Newport daily independent., 1914-08-25
ARKANSAS LAW
 NOT DRASTIC.
New Child Labor Law Compared With Other States.-Empioyment Certifi- cate Provision Common Feature of Child Labor Laws.
By Herschel H. Jones, Special Agent National Child Labor
 Committee.

There has been some feeling that ehe proposed child labor law is dras- tic measure, particularly in regard to the employment provision section. The law requires that a child shall have attended school for 160 days pre- v1ous to his application for an em- ployment certificate, and that he shall have completed the fourth grade, be- fore an employment certificate can be issued. A glance at the table below will show that similar provisions have been adopted very generally through out the country and that in some States the laws are far more drastic than the Arkansas laE is.
 The child labor law in each of the States given below provides that s 1. No child under IA shali be per- mitted to work in factories, stores, and other occupations.
 2. All children 14-16 must have em- ployment certificates issued by school authorities before entering these en- ployments.
 3. Certificates will not be granted unless documentary proof of age is furnished, showing that the child is 14 years old, and unless the child is able to read and write
 Where States require more than these three provisions, such require ments have been noted on the table.
 The number of days where it ap- pears on the table refers to the days of school attendance required during the year previous to the time the cer- tificate is issued
 The number of the grade indicates the school grade which the child must have completed before it may receive a certificate
 The term physical fitness means that before the child may receive a certificate to work, it must be exam ined by physician to determine whether it is physically fit for the work for which it is being employed.
 Arizona.-16O days; fifth grade; physical fitness.
 Arkansas (new law)-16O days; fourth grade.
 Colorado-Eighth grade.
 Delaware-130 days; physical fit- ness
 District of Columbia-13O days.
 Florida-60 days; instruction in reading, writing, spelling, geography, arithmetic through common fractions.
 Indiana-Fifth grade
 Kentucky-Fifth grade; physical f1t- ness.
 Maryland-Attendanc entire year previous to IA; fifth grade; physical fitness.
 Massachusetts Fourth grade phys ical fitness.
 Michigan-100 days; fourth grade.
 Minnesota-Physical fitness.
 Nebraska three-fourths of year previous to becoming IA; com pletion of eighth grade or attendance at night school
 New pshire-Attendance not less than 300 half days during proceed ing year; physical fitness. 1T,
 New Jersey-130 days; fifth grade; physical fitness. sAs35@ 4 sis-S
 New York--Certifcates issued by health officer instead of school author fties; 130 days: sixth grade; physical fitness. @ss @tfsss e; Y
 North Dakota-12O days. X
 Ohio-Ce ertificates required of boys under 1S. girls under IS: attendance for full previous year; boys sixth grade; girls seventh,
 Oklahoma-Attendan for full pre- vious year.
 Oregon-160 days during year pre- vious to fifteenth birthday; sixth grade
 Rhode Island-Physical fitness.
 West Virginia-Fourth grade.
 Wisconsin-Certificates issued by Industrial Commissioner; fifth grade or have attended school at least seven years.
 When we know that many States require, not the completion of the fourth grade, but the fifth, sixth, sev- enth, or eighth, and that in addition a child must pass rigid physical ex- animation in at least ten States, we realize that the Arkansas law which calls for the completion of the fourth grade is far from drastic. It provides the minimum educational requirement. only, but it brings Arkansas nearer to the standard set by the most progress sive States in the Union. It will pre- vent. large numbers of children from going to work when they are unable to read or write, as Is the case at pres ent. and hence will be of the greatest nossible value in reducing the high per cent. of iiliteracy in the State.
 Employment Certificate Explained.
 "The employment certificate. or work permit, is agmost essential part of any child labor law" says Mr.. Jones. "It is the only way in which the law can be enforced. Before the child can go to work, he must secure from the school authorities a oertifi- cate or permit to work. This certifi- cate Is not granted unless the issuing officer has secured documentary proof