Orphanages Without Orphans

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 481, 10 September 1948, Page 17

Orphanages Without

Orphans

(To the Editor ) Sir,-I was interested to read the article in August 20 issue of The Listener entitled Orphanages Without Orphans, and your editorial commenting on the article. I would liké to draw your attention ta the fact that the issues raised in the article were fully dealt with in my study entitled The Institutional Care of Dependent Children in New Zealand, published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. It is disappointing that the author of the article, and apparently the editor as well, are unacquainted with such a study, which was parfially re® sponsible for the decision to introduce study courses in social work at Victoria College. H. C. MATHEW | 0? (Most authors of forgotten books feel sore. Not many advertise their soreness.-Ed. )

Sir-As one with personal experience, I would like to congratulate *"D.M.M." (and The Listener) on her really splendid article, "Orphanages Without Orphans." The effects of Institutionalism on a sensitive child are nothing short of brutal, and I personally, at 72, would unhesitatingly say it were better for such to die (and"be done with it all) than to live and suffer its effects, not only in childhood, but on through the years. Whom to blame? Those who cling to old traditions, customs, ways and means, public rather than private charity (a lovely thing, private charity), and, -worst of all, ignorance. We could well do with more of the calibre of D.M.M. OLD ORPHAN (Auckland). Sir-May I heartily commend you for publishing in The Listener the article "Orphanages Without Orphans" and your leader inviting discussion thereon. If New Zealand is to retain a reputation for an interest in social questions there must be a forum to keep public opinion informed as the emphasis changes. A social reform must permeate an informed society. "D.M.M.’s" article raises many points. Her frontal attack on the whole question of dependent children being maintained in Orphanages is a brave one. Even if many people disagree with some of her statements, or the emphasis she placed on certain aspects of the problem, few can disagree with all or deny

that the problem merits fresh attention, — An excellent way to examine social problems is through the windows of Children’s Homes, because children, being helpless, are the first casualties. Now, as "D.M.M." notes, the view from such windows today is a picture of broken homes, _in-

creasing at a disturbing rate. I think that statistics would show that within the last) 25 years this group of children in New Zealand Institutions has risen from quarter of the total to about 60 per cent. (if "D.M.M.’s" figures for one Institutién are general). It would be interesting to know the causes for this: Are conditions affecting children in other groups ("total" orphans, illegitimates, children who have lost one parent) being gradually solved so as to leave more accommodation for those from "broken homes" or are the latter the most urgent applicants for admis-| sion? Or are there other factors? | Another question arises. Many of the children, having parents and relatives outside, keep in touch with them and, when old enough to go to work, go back to them. Here is an aspect with which, Orphanage Committees. and Councils, being set up to care for children bereft and destitute, have no machinery to deal. Yet if the best for the child is to be dene ‘some parallel work of rehabilitation and home-making ought to be attempted among the parents and relatives to whom the child. will return. War creates its social problems, but, it often hastens a social solution which is capable of adaptation to similar problems in peace. Thus children’s pensions, though introduced in 1912, were inadequate and not fully accepted as a right until the 1914-18 war. After the late war the Heritage movement started, which seems a better and more enlightened method of helping war orphans. Could a similar scheme be applied to other children in similar need? Though the number of. children in Orphanages whose father is dead is small and decreasing (probably about 5 per cent.) they might be eliminated altogether, In any case many of those brave widows bringing up their families under

many difficulties would appreciate help, friendship and advice. Could the ideals behind Heritage be adapted to deal. with the wider problems of the deserted wife, the deserted father, the broken home? Would. friendship and advice help to mend some of these broken homes and take the children (continued on next page)

Orphanages Without Orphans

(continued from previous page) out of the Orphanage? Could Marriage Guidance Councils and similar social organisations link up with Orphanage Committees and develop a positive plan of home building or. yebuilding? Children’s Homes are now only part of a much bigger social problem. They should be little more than "Casualty Clearing Stations." But the view frém the window reveals a serious menace to the health of the body social. I write to suggest that the time is ripe for an authoritative survey of the whole problem so that a new attack on a wider front may be launched. There is abundant public sympathy to call on to help the children, Let it be mobilised on the right lines.

(CANON)

A: H.

ACHESON

(Shirley).

Sir,-Being closely connected with Orphanage work I read with interest the thoughtful article recently published under the above heading and I should like to comment on some of the points raised. It has been said that "when the marriage knot becomes untied it is the children who are left at loose ends." What happens to: these "loose end" children? They either remain with one parent, or are cared for by relatives, or are passed to the care of a Children’s Home not an Orphanage, I agree that the first course is the most natural and desirable but unfortunately in these days, for varying reasons, it often means that the child is unsupervised while the parent works. Care by relatives in a family circle is the second best alternative, provided the child is welcome o his reception is not regarded as a burden. The third alternative is to the child in a Home which has been established and which operates for the sole purpose of trying to piece Be tg again the shattered life of the child. I cannot therefore agree with your contributor that the application of this third alternative "causes a casualty." Surely the casualty has already been caused and the Home, seeks to do a valuable work in repairing it. The matter of ‘environment is too important to be overlooked, and, while it may be felt that it is more desirable for a child to be with relatives than in a Home, a comparison of environments often overwhelmingly in favour of the Home. The question of admissions is always a difficu’t one. It seems incredible that any child should ever be told how fortunate he is te be in a Home, but presumably your contributor ha’. had experience of this. However,’ while a child is certainly never told this, the fact oftem) becomes very obvious when a background of indifference and callous neglect has been discovered. In fact the attitude of some parents towards their own children is the most unpleasant discovery that a Social Worker makes. Too often :a parént seeking admission for a child has to be reminded that, whatever purpose Children’s Homes exist for, thev do not exist to relieve parents of their own responsibility towards *heir children. The break up of family units is certainly to, be avoided at all costs, but in the Home in which I ‘am interested boys and girls are kept together until school leaving age and T am sure that this is not the only such Home in New Zealand. A® far as any social inferior-

ity is concerned this surely is not the fault of the Home but of the public If the public attitude towards’ Homes and their inmates is still coloured by the writings of Dickens then it is high time that these institutions publicised their work. That they are loath to do so is out of consideration for the child‘ren themselves. I‘am sorry your contributor thought so little of the Christiarf motive im the establishment of Homes as to make no mention of it. Psychologists tell us that the two main needs of a child are love and sense of security. A Home does certainly supply the sense of security and with a staff regarding their duties as a Christian vocation and seeking to interpret the mind of Christ an atmosphere of love is surely created. Thus does the Home try to meet the main needs of the child., My final remark is a message of encouragement to the rather depressing conclusion reached regarding the lack of progress and imagination in Home administration. Evidently your contributor is not aware that within recent years my Board of Management purchased a house in Auckland and transferred there six teen-age girls with a young lady in charge and with this small group created the nearest approach possible to a normal. suburban family. This act implied the realisation that adolescent children, in particular, must be handled individually in a home-like atmosphere and I am sure that the establishment of this suburban home will be the forerunner of many more. This particular effort was capped by the fatuous remark of a Secondary School Mistress who said to one of the girls "I cannot believe’ you come from a Home, you look so happy."

N. A

REYNOLDS

(Manurewa Children’s Home).

/ Sir,-"D.M.M."" bases her article on the Curtis Report, an excellent report of an investigation into the conditions of dependent children in the United Kingdom, but having no specific relation to New Zealand. When dealing with conditions in the Dominion "D.M.M." qualifies her statements in such a way that only those to which they apply should be upset but, at the same time, in not naming those who offend, she casts a reflection ‘on all who by providing Children’s Homes seek to help dependent children in our community. It happens that I am Superintendent of the Otago Presbyterian Social Service Association which maintains ‘Children’s Homes at Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, and at Lawrence, and for 40 years has cared for over 2,000 children in its Homes. You will notice I use the name Children’s Homes and not orphanages, for this is the only name used by our Association. We are at pains to correct any who misuse the name of our Homes, Actually, the number of absolute orphans in our Homes is a very high percentage to-day. It would be an easy matter for me to take "D.M.M.’s" points seriatim, and show how they. are not avplicable to our circumstances in Dunedin. The care that is taken in investigating admissions is so thorough that it is sometimes misunderstood by those applying, but no child is ever admitted if it is possible to make alternative arrangements. Being an authorised conciliator under the Domestic Proceedings Act I always do my best to bring the estranged parties (continued on next page) —

(continued from previous page) together and have experienced a measure of success in such work. The individual attention provided in our Cottage Homes is aimed at approximating as closely as possible to the position in the regular family home. Families are kept together except in the case of boys over 10 who have separate accommodation in the same vicinity. The question of discipline is closely watched, and, as a matter of policy, no corporal punishment is administered, No special uniform is worn, Iwas so disturbed at "D.M.M.’s" article that I approached the \Headmaster of the Anderson’s Bay School who, after reading the article, was emphatic that such conditions as are sugzested do not apply to our Homes, and authorised me to quote him as making this statement. It is well-known that all Children’s Homes in New Zealand are inspected

regularly by Officers of the Child Welfare Department who report on «their inspection and where necessary insist on conditions being, such as are approved by their Department. In addition, the plans for all buildings must be submitted and passed by the Department before the \buildings are erected. It is an unfortunate omission that no reference to the Child Welfare Department is made in "D.M.M.’s" article. The last report received by my Association from the Child Welfare Department was as follows: All buildings at Anderson’s Bay are in a good state of repair, They are brick, clean, and well looked after inside and out. There is a maximum amount of fresh air and sunlight. The grounds are excellent. A new Manager and his wife as Matron are about to be appointed. The general tone is excellent. The staff are all interested in the children. This is as good an Institution as will be found anywhere.

A: M:

ELLIFFE

(Superintendent |

Otago Presbyterian Social Service Assn.) /