The Voluntary Delinquent

• When did the Child Saving Era begin?

  The Child Saving Era began during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• What were the two views of childhood changed among middle-class Canadians?

  The two views of childhood changed among middle-class Canadians:

  • Greater importance ascribed to the emotional needs of children and families.
  • Greater sensitivities developed for neglected children and their needs.
• When and where was the first child protection act passed?

  The first child protection act, named "The Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to and Better Protection of Children", was passed in Ontario in 1893. The act made child abuse an indictable offence for the first time.
• How did Children's Aid Societies emerge?

  Children's aid societies emerged due to the large numbers of children that were brought from Britain, between 1870 to 1925, to serve as labourers and domestic servants.
• Who is John Joseph Kelso and what did he contribute?

  In 1891 John Joseph Kelso established the first Children's Aid Society in Toronto. He also built orphanages, training schools, and poor houses. He had a philosophy of rescue over punishment.