In my Level 1 class we’re studying the Gilded Age and some of its reform movements. One of the things that came out of that period was a focus on Labor laws. Particularly the hours that children worked.

What’s curious is to compare how the United States was in the past, how it is today, and how other countries enforce (or don’t enforce) their own child labor laws.

And, given that we live in a global community (where do your shoes come from?), what – if any – responsibility we have as Americans to the rest of the world.

So I’m putting this excellent video essay out there. A warm up of the day. Let’s discuss this in class.