The world is not so wonderful Dillemas of socialization. Anna Karwinska & Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska, Cracow University of Economics

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Truth or Dare?Dilemmas in science communication with children

SiS Catalyst & EUCU.NET Joint Conference in Łódź/Poland, 23rd -26th October 2013

The world is not so wonderfulDillemas of socialization

Anna Karwińska & Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie

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The world is not so wonderful: Dillemas of socialization

Anna Karwińska &Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska Cracow University of Economics

SOCIALIZATION IS THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH A HUMAN BEING LEARNS THE WAY OF LIFE OF HIS/HER SOCIETY AND DEVELOPS THE CAPACITY TO FUNCTION BOTH AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A MEMBER OF THE GROUP.

FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SOCIALIZATION IS THE PROCESS WHEREBY HE / SHE DEVELOPS A SELF, AND LEARNS TO RELATE TO OTHERS AROUND HIM / HER.

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MAIN GOALS OF SOCIALIZATION:

1. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE TAUGHT THE NECESSARY SKILLS DEMANDED FOR LIVING IN HIS/ HER SOCIETY 2.THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AND DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL PRACTICES HE/SHE IS TAKING PART IN 3.THE INDIVIDUAL MUST INTERNALIZE THE BASIC VALUES AND BELIEFS OF THE SOCIETY 4.THE INDIVIDUAL MUST DEVELOP A SENSE OF SELF

5. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM SOCIAL ROLES

6. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE ABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS HE/SHE EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL LIFE


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SOCIALIZATION DILLEMAS

Children are being perceived as too innocent and too fragile to face the conflicts and difficult problems of contemporary world.

On the other hand they should be socialized to a „real world” not to the idealized version of social reality, if they are to cope with unavoidable threats and problems.

To keep them unaware of existing threats and problems means that they are not prepared and equipped for these challenges.


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At the same time children - depending on many factors: age, social environment, current economic and political situation of the country, etc. - - at the same time aware of the various phenomena and processes difficult and - at the same time - aware of being excluded from the discourse (usually for "their own good").

What's more, they are also victims of this situation, both the scale of the macro problems (eg. poverty) and micro-scale of their everyday experiences, which are often marked by violence, a sense of loneliness or lack of understanding.


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The problem thus it is not WHY expose them to real world but rather HOW to do it.

There is a need for expansion of the socialization beyond the regular curricula existing in the majority in educational institution.

At the same time there is a need for new methods and tools that could be used in such a process. Also the cooperation between schools and other educational institutions is needed. Here is a great task for Children’s Universities.


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Anna Karwińska & Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska Cracow University of Economics

THE EXAMPLE

Presented material has been used to involve children at the early stage of education (3th grade elementary school) into the discussion about the difficult problems that they could face in their everyday life.

Three common problems were selected after the consultation with schoolteacher. These were: lack of acceptance because of being DIFFERENT; exposure to VIOLENCE; the question of POVERTY

These topics were presented as short stories and then children were asked to react .


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METHODOLOGY OF WORKSHOPS

• Introduction what’s your name, what you do best and what you really don’t like to do;

• Presentation of heroes: Robik and Lolcia who help children solving their problems;

• Story-telling (suported by mood board): daily problematic life situation and solutions suggested by heroes;

• Children’s activity: discussion, voting for one of the heroes, activity: „what I would do if...”

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The world is not so wonderful: Dillemas of socializationCASE STUDY - WORKSHOPS IN KRAKOW HELD IN

OCTOBER 2013

•Workshops were held at 75th Primary School in Krakow,

•Children are learning at the same class (3th class) and they have known each other well, total pax was 15 pupils (boys and girls),

•Duration: 45 minutes,•Used tools: computer, projector, flip chart, drawn mood boards, paper, crayons

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OBESITY - WHY DIFFERENT PEOPLE LOOK

DIFFERENT THAN ME?

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„she was sad because other people were laughing at her” -Bartek

„someone should explain them that they make her feel sad and unhappy” Martyna

„I would defend her” Wojtek

„ I’d ask them how they would feel at her place” Ania



10 years later

And what now? Who won?

She’s so fat!

I will help you

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VIOLENCE - DOES ANIMAL HAVE FEELINGS?

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„violence can affect all” Mikołaj

„Animals have feelings as well” Ania

„witness of violence should pay attention and ask for help from someone older” Martyna

„Imagine how cat is suffering” Ania



Police! It’s forbidden!

Happy Cat’s House

VET

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POVERTY - WHO IS REALLY POOR? RELATIVITY

OF POVERTY

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„I support Lolcia because maybe other kid would be able to pay for girl’s school trip” Kajetan

„you have to act so that the poorer colleagues doesn’t feel sorry and that doesn’t feel worse”

„I would share my savings with her” Mikołaj



„Tell your Mum that I will pay for the school trip”

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CONCLUSIONS•Level of empathy of 9 y.o. children allows to understand other people's feelings (Piaget’s Social Sensivity),

•Children are ready to speak about social problems (from the observer),

•Children intuitively choose the appropriate solution to the problems focused on helping others,

•Workshops focused on social issues can help in solving the problems of the group in which they are carried out,

Education

The world is not so wonderful Dillemas of socialization. Anna Karwinska & Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska, Cracow University of Economics