Discussion Questions for Mishnah, Bava Metzia 7:1
- In your own words, what is this text saying? What is the primary point of this text?
- Based on what you have learned, what was “the custom of the land” in New York City around 1909–1911? What trends existed for how garment factories were run?
- What does this text teach us about the responsibilities of workers and employers?
- If you were a worker during this time, how might you interpret this text? How could this text support the mission of joining a union to fight for better wages and working conditions?
- If you were a factory owner during this time, how might you interpret this text? How could this text support the decision to keep a union out of your factory?
- Now prepare a short presentation for the other groups in which you will share your text and then discuss:
- Does this text seem to favor the perspective of the worker or the factory owner, or is it neutral? What makes you say that?
- After you discuss, ask if any of the other groups have a different interpretation of your text that they would like to share.
