What perspective do some critics hold about child savers in the 19th century?

Critics of the child savers movement in the 19th century assert that these reformers were more concerned with controlling the poor rather than providing genuine help to children in need. This perspective arises from the observation that many child savers viewed the social problems of the time—such as poverty, crime, and delinquency—as issues that required management and regulation.

The movement aimed to create a system that would reform youth through oversight and institutionalization, which, while ostensibly intended to protect children, often resulted in the control and suppression of marginalized groups. Critics argue that rather than empowering the young or addressing underlying social inequities, the child savers engineered approaches that emphasized obedience and conformity. Thus, while they may have claimed altruistic intentions, their methods often reflected broader societal issues related to class and authority, leading to a critique that their actions prioritized social control over meaningful assistance.