Hello ma’am. We are juniors currently attending Alexander Hamilton High school, class of 19’, We live in a small, diverse community known as Elmsford, located on the outskirts of New York City. Our community is one that is considerably tight-knit and our school is even more unified. In our classrooms, particularly U.S History, our discussions regarding humanity and its morals and history as one are common as a result of our ability to converse openly and honestly. Recently, the focus of our discussion is based on the historical problems facing laborers and employers during both the 19th century and now. In regards to the discussion, we are interested in providing to you our most studious solutions to these issues that as Americans, we wish to address full-heartedly.
In the 19th century, manual labor was done in conditions unthinkable in today's world. Labourers were often kept in restricted spaces with toxins, dangerous machinery, and an inexplicably high temperature. These labourers would work these low paying jobs with hours ranging from dusk to dawn. Although history is history, we firmly believe that there were clear solutions to these issues such as ventilation systems, modifying the mechanics of the machinery, and regulation of working hours and pay. Like what we have today, modifying the machines model could’ve reduced injuries and deaths in the workplace and reduced liability by allowing the new technology to be more safe and inclined to produce without an operator. Also, ventilation systems would’ve allowed workers to produce more in a safe, comfortable environment, benefiting both the worker and the employer/business. Lastly, easily comparable to today’s businesses, wages and working hours should’ve been regulated. What we mean by this is that these workers who were in horrendous working conditions should have received a higher pay and worked less hours so that they would be able to provide for their family’s at home. In summary, employers were blinded by their own personal greed and failed to see that hundreds, if not million of workers were not making a livable wage and worked in conditions that could easily get them hurt and even killed. By including things like a ventilation system, safer machineries, and a proper working space in general, workers would’ve never suffered like how they did during this time period.
Knowing the prevention that could’ve been done regarding the workplace in the 19th century, we should be more affirmative in initiating change in today’s work industry. A prime example of this is child labor in the United States. Although numbers have been reduced since the 19th century, we believe that this is an issue that should be fixed regardless of numbers. A teen’s integrity in today’s world is already being stripped due to drugs, gangs, unstable households, etc. Why should we commence a sort of foundation and allow businesses to also strip children of their overall childhood. Once an adolescent is exposed to the workforce, their identity is trifled with, not to mention the conditions of these sorts of workplaces. As mentioned previously, the treatment of workers in the 19th century is clear to be heinous and that was only with adults. Why should we expose the next generation of leaders with the same kind of treatment such as exhaustion, injury, and possible death? We, propose the possible solution to this being stricter laws that prevent children working in the United States. Although we do acknowledge that some things can happen behind the scenes, the law should crack down on these business owners and prevent them from letting this happen furthermore. Please consider our solutions and help us to make a change in not only our tight-knit community of Elmsford, but of our country as a whole.

Sincerely,


Alicia Scully
Esthalin Jara