Тема 8. Из истории социальной работы
From the History of Social Work

Social work has its roots in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the resultant problems. Therefore, social work is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood in broader terms. The concept of charity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major world religions.

Pre-Modern history

In the West, when Constantine I legalized the Christian Church, the newly legitimized church set up poorhouses, homes for the aged, hospitals, and orphanages. These were often funded, at least in part, from grants from the Empire. By 590 the church had a system for circulating the consumables to the poor: associated with each parish was a diaconium or office of the deacon. As there was no effective bureaucracy below city government that was capable of charitable activities, the clergy served this role in the west up through the 18th century. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church had vast influence on European society and charity was considered to be a responsibility and a sign of one’s piety. This charity was in the form of direct relief (for example, giving money, food, or other material goods to alleviate a particular need), as opposed to trying to change the root causes of poverty.

Modern history

Social work, as a profession, originated in the 19th century. The movement began primarily in the United States and England. After the end of feudalism, the poor were seen as a more direct threat to the social order, and so the state formed an organized system to care for them. In England, the Poor Law served this purpose. This system of laws sorted the poor into different categories, such as the able bodied poor, the impotent poor, and the idle poor. This system developed different responses to these different groups.

The 19th century ushered in the Industrial Revolution. There was a great leap in technological and scientific achievement, but there was also a great migration to urban areas throughout the Western world. This led to many social problems, which in turn led to an increase in social activism. Also with the dawn of the 19th century came a great "missionary" push from many Protestant denominations. Some of these mission efforts (urban missions), attempted to resolve the problems inherent in large cities like poverty, prostitution, disease and other afflictions. In the United States workers known as "friendly visitors", stipended by church and other charitable bodies, worked through direct relief, prayer, and evangelism to alleviate these problems. In Europe, chaplains or almoners were appointed to administrate the church's mission to the poor.

2. Выучите следующие слова, найдите транскрипцию в словаре.

1. struggle – борьба, бороться.
2. resultant – равнодействующий.
3. intricately – сложно.
4. charity – милосердие.
5. orphanage – приют.
6. consumables – потребление, товары широкого потребления.
7. parish – приход.
8. responsibility – ответственность.
9. piety – набожность.
10. relief – облегчение.
11. threat – угроза.
12. usher – служитель.
13. urban area – городской район.
14. attempt – попытка, пытаться.
15. inherent – присущий.

3. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What does social work have its roots in?
2. What idea is social work intricately linked with?
3. What do you know about pre-modern history of social work?
4. What do you know about modern history of social work?
5. What do you think about modern situation with social work in Russia?