Obligation scolaire et société en Belgique au XIXe siècle. Réflexions à propos du premier projet de loi sur l'enseignement obligatoire (1883)

Policy Entrepreneurs and the Origins of the Regulatory Welfare State: Child Labor Reform in Nineteenth-Century Europe

“…By that time, however, the window of opportunity for child labor regulation was beginning to close. As a decades-long fight over the secularization of public schools consumed Belgian politics, child labor regulation became inextricably linked to compulsory education and hence to the liberal anti-Catholic agenda (Gubin and Lefèvre 1985). Belgium was therefore unable to pass a child labor law until the relatively late date of 1889 (see Section C of the online supplement).…”

“…This was normal practice with regard to economic legislation, and a move Ducpétiaux should have anticipated. Not surprisingly, the Belgian chambers were unanimous in rejecting the commission’s far-reaching bill (Gubin and Lefèvre 1985; Loriaux 2000).…”

“…Ducpétiaux’s errors helped the Chamber defend its position and its forceful attack likely helped convince the government to drop the bill. In any case, it and the other chambers’ opposition was the blow that killed the bill; no further action was taken on its behalf (Gubin and Lefèvre 1985; Loriaux 2000).…”