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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about children
An upswing of anglophone kids in Vaud schools
Monday, 7 May, 2012
In the canton of Vaud, more and more English speakers are choosing to put their children in state schools. Experts say that these families often move to communes in Vaud along Lake Geneva to take up jobs with multinationals. As times get tougher, the allowance companies are paying out for their staff members’ kids’ education is shrinking. On top of that, a lack of space means many private schools have long waiting lists. So in larger and larger numbers, the children are heading to state schools. WRS’s Catherine Allen talks to Vaud authorities, and discusses the trend with a school that’s seen a steep rise in applications from anglophones. For many, integration and learning French is key. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Anna Dollard about her experience of sending her son to public school:
Monday, 7 May, 2012
In the canton of Vaud, more and more English speakers are choosing to put their children in state schools. Experts say that these families often move to communes in Vaud along Lake Geneva to take up jobs with multinationals. As times get tougher, the allowance companies are paying out for their staff members’ kids’ education is shrinking. On top of that, a lack of space means many private schools have long waiting lists. So in larger and larger numbers, the children are heading to state schools. WRS’s Catherine Allen talks to Vaud authorities, and discusses the trend with a school that’s seen a steep rise in applications from anglophones. For many, integration and learning French is key. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Anna Dollard about her experience of sending her son to public school:
Teens kick cannabis via family therapy
Friday, 27 April, 2012
Cannabis has for many years been considered a soft drug no worse than alcohol. But in recent times its psychologically addictive qualities have been the subject of numerous studies. How do you help people who smoke regularly, especially teenagers, kick the habit? In 2000, Switzerland joined four other countries to study a new treatment approach called multi-dimensional family therapy. The results of that study have now been announced in Geneva and experts say they’ve been successful in addressing the worst cases of addiction. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Philip Nielsen from the Phoenix Foundation has been leading the study in Switzerland:
Friday, 27 April, 2012
Cannabis has for many years been considered a soft drug no worse than alcohol. But in recent times its psychologically addictive qualities have been the subject of numerous studies. How do you help people who smoke regularly, especially teenagers, kick the habit? In 2000, Switzerland joined four other countries to study a new treatment approach called multi-dimensional family therapy. The results of that study have now been announced in Geneva and experts say they’ve been successful in addressing the worst cases of addiction. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Philip Nielsen from the Phoenix Foundation has been leading the study in Switzerland:
Pressure's on for crackdown on sex crimes involving children
Monday, 23 April, 2012
How should Switzerland deal with people who commit crimes involving sexual assaults on children and minors? Campaigners from the Marche Blanche association have launched an initiative on the issue: they say anyone convicted of child sex offenses should be banned from working with kids for life. Meanwhile, the Federal Council says it will put forward a counter-proposal, saying automatic lifetime bans would be disproportional. It proposes an automatic 10-year employment ban for the most serious crimes. A judge who saw a very strong risk of re-offending could impose a lifetime ban. For reaction to the measures the government is proposing, WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Ronja Tschumperlin from the Swiss Foundation for the Protection of Children:
Monday, 23 April, 2012
How should Switzerland deal with people who commit crimes involving sexual assaults on children and minors? Campaigners from the Marche Blanche association have launched an initiative on the issue: they say anyone convicted of child sex offenses should be banned from working with kids for life. Meanwhile, the Federal Council says it will put forward a counter-proposal, saying automatic lifetime bans would be disproportional. It proposes an automatic 10-year employment ban for the most serious crimes. A judge who saw a very strong risk of re-offending could impose a lifetime ban. For reaction to the measures the government is proposing, WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Ronja Tschumperlin from the Swiss Foundation for the Protection of Children:
Comparing sex ed between Switzerland and Holland
Friday, 20 April, 2012
Campaigners in Switzerland have until October next year to obtain the requisite 100,000 signatures in order to have a public vote on an initiative to outlaw sex education before age nine. But one country where sexual education begins very early is in The Netherlands. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Yuri Olrichs from Rutgers WPF—a research centre that produced the Dutch curriculum on the issue. He began by asking him what age children start learning about sex:
Friday, 20 April, 2012
Campaigners in Switzerland have until October next year to obtain the requisite 100,000 signatures in order to have a public vote on an initiative to outlaw sex education before age nine. But one country where sexual education begins very early is in The Netherlands. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Yuri Olrichs from Rutgers WPF—a research centre that produced the Dutch curriculum on the issue. He began by asking him what age children start learning about sex:
Should kids get sex ed before age 9?
Friday, 20 April, 2012
No sex education before nine years old—that’s what backers of an new initiative want to see in Switzerland. It’s called “Protection against Sexualization at the Kindergarten and Primary School” and is supported by a number of right-wing political parties. So what would change if this new initiative outlawing sex education before age nine was passed at the ballot box? Rainer Kamber is a spokesperson at “Swiss Sexual Health.” WRS’s Dave Goodman asked him how things work right now:
Friday, 20 April, 2012
No sex education before nine years old—that’s what backers of an new initiative want to see in Switzerland. It’s called “Protection against Sexualization at the Kindergarten and Primary School” and is supported by a number of right-wing political parties. So what would change if this new initiative outlawing sex education before age nine was passed at the ballot box? Rainer Kamber is a spokesperson at “Swiss Sexual Health.” WRS’s Dave Goodman asked him how things work right now:
Tackling obesity in young kids by talking to them
Monday, 16 April, 2012
A quarter of a million children in Switzerland are overweight. But as a parent how would you feel if you received a letter from your child’s school—telling you just that? A controversial pilot project has been launched in the cantons of Bern and Fribourg to help kids between five and eight and their families—giving them access to a doctor for two years. Some argue the kids are too young to be put on a formal diet programme and others say it isn’t up to schools to get involved. So how will the scheme work? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Dr. Damian Meli from the General Practice Medicine Institute in Bern:
Monday, 16 April, 2012
A quarter of a million children in Switzerland are overweight. But as a parent how would you feel if you received a letter from your child’s school—telling you just that? A controversial pilot project has been launched in the cantons of Bern and Fribourg to help kids between five and eight and their families—giving them access to a doctor for two years. Some argue the kids are too young to be put on a formal diet programme and others say it isn’t up to schools to get involved. So how will the scheme work? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Dr. Damian Meli from the General Practice Medicine Institute in Bern:
Kids, please express yourselves inside the party zone
Tuesday, 3 April, 2012
Zurich officials want to curb illegal parties thrown by all those pesky kids, so they’ve launched a pilot project allowing for legal parties. But do all the rules that accompany these legal parties—and there are a lot them—make them uncool and thus unattractive to those rowdy youngsters? WRS’s Alex Helmick puts the question to Allan Guggenbühl, a psychologist specializing in youth violence and director at the Institute for Conflict Management in Zurich:
Tuesday, 3 April, 2012
Zurich officials want to curb illegal parties thrown by all those pesky kids, so they’ve launched a pilot project allowing for legal parties. But do all the rules that accompany these legal parties—and there are a lot them—make them uncool and thus unattractive to those rowdy youngsters? WRS’s Alex Helmick puts the question to Allan Guggenbühl, a psychologist specializing in youth violence and director at the Institute for Conflict Management in Zurich:
Style File: Dressing your kids in funky, comfy clothes
Thursday, 22 March, 2012
Hansine Johnston goes on a mission to get fun, simple and hip clothes for kids. She talks to Adriana Danos from Thalia & Bubu, who started the business with another mom, Alexia Esteve. Esteve discusses how their passion for kids’ duds turned into a thriving business both online and in pop-up stores. Hansine also gets reporter Celeste Neill’s take on cool childrens’ clothing shops in Zurich:
Thursday, 22 March, 2012
Hansine Johnston goes on a mission to get fun, simple and hip clothes for kids. She talks to Adriana Danos from Thalia & Bubu, who started the business with another mom, Alexia Esteve. Esteve discusses how their passion for kids’ duds turned into a thriving business both online and in pop-up stores. Hansine also gets reporter Celeste Neill’s take on cool childrens’ clothing shops in Zurich:
Expert calls for better early childhood ed for migrant kids
Thursday, 16 February, 2012
Is Switzerland doing what it should be for the one in five people living here who don’t have a Swiss passport? The OECD—the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—has published a report on immigration, employment and integration in Switzerland. Thomas Liebig is from the International migration division and led the research. He talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Thursday, 16 February, 2012
Is Switzerland doing what it should be for the one in five people living here who don’t have a Swiss passport? The OECD—the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—has published a report on immigration, employment and integration in Switzerland. Thomas Liebig is from the International migration division and led the research. He talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Should struggling Zurich students be allowed to drop French?
Tuesday, 24 January, 2012
The Green Liberal and teacher Christoph Ziegler has reignited a fierce debate about who should speak which national languages. He believes French should be optional for teenagers who are already struggling at school. WRS’s Jo Fahy asked him why:
Tuesday, 24 January, 2012
The Green Liberal and teacher Christoph Ziegler has reignited a fierce debate about who should speak which national languages. He believes French should be optional for teenagers who are already struggling at school. WRS’s Jo Fahy asked him why:
Pros and cons of homework help on the web
Monday, 23 January, 2012
A growing number of students are using the web for help with homework in Switzerland. So much the better say some experts—but the Internet might not provide the answer to every parent’s prayers. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has the story:
Monday, 23 January, 2012
A growing number of students are using the web for help with homework in Switzerland. So much the better say some experts—but the Internet might not provide the answer to every parent’s prayers. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has the story:
ABE: Putting ski helmets to the test
Thursday, 19 January, 2012
The range of models and prices varies widely, but every ski helmet should come with the guarantee of effective head protection. ABE, the Consumer Show puts eight popular brands to the test and finds that the level of protection varies widely too—but not necessarily in parallel with the price tag:
Thursday, 19 January, 2012
The range of models and prices varies widely, but every ski helmet should come with the guarantee of effective head protection. ABE, the Consumer Show puts eight popular brands to the test and finds that the level of protection varies widely too—but not necessarily in parallel with the price tag:
Religion required—controversial new course in Zurich schools
Monday, 16 January, 2012
Starting this year, pupils in the canton of Zurich have a new lesson to go to. It’s called Religion and Culture—and it means religious education is now compulsory in schools. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Monday, 16 January, 2012
Starting this year, pupils in the canton of Zurich have a new lesson to go to. It’s called Religion and Culture—and it means religious education is now compulsory in schools. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Dig It! Gardening for kids and other 2012 trends
Friday, 13 January, 2012
Hester Macdonald talks about what gardening trends to watch for in 2012. She talks to John Stanley, retail guru, as well as Erwin Meier, director of the Meier Garden center in Dürnten in the canton of Zurich. She also gets trend insights on the year ahead from Rachel Doyle, director of the Arboretum Garden centre in County Carlow in Ireland. Trends include gardening for children, edible landscapes and colour in the garden. Next week in part two, Hester talks about trends in plants, including the introduction of a blue orchid:
Friday, 13 January, 2012
Hester Macdonald talks about what gardening trends to watch for in 2012. She talks to John Stanley, retail guru, as well as Erwin Meier, director of the Meier Garden center in Dürnten in the canton of Zurich. She also gets trend insights on the year ahead from Rachel Doyle, director of the Arboretum Garden centre in County Carlow in Ireland. Trends include gardening for children, edible landscapes and colour in the garden. Next week in part two, Hester talks about trends in plants, including the introduction of a blue orchid:
Insurer finally approves cancer drug for four-year-old
Friday, 23 December, 2011
Two weeks ago, a Swiss newspaper published the heart-rending story of four-year-old Elliot. Elliot was diagnosed with a malignant kidney cancer, but his health insurer refused to pay for the drug he needed. As we reported at the time, doctors say nearly one family in three faces a similar battle to obtain cancer drugs for their kids. But for Elliot there’s been the best Christmas present of all. On the line now is Elliott’s mother, Nicole Scobie Torekov:
Friday, 23 December, 2011
Two weeks ago, a Swiss newspaper published the heart-rending story of four-year-old Elliot. Elliot was diagnosed with a malignant kidney cancer, but his health insurer refused to pay for the drug he needed. As we reported at the time, doctors say nearly one family in three faces a similar battle to obtain cancer drugs for their kids. But for Elliot there’s been the best Christmas present of all. On the line now is Elliott’s mother, Nicole Scobie Torekov:
