Introduction
In our second issue of AG Times, we are going to continue in the theme of the Global Problems. Last time we talked about the dying out of pandas. Now we will find out something about school
drop-outs. But there is one difference: the English, you see here is the real journalist English from
www.bbc.co.uk. It’s because of the fact that it’s important to meet the real
native language and it’s useful. That’s why the English is harder, and why the vocabulary is so large. Enjoy the reading!
Autor: Anežka Benešová, V.A
Korektura: pr. Ivana Hajičová
School drop-outs 'global problem'
"Disaffection with school is a global problem," says a newly-launched international campaign group.
The group, NDPC (National Dropout Prevention Centre) International, says that a rejection of school by youngsters has become "endemic" in many education systems across the developed world.
And that such an international problem could most effectively be tackled by considering
experiences from other countries.
Truancy has remained a problem in the UK
"There is a significant minority of school pupils who find school untenable for a number of reasons," says Reva Klein, the London-based author who is chair of the campaign.
"In some United States cities it can be as high as 50% of the school population. Given the current emphasis on school inclusion, we all have much to gain from sharing the experiences, analysis and strategies from around the world.
"This will help make our schools not only more relevant and accessible but also more compelling places for young people."
In the United States, in October 2000 there were 3.8m young people over the age of 16 who had not completed high school, representing 10.9% of the 16 to 24 year old population.
Surveys of school disaffection in the United States have found that among the reasons cited for dropping out are not liking school, not getting on with teachers or other students, academic failure and pregnancy.
And in the United Kingdom, truancy and drop-out rates have remained stubbornly high, particularly in deprived areas.
International experts
But in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Scandinavian countries, she says there is almost no drop-out problem.
In Japan, more than 1% of students dropped out last year which, although comparitively
small, represents a 20% increase from two years ago.
The campaign will bring together academics and educationalists with expertise in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia and South America.
This collaborative approach to disaffection has been inspired by the National Dropout Prevention Centre in South Carolina in the United States.
Zdroj: www.bbc.co.uk
Vocabulary
native - rodilý
drop-out - odpadávání, vypadnutí (ze studia), ten, kdo vypadl pro neprospěch
disaffection - nepřátelství, nespokojenost
launch - spustit, odstartovat, zahájit
rejection - zamítnutí, odmítnutí
youngster - výrostek, děcko (hovor.)
consider - zvažovat, domnívat se
truancy - záškoláctví, chození za školu
remain - zůstávat
significant minority - významná menšina
untenable - neudržitelný, nehájitelný
chair - židle, předseda
current - aktuální, nynější
emphasis - důraz, zdůraznění
inclusion - zahrnutí, započtení
gain - získat
relevant - důležitý, relevantní
accessible - dostupný, přístupný
compel - vynutit, donutit, dohnat
survey - obhlídka, přehled, průzkum
get on with - vycházet s kým
failure - selhání
pregnancy - těhotenství
stubbornly - úporně, neústupně
deprived - sociálně deprivovaný
comparatively - poměrně
approach - blížit se, přístup, postoj
_________________________________________________________________________
* ZPĚT *