The Nevada County picayune., 1914-09-11
By Herschel H. Jones, Special Agent National Child Labor
 Committee.

the employment provision section. The law requires that child shall have attended school for 160 days pre- vious to his application for an em- ploymeEt 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 States the laws are far more drastic than the Arkansas lax is.
 The child labor law in each of the States given below provides that
 | No child under IA shall be per mitted to work in factories stores. and other occupations
 , All children 14-16 must have em- ployment certificates issued by school authorities before entering these em- ployments.
 > Certificates will not be granted unless documentary proof of age is furnished, showing that the child is II 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. titicate is issued
 1>f ,I. 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, 1t must be exam ined by a physician to determine whether it is physically fit for ths work for which it is being employed
 Arizona.-160 days; fifth grade: physical fitness.
 Arkansas (new law)-l6O days; fourth grade.
 Colorado-Eighth grade
 Delaware days; physical nt- ness.
 District of Columbia-130 days
 Florida 50 days; instruction In reading. writing. spelling, geography. arithmetic through common fractions
 Indiana Fifth grade
 Kentucky-Firth grade; physical At. ness.
 Maryland-AttendanGe entire year previous to II; fifth grade; physical fitness
 Massachusetts Fourth grade; phys ical fitness.
 Michigan-100 days; fourth grade
 Minnesota Physical fitness.
 NebrasRa-Attendance three-fourths of year previous to becoming 14; com pletion of eighth grade or attendance at night school
 New Hampshire-Attendance not less than 300 half days during proceed ing year; physical fitness
 New Jersey-13O days, fifth grade; physical fitness
 New York Certificates issued by health officer instead of school author ities; 20 days; sixth grade; physical fitness
 North Dakota 12O days
 Ohio Certificates required of boys under 16. girls under IS; attendance for full previous year; boys sixth grade, girls seventh.
 Oklahoma Attendance for full pre- vious year.
 Oregon -l60 days during year pre- vious to fifteenth birthday; sixth grade.
 Rhode Island Physical fitness
 West Virginia Fourth grade
 isconsin-Certificat 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- cath, or eighth. and that in addition child must pass a rigid physical ex- animation in at least ten States. wa realize that the Arkansas law which calls for the completion >f the fourth grade is far from drastic It provides the minimum educational requireme ent only, but 1t brings Arkansas nearer to the standard set by ths most progress siye States In the Union It will pre- vent large numbers of children from going to work when they are unabl" to read or write. as Ia the case at pres. ent, and hence will be of the greatest possible value in reducing the high per cent of illiteracy in the State.
 Employment Certificate Explained.
 The employment certificate, or work permit. Is most essential part of any child labor law" says MT Jones. Tt 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 certii cate or permit to work. This csrtii cate is not granted unless the Issuing officer has secured documentary proof that the child is II years Of age. and also proof that the child has complct ed four yearly grades of school In this way childraA under II cannot se. cure employment. and the CertiAcate is the employers guarantee that the