CHILD LABOUR ON THE LAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2783, 30 May 1916, Page 8

CHILD LABOUR ON THE LAND

OVEII 8000 EXEMPTIONS FROM SCHOOL. A new circular lias teen issued by the British Board of Education to the local authorities on the subject of tlto exemption of children from school attendance for 'tho purposes of agricultural employment. A return dated January 81, lDlli, taken at a time of year when the uuniber of children excused might have been expected to be at a minimum, shows that over 8000 children are being excused. It must be remembered that the exemptions under the usual by-laws havo greatly increased, and that consequently tho figure of 8000 docs not lepresent the total accession to the number of children <rf school age employed on tho land. In nine counties, Cheshire, Scilly, Holland, Kesteven, Isle of Wight, the \Vcst Hiding of Yorkshire, Carnarvon, Denbigh, and Monmouth no exemptions are reported. Authorities, .in considering whether other labour available, should first see whether women can be employed, and should not sanction 'the employment of children where this is the case. If local education authorities thought it proper to oxcuse girls of 13 and even 12 years of age from attendance at schools on days or half-days in order to, look after tho homo ond care for tho younger children, while the mother was working on the land, the board would regard cases of this kind as falling within the spirit of their earlier instruction. In cases of this kind they hope 'that every elfort will be made for the girls so excused to attend the instruction in cookery and domestic subjects. In conclusion', it is urged that Children under 12. should never be excused unless'in very exceptional circumstances, nnd only for short periods. Employer# should be required to satisfy tho authority that they have made every elfort, supported by the offer of reasonable wages, to secure tho necessary labour. If 'a boy of school age is not worth at least Us. a week to the farmer, it is not worth while to interrupt his education. A register of exemptions should be kept and reviewed at intervals. The Education Committee should exercisc direct control of exemptions, which should not be delegated'in its entirety to district committees cr to school attendance officers.