What should have happened to the orphans?

[Susan]

I have heard many readers of this book describe the sending of orphans out on the orphan trains as being tragic. Obviously people back then thought it was a good idea. What should have happened to NYC's orphans?

[Meghan]

I think in many ways it was good, as it gave the orphans opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise. Sometimes it didn't work out well, but plenty of times it did. The only "tragic" things were when families were split up, or if the orphans were put in abusive families, but then again that wasn't always the case. It wasn't even just NYC as similar things were done in England and Canada.