Social issues

SOCIAL ISSUES, AND EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

LECTURE 19

19.1.1. Numerous youth organizations which have been formed in the USA lately unite young people from all the classes and sections of the po­pulation. They have become quite an important factor in the life of American youth.. Depending on their orientation, they fall into several separate categories. The first category embraces hobby and special interest groups and clubs. They are devoted to the pursuit of a single interest: from rock fan clubs, fishing clubs to clubs for those who collect stamps, matchboxes, coins, and old paper money.

19.1.2. Career education and vocational student groups form another category of organizations. They are active on college and university campuses across the country. Their aim is to provide instructions to various occupations and motivational activities for young people fac­ing barriers to success. Many of them stress the development of good work habits, effective public speaking and service to the community.

Those who are interested in programs teaching self-reliance skills and good citizenship, join character-building organizations aimed at the development of the "whole person". Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America offer extensive programs for character develop­ment through helping to build confidence, motivation and self-esteem.

19.1.3. Various sports organizations are usually classified according to a particular kind of sport: baseball, biking, bowling, boxing, and so on. Several organizations also provide sports programs for young people with disabilities. Political groups for children are, as a rule, associated with a particular party and support its ideas, like Young Republican Federation, for example. The same concerns religious youth organi­zations which are connected with some denomination (Young Protestants, Young Catholics, etc.).

19.1.4. Greenpeace is also a youth organization belonging to the category of conservation and humane education groups which work for the preservation and wise use of the natural environment and for pro­moting the humane treatment of animals. Greenpeace draws atten­tion to the most dangerous ecological problems in the world today, and protests against atmosphere pollution, sea and soil pollution.

Besides national organizations there exist more than 17,000 local clubs and youth centers which can be found at almost every school or college. Many youth clubs work during the day as well as during the evening.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-07