Lab. Work #3.

LIVE AND LEARN

MP3 AUDIO 3.3

1. In your opinion, what are the reasons students stay away from school? Think about boredom, influence of friends, problems at school, family problems. What problems can truancy cause a student?

I think the main reason for playing truant is trivial laziness. Most children miss lessons because it’s difficult for them to spend so much time at school. So they think up “more interesting” activities like sleeping, watching TV or something like that, I don’t know what they actually do. Some pupils just don’t do their homework, thus, they are afraid of a teacher’s reaction to this, so, they play hooky. Weak persons experience influence of their friends, who persuade them to go with them to the cinema or drink beer or whatever. Problems at school also can cause a child’s fear to attend school. If a pupil has got difficult relationships with a teacher or classmates, who tease them, humiliate and mock at they try to do everything but going to school. Unfortunately, there are also those, who stay away from school because of family problems. For example, parents’ illness or financial difficulties make a child try to help their family and earn money, for instance.

2. You are going to listen to the interview with headmaster of East Crompton Comprehensive School Dr. Charles Greenway. For questions 1-7 choose the correct answer (A, B or C).

1     Dr Greenway implies that some children who play truant

A   do so in order to earn money.

B    behave badly in public.

C   are never punished.

2    Why do some parents take their children on holiday during term time?

A   Because it's peak season.

B   To spend time together as a family.

C   To save money.

3    Why is it difficult for schools to convince students to attend regularly?

A   Parents set a bad example for them.

B   There is no good reason to attend.

C   Some teachers behave irresponsibly.

4    How has the government reacted to truancy?

A   They have been trying to stop it for years.

B   They are only just beginning to help.

C   They think it is too late to do anything.

5    Why are the government having talks with travel agents?

A   To convince them to offer parents cheap holidays.

B    To make sure that children don't play truant.

C   To get help from them in combating truancy.

6    What are the aims of 'behaviour improvement projects'?

A   To teach parents to be responsible.

B   To teach students the lessons they have missed

C   To teach students to take school more seriously

7    What does Dr Greenway say about the law against truancy?

A   The law is not strict enough.

B    Parents are not often prosecuted.

C    Many parents face criminal charges.

3. Which of the following things would be most effective in combating truancy? Rank them and give a short account describing your choice.

-         more interesting lessons

-         police involvement

-         more responsible parenting

-         strict punishment

-         teaching students to respect school

1. First of all, it’s necessary to provide pupils with more cognitive and interesting lessons. Some children don’t understand, in what way should they use their knowledge in life, and since they don’t realize that, lessons become boring for them.
2. As for parents, they are to be more responsible for their children, since they are the models to follow for them. Parent’s words are perceived by children as something undeniable, so parents should influence them somehow.
3. Teaching students to respect school is also very important, because if they know how it’s important for them to be educated and socialized in a right way, they’ll treat school more seriously.
4. Police involvement as long as strict punishment are for that case if the worst comes to the worst. Children are to be taught to respect school in a reasonable and perceived way, they are to make sense of it, not to be made to love school. It’s almost impossible.