Child Labor In America

[ffa1mf]

@grannywils-I do agree with you and should probably have explained that particular point a bit better than I did.

 

When I wrote that I was thinking about being at a school recently and the teacher was teaching a health subject dealing with "wash your hands, brush your teeth, take a bath" etc. and this little girl raised her hand and asked what should she do because there had been no water in her house for sometime because it was too expensive.

 

I don't disagree that all children need an education, but if they are troubled or distracted by problems or have situations that are road blocks to them being educated, then what exactly is being accomplished by forcing them to go to school and learn in a specific manner that this is the way life is and what the expectations are from them? I do not believe that little girl went home that night and followed the instruction she was given in class that day that identified to her what people do and what is expected of her in maintaining a healthy life style.

 

Is the answer just we ignore any other problems and just give them a "better" education? Well, I couldn't have answered that question better than you did;

our resources should be utilized in such a way as to provide for the future of our nation (our young people).

 

and that goes beyond just providing an education, but solving the problems that exist that are road blocks to them obtaining an education.

 

As for the Newt (or any other politician) and his beliefs and concerns - he's a politician and if he actually does do something about the issue of poverty and children I'll be the first to tip my hat to him - but please don't ask me to hold my breath while I'm waiting.

[ChuckFinly]

There is a difference between forcing a child to work and letting him have the choice to work provided there is a minimum GPA level and that child meets it. I believe that there should be a limit to when children can work (let's say thirteen). I also believe that there should not be a difference in wages for both adults and children except for company benefits because a child will not have the same issues as an adult will.

 

Moreover, I think this should be a state by state issue, not a federal ruling. The Federal Government does not have any business determining whether or not a child can work because that was not among the Federal Government's original responsibilities as the central government.

 

our resources should be utilized in such a way as to provide for the future of our nation (our young people)

 

I disagree, not with helping young people, but with who is doing it.

 

#1 for the reason supplied above ("Moreover, I think this...", schooling is not the government's job).

 

#2 that is not what tax dollars are meant for. State and local taxes are for conveniences like roads, street lights, hospitals, police, fire departments, and other important civil services. "Free" education is not one of them, because it forces others to pay for an education that most parents do not want or in some cases even like. I think education should be up to parents, not the state.

Edited December 13, 2011 by ChuckFinly

[Keanumoreira]

There is a difference between forcing a child to work and letting him have the choice to work provided there is a minimum GPA level and that child meets it. I believe that there should be a limit to when children can work (let's say thirteen). I also believe that there should not be a difference in wages for both adults and children except for company benefits because a child will not have the same issues as an adult will.

 

Moreover, I think this should be a state by state issue, not a federal ruling. The Federal Government does not have any business determining whether or not a child can work because that was not among the Federal Government's original responsibilities as the central government.

 

our resources should be utilized in such a way as to provide for the future of our nation (our young people)

 

I disagree, not with helping young people, but with who is doing it.

 

#1 for the reason supplied above ("Moreover, I think this...", schooling is not the government's job).

 

#2 that is not what tax dollars are meant for. State and local taxes are for conveniences like roads, street lights, hospitals, police, fire departments, and other important civil services. "Free" education is not one of them, because it forces others to pay for an education that most parents do not want or in some cases even like. I think education should be up to parents, not the state.

 

Well, the reason why the federal government got involved in the first place was because Mother Jones marched all of these factory kids to the White House (Or Congress, whichever it was) and showed the people there the horrors of child labor. Whether or not they had their heart strings tugged, the nation turned to them for an answer. They were forced to make a decision, and they did.

Edited December 14, 2011 by Keanumoreira

[naomis8329]

Here in the UK a child can't take up paid work until the age of 14 and even then they are only allowed to work so many hours a week either as a paperboy(girl) or as an actor(ess). This is closely monitored and any exceptions to this have to be approved and can only happen a maximum of twice (if I remember rightly).

 

However there are then the children who work and whose hours are NOT monitored in any way shape or form. I would (looking through rose coloured glasses) like to think that the majority of these children do so because they want to and are either on farms or working in the companies of their parents in preparation of one day running that company or business. Again I would hope that parents of said children would pay the child some form of wage/pocket money in exchange for services rendered lol.

 

Then we have those children who are forced to work and these are the children we should be most concerned about. Be they child prostitutes, machinists or servants it should be stopped, but I am in no way blinkered to realise that it wont.

 

Child Labour exists in most countries to some extent and education for some is a luxury. I agree with Granny that education is the most important thing for a child and this should be tempered with the ability to work should they want to from a given age ie 14, be it in school as form monitors/assistants, paper boys or undergoing some form of work experience for their chosen careers for example candy strippers in hospitals for those that wish to go into the medical professions etc....

 

Maybe this is idealistic and would most probably not work in the slightest, but I would like to think it could, not only would a child gain valuable experience in the work place but also gain confidence and learn the value of themselves and money.

[Beriallord]

Back in the older days, there would be master craftsmen and tradesmen in their early 20s because they started learning their trade in the early teens from their fathers. You never see a master carpenter, mason, or machinist in their early 20s anymore. I would be for a child learning a trade skill, because that would also be seen as a form of education. Even if you go to school for something like a 2 year trade skill diploma, you are still an apprentice and certainly not a master or even a journeyman in the trade, and depending on the trade you need another 4-8 years of experience on top of that before you become a journeyman. So even if you go to a trade school at 18, 2 years later you have a diploma, its not until your late 20s until you are proficient in that field. Edited January 3, 2012 by Beriallord

[Nintii]

Being someone that is quite close to the Indian (from India) community I am familiar with a lot of their customs and practices ... now as far as the USA is concerned how would you view a school goer being yanked out

of their schooling to get married in a pre-arranged marriage set up by their parents and without their consent.

What a minute you might say, this is off topic ... really ?

I don't think so, here you have an underage girl producing babies and working at home all day ...

 

Let's see what she does for a moment ... she does Maid's duties of cooking, cleaning ironing, washing etc., ... so my question is this, "Is forcing a teenage girl into marriage not the same as Child labor" ?

And if it is, then it's been happening right under your nose under the disguise of Culture.

Yes it's a different take on the issue but a relevant one nonetheless.

[Aurielius]

Back in the older days, there would be master craftsmen and tradesmen in their early 20s because they started learning their trade in the early teens from their fathers.

Ah the good old days of yeoman serfdom.... :whistling: They also sent young lads to sea at age 12. :whistling:

[HeyYou]

Back in the older days, there would be master craftsmen and tradesmen in their early 20s because they started learning their trade in the early teens from their fathers. You never see a master carpenter, mason, or machinist in their early 20s anymore. I would be for a child learning a trade skill, because that would also be seen as a form of education. Even if you go to school for something like a 2 year trade skill diploma, you are still an apprentice and certainly not a master or even a journeyman in the trade, and depending on the trade you need another 4-8 years of experience on top of that before you become a journeyman. So even if you go to a trade school at 18, 2 years later you have a diploma, its not until your late 20s until you are proficient in that field.

 

Average lifespan was only about 40 years then though too......

[Marxist ßastard]

Assuming you mean 1850: Life expectancy at birth was 40 years.

 

At age 10, it was 48. At age 50, it was 22. And at age 80, it was 6.

 

Meaning someone born in 1800 could expect to live to 72, provided they survived to 1850.

[Korodic]

I have a few things to say about this topic...

 

As a kid, I wanted a job, but wasn't of age. There ARE jobs kids can do if they want to, and they should be. But there should be legislation on what that entails...

 

Reason being is I don't want a 8 year old serving me food.

 

The only other problem I see with this, is that I'm of age and barely just got a job a few days ago after dropping 20+ applications to several big corporations (Best Buy, Walmart... etc) and couldn't get a job... how is an 8 year old supposed to?