Final answer:
Buddy Blankenship's life as a miner involved grueling conditions and extremely long hours, which were far more physically demanding and dangerous compared to the challenges he would face as a student. The historical texts provide accounts of rigorous labor, showcasing that hard labor was more challenging than school.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing Buddy Blankenship's experiences as a West Virginia miner to his experiences as a student, it's clear that his life in the mines was extremely arduous and perilous. Working up to sixteen or seventeen hours a day in very harsh conditions, including freezing temperatures so severe that his stirrups would freeze to his feet, illustrates the extreme and dangerous nature of his work life. In contrast, as a student, while there would have been the challenges of learning and attending school, these would not have been as physically demanding or life-threatening. The experiences Ishared by slaves, child laborers, and miners from historical texts alike show that the hard labor far superseded the physical and emotional demands one would experience in a school setting.