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Sunday, 30 September 2018
Monday, 10 September 2018
Embassy says there were urgent reasons children in Norway were taken from Czech parents
Embassy
says there were urgent reasons children in Norway were taken from Czech
parents
A A
Czech mother fighting for the return of her two sons in Norway, who the
authorities took away from her and her former husband over alleged sexual
abuse in 2011, will now see her children only twice a year for a total of
30 minutes.
B Brothers
David and Denis Michalák, born in Norway and now aged six and nine,
were taken from their Czech parents in May 2011 following suspicion voiced by
their nursery school that they had been sexually abused. According to reports,
both boys at the time complained about the situation at home and there were
physical indications in one of possible rape.
C The
police conducted an investigation of both parents but charges never went ahead. The boys
have since lived apart in separate foster homes. Eva Michaláková had
been allowed to meet with the children for two hours annually. The time of
those meetings was reduced to two fifteen minute sessions a year. Ms
Michaláková spoke to Czech TV: “The terms set by the social services are almost
Nazi-like. During my meetings with the boys I will not be able to take any
pictures to lift them up, not even hug them.”
D The Norwegian Embassy in Prague says the mother of the children had
neglected to provide all the information as to why her children were taken
away. The Czech Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Michaela Marksová, who
has been allowed to see parts of the dossier
on the boys and was also present, had a different response, saying this: “First I can sympathize
to a point with Ms Michaláková. But the case really is very complex and I was
able to see parts of the case file. There are things which are of an intimate
character from the family and I think the mother should not make them public.”
E She
added that Norway
simply would not reveal in detail what happened as the country was dedicated to
the protection of children’s and parents’ privacy. The Norwegian Embassy
in Prague
meanwhile issued a statement on its website saying it was not true that the
authorities had acted without reason. The embassy stated that taking children
from their parents was never a “trifle”
and “always a last resort”, the reasons had been urgent and serious.
Adjusted to (1)
dossier
– spis
trifle
– maličkost, hloupost
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 Mother’s contact with children
2 Case description
3 Reaction of Norwegian Embassy
4 Introduction
5 Marksová’s opinion
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What do you know about Michaláks’ family?
2 Where are David and Denis now?
3 How often can they see their mother?
4 What is the reaction of Czech authorities?
5 What is the reaction of Norwegian Embassy?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 sexual
abuse
2 the
police conducted an investigation
3 foster
homes
4 case
file
5 protection
of children’s and parents’ privacy
4) Answer the following questions.
What
is abuse? What are types of abuse? Who
participates in abuse? How can children protect themselves against sexual abuse?
What would you do in case you suspected parents of a preschool child might
abuse him or her?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
VELINGER,
Jan. Embassy says there were urgent reasons children in Norway were
taken from Czech parents. Český rozhlas [online]. 2015 [cit.
2015-09-21]. Available at: http://www.radio.cz/
en/section/curraffrs/embassy-says-there-were-urgent-reasons-children-in-norway-were-taken-from-czech-parents
Linka bezpečí marks 20 years of helping children
Linka bezpečí marks 20 years of helping children
A
This week marked the 20th anniversary
of Linka bezpečí, a helpline available for anyone up to the age of 18 (or if
studying, to 26) to call at moments of difficulty. Over 20 years, the
helpline has answered millions of calls and addressed countless problems, some
of them very serious.
B
Earlier, I spoke to Linka bezpečí’s Ivana Šatrová, asking about how the
line worked and how many it had helped. “We have specific statistics and know
that this year we reached the number of 10 million children and teenagers who
contacted us over 20 years. The service is the only free one on a national
level, making it indispensable.”
C
“I imagine since it
began the service changed quite a bit. Is that the case and have changes made
it easier for children to open up about their problems?” “We had to adapt of course to new communications, for
example, providing the opportunity to use emails or to chat directly with a
professional. Writing is easier for example in more serious cases, where it is
difficult for a girl who, unfortunately, was raped. Someone who can’t talk about it may find they can say what
happened if they write it down. And that of course helps.”
D
“How do you handle
serious cases where a crime is being or has been committed?” “We always respect the privacy and security of
children who contact us. We make sure they know that it is wonderful that
they have contacted us and that they have told someone what has happened. We
try to impress upon them the need to tell someone they can trust,
someone in their surroundings. We have to contact the police, of
course, but always the children know about it and agree. We try and work out a
plan with them a concrete plan, to agree on steps to take.”
E “When is a problem
considered, at least to a degree, "resolved"? By the end of the call
or email or chat?” “That’s a difficult
question. Not all problems can be resolved. Sometimes the questions are easier
to answer of course. We take all questions seriously, seeing the situation and importance
through the eyes of the child calling. More difficult cases, like the one I
mentioned, we agree on a plan of steps to be taken. We can’t always know that
the story will end successfully, that is the sadness of the helpline. On
the other hand, over the years we have gotten 11,000 letters or emails and
other messages thanking us, saying we helped them. So, there is this feedback
from children.”
Adjusted to (1)
indispensable –
nepostradatelný
rape – znásilnit
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 10 million children have
contacted the line
2 New communication technologies are used
3 Linka bezpečí marked the 20th anniversary
4 Problem solving and feedback
5 Process of dealing with crimes
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What is Linka bezpečí?
2 What does Ivana Šatrová say about new technologies
used? What was the reason to implement them?
3 What must be done in case of committed crime?
4 When are problems resolved?
5 Does the line get any feedback? What kind?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 anniversary
2 moments of difficulty
3 privacy and security of
children
4 trust their surroundings
5 helpline
4) Answer the following questions.
What kind of organization is Linka bezpečí? How
is it funded? Who does it help to? How does the line work? What projects does
it work on? What do you know about them?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
VELINGER, Jan. Linka bezpečí marks 20
years of helping children. Český rozhlas [online]. 2014 [cit.
2015-09-21]. Available at:
http://radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/linka-bezpeci-marks-20-years-of-helping-children
Ministry takes steps to deal with “cyber-bullying” in Czech classrooms
Ministry takes steps to
deal with “cyber-bullying” in Czech classrooms
A The use of mobile phones
in classrooms and schools has become a serious issue in the Czech Republic,
with ever more children recording their classmates and even teachers, and posting
the footage on the web. The Education Ministry has now, for the first time,
recognized the issue of cyber-bullying, and has come up with guidelines to help
schools control the use of mobile phones and other technology.
B A video posted on the Internet
in June this year shows a Czech teacher telling a pupil off for having a messy
desk. The student talks back, which makes the teacher lose his temper and smack
the boy, who then storms out of the classroom. Another clip posted on the web
shows a group of students bullying their teacher who ends up with a trash bin
on his head. Schools around the Czech
Republic have
increasingly had to cope with what is known as cyber-bullying – students
recording clips of their abusive behaviour and posting them on the web.
The Education Ministry is now taking steps to deal with the problem, issuing a
set of guide-lines designed to bring the use of modern technology in schools
under control.
C Tomáš Bouška, a spokesman
for the Education Ministry, says: “We
simply have to face the reality. And the reality is very simple – we have
mobile phones and we have all kinds of electronic devices which the kids can
use at schools and they also use them. And the school has to react to it
because in a number of cases, the use of electronic devices was very
problematic.”
D The ministry has
recognized the term cyber-bullying for the first time; the new guidelines tell
teachers what cyber-bullying is, and advise them on various ways of curbing the issue. “What we have defined in this methodological
instruction is electronic bullying; e-mail or text message bullying as well
as further usage of these footages on the Internet. It’s about bullying
teachers or schoolmates with video or audio footage which can even be used to blackmail
somebody.”
E Many schools have adopted
rules limiting the use of mobile phones during lessons. But only half of the
schoolchildren at such schools respect these rules. Teachers often have no way
of enforcing them. Tomáš Bouška says different approaches will be open to teachers
under the new guidelines. “Teachers
can forbid, and if the kids are still using them, they can inform the parents.
They can also take the mobile phones away. And if it still goes on, there are
also some harsher steps included in our guidelines which could even involve the
police.”
Adjusted to (1)
curb – omezit
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 Examples of cyber-bullying
2 Restrictions in use of mobile phones
3 Introduction
4 Instructions on cyber-bullying prevention
5 Electronic devices at school
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 How are mobile phones misused at school?
2 What kinds of cyber-bullying are mentioned in the
text?
3 How does the Ministry of Education react to the
problem?
4 How can schools and teachers protect themselves?
5 What could be done in case of ignoring the rules?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 posting the footage
2 abusive behaviour
3 electronic
device
4 methodological
instruction
5 blackmail
4) Answer the following questions.
What examples of cyber-bullying do you know? What steps
would you take in case of being bullied? What should a child do? Who can help a
person who is cyber-bullied? What might be caused by cyber-bullying?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
RICHTER,
Jan. Linka bezpečí marks 20 years of helping children. Český rozhlas [online].
2008 [cit. 2015-09-21]. Available at:
http://radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/ministry-takes-steps-to-deal-with-cyber-bullying-in-czech-classrooms
Poll: Majority of Czechs oppose ban on physical punishment
Poll: Majority of Czechs
oppose ban on physical punishment
A Last month the Minister for Human Rights and
Minorities Džamila Stehlíková proposed legislation which would ban the
spanking or smacking of children on the grounds that in some cases such
treatment can border on child abuse. The introduction of such legislation would
see the Czech Republic
join other EU countries, including neighbouring Germany. But so far, a majority of
ordinary Czechs have said they are against such a move.
B Most Czech parents don’t think twice about spanking a
naughty child, even in public, but that could soon change. Last month
the Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Džamila Stehlíková proposed the Czech Republic
join a number of EU countries sending a clear and resounding message: that
physical punishment of children will not be tolerated. So far in the Czech Republic
debate on the subject has been heated: critics say the country already has
sufficient legislation on child abuse. On the other hand, there are many
who think that an outright ban
couldn’t hurt.
C Zuzana Baudyšová is the head of the Our Child
Foundation supporting the rights of children: “It’s true that the proposal is somewhat provocative and it has caused
a stir: but I don’t think such
legislation can hurt. It can only help children who are at risk of severe
physical and even psychological abuse. Parents who are unafraid to cross the
line would know in the future that such behaviour is forbidden. At the
same time, I admit there are moments when a mild spanking is better than some
psychological forms of punishment, such as grounding
or the silent treatment.”
D Other child psychologists agree an out-and-out ban would be a good thing,
arguing that physical punishment can have negative effects on one’s upbringing.
But many parents disagree: in a poll
released by the newspaper Lidové noviny, three-fifths of respondents said they
were against such legislation. Only a quarter said they ever resorted to
occasional physical punishment and only its milder forms: a light cuff on the
ear or smack on the bottom.
E Zuzana Baudyšová again: “Mrs Stehlíková is the first minister to stand up directly for
children’s rights. The current legislation on child abuse doesn’t outline fully
forms of abuse. And it would be beneficial to outline exactly what is
forbidden. It is also important that any new legislation not just cover the
situation in homes but also in schools and other institutions.” Mrs
Baudyšová stresses that cases of even the severest abuse are not uncommon.
Tragically 20 toddlers in the Czech
Republic last year alone
were tortured to death by their parents.
Adjusted to (1)
outright – naprostý
stir
– rozruch
ground
– dát domácí vězení
out-and-out – naprostý
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 Abused children would be protected
2 Opinion poll
3 Spanking children in public might be illegal
4 Reasons why the legislation is important
5 A new legislation banning child abuse
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What does the new legislation deal with?
2 What is the public opinion of the topic?
3 What do Zuzana Baudyšová and Džamila Stehlíková
stand for?
4 Is there a similar legislation in EU countries?
5 Who could be mainly helped by the new legislation?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 ban the spanking or
smacking of children
2 naughty child
3 child abuse
4 such
behaviour is forbidden
5 upbringing
4) Answer the following questions.
What is child abuse? What are types and examples
of abuse? Who takes part in child abuse? How can be abused children helped? Which
organisations could help them?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
VELINGER, Jan. Linka bezpečí marks 20
years of helping children. Český rozhlas [online]. 2008 [cit.
2015-09-21]. Available at:
http://radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/poll-majority-of-czechs-oppose-ban-on-physical-punishment
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