are taking when they begin to work in a factory without having had a chance to learn the best things in the schools, while without the consent of parents this step would be impossible. Yet, the child who goes to work in ignorance of conditions and of ultimate consequences, is by no means culpable, nor is it reasonable to describe childish ignorance as a cause of child labor.
In many families a real need exists for the wages that the child can earn, because the wage of the father is so low that he cannot support himself. In many other cases, the parents are not actively interested in the question of the school and of child labor.
"I don't believe it hurts Sam to work nights," said one father; "he's strong and he likes the work." The boy was fourteen years old. But the parent had never been taught that the growing body needs a certain quota of rest which in the average household, because of the turmoil and noise going on by day, can be secured only at night.
When a child says, "I don't want to go to school any more, I'm going to work," par-
