Evacuation of Children Essay Example

Evacuation of Children Essay Example Evacuation of Children Essay Evacuation of Children Essay Source A is a picture taken of evacuees walking towards a station in 1938. The people are in London, where the most amount of people evacuated out of Britains major cities. The faces of the children are happy and optimistic as though they are looking forward to this process. The source, however, does not indicate whether the picture was teken by the government for use as propanganda. Everyone in the photograph are waving and looking at the same point into the camera which could mean they were ordered to pose like that. Source B is an interview held in 1988 with a teacher who was evacuated with children during the Second World war. This account gives a more relistic feel on how it moust have felt for mothers to be sepertaed from their children The children were too afraid to talk, Mothers werent allowed with us the atmosphere then would have felt uneasy for the children, as the rush into evacuation made children feel confused and unsure where their planned destination would be. The evacuation process was very formal We put the children on the train and the gates closed behind us and mothers didnt know how to act as the majority didnt have a clue where their children were off to and when they were going to see their children again. Source C is an extract from a novel about evacuees. As it is fiction, we do not know whether to interpret the story as being true. The novel could have been partly based on true accounts from evacuees. The source begins with Not a speck of dust anywhere as though this was a shocked reactionfrom the children about the cleanliness of their new home. People from the city were stereotyped as being poor and unhygenic. The children in the novel are taken in by a hostess who clearly knows nothing about the city life, Im sorry, how silly of me, why should you have slippers? she is casting her prejudice thoughts before the children can offer an explanation. Some foster parents thought that children would bring diesease into their home, as most evacuees where poorer children from the larger industrial cities. Source D is an advertisement issued by the government in 1940. it appeals for more people in Scotland to provide homes for evacuee children. There is a picture of a typical blond, British girl and boy, with large smiles on their faces and a large quote follows, Thank you foster Parents We want more like you! giving thankfullness and praise if adults followed the appeal. the advertisement has been written in a formal style, even discussing the fact that looking after these children would be Extra work. Taking in evacuees was seen by adults as helping the war effort To share in the present task and to be ready for any crisis that may come. The idea of loving the children doesnt seem to be an issue. It is as though it is more of a hassle that others have to face with and work together to feel as thought they are helping the war. Source E is an interview with a parent in May 1940. It is clear he lives in the city as he explains he does not want his son to go to The Shires as They were already starving before the war The father has stereotyped people fromt he countryside, beliving that there would be no facilities or knowledge for looking after his son appropriately. This resistance of letting his son go could be his inner feelings of fear for he may not be able to see his son again well, what if I got killed? Who would look after him then? The parents really loved their children and used whatever excuse they could to advoid the parternal seperation. Source F is an account from a Londoner who was evacuated in June 1940, from South London to Barnstaple in Devonshire, I think our foster mother found us a bit hard to understand with our somewhat more worldly outlook and ways. I am grateful to her for taking us in as it could not have been easy to handle two lively young strangers, and we were warm and comfortable and well fed at all times. This quote shows the general feeling of evacuation as most cases were left with a positive note. People understood that they were helping the war effort and felt even though this was hard work, it was easier to deal with because the whole nation was going through the same process,