1950s children's homes in New Jersey

[mad_bertha]

I'm writing a short piece that will be based on a fictional home for juvenile deliquents in New Jersey in the 1950s. Anything you can contribute in the way of sources, tidbits, even building descriptions or photos might be useful, but my more specific questions are below

Comments

My Question

[mad_bertha]

I'm familiar with what you are saying but really didn't want to get into that specific discussion. The reason I mentioned culture was because I didn't want to be ethnocentric and assume that the patterns I observed in Singapore applied to the State. I acknowledge that, in my first post, I was unconsciously replicating the definitions of the Christian students and teachers in my school but it was not my intention to say Catholics are not Christians. I'm aware that these distinctions are subjective and dependent upon context, and I don't hold strong views on which denomination is 'correct,' not being Christian.

In terms of the actual writing, as I said, I have not yet decided on the specific religious context -- I think it would depend on what is plausible and what would best suit the story I want to write, where religion may come into the picture, but is not central to the story.

What interests me is more the kinds of environment that a juvenile delinquent with a domestic environment that a state would judge unsuitable for raising a child might find him/herself. Thus, I'd like to find out what would have been the choices in the 1950s in New Jersey. And, yes, I am going to be more specific, not just in terms of denomination, but other details of the story (e.g. the type of building etc) once starting the story, but, right now, this is exploratory.

your tip

[mad_bertha]

Happy to receive responses about the original questions from others.