Jon & Kate Plus 8: Child Labor Activists Are Taking Notice

Plus, Aunt Jodi Posts a Video on Her Sister's Blog to Prove It's Real

Alicia White
Alicia White, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Sep 1, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse in the world of Jon & Kate Plus 8, child labor activists are starting to take notice. Paul Peterson, the owner of the non-profit foundation, A Minor Consideration, has come forward and expressed his concern about the welfare of Jon and Kate Gosselin's sextuplets and twins.

In a message on his website, http://www.minorcon.org, Peterson had this to say:

"The future of the "Plus Eight" is the real issue, Jon and Kate, and it's time for you to listen. Your children are changing right before our eyes, and all of the changes aren't healthy."

He goes on to say that the signs of corruption are clear, and that the family should immediately send the cameras away from their home. They are offering to assist with lawyers, so the Gosselins can't use legal commitments as an excuse to continue on with what could be considered abuse according to the current child labor laws set in place by the US government and its states.

Normally, child actors of any age would be required to obtain a working permit for paid acting parts, however, Jon and Kate Gosselin are most likely the only names on the contract as far as payment. Because Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a reality TV show, they can get away with filming 24/7 and not worrying about the normal guidelines that regular child actors and their parents would have to follow.

While child labor laws vary from state to state, the general rule is no work permit - no work.

Surely TLC doesn't film these children without a proper work permit. According to Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry, children under 7 are not allowed to work in radio or television without a special permit. What's more, is that according to the Act of 1915, P.L. 286, No. 177 (7 amended Dec. 16, 1992, P.L. 1202, No. 154), "No such minor shall appear in more than two performances in any one day nor in more than eight performances in any one week."

Even when Jon and Kate go on family trips and film on location in a different state, the rules of their home state still apply.

Peterson is now saying what many of us have been saying for the past year; It's time to stop putting those kids on display for their own welfare. There is more to a child's best interest than money, Kate.

In other Jon & Kate news, Aunt Jodi has posted a video on her sister's blog to prove once and for all that it's the real deal. How much more proof do the public naysayer's need in order to believe that what's being said about Kate is true? Jodi's sister's blog can be found at http://www.truthbreedshatred.blogspot.com.

Published by Alicia White

Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design.  View profile

Kate has admitted on the show how camera crews are always in their house, and no, they don't break for the summer like other shows.

15 Comments

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  • fluckoffaduck5/29/2009

    Hayes? Table for 12? Little People big world, 18 kids and counting? All child labour problems?

  • Kelly5/9/2009

    A High Definition simulcast of TLC was launched on 1 September 2007. It is currently available on Cox, Dish Network, DirecTV, Shaw Cable, Insight Communications, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS and Comcast. Comcast is up $hit$ creek without a paddle (& your program is deep water ) and those drowning in debt are pushing you under trying to stay afloat. www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/WaterSafety/WATER SAFETY STUDENT MANUAL1.pdf
    You may have to smack those clingers in the face sternly & do a cross-chest rescue from behind.
    stewie meets wall st
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rxQ5u0J1Vw

  • jenny cockerill3/11/2009

    If the children were being abused, if they were unhappy, if their behaviour was just oh so terrible! Why may I ask, are they still filming?
    That's because the children love their lives, they love their mum and dad. They get money, stability,security and a loving family. You people moan because your lives are too boring or messed up. You need to fix your home first and stop judging others.
    The kids will want it to stop eventually, but they are happy now.
    Which weirdo said they should be taken away?! That's not funny or clever what you said and should never be spoken so lightly. There are children that are actually beaten to a pulp, physically and mentally abused everyday and our society does frig all to stop it...but you want these children who are clearly loved to be taken away?! Wow, you wernt hugged as a child wer you?
    You are very sad, and clueless.

  • Anonymous3/10/2009

    wh ta mea kat wh d u sai see kat joh is tha a goo thin kat beca it thatkate tex back rec

  • Anonymous2/24/2009

    ohh please...you haters are just jealous that no one tapes you. ohh please! yes ...she has 8 kids...at that time it caught interest...you watch it don't you? kate is a good mother and not abusive ...how ridiculous! she is not abusive to her husband..whats wrong with you people!?! go find something better to do honestly because I am sure your own lives are filled with CRAP that is really CRAP so go take care of your BS.

  • Anonymous2/19/2009

    They need to have all eight kids taken away from them , warehoused in an orphanage , as the Octumom, and so many others need to have done to them. These are not examples of caring parents interested in their childrens dignity as far as i see, to expose your kids to public scrutiny is abuse , remeber how Jackie Kennedy hated the hounding of her kids by the press? At least she was a caring mother and a sensible one, there are none left anymore who truly care abouttheir kids, so easy will it be for a very evil regime to step in, catch America unawares and brainwash the parents and kids into unspeakable acts, who will stop this madness, the kids themselves? C'mon. We all know how mo momney mo money mo money greedy vultures stage mothers and fathers become, they can not help themselves, they see their kids as a meal ticket, no different from welfare mothers who are single, have kids to collect money, sympaty etc. WAKE UP AMERICA. Its already too late, but we can find a love against these m

  • Your name11/13/2008

    Tammy, remember these are not actors, this is real life. You are just one of those rediculous people who ruin it for the rest of us. As for Jillta , what exactly is your point?

  • Your name11/6/2008

    Give it a rest I hope the Family are screwed up teenagers but won't matter cause they will all be able to afford re-hab.

  • shb10/19/2008

    I just can not believe our society... You have nothing better to do then focus on people whom are sharing their lives with the world and the struggles and joys they find in their lives. Being a mother of small children myself I am thankful for this show and love the fact they are real people who have real issues like the rest of the world. They are trying to raise their children with morals, love and a strong family... that is a terrible thing.. but if they were on drugs and drinking and doing outrageous behaviors we would want to keep it on the air... that would be fine.,.. Child labor laws my ass... someone just wants their 15 minutes of fame at the cost of someone else... how sad.

  • Bhumika Ghimire10/6/2008

    i think its time to take this off air now..i enjoyed some episodes but now that the kids will be going to school pretty soon, they should have their privacy back.

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