The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-05-17

and without Burdening Farmers
TO organize the children of
America To serve in war time in the
production of foodstuifs under
supervision of educational directors
and at the same time safeguard the
children against overwork and gen.
eral neglect" the National Child
Labor Committee has sent letter
and leaflct outlining workable
plan TO every state. county, and city
school superintendent. the Secre-
taries Of Agriculture and Labor, the
Commissioner Of Education. the
Chief If the Childrcn's Bureau.
members Of the Council for National
Defense, and others Interested. The
plan calls for the cooperation OF
( teachers. scout masters, and play
ground directors, and was drawn up
after conferences with the Directors
Of the Playground Association and
Boy Scouts NJ America, the New
York Commissioner of Education,
the President Of the New York City
Board Of Education. and the Agri-
cultural Committee Of the Mer-
chants Association. The plan di-
yides children into two classes.
those Is years old and over. who
may be hired out or sent in groups
To work in farm districts. and those
under Is. who would be a burden to
the farmers but may be used in
their home towns under supervis-
ion. For employing the younger
children. towns are advised to form
Summer Agricultural Faculty"
composed Of teachers, scout masters,
and others, get the use Of vacant
lots and raise a small sum tn have
them ploughed, and secure a special
resolution from the local school
board providing that children en-
rolled for this supervised agricul-
tural work and performing il reeu-
larry may be credited with ii in
lieu Of regular school attendance
| from June 4 to October 1. But
allow no general exemption" says
the leaflet, that will turn children
out Of school without providing both
occupation and supervision The
children thus enrolled are then to
be set 10 work 10 raise foodstuffs
appropriate to the soil and location
under direction Of the summer
Agricultural Faculty" who will zap
preciate the limits Of childs
strength and will not allow him to
be overworked."
The suggested regulations are that
children u and over. only, be per-
mitted TO work for farmers other
than their own parents, since, as the
National Ohild Labor Committee
states, the farmers themselves re-
peatedly say that children younger
than the IL or i5-year-olds are no
use TO them; that such children be
excused from school for farm work
between June 4 and October 4; that
no children so excused be permitted
TO work more than hours day or
6 days a week; that children shall
be excused only on he issuance OF
a special permit, by the state COM
mittee OF school officials or persons
authorized by them, stating that the
child has been examined by a ply
stefan and found physically fit for
work, and to be employed on farm
known to be a suitable place. The
committee OF school officials is TO
be responsible for the enforcement
OF such regulations and for the
supervision OF the transportation,
housing and feeding OF the children
| As TO housing, il is suggested that
the children live in camps, under
supervision of scout masters, play
ground directors, or school officers,
from which they may be sent in
gangs each day to the farms or
fields where they are needed, and
10 which they may be returned al
night, thus keeping their living
conditions under control, and reliev''
ing the farmer Of the responsibility
Of housing them. England is al
ready wishing che had not used her
lchildren so recklessly at the begin
ming OF the war. Let America leara
by England's experience" says the
leaflet in explanation Of the need OF
regulation. In the letter accom-
panying the leaflet IL is stated that
"the policy Of recruiting agricui-
tural and factory workers from
school children II TO 10 years old
adopted in Great Britain at the be-
ginning of the war, already stands
) revealed as short-sighted. and
. standards too recklessly set aside
. AIs