Shari is 16 years old. She used to get good grades, but recently she is moody and unfocused in school and often has trouble completing tasks. She has never been in trouble with the law, but she has grown up in a socioeconomically challenged situation with very little family support. No one showed up for her last parent-teacher conference, and her teachers are concerned about her current situation at home. Shari has just been taken into custody for skipping school and underage drinking. If Shari had grown up in the 1600s and been subject to poor laws, what likely would have been done with her?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the 1600s, under the poor laws, individuals like Shari who were young, without support, and showing signs of delinquency, would often become indentured. This meant they were bound by contract to work for someone for a certain period in exchange for learning a trade, housing, and food. This system was seen as a way to reform and support those who were poor or in trouble, by teaching them a skill that could help them support themselves in the future.

Shari Is 16 Years Old