Geography; The Cultural Component.: Part 4: The role of children in migration and of migration in children's lives (Children’s Geographies).

Child migration is the migration of children, without their parents, to another country or region. However, much literature emphasizes that the migration of children within their own country is part of a sub-branch of child migration (Skelton, 2009). For example, war time children being sent from London to the North of the UK. In many cases child migration has often been forced; linking to child care and child labor.

Child migration in a geographical context looks at how children are temporally and spatially separated from the rest of society. In addition, the scale in which children are moved is of interest, looking at the factors that drive child movement and location choice. For example, village areas, class systems, etc (Anon, 2009).

Wartime Child Emigration – 1940-1944

The follow information was provided by the (BBC, 2013).

Overview

Figure 1: Children on board a ship to New Zealand

Child emigration has taken place since the first British colonies of the 17th century. During the Blitz in World War Two, thousands of British children were evacuated to safety in countries such as Canada and Australia.

Did you know?

The Children's Overseas Reception Board was established to help families send their children abroad to safety during the war.
After the war, over 3,000 children were sent to Australia under government-approved schemes - many subsequently returned.
The migrated children were referred to as 'the seeds of empire'.
'If you want to go, put your hand up' was the instruction used to select children for emigration from institutions such as the Dr Barnardo's Homes

BBC (2013) ‘Child Migration’ [online] available from <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/bloodlines/migration.shtml?entry=wartime_child_emigration&theme=migration> [30/087/13]

Australia Case study:

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Aboriginal Australian children were removed from their families and placed in institutions and foster homes, in what became known as the Stolen Generations.

Over 7000 children migrated to Australia under assisted child migration schemes. The vast majority of children were migrated from the UK, with a small number from Malta. Child migrants were adopted or brought up in children's homes, institutions, orphanages or foster care. Many of these children experienced neglect and abuse while in institutional care.

In November 2009 Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd formally apologized to "Forgotten Australians" and child migrants on behalf of the nation. "Forgotten Australians" is a term the Australian Senate has used to describe children who were brought up in orphanages, children's homes, institutions or foster care in Australia. Child migrants are a specific group of "Forgotten Australians" (Read, 1981).

Referencing:

Anon (2009) ‘Independent child migration’. CMRN main themes. Child migration Research Network.
Read, P (1981) ‘The Stolen Generations: The Removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969.’ Department of Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales government).

Children and World War Two:

Children were massively affected by World War Two. Nearly two million children were evacuated from their homes at the start of World War Two; children had to endure rationing, gas mask lessons, living with strangers etc. Children accounted for one in ten of the deaths during the Blitz of London from 1940 to 1941.

World War Two was the first war when Britain itself was the target of frequent attacks by the enemy. With the success of the Battle of Britain and the suspension of ‘Operation Sealion’, the only way Germany could get at mainland Britain was to bomb it. This occurred during the Blitz and seemed to reinforce the government’s decision to introduce evacuation at the start of the war. On August 31st, 1939, the government issued the order “Evacuate Forthwith” and ‘Operation Pied Piper’ was started the very next day

The impact of evacuation on children depended to an extent on which social strata you were in at the time. Parents who had access to money invariably made their own arrangements. Children at private schools based in the cities tended to move out to manor houses in the countryside where children at that school could be, in the main, kept together. But 1.9 million children gathered at rail stations in early September not knowing where they were going nor if they would be split from brothers and sisters who had gathered with them.

‘Operation Pied Piper’ was a huge undertaking. Six cities had been deemed vulnerable to German bombing – memories of Guernica were still fresh – and in London alone there were 1,589 assembly points for children to gather at before they were moved on. Those children who were evacuated were given a stamped postcard to send from their billet address to inform their parents where they were.

‘Operation Pied Piper’ planned to move 3.5 million children in three days. In the event, the 1.9 million who were evacuated was a remarkable achievement though some children stayed with their parents as evacuation was not compulsory.

With such numbers involved, it was to be expected that some children would have a smooth passage to their reception area while some would not. Anglesey expected 625 children to arrive and 2,468 did. Pwllheli, North Wales, was not allocated any evacuees – and 400 turned up. Children already experiencing a stressful situation were put in an even more difficult situation. Elsewhere, children who had been used to being in school in the same class were spilt up.

What impact this had on the children involved was never overly studied at the time as the government simply wanted to herald evacuation as an overwhelming success. That some children continued their education in pubs, church halls or anywhere else there was the space to accommodate them was seen as the accepted face of a requirement that had been foist on the government.

The clash of cultures experienced by many children must have also been difficult. The children from the cities had been tarred by a reputation that was undeserved – but many of those in rural England expected children to be riddled with parasites and to engage in anti-social behavior. Such was the perception at the time.

KS2 worksheets, but can be redesigned to cater for older years!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/world_war2/evacuation/teachers_resources.shtml

Potential Questions: