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Position of Czech Citizens towards the Present and Future
According to the results of our December survey, most Czechs are reliable and try to fulfil their obligations. Eight out of ten respondents said that they fulfil their obligation towards authorities and friends in time. The rule “business before pleasure” is adhered to by more than 60 % of the population of our country. Most Czech citizens have a tendency to plan their future and not to act only on the spur of the moment.
Attitudes of Czech Citizens towards the Past
In December 2003 Public Opinion Research Centre also included a few psychological questions in its survey. Among other things, we wanted to establish the attitude of Czech citizens towards their past. Overall, we can say that most Czechs have their own past and particularly childhood connected with positive emotions. Three quarters of respondents admitted that images, sounds and smells known from childhood often evoked in them nice memories and when looking back 7 out of 10 respondents recollect considerably more good than bad.
Who Do and Don’t we Recognise?
One of the fields, which was researched within the section “Historical and Ethnic Regions in the CZ”, were ideas of people about differences in inhabitants of individual regions compared with foreigners and ethnic minorities. The results show that compared with other surveyed options the fewest people dare to claim that they would recognise inhabitants of their own region, most of them are convinced they would recognise foreigners on a short-term stay in the CZ.
Importance of Historical and Ethnic Regions
During the November survey carried out within the project Czech Society 2003 we among other things were finding out the opinion of citizens concerning the importance of historical and ethnic regions. The first question was to establish general viewpoints of whether historical and ethnic regions were important, the second question surveyed opinions concerning the significance of regions from the point of view of identity strengthening and culture development.
The Public on Issues Relating to Protected Landscape Areas and National Parks in the CZ II.
In the lasts seven years, about two fifths of respondents have visited protected landscape areas and national parks in the CZ more than once (41 %) and about a third have visited them once (32 %). Information about nature on placards, notice boards or leaflets located in these areas is always read by 26%, and mostly by 57 % of respondents. These respondents predominantly give the quality of information a positive evaluation – only for 26 % is the information too specialised, detailed and incomprehensible.
The Public on Issues Relating to Protected Landscape Areas and National Parks in the CZ I.
In the survey implemented in the fist half of October, opinions and standpoints of the population regarding the issues of protected landscape areas and national parks in the CZ were explored for the needs of the Czech ecological Institute. Citizens, with some exceptions, do not doubt the importance of protected landscape areas and national parks for nature protection (97 %). A half of respondents think that villages and towns located in protected areas manage to exploit the opportunities, which these localities offer them; this is for example, the possibility of making a profit from tourism (51 %).
On Paternal and Maternal Roles in Family
The survey results confirmed that the upbringing of children was concentrated in the hands of women. About four fifths of respondents with children say for example that mother takes the child to the doctor’s or used to go to the doctor’s in case of the grown up child, as well as stays or used to stay with the child at home during illness. Mainly mothers read stories to their children and learn with them.
Opinion of the Public on Certain Issues of the Education System
The standard of education is valued as best at grammar schools (70 % positively, 8 % negatively) and universities (63 % positively, 8 % negatively). Two thirds of respondents also consider elementary schools as having a good standard (66 % positive, 22 % negative opinions) and a slightly smaller number thinks this about secondary schools completed by a school-leaving examination (62 % positive, 18 % negative opinions).
Current Problems of Czech Education System in the Eyes of the Public
The September survey also included a section of questions devoted to issues on the Czech school system. Among other things, the respondents gave their opinions about the issues of equal access to education, grammar schools providing schooling over more than four years, and private secondary schools. Almost two thirds of Czech citizens are worried that many talented children in this country will not be given a chance to study, but 6 out of 10 respondents agree with the statement that only ability and the will to study will decide what education level will be achieved and by whom.
Czech Public and the Media
Within the June research we surveyed standpoints of the Czech public towards the media. First of all we were interested in ratings of the main television news programmes. Eight out of ten respondents said that in the previous week they had seen TV Nova news at least once. About three quarters of respondents had watched "Události (Events)" (the main news broadcast of ČT1) at least once. Prima news had been seen at least once by less than a half of Czechs (46%) and ČT2 news by a third (33%).
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