Between progress and philanthropy. Social and educational paths for the abandoned children of Southern Italy before the Unification: the case of Molise

Resumen

This article illustrates the outcomes of research aimed at investigating traineeship programmes established in Southern Italy before the Unification as forerunners of the professional education courses that would later develop across the nation. Specifically, the investigation focuses on those charitable institutions whose aim was to educate abandoned children to fit into civilised society through professional training – in line with a model of social recovery through practical education. In particular, this paper explores the connection between each manufacturing sector and its corresponding educational programme. The most relevant training programmes in Molise – supported by legislative, archival and bibliographical documentary – will be analysed through reconstruction of the political debate of the time, which revolved around establishing «protected housing» that also served as centres of industry. To this end, particular attention will be paid to Campobasso’s Orphanage and «Pious house of labour» (Casa pia di lavoro) respectively founded during the French Decade and shortly before the 1848 Revolution. The historical framework is provided by the turbulent events of that time, and we focus in particular on the interdependent relationship between political economy, school and welfare, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex relationship between education, social welfare and manufacturing before Italian Unification.