Child Labor In John Spargo's The Bitter Cry Of Children
Although child labor has been present in this nation since its colonial ages in the form of apprenticeship and working in their family farms, reports and statistics prove that child labor has reached new extremes. In order to earn the minimal amount of money required for their families’ survival, children are working for hours in factories and mines instead of preparing for a better future in schools. This issue had been present in the government’s agenda for years, and it is starting to gain more public attention.
Reportedly, 1.5 million to 2 million workers, nearly a fifth of the nation’s workforce was under the age of sixteen in 1900. This sudden boom’s main cause is the rush of immigrants happening, and many of these immigrants, mostly …show more content…
Workdays range from about ten to forteen hours, with minimal breaks. Reportedly, death and accident rates are extremely high. As author and social reformer John Spargo writes in his book The Bitter Cry of Children, “accidents to the hands, such as cut, broken, or crushed fingers, are common among the [breaker] boys. Sometimes there is a worse accident: a terrified shriek is heard, and a boy is mangled and torn in the machinery, or disappears in the chute to be picked out later smothered and dead.” There are several reports claiming that the hazardous conditions are resulting in the children suffering from health issues. Apparently, many of the child laborers are underweight and had curved spines. In addition, the fumes and toxins put out in factories potentially could result in diseases and illnesses.
Due to the long workdays, these children obviously are only being provided with a limited amount of education. Their families rely on their income for survival, and going to school to pursue a better future is a rare opportunity for the underaged workers, thus darkening the future of this country as well. The answer to the remaining question as to whether child labor is right or wrong totally depends on what the country needs the most: a further industrial expansion and economic growth, or an education of the next generation that will run the United
Reportedly, 1.5 million to 2 million workers, nearly a fifth of the nation’s workforce was under the age of sixteen in 1900. This sudden boom’s main cause is the rush of immigrants happening, and many of these immigrants, mostly …show more content…
Workdays range from about ten to forteen hours, with minimal breaks. Reportedly, death and accident rates are extremely high. As author and social reformer John Spargo writes in his book The Bitter Cry of Children, “accidents to the hands, such as cut, broken, or crushed fingers, are common among the [breaker] boys. Sometimes there is a worse accident: a terrified shriek is heard, and a boy is mangled and torn in the machinery, or disappears in the chute to be picked out later smothered and dead.” There are several reports claiming that the hazardous conditions are resulting in the children suffering from health issues. Apparently, many of the child laborers are underweight and had curved spines. In addition, the fumes and toxins put out in factories potentially could result in diseases and illnesses.
Due to the long workdays, these children obviously are only being provided with a limited amount of education. Their families rely on their income for survival, and going to school to pursue a better future is a rare opportunity for the underaged workers, thus darkening the future of this country as well. The answer to the remaining question as to whether child labor is right or wrong totally depends on what the country needs the most: a further industrial expansion and economic growth, or an education of the next generation that will run the United