
an untried one, as beheliend results have obteil el
from its trial in Scotland, and wherever it has
been discussed : all toe evidence on the subject
seems to be in its favour. It is a system totally
dintinet from the infamous practice of baby-
farming, of which we have heard so much ef
late, and the objects desired and obtained are
dissieuilar as possible.
It is said that patiperient is hereditary. Thie
plan is calculated to !meek the entail, to attack
at its very root, the mast growing and most per-
plexing evil of the day. Orphans, foundlings,
children of dissolute f•arents,—should all be sent
to live with pr ,per pereoue, mei the result wiii
be 014, inetead of drifting into the already
crowded reeks of prefessioliel pauperism, or ap•
peering afterfverde in the criminal dusk, the,
will become alisorbed in the ordinery population
and become uaeful members 01 society ;
they will he etrengtheued in self reliance, self-
respect, and the courage they will so much re•
quire in their battle fur bread•winning•
Of coarse there are difficulties to be overcome:
of mime there are people absurd enough, and
wrong-headed enough to cavil and sneer at the
question. The adoption of tee practice in Eng.
!Mal As the basis of a future organised system,
is a very eeriens thing to consider. The great-
est care moat be taken to place the children with
suitable parents, people whose incomes are suf-
ficient to guarantee it cauilurtahle home for theui
cud where they will beet, associated with th••ir
memory tflottelee ef Tie'. social life. Soot ev•
ceptions will uloubtless hit found ; some will re•
turn to the workhouse, some will be incurably
pauperieed ; but we feel convinced that if the
System be tried—fairly and thoroughly—the •id-
vantages to the children themselves to the cum,-
try at large, iii lmtt., though art least, to the
FLttepayer, 1, e•le•ie, will be ime,en , end we!
increase Wits neneficial resului ith the decrease
at some of the worst arils of pauperism.