The Washington herald., 1922-12-29
Rural Boys and Girls Lag Be-
hind Shop Workers, Declares
Labor Department Bureau
SCHOOL TERMS CUT SHORT
Requirement of Greater Atten-
ton to Country Education Is
Made Subject of Broadcast
By JOHN GOLDSTROM.
TniverssI Service.

Intversal service.
That farms, and not factories,
are the greatest offenders in the
matter of child labor and illit-
eracy was declared in a state
ment broadcasted by radio yes
terday from the Children's Bu-
reau of the Department of La
Dor. It was urged that the eco
nomic condition of the farmer
be improved.
CHILDREN ON FARMS.
Almost every one is familiar
with the evils and dangers of per-
mitting young children to work in
mills and factories and in various
commercial positions in the cities,
It was said
During the present year the
census figures of 1920 regarding
working children show over one
million between the ages of ten
and sixteen who were 'gainfully'
occupied. OF these children more
than so per cent were engaged in
agriculture and related occupations.
From the standpoint of num-
bers at least the most important
form Of children's work is farm
labor. And this is all the more
striking when we realize that this
census was taken in winter instead
Of at the time just a few months
later when children by the thou
sands leave school for farm work,
long before the end of the school
term"
AT WORK IN SPRING.
The Children's Bureau SAYS that
better idea Of the real number
OF farm working children can be
obtained from the 1910 census,
which was taken in April instead
or January, and showed almost a
million and a half boys and girls
between the ages OF ten and six
teen doing rural work. The state
ment continues:
But the 1920 figures are large
enough to attract attention. They
become still more striking when
we learn that the Census-takers
did not count farm children as
workers unless they were actually
doing work at the time: they re-
ported a great many as neither
going TO school nor working.
The census did not report on
working children under ten years
OF age, although IL is known that
many very young children do
regular work on farms
MORE ILLITERATES.
Farm work is not only the most
important form of child labor
from the standpoint of numbers
but also the most serious in its
effect on children's education.
The States in which there are the
largest numbers of child farm
Aborers are also the States in
which are the largest proportion
or children not attending school.
and the highest percentage of il
literacy
The census has shown this both
In 1910 and 1920. and several
studies by the Children's Bureau
have also brought out the rela-
ton between rural child labor
and illiteraCy.
Farm work does not always
oblige the children TO leave school
at an early age, although in Jan
uary OF the census year almost
one-third of million children un-
Der fourteen were working. But il
means that for hundreds of thou.
sands of country children the
school terms are made very short
and that attendance is often irreg-
ular.
IMPROVED SCHOOLS.
The bureau declares that 'inn
provement OF economic conditions
Tor the farmer is an important pre-
hmlnary step in the solving of this
problem. Improvement Of the rural
SCHOOLS Is another" II continues:
IN the country districts.
There must be. more practical
agricultural instruction, better
paid teachers and better eouip-
ment, so that children will not
he withdrawn because they seem
TO make little progress. And
because of parents who them
selves lack schooling and do not
see its value for their children.
there must be enforcement of the
compulsory education laws. These
laws are frequently disregarded
In teh country districts
The high rural illiteracy rate
Is matter not only of local
but general concern. The large
number of iliterate men as
sembled in army camps in war
time called the nations attention
to the seriousness of this prob
lem. and we must not lose sight
or II in time of peace