Identifying Social and Economic Costs
What are the social and economic costs of continuing
with child labor? Check all that apply.
Some children begin working as early as age seven. Most
of them work fifty to seventy hours per week, making it
impossible for them to attend school. This puts our
country in a difficult situation. If children do not attend
school regularly, they cannot find better jobs when they
become adults. They will only earn low wages, and they
will not have as much money to spend, making it difficult
for them to improve their standard of living. This could
affect the overall economic health of the United States. In
addition, children who work all of these hours do not
have the time to be children and play. Their health begins
to decline, since they are spending the whole day in dirty
factories instead of outside in the fresh air. As president,
you need to decide if this is an issue that the government
needs or wants to take on. In the end, would eliminating
child labor improve society and the American economy?
Children cannot attend school.
Children may find it hard to improve their economic
situation.
Children have fewer health issues.
Children working now can affect the US economy
later.
Children are gaining important skills to use as
adults.