Thesis Statement and Outline

This research will examine and analyse the situation and conditions of working children in the agricultural labour force of the United States, to find what social progress has to be made in order to protect children against any form of exploitation or harmful labour enhanced with examples from Quebec situations, which may have negative physical or psychological consequences on them.

I. Minimum Age Standard

A. Federal standard
1. Non-agricultural employment
2. Agricultural Employment
3. Hazardous work

B. Federal standard violation consequences
1. On family farms
2. On commercial farms

II. Work conditions

A. Hours of work on a school day
1. Non-agricultural employment
2. Agricultural employment
3. Consequences on children

B. Health and safety risks
1. Pesticides exposure and consequences
2. Sanitation requirements and violations

III. Education

A. Compulsory school attendance

B. Poverty, constant move and long hours of work consequences

IV. Social progress

A. Regulations and improvements regarding the minimum age standard

B. Regulations and improvements regarding education

C. Regulations and improvements regarding the work conditions

Appendix 1: Hazardous occupations
Appendix 2: Personal protective equipment requirements to handle pesticides
Appendix 3: Organophosphate pesticides
Appendix 4: Field sanitation requirements
Appendix 5: Compulsory school attendance