At first glance we might deplore these photos, we might ‘tut-tut’ at what went on, but, and this is highly important, all these wonderful children [loveable one and all] are indirectly being groomed in family care, love and responsibilty, duty to the community and the value of their own labor and its monetary rewards. By age 11-14 they were maturing adults who possessed values we sorely need today. I would argue that child labor is worth its worth in gold! as an alternative form of education. And a child who went through this without flinching was twice the man or woman he would have been if he/she had not undergone it. Its all well and good talking schools, talking better education but useless if the child wants a job, is worried about lack of money and food, and wants to rush into manhood. I am not advocating child slavery, nor working in mines, but to the use of common-sense methods to encourage children to better themselves in the easiest way possible. The writer was a child worker, 70 hours a week for 4 years. It did him no harm and helped to feed his brothers and sisters.

I agree with your thoughts on finding a rewarding profession. However, to assume that all a person has to do in life is work hard to succeed is to assume that everyone starts out on equal playing fields, and that we can strip away all possible variables. I believe success is measured differently; “Did you stay out of jail? Did you stay alive? Now you have a regular job breaking rocks…well done.” We should try not to use our own lives as a model of how others should lead theirs.

Most large companies strive to keep similar management, not laborers. Laborers are now, and have always been replaceable.

I don’t believe I’m necessarily optimistic or pessimistic, and I’m surely not blaming anyone for anything. Nor do I hold ill will toward others views. I merely feel that peoples opinions may differ, which is okay. Understanding others will help us all move forward in a positive manner.

Although the age and pay scale may have changed from the above photos the work has stayed somewhat the same. We’re still mining, working in factories or serving big businesses that don’t offer competitive wages or even health care. (Just thought I’d jump in on the fun here!)

Beautiful photos.

I found that without even trying.[/quote]

And if you’d read the article you’d know that it’s not about “repealing child labor laws and shutting down schools.”

Allowing 16-17 year olds to work until 11 PM instead of 10 PM on school nights is hardly bringing back sweatshops.

He quit school at the ninth grade, said he “gave up” because he could never pay attention anyway as he was constantly tired in school and had a hearing deficit due to untreated chronic ear infections.

The pain this man feels to this very day is extreme. He doesn’t know how to enjoy himself, how to relax and play, is highly sensitive to being “bossed” by others, is resentful and angry nearly all the time. He knows sees children play and always reminisces about how he had to work and toil while his peers played and went to school.

And compared to the children pictured here, his life was ideal.

Child labor is child abuse. Period. David A. : You are an idiot and you can go straight to hell.