The study relied on an instrument devised by Hirschi, who argues that delinquency results from attenuated attachment to significant others, which is in turn a product of dysfunctional families. The institutions affecting children are examined within a Rawlsian perspective of justice as fairness. The first principle of justice requires equality of liberty for all; the second allows for socioeconomic inequalities only if they improve the prospects of the least advantaged under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. The goal of the study was to determine which child-rearing practices, nuclear family or kibbutz, are more consistent with the principles of justice as fairness, better protect the rights and interests of children, and allow for greater moral growth and maturity so as to minimize the incidence of abused, neglected, and anomic children. The study concludes that as community linkages weaken and parents entrust their children more and more to nurseries, preschools, day care, schools, and after-schools, the problem of finding quality care and education is becoming more urgent in the United States. The authors believe the kibbutz educational system provides lessons on how to stimulate intellectual and moral growth of all children, including the most disadvantaged among them. 67 notes, a 320-item bibliography, and a subject index