Children for Hire: The Perils of Child Labor in the United States: Marvin J. Levine
Review
“Levine makes it clear that the employment of children is not illegal in most cases, and he reviews the vast body of legislation at both the national and state level designed to protect the education and the safety of children….Levine does a good job of describing the legislation, discussing the abuses, and explaining the difficulties in policing the violations….Recommended. Public and academic library collections, lower-division undergraduate and up.”–
“Levine traces the treatment of children in sweatshop, agricultural, retail, and service work in the United States roughly from the 1930s to the present, making it clear that child-labor problems persist to this day….Levine brings a distressing story to the attention of a broad audience, including academics, policymakers, and the general public. Starred Review An important work about a hidden social problem.”–
“Documents a growing problem of illegal child labor in the United States and a laxity in the enforcement of federal regulations.”–
Levine explains that since 1981, there has been a relaxation in enforcement of federal child labor law provisions in America. He presents the complicated elements and troubling implications of the problem, focusing especially on matters of occupational health and safety.