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Home Children
by Ellen Scheinberg, historian, and Angèle Alain, Library
and Archives Canada
The juvenile emigration movement saved many British children
from almost certain futures of poverty, but Canada offered a mixed blessing to
most. While the children were certainly exposed to new opportunities and training,
and to healthier living arrangements, it is not clear how many of them had positive
childhood experiences in their new homes. Separated from their families and friends
and often treated as second-class citizens, many were denied the type of security
and love that Canadian-born children enjoyed.
The intent of the juvenile immigration program was to
place poor British children with good Canadian families who would raise them and
provide them with education, training and proper values. But while children under
the age of 11 were typically adopted by families, older children were sent out
as boarders or apprentices, working as domestics and farm labourers. Families
were instructed to assign age-appropriate work and pay the children for their
services. Wages were sent to the agency and held in trust for the children until
they reached the age of 21. Some contracts between the distribution homes and
the families indicated that the children, particularly the younger ones, should
be treated like family. While this was the ideal scenario, most home children
simply served as indentured servants. Many of them ate and slept apart from the
families and were treated as paid help. In addition, the contract stipulated that
if the family was unhappy with the performance or behaviour of a child, they could
return him or her to the distribution home. As a result, many children, particularly
teenagers, were placed with a number of different families. This, too,undermined
their feelings of security.
Despite the program's failings, one thing is clear: juvenile
immigrants helped settle and build the country through their labour and the contributions
they made to their communities. Canada has benefited tremendously from their presence.
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