Justifier ses compétences : un réflexe de défense professionnelle des inspecteurs des enfants assistés à la fin du XIX e siècle

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In the late 19th century, the inspectors of children placed in custody formed a professional identity in reaction to criticisms. Since the press had exposed the situation of children in the custody of peasant families, the inspectors were forced to develop a professional rhetoric for publicly accounting for their principles and regulations; the arguments and vocabulary used to do this are analyzed. This public quarrel turned this occupation into a ‘profession’ with a different basis from the philanthropic values that had prevailed till then. Inspectors gradually distanced themselves from charitable organizations and from their legal role as they discovered the interests and principles of legitimacy that they held in common.