Neglect Proceedings and the Conflict between Law and Social Work

The 20th century might well be considered the age when children acquired the right to exist. To some, the rights and privileges of children have developed so rapidly that they would categorize our culture to be child-centered and our future to be youth-directed. For the undeniable betterment of mankind, within the past 50 years, we have come to be aware of the inner life and intrinsic worth of the child as an independent being. Much of what we consider to be permissive, uncontrolled child behavior is a result of the recent recognition of the individual worth of the child. Perhaps society has gone too far in permitting self-direction by children, but there can be no turning back to the inhumane, barbaric past that dehumanized children