Child Laborhw#6

Mrs. YoungUnit V: Industrial

RevolutionThen & Now

PART I:The following 26 pictures

were taken from the History Place

and include the original photo captions

written by Lewis W. Hine

Furman Owens, 12 years old. Can't read. Doesn't know his A,B,C's. Said, "Yes I want to learn but can't when I work all the time." Been in the mills 4 years, 3 years in the Olympia Mill. Columbia, S.C.

A moments glimpse of the outer world. Said she was 11 years old. Been working over a year. Rhodes Mfg. Co. Lincolnton, N.C.

boys and girls were so small they had to climb up on to the spinning frame to mend broken threads and to put back the empty bobbins. Bibb Mill No. 1. Macon, Ga

One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. Runs 4 sides - 48 cents a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then added confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same." Out of 50 employees, there were ten children about her size. Whitnel, N.C

A group of newsies selling on Capitol steps. Tony, age 8, Dan, 9, Joseph, 10, and John, age 11. Washington, D.C

Michael McNelis, age 8, a newsboy [with photographer Hine]. This boy has just recovered from his second attack of pneumonia. Was found selling papers in a big rain storm. Philadelphia, Pa

At the close of day. Waiting for the cage to go up. The cage is entirely open on two sides and not very well protected on the other two, and is usually crowded like this. The small boy in front is Jo Puma. S. Pittston, Pa.

View of the Ewen Breaker of the Pa. Coal Co. The dust was so dense at times as to obscure the view. This dust penetrated the utmost recesses of the boys' lungs. A kind of slave-driver sometimes stands over the boys, prodding or kicking them into obedience. S. Pittston, Pa.

A young driver in the Brown mine. Has been driving one year. Works 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Brown West VA

9 p.m. in an Indiana Glass Works

Some of the young knitters in London Hosiery Mills. London, Tenn

Rob Kidd, one of the young workers in a glass factory. Alexandria, Va.

Oyster shuckers working in a canning factory. All but the very smallest babies work. Began work at 3:30 a.m. and expected to work until 5 p.m. The little girl in the center was working. Her mother said she is "a real help to me." Dunbar, La.

Shrimp pickers, including little 8 year old Max on the right. Biloxi, Miss

Manuel the young shrimp picker, age 5, and a mountain of child labor oyster shells behind him. He worked last year. Understands not a word of English. Biloxi, Miss

Manuel the young shrimp picker, age 5, and a mountain of child labor oyster shells behind him. He worked last year. Understands not a word of English. Biloxi, Miss.

Camille Carmo, age 7, and Justine, age 9. The older girl picks about 4 pails a day. Rochester, Mass

Norris Luvitt. Been picking 3 years in berry fields near Baltimore.

Picking nuts in dirty basement. The dirtiest imaginable children were pawing over the nuts eating lunch on the table. Mother had a cold and blew her nose frequently (without washing her hands) and the dirty handkerchiefs reposed comfortably on table close to the nuts and nut meats. The father picks now. New York City.

Question #2

What does this political cartoon from 1902 suggest?

The tireless efforts of reformers, social workers and unions seemed to pay off in 1916. President Wilson passed the Keating-Owen Act, banning articles produced by child labor from being sold. The act was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court just two years later. Source: US Department of Labor

Two girls wearing banners with slogan "ABOLISH CH[ILD] SLAVERY!!" in English and Yiddish, one carrying American flag

May 1, 1909 labor parade in New York City.

Throughout the 1800s, states began passing laws limited working hours, creating age requirements for certain jobs, and demanding

minimum public education requirements.

However, it wasn’t until 1938 that the Federal government finally

created a age minimum for working and created minimum wage for

employees.

Answer Question #3:

Why do you think child labor ended in America?

Why does it still exist in other countries?

2005

One in twelve of the world’s children are forced into child labour or 180 million young people below 18… are involved in the worst forms of labor – hazardous work, slavery, child soldiers, commercial sexual exploitation and illicit activities. 97% of these are in developing countries.

PART II:The following

pictures by David Parker

2005

Statement of Artist: Dr. David Parker … Question #4:

       During the American industrial era, the need for labor drew the youngest of workers into the labor force. Without safety provisions or fresh air, children were forced to work long hours for little compensation. The pale gaunt face of the child worker was brought to the attention of the American people not only by labor leaders like Samuel Gompers but by writers such as Sinclair Lewis and photographers such as Lewis Hine. After decades of struggle, the United States gradually began to implement child labor laws.

       The focus of my recent photography has grown directly out of my work as a doctor. Like many people, I thought that child labor had largely disappeared and did not realize that over 150 million children worldwide still work in order to sustain basic needs.

        Over the last six years, I have photographed children working in a variety of occupations in the United States, Mexico, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, and India. In general, working conditions in developing nations are far inferior to those in developed nations. Health problems are compounded for children because they are more susceptible than adults. For example, children develop dust-related lung diseases, from work in brick factories more quickly then adults. Child carpet weavers suffer from the development of degenerative joint disease by the age of twelve.

Brick workers,

Nepal

Child soldier,

West Africa

collecting well water at a brick factory, nicaragua

electroplate worker, india

fireworks factory, guatemala

leather tanner, bangladesh

migrant cotton worker, turkey

stone quarry worker, india

 Dr. Parker says his “personal challenge is to present photographs that raise questions”

a. Under what circumstances and conditions should children work?

b. What is the nature of work conducted by children in different parts of the world today?

c. What alternatives do children have and how are these alternatives decided?

Answer question #5 (a-c)

with your personal opinion.

Work cited page

• http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/index.html

• http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/gallery/intro.html