Welfare practice in response of child neglect: reconstruction and analysis of the discourses on family, childrearing, and motherhood

Child neglect is an ongoing social problem, estimated to affect 5 - 10 per cent of children. The term neglect describes a behavior that deviates from an ideal norm. However, both the form of this ideal norm and the definition of deviation depend on contemporary discourses and scientific positions. Historically, it has been more frequently poor families and single mothers who have been disciplined for child neglect by the state, whilst their economic situation was marginalized. Parallel current findings raise questions regarding how these discourses form, how they influence decision-making processes, and whether a continuity can be ascertained in measures of social disciplining. Our ongoing research project on welfare practice in response of child neglect aims to reconstruct and analyze current discourses on family, childrearing, and motherhood in the context of child neglect. Taking a multi-perspectival approach, it will analyze and compare the expert discourse, the political/public discourse, and the perspective of affected mothers across two different time periods in five selected Swiss cantons. Preliminary findings indicate that gender categories, especially motherhood, continue to be of great importance. On the basis of a first analysis of casefiles, one could speak of a “motherism”: in case processing and in the course of the case, responsibility is attributed to the mother, and social and pedagogical contexts are neglected, even the financial situation seems to be given less importance. Instead, the willingness to cooperate often seems to be a key factor in deciding on further interventions. Furthermore, there are indications that in decision-making processes with far-reaching consequences, legal arguments are preferred while childrearing aspects are neglected. It can also be noted that normative and sometimes stigmatizing statements do not seem to belong to the past. In this article, we will give insight into the research design and first findings and discuss the necessity of reflecting on the images of family, childrearing, and motherhood in light of the rapid social changes in the spheres of family, motherhood, and fatherhood

Using custom-built intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) to bring relevance to and improve engagement and participation of learners in introductory accounting

This study outlines the development and initial implementation of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) designed specifically for introductory accounting. The ITS is a computer-based problem-solving environment for capital investment decision-making (CID), in which a student solves a problem and receives individualised feedback and support from the system, similar to working with a human tutor in a one-on-one situation. The system tracks the student's performance, and generates a model of the student's knowledge, which is used to adapt the instructional session to the needs and abilities of each student. The system has been designed to provide students with an enhanced problem-solving tool to be able to apply theoretical material in a ‘real-life’ simulated environment. The paper provides a description of ASPIRE the authoring and deployment computer environment for the ITS, the process of creating the Capital Investment Tutor is then discussed with a preliminary evaluation of results.1 page(s

Unabhängige Kinderrechtsinstitution in der Schweiz : aktueller Stand und Handlungsbedarf

In der vorliegenden Studie werden die wichtigsten Aspekte der geplanten Einrichtung einer unabhängigen Menschenrechtsinstitution für Kinderrechte (UMRIK) in der Schweiz dargelegt. Ausgangspunkt ist die vom Nationalrat verabschiedete Motion 19.3633, die den Bundesrat beauftragt, die Rechtsgrundlage zur Einrichtung einer UMRIK vorzulegen. Die Studie berücksichtigt des Weiteren die Schlussbemerkungen (concluding observations) des UNO-Kinderrechtsausschusses zum fünften und sechsten Staatenbericht der Schweiz aus dem Jahr 2021, in dem die Schweiz aufgefordert wird, die Einhaltung der Pariser Prinzipien und die Umsetzung des 3. Fakultativprotokolls zum UNO-Übereinkommen über die Rechte des Kindes (KRK) sicherzustellen. Einen kinderrechtsbasierten Ansatz verfolgend untersucht die Studie systematisch den normativen und theoretischen Rahmen, der für die Einrichtung einer UMRIK massgebend ist. Zudem wurden die UMRIK-Modelle anderer europäischer Länder analysiert. Auf Grundlage einer umfassenden Bestandsaufnahme der in der Schweiz im Bereich Kinderrechte tätigen Akteure und einer Befragung derselben wurde die aktuelle Situation in der Schweiz beschrieben. Auf dieser Grundlage werden die Stärken, Schwächen, Chancen und Risiken des Schweizer Kontextes aufgezeigt. Abschliessend werden verschiedene mögliche UMRIK-Modelle skizziert und der für den Schweizer Kontext optimalste Auftrag einer UMRIK definiert

Independent children’s rights institution in Switzerland : the state of play and actions to be taken

This study aims to outline the features of the proposed establishment of an Independent Children’s Human Rights Institution (ICHRI) in Switzerland. It comes after the National Council passed Motion 19.3633 that looks at addressing the absence of such an institution and takes into account the Children’s Rights Convention (CRC) committee’s concluding observations to Switzerland on its fifth and sixth periodic reports in 2021 asking Switzerland to comply with the Paris Principles and to fulfil its commitment to the CRC 3rd optional protocol. The study uses a child rights-based approach and a thorough methodology to explore the normative and theoretical framework that governs the establishment of ICHRI while also analyzing models for these institutions in other European countries. Subsequently, it thoroughly maps existing actors working in the child-right related field and conducts an expert survey to lay out the current situation within the Swiss context, which allows the identification of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the Swiss context offers. Finally, the study outlines different possible models for the ICHRI and the mandate that could potentially best fit the context

Effects of a human food additive, titanium dioxide nanoparticles E171, on Drosophila melanogaster – a 20 generation dietary exposure experiment

Although a recent human safety reevaluation of food grade E171 TiO2 was performed by a European Food Safety Authority, not many new data were considered and a major lack of multigenerational studies with reproductive endpoints was noted. In this study, we exposed fruit flies to an estimated daily human E171 consumption concentration for 20 generations. Dietary exposure of 20 consecutive generations of D. melanogaster to E171 resulted in a change in normal developmental and reproductive dynamics, reduced fecundity after repetitive breeding, increased genotoxicity, and the appearance of aberrant phenotypes. This effect can be seen as one of the classical adaptations of the fruit fly population to a stressor. A pattern that was gradually observed over the 20 generations of flies was shorter developmental time coupled with higher fecundity and egg to adult viability in virgin females, but reduced fecundity at subsequent mating events Marks of adaptive evolution and directional selection were also exhibited. The larval stages were at a higher risk of sustaining damage from E171 as they had a slower elimination rate and therefore accumulated 10 times the quantity of TiO2 compared to adults. This is particularly worrisome, since among the human population, children tend to consume higher daily concentrations of E171 than adults do. The genotoxic effect of E171 was statistically significantly higher in each subsequent generation compared to the previous one. Aberrant phenotypes were likely caused by developmental defects induced by E171 since the phenotypic features were not transferred to any progeny even after 5 generations of consecutive crossbreeding. Therefore, exposure to E171 during early developmental period carries a higher risk of toxicity, and again, in the human population, fetuses and young children would be the most endangered cohort. The fact that the daily human consumption concentration of E171 is able to interfere with and influence fruit fly physiological, ontogenetic, genotoxic, and adaptive processes certainly raises safety concerns.Author's versio