I read with interest Vladimir Sirotin's materials on the historically authoritarian treatment of children in Russia [JRL#216]. But readers may find in my recent book, "Tales of Priut Almus: Participant Observation in a Russian Children's Shelter" (available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, iUniverse.com and many other places) traces of a far more humane, albeit fragile, tradition in that country. I am a child psychologist. Almus became an informal research project for me. I have visited there over a period of ten years, often staying for several or more days at a time. Almus, located in St. Petersburg, was an upbeat, high-morale place, at once a residence and community center. It was warm, child-centered (when possible), and much beloved by children, parents and staff alike. Far from incarcerating children as orphanages ("dietskiy doma") invariably do, Almus assisted them in becoming productive members of society. But Almus was not appreciated by the authorities. That is another story that has not yet been told. There is more information about the book on my website, robertbelenky.com.

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