Can't hear or won't hear? — the evidential experience of children with disabilities

Twin brothers aged 12 attended a special needs boarding school which had provision for children with emotional disturbances and other disabilities. While they were at home during the holidays, their mother overheard a conversation between them which led her to suspect abuse. She asked them several questions and decided to contact the police. An investigation began which also included interviewing several other boys, some of whom had been removed from the twins' school and were attending a school elsewhere. The evidence obtained from a number of the boys was considered to be strong enough for the Crown Prosecution Service to take the case forward. Almost a year after the mother's initial referral the committal hearing took place. Lobbying from a local voluntary organization resulted in screens being used in the courtroom which would otherwise not have been provided. The case was heard and transferred to the Crown Court for trial. The magistrate in the committal hearing made clear recommendations that the children's disabilities and the delay there had already been in bringing the case to court should determine that the subsequent trial needed to take place as soon as possible. However, more delays ensued and the final date was established almost a year later. The children each spent between 2 and 6 hours in the witness-box. The defence counsel frequently focused on their disabilities in questioning the validity of their evidence. The twins were expecting to give evidence by video-link, but the delays meant they were considered too old to be ‘vulnerable’ witnesses and had to speak in open court. The first twin's evidence was not completed in one day and the mother was told that she could not talk to either of them about the case, nor could they stay together that night. She was told that she had to choose which of her distressed sons to take home and that she had to make alternative arrangements for the other child. She was given no support in making the decision. In addition to this distress, during the day she had witnessed the defence counsel's attitude to her son, who had severe hearing difficulties. The defence counsel had laughed at the child's difficulty in hearing and said, ‘Can't hear or is it that you don't want to answer?’ One of the other children was humiliated by the defence counsel saying, ‘Who would want a smelly, shitty boy on their lap, no-one hugs smelly, shitty boys like you?’. The child was giving evidence on video-link and became so upset he was ‘switched off’ so that he was no longer visible to the court. Another child had epilepsy and counsel argued that he could not put questions to the child in case the child had a fit. In addition, an ‘expert’ witness who had seen some of the children 5 years previously stated categorically that ‘these children are born liars’. The outcome of this trial was that the headmaster was found guilty on several counts and received an 18-month prison sentence.     

Now — and Now — and Now: Time,Space and the Material Entanglements of the Classroom

This study examines time and children in the classroom based on free‐flowing observations written in class by 10‐year‐old pupils. The concept of entanglement is activated to consider time together with space and matter and explore the dynamics in which these elements interact. The analysis unsettles the notion of time as a separate, ‘outside’ parameter: rather than examining children in time, this viewpoint enables us to see children as being or becoming of different times and entangling with material elements. On the other hand, entanglements also produce different moments of now, which are seen as multiple and hybrid. The author suggests an understanding of research with children as ‘lively entanglements’ in which special attention should be given to things that matter to children.     

Now Take My Life-Please!

Abstract

Although single motherhood by choice has become more common in the last three decades, little is known about the influence of this family structure on the quality of life of mothers. To address this gap, the current study examined the quality of life profile of 61 single mothers by choice (SMC) in comparison to that of 53 divorced and 60 married mothers in Israel. The findings indicate similarities between the three groups in the psychological, physical, social, and cultural components of quality of life. However, after controlling for economic and paternal involvement variables, the quality of life of SMC was significantly higher in all four components compared to that of married mothers. No significant differences were found between the SMC and divorced mothers.     

EAP Research Then and Now

No abstract available for this article.     

Now the Orgy Is Over

Based on six months of ethnographic fieldwork, this study explores the intersections between embodied flesh and digital (re)presentations by examining how participants experience virtual sex on Second Life. We explore how and to what extent Second Life avatars mediate personal desires and fantasies with others who, collaboratively, construct sexual adventures in forms of playful deviance that allow for the emergence of secret sexual selves, as well as how those sexual adventures are ultimately fashioned and experienced in a “diffused life” that is neither of Second Life nor of first but a tightly bound combination of the two. Despite the enormous freedom of Second Life residents for seemingly boundless creative self‐expression, we conclude that these experiences are more bound to and confined within disciplined practices than they first appear.     

Samson Now,an Introduction

In this introduction to the group of essays that follows by Sam Gerson, Jean-Max Gaudillière, Miri Rozmarin, and Udi Aloni, I trace the inspiration for this project, a collective contemplation of the figure of the biblical Samson using as its springboard David Grossman's book about Samson, Lion's Honey (2005 Grossman , D. ( 2005 ). Lion's Honey: The Myth of Samson . New York , NY : Canongate . [Google Scholar]). I write about how the project emerged out of my work with a patient who recommended Grossman's book to me and my effort to grapple with the dilemmas of familial and collective loyalties that transpired as a core aspect our joint endeavor. How does one let go of one's child, in life or in transference? And what kind of letting go should, on the other hand, be resisted? How can we think about this conundrum of freedom and responsibility? This is the crucial clinical and ethical concern underlying the collection of essays published here.     

The Gender Gap in Canada: Now You See It,Now You Don't*

Nous examinons les attitudes des Canadiens entre 1965 et 1990 afin d'établir l'ampleur et l'orientation du changement d'attitudes devant des enjeux qui produisent généralement des différences d'opinions entre hommes et femmes. Nous observons de plus en plus d'écarts d'opinions entre les deux sexes en ce qui concerne la force et la violence, et la sécurité sociale, mais non le féminisme et l'égalité. Les plus grandes différences se trouvent chez les jeunes, les personnes ayant étudiéà l'université et les individus qui ont un emploi. De plus, les divergences d'opinions entre les deux sexes quant aux enjeux féministes surgissent lorsque ces variables sont contrôlées. Nous en concluons que l'évolution des différences d'opinions entre hommes et femmes est influencée par l'interaction entre le changement des rôles et la socialisation en raison du féminisme et nous suggérons que les jeunes, l'éducation et l'emploi contri-buent à la création d'une conscience commune chez les femmes. We examine Canadian attitudes between 1965 and 1990 to determine the magnitude and direction of attitudinal change on traditional gender gap producing issues. We discover growing differences in aggregate attitudes towards force and violence and social welfare, but not feminism and equality. The greatest gender gaps appear among young, university-educated, and employed people. Furthermore, gender gaps on feminist issues appear with controls for these variables. We conclude that changing gender gaps result from the interaction of role change and socialization by the women's movement and suggest that youth, education and paid employment combine to create a gender consciousness among women.     

Stop Stigma Now plans for future

Stop Stigma Now is planning to combine the names of NDRI‐USA and Stop Stigma Now, in a move that the organization hopes will give it more gravitas. Stop Stigma Now is a growing force in the methadone treatment patient community, which has been eclipsed by the general move to buprenorphine and naltrexone in media coverage.     

秀水街的昨天与今天

Old Silk Street老秀水The former outdoor Silk Street (xiushuijie) was not just another tourist destination,it was also a place of really good stories to impress the people back home.The tall tales usually had elements of extremely harsh weather conditions,such as blistering cold temperatures,or scorching heat,given that both Beijing's"Spring"and"Autumn"seasons only lasts a few short weeks.Also, in the tall tales,there would probably be one or two"bargaining battles."A typical story might be:"She wanted 480 y...     

Soap Opera,Then and Now

This essay examines the sustained sociological relevance of US daytime soap operas, a seemingly dead or dying generic form that continues to influence the entertainment landscape as well as media scholars from across the academy. The essay begins by examining soaps' longstanding resonance with three‐core sociological concerns: identity, community or sociality, and cultural legitimacy. It then discusses scholarly research opportunities associated with the recent decline of the genre and concludes by examining current debates in soap opera scholarship.     

凝聚每份爱，点燃颗颗心(英文)

By May 18,the All-China Women's Federation had collected more than 102.8 million yuan (US $14.69 million)in donations and supplies to assist victims of the May 12 earthquake截至5月18日,全国妇联累计募集资金和物资总计1.028亿元。Women,Children Survivors of Tremor Require Assistance灾区妇女儿童等待救援All of us at Women of China are calling upon you,our readers,to assist the women and children who survived the deadly 8-magnitude earthquake that     

Where We Are Now with Intergenerational Developments

ABSTRACT

Intergenerational programs are beginning to burgeon in England. They are relatively recent in their development. The systemic absence of connectiveness between policy developments and services relating to older people and those relating to children and young people is identified. The key strategic players are described. Questions about future developments and research are discussed.