Reference no: EM133388488

Case Study: The Royal Commission highlighted the dangers of children in industrial workplaces but paid no attention to domestic child labour. But as you know from the readings this week, children's labour and its potential abuse did not only increase within industrial sites. As some children left the home to work, those left behind experienced intensified work with fewer hands to complete domestic chores.

The Bullen article addresses the work life of children in urban centres during industrialization with a particular focus on unpaid work. He writes: "Workers still found their most reliable and effective support system under their own roofs. Within this scheme, children played a critical role" (166). He also writes: "By the latter half of the 19thC, most children in Ontario enjoyed free access to public education. But this held little promise for youngsters whose economic responsibilities at home prevented regular attendance at school" (182).

Question: What were children's critical and varied work roles in industrial cities? Did all children at that time have something tangible to gain from attending school and leaving the world of work? Explain your answer. You may also wish to discuss if children today have critical work roles that encourage them to leave schooling at an early age.