Journalistic news article

Ercolano – the city which refuses to obey the mafia

Camorran loses his power in the suburbs of Napoli. There is not a mafia boss captured this time.

In Ercolano, like the known antique city which was overwhelmed by the ashes of the Vesuvius is called today, the mafia totally lost control.  – Not one shop owner is paying the mafia anymore and all of them have lodged a complaint to their extortionists, tells Tanno Grasso in triumph to DN when he has a quick visit in Rome.

Tanno Grasso is very experienced with how to stop the mafia on an effective way. He had en shoe shop on Sicily for more than 20 years ago. There he started a movement that grew quickly to a national network which was saying no to the unwanted protection by the mafia.

The protection money that has to be paid to the mafia is nothing more than a criminal and unwanted insurance premium called “pizzo” or more often in Napoli “racket”.

When Grasso settled in Napoli six years ago, he did start to adapt Ercolano. In the city, which counts more than 60,000 inhabitants, a bloody mafia war proceeded between two clans. Between 2002 and 2009 totally 60 murders occurred, something that made many tourists canceling their visit to the antique remains of the city.

One of the first who chose to lodge a complaint to their extortionists was Sofia Ciriello who has a big bakery. – Camorron was two times in the store. They wanted me to pay immediately 5.000 Euro (45.000 Swedish Crowns) and after that 500 Euro every month. I said no, both of the times, despite I was threatened with a pistol, is she telling by phone from Ercolano. Camorron wanted Sofia Ciriello to visit the mafia quarter Cuparella to agree on the payments. She did not. She neither submitted near she was threatened with a pistol. The mafia took revenge by placing a bomb which destroyed the bakery. Even this did not stop her. The bakery reopened and she lodged a complaint. The quarter’s butcher followed her like the fish shop, the optician and the jeweler.

Today is a big process taking place against mafia´s extortionists in Ercolano. 41 members of Camorron is accussed for threat and extorsion.

Tanno Grasso is satisfied. It is not sure that the Ercolano model will be exported. A series of fortunate circumstances caused that the mafia lost, does he point out.

Geography assignment on volcanoes

 2012-12-06

Churchill School, Class 4

Teacher: Krijn Bouhuis

Geography assignment on volcanoes

Product: Answers on the questions below, about volcanoes

Instructions:

• Read these instructions attentive!
• Work on the assignment together with the class mate you are normally working with.
• Make one set of answers for the both of you.
• Answer the questions below.
• Use literature from the library and/or use the internet in order to find the information that is needed to answer the questions.
• Write your answers as whole sentences.
• Use the computer for answering the questions. Handwritten answers are not accepted. You are welcome to illustrate your answers by pictures or handmade drawings.
• About question 1: write at least 5 sentences and use a picture or a drawing that illustrates your answer.
• About questions 7 and 8: write at least 5 sentences.
• Mention the used sources in your answers.
• Deadline of handing in: 16^th of December 2011.
• Good Luck!

Questions:

1. What is a volcano?  How does it work?
2. How becomes a volcano founded?
3. On which particular places on earth can we find volcanoes? Why?
4. What is the difference between magma and lava?
5. Why do often many people live nearby volcanoes?
6. Describe a death, a sleeping and an active volcano.
7. Write about an active volcano on Island. What happened with this volcano for two years ago?
8. What is the name of the volcano near Napoli in Italy and what happened with this volcano and some cities in the surroundings, about 2000 years ago? Write about this.

new version

Catty

It was Chrismas-eve, late at night. It was cold and it had snowed a lot. Alex, Jasmine, Mum and Dad came home. They had just visited grandma. They should drink a hot chocolate and after that is was it time to go to bed. Alex and Jasmine ran to the front door to open it. “Ouch!” Alex cried. He stumbled over something. “What was that?” Alex and Jasmine could not believe their eyes. There was an old woman lying in front of their house. The old woman woke up and said with a friendly voice “Help me please.” Jasmine and Alex were frightened to death and ran back to the car. “Mum, Dad” they cried. “There is an old lady lying there and she wants us to help her”. “We can do that” Dad said. “It’s incredibly cold and we have enough beds.” “Let’s see, where is she lying, in front of the door?” “Alex, Jasmine, I do not see an old woman, are you joking?” “There is only a cat here,” Dad said. “No, we are not joking!” Alex and Jasmine cried. “There was really an old lady. But could we take the cat inside? Please?” “Ok, ok, it is Christmas-eve so why not” Dad said. The cat was wet and cold and seemed extremely happy that she may came in. Mum opened a tin with fish for the cat and Dad prepared the chocolate for the children. Catty (they called the cat for “Catty”) finished her fish in a minute, she was really hungry. For Jasmine and Alex was it time to put on their pyjamas and go to bed. “Good night Mum and Dad, good night Catty.” They went to bed en slept quickly, dreaming about how they should play with Catty tomorrow morning….

Catty

It was Chrismas-eve, late at night. It was cold and it had snowed a lot. Alex, Jasmine, Mum and Dad came home. They had just visited grandma. They should drink a hot chocolate and after that is was it time to go to bed. Alex and Jasmine ran to the front door. “Ouch!” Alex cried. He stumbled over something. What was that? Alex and Jasmine could not believe their eyes. There was an old woman lying in front of their house. The old woman opened her eyes and said with a friendly voice “Help me please.” Jasmine and Alex were frightened to death and ran back to the car. “Mum, Dad” they cried. “There is an old lady lying there and she wants us to help her”. “We can do that” Dad said. “It’s incredibly cold and we have enough beds.” “Let’s see, where is she lying, in front of the door? Alex, Jasmine, I do not see an old woman, are you joking? There is only a cat here.” Dad said. “No, we are not joking!” Alex and Jasmine cried. “There was really an old lady. But can we take in the cat? Please?” “Ok, ok, it is Christmas-eve so why not” Dad said. The cat was wet and cold and seemed extremely happy that she may came in. Mum opened a tin with fish for the cat and Dad prepared the chocolate for the children. Catty (they called the cat for “Catty”) finished her fish in a minute, she was really hungry. For Jasmine and Alex was it time to put on their pyjamas and go to bed. “Good night Mum and Dad, good night Catty.” They went to bed en slept quickly, dreaming about how they should play with Catty tomorrow morning….

Age range: 4-6 years.

A smart board in every classroom in 2015! Version 1

A smart board in every classroom in 2015! Version 1

Many teachers are active on Facebook, we read our e-mail several times a day and we prepare our lessons on the computer by using information from the internet. But how is this in the classroom? The general use of computers and smart boards is still not common in the Swedish classrooms. Smart boards have been introduced in many schools during the last 10 years. But still are more than half of all the classrooms in Sweden not equipped with a smart board. In this series of 3 columns I will plead that every Swedish classroom has a smart board in 2015.  

A smart board is needed in every classroom. On many places we have the possibility to work with the internet and share the information. But not in many classrooms where the information is probably needed most. Most of the pupils are active computer and internet users. The computer is part of their life. The computer is part of the society. The pupils are used to computers and internet as a source of information and this is only becoming more important to them. At this time it is still not possible for many teachers to use the internet in the classroom in a smart way, in order to provide the pupils with necessary information. That is hard to believe.    

Besides the necessity for a teacher of having the possibility to provide the pupils with information, facilitates the smart board the teacher. It makes his job easier and more attractive. The pupils will continue asking questions. Answering and explaining is often much easier with the help of pictures/information from the internet and can be showed to the class at once. It is not longer necessary to make prints of certain pictures in the pause or at home. Moreover it is a great feeling for a teacher to have the possibility and the freedom to show the pupils the information which is needed for a better understanding.

If the smart boards are so important, why don’t we find them in any classroom yet? One reason is that smart boards are expensive. Fortunately they are becoming cheaper and cheaper. It’s true that the purchase of smart boards cost money so this has to get priority! Another reason of not having smart boards is that some, mostly older teachers, claim that the use of smart boards is too difficult. But the use of smart boards is not difficult at all! (anymore). More over offer the smart board companies a free introduction to the user of every new smart board.  

The smart board makes the use of the internet in the lessons a pleasure for the teacher. Smart boards have many more advantages which I, together some other misunderstandings about smart boards, will discuss in my column next month. All for at reach the goal: a smart board in every Swedish classroom in 2015. That makes school better and more fun for pupils and teachers.

latest version of my letter

Krijn Bouhuis

Xxxxskolan

Mr and Mrs Ahmadi                                                                            Skolgatan 1

Skogsvägen                                                                                          333333 Söderfors

33333 Söderfors                                                                                  Tel. 063-1860855

15 November 2011

Dear Mr and Mrs Ahmadi,

Last Monday we had a phone call about Karim. I like to confirm the conversation through this letter.

The Swedish language is difficult for Karim. This is not so strange for it is only three years ago that your family has moved to Sweden. Karim has worked hard on Swedish and we on the Xxxxskolan have the opinion that Karim has learned it very well. Logically is his Swedish not as good yet as that from his class mates. But I think that the gap with his classmates can be totally disappeared within 2 or 3 years.

Unfortunately, it seems that Karim has lost his motivation to learn Swedish for the moment. He is not doing his homework anymore and he is disturbing the Swedish lessons. I’ve tried to talk with Karim about this but without any result. Karim is laying behind more and more (in Swedish), which is a problem because we are working on some essentials parts just now.  

After consultation with the headmaster, I have got permission to send Karim 3 times a week to our special teacher. He will give Karim individual Swedish lessons until Christmas, so he can catch up. Like we discussed last Monday, you shall talk with Karim in order to find out what exactly is his problem with the Swedish lessons. I shall contact you about this. In the week before Christmas I will evaluate this process in consultation with you and the headmaster. Then I shall decide if we are going to continue his individual Swedish lessons or that he returns to the class.

I hope that I have summarized our conversation of last Monday correctly. If there are questions left, you can reach me on the telephone number:  063-1860855.

Yours sincerely,

Krijn Bouhuis, teacher

Letter

Krijn Bouhuis

Xxxxskolan

Mr and Mrs Ahmadi                                                                            Skolgatan 1

Skogsvägen                                                                                         333333 Söderfors

33333 Söderfors                                                                                  Tel. 063-1860855

15 November 2011

Dear Mr and Mrs Ahmadi,

Last Monday we had a phone call about Karim. I like to confirm the conversation through this letter.

Your son Karim is a nice boy. He is very smart and I like him as I like the other pupils in my class. The Swedish language is difficult for him. This is not so strange for it is only three years ago that your family has moved to Sweden. Karim has worked hard on Swedish and we on the Xxxxskolan have the opinion that Karim has learned it very well. Logically is his Swedish not as good yet as that from his class mates. But I think that the gap with his classmates can be totally disappeared within 2 or 3 years.

Unfortunately, it seems that Karim has lost his motivation to learn Swedish for the moment. He is not doing his homework anymore and he is disturbing the Swedish lessons. I’ve tried to talk with Karim about this but without any result. Karim is laying behind more and more (in Swedish), which is a problem because we are working on some essentials parts just now.  

After consultation with the rector, I have got permission to send Karim 3 times a week to our special teacher. He will give Karim individual Swedish lessons till Christmas, so Karim can make up his arrears. Like we discussed last Monday, you shall talk with Karim in order to find out what exactly is his problem with the Swedish lessons. I shall contact you about this. In the week before Christmas I will evaluate this process in consultation with you and the rector. Then I shall decide if we are going to continue his individual Swedish lessons or that he returns to the class.

I hope that I have summarized our conversation of last Monday correctly. If there are questions left, you can reach me on the telephone number:  063-1860855.

Yours sincerely,

Krijn Bouhuis, teacher