Child Labor Reform Photographs

Objective Assessment


As you view each photograph take note about what you see. (note people, background, objects) Pretend you were describing the image to someone who could not see it. Try to avoid making judgments.

Where are these children? List any clues relating to their surroundings.
Describe any tools or objects you see.
Describe their clothing. What do their clothes reveal about their work?

Photograph A
-girl has messy hair
-surprised look on face
-ragged clothing
-close fitting clothing
-cotton weaving machines in background: in cotton mill
-young girl
Photograph B
-girls look angry or sad
-dirty
-hair worn up:might work around machinery
-ragged clothing
-in street:in front of building
Photograph C
-Girl is very young
-machinery on either side of her: in mill
- looks slightly angry, face set
-simple clothing:dirty
-short hair
-no shoes
Photograph D
-very young boy
-looks very sad
-wearing shoes and hat
-standing on side walk in front of light pole
-holding large pieces of paper:looks like he's trying to sell them
Photograph E
-children sitting in roes very low to the ground
-have overseers that have sticks
-overseers have very dirty faces
-people all have shoes and hats
-children seem to be sorting something
Photograph F
-workers ranging in age from around 7 or 8 to 16 or 17
-ripped clothing
-lots of pipes in room
-have shoes and hats
-people look neither happy nor sad
Photograph G
-people ranging from very young to middle age
-most have shoes
-surrounding carts while shucking oysters
-look resigned
-children with mothers
-aprons
Photograph H
-young children
-girls all wearing bonnets or other head covering
-going to work
- night time
-going into factory
-some older:late teens
Subjective Assessment


What questions do you have about each of these photographs?
Based on your observations, list three things you might infer about the lives of these children. (Be sure to consider Hine's notes about the photographs when considering this.


Photograph A
-works long hours
-hard job for little money: 48 cents an hour for working for sides
-forced to work for some reason: has to lie about her age
-does she have family?
Photograph B
-poor
-work a lot: look very tiered
-aren't treated well:look either sad or angry
Photograph C
-works hard; caption says she was "working steadily"
-large risk of injury; small near large machines
-little food: poor
Photograph D
-sad life: looks increadibly sad
-little pay;no one is using his service/buying product
-no one helps him: alone
Photograph E
-backs hurt alot: hunched over
-submissive;have and overseer that has a stick to force them to work
-sick a lot: lots of dust
Photograph F
-fairly happy: smilling
-lots of friends/help
-probably tired a lot; working at 9pm.
-why are some of them happy?
Photograph G
-little time for relaxing (babies): have to go to work with their mothers
-working most of the time: 3:30 am to 5:00 pm
-large chance of injury: get tired after all that time working
Photograph H
-always tired: work all night long
-bad family life: at least two have a father that doesn't work
-little money/food; families are poor