Arn't you glad that we as Idaho Citizens, and Eagle Forum took this on, and don't have to deal with this kind of thing!

     ST. CLOUD, MN - A small manufacturing firm has been fined nearly $59,000 for federal
     child labor law violations which came to light after a 17-year-old student operating a power
     driven pallet-notching machine lost his arm last April. The boy was one of six students
     working at the company as part of the state's School-to-Work program. Federal child labor
     laws prohibit employees younger than 18 from operating power-driven woodworking
     equipment.

     The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor notified the firm of the penalty
     on Jan. 10, and OSHA levied an additional fine of $7,000. The business owner claims he
     did not know the boy was underage, and says the school should have checked into the
     type of work the students were doing. He said the tragedy and resulting fines will force his
     small company out of business.

     Notes the Maple River Education Coalition of Minnesota (MrEdCo): "Students who should
     be in school learning history, geography, literature and composition are employed in
     businesses across Minnesota during school hours.

     "In this redefined system, students are being trained in specific skills for jobs. This young
     man lost his arm. All the kids have lost their opportunity for 12 years of liberal arts
     education that previous generations had the opportunity to receive."

     The coalition believes that knowledge prepares students for a lifetime of roles and
     responsibilities, but that STW "robs them of their education, which is foundational to a free,
     self-governing people."