2. Coal Mining and Child Labor

Put in triange shirt waist fire

16 Ton by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Start by watching this short video showing how mining works today. Then continue on and follow the next directions. If you see questions, please answer them on a piece of paper.

Next, look at the following pictures.

Break Boys

14 year old miner with the older men

What do you think is on the boys' hats?

Breaker Boys pulling the rocks out of coal. They worked 15 hours days doing this.

A depiction of young men moving coal hoppers inside the mines.

Do you think there were any health hazards for the men and young boys that worked in the coal mines?

This is the lung of a coal miner. If you'd like to know more about what happened, look up "Black Lung".

What do you notice about these workers as you look at these pictures? How does this make you feel?

Next, read the following documents. They lay out the laws that apply to child labor.

What do these acts say about the rules for child labor?

Read these two letters. One for child labor laws, and one against.

A letter opposing the Child Labor Laws being proposed

A letter from high school students supporting the legislation.

Another letter, supporting the Child Labor restrictions.

https://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html

Children have been used for some amount of work since the beginning of the country. The great question becomes, "What is the right amount of work for a child to do?"

The current law allows children to work (legally) when they turn 14 years old. As you can see, the coal mining industry was using children long before the age of 14.

-Do you think it is the right age, the wrong age, or just right? Why?

-Should there be restrictions on the type of jobs that children do?

In today's world, what restrictions should be made on child labor? How does it affect you?

Now you need to write a short essay explaining how you feel about child labor, and why you feel that way. This paper needs to have a short introductory paragraph (preamble), a sentence that declares (says) what you feel about child labor, and three-four supporting details why your opinion is correct. These details may need more than one sentence to explain. The top two essays in each class will earn a worth-while prize. (I'm not revealing what it is.) These may be hand written, or typed. They must be turned in by class-time Tuesday, May 8th.