intervention ~ an act of interrupting, especially in order to prevent a bad result (interweneja) penalise - to punish (karaé) praise — to speak of with admiration and approval (pochwata) reoffend ~ to commit a crime again (ponownie popelnié wykroczenie) report — to go or be present (zglaszaé sie) response — an action done in answer (reakeja, odpowied4) revoke ~to officially say that something is no longer legal, for example a law or document (uniewazniaé, uchylaé); revocation (uniewainienic) serve (the time) — to pass and complete (a period of time) (odsiadywaé (wyrold) surveillance - the process of carefully watching a person or place that may be involved in a criminal activity (inwigilacja) terms - the conditions of an agreement, contract, ete. (warunki) trial - the process of examining a case in a court of law and deciding whether someone is guilty or innocent (proces) violate — to do something that is in opposition to a law, agreement, principle, ete. (pogwaleié, naruszyé) ‘vocational - of or preparing one for a job (zawodowy) 84 SECTION 13: EDUCATION FOR THE ELDERL’ NEW DIRECTIONS IN A CHANGING EUROPE Western European societies are confronted with the aging process of their population, which, because of its various effects, iniluences both individual lives and collective developments. Moreover, we not only note a longer lifespan for a large number of people - than in past centuries, but the majority of people reach a greater age with better health and financial security and at the same time a higher level of education than former generations. ‘The Europe of the futare has potential in aging and henee in old men and women. It will be of paramount importance for a united Europe to integrate these men and ‘women and to establish their position in society. European countries, however, are insufficiently prepared for the individual and collective resources of the elderly in the public domain such as in education, as well as in the family or private industry. The lack of education for the elderly can be put down to a concept of education that confines education to, at most, the first quarter of a human life. In addition, the negative image of the elderly and stereotypes that portray elderly people as not being sufficiently able or willing to learn impede the expansion of lifelong education opportunities. Today’s elderly people become increasingly aware that because of technological and economic demands and changes in society it is necessary to learn and retrain through the whole of one’s life. At the same time there’s a need for elderly people to contribute to the knowledge of other ~ mostly younger ~ people, which means participating in the development of society. Social Factors Affecting Education for the Elderly Arising from Structural Change In the following we explain the process of change from different perspectives and we describe its consequences for education for the elderly. Demography. From a demographic perspective we have to think about a ‘greying society’ in Europe. We have to assume that the 85,population ages ‘from the bottom up’, which means that owing to the low percentage of younger age groups the older ones obtain a quantitatively higher social importance. Age Structure. From a structural perspective we recognise both a prolongation of old age on the one hand and on the other a ‘rejuvenation’ in old age. The reasons for this are to be found in the European tendeney to an early retirement. The 55 - 64 age group is becoming more and more an independent one, where opportunities for education can take on a central role for the elderly people. On the one hand opportunities for education can be helpful when elderly people confront age and have to overcome and cope with the difficulties involved; on the other hand they contribute to creating a new life perspective for old age. Gender Bias. From a gondor-biased perspective one has to bear in mind that there is a difference between men and women. ‘The analysis of causes of death and morbidity statistics show that women live longer than men. According to these statistics older women have to be the main target group of education programmes for the elderly. These programmes have to take into account the specific needs of elderly women. Family Sociology. From the perspective of family sociology we have to consider significant changes in domestic and family structures. In the future elderly people will have a smaller family circle (owing to childlessness and to a smaller number of children) and will be affected to a great extent by ‘singularisation’ and a life on their own. This will also lead to social contacts outside the family — with people of the same age as well as with members of other age groups ~ becoming indispensable for coping with life and for satisfaction, Economics and Ecology. ‘he economie and ecological perspective shows that in the future older people in Europe will be better off economically than their parents and grandparents and will bbe more mobile in their old age. We can expect that these ‘new’ old people will be more active and that they will wish to participate more actively in their environment. We expect an increasing mobility of retired elderly people in Europe. Retired people in Europe have higher incomes than ever and have become target groups of publicity, especially in the leisure and tourist industries. Educational opportunities for the elderly in the future have to satisfy the leisure needs of older people. 86 Politics. From the political perspective we have to consider that important social fields will be increasingly influenced by older people. Older people are becoming the central political decision makers and consequently target groups for political programmes. The elderly of the future are a potential group of voters who will perceive and claim their own rights. Old people participate in many fields. ‘The lives of the elderly in past centuries were characterised by filling roles within the family (e.g., the role of grandparents). Today and in the future people have to find new and socially accepted roles, mostly to be found outside the family, Educational opportunities of the future should mean a chance to foster the initiatives of elderly people beyond national borders. Educational Policy. The perspective of educational policy shows that we should turn away from the idea and practice of education that is confined to the first quarter of human life. The important thing is to encourage lifelong education and lifelong learning. The elderly people of tomorrow will make use of more educational resourees than their parents and grandparents, so that their potential can be realised in old age, Educational opportunities in the second half of life will for certain groups of people, for instance women after the family phase, or for those who have changed occupation, become increasingly important for securing their livelihood and for the process of finding their own identity. But also because of changes in technology and the rational economy, the working world and private life, the society of the future can no longer do without lifelong education. Adapted from Education for the Elderly: New Directions in a Changing Europe by Niederfranke, 1992 TASKS (i) Some words in the text have been underlined. Match them with the definitions below. 1. neuen & group of individuals born and living about the same time ww the number of people affected by a particular 2, disease 87snnnanuenes 10 Yearn oF teach someone new skills that are needed for a job relating to older persons continuing for a lifetime .. the process of growing old sve People in general living together in organised communities . parents’ parents the act of withdrawing from one’s occupation the length of time that a person lives or is expected to live (ii) Complete the sentences with one word from the box. participate @ satisfy @ portray retrain 1. Older people wish to environment. 2, The majority of people health. 8. It will be of paramount importance for a united Europe to integrate these men and women and to their position in society. 4, Because of technological and economic demand it is necessary to learn and ... through the whole of one’s life. 5. Education can be helpful when elderly people have to vom the difficulties involved, 6. The elderly are a potential group of voters who will : . their own rights. 7, Educational opportunities for the elderly in the future have to .. the leisure needs of older people. 8. The negative image of the elderly and stereotypes s . elderly people as not being sufficiently able to . more actively in their .. a greater age with better i) Cross out one word from each sentence. - We expect that older people will be more mobile phones in their old age. . This concept confines education to the first four quarter of life. From a demographic perspective we have to think about a greying hair society. Opportunities for education can take on a central role for older elderly people. .. From a gender-biased perspective one has to teddy bear in mind that there is a difference in longevity between men and women, ;. Edueation programmes have to take into bank account the specific needs of elderly women. . Educational opportunities of the future should mean a chance to foster family initiatives of elderly people beyond national borders. (iv) Write the correct form of the words. POLISH MEANING 1. long child single mobile retired life live preedtuzenie dlugowiseznosé Dendaietnoss yngularyzacja ruchliwosé praejicie na emeryturg lugosé fein 4arédto utrzymania zoars videderd row (v) Answer the following questions based on the text. 1 2, 3. 4. In what ways do the elderly differ from former generations? What can the lack of education for the elderly be put down to? What, according to the article, is the negative image of the elderly? Are the stereotypes the same nowadays? What makes elderly people become aware that it is necessary to learn and retrain through the whole of one’s life? What is a ‘greying society"? |. Why will elderly people have a smaller family circle in the future? 897. What is the difference between the role of old people in past centuries and nowadays? 8, Why do education opportunities have to satisfy the leisure needs of older people? 9. How can education influence certain groups of people, for instance, women after the family phase, or for those who have changed occupation? 10, What are the education opportunities for the elderly nowadays? GLOSSARY aequaintance — someone who is known but who is not a close friend (najomy) advancing — continuing in a process of aging (postepujgcy) challenge - something that needs a lot of skill, energy and determination to deal with (wyzwanie) confine - to restrict (ograniczaé) consider — to think carefully about (rozwaiaé) cope [+with] - to deal successfully with a difficult situation or job (daé sobie rade, uporaé sie 2) ‘encourage - to suggest that someone does something that you believe would be good (zachecaé) field — an area of human activity or interest (pole, dziedzina) foster - to help something to develop over a period of time (rozwijaé, wspieraé) gender bias — unfair difference in the treatment of men or women. because of their sex (nieréwne traktowanie ze wzgledu na ple6) impede — to slow the movement, progress or action of something (przeszkadzaé, utrudniaé, hamowaé) income - money that someone gets from working (dochéd) interrelationship — the way in which two or more things affect each other because they are related in some way (wzajemne powigzanie) leisure - time when you are not working (czas wolny, wypoczynek) longevity - length or duration of life (dlugowiecznosé, dlugotrwalosé) mental - existing in the mind (umystowy) mobile ~ able to move from one place to another (mobilny, ruchliwy) ‘objective ~ something that you plan to achieve, especially in business or work (cel) obtain ~ to get something that you want or need (uzyskaé) 90 overcome — to succeed in dealing with a problem (przezwycigiyé, pokonaé) participate — to take part in something (uezestniczyé) portray ~ to show or describe someone or something in a perticular way (przedstawiaé) prolongation ~ an increase in the length of time that something lasts (przedtuzenie) quantitative — relating to how much there is of something (ilogciowy) rejuvenate - to make someone feel or look young, healthy and ‘energetic again (odmlodzié, ozywié) resource ~ something that you can use to help you to achieve something (zas6b, Zrédto) retired — not working any more (na emeryturze) take into account ~ to consider something when you are trying to make a decision (wiaé pod uwage) target ~ a person or group that someone is trying to influence (cel, celowy) transition — passage from one form to another (przemiana) vocational - relating to an occupation (zawodowy) willing - ready to act (chetny) 1