Apathy and Ignorance Perpetuate the Horror

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Exploitation Through Child Labor
Apathy and Ignorance Perpetuate the Horror


Activism and Education Can End It.
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The faces of child labor PAST
www.nara.gov/education/education/cc/hine.htm
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JUST TWO OF THE MANY TRAGEDIES
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire, 1911 125 girls
dead. Some burned to death some jumped to their
deaths. They were locked in to prevent theft. In
1993, a fire at Kadar Industrial Toy Company in
Thailand, killed 188 workers they were also
locked in with no fire protection or equipment.
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The face of child labor PRESENT
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Those pictures were of children in foreign
countries and child labor is common overseas. But
many of those children work to make goods sold by
US companies, goods that you purchase everyday
such as soccer balls, sneakers, clothing, and
toys. It is a myth that child labor
has been eliminated in America in three days in
1990, 500 inspectors found 7000 illegally
employed children in the US. They work in
garment factories, fast food chains, on our
farms,and elsewhere.
Access this site for more information on child
labor in America
http//members.aol.com/hta/munmei/labor.html/
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More Shameful Statistics

• 1924 a constitutional amendment on child labor
  was proposed only 28 of the necessary 36 states
  ratified it.
• 1970s researchers reported 1000s of under age
  farm workers, some as young as 4 years old.
• 1980 United Farm Workers Union estimates 800,000
  
• underage children work harvesting crops.
• 1991 Schumer Lantos introduced a bill to
  Congress to mandate change in the laws. It was
  not acted upon.
• 1996 more than 250,000 kids work illegally
  according to AP series.
• 1997 study by US General shows 250 increase in
  violations between 83 90.
• 1999 Interstate Labor Standards Ass. Finds
  children as young as 8 are transported around the
  country to peddle goods door-to-door. These
  children are often sexually assaulted, and/or
  deserted.

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Positionality Statement Both of my parents grew
up in Pennsylvania coal county. My grandfather
and my uncle were both taken out of school when
they were 8 to work in the mines. The principal
went to their parent in tears and begged them to
let the boys stay and realize their potential. I
remember my uncle saying that he was so little
that his lunch pail dragged on the ground. My
grandmother left school after third grade to work
in the silk mill.
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Positionality cond.
As a mother and a pre-service teacher, I
passionately advocate the enforcement of human
rights, especially those of children. I find the
fact that child labor still exists to be
appalling and unconscionable. I strongly believe
that the action of a single person as well as the
concerted action of many can make a significant
difference in social policy. I intend to get this
message through to my students.
Being a spectator is not an ethical response to
social injustice.
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Positionality of Students
As a teacher, I would have
considered the positionality of my students
before initiating this lesson. As sixth graders,
they would only vaguely be able to relate,
through photographs, to the existence of child
labor in the past and in foreign countries. By
making them aware of its existence in present-day
America, I would increase the chances that they
would be motivated to get involved because it
then becomes an issue close to home. By
exposing the involvement of major corporations
whose products they consume, and the celebrities
that endorse them, I would further strengthen the
relatability-factor. Finally, introducing them
to an actual teenager who has made a remarkably
significant difference would illustrate that kids
their age do have the power to initiate social
change through activism.
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Detailed Description During this unit, students
will explore the history, causes, and
ramifications of child labor in this century.
They will be made aware of the fact that American
corporations are very much involved in its
perpetuation. Students will also be informed of
the avenues of activism that are available to
them as responsible citizens. They will come to
realize through the example of Craig Kielburger,
that 12 year olds do have the power to make a
difference. This lesson is meant to be used as a
springboard from which students will be motivated
to find other social causes that they feel
passionately enough about to become involved in.
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THEME Activism against exploitation. As morally
responsible citizens of the global community, all
human beings have a responsibility to overcome
ignorance and apathy by getting involved in an
active effort to orchestrate positive change in
the area of human rights. All that is necessary
for evil to survive is for good people to stand
by and do nothing.
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Issues Child labor, past, present, future, at
home, and abroad. Triangle Shirtwaist Company
fire of 1911 killed 125 girls because they were
locked in to prevent theft. Kadar Industrial Toy
Company fire of 1993 kills 188 workers in
Thailand also locked in with no fire exits.
http//www.global march.org/child_labor_today/inde
x.html
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RATIONALE Students need to be awakened from
their social boredom and be made aware of the
appalling situations that exist in the world
today. The topic of human rights violations, as
it relates specifically to the exploitation of
children, is an ideal starting point at which to
motivate student involvement. They also need to
know that it is a problem that can be and has
been improved upon one person can make a
difference. This lesson can then be used as a
springboard for activism in other social issues.
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Activity 1 Access this web page and complete
the activities. Make a journal entry about your
feelings.
http//us.ilo.org/ilokids/day.html
This interactive site asks kids to fill out their
daily schedule and then show them the schedule
of three real kids (named) who have been forced
to do child labor. It also has links explaining
child labor specific to interests of the US, as
well an example of wages, lists of goods, ideas
of actions, and other International Labor
Organization links for kids.
Activity 2 Choose one of the children in the
previous photographs. Write a diary entry
depicting a day in your life.
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• Activity 3 Write a poem, essay or short story
  that expresses how you feel about the issue of
  child labor.

Michael Jordan soars through the air On shoes of
unpaid labor. A boy kicks a soccer ball, the
bloody hands are forgotten An excited girl combs
the hair of her Barbie, An overworked girl makes
it. A child receives a teddy bear, Made in China
has no meaning. The words hand made are
printed, Whose hands were used to make them? A
six year old in America start his first day of
school A six year old in Pakistan starts his
first day of work. They want us to see the ball,
not to see the millions of ball stichers. The
world is full of many masks, The hardest part is
seeing beneath them.
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Critical Thinking Parents, vocational
counselors, employers, and kids themselves claim
that there are positive aspects of children in
the workplace. They say that jobs develop
responsibility, discipline and teamwork. Jobs can
also bridge the transition from childhood to
maturity, teacher new skills, and how to organize
time. If you have a variety of jobs while you are
young, it can shape your choice of how to make a
living in the future. A good employer can be a
mentor, and a job well done strengthens your
confidence and pride. Your earnings can be used
for savings or to help support your family. At
the present time in American baseball stadiums,
bat boys and girls, ages9-13, are working an
average of 6 hours (often until midnight) for
4.00 a game. Some say its fun, an honor, and
that it encourages good health and character.
The situation is under study by Congress so
far no action has been taken. Discuss this in
your groups, take a stance for or against and be
prepared to defend your position.
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ROLE MODEL?
                                         

• Kielburger, Craig1982 --Craig Kielburger is the
  16 year old founder of Free the Children, an
  international children's organization in more
  than 20 countries, whose mission is to free
  children from poverty and exploitation and to
  empower young people to become leaders in their
  communities, nationally and internationally.

http//www.freethechildren.org/
 
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ROLE MODEL?

• Wednesday, May 5, 2000
• Tiger Woods joins in actors' strike against TV,
  radio commercial industry
• LOS ANGELES (AP) Tiger Woods is on strike.
• Not as a golfer, but as a highly paid Nike
  pitchman.
• Woods has joined the strike by TV and radio
  commercial actors by refusing to film an
  advertisement for the sportswear and sporting
  goods manufacturer.

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Activity 4 On the previous slides are two
young men who have taken a stand against child
labor. Write a persuasive essay to convince your
audience why one is to be commended more than the
other.
http//www.freethechildren.org/ftcinfo_leadership.
htm
http//www.saigon.come/nike/news/lausd.htm
Activity 5 Choose a company that has
been implicated in the use of child labor. Write
a letter to the CEO stating your stance on the
issue.
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Assessment Students will be assessed throughout
using a participation rubric for activities and
discussions. Writing activities will also be
graded through the use of a rubric which will
measure knowledge of the subject area as well as
strength of expression.
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead