Vocabulary:

education – освіта

participate – брати участь

extracurricular – позаурочний

leisure time – відпочинок

delivery – доставка

involved – задіяний

crafts – ремесло

citizenship – громадянство

peer pressure – соціальний тиск

unemployment – безробіття

pregnancy – вагітність

juvenile delinquency – юнацька злочинність

I. Answer the questions:

1. How much time does typical American child spend at school?

2. Where do American students participate?

3. What do American kids do at leisure time?

4. Do young people work in the USA?

5. Where do they work?

6. Is American youth involved in any organizations or groups? What are they?

7. What problems do young people have?

8. Do young people of Ukraine have the same problems?

II. Insert the necessary word:

Schools provide American children with much more than academic…. More than 80 percent of all students participate in… …, such as sports, student newspapers, …., debate teams, choral groups and bands.

During their … time, American kids spend much time watching…., listening to … or playing … … , but many also have after school… . Many youths work part-time on weekends or after school at fast-food…, baby-sit for neighbours, have delivery jobs or work… .

Many youths are also involved in different … or are active in church and religious-group activities. Other belong to youth groups such as Girl Scouts or… , were they learn about citizenship, crafts, arts, camping and other outdoor activities.

Thousands of young Americans take care of the elderly, the handicapped and … …, or help clean up … .

Computer games, organizations, in the shops, extracurricular activities, television, Boy Scouts, leisure, the environment, education, jobs, restaurants, music, hospital patients, drama clubs.

Topic 57. Human Rights

Human Rights for Young People

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child outlines the rights of people under the age of 18 including:

1. Young People have the right to be safe and protected from harm.

2. Young People have the right not to be abused in any way, be it physically, emotionally and so on.

3. Young People have the right to speak, be listened to and be believed.

4. Young People have the right to make their own decisions about their future.

5. Young People have the right to be treated with respect and dignity.

6. Young People have the right to complain against unfair treatment

7. Young People have the right to say NO! 

Your Responsibilities

If you want to use your rights and have them taken seriously by other people you have to accept certain responsibilities.

You have the right to say no but there are always consequences to your actions and behaviour. For example, if you said no to doing your homework, what do you think would be the consequences? Punishment ... extra homework, failing exams... etc.

So although you have the right to make decisions about your future, you need to make sure they are informed decisions and that you know all the possible consequences of the choices you make.

If you expect to be respected, believed and listened to, then it's only fair that you give other people respect, believe them and listen to them.

Legal Ages

At age of 8: you can be found guilty of a crime

At age of 16: you can be sent to a Young Offenders' Institution

General Rights and Duties

Leaving home

You can leave home when you are 17.

Employment

Generally, a child under 15 years must have a permit to be employed. However, a child under 15 but not younger than 11 may be employed to deliver newspapers and pamphlets.

There is no minimum age for the employment of a child in a family business or in entertainment.

Drinking

It is forbidden for a young person under 18 to buy, receive, possess or consume alcoholic drinks.

Smoking

It is forbidden to sell cigarettes to a person under 18.

Driving

A young person can get driving license at the age of 16.

At the age of 18 a young person gets a motorcycle learner's permit

Weapons

It is forbidden for young people under the age of 18 to buy or have possession of an air-gun or air-rifle. There are severe restrictions on carrying knives. No one may possess, carry or use a knife unless it is carried in a safe and secure manner consistent with the lawful excuse for which it is possessed. Lawful excuse includes possession or use in the course of employment, lawful sport or as part of a collection, display or exhibition. It will not be a lawful excuse to possess, carry or use a knife for self-defence.

Voting

A young person cannot vote until the age of 18.

Wills

A person must be 18 to make a will.