Which activist worked to improve public institutions and established charity schools for abused children?

Dorothea Dix is recognized for her significant contributions to the reform of public institutions, particularly in advocating for the humane treatment of individuals with mental illnesses and improving conditions in asylums. Her tireless efforts in the mid-19th century led to the establishment of mental health reforms and the creation of better facilities for those in need, including the founding of schools for children who were neglected or abused.

Dix's work focused on the moral obligation to care for those often marginalized by society, pushing for legislation to improve the treatment of the mentally ill and to ensure that vulnerable populations, like abused children, received the care and education they deserved. Her legacy is rooted in her advocacy for compassionate and systematic reform within public institutions, making quality education and care more accessible to those previously affected by neglect and abuse. This emphasis on institutional reform and the creation of environments conducive to healing and learning is why this choice is the correct one in the context of activism for social change during that era.