A History Of Neglect Part I

A History of Neglect - Irish Industrial Schools The Reformatory Schools Act certified existing voluntary institutions and religious organisations to care for juvenile offenders with public funding and inspection 1868- The Industrial Schools Act. Industrial schools were established to care for "neglected, orphaned and abandoned children." They were run by religious orders and funded by the public. 1900- Peak of industrial schools with 8,000 children in 71 schools. 1908- TheChildren Act defined reformatories as responsible for feeding, clothing, housing and teaching young offenders and instigated annual visits by an Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools. 1919- The revolutionary Dáil established by Sinn Fein declares "It shall be the first duty of the Republic to make provision for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the children," but doesn't suggest an alternative to the British industrial schools. 1920- Six counties partitioned under the Northern Ireland Act. 1922- New Dáil and Seanad established under the Irish Free State Constitution. 1924- The new State's Department of Education noted that there were more children in industrial schools in the Irish Free State than in all of the United Kingdom. 1929- The Children Act allowed destitute children to be sent to industrial schools, even if they hadn't committed a crime. 1933- Rules governing industrial schools were updated and funding increased. 1933- The Commission of Inquiry Into Widows' and Orphans' Pensions found only 350 of the children in industrial schools were orphans (5.3 % of the total) 1933- Industrial schools were abolished in the UK, but not in Ireland. 1934- The Cussen Report, which investigated industrial schools, had reservations about the large number of children in care, the inadequate nature of their education, lack of local support and the stigma attached to the schools, but concluded that " schools should remain under the management of the religious orders". 1937- Under a new Constitution the State guaranteed to protect "the inalienable and imprescriptible rights" of the family. http://tinyurl.com/4grd2q