The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-04-09
GUIDES TO YOUTH
employment
ON FARMS

ion FAkmS
The Children's Bureau, with the ap
proval of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, the United States
Office of Education, the War Man
power Commission, and the Office Of
Civilian Defense, has issued bulle
tin entitled Guides to Successful EN-
ployment of Non-Farm Youth in War
time Agriculture" which is based on
the experience in the use of non-farm
youth on farms during 1912. These
guides are designed to help commun
titles plan for setting up agriculture
programs that will satisfy the farmer,
the young people. and their parents.
Experience has shown that the best
results in employing non-farm youth
are obtained if boys and girls are
selected who are old enough and suffi-
GENTLY well developed physically to
work efficiently and without undue
strain. To achieve this the following
recruitment practices are recon-
mended:
l. Minimum age of IA years if the
young worker lives at home and goes
to work by the day.
2. Minimum age of 16 years if the
young worker lives away from his
family in farm home or work camp
Except when the work is part of a
camp program conducted by recog-
nized youth-serving agency that pro-
vides close supervision, minimum
age of IA years is suitable)
3. Age proved by documentary evil
dence of date of birth or school rec
ord.
4. Written consent of parents.
5. Physical fitness for the job.
physical examinations should be
given wherever possible. When this
is not possible, school health records
should be consulted)
Inexperienced young people need
training and contin
ued supervision on the job if they are
to meet the farmers labor needs salts
factorily
When young inexperienced workers
are employed in groups, they should
be placed in charge of a leader, re-
cruited from among the teachers and
older students, or youth-serving or
a youth organization. They should
be under the direction of a central SUI
Dervisor responsible for the entire
project. Working conditions suited to
The immaturity of the young worker
must be provided to help to make him
Useful to the farmer Careful observ-
ince of the following standards will
90 far toward gaining community sup
port for the program, and the coop |
grafton of young people and their par
snts:
l. Not more than hours of work |
! day; for children IA and Is not more |
han 6 hours a day is desirable. Not
more than days of work a week.
Some variations may have to be al
owed for older youth who live in
arm homes and are employed as gen
raj farm hands.)
2. Shorter hours during the first
ew days of work to permit inexperi-
,nced workers to get used to the
work.
3. Lunch and rest periods.
4. Same wages - whether piece or
ourly rates-as those paid to older
workers for the same type
nd amount of work.
5. Prompt payment of wages in
ash at times agreed upon.
6. Sanitary toilet and washing ia
ilities available to young workers
yhile at work.
7. Adequate supply of drinking wa
er from approved sources available
q the field.
8. Farm equipment in good working
rder
8. Training in safe methods of work
10. Assignment of work involving !
he handling of animals, tractors, ma /
hinery and dangerous tools and i'm
lements only to older youth trained
l their safe use.
IL. Supervision on the job by per !
ons trained in safe work methods.
IL. Provision of first aid and med :
al care in case of injury while at
'ork
10. Payment of expenses in case Of
Jury while at work. (Coverage by
orkmen's compensation insurance !
Mould be encouraged wherever posi-
Ie.) /,
IA. Transportation to and from
DIRK only in vehicles in safe mechan- 5
al condition and maintained in full
,mpliance with state laws and regu- I
tions. Buses and automobiles are
'eferable to trucks; where trucks
q used, sides, rear, and front should
, enclosed and seats should be pro-
ded. Steps for getting in and out
i'll reduce accidents
Is. Avoidance of over-crowding in
,hicles.
16. Training of young workers in (
fe conduct and supervision by lead :
s during transit to prevent acct 8
nts.
IL. Vehicles driven by responsible x
:ensed adults who follow safe driv- :
g practices. Z
IS. Coverage by adequate liability 3
surance
Good living conditions and oppor- &
nifty for good times in work camps 8
d in farm homes are important in 3
ducing turnover, keeping up morale, y
d in making efficient workers. 8
Living accommodations in work 3
mps should conform to good camp 3
3 standards of health, safety, sani- 8