The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-05-02
BY Katharine F. LenrOtt, Chief
Children's Bureau, U S. Depart.
Ynenk NJ I,ahOP

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Children's Bureau, U IS. Depart.
maent Of Labor
One Of the most serious aspects
of the entire child-labor situation
Is the part-time employment of
school boys and girls. In one war
production center. where the Chill
dren's Bureau looked into the en-
ployment Of students in the junior
and senior high schools, every other
one Of those over is was employed
and one out Of four Of the IA and
15-year Odds. In the still younger
group, those under II In junior
high. one out Of i've reported him
self as working for wages.
Some, we found, were putting in
combined work and school week
Of 70 hours. Others were working
full shift on school days, some
times staying on the job far into
the night. Night work was COM
mon, although in this instance pro-
hibited by law after p. m. for chill
dren under 10. Some were working
both Saturdays and Sundays as well
as weekdays.
The findings should surprise no
one for they are but multiplied
ton Of the tally of boys and girls
in ones own block and those down
the street who have got Jobs for
themselves and gone to work. These
young people deserve great deal
of credit for their eagerness and
their zest and many Of them are
managing somehow under the
double load. But. on the other
hand. many are losing out both in
school and on the job. Teachers
complain and employers complain.
One says Johnny sleeps through his
classes. The other says Johnny has
no interest in the job. And in
time Johnny, who started out with
such high hopes, Is out OF school
and out Of a Job, and between Jobs
marks time on street corners until
such time as the Army gets him.
Mary. likely as not. has Jared little
better.
These are the boys and girls who
wanted to take advantage of the
opportunity to earn money suddenly
open to them. Their Astounding en-
ergy In many, many cases has been
wasted and their schooling has been
sacrificed. They have been left to
founder, half-educated, unframed
and undisciplined, and then we
wonder why some OF them get into
trouble.
This waste OF boy.power ard girl
power was and Is needless. The
government agencies concerned
have agreed that the naanpoWer
situation at no time warranted maxi
ing such inFoads into the schools
and does not now warrant drawing
upon that reserve TO the limits II Is
being tapped.
For the current situation, with
this unprecedented employment OF
youth still In school, ehIld-laboF
laws are yoefully inadequate. Only
one state, California, limits eoFa-
blned hours Of work and school for
students 10 and II years old, and
only 3 have similar restrictions for
minors under i6.
Even without the force of law be-
hind as, much can yet be done and
should be done 10 obtain voluntary
adherence 10 part-time standards
for the employment Of school youth
70 the end that the efforts OF our
young people can be made 10 count
for themselves and their eommnni.
ties,
What the chlldFeB's DuEeau rec
ommends jointly with the War
Aappoger Commission and the y.
8. Once Of Education Is that when
tnsschool youth must be employed,
. limit should be placed upon work.
lng hours, 20 that the goTk Win not
~ done 20 ule detTlIne0t u the
Students health or his pregFass ~
school N general, students under
e cannot successfully carry 9 com.
bsned school and woFk program Of
more than hours 4 day: over any
considerable period. shorter hours
o. work may be necessary for many
because Of travel. study require
ments, o. the students health.
For the ie- and J7-yeaF-old
eroups aaflv heuEs a. empl0ymsnt