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Part I of this government report addresses the problem of child labor in Kansas, which appeared to be increasing. Most of the report focuses on existing child labor laws in Kansas, statistics about child employment (broken down by county, child's age, ethnic background, etc…), and the industries that employed children. The report also addresses school attendance and truancy laws (which would effectively curb the unlawful employment of children) and includes the results of interviews with school superintendents and questionnaires filed out by those known to employ children in their businesses. School superintendents were overwhelmingly in favor of compulsory education, and most employers believed that it was important for children to understand the value of hard work (although some did speak about the benefits of school).
Creator: Kansas. Dept. of Labor and Industry
Date: January 1, 1891
Because this source is quite lengthy, it should be excerpted for student use. For instance, one or more of the charts could serve as an excellent exercise in how to interpret statistics, allowing students to understand the demographics of child laborers. Or, students could discuss employers' attitudes toward child labor and why employers were generally in favor of child labor (this would focus on pp. 63-66 of the report).
KS:11th:1.4:Child labor laws (2005)
Item Number: 211819
Call Number: SP 331 K13 1890
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 211819
Business and Industry - Agricultural Industries - Meat - Packing plants
Business and Industry - Agricultural Industries - Meat - Stockyards
Business and Industry - Automotive - Production
Business and Industry - Construction - Building materials - Brick
Business and Industry - Labor - Child labor
Business and Industry - Manufacturing
Business and Industry - Media/Communications - Newspaper
Business and Industry - Media/Communications - Printing and publishing
Business and Industry - Mining and quarrying - Coal
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Courier
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Janitors
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Laborers, general
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Sales
Business and Industry - Retail
Business and Industry - Services - Laundries
Collections - Library
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - Child labor laws (Indicator 4) - Arguments against child labor legislation
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - Child labor laws (Indicator 4) - Arguments for enforcement of existing child labor laws
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - Child labor laws (Indicator 4) - Child labor statistics
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - Child labor laws (Indicator 4) - Examples of child labor
Date - 1890s - 1891
Government and Politics - State Government - State agencies and programs - Agencies - Labor, Department of
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Report
People - Children
Thematic Time Period - Age of Reform, 1880 - 1917
Type of Material - Printed materials - Government publications - Reports
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/211819