Child Labor Reform Photographs

Objective Assessment


As you view each photograph take note about what you see. (note people, background, objects) Pretend you were describing the image to someone who could not see it. Try to avoid making judgments.

Where are these children? List any clues relating to their surroundings.
Describe any tools or objects you see.
Describe their clothing. What do their clothes reveal about their work?

Subjective Assessment


What questions do you have about each of these photographs?
Based on your observations, list three things you might infer about the lives of these children. (Be sure to consider Hine's notes about the photographs when considering this.


Photograph A
Objective
There is a very small, young girl standing in a narrow lane between the wall and all of the spinning equipment in a textile mill. She seems very sad and rather frightened. Her clothes look rather plain and simple and in all likelihood are probably poor quality clothes. She is alone i this narrow alley way.
Subjective
The girl does not even know her own age, she only knows that she is too young to work, but still does. It seems that she has little family or social life, because she doesn't know her own age. Her facial expression shows that she does not receive good treatment. She looks sad and frightened so clearly is subject to harsh conditions even at her young age. She seems almost mature for such a young girl, so one can assume that she endures hard work and has been forced to "grow up early."

Photograph B


Photograph C

Photograph D

Photograph E

Photograph F

Photograph G

Photograph H