Polarization In The Political System Essays - Fanaticism

Polarization in the Political System On Tuesday, November 14, 1995, in what has been perceived as the years biggest non-event, the federal government shut down all "non-essential" services due to what was, for all intents and purposes, a game of national "chicken" between the House Speaker and the President. And, at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars a day, this dubious battle of dueling egos did not come cheap (Bradsher, 1995, p.16). Why do politicians find it almost congenitally impossible to cooperate? What is it about politics and power that seem to always put them at odds with good government? Indeed, is an effective, well run government even possible given the current adversarial relationship between our two main political parties? It would seem that the exercise of power for its own sake, and a competitive situation in which one side must always oppose the other on any issue, is incompatible with the cooperation and compromise necessary for the government to function. As the United States becomes more extreme in its beliefs in general, group polarization and competition, which requires a mutual exclusivity of goal attainment, will lead to more "showdown" situations in which the goal of good government gives way to political posturing and power-mongering. In this paper I will analyze recent political behavior in terms of two factors: Group behavior with an emphasis on polarization, and competition. However, one should keep in mind that these two factors are interrelated. Group polarization tends to exacerbate inter-group competition by driving any two groups who initially disagree farther apart in their respective views. In turn, a competitive situation in which one side must lose in order for the other to win (and political situations are nearly always competitive), will codify the differences between groups - leading to further extremism by those seeking power within the group - and thus, to further group polarization. In the above example, the two main combatants, Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, were virtually forced to take uncompromising, disparate views because of the very nature of authority within their respective political groups. Group polarization refers to the tendency of groups to gravitate to the extreme of whatever opinion the group shares (Baron & Graziano, 1991, p.498-99). Therefore, if the extreme is seen as a desirable characteristic, individuals who exhibit extreme beliefs will gain authority through referent power. In other words, they will have characteristics that other group members admire and seek to emulate (p. 434). Unfortunately, this circle of polarization and authority can lead to a bizarre form of "one-upsmanship" in which each group member seeks to gain power and approval by being more extreme than the others. The end result is extremism in the pursuit of authority without any regard to the practicality or "reasonableness" of the beliefs in question. Since the direction of polarization is currently in opposite directions in our two party system, it is almost impossible to find a common ground between them. In addition, the competitive nature of the two party system many times eliminates even the possibility of compromise since failure usually leads to a devastating loss of power. If both victory and extremism are necessary to retain power within the group, and if, as Alfie Kohn (1986) stated in his book No Contest: The Case Against Competition, competition is "mutually exclusive goal attainment" (one side must lose in order for the other to win), then compromise and cooperation are impossible (p. 136). This is especially so if the opponents are dedicated to retaining power "at all costs." That power is an end in itself is made clear by the recent shutdown of the government. It served no logical purpose. Beyond costing a lot of money, it had no discernible effect except as a power struggle between two political heavyweights. According to David Kipnis (1976, cited in Baron & Graziano, 1991), one of the negative effects of power is, in fact, the tendency to regard it as its own end, and to ignore the possibility of disastrous results from the reckless use of power (p. 433). Therefore, it would seem that (at least in this case) government policy is created and implemented, not with regard to its effectiveness as government policy, but only with regard to its value as a tool for

Social Security Privatization essays

Social Security Privatization essays Over the past few decades, social security has transpired to be one the most debatable as well as one of the biggest federal programs. Even though the benefits derived from the program are well-liked by the recipients, there is still concern about the issue of retaining enough revenue to continue to ensure the benefits of the program in future generations. The real concern is what to do with the system when the baby-boom generation begins to retire in 2010. No one can be sure if the currently imposed taxes are sufficient to fund the benefits (Aaron 1989). The current system that was started in 1935 taxes the wages of the American people, and then deposits these revenues into the OASDI Trust Funds. This pay as you go system takes the revenues from the current working generations, and uses the funds to pay the current beneficiaries of the program. However, as the number of beneficiaries increase in the coming years, there may not be enough revenues to provide the same amount of b enefits. More important, however, the reports project that unless corrective action is taken, the Social Security program will become insolventno longer be able to pay promised benefits in fullaround the year 2030, well within the retirement years of the baby boom generation (Diamond 1996). Some economists argue that the social security tax may need to be raised to a level of 25% to allow for the same level of benefits. One proposed solution to the problems of the current pay as you go plan is to impose a system that would privatize the contributions of individuals. The plan presented in the earlier years by the Entitlements Commission, would be to shrink Social Security by enough to permit part of the payroll tax to be put into individual accounts, and let individuals control the accumulation until they reached retirement age (Skidmore 1999). Several different ideas for privatization have been introduced to the government, varying in ...

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Personal Statement Example Sometimes just holding the things or bringing him something that he needs. I could not see my father taking the entire burden alone therefore; I decided to help him in my own way. This time was the most difficult time of my life as well as the turning point in my life. During that period, I realized the importance of knowledge as well as money and I came to know that knowledge is a way towards money. However, one cannot deny that at times only money can help in acquiring the knowledge and then this knowledge contributes in earning both money and respect. Moreover, I came to know one more bitter reality of the world that money makes friends and money gives you respect. Nevertheless, there also exist some angels in this world who are aware of the importance of knowledge and do not care about financial conditions of a person rather their talents. As we study in economics that investing in social sector that is education, does not give a country immediate results but a country sees its r esults after some years. Similarly, knowledge along with its alleviating power that is education can take a person to the soaring heights of success but it needs some time. There are two reasons that augment my interest in economics. Firstly, my financial conditions that have always prompted me to think about certain aspects of economics such as the reason of sudden changes in demand and supply, increase and decrease in prices of certain products and saturation of market. As in the period of financial crises, I had all the responsibilities of house such as buying of groceries and other important stuff therefore, I was always aware of the increase and decrease of prices. I did not only confine myself to knowing the prices but I also tried to know the reasons behind changes in trends. In this struggle, I always got the answers of my questions that why the prices increase and decrease. This reasoning attracted me more and became second reason of creating my interest in economics. In ec onomics, there is always a reason behind occurring of any event and I am very rational person therefore, by the time I started researching more on economics and inclined more towards economics. However, this was a very tough time of my life but without these hardships, I would never be able to discover myself and know what actually field of my interest is. I used to talk to my father about the bankruptcy and know what the economic reason behind this bankruptcy was. Did we not create enough demand for our product or did our product was very expensive that people could not afford it. Did government put some restrictions on our company or did we not have enough funds to run the company. If we did not have enough funds, then what was the reason behind this? My father and I used to have long conversations on these issues and I used to enjoy it a lot. Reasoning is something that fascinates me a lot and therefore economics is my priority. In addition, I did not remain behind in the race of extracurricular activities. In my school, I was inter club representative and represented my school in other schools. I was also the representative of Hong Kong Students. I never let my financial crisis overwhelm me rather I lived my life in a realistic and positive manner. These situations made me a very audacious person and gave me valor to speak in front of people, as I knew about the reality of this world that no one is yours until you persuade them through your acts and actions. I possess

Recruiting and Selection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recruiting and Selection Paper - Essay Example It attempts to encompass every level of employees in the recruitment and selection procedure (Sullivan, 2007). Current Recruitment and Selection Approach used in Google There are several kinds of recruitment and selection approaches that an organization can adopt as well as implement. In this regard, a few of the approaches are internal sourcing, external sourcing, campus recruiting and employee referral among others. It has been apparently observed that Google use multiple approaches of recruitment. The prime objective of the organization is to employ talented employees. With respect to recruitment and selection approach, Google adopts unique approach and thus developed an effective recruiting culture successfully. The recruiting functions in Google encompass entire organization rather than focusing only upon human resource (HR) department. As a result, it can be affirmed that Google has gone through following certain extraordinary steps for attracting along with retaining best tale nts. The components relating to recruitment and selection approach that used by Google are as follows: Employment Branding Employment branding is a method of making an organization to be one of the finest sites to work for. Google has successfully established itself as an employer brand which helps to attract huge figure of individuals or people. As a result, Google is observed as one of the top companies of employment choice for different talented individuals. In this regard, the approach of employer branding helps to attract potential employees towards any particular brand (Sullivan, 2007). Employee Retention Google produces exceptional experience for the employee and provides chances for them to concentrate on developing their key abilities. Due to this reason, the rate of employee turnover in Google is quite low, even if the organization provides the employees only market- oriented salary. The key rationale for Google’s unique recruitment approach is that the organization does not consider money to be the only issue in employment, rather there are other non-monetary factors that largely affects employee loyalty by a considerable level (Sullivan, 2007). Creativity Google continues to crop up with innovative approaches in relation to recruit and select talented employees. For instance, in the year 2006, Google had rearranged its search engine in order to deliver effectual recruiting message to the students as well as the faculties of different schools and colleges. This approach of recruitment was quite simple and discreet in nature (Sullivan, 2007). Employee Referral Program Employee referral program is the other vital recruitment approach which used by Google. In this particular approach, if any suggested candidate is appointed by the organization, the employee who referred that candidate gains reward on the condition that the suggested employee stays for a specific time period. In Google, the program concerning employee referral has been designed w ith the intention of gaining excellent candidate experience. Google can be viewed to be highly active and considers every referral with equal importance. While other organizations design the program relating to employee referral on the basis of fulfilling organizational requirements, Google had understood that the success of employee referral program should be designed in order to satisfy the requirements of the employees (Sullivan, 2007). Data Oriented Approach to Candidate Evaluation Google

Produce a critical analysis of an article on a current economic issue Essay

Produce a critical analysis of an article on a current economic issue of your choice from the 'Financial Time' - Essay Example According to the news, published in the Financial Times on July 13, 2010, Lord Turner who is the chairman of the Financial Services Authority has announced the new proposals for the mortgage lending policy (Goff and Masters. 2010). The FSA has found that due to the shortcoming of the mortgage lending policies, the customer are facing problem with the repayment of the loan that may lead to credit crunch in financial service sector of U.K. The FSA has conducted a review and analysed the current scenario of mortgage market. According to the review, the FSA has found certain facts indicating the borrowers’ inability to repay the loan. These facts have been discusses below. It has been found that the living cost of 46% consumers’ household has been reduced after the repayment of mortgage. The burden of the mortgage repayments are so high that borrowers are left with no or very little money after the repayment of mortgage. The overall idea of FSA’s proposal for the mortgage loan policy is to ensure that every mortgage borrower will be able to repay the loan. Lesley Titcomb, who is a FSA director of the mortgage market has commented that â€Å"While it is clear the mortgage market has worked well for many, we need to build a strong new framework to protect mortgage customers and to ensure that the problems we have seen in the past do not happen again, particularly as the mortgage market recovers† (FSA-website. 2010). However, the current mortgage market is already in distress as there has been a decline in the house prices and the interest rates. â€Å"Estate agents had fewer inquiries from potential homebuyers last month while the supply of homes for sale showed signs of picking up, adding to fears that the housing market could be poised for further price falls† (Cohen. 2010). The supply of the real estate has gone up but the demand for houses remains weak in the first quarter of this month. The agents

History Of The Compound Interest

History Of The Compound Interest The history of compound interest goes back thousands of years, at least to Babylon, the traditional for Israel. What compounding means is the adding of accumulated interest back to the principal so that interest is earned on interest from that moment on (Wickipedia; the peoples dictionary). This is far different than simple interest, which means that the principle remains separate from the interest, which is paid to the creditor at various intervals, and so is not added to the principal amount. In other word, compound interest is when you put your money in a bank, you will normally receive interest. Interest is a percentage received on the invested amount for a period of (usually) a year. Principal for compound interest: For example, say you invest RM1000 in a bank for 5 years at 5.00% interest per annum As you can see, your balance at the end of 5 years, using compounding is RM1276.30. However, if the simple interest calculation is used, you would only receive RM1250.00 at the end of 5 years. So basically, compounding allows the interest you receive at the end of each year to generate more interest for the following years of your investment period thus enhancing your total returns. Formula: When the interest is compounded once a year: A = P(1 + r)n However, if you borrow for 5 years the formula will look like: A = P(1 + r)5 This formula applies to both money invested and money borrowed. Frequent Compounding of Interest: What if interest is paid more frequently? Examples of the formula: Annually = P ? (1 + r) = (annual compounding) Quarterly = P (1 + r /4)4 = (quarterly compounding) Monthly = P (1 + r /12)12 = (monthly compounding) P = the principal (the initial amount you borrow or deposit) r = the annual rate of interest (percentage) n = the number of years the amount is deposited or borrowed for. A = the amount of money accumulated after n years, including interest. Compound interest from Malaysian perspective. This time I want to show a newslater I subscribe from the young Malaysian millionaire mr. Irfan Khairi. He tells about the power of compound interest when we had saving. Compound Interest is the most important tool that gives rich people in the world. The key is, can start saving as early as even a little, and discipline to keep the consistency. What is interesting here is where we select our saving store to provide high returns, the next great compound interest would be more shown again. He mentioned about the stores that can provide returns of 12% per year is, I is not no other a mutual fund or unit trust. Now in Pakistan, returns 12% is quite normal if you research the companies Mutual funds. Please read newslater the power of compound interest to know. The compound intereset is not how do people get rich easier but it is how to make sure people get rich. Wanted to know what way? Let me explain with a better viewer Imagine a baby when born, every day, his/her mother put RM1.00 to the fund for the baby, of dollars daily. Its a total of RM30 per month. Year, the amount to RM365. Continue into the reserve fund and when the baby was aged 40 years, the amount contained in the fund is RM14, 600. Money saved is not growth. Perhaps the funds used to upgrade to a larger fund. But, lets face it RM14, 600 from the storage for 40 years is not a large amount. Now, imagine if the money is stored in the storage unit yields of 12% per annum interest and RM1 in store every day since birth. Money should only RM14,600, now RM352, 943.18 after 40 years. RM352, 943.18? Where it came from the RM338, 343? This is the answer to the question of how to become rich for sure. Addition of RM338, 343 is coming from the compound (Compound Interest). Compound Interest is the most important tool that gives rich people in the world. Elbert Einstein was question of the compund Interest. Answers given by him is very easy. He said the compound interest is the greatest Invention of all time. Of course my example of the baby in the not quite logical. How much is a mother can enter RM1 each day until the baby is 40 years of age. However, my example is to show that the small savings that we, if invested in the long run, it will be great! I have contacts who know to take advantage of interest compounds. They are husband and wife simple. Husbands income is RM2,500. Wife income is RM2,500. They live modestly and not wasteful. So, to cover all expenses paid by husband-living homes, cars, food and drink and all the requirements for payment by the husband. Meanwhile, the wife of the store to pay the storage unit yields 12% (now in Pakistan, returns 12% is quite normal if you research the companies Mutual funds). A couple is actually in the road that will lead them to become millionaires. On how? Save RM2,500 per month and given 12% returns on their savings, they say start at the age of 25 years (married young). Before they reach 45 years of age and get wealth, amounting to RM2,473,138.41. Yes, almost RM2.5 million. And this is the only think that kept wages wife could not go up for 20 years. A couple achieved millionaire status in 38 years of age. All of this is the power of compound interest. If you are not excited by these figures, let me explain more about the kompound interest and the interest compounds the key to success. The key to interest compounds. That is, start by quickly. If you delay starting your savings, interest kompun delayed effects. The answer is very simple, infact, it is no longer a secret because in any personal finance books in the world, surely there is a telling chapter in this way. Means that 100% if used will make us millionaires. Yes, you too can become millionaires if this manner. No matter our background, no matter the level of intelegent us, no matter what our expertise, there is a way to be sure that someone is a millionaire. However, not many people really take advantage of this because of Islamic Religion especially forbidden to do so. The Quran explicitly mentions compound interest as a great sin. Usury (oppressive interest), known in Arabic as riba, is considered wrong. Compound interest from others perspective. Several writers I studied traced the concept of compound interest to the Sumerians, whose empire included fabled Babylon. Could it be that compound interest and its questionable value is another gift to us from Babylon, the kingdom and system against which God declares eternal vengeance? Although Jubilee justice of the Bible allows no interest to be charged to fellow Israelites, there may be some cases where reasonable simple interest is both just and necessary. Economists use the term opportunity cost to describe the cost of other lost opportunities when money is devoted to one cause, such as making loans. So perhaps a low amount of simple interest would reward one for using money to make a loan rather than spending it upon oneself. And theres the additional element of risk, which also needs reasonable compensation. But never should interest be charged on funds loaned to the poor for their subsistence, nor should unpaid interest be used as a reason for foreclosure on productive assets or personal dwellings. Our legal system generally protects moderate home equity from loss in bankruptcy cases, but not against foreclosure due to lapsed mortgages. Why not? The effect of compound interest Weve all seen articles on the wonders of compound interest. But most of us dont have large sums of money just lying around waiting to be invested wisely. So were going to see how us poor folks can apply compound interest to make a difference in our lives. Time and compound interest, however, are a double edged sword. That 14% interest youre paying on your credit card debt is actually much higher if you figure in compound interest. now lets get down to how us poor folks can take advantage of compound interest. Could you find a way to save RM5 per month? Maybe skip lunch at McDonalds or rent fewer videos each month. If you drive a lot you might save 2 gallons of petrol by getting rid of the extra weight in the trunk of your car. Maybe send a couple of handwritten notes instead of greeting cards. If you look and you really want to, youll probably find some way to save that $5 each month. But, at that rate itll take forever to save anything. Well, lets see. If we save RM5 per month, earn 5% interest compounded monthly and continue to do that for 10 years whatll we save? Well, well have saved RM600 (120 x 5). But the account will be worth RM776. Thats enough for a purchase or repair bill. You do not understand and have credit card debts. We people cannot save money. Oh, but youre wrong my plastic using friend. Lets suppose you take that RM5 per month and add it to your credit card payment. Youll actually do better than the saver. Lets assume that your credit card interest rate is 14% annually. After ten years youll have paid off an additional RM1,315 in credit card balance. More time magnifies the effects of compounding. Lets say you put some money away today at 5% interest. That money will double in about 14 years. If you left the interest in the account youd have twice as much money earning interest in years 15 through 28. Its like you were getting 10% interest on your original savings. By year 29 youll be earning 20% interest on your original savings! The rest of the account will earn a less depending upon how long its been in the account. Another great mind of the Twentieth Century, the philosopher and theologian Alfred North Whitehead, believed that everything in the universe is constituted by its relationships to other things. Whitehead is the source of what has come to be known as process thought. In addition to an intensity differential, there is another difference between simple and compound relationships. If my identity is constituted by my relationships, I need to take other people and other things seriously. In part, they make me who I am. Simple relationships are those in which I deny this fundamental reality and act like everything is about me. Compound relationships, on the other hand, are ones in which I recognize the truth: my life is indeed about me, but its also about other people and other things as well. Value comes from relationships that are both substantial and reciprocal. In terms of our everyday experience, simple relationships focus only on how useful or obstructive others are to helping us get what we want. Each person in our lives has a functional role: customer, sibling, competitor, parent, employee, investor, teacher, friend, boss, teammate, or subordinate. We also view the elements of the natural world in an instrumental way: air is to breathe, water is to drink, land is to develop, trees are to harvest, oil is to drill for, and crops are to engineer. When our national interest is defined one-dimensionally, other nations are either with us or against us, friend or foe, loyalist or traitor. The problem with this approach is that it severely limits the value we can create. This has become painfully clear to our nation in recent months. We are learning the hard way that much of what happens in the world is not about us and what we want. If democracy eventually comes to Iraq, it will come because the people of Iraq long for it, not because our military insists on it. Our mistake as a nation is not that we want freedom from tyranny for the Iraqi people. Our mistake is in believing that our view of things is the only one that must be taken into account. I am deeply troubled by the disdain for human dignity shown in the Abu Ghraib prison. But I am also troubled by how those actions mirror with appalling clarity our wide-ranging disdain for other interests and other points of view. Value comes from relationships that are substantial and reciprocal. We will always be better off when we understand the truth: our interests are compound.

Inclusion in the Classroom Essay -- essays papers Education Special Ne

Inclusion in the Classroom Inclusion can be defined as the act of being present at regular education classes with the support and services needed to successfully achieve educational goals. Inclusion in the scholastic environment benefits both the disabled student and the non-disabled student in obtaining better life skills. By including all students as much as possible in general or regular education classes all students can learn to work cooperatively, learn to work with different kinds of people, and learn how to help people in tasks. â€Å"As Stainback, Stainback, East, and Sapon-Shevin (1994) have noted, ‘...the goal of inclusion in schools is to create a world in which all people are knowledgeable about and supportive of all other people,’† (Whitworth, 1999) Of the many benefits aspects for children placed in inclusion classrooms, there is none more important than the academic benefits. One way that students benefit is by learning skills of independence. Special needs students learn to depend on themselves first and then ask for help when they really need it. In the inclusive setting there won’t be as much of an opportunity for teachers or aids to assist all of the students. All children are taught through new and sometimes improved methods when put into an inclusion classroom. Teachers , through training, will learn different methods of teaching concepts that may make it easier for students to understand. Difficult concepts in math, such as volume, may be taught in a new and easy to understand way. In a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University (Success For All) it was determined that in an inclusion setting â€Å"assessments showed improved reading performance for all students, the most dramatic improvements o... ...d students gain better life skills and a better understanding of others. Reference List: Walker, K. E., & Ovington, J. A. (1998, September 6). Inclusion and its effects on students. Electric Journal for Inclusive Education, Vol. 1 Ed. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2002, from http://www.cehs.wright. edu/~prenick/JournalArchives/Winter-1999/inclusion.html Whitworth, J. W. (1998). A model for inclusive teacher preparation. Electric Journal for Inclusive Education, Vol. 1 Ed. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2002, from http://www.cehs.wright.edu/~prenick/ JounalArchives/Winter-1999/whitworth.html Stout, Katie S.(2001, November 5). Special education inclusion. Wisconsin Education Association Council.Retrieved November 28, 2002, from http://www.weac.org/resource/june96/speced.htm Special education in the regular classroom.(1969). New York, NY: The John Day Company, Inc. Inclusion in the Classroom Essay -- essays papers Education Special Ne Inclusion in the Classroom Inclusion can be defined as the act of being present at regular education classes with the support and services needed to successfully achieve educational goals. Inclusion in the scholastic environment benefits both the disabled student and the non-disabled student in obtaining better life skills. By including all students as much as possible in general or regular education classes all students can learn to work cooperatively, learn to work with different kinds of people, and learn how to help people in tasks. â€Å"As Stainback, Stainback, East, and Sapon-Shevin (1994) have noted, ‘...the goal of inclusion in schools is to create a world in which all people are knowledgeable about and supportive of all other people,’† (Whitworth, 1999) Of the many benefits aspects for children placed in inclusion classrooms, there is none more important than the academic benefits. One way that students benefit is by learning skills of independence. Special needs students learn to depend on themselves first and then ask for help when they really need it. In the inclusive setting there won’t be as much of an opportunity for teachers or aids to assist all of the students. All children are taught through new and sometimes improved methods when put into an inclusion classroom. Teachers , through training, will learn different methods of teaching concepts that may make it easier for students to understand. Difficult concepts in math, such as volume, may be taught in a new and easy to understand way. In a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University (Success For All) it was determined that in an inclusion setting â€Å"assessments showed improved reading performance for all students, the most dramatic improvements o... ...d students gain better life skills and a better understanding of others. Reference List: Walker, K. E., & Ovington, J. A. (1998, September 6). Inclusion and its effects on students. Electric Journal for Inclusive Education, Vol. 1 Ed. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2002, from http://www.cehs.wright. edu/~prenick/JournalArchives/Winter-1999/inclusion.html Whitworth, J. W. (1998). A model for inclusive teacher preparation. Electric Journal for Inclusive Education, Vol. 1 Ed. 2. Retrieved October 31, 2002, from http://www.cehs.wright.edu/~prenick/ JounalArchives/Winter-1999/whitworth.html Stout, Katie S.(2001, November 5). Special education inclusion. Wisconsin Education Association Council.Retrieved November 28, 2002, from http://www.weac.org/resource/june96/speced.htm Special education in the regular classroom.(1969). New York, NY: The John Day Company, Inc.

Individual Interview Reflections: The Role of a Teacher in Literacy Learning Essay

Literacy learning is a complex endeavor; it is faced by numerous challenges that range from the materials used to methods of teaching/learning applied to teachers’ personalities to peer influence among the students and the deluge in technological stimulus among other factors. My interview with Edith A. Diaz, PHD, CSC, and teacher ‘B’, both language art teachers and plying their trade at Tom Browne Middle School revolved around four core areas of their work as literacy instructors. The interview required the teachers describe their roles as literacy instructors, more specifically citing things such as the percentages of total time devoted to educational tasks e. g. paper work, attending and conducting workshops, discussions with other school personnel, and parents meetings, etc. ; describing materials and methods that have been recommended by school or the school district as the most appropriate in literacy learning; to quote materials and teaching/learning methods that they as teachers have found to be un-useful or ineffective in literacy learning, and to describe materials and methods that they find most appealing relative to the philosophical and theoretical schools of thought they belong as experienced teachers; to describe their greatest concerns insofar as literacy learning is concerned especially at the wake of the deluge of technological stimulus, and; to describe what they are doing to combat any negatively impacting stimulus on students literacy learning. The teachers were also required to add other comments, concerns, and personal stances relating to their roles as language art teachers. Edith’s Reflections Edith bases her convictions on the role of a teacher/educator on various philosophical and theoretical arguments as put forth by great thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, Einstein, Erickson, Steinbeck, and Roger. Her perception of the role of an educator/teacher is that of an all-round professional whose duties are many and not practically definable. She portrays this through a balanced conclusion of the role of a teacher, a conclusion that comprises of both philosophical and theoretical perspectives. For instance, from a philosophical perspective a teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops, while from a theoretical perspective, a teacher’s influence is timeless, and it assumes both negative and positive influences. However, she clarifies that her core role as a grade seven language arts teacher is to teach the standards as set forth by the state of Texas (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills – TEKS). In one sentence her role revolves around imparting the appropriate knowledge and skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and presenting) that will enable the students to become competitive members of the global society. In order to achieve this seemingly tall order-task, Edith apportions her time professionally depending on the level of workload of the various sub-tasks that forms her role in a seven day-week. For instance, she dedicates 45% of her time in drawing lesson plans for the whole week, 15% on paper work (record keeping, grading and register, etc), 15% conducting research i. e. teaching strategies, pedagogy, etc. 15% on discussion with fellow teachers and other school personnel, 5% attending or conducting workshops (reviewing current research articles in preparation to conducting educational workshops), and another 5% on parent meetings. Edith seems to belong to a unique breed of teaching professionals in terms of her convictions on the choice of the best materials and methods that should be applied in classrooms situations. She prefers infusing the Socratic Method and Rogerian student-centered approach in her daily class activities. This enables her to utilize the best aspects of both pedagogical approaches, for instance, the Socratic Method tends to intimidate students but when it is infused with the Rogerian student-centered method it goes down well in empowering the students. Her advices are that, a teacher’s role should not be authoritative; rather it should be an egalitarian role that assumes the Roger’s (1957) core conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. She anchors her arguments on the eight developmental stages as put forth by Eric Eriksson’s, specifically on stage five that covers â€Å"Ego Identity vs. Role Confusion†, which holds that adolescents tends to seek relativity within a global context. She therefore asserts that the establishment of an appreciation of holistic child is core to the educational process. Edith warns that some pedagogical methods such as teacher directed instruction are rewarding but their excessive use may impede or even stifle the natural creative learning process in students. To support her convictions she invokes Plato’s reasoning that sought to discourage the habit of teaching students by force and harshness, but rather directing them to learning through what amuses their minds. Again, she advocate for the Paideia model of instruction giving that seeks to balance teacher directed method by inducing Socratic method and intellectual coaching to make it more student involving. She perceives the deluge of stimulus, especially technological stimulus as a threat to literacy instruction. According to her, technology is a worthwhile tool in literacy instruction; however, too much of it may kill natural creativity. For instance, students find it hard to imagine a scene from a variety of written text, which makes the skill of inferring a challenging task. She warns that too much of reliance on technological devices may stifle and/or nullify a students creativity and imagination. To her, imagination and creativity are the key pillars to literacy instruction, just as Albert Einstein cleverly asserted, that imagination is more important than knowledge. In a her parting shot, she equates a teacher/educator’s role with that of a great artist, and refers the teaching process to as a great form of art that uses human mind and spirit as its medium. Teacher B’s, Reflections I also interviewed another language arts teacher from Tom Browne Middle School who teaches eighth graders mostly, he preferred to call himself a classroom teacher. Unlike my first interviewee (Edith), Teacher B did not use big and fancy words to describe his role or what is expected of a teacher/educator. He plainly indicated that he spends between 8 and 10 hours at school in any given school day, he spends the greatest part of this time instructing students in classroom, he spends a bit of this time grading papers, running copies, and recording scores. He also spends an hour a week writing down lesson plans for the week. However, being the chairman of the language arts department, teacher B is in charge of making the department as vibrant as it is practically possible. He contends that the choice and implementation of pedagogical approach to adopt in the school is part of his core duties together with other teachers in the department. For instance, despite the school district purporting that (Texas Assessment Knowledge and Skills – TAKS) is the best measure for learning he contends that this is not the best method. He points out that the best thing is for a school to invest in numerous programs that will benefit the students, the Kamico and Gourmet are examples of such programs that they are currently using in the school. Nevertheless, his advices are that, the most effective methods and materials for learning are the reading of texts (novels, picture books, magazines, and newspapers) as it will enable the students to become good readers. Further, according to him the use of literacy circles among other methods plays a core role in enhancing comprehension of the materials read. Though he was too brief in giving out some methods and materials that to him are less effective in learning, he clearly indicated that as a departmental head he involves other members of the department in reviewing methods and materials in order to improve them and make them more custom fit to the students. However, there are some materials and methods that cannot be improved and therefore are done away with (placed on the back burner). Teacher B contended that the impact of the teacher in literacy instruction is compromised by a number of factors. For instance, he pointed out time as the greatest of all the factors; there is no enough time for students to read on their own, and teachers usually assume they are doing so at their free time but mostly it is not that way. This in turn affects their reading prowess. Again, he quoted the lack of sufficient funds to procure quality literature materials for the students as another stumbling block to literacy learning. Students are also known for vandalizing some of the reading materials they are given. Further, he contended that there is a chronic shortage of role models to emulate in the implementation of the teaching methods, for example, he indicated that he had heard about literature circles for along time but never tried to apply them in a class situation, he only came to understand and conceptualize them when he went to college. Just like Edith indicated, teacher B contended that the deluge of computer literacy has greatly affected the interests of students to read books. He tries to compare the traditional sense of reading books and working on projects that deal with novel units with how students are currently doing with themselves in the wake of computer literacy. Though the students are now more skilled in verbally deciphering information from the short internet sources, they are faced with great difficulty when it comes to putting down in written format what hey have learned and the conclusion that their prowess in literacy has virtually declined. Again, he associates the tendency of students to read graphic novels and shorter books as a factor to their declining literacy levels. He regrettably asserted that the role of the teacher in literacy learning is affected greatly by peer influence among the students; much as they would try to be different from others, students tend to think collectively as a group, this hugely affects their reading prowess as they are more concerned about how their friends perceive them and therefore fail to stand up for their beliefs if they think they are different from their friends. The role of the teacher therefore at such situations should be to facilitate intervention practices that will enable the students to reverse to the traditional methods of reading. For instance, he believes and tries to be a good role model, he always tell his students the amount of reading he gets done through out the school year. He spends a lot of his time in a week reading novels rather than watching television. Just like Edith asserted, he always emphasizes on building self-imagination rather than having other people thinking for him. To compensate for the fact that students do not read own their own he tries to give his students a steady stream of novel reading in class, he reads picture books, poems, short book chapters to his students for enjoyment and thought provoking. In his parting shot he contended that teachers should give their students enough space to choose what they want to read as a way of creating avenues to escape from the realities that they face in their daily school and home life. References: †¢ Edith A. Diaz, PHD, CSC, (Grade Seven Teacher): Tom Browne Middle School (interview), conducted on February 11, 2009 †¢ Teacher B, (Grade Eight Teacher): Tom Browne Middle School (interview), conducted on January 20, 2009

My First Voice Recital essays

My First Voice Recital essays Ever since I was a little girl I have always loved music. I began taking piano lessons when I was about five years old. There was just something about it that enthralled me. It lead me to want to create my own music. I took lessons for nearly eleven years. With the business of being in highschool now and having other things to do, practicing for piano just didn't seem to fit. So I quit taking lessons. My mom would always say "You can't quit because then you'll never play anymore!" I would always argue back "Yes I will mom, but this time I'll be plaing for fun!" You see, I didn't always like the songs that my teacher told me I had to play. I longed for the day when I would be the one to choose what I was going to invest my time and effort into learning. Then I began to sing. I would sing all the time, no matter where I was or what I was doing. My friends and family always joked around with me and said "You have to try out for American Idol!" And for a while it was just a laughing matter. But then I began taking voice lessons from a great teacher who reminds me of Julie Andrews. I fell in love! You see, before I was never able to get infront of a crowd and do anything before. At all my past piano recitals I was always so nervous and would mess up (even though I always got superior). But the voice recital was different. I felt like I couldn't mess up. It's a great feeling and I only hope that all my recitals to come are just as good as my first. ...

Japanese Recession Essays - Age Of Enlightenment, Free Essays

Japanese Recession Essays - Age Of Enlightenment, Free Essays Japanese Recession Thomas Paine Thomas Paine For many years Thomas Paine was the epitome of American histories greatest drawback. In American history there is always that one detail that doesnt make it into popular curriculum. Whether it be the point of view from the loosing side of a war, to the secret dalliances of a popular politician, to the truth of a times social opinion- the American student is taught only so much. The most proper, popular material makes it in; along with any major facts too commonly known to ignore. Anything else is liable to fall to the wayside without enough support from historians or academia. There is always room for the improvement of materials taught; so said, it would seem there is much more to know about Thomas Paine then is currently taught. Within the last twenty years there has been a resurgence of interest in both Thomas Paine and his work. The new social consciousness is more in tune with his writings, and his underdog status appeals to many. His blunt style of speech has earne d him admiration in many corners; in fact one of President Ronald Regans more clever speech writers took to adding exerpts from Paines writings into the Presidents major addresses. Paine has lately been heralded as Americas first modern intellectual, and is the subject of numerous books which have come out within the last four years. Common knowledge of Paine includes his birth in 1737 in Thetford, England, his writing of the Common Sense pamphlet in 1776, and his involvement in the American Revolution. Less common knowledge is his other writings: The Crisis, Rights of War and The Age of Reason; along with his role in the French Revolution. Even further down the path into the obscure is his brief French citizenship, his time in a French prison, and the short period of fourteen months which elapsed between his arrival in the Americas, and the publication of Common Sense. Paine is nothing if not the son of both perseverance and necessity. His financial woes are the stuff on which youn g loan sharks are weaned. He grew up the soon of a poor corset maker, and knew only poverty most of his life. His employment track is littered with miss-starts in many fields, including stints as a teacher, a seaman, a tobacco shop owner and at various times a excise man. None of these were to be successful positions for Paine, giving him the start of a grudge towards England and its economy. After surviving one wife and separating from another, Paine was near his perceived end. Yet on the recommendation of a new acquaintance from America he decided to head west to the colonies, in hope of escaping the misery hed endured in England. With nothing to his name but letters of recommendation (from the American whom hed met in London), he arrived in Philadelphia, America in 1774. This American happened to be none other then Benjamin Franklin, and the prominence of Paines recommender gained him the position of editor of the newly founded Pennsylvanian Magazine. Here, Paine established hims elf as a radical thinker, a person unafraid to enter into the independence furor. Remembering the hardships he had faced in England, Paine became he ideal American patriot. In 1776 Paine published the Common Sense pamphlet without signing his name to it. Demanding independence from England and the establishment of a strong American union, the pamphlet found overwhelming support and approval with American colonists. With the revelation of its author the pamphlet continued its wave of success, drawing commendation from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In one of the most perfectly timed releases in history, Common Sense was unleashed to a public hungry for direction, and touched upon a raw nerve the size of a revolution. Paine quickly followed up in December of that year with the first in a series of pamphlets entitled The Crisis. It began, These are the times that try mens souls...Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. These lines were read aloud to Washingtons men as the y lay shivering in the winter cold. From that point on Paine looked to figure prominently in the American revolution. Thomas Paine served in the

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DIABETES LITERATURE REVIEW - Essay Example The research was conducted by the National Institute of Health. The method for this particular research was kept very simple where three year cross sectional sample of patients’ electronic health records were accessed and analysed. The research analysed the health records of 21,816 Asians above the age of 35 years. Diabetes was analysed and classified through ICD-9 Codes, laboratory tests, and use of anti-diabetic medication (McNeely, Boyko, 2004). Afterwards, the prevalence of diabetes was analysed in a scientific manner. In terms of the result, it was found that age related prevalence ranged from 5-18% in women and the odds of diabetes in South Asian women were quite high. It was further found that the chances of diabetes were quite high in Asians compared to other populations (Ye, et al, 2009). The prevalence of diabetes was quite high in Asian women mainly because of their diet and lifestyle. Based on the results, it was concluded that the prevalence of diabetes is quite h igh among Asian women compared to other populations (Ye, et al, 2009). Though, obesity was not a major factor leading to diabetes but erratic lifestyle and diet was the major reason behind the prevalence of diabetes among Asian Women. ... an and Pacific Islander Populations: A View from California The overall population of Asian Americans has been increasing at a rapid pace in the United States. Asian Americans include people from India, South East Asia, and Far East and comprise around 4.7% of the total US population. As per the National Health Survey, participants from Asian subgroups were asked questions on their understanding of diabetes in them and around 14% of Asian Indians reported to be having diabetes (Kanaya, et al, 2008).The method for the survey was kept simple based on the analysis of genetic, behavioral, and socio-cultural factors. It was found that in terms of the genetics, various participants suffer from diabetes because of the involvement of genes while many suffer from the insulin secretory defects. In terms of the behavioural factors, it was found that obesity is one of the major factors in diabetes and majority of participants were suffering from the obesity issues. Asian Indians and Filipinos we re found to have more obesity issues. In terms of socio-cultural factors, it was found that low economic status was one of the major reasons behind the prevalence of diabetes (Kanaya, et al, 2008). In terms of the results, it was found that, demographic, socio-cultural, behavioral, and psychological factors play an important and major role in deciding the prevalence of diabetes among Asians. The chances of diabetes were supposed to be higher in South Asian women mainly because of their diet and obesity issues. Moreover, cultural issues like lack of physical movement outside the home and little awareness on the issue of diabetes were factors behind the rise of diabetes in Asians especially in South Asian women. Based on the results, it was concluded that the goals for diabetes prevention and

Identify and Discuss an Example of Discriminatory Practice in a care Essay

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