Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Children as Film Actors, in Theatrical Work and in Ballet / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Command of His Majesty, August 1950.

  • Great Britain. Departmental Committee on the Employment of Children as Film Actors, in Theatrical Work and in Ballet
Date:
1950
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Children as Film Actors, in Theatrical Work and in Ballet / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Command of His Majesty, August 1950. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the view that stage training for children* is desirable. We are not convinced that this is so; on the other hand, we see no reason for interference with schools which fulfil the purpose for which they have been set up. A stage training school does not usually provide general education and the pupils attend an ordinary day school. To segregate children who wish to specialise in stage or film training in one school providing academic education and vocational training would emphasise any difference there may be between theatrical children and ordinary school children. Our view is that it is important that every care should be taken not to create a class of “ child actors ” set apart from other children. 143. Those training schools which are combined with agencies have given us greater difficulty. Employment agencies for children are mainly situated at present in those areas where there are local Acts regulating employment agencies generally, but this may not always be the position. The International Labour Organisation adopted in 1933 a Convention which provided for the outright abolition of all fee-charging employment agencies. ‘This Convention was not acceptable to His Majesty’s Government. It was revised in 1949, and in its revised formt provides for the abolition or regulation of all such agencies. The provisions for regulation include conditions that the agencies shall be subject to supervision, licensed annually, and permitted to charge fees and expenses only on an approved scale. Any legislation which would enable the Convention to be ratified by His Majesty’s Government would, we think, be adequate for the regulation of agencies dealing with the employment of children. If such general legislation is not likely to be introduced, we think it would be advisable to consider the introduction of provisions for the regulation of agencies concerned with children which, in our view, might well be on the lines of the International Labour Office Convention. 144. We consider that a child should not be tied by contract for too long. We therefore recommend that no contract should be of more than three years’ duration in the first place and in no case should an original contract or a renewed contract extend beyond the age of 16. The effect would be that no contract would extend beyond the age which we have recommended should be the upper limit of licensing. 145. Until such time as there is general legislation as regards employment agencies, or legislation as regards agencies dealing with children, we suggest that public contro] authorities in whose areas there are employment agencies for child entertainers should pay particular attention to the form of contract which is used. Power to Dispense with Licensing 146. We think the pleasure provided to the audience and to the children themselves appearing at such performances as we referred to in paragraph 94 'is something it would be a pity to hamper by unnecessary restrictions. To use the words of one organisation “many children love to express themselves in dance, music, drama and in similar activities.” Local education authorities themselves recognise this by suitable provisions in the school curriculum and in out-of-school activities. For many children the opportunity provided by youth clubs and other similar organisations of giving performances, in which ‘they may take a real delight, is both educationally and psychologically valuable . Although dramatic work in schools is developing, not all children at a large school may have the chance to perform in school plays or concerts. _ * The special position of ballet is discussed in paragraph 239 below. + Convention Concerning Fee-Charging Employment Agencies (revised 1949) No. 96 adopted on the Ist July, 1949 by the Conference of the International Labour Organisation.
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