Child Labor: To labor so soon after birth?

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A WebQuest for 6th Grade (Communication Arts)

Designed by

Jonathan C Schleifer
mrschleifer@teacher.com

Introduction:

As an advocate for children you will be looking at how children are forced to do dangerous work, from farming to sneaker manufacturing. You will investigate how their work changes their lives so that it is different from yours. Then you will investigate some of the laws are protecting these children and decide if they are good enough or should be changed.

Task:

You will develop a strategy for changing these laws and advocating on their behalf. You may choose to approach the government and write a letter to your congressman or the President. Or you can approach the companies that are taking advantage of child labor. Or you can approach other people in the community and organize a boycott. Depending on which strategy you choose you will probably use the World Wide Web, email, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Publisher.

Process & Resources: (please check each box R as you complete it.)

q You will be assigned a partner to work with.

Step 1:

q With your partner you will print worksheet 1 and read it over it will help you clearly define of the problem- Worksheet 1.

q Read the following World Wide Web page and answer the questions on worksheet 1. Only parts of the page will help you answer this question so read carefully.

" http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_q&a.html

" http://www.hrw.org/children/labor.htm

Step 2:

q With your partner you will print the following worksheet and read it will help you collect evidence - Worksheet 2.

q Read the following World Wide Web pages and answer the questions on worksheet 2.

" http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_realstories_iqbal.html

" http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_realstories_rosie.html

" http://www.hrw.org/children/labor.htm

" http://www.nikebiz.com/labor/ch_find.shtml

" http://www.nikebiz.com/labor/history_l.shtml

Step 3:

q With your partner you will print the following worksheet and read it will help you identify the causes of the problem - Worksheet 3.

q Read the following World Wide Web pages and answer the questions on worksheet 3. Only parts of the pages will help you answer this question so read carefully.

" http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_q&a.html

" http://www.hrw.org/children/labor.htm

" http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_factsmyths.html

Step 4:

q With your partner you will print the following worksheet and read it will help you to evaluate current public policies - Worksheet 4.

q Read the following World Wide Web pages and answer the questions on worksheet 4.

" http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/regs/compliance/whd/whdfs43.htm

" http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/farmchild/index.htm

" http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/farmchild/failure.htm

Step 5:

q With your partner you will print the following worksheet and read it will help you to develop your own public policies – Worksheet 5

q Read the following World Wide Web pages and answer the questions on worksheet 5.

Step 6:

q With your partner you will print the following worksheet and it will help you to choose the best solution – Worksheet 6.

q Read the following World Wide Web pages and answer the questions on worksheet 6.

Now that you have chosen the best solution you must take action.

q Decide which of the three actions is best for your solution. You may need to use one, two, or all three. (Check R the options that you will do)

q 1. Government: Write or email your Congressman and the President.

q 2. Industry: Write or email the CEO and/or President of a company that uses child labor.

q 3. Community: Develop a campaign to educate your community and perhaps organize a boycott.

Evaluation:

	Excellent 4	Good 3 (needs more work)	Satisfactory 2(needs a lot more work)	Unacceptable 1 (needs to be redone)
1. Define the problem	Scholar stated the problem clearly and with some detail.	Scholar stated the problem but without detail.		Scholar did not state the problem.
	Scholar identified the correct specific community location.	Scholar did not identify the correct specific community location.		Scholar did not identify any specific community location.
	Scholar identified three undesirable social conditions that result from this problem	Scholar identified two undesirable social conditions that result from this problem	Scholar identified one undesirable social conditions that result from this problem	Scholar did not identify any undesirable social conditions that result from this problem
2.Gathering evidence of the problem	Scholar presents three pieces of evidence that a problem exists.	Scholar presents two pieces of evidence that a problem exists.	Scholar presents one pieces of evidence that a problem exists.	Scholar does not present any evidence that a problem exists.
3. Identify the causes of the problem	Scholar listed three or more underlying factors that contribute to the problem. (Scholar has included evidence.)	Scholar listed less than three underlying factors that contribute to the problem. (Scholar has included evidence.)	Scholar listed less than three underlying factors that contribute to the problem. (Scholar has not included evidence.)	Scholar has not listed any underlying factors that contribute to the problem. (Scholar has not included evidence.)
4. Evaluating existing public policies	Scholar has stated one of the major existing policies that attempts to deal with the social problem.			Scholar has not stated one of the major existing policies that attempts to deal with the social problem.
	Scholar identified two or more advantages of this policy.	Scholar identified one of the advantages of this policy.		Scholar identified two or more advantages of this policy
	Scholar identified two or more disadvantages of this policy.	Scholar identified one of the disadvantages of this policy.		Scholar identified two or more disadvantages of this policy.
	Scholar has stated whether the policy should be replaced, strengthened, or improved and supported their answer.	Scholar has stated whether the policy should be replaced, strengthened, or improved but did not support their answer.		Scholar has not stated whether the policy should be replaced, strengthened, or improved.
5. Developing public policy solutions	Scholar has proposed at least three new/original public policy alternatives. (Scholar must elaborate on their new/original policies)	Scholar has proposed two new/original public policy alternatives. (Scholar must elaborate on their new/original policies)	Scholar has proposed one new/original public policy alternatives. (Scholar must elaborate on their new/original policy)	Scholar has not proposed new/original public policy alternatives.
Selecting the best public policy solution	Scholar has chosen between the alternative policies they created and defended their choice.	Scholar has chosen between the alternative policies they created but did not defend their choice.		Scholar has not chosen between the alternative policies they created.

Conclusion:

By now, you have read about the individual experiences of child laborers, reviewed the current laws as they relate to child labor, and judged whether they are effective. Additionally, you should have taken some action as the result of your conclusion such as writing to a law maker or organizing a boycott.

Take Action!

Image Sources:

http://www.freethechildren.org/campaigns/cl_us.html

www.savethechildren.org

http://www.nara.gov/education/cc/hine.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5232