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For
the Good of the Children
A History of the Boys and Girls Republic
Gay Pitman Zieger |
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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.
The 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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"Gay
Zieger has written an informative and very readable history of a notable
children's institution. Her narrative sweeps the reader along. Always attentive
to historical context, she uses admirably a case study to probe wider social
currents." — LeRoy Ashby, Washington State University
"Written in a lively, accessible style with
lavish illustrations, Gay Zieger's For the
Good of the Children is a most welcome
addition to the literature on institutions for children." —Joseph
M. Hawes, University of Memphis
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