It’s hard to go to school…

1. It was difficult in the past:

- Can you name 3 different places where children worked in the 19th century?

o ……………………………………………………..………........................... o ……………………………………………………………............................. o ……………………………………………………………….........................

- A famous author wrote a novel on child labour and street children.

o What’s his name? …………………………………..……………….................................................................................
o What’s the title of the book? ……………………………………......................................................................................
o What happened to him when he was 12? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- There has been a film adaptation of his novel too. Who is the director of this movie? …………………………………….................
- You can take some time to visit this site and discover his world.

- The 1833 Factory Act limited the working day for children (aged nine to thirteen) to ……………………………….. a day.
(See another page if the first link does not work.)

- The 1891 Factory Act raised the minimum working age to ………
(See another page if the first link does not work.)

- When and where were these photos taken? (Click on the photos) ……………………………………………………........................
- Compare to the situation in Europe ………………………………………………………………………………………..........................

- Give 3 examples of jobs children had to do:

o …………………………………............................................................................................. o …………………………………............................................................................................. o …………………………………............................................................................................. - 1944 The Butler Act: (DEAD LINK!) school becomes ……………………… (= an obligation) and …………for …..……......between ……..and……… - Do you know who the Prime Minister was at the time? ……………………………......... - 1971: …………………………………………………………………………………............ (See another page if the first link does not work.)

2. It is difficult today in many poor countries:

- What is the name of this document? …………………………………………………………………………… - What does Article 28 recognize to children? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. - How many children in the world have never been to school? - ………………………………………………………………………………………................................................... - Is there a difference between boys and girls? (See: what’s gone wrong?) ……………………………………….............................................................................................................................

- Can you imagine why? ………………………………………………………………………………………………...........................
- What’s the name of this charity? ……………………………………………………………………………….…............................
- Where does it work? …………………………………………………………..…………………………............................................

- It wants to ensure access to education for .………..…………………………………………………………………… - Which are the main obstacles to education? (DEAD LINK!) o The cost of………………………………………………………………… o a virus: ………………………………………………………………………. o There is often …. teacher for ………. children.

3. And it is difficult today in rich countries too…

SOME CHILDREN FEEL REALLY BAD AT SCHOOL.

- Read the victim’s account. What happened to her?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........................................
- What is bullying? Give examples:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..................................
- Why are some children bullied?
o Sometimes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..............
o Sometimes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............
o Sometimes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............
- What are the consequences on the victims?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........................................

- What can you do if you see someone is bullied?
I should ………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................................
If I don’t, …………………………………………………………………………………….................................................................

THEY SOMETIMES PLAY TRUANT
(Playing truant, or truancy, means staying away from school without the school permission.)

- Find synonyms to TRUANCY: …………………………………………………………………………......................................
- What are the reasons behind truancy?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................

- How many children skip school every day in Britain? ………………………………......................................................................................... - Why are the police concerned by the problem? ……………………………………………………………………………………………

AND SOME CHILDREN HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

- What’s the name of this charity? ……………………………………………………………………............................... - Who works there? …………………………………………………………………………….................... - What’s their ambition? …………………………………………………………………………......................... - What may happen in later years to these children if they don’t get any help? ……………………………………………………………………………………………

CHILDREN CAN ALSO FACE DANGERS AT SCHOOL.

What can children start experimenting at school? (Name 3 dangers) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Who are the “rats” (DEAD LINK!) ? ……………………………………………………………………........................................ What is 0800 555 111? …………………………………………………………………………………............. What can people do with that number? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Watch the London Metropolitan Police new video (DEAD LINK!) to fight drug dealers (click on campaign video)

AND HORROR…

Have a look at this article. What is the subtitle?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................
What happened on these dates?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Where is Columbine High School? ………………………………………………………………………………………………
What happened on April 20, 1999?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........................................
How many people were killed? ………………………………..…………………………
How many people were wounded?.....................................................................................

How many young people died by gun violence:
- Between 1979 and 2001?....................................
- Every day? …………………………….
Where did the guns come from most of the time? ……………………………………………………….........................................
Which text says that everybody has the right to keep and bear arms in the USA? …………………………….....................................................................................................................................................................
How many high school boys said they could get a gun if they wanted to, in April 2001? ……………………………………………………...................................

Now look at this cartoon :

Why do some children become mass-murderers?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

There are lots of problems, but YOU might have some IDEAS TO HELP.
Find at least 3 people or institutions (ex: African children, the police, a bully, the President of the USA, etc…) in this document that you would like to advise, and write down what you think they should do:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........................
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