CHILDREN \u00a0AT WAR<\/b><\/p>\n
The loss of men of military age was partly made up through the employment of boys.\u00a0 The school leaving age was 14, but in some cases magistrates were prepared to turn a blind eye to younger pupils who worked instead of attending school.\u00a0 In February 1916, the chairman of magistrates at Llanhilleth, in agreeing to ignore the case of a 13 year old who was working, declared \u201cThere is a very valuable asset in these boys between 13 and 14 years of age … They are crying out for agricultural and other labourers, and here are great strong lusty boys of this age running to waste.\u201d\u00a0 Such openly expressed contempt for education was, however, strongly criticised, with the local press pointing out that \u201cit will not be found that children of well-do-do parents will be taken from school when they are 13 years of age in order to prematurely realise their value as \u2018assets\u2019 to the country.\u00a0 Older boys replaced men in a number of occupations.\u00a0 A Blaenavon delegate to the Welsh Federation of Labour Conference in June 1916 claimed that \u201cThere are many children of 13 working ion the pits\u201d. This was not without its problems.\u00a0 The South Wales Argus<\/i> complained:\u00a0 \u201cOn every side we hear complaints about the negligence and uncouthness of Newport tram conductors.\u00a0 Many of the lads\u00a0 are insolent, most of them have very little consideration for the women , children and aged or infirm persons…\u201d<\/p>\n
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CHILDREN \u00a0AT WAR The loss of men of military age was partly made up through the employment of boys.\u00a0 The school leaving age was 14, but in some cases magistrates were prepared to turn a blind eye to younger pupils … Continue reading