Thank goodness common sense prevailed in Columbus last week as Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have allowed Ohio children ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. year-round.

State Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, had introduced both Senate Bill 50 to alter allowable work hours for minors and Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, which asked Congress to change the Fair Labor Standards Act to accommodate Ohio lawmakers’ desire to let 14- and 15-year-olds work longer.

But, “I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night,” DeWine said in the veto message, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. “I see no compelling reason to deviate from current law.”

Further, DeWine made it clear, “I believe the current law has served us well and has effectively balanced the importance of 14- and 15-year-old children learning to work, with the importance of them having time to study.”

Among the reasons it might have been appealing to increase the number of hours these children are able to work in Ohio is that employers are also able to pay them the $7.25 federal minimum wage, rather than the state minimum wage of $10.70.

“Businesses across Ohio each day give young people the opportunity to learn the so-called soft skills that will serve them well when they become adults,” DeWine said. And for those children old enough, and for an appropriate length of time, that is important.

Of course, it is good for young people to learn the value of work and gain job experience; and having bright, eager young employees who can do good work is helpful to businesses, too. But the line must be drawn somewhere, and DeWine was correct to draw it here.