Child Labor
The difference between child labor then and now
Child Labor How It Has Changed
Child labor has changed so much from back in the 1800-1900s. Back then, children would have actual jobs including; working in a textile mill, cleaning chimneys, working in mines, or working on a farm. Working on a farm. Working on a farm would still be hard, but wouldn't be as dangerous as other jobs since the children would be out in the open and be able to breath fresh air. The type of job depended on how old the child was and if the child was a boy or girl. When a child was assigned as a chimney cleaner, he would have to be skinny enough to shimmy up the chimney, and be younger than 10. If he went to slow, the boss would either start a fire underneath him or poke him with pins. Working in mines would consist of crouching over the chutes and picking out the slates. Children getting injured in the mines was a very common thing,that could include; crushed fingers, broken bones, or the possibility of falling down the chute or being mangled by one of the machines. Textile mills were also dangerous with the possibility of breathing in lint creating a fatal disease. The children worked almost all day with lots of injuries, like hands getting caught in the machinery, getting cut, or being beat by the head master if you were doing anything wrong. As you can see child labor was very harsh back then, thankfully the laws have changed and children have school instead of jobs, along with the simple household chores, like cleaning your room, cleaning the kitchen, or doing the laundry. Children now go to school full time and the typical age for a child to get an actual job is 15. Although not all child labor has been let go, it is a lot better than it was before and I am thankful for being born into this generation.
Disciplinary changes
The way we discipline children is a lot less harsh than when it was the 1800-1900s. Back then, the head master or boss, would beat the child if he didn't get anything done, or simply if you just did something wrong. By the time they'd be done, the child would be black and blue. Or if you were a chimney cleaner. If you went too slow, the boss would either poke you with pins or start a fire beneath you. Now a days, that behavior towards children seems repulsive. If a child does something wrong, depending on how bad it is, the care taker will either put the child in a time out or ground him so he can learn his lesson. If a child does something wrong, the caretaker would normally show him his mistakes so he can rework what he was doing. So seeing the examples, child discipline has become... non-threatening and doesn't end with a beating.
Children At Their Jobs
Child Mine Worker
This boy was one of many children who had to suffer in coal mines.
Child Textile Mill Worker
These children were hard at work in their mill.
Child Chimney Cleaner
This little boy was finishing a hard day at work
It's All History
Even though that old horrific child labor exists and has happened, it is still an important part of history. It shows how strict and orderly people wanted everything to be. Children suffered, some even died, due to those choices the adults made. But people can come around, fix their mistakes, or even stand up for what they think is wrong. That's how we got here today, with child labor around just enough for the children to learn how to work around the house, and yet still doing labor.