Social work career. College

My two years at Scunthorpe College are a bit of a blur. However I remember going on a camping trip with the college to the Lake District, During this trip I experienced several firsts. My first time in a pub, Indian restaurant and swimming naked in a the river. Plus at the time I was working on my Duke of Edinburgh Award (why I now ask myself.) As part of the scheme we had to walk 15 miles up hill and down dale ending at the pub where a pint of beer was waiting for us. I have never enjoyed the taste of beer but I enjoyed that one.
During my time at the college we were expected to complete work experience.My friend and I were placed in a children's home. My memories of the home are not good and looking back it all seems so wrong. The home was a large Victorian building with servants quarters where myself and my friend had our bedrooms.We and the children were woken every morning by a member of staff ringing a large bell.
 I think there were about 25 children who were mainly over ten years of age. We were not told why the children were in the home. We and the children were expected to call the people in charge mum and dad and I remember thinking that I have a mum and dad and therefore will not call these people by that name.
The home had a very strict routine and we were expected to complete domestic chores before spending any time with the children. At the end of the week we were sent to the basement where the children would file down with their dirty school clothes. We had to scrub the clothes until clean, hang them to dry and then iron skirts, trousers and skirts.The blazers had to be sponged and shoes polished until they shone.  No such thing as an automatic washing machine in those days.
During meal times the children were expected to stand in a line in silence outside the dining room and hold out their hands so that they could be inspected for cleanliness. Cleanliness and God were words that were often quoted. Once inside the dining room girls and boys were separated and not allowed to talk. 'Mum and Dad' and favoured staff sat at a head table watching for any misbehaviour. I remember one occasion when I left a slice of toast and put it in the fire in the kitchen. 'Mum' yelled at me stating that I was feeding the devil.
 The staff were expected to be strict with the children and there was little emotional warmth. I recall  one occasion where staff and children were woken at 6 am to the noise of a large bell. Thinking that the place was on fire we all rushed out to the court yard. The weather outside was cold and many of the children and staff only wore their bed clothes. We soon learnt that someone had broken a window and both staff and children were expected to do exercises if the culprit did not come forward. No one did so we had to complete twenty minutes of exercises in the cold. We were then sent back to our rooms to get dresses. We were absolutely freezing and unable to get warm due to the lack of heating in the place.
Looking back I wonder why I didn't complain to the college but I suppose I was only young myself and wasn't brave enough to raise concerns. 
On Sunday mornings staff and children had to attend church. The house was actually closed down and locked so that no one could stay behind. During one service I remember the children being rather silly and restless nudging each other and giggling. 'Mum and dad' were becoming increasingly irritated sending the children evil eye stares. When the vicar requested that we open our hymn books at a certain page I immediately understood why the children were giggling. Scrawled across every hymn book were the words 'mum and dad are cunts' You can imagine the uproar. Although my friend and I were in hysterics we were worried for the children and what punishment they might receive.
Once back at the home the children were very subdued and sent to their rooms without tea. Strangely nothing more was said about the incident for the duration of our placement which was only for a further two days. I suspect that the children did suffer for their actions but it definitely  caused them much levity at the time.
Writing about these children I wonder what has happened to them. Many of them were only a couple of years younger than me and my friend and in reality it was wrong given our age that my friend and I were placed position of authority.  These young children will now be in their late fifties and no doubt have had children and maybe grand children. How did they fare in life given that they were given very little love and brought up in an environment where God and cleanliness were the priority.