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ERIC Number: ED002655
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1963-Sep
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
MIGRANT CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
WYCKOFF, FLORENCE R.
A MIGRANT CHILD IS DEFINED AS A MEMBER OF A FAMILY OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WHO MUST TRAVEL A GREAT DISTANCE TO WORK. THE WORKERS FOLLOW A SEASONAL COURSE, OFTEN THROUGH SEVERAL STATES, AND RETURN HOME AFTER THE CROP SEASON IS OVER. THERE ARE ABOUT 415,000 MIGRANT CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 1960 THE MIGRANT FARM WORKER EARNED AN AVERAGE OF $19.00 PER WEEK. FORCED BY ECONOMIC NECESSITY TO TRAVEL, THE MIGRANT CHILD MOVES FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL. HE FALLS BEHIND IN HIS SCHOOL STUDIES AND THUS FALLS BELOW HIS NORMAL GRADE LEVEL. EXTREME MOBILITY COUPLED WITH LOW INCOME PRODUCES A SERIES OF HANDICAPS FOR THE MIGRANT CHILD. POOR HEALTH, POOR NUTRITION, POOR HOUSING, NOT ENOUGH TIME IN SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY REJECTION ALL AFFECT HIM. SETTLEMENT AT HOME BASE, WHERE RELATIONSHIPS TO AN ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY CAN OCCUR, IS ENCOURAGED. STABILITY IN THE CHILD'S FAMILY CAN BE HELPED BY INTRODUCING AN ORDERLY SYSTEM INTO THE PRESENT CHAOTIC SITUATION IN DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF FARM LABOR. THIS REQUIRES GIVING THE FARM WORKER STEADY WORK, AND GIVING THE FARMER A DEPENDABLE SUPPLY OF LABOR WHEN AND WHERE HE NEEDS TI. EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ADAPT COMMUNITY SERVICES TO MEET THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS OF THE MIGRANT CHILD. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FARMERS, FARM WORKERS, AND OPERATING PERSONNEL IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO AVOID FRICTION AND TO AVOID WASTING EFFORTS REGARDING THE NEEDS OF THE MIGRANT CHILDREN. A COOPERATIVE EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO UP-GRADE THE SKILLS AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF MIGRATORY FARM WORKERS AND THEIR CHILDREN.
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Committee for Children and Youth, Washington, DC.
Identifiers - Location: District of Columbia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A