Child Labor Push In Iowa Forgets Our History By Todd Dorman

Is child labor really making its way back into Iowa? This is the question that Todd Dorman, a staff writer for The Gazette asks in his opinion piece titled, “Child Labor Push in Iowa Forgets our History”. In the article, Dorman discussed newly introduced bills that would pull back restrictions on teenage workers in Iowa. These bills would allow 14 to 17-year-olds to be hired for new jobs that were previously unavailable to them. While some people would see this as a great opportunity for the teenage population, Dorman raised concerns about the safety that a small portion of these jobs lacks. For example, if these new bills pass legislation, teenagers of the aforementioned ages would be able to work in manufacturing or construction. Those are two occupations that are currently unavailable to teens due to concerns over the safety of minors. The targeted audience in this article would

The use of statistics and data allows the readers to acknowledge the problem through clear margins. “After an educational campaign launched in 1905, stronger limits on child labor did pass the Legislature in 1906. Permitted work hours for workers under 16 were set at 12 hours daily”(Dorman). Explaining the history of child labor in Iowa and the lack of restrictions that were previously upheld helps the readers think about how different child labor laws were in the past, and why these restrictions were put into place. Dorman used dialect that makes him appear knowledgeable and intelligent. This made it easier for the readers to trust Dorman’s point of view. A few rhetorical devices are used throughout the article. For example, “Perhaps when the bill passes a street urchin with a stack of newspapers can yell “Extra! Extra!” Too much?”(Dorman). The use of this rhetorical question puts the matter at hand into perspective for the readers. Dorman used Logos strongly throughout the article but he also used pathos