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Report of Workgroup 2: Lifestyles of Teenagers in an United EuropaeMaria PikOur school, Joint Association of Schools No.32 (Zespół Szkół nr 32) in Warsaw, Ožarowska 71 is executing together with a school from Austria (BG + BRG Schwechat; Ehrenbrunngasse 6; 2320 Schwechat) and a school from Slovakia ( Secondary Technical School of Metallurgy; Alejova 1; 04011 Kosice) as coordinating school a mutual project within the Socrates Comenius program since September 1st 2002. The subject which we have been working on together is: "Lifestyle of teenagers in an united Europe". In October 2002 the first study meeting of the principals and the first workshop of the above mentioned schools took place. In a very lively and sincere atmosphere we worked out the tasks to be executed during the first year of our cooperation. We came to an agreement that the first step would be to get to know the similarities and differences in how the students from our schools experience everyday life. We prepared a questionnaire concerning the style of life of the young people in Poland, Austria and Slovakia. The questionnaire pertains to:
During our workshops in Warsaw we agreed on a number of subjects for a written presentation (essays, poems) which are linked with the subject matters inherent in the questionnaire. During the school year we conducted a survey on 73 students, 43 of them were under 18, 30 over 18 years of age. There were 28 girls and 45 boys surveyed. During classes the students were asked to write an essay and poem concerning their interest in music and sports. (Refer to Examples in the following.) We were next able to directly compare the results obtained from the various schools during our second workshop which summed up the work of the first year. This time we met in Austria in Schwechat in March 2003. These results showed what problems our teenagers must cope with.
This percentage shows that the number of drug users has dropped. We are able to determine this because for some years now our school has been engaged in an anti-drug program. What alarms our teachers is the high number of people who drink alcohol. We have been wondering what could be the cause of such behavior and how we could help our students. Many of our students come from a neglected, very often pathological environment. That is why we have undertaken certain steps to have our students involved in various social issues and help them become active in the school life and the local society. We have tried to make them sensitive to other people's needs, the weak and the handicapped. In our school we have a School Department of the Catholic Association of the Handicapped. Our students organize and take part in the different initiatives directed to the needs of the handicapped. The participation in the school project of the Socrates Comenius program on the subject: "Lifestyles of teenagers in an united Europe" gave our teenagers a chance to learn about the similar problems and interests their peers have in other European countries. This will enable them to meet and to get to know each other. This had a great impact on some of the views of these young people, who were able to confront their idea about their peers in other European places. Our students found out about their peers' every day realities, and learn about the differences and recognize many similarities. It was likewise very beneficial for our students to personally get to know the system of education of the Austrian school when they were invited to take part in their lessons. Below we cite an example of the works of our students: one poem and one essay.
A SPORT YEAR
When the sun beams down on us in summer And the unbearable heat pours down from the sky. Instead of sitting and moping around Go and run on the beach ground. Whereas in spring When the fields are dressed in flowers galore Hop on your bicycle And to the meadows head straight for. And in autumn when the leaves Descend from the tops of the trees Everyone seems to hit for the gym To cast off the sweat to remain slim. Finally winter, The snow seems to be forever falling So don't go about grouching Go country cross skiing. No matter what season of the year you may have You can always exercise irrespective of place and time - Sport is health! Emilia Binkowska; Class 3A
SPORTOWY ROK
Kiedy słońce latem pražy I žar leje się z nieba, Zamiast siedzieć i się nudzić Po plažy pobiegaj Za to wiosna, Kiedy łaka kwiatami się mieni Wskocz na rower I jedž prosto na łono zieleni. A jesienią, kiedy liście Z drzew juž opadają Wszyscy idą na siłownię, Siódme poty wyciskają. No i zima, Śnieg za oknem prószyć nie przestaje, Zamiast zbijać w domu bąki, Na nartach poszalej. Obojętnie jaka pora roku właśnie jest wiczyć možesz zawsze, wszędzie - Sport to zdrowie jest! Emilia Bińkowska; Class 3A What kind of influence does music have on one's life Music is one of the many media which has been used from the earliest times of mankind and which has been ever since the most popular. It allows the composer to express his thoughts, opinions, outlooks and feelings. Throughout the many centuries it has become an element connecting people of different races and nations all over the world. Music is something that is constantly changing. In every epoch there existed certain defined trends and rules of its creation. In case of the early primitive man it was the rhythm of the beat on very simple instruments; later as civilizations and cultures started developing, music became more sophisticated and complex. As a result many new types of music arose, sometimes so different from each other, however, each type found its followers. In today's times we have to choose from a mixture of all the musical compositions which were created and survived beginning with the classical composers, next all the patriotic songs of the military, national anthems to the contemporary composers of jazz, pop and rock. It is impossible to encompass everything which is connected with music because all the time something new is being created and I do not think that there can be a person who could say that he likes all the different types of music or that he does not like music at all. Music always carries a message with it; it is hidden or outspoken. Every one of us depending on the environment he or she lives in, one's age, one's beliefs and likes, will always find something for him or herself. Many times, however, stereotypes are formed which say that the young living in blocks of great big cities always have to listen to hip-hop, or that people after forty devote themselves entirely to the contemplation and intoxication with the works of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Strauss or that the elderly have nothing else to do but only to listen to the songs sung between the two World Wars or to music connected with festivities. It is possible that the majority does so but we cannot just place people on shelves depending on what type of music they prefer. Parents sometimes do listen to the music which is preferred by their children and many a time they accept it to the extent that they find in it values which are important for them. Lately, the motto "Music links generations" has become quite popular. And it turns out to be true in many cases. Old songs in new arrangements sung by famous conteporary vocalists obtain fresh splendor and are accepted by the younger generation. Music, however, not only connects. It is also a reason for the many divisions of society into different subcultures. Hippies listen to reagge, Skats to hip-hop, Metal people to metal music, Punks to punk rock and skinheads to different racist bands. One can say that music defines the given subculture. The thoughts and outlooks that are expressed by the leaders of the bands are often an indication as how to live for the people who listen to it. Sometimes devoted fans identify themselves with these views to such an extent that they try to live the way their favorite group suggests in their songs; many times this leads to different conflicts with the environment, society and law. Yet, it turns out that we, unfortunately, often have more religious fanatics rather than musical ones. In our times we could often observe the subcultures fighting with each other: the Skins beat the Punks and visa versa. This also has its association with music because the contents of their songs of both these groups obliges them to reject the other party. Most often the key is the difference in their outlooks. Without a doubt, music has an influence on people. Sometimes it is great, other times it is small. There are people who could sit for hours listening to classical music each time experiencing new feelings. Others turn the volume up as much as they could to hear their operas and they "howl" with the tenors, baritones or sopranos. Those who are musically gifted sing these songs of their favorite singers. All of these people have one musical passion in common. Music allows them to relax, ponder and sometimes make way for their tense emotions. I truly believe that music has an effect on every one. It can bring about both negative and positive emotions. It can enchant, sadden, bring happiness, lift one's spirits up. In my opinion the world would not be able to exist without music. My experience with music not only enriched my inner life, but also I have obtained a wider view of the world and people. My favorite performers like Kazik, Lady Pank, T. LOVE, Kult and a couple of other rock bands and, above all, Jacek Kaczmarski, who not more than once enabled me to, through their lyrics, perceive the world from a somewhat wider angle. In their songs I could find lots of reference to my own life and I know that a lot of people, not only my age, have similar experience. I learned something from my idols about life, but I likewise have found in their texts descriptions of situations which I have been in. I can not imagine my life without music because I am convinced that it has a great, positive influence on people, just as it has on me. Jakub Gołaszewski; Class Ia |
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