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A sad circumstance in Switzerland is the experiences of the Verdingkinder or Discarded Children.
Up unitl the 1950es there was an inhappy situation in Switzerland, where "unwanted" children were "sold" primarly to farmers who were supposed to take care of these children in exchange for free labor. Many of these children were missused or abused. Not until recently has this situation come to light. Now it is creating quite a uproar in Switzerland.
A sad circumstance in Switzerland is the experiences of the Verdingkinder or Discarded Children. I think this was a practice dating back to early times, byt have no information before the 19th century.
Up unitl the 1950es there was an inhappy situation in Switzerland, where "unwanted" children were "sold" primarly to farmers who were supposed to take care of these children in exchange for free labor. Not until recently has this situation come to light.
The children were commonly orphans from poor families or children of poor parents who could not afford to raise them. Many were also illegitimate children that unwed mothers could not raise in conservative Swiss society. They were mostly given away or sold to farmers. Authorities who assigned the children made no effort to determine if the farmers would treat the children properly. Their primary concern apparently was to determine if they actually needed help on their farm. In some places there were actual auctions. These auctions continued into the 1930s.
The problem was especially pronounced in German-speaking Switzerland in the Protestant cantons, though it also occurred in Catholic areas. It was also known in the French-speaking canton Vaud. Researchers have also found that children from the Italian-speaking canton Ticino were used as chimney sweeps in northern Italy.
Arrangements for the Verdingkinder were made both privately and by the local authorities. Thus there is no accounting of the precise number of children involved. Some records began to be made beginning about 1820. Poor families in Switzerland had to register annually in the communities where they lived. Authorities thus assessed if they were adequately caring for their children. Local officials in the 19th century had the authority to take children away from their families. Thus there are spme records. But many of the transactions were made witthout informing authorities. One researcher estimates that about 10,000 children were involved annually. [Leuenberger]
Many of these children were missused or abused. Nwspapers and books have desribed what was essentially slave labour, terrible beatings, and sexual abuse. The Verdingkinder lived in fear and isolation. They had no contact with their family. Modern readers find it difficult to understand why the authorities were unconcerned with how the children were treated. Today there are child welfare officials and children are seen as having rights. This was not the case in the 19th century and even early 20th century. Child labor was still very common, even children who lived with their parents. Poverty was a serious problem. Workers received very low salaries and often had adifficult time supporting their families. And many parents disciplined their children harshly. Standards and attitutudes toward child care were very different. Some of the Verdingkinder attempted to complain, but rarely would any one listen. A complaints could ear another beating.
Many Verdingkinder suffered both physivally and emotionally. Some farmers did not property
feed the children which affected their growth and development. Many were beated. Some savely which also affected their emotional development. Some were abused sexually. Here the authorities might act, unlike instances of beaings. The action commonly involved moving the victims. Records show that the perpetrators
were sometimes fined, but never jailed. Searated from family and harshly treated, affected the children emotionally. Many Verdingkinder found it difficult to relate to people as adults. Quite a number turned to crime. [Leuenberger]
Now it is creating quite a uproar in Switzerland. A Swiss reader writes, "You know that I have a good friend who is an accomplished model builder--Alfred Kiener. I think I had mentioned to you that his youth was a rather unpleasant one. Motivated by the stories of the Verdinkinder he has put on paper his biography as a youth. This is not a pleasant story and at times rather depressing. I think it has helped him overcome a great deal of trauma by putting his experiences on paper. His life as a youth was very similar to that of Verdingkinder. The only difference was that he was not sent away, but was treated that way by his parents. His story also shows how Nature and Modelbuilding were to activities which allowed him to escape and survive this horrible treatment and ultimately become an adult who has provided for his family and has made very positive contributions to the community."
Leuenberger, Marco. Leuenberger learned of this problem at 10 years of age. His father told him that he had been a Verdingkinder. He had a daoily grinf beginning at 5:00 AM and working late into the night.
Leuenberger along with other historians want a nationwide research project to record the plight of the Verdingkinder while some of these child labourers are still alive to set down their experiences.
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