Factory Children: A Massachusetts Inquiry into Work and Schooling
This 1875 report explores how thousands of children were employed in mills and crafts across the Commonwealth, and how laws tried to protect their schooling. It explains the author’s plan to improve enforcement and ensure a common‑school education for every child.
This edition presents the context, the legal framework, and the practical challenges of measuring attendance, age, and hours in a sprawling and evolving industrial landscape. It also offers real‑world examples from places like Fall River and Salem to show what factory schools and half‑time programs looked like in practice, and why stronger rules and consistent enforcement were called for.
What you’ll experience
- A clear look at the laws designed to limit child labor and require schooling in 19th‑century Massachusetts
- An explanation of how officials attempted to gather accurate data across many towns and factories
- Insight into the debates over education as a tool for social and economic progress
- Observations on the interplay between industry, community attitudes, and public schooling
Ideal for readers of labor history, educational reform, and 19th‑century American industry who want a grounded view of how Massachusetts addressed child labor and education.