Why so much inhumanity these days? I despair.

MOnica, I’m not sure I understand the point you’re making. We no longer send children up chimneys, or as with my ancestors, 7 year olds working under the cotton spinning machinery, risking life and limb.
Children growing up with substance dependant parents are usually emotionally and physically neglected. They arrive late, grubby and hungry to school (if the go at all). They’ve not eaten since school dinner the day before. In some areas of high deprivation, this is so frequent, it doesn’t hit the statutory intervention button.

I was making the point that how ever many deprived and neglected children we have now, even there are causes for it now that didn't exist before. The proportion of children growing up in such conditions now is still far lower than in the past.

Karl Marx id much of his research for "Das Kapital" in the factories of Manchester owned by his pal Friedrich Engles. His work is full of illuminating vignettes of child labour at the time (mid 19th century). It was common for young children and females to sleep on the floor under the machines which they tended because there was no place for them at home. As such they were frequently sexually abused by the overseer.

Engles = Engels

MOnica yes fewer children grow up in the type of poverty seem in Victorian days if in the 30’s when the mills here were on half time. But, the difference between good enough parenting and what’s experienced by some is far to great.

Iam64

MOnica yes fewer children grow up in the type of poverty seem in Victorian days if in the 30’s when the mills here were on half time. But, the difference between good enough parenting and what’s experienced by some is far to great.

Indeed.

And horrid parenting is far too prevalent, worsening I fear.

Maybe it isn’t relevant to this topic ( but I think it is) but it’s more and more important that money is put into education, starting at nursery level. And we must make sure that all children are well fed. Education, education, education.

MayBee70

Maybe it isn’t relevant to this topic ( but I think it is) but it’s more and more important that money is put into education, starting at nursery level. And we must make sure that all children are well fed. Education, education, education.

Absolutely. No child should be going hungry. Whatever the reasons behind it, it is never, ever the fault of the child.