The Boys and Girls Republic of Farmington Hills, Michigan, came to
life as the Boys Republic during the Progressive Era, when the
combined stresses of urbanization, immigration, and poverty left an
unprecedented number of children on the streets. It was a time
marked both by social change and new thinking about the welfare of
children, especially the neglected, delinquent, or abused. Here Gay
Zieger tells the story of the remarkable humanitarians and
reformers in the Detroit area who offered such children shelter,
food, and comfort. Their efforts ultimately evolved into one of the
most dramatic illustrations of a "junior republic" -- an innovation
directed not at enforcing discipline from above but rather at
cultivating character among children through example and
self-government.
We meet, for instance, the colorful first superintendent, Homer
T. Lane, who believed in the innate goodness of children and
established a self-governing system that allowed the boys in his
care to exercise some power over their lives. While Lane dealt with
issues concerning personal hygiene and honesty -- and the book
includes humorous accounts of how the boys arrived at "laws"
addressing these matters -- later issues included aggressive
behavior, alienation, and drugs. Telling a story that spans the
twentieth century, the author traces the social currents that gave
rise to these problems, as well as the changing philosophies and
psychological approaches aimed at resolving them. Her book pays
tribute to the Republic, a residential treatment center for both
boys and girls since 1994, by sharing the stories of individuals
determined to help children discover their potential to
succeed.
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