The Children's Rights Movement by Niamh Patterson

Children's Rights Movement

niamhp31 — 2025-02-25 18:50:18 UTC

This movement laid several constitutional laws for a child's mental and physical growth. The concept of children having particular rights is a new one, children were traditionally considered extensions of the household and were owned by their parents. There were no standards of protection for children.

Orphan Train (1854-1929)

niamhp31 — 2025-02-25 19:09:11 UTC

The Orphan Train was a supervised welfare program that transported children from crowded eastern cities in the U.S. to foster homes in rural areas. The train operated from 1854-1929, they transported around 200,000 children. The founders claimed these children were orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless but that was not always true. There were many criticisms of the program, some included ineffective screening of caretakers, insufficient follow-ups on placements, and many children being used as slave farm labourers. some organizations endeavoured to help these children such as the Children's Village, founded in 1851, Children's Aid Society in 1853, and the New York Founding Hospital.

Mary Carpenter (1851)

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 18:10:33 UTC

Mary Carpenter is a woman who campaigned on behalf of neglected children who turned to juvenile delinquency. In 1851 she proposed the establishment of three types of schools: free day schools for the general population, industrial schools for those in need, and reformatory schools for young offenders. She was invited to give evidence on why these schools are needed before the House of Commons committees. It was not until 1852 that she established a reformatory school, and published a book called "Juvenile Delinquents, their Condition and Treatment" This book contributed to the Juvenile Offenders act in 1854.

The Industrial Revolution and 19th Century

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 18:21:28 UTC

In the Industrial Revolution children as young as four were forced to work at factories and coal mines. Child labour was especially common in the late 18th century, many factory owners wanted to employ children because they were paid less than adults for the same amount of work, and the children were also more obedient than most adults. The children were more likely to accept punishment, many factory owners would wait outside the factory with a whip and any children who were late would get whipped all the way to their place of work. It was not until the late 19th century that this exploitation began growing opposition, legislation was achieved with a series of factory acts passed. Working hours for children began to change, and children younger than nine were no longer allowed to work while children between the ages of 9-16 were limited to working 16 hours a day. Factories were then required to provide education to apprentices in reading, writing, and arithmetic for the first four years of working there.

Children's Aid Society (1853-now)

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 18:40:31 UTC

The Children's Aid Society was founded in 1853 by Charles Brace, it helped tens of thousands of disadvantaged New York children succeed annually. Children's Aid provides many different things for children such as

Services of Adoption
Foster Care
After-school and weekend programs
Arts
Camps
Early childhood education
Events
Family support
Medical support

10. Mental health support

And many more. The rapid expansion of services in most provinces over the next 20 years professionalized the services. Changes in child welfare were also affected by people changing their attitudes towards the participation of children in the labour market.

Citations

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 18:42:34 UTC

Child Labor in the Industrial Revolution. HISTORY CRUNCH - History Articles, Biographies, Infographics, Resources and More. Published 2021. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://www.historycrunch.com/child-labor-in-the-industrial-revolution.html#/google_vignette

Child Welfare in Canada. Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Published 2025. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/child-welfare#:~:text=The%20first%20Children's%20Aid%20Society,offence%20for%20the%20first%20time.

to C. English educationist and social reformer (1807–1877). Wikipedia.org. Published July 25, 2005. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Carpenter#Social_work_and_anti-slavery

to C. Orphan Train. Wikipedia.org. Published September 17, 2007. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_Train

to C. hospital, Bloomsbury, London. Wikipedia.org. Published March 11, 2003. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundling_Hospital#Early_history

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Foundling Hospital (1739)

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 18:55:02 UTC

The Foundling Hospital was a hospital for the education of deserted and exposed young children, it was established in 1739 by Thomas Coram. Their top priority at the hospital was children's health, they battled smallpox, fevers, consumption, dysentery, and even infections. When a child was admitted no questions were asked about the child or the parent, they only took note of something distinguishable about the child so they could later be identified, it was not until 1758 that they decided to start asking for receipts from anyone leaving a child. The maximum age for children raised from 2 months to 12 years old. children began to flood in from workhouses. in less than 4 years 14,934 children had been admitted.

1979

niamhp31 — 2025-02-26 19:05:40 UTC

1979 marks the twentieth anniversary of the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of a Child. 1979 is declared the national year of the child.