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A letter writer argues that the "orphanages of Charles Dickens' days could be updated and improved and would serve abandoned children better, in my opinion, than our present system."

(Wikipedia/Public Domain)

Caring for Oregon's children: The story of the horribly mistreated foster children is infinitely sad and haunting. It makes one wonder whether the old way of institutions for children whose parents were either missing, unable or unwilling to care for them properly was not a better means of dealing with the problem. At least institutions can be monitored frequently and are more open to public scrutiny than remote farmhouses of individuals who could be using the foster home as a semi-business -- and obviously getting away with it.

Also, it's disturbing to see photographs and descriptions of individual children in the advertisement sections of newspapers, placed by government or adoption agencies apparently, seeking foster parents to house children. It's as though the child is being advertised for sale. This should not be allowed.

The orphanages of Charles Dickens' days could be updated and improved and would serve abandoned children better, in my opinion, than our present system.

Also, abortion and family planning should be widely available; this would reduce the numbers of unwanted children suffering from adult neglect and abuse.

Elizabeth Van Staaveren

McMinnville