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Boys breaking stones in quarry, Mettray Colony, France
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Boys breaking stones in quarry, Mettray Colony, France
Boys at work breaking stones in a quarry at the agricultural colony for delinquent boys at Mettray, near Tours, France. In the 1840s, the colony pioneered the cottage homes system where boys lived in small family groups. This model was later widely adopted in England for many workhouse children
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Media ID 4481271
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10472674
1840s 1896 Agricultural Breaking Colony Cottage Groups Homes Inmate Inmates Mettray Penal Poverty Quarry Stonebreakers Stones Supervised Supervisor System Tours Workhouse Delinquent Stonebreaker
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This evocative photograph captures a moment in the daily life of the Mettray Colony, an agricultural reformatories institution for delinquent boys located near Tours, France. Established in the 1840s, the Mettray Colony was a pioneer of the cottage homes system, which aimed to provide a more humane and effective alternative to traditional workhouses and penal institutions. In this image, a group of boys can be seen working diligently to break stones in a quarry. The boys, dressed in simple clothing, are supervised by a stern-looking supervisor, who ensures that they adhere to the rules and complete their tasks efficiently. The cottage homes system, which was later widely adopted in England, was designed to provide a more family-like environment for the children, with small groups of boys living together under the care of a houseparent. The system aimed to provide a more effective means of rehabilitation, by offering a more personalized approach to the care and education of the children. Despite the more humane intentions of the cottage homes system, the conditions in the Mettray Colony were still far from ideal. The boys lived in cramped and often poorly maintained accommodations, and were subjected to long hours of hard labor, such as stonebreaking, in order to contribute to the colony's self-sufficiency. This photograph, taken in the late 1890s, offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Mettray Colony and the harsh realities faced by the boys who lived there. It serves as a reminder of the historical importance of the cottage homes system and the ongoing efforts to improve the lives of children in institutional care.
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