Explain differing reactions of the British people to the policy of evacuating children in the Second World War

The parents of the children didn't all react in the same way. Some parents wanted to keep their children safe from German bombings. Other parents could not go through with the evacuation because they were unsure if they would see their children again and they were unsure where their children would be going and what kind of people they would be put in with.  some parents liked  evacuation; this would mean that their children are now in a safer place and less a target from the German bombings. Other parents liked the idea of saving money so with their children out of the way it would be easier to do this, also with children out of the way parents could concentrate on the war effort and not have to worry about safety of their children. When it is time for the children to go, their parents would have to let them get on the train, some parents changed their minds at the stations and took their children back home. Parents would sometimes avoid evacuation because they can't leave their children alone so instead they would go and stay with family and friends in the country side. Some parents  had doubts especially after the 1st wave of evacuation when children told them of their experiences, in that case the phoney war gave a chance to see what it would be like for children during the actual war.

Foster families were another group of people who would have been affected by evacuation Most foster families were shocked at the look of the city children. Some children had never used a toothbrush before. Others weren't even able to use a knife or fork properly. The city children were dirty and badly dressed. Some families were suspicious of the Londonor city children because they thought that the city was a bad place to live in and the children would be getting up to no good. It was not easy for the foster parents either. Some people, often the better off, refused to take evacuees.  The reactions of hosts varied.some hosts only took in evacuees for the financial rewards and so that children could help out on farms. Other families who did not have children of their own welcomed the evacuees and treated them properly.

Evacuees were obviously the most affected by evacuation the expierences again ranged from middle class children moving to live with working class families, and working class children moving into middle class. This created an obvious prolem for hosts. 1 experience of a host mother said ‘children went around urinating on walls. Although we had 2 toilets they never used them……’ this was mainly in cases where working class children moved into middle class. This source goes to show how children from the city were really like, they had never seen things like carpets and lavatories in their houses so this made them scared and didn't know what to do to fit in with the foster families life style. Many children did not know where they were going and for how long. They travelled by train or bus. Children below school age had to be accompanied by an adult. Each child had a medical examination. There was a mixture of feelings; some children were excited. For many children who had not travelled outside Londonbefore, evacuation was an adventure - many had not been able to afford holidays. Other children were very upset to be leaving their parents. Government posters encouraged children to think of evacuacuationas indefinate holiday and a goo experience, but this was not the case for all evacuees as the source shows.

To conclude, the reactions of the parents, foster parents, children and the government varied to their own experiences and personal opinions. And some peoples reactions changed over time.