This paper reports on a study that analyzed the links between child labor and poor school performance. Using data gathered in Ghana in recent years through the administration of tests, the study measured reading achievement and mathematics achievement to about half of the individuals surveyed as part of the Ghana Living Standards Survey. The paper moves away from conventional studies on child labor and education, which tend to focus on low school enrollment and attendance. It goes further, to examine the day-to-day impact of child labor on those in school, finding that, as well as leaving children too tired to learn, child labor robs them of their interest in learning. The paper concludes that children who are already contributing economically to their family income may be less interested in academic achievement, resulting in lack of motivation that affects both their learning and their future prospects. Contains 19 notes, 5 figures, 13 tables, and 17 references. (Author/BT)