The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02
dorothy Nitcieill.

dorothy Mitchein.
1T seems to me-" said nr. Jos.nh
Hyde Pratt Of the North Carolina
Geological and Economic Survey. ana
one o1 the leading men in the good
roads movement in the State. that
this question OF child labor could be
settled If they would pass a better
compulsory educational law, for it
would then take the child from the
Iarm ana other industries as well "a
the cotton mills and put him in
school Dr- Pratt has travelled over
lheStaUe and has seen life in the
towns IN the sandnills and the noun
talns and is qualified To speak OF the
conditions both from observation and
study. He has seen the poor class OF
tenant on the farm. ana on the noun
tain side, and has seen the mill popu-
lation and his idea IS that the great
est need OF these children is not to
be deprived Of work wholly. but an
education.
When asked as 70 what his ideas on
the situation We're in regard TO child
| labor, and its best remedy in the state.
| he said:
While We ali admit that the condi-
| uons in cotton mills and manufacture
| ing plants of all kinds are not as We
| would wish them, and that children
| many Of these, it does seem TO be
| the best solution OF the problem
| and one that would solve the uues-
ton for all children would be n com
| pulSOry educational law. This does not
| center the attack on any particular
line Of business that may be employing !
| children, but il will take the children
| from the cotton mills, stores. manu-
featuring plants, off the streets and
put them in school
81 realize'' continued DIR. Pratt
that there is q great deal Of oppo-
! SitiOn to the idea Of a compulsory
| educational law but after having seer
| the beneficial results that have been
accomplished in other States. by rea-
son OF such 8 law, [ cannot help but
believe it will be one of the best cd
ucatiOnal laws that could be passed il
North Carolina, especially when l be
, lieve X will solve as nearly completely
as any other law the children ldbOl
: problem. | am taking for granted tha
, if such q law would be passed by th'
General Assembly that it would have
| the machinery by which it could b.
:. | made effective"
When asked about the child work
| ing during vacation, Dr. Pratt said:
8 ''fhere is no question that there ar
> certain instances where children, an
| even young children, are forced by cir
. cumstances to help their mothers i
y eking out q living, and while "
: should protect and nurture such emil
dren, | believe after they pass com
pulsOry educational law there will b
$ very little difficulty in passing need
II ed regulation to protect and care 70
such children, and AT the same tim
- not deprive the mothers Of the Httl
IS help that the children can give b
working at certain times in certai
= Places
Continuing his remarks on the GueS
tcn DR.. Pratt said that a compulsor
educational law would give the Chill
le something useful and beneficial 10 d
8 while a child labor law took a chill
from work, which in many instance
was necessary for helping support r
| family, and gave him nothing IN r.
| turn.
- For children who are compelled
y assist in the family income, the loc
or truant officer must make tho
| ough investigation under compu
sorry educational law and see that Il
, | child gets as much schooling as il
possible for him to get.
At present the compulsory educ
:, tional law is from eight to twel
years OF age and only for q fo
months term for each yeardurlI
which q child must attend school. II
III | child labor law prohibiting chlidr'
g. from working in mills IS for ; yea
? with q provision as an apprenticesh
at 12 wears provided they have be
y to school four months in the year. ]
cotton manufacturers Association
8 North Carolina have passed resol
tions faVoring the raising Of the B
for compulsory education.
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