The Sadler Report
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS / LESSON 7.8 ACTIVITYTHE SADLER REPORTUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “The Sadler Report”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeThis activity will allow you to take on roles in a reenactment of the parliamentary inquiry into child labor that took place during the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. By doing so, you’ll be able to develop deeper understanding of the impact of industrialization on children, as well as the significance of the legislation that improved their treatment and position as workers.Process 1.Read “The Sadler Report.” You might read this independently, or your teacher may ask some students to read aloud. As you read or listen, think about the following questions from the perspective of each of the types of people in the first column. (Review the table below first so you know what you’re answering in advance.)PerspectiveQuestion NotesMember of Parliament (MP) •What do you think life is like for children who work in the factory? •What type of legislation will most help child workers? •Many MPs have a financial stake in factories, so how might these MPs respond to legislation that could affect child labor in factories?Factory workers (children and adults) •What were working conditions like in the factories? •At what age did children begin working in factories? •How long was the workday? •What were the punishments for poor work or falling asleep on the job?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS / LESSON 7.8 ACTIVITYTHE SADLER REPORT22.Next, your teacher will give you or your group a role. Circle the role below:Member of ParliamentChild factory workerAdult factory workerFactory ownerUnion member3.Write a piece of legislation to protect child laborers, based on your assigned role. Think about how someone in this position would write legislation to protect child laborers. For example, if you’re a factory worker, you would obviously want laws to help improve working conditions. But if you’re a factory owner, you might want to create legislation with minimal protections for laborers because more regulation generally means less profit. Respond to the guiding questions below to craft your legislation. Use your notes above and the legislation outline below to write your legislation.PerspectiveQuestion NotesFactory owner•Why was it necessary to hire children and require long working hours?Union member•How might a union and collective bargaining benefit you and other workers like you?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS / LESSON 7.8 ACTIVITYTHE SADLER REPORT3Legislation outline •What aspects of child labor would you like to see changed?•Do you think all these changes will be accepted by Parliament? Explain your reasoning. If you don’t think all these changes will be accepted, how might you craft your legislation so that the MPs will accept it?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS / LESSON 7.8 ACTIVITYTHE SADLER REPORT4•How will your proposed changes improve the working conditions of children in factories?•Write an introductory paragraph for your legislation outlining the problem and the reforms that should be made.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS / LESSON 7.8 ACTIVITYTHE SADLER REPORT5•Provide a bulleted list of the specific changes you would like to include in your legislation.