Sharing the Earth is a collection of justice-oriented environmental writings. In this lesson, we will read an excerpt from the speech of Lord Ashley which he delivered in 1842. We will read three testimonies collected by Lord Ashley's commission that investigated a serious accident at Huskar Colliery, Yorkshire in 1838. During Iris investigation, he interviewed a large number of people working in Britain's factories and mines. Through the interviews, inhuman working conditions in the collieries, severe exploitations, and a worrying number of child labourers were revealed. The working conditions of these children were inhumane. Lord Ashley found very young children working as long as eighteen hours a day in mines and collieries, some attached by chains to heavy carts that they had to drag.
Three testimonies gathered by Ashley’s Mines Commission are given below:
Sarah Goodler, Age: 8 years.
'I'm a trapper* in the Gawber pit. It docs not tire me, but I have a trap without a light and I'm scared. I go at four and sometimes half past three in the morning, and I come out at five and half past. I never go to sleep. Sometimes I sing when I've light, but not in the dark; I dare not sing then. I don’t like being in the pit. I am very sleepy when I go sometimes in the morning."
"I go to Sunday schools and read Reading made Easy." She knows her letters, and can read little words. They teach me to pray. She repeated the Lord's Prayer, not very perfectly, and ran on with the following addition: “God bless my father and mother, and sister and brother, uncles and aunts and cousins, and everybody else, and God bless me and make me a good servant. Amen.” “I have heard tell of Jesus many a time. 1 don't know why he came on earth, I'm sure, and I don't know why he died, but he had stones for his head to rest on. I would like to be at school far better than in the pit.”
[’Trapper- The trapper in the coal mine was often the youngest member of the family working underground. Their job was to open and close the wooden doors (trap doors) that allowed fresh air to flow through the mine. They would usually sit in total darkness for up to twelve hours at a time, waiting to let the coal tub through the door.]
Isabella Read, Age: 12 years.
I am wrought with sister and brother, it is very sore work: cannot say how many rakes or journeys I make from pit's bot tom to wall face and back, it may about 30 or 25 on average; the distance varies from 100 to 250 fathom ( 1 fathom - 1.8 meters).
1 carry about l ewt. (equivalent of 50kg) and a quarter on my back; have to stoop much and creep through water, which is frequently up to the calves of my legs. Once I get down. I frequently fall asleep while wailing for coal from heal and fatigue. I do not like the work, nor do the lassies, but (hey arc made to like it. When the weather is warm there is difficulty in breathing, and frequently the lights go out.
Man Barrett, Age: 14 years.
I have worked down in pit for five years; my father works in the next pit: I have 12 brothers and sisters-all of them but one live at home; they weave, and wind, and hurry, one of them can read, none of die rest, can, or write; they never went to the day-school, but three of them go to Sunday-school; I come down in the pit at seven in the morning; I do not like working in the pit, but I am obliged to get a living; 1 work always without stockings, or shoes, or trousers; 1 wear nothing but my chemise; I have to go up and work with the men. They are all naked there; I have got well used to that, and don't care much about it now; I was afraid at first, and did not like it; but they never behave rudely to me.
Answer the following questions:
a. What is your impression about these three children’s education?
b. Why were they afraid?
c. What was their working condition like?
d. How do you feel about their living situation?
a. What is your impression about these three children’s education?
The education of these children was extremely limited. Sarah Goodler, at eight years old, was learning to read small words and attended Sunday school. However, she was unaware of the purpose of Jesus' life and death, showing a lack of deeper education. Isabella Read, at twelve, had no formal education beyond basic work and could not describe how many rakes or journeys she made while working, highlighting her focus on labor rather than learning. Man Barrett's situation was similar: he worked with his family in the pit and was not able to attend school regularly, with only three of his siblings going to Sunday school. Overall, their education was overshadowed by the harsh working conditions they faced, limiting their chances for a better future.
b. Why were they afraid?
The children were afraid for various reasons related to their dangerous working environments. Sarah Goodler, for instance, was scared because she worked in total darkness, with no light, which made the job terrifying. Isabella Read experienced fear due to the hazardous conditions of her work, such as carrying heavy loads and stooping through water, which could lead to accidents. Man Barrett, initially afraid to work among naked men, eventually grew used to the situation, but his fear was rooted in the discomfort and unfamiliarity of his working environment.
c. What was their working condition like?
The working conditions were brutal and inhumane. Sarah Goodler worked in complete darkness with no light, sitting alone for long hours without rest, and her only comfort came from singing when she had light. Isabella Read had to carry heavy loads (about 50 kg) while stooping and crawling through water, making her job physically demanding and exhausting. Man Barrett worked without proper clothing, wearing only a chemise, and was surrounded by men in similar conditions, which, while not violent, was socially and emotionally disturbing for him.
d. How do you feel about their living situation?
The living situation of these children evokes sadness and discomfort. They were subjected to grueling labor at a very young age, with little to no support or protection. Their lack of proper education, physical hardship, and exposure to dangerous environments show a complete disregard for their well-being. They lived in fear, were deprived of basic comforts, and had no opportunities to enjoy childhood. It is deeply concerning that they were forced into such harsh conditions for survival, which reflects the exploitation of children during this period.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
How old was Sarah Goodler when she worked in the coal pit?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 8
d) 10
Answer: c) 8
What was Sarah Goodler’s job in the coal mine?
a) Raker
b) Trapper
c) Coal carrier
d) Miner
Answer: b) Trapper
How many hours did Sarah work in the mine each day?
a) 10
b) 18
c) 12
d) 8
Answer: c) 12
How much weight did Isabella Read carry while working?
a) 10 kg
b) 50 kg
c) 75 kg
d) 100 kg
Answer: b) 50 kg
What was a common condition in the mines according to Isabella Read?
a) Cold weather
b) Breathing difficulty
c) Bright lights
d) Clear water
Answer: b) Breathing difficulty
At what time did Man Barrett start working in the pit?
a) 6 AM
b) 8 AM
c) 7 AM
d) 9 AM
Answer: c) 7 AM
How old was Man Barrett when he started working in the pit?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 16
d) 18
Answer: b) 14
How did Man Barrett feel about working with the men in the pit?
a) He liked it
b) He was afraid at first but got used to it
c) He enjoyed the company
d) He refused to work
Answer: b) He was afraid at first but got used to it
What did Sarah Goodler wish for?
a) To become a teacher
b) To work in the pit forever
c) To go to school instead of working in the pit
d) To visit a hospital
Answer: c) To go to school instead of working in the pit
What did Sarah Goodler pray for?
a) To become a miner
b) For good health
c) For good work conditions
d) For a good servant life
Answer: d) For a good servant life
Short Answer Questions:
Why was Sarah Goodler scared in the coal pit?
Sarah Goodler was scared because she worked in the darkness without light, and her job required her to wait in total darkness for long periods of time. This made her feel fearful, especially as she could not see anything around her.
What was Isabella Read’s job in the coal mine, and what did she have to carry?
Isabella Read’s job was to carry heavy loads from the bottom of the pit to the wall face and back. She had to carry about 50 kg of coal on her back, which was very difficult work. She often felt tired and fell asleep while waiting for coal.
What challenges did Isabella face while working in the pit?
Isabella faced several challenges. She had to stoop a lot and crawl through water, which sometimes reached her calves. She also struggled with breathing difficulties, especially in warm weather, and the lights in the pit often went out, making the work even harder.
How did Man Barrett describe his experience working in the pit?
Man Barrett described his work in the pit as difficult and uncomfortable. He had been working there since he was 9 years old and had to work without proper clothing. He wore only a chemise and worked with men who were also nearly naked. At first, he was afraid, but over time, he grew used to it.
What did Sarah Goodler learn in Sunday school?
Sarah Goodler learned to read a little and also learned to pray in Sunday school. She knew some basic words and was taught the Lord’s Prayer, which she recited. Her knowledge of religious teachings was limited, but she had heard of Jesus and learned to pray for her family and herself.
How did Sarah Goodler feel about her work in the pit?
Sarah Goodler didn’t like working in the pit. She found it very tiring, and she was often sleepy. She wished to be at school instead of working in the pit and expressed that she would prefer learning to being in the dark, dangerous mine.
What was the working condition of Man Barrett in the pit?
Man Barrett worked in extremely uncomfortable conditions. He did not wear proper clothing, and his work involved being around naked men in the pit. While he initially felt uncomfortable, he became accustomed to it over time. He also mentioned that there was no rudeness from the men, but the conditions were still harsh.
What can we infer about the level of education for children working in mines from these testimonies?
The testimonies show that children working in mines had little to no formal education. Sarah knew some letters and could pray, but she had no deeper understanding of subjects like Jesus' purpose. Isabella and Man had limited education, with Isabella mentioning that they were "made to like" their work, not school.
What did the children in the testimonies hope for?
The children hoped for a better life, especially a chance to go to school. Sarah Goodler expressed a desire to be at school instead of working in the pit, and Man Barrett was working because he had no choice, indicating a longing for better circumstances.
What did Lord Ashley’s investigation reveal about child labor in the mines?
Lord Ashley’s investigation revealed that many children were working in inhumane conditions in the mines, with some as young as 8 years old. These children worked extremely long hours, often up to 18 hours a day, in dangerous and dark conditions, and were subjected to severe exploitation without proper care or education.
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদঃ
"আর্থ ভাগাভাগি" হলো ন্যায়বিচার-ভিত্তিক পরিবেশগত লেখার একটি সংগ্রহ। এই পাঠে, আমরা ১৮৪২ সালে লর্ড অ্যাশলির দেওয়া বক্তৃতা থেকে একটি তথ্য পাঠ করব। আমরা ১৮৩৮ সালে ইয়র্কশায়ারের হাস্কার কোলিয়ারিতে একটি গুরুতর দুর্ঘটনার তদন্তকারী লর্ড অ্যাশলির কমিশন কর্তৃক সংগৃহীত তিনটি সাক্ষ্য পাঠ করব। আইরিস তদন্তের সময়, তিনি ব্রিটেনের কারখানা এবং খনিতে কর্মরত বিপুল সংখ্যক লোকের সাক্ষাৎকার নিয়েছিলেন। সাক্ষাৎকারের মাধ্যমে, কয়লা খনিতে অমানবিক কর্মপরিবেশ, গুরুতর শোষণ এবং উদ্বেগজনক সংখ্যক শিশু শ্রমিকের পরিচয় পাওয়া গেছে। এই শিশুদের কাজের পরিবেশ ছিল অমানবিক। লর্ড অ্যাশলি খুব ছোট বাচ্চাদের খনি এবং কয়লা খনিতে দিনে আঠারো ঘন্টা পর্যন্ত কাজ করতে দেখেন, কিছুকে ভারী গাড়ির সাথে শিকল দিয়ে বেঁধে টেনে নিয়ে যেতে হত।
অ্যাশলির খনি কমিশন কর্তৃক সংগৃহীত তিনটি সাক্ষ্য নীচে দেওয়া হল:
সারা গুডলার, বয়স: ৮ বছর।
'আমি গবার পিটে একজন ফাঁদে আটকে আছি।' এটা আমাকে ক্লান্ত করে না, কিন্তু আমার একটা ফাঁদ আছে যেখানে আলো নেই এবং আমি ভয় পাই। আমি ভোর চারটেয়, মাঝে মাঝে সাড়ে তিনটেয় বের হই, আর মাঝে মাঝে সাড়ে পাঁচটায় বেরিয়ে আসি। আমি কখনো ঘুমাতে যাই না। মাঝে মাঝে আলো থাকলে গান গাই, কিন্তু অন্ধকারে না; তখন আমি গান গাইতে সাহস পাই না। আমি গর্তে থাকতে পছন্দ করি না। মাঝে মাঝে সকালে গেলে আমার খুব ঘুম আসে।"
"আমি রবিবারের স্কুলে যাই এবং পড়া সহজ হয়ে যায়।" সে তার অক্ষর জানে, এবং ছোট ছোট শব্দও পড়তে পারে। তারা আমাকে প্রার্থনা করতে শেখায়। সে প্রভুর প্রার্থনা পুনরাবৃত্তি করে, খুব একটা নিখুঁতভাবে নয়, এবং নিম্নলিখিত সংযোজনটি দিয়ে দৌড়ে গেল: "ঈশ্বর আমার বাবা, মা, বোন, ভাই, চাচা, খালা, চাচাতো ভাই এবং অন্য সকলকে আশীর্বাদ করুন, এবং ঈশ্বর আমাকে আশীর্বাদ করুন এবং আমাকে একজন ভালো দাস করুন। আমিন।" "আমি যীশুর কথা অনেকবার শুনেছি। আমি জানি না কেন তিনি পৃথিবীতে এসেছিলেন, আমি নিশ্চিত, এবং আমি জানি না কেন তিনি মারা গেছেন, তবে তার মাথায় পাথর ছিল। আমি গর্তে থাকার চেয়ে স্কুলে থাকতে অনেক ভালোবাসতাম।"
[’ট্র্যাপার- কয়লা খনিতে আটককারী ব্যক্তিটি প্রায়শই পরিবারের সবচেয়ে ছোট সদস্য ছিল যারা মাটির নিচে কাজ করত। তাদের কাজ ছিল কাঠের দরজা (ফাঁদের দরজা) খোলা এবং বন্ধ করা যাতে খনি দিয়ে তাজা বাতাস প্রবাহিত হতে পারে। তারা সাধারণত একবারে বারো ঘন্টা পর্যন্ত সম্পূর্ণ অন্ধকারে বসে থাকত, দরজা দিয়ে কয়লার টব প্রবেশের জন্য অপেক্ষা করত।]
ইসাবেলা রিড, বয়স: ১২ বছর।
আমি বোন এবং ভাইয়ের সাথে কাজ করি, এটি খুবই কষ্টকর কাজ: আমি বলতে পারি না যে আমি পিটের বট টম থেকে দেয়ালের মুখ এবং পিছনে কত রেক বা ভ্রমণ করি, এটি গড়ে প্রায় 30 বা 25 হতে পারে; দূরত্ব 100 থেকে 250 ফ্যাথম (1 ফ্যাথম - 1.8 মিটার) পর্যন্ত পরিবর্তিত হয়।
1 জনকে প্রায় 50 কেজি (সমতুল্য) এবং আমার পিঠে এক চতুর্থাংশ বহন করতে হয়; অনেক ঝুঁকে জলের মধ্য দিয়ে হামাগুড়ি দিতে হয়, যা প্রায়শই আমার পায়ের বাছুর পর্যন্ত হয়। একবার আমি নেমে আসি। আমি প্রায়শই নিরাময়ের জন্য কয়লার জন্য কাঁদতে কাঁদতে ঘুমিয়ে পড়ি এবং ক্লান্তি। আমার কাজটা ভালো লাগে না, লেসিদেরও না, কিন্তু (আরে, এই তোরণটা এমনভাবে তৈরি করা হয়েছে যাতে ভালো লাগে। আবহাওয়া গরম হলে শ্বাস নিতে কষ্ট হয়, এবং প্রায়শই আলো নিভে যায়।
ম্যান ব্যারেট, বয়স: ১৪ বছর।
আমি পাঁচ বছর ধরে গর্তে কাজ করেছি; আমার বাবা পাশের গর্তে কাজ করেন: আমার ১২ ভাইবোন আছে - তাদের মধ্যে একজন ছাড়া সবাই বাড়িতে থাকে; তারা বুনন করে, বাতাস চালায় এবং তাড়াহুড়ো করে, তাদের মধ্যে একজন পড়তে পারে, কেউ বিশ্রাম নিতে পারে না, লিখতে পারে না; তারা কখনও দিবা-বিদ্যালয়ে যায়নি, তবে তাদের মধ্যে তিনজন রবিবারের স্কুলে যায়; আমি সকাল সাতটায় গর্তে নেমে আসি; আমি গর্তে কাজ করতে পছন্দ করি না, তবে আমি জীবিকা নির্বাহ করতে বাধ্য; আমি সবসময় মোজা, জুতা, বা ট্রাউজার ছাড়া কাজ করি; আমি আমার কেমিজ ছাড়া কিছুই পরি না; আমাকে উপরে যেতে হবে এবং পুরুষদের সাথে কাজ করতে হবে। তারা সবাই সেখানে নগ্ন; আমি এতে অভ্যস্ত হয়ে গেছি, এবং এখন এটি নিয়ে খুব একটা মাথা ঘামাই না; প্রথমে আমি ভয় পেয়েছিলাম, আর পছন্দও করিনি; কিন্তু তারা কখনও আমার সাথে অভদ্র আচরণ করেনি।
vocabulary words from the provided text, along with their meanings:
Justice-oriented - focused on fairness and equality.
Excerpt - a short part taken from a larger text.
Testimonies - statements or declarations made by witnesses.
Colliery - a coal mine or its operations.
Inhumane - cruel or not showing compassion.
Exploitations - the act of using someone unfairly for personal gain.
Chains - metal links used for fastening or binding.
Trapper - a person who opens and closes doors in a mine to allow airflow.
Fathom - a unit of depth, especially in the ocean (1 fathom = 1.8 meters).
Wrought - worked or shaped, often used for metal or craftsmanship.
Sore - causing physical pain or discomfort.
Stooping - bending forward or downward.
Creep - to move slowly and quietly, often in a crouched position.
Calves - the back portion of the lower leg.
Fatigue - extreme tiredness or exhaustion.
Chemise - a simple dress or undergarment.
Obliged - forced or required to do something.
Rakes - tools with a long handle used to gather material.
Weave - to form fabric by interlacing threads.
Wind - to twist or coil something, often used in textile work.
Sunday-school - religious education typically for children, held on Sundays.
Darkness - the absence of light.
Pray - to communicate with God or a higher power in a religious manner.
Pit - a large hole or mine where coal or other minerals are extracted.
Revealed - made something known or seen.
Rudely - in a manner that is not polite or respectful.
Fearful - feeling afraid or anxious.
Accident - an unfortunate event that happens unexpectedly.
Difficulties - problems or obstacles that make something harder to achieve.
Breathing - the act of taking air into the lungs.
Fatigue - extreme tiredness or weakness.
Chained - bound or held together with chains.
Lights - sources of illumination.
Lord's Prayer - a Christian prayer taught by Jesus.
Sister - a female sibling.
Uncles - male siblings of one's parents.
Cousins - children of one's uncles or aunts.
Bless - to ask for divine favor or protection.
Work conditions - the physical, mental, and emotional environment in which someone works.
Ad
Comments