“Child work should not be abolished, or even merely tolerated. It should be welcomed and encouraged How far do you agree with this view?”

This essay will look at child work and the changes that have taken place in relation to the development of legislation over the last 200 years, in particular in the UK, it will briefly outline the 1833 Factory Act and its main points set to protect children from long hours at work. It will also attempt to analyse the changing attitudes to children working and evaluate the argument for children being active members of the workforce with duties and responsibilities. It will evaluate the argument that it was not only necessary but also beneficial for children to work in pre industrial Britain. It will look at the opinions of various people and professionals who express views that child labour was of no significant harm to children welfare and the reasons why they believe this to be true….(short extract)