Homelessness Essay Example for Free

Homelessness Essay Homelessness is the condition and societal category of people who lack fixed housing, usually because they cannot afford a regular, safe, and adequate shelter (Smith Keown-Bomar, 2007). The homeless can either be sheltered or unsheltered. Many causes are attributable to homelessness. It could be due to natural disasters, war, mental conditions, poverty, substance abuse, lack of parental care, eviction by landlords, poor government policies on social welfare and housing. This category of people may be seen on the street in abandoned apartments, cars, hotels, refuge camps, or double-up with friends and relatives. Various means of counting the homeless in different countries have been designed, one of such techniques is point-in-time count adopted by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development which is used in all Continuum of Care among communities for better planning of government programmes and policies especially on housing and social development. For the success of the counting process, objectives are set and various methods of actualizing these goals are recruited. There is need to create a well-trained working group who are involved in planning, execution and monitoring progress of the count, as well responsible for improving and maintaining standards of the process. A point-in-time count coordinator is selected who calls for meeting, send out letters to the stakeholders in the communities stakeholders such as county judges, mayors, law enforcement, local jails, schools, local businesses with vested interests, hospitals, churches, local media outlets, and private citizens. He prepares the agenda related to the planning process, among other things. In a nutshell, determining actual number of the homeless is a difficult task due to their life style. However,proper planning and cautious execution of the count would help in identifying possible solution to housing and necessary social support to the homeless and the communities at large.

Holiday and Comfort Zone Essay Example for Free

Holiday and Comfort Zone Essay The scorching hot sun was beating down on my bare pale skin, the warm light breeze gently brushed through my blonde hair and the cool, shimmery, turquoise water soothed my skin. The smell of coconuts and pina coladas whirled in from the snack bar and the fresh salty air made my whole body calm and relaxed. This is just how the vacation of my lifetime would start and It would soon be my favorite place in the world to visit. My vacation in Mexico brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that brought a positive insight in me as it made me break out of my comfort zone, made me want to travel the world more often, and also to get involved and make a difference in the world. As I glanced out the window on the bus ride to the resort, I couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful scenery that was surrounded all around me. I was ecstatic because I was looking at the most alluring scenery I have ever seen in my life and I knew at this moment I never wanted to go back home. In the whistling wind, the palm trees swayed side to side while brushing against each other and slightly hitting my window. I heard a screeching, loud noise from the brakes and then I finally realized we had arrived at our final destination. As I stepped off the bus, I could smell the salty, clean and fresh air right away and an empty but warm breeze blew against my face. â€Å"Taylor wait for us! We don’t want you to get lost! † My family yelled as I had already started running over to the lobby in excitement. When we got assigned our room we walked around the resort and that’s when it all had hit me. With my mouth wide open, all I could say was, â€Å"this place is absolutely breathtaking. † As we went around to the back, there were 4 fairly large pools on both sides of me, and chairs directly around each of the pools. In the blink of an eye I noticed the beach up ahead of me and I have never seen something more beautiful, serene and relaxing. The sinking feeling as my feet step into the fine, white sand as it started to burn the soles of my feet, I dragged myself over to the shoreline and stepped into the water while it soothed my feet. The beach was a scorching furnace, as I felt it slowly burn my body and my face and the sweat on me was a river running down my forehead. As the day ended, I lay myself in my bed and my thoughts were consumed by all of the stunning scenery that I had witnessed that day in this beautiful and enchanting location and I started to think about it more and more and it made me realize that when I’m older I want to travel the world and witness all the different locations and the beautiful scenery they have to offer and learn about different cultures. I woke up the next morning and jumped out of my bed as I was thrilled to start off the day with a bunch of fun and adventurous activities that I’ve never experienced before. â€Å"Taylor, would you like to swim with the dolphins today and go zip lining? † my mom said as my eyes were wide open and had the biggest smile on my face, I couldn’t help but scream â€Å"YES! †. As we got our stuff packed and soothed the sunscreen all over our body, we were set to go. The water was splashing against our legs and the warm breeze whistled through our hair and the smell of the salty clean air overhead as we walked over to the hut where I would soon experience one of my most memorable moments. As we got into the water, Melanie the dolphin came gliding across the water as we all lined up and pet her. The best part of this whole experience was getting a ride on the dolphin while I held onto her fins and she glided across the whole water.. Dolphins are definitely the most graceful and intelligent sea creatures and the way they interacted and understood us was absolutely outstanding. Also, it was really interesting and heartbreaking learning about the dolphins and how not many of them are surviving because they are being slaughtered and they are dying from toxic exposure. As a result, the dolphins made a huge impact on my life because once I heard what was happening to the dolphins it touched deep into my heart and made me want to make a difference in the world and stop the cruelness of people slaughtering and taking advantage of them. Afterwards, we went over to the zip lining and I couldn’t help but have that stomach drop feeling as we got there. I was standing at the very top and almost ready to go and my fear of heights was almost sickening me out but I knew I had to experience this. My feet lifted off of the platform and I felt pretty comfortable as I felt like I was a superhero for a couple of minutes. I was soaring over the stunning beach and the palm trees just below me and all I could say in my head was, â€Å"this view is just outstanding† and I wish I could stay in that moment forever. For the most part, today I took a leap of faith out of my comfort zone as there was a huge adrenaline rush in me as I was about to soar really high, but being able to experience this made me want to go out and try new things that I could eventually overcome my fear of because life begins just beyond your comfort zone. A day to remember, I will never forget these astonishing experiences that I spent with the lovely dolphins and zip lining over the most gorgeous view. The climate in Mexico made it the best part because without it I wouldn’t have enjoyed the memorable and adventurous activities that I will cherish forever. Since we were in Mexico in February it was sunny almost every day and when it did rain it would only rain for a short period of time during the day. Since it was hot and sunny most of the time, we got a much better experience with the friendly dolphins, zip lining over a tremendous view and other adventurous activities that we will never forget. Also, with this weather I got a golden brown tan from the beaming rays of the sun. However, some days the humidity was really high and it felt as humid as a steam room, as the moist heat stuck to my body. By the middle of the day temperatures can reach up to about 40 degrees, where the sun is just scorching on my body. Without the beautiful weather, my experiences and memorable moments wouldn’t be enjoyed as much and I got a nice golden brown tan. Also with this being said, the bright, warm and sunny summer days encouraged me to think about traveling to a numerous of warm climate places and also experience other vacations where the climate is different. Early in the morning, we exhaustingly started to pack our bags and head off to the airport and as soon as I got on the plane my mind was filled with reflections from my unforgettable vacation. My vacation in Mexico brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that brought a positive insight in me as it made me break out of my comfort zone, made me want to travel the world more often, and also to get involved and make a difference in the world. The lovely scenery made me want to stay in this gorgeous place forever, experiencing new activities in a different location made for a lot of memorable moments that I’ll remember forever, and without the comfortable climate I wouldn’t have enjoyed the trip as much as I did.

Impacts of Nuclear Energy on Global Business

Impacts of Nuclear Energy on Global Business 1. Background and Overview Tony Blair’s Labour government has finally decided to move ahead â€Å"with a vengeance† (Webster, 2006) with its’ plans for development of nuclear power, ending years of speculation on the issue. Work on the last nuclear power station started eighteen years ago in the UK on Sizewell B and since then there has been a complete embargo on any fresh initiative in the area. Things are now likely to change, much to the concern of environmentalists and anti nuclear campaigners. The use of nuclear power, for any reason, peaceful or otherwise, has always been looked upon with deep suspicion because of its inherent association with weapons of mass destruction and its ability to cause large scale destruction on a horrific and unimaginable scale. â€Å"Many analysts have attempted to explain the visceral hostility toward nuclear power, and the most common explanation is that people link nuclear power with nuclear weapons.† (Lorenzini, 2005) The reasons for this attitude are also justifiable as most scientific work in atomic radiation, atomic change and nuclear fission, be it in the USA, Nazi Germany or communist Russia, at least till 1956, was focussed primarily on the furthering of the atomic bomb. It was only after 1956 that the focus of nuclear technology shifted to the design of safe and reliable nuclear plants. The growth in use of nuclear energy for power entered a state of not just stagnation but moderate decline, world wide, in the late seventies and remained so until the turn of the century and the UK was presumably, but echoing global concern in the formulation of its energy policy. Very few reactors were ordered globally and the new reactors coming on line just about matched requirements. Global capacity increased by only a third in more than a decade. Even then, nuclear energy, from the 442 nuclear power reactors used in 31 countries, adds up to one sixth of the world’s electricity supply today. The growth of nuclear fuel as an energy source has been sluggish due to quite a few reasons, some of which now need rethinking in today’s grim geopolitical and environmental scenario. For more than three decades, energy policies in the United States and much of the Western world have been held in the ideological grip of a flawed concept: the notion that we can achieve sustainable energy by relying solely on conservation and renewable resources, such as wind, the sun, the tides, and organic materials like wood and crop waste. Born in the wake of the 1973 oil embargo and arising out of renewed commitments to environmental quality, this idea has an almost religious appeal. An unintended result is that the world has become ever more reliant on fossil fuels and therefore less able to respond to global warming. (Lorenzini, 2005) It has been the case of the pro nuclear power lobby, for many years now, that nuclear energy is a clean, economic and efficient way to generate power; ideal for continuous generation of medium and large scale electricity. In nuclear power stations, apart from the nuclear reactors, the rest of the equipment works similarly to those in coal or gas fuelled power plants. However, the cheaper and more widely available fuel used by these nuclear plants, compared to those fired by coal, oil and gas, makes the case for its’ wider use attractive. This is especially relevant today with oil hovering in the range of 70 to 73 USD per barrel, and gas from the North Sea wells beginning to run out. With the increase in greenhouse and emission problems and the uncertainty of fossil fuel supplies in a shifting and unstable political environment, the nuclear power option has definitely got itself a strong tailwind. The concerns of the anti nuclear campaigners focus on a number of worrying issues. Their first contention concerns the forecasted reduction of carbon dioxide emission from nuclear power plants; this to them is no more than blatant propaganda. In the US, where much of the worlds uranium is enriched, including Australias, the enrichment facility at Paducah, Kentucky, requires the electrical output of two 1000-megawatt coal-fired plants, which emit large quantities of carbon dioxide, the gas responsible for 50per cent of global warming. Also, this enrichment facility and another at Portsmouth, Ohio, release from leaky pipes 93per cent of the chlorofluorocarbon gas emitted yearly in the US. The production and release of CFC gas is now banned internationally by the Montreal Protocol because it is the main culprit responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion. But CFC is also a global warmer, 10,000 to 20,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. (Caldicott, 2005) In addition, the environmentalists say that nuclear fuel cycle also consumes large quantities of fossil fuel, in the mining of uranium, in the construction of the reactor and its’ robotic decommissioning as also in the transportation and storage of radioactive waste. The use of nuclear fuel can lead to significant health threats from the unregulated emission of radioactive isotopes; which include Krypton, Xenon, Argon and Tritium and could cause long term physical harm to residents in surrounding and nearby areas. These releases are unregulated because the nuclear industry considers these particular radioactive elements to be biologically inconsequential. The transportation and storage of radioactive waste could also become a global security problem, if the use of nuclear energy is adopted on a wide basis. A completely new and potentially catastrophic dimension would be added to global security with the deliberate creation of new and potentially vulnerable targets for terrorist strikes. While the advanced nations would be able to shore up reasonable levels of security the same may not be true of the developing countries where weaker management systems could lead to grave risks; witness the variation in the effectiveness of different management sy stems in disaster control in the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island episodes. Nuclear proliferation remains a major issue. The USA is planning to go ahead with the selling of weapons grade nuclear fuel to India, (a non signatory to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and a country with a history of surreptitious manufacture of nuclear weapons) for use in power generation. If it is India today, can Pakistan be far behind? The prospect of an atomic bomb capable Pakistan getting access to Yellow Cake, an intermediary for the production of enriched uranium, is a frightful thought; enough to send shivers down the spine of the developed world. The energy crisis enveloping the globe has a number of dimensions, all equally worrying. The availability of fossil fuels is reducing sharply because of resource depletion, price spikes and geopolitical reasons. Greenhouse emissions of carbon dioxide are leading to global warming with far reaching ecological effects that could one day threaten the existence of the world. The development of renewable energy sources, wind and solar, once touted as the best solutions, have been largely unsuccessful and remained in the realm of experimentation; useful only in small isolated pockets. In this situation, while nuclear energy does appear to have most of the answers, the concerns of the environmentalists and the anti nuclear campaigners also remain very valid. 2. Impact on Contemporary Business Organisations The UK has always been in the forefront of development of nuclear technology. The work carried out by British scientists in the 1940s was renewed after the war and it is pertinent to recall that the world’s first nuclear power reactor started in the UK in 1956. Twenty three nuclear reactors power the country’s nuclear plants, leading to the generation of a total of 75 billion kWh of electricity, a fifth of the country’s requirement. However, all but three of these plants are scheduled to close by 2020, with consequent effects on the economy and operations of contemporary business organisations. The major dilemma for business and economy is to find alternative sources for energy, nuclear or otherwise to fill this expected gap in energy production and to provide for increased needs. 2020 is not so far away. The other major factor staring British economy in the face is the prospect of importing 90 % of its gas requirement by 2025. The country and its economy is looking at a huge energy deficit, an issue that will need resolution in the very near future. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has, in a widely publicised call in April this year, asked the Government to clarify its’ stand on longer term carbon emission policy to enable low carbon emission sources like nuclear fuel to play an important role. The CBI has also stated very categorically that nuclear power is the only proven low-carbon technology able to deliver consistent supplies of electricity on a large scale. The advantages of stable operating costs, the availability of nuclear fuel from politically stable countries and the ability to store uranium are practical reasons to work towards the development and commissioning of more nuclear plants. In addition, the operating costs of nuclear power are stable because the cost of fuel varies between only 5 and 10% of total operating costs. The cost of building nuclear power plants, as of now, is far more than that of conventional oil, gas and coal fired plants. Operating costs are however not just lower but also expected to be stable and independent of recurring political upheavals. Two factors are however set to change these circumstances. The cost of fossil fuel, especially oil is on a sharp upward path, threatening to throw all cost projections out of gear. The expected depletion in gas resource and consequent compulsion to buy increasing quantities from outside is also going to come with its own consequences, increased costs definitely one of them. While manufacturers of nuclear power plants are working on reduction of capital cost, a â€Å"significant increase in the price of natural gas could make new nuclear plants economically competitive even without further reductions in their capital costs.† (Taylor, 2004) The CBI in its statement of April also stated that companies would seriously consider investing in new, capital intensive nuclear plants, subject to the introduction of a correct non-discriminatory policy on carbon emission; beyond the present policy which is unclear after 2012. Intense concern about the current situation also made it say that â€Å"an energy policy based on crossing fingers and the use of the prayer mat is not acceptable†.(Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom, 2006) Contemporary businesses, not just in the UK but across the globe are wrestling with an energy crisis, the widespread usage of fast depleting fossil fuels, rocketing oil prices currently resting in the low 70s (USD per barrel), and the continuous spectre of carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. The real advantage of nuclear energy is its potency. One pound of uranium contains the energy equivalent of roughly one million pounds of coal. Such potency means that nuclear powers energy potential is vast, clearly sustainable as a long-term resource. It also means nuclear’s environmental impact is inherently low. With so much energy coming from such a small volume of material, producing nuclear fuel requires much less exploration, mining, transportation, and collection, with all their attendant environmental problems, than do fossil fuels. For example, a 1,000-megawatt nuclear plant requires one refueling per year, whereas a similarly sized coal plant requires 80 rail cars of coal per day. (Lorenzini, 2005) The gridlock appears to be slowly tightening with nuclear power possibly the only solution to the intensifying problem. 3. Likely Future Scenario The future scenario in use of fuel for energy and its development is probably going to move in reasonably predictable directions. All across the globe, awareness on global warming and its possibly devastating repercussions has heightened considerably. Every natural calamity, be it the Tsunami in Indonesia, earthquakes in Pakistan, the arrival of the Katrina in the United States or the melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas finds an immediate media connection to carbon dioxide emissions, the greenhouse effect and global warming. This phenomenon, coupled with the instability of supply and the rising cost of fossil fuels is going to lead to an expansion of nuclear power both in the USA and the UK. Governmental restrictions on use of nuclear power are slowly being dismantled as governments across the globe see the advantages of going nuclear for power generation. Along with increase in nuclear power generation, governments across continents will try to develop renewable energy sources for power generation. Renewable energy has not really made much headway despite concerted efforts in the last thirty years. Nearly 90 % of the global energy production is obtained from fossil sources and most of the rest comes from nuclear power. Wind and hydro energy can be harnessed only in suitable locations that have access to huge amounts of rainfall, fast flowing rivers or conditions suitable for setting up wind farms. Countries with access to fossil fuels, oil, gas and coal will of course continue to depend heavily upon these sources for power. However, the threat of emissions and consequent ozone layer depletion will nudge all countries towards the development of alternative sources. The rising costs of oil, essential for vehicular and air transportation will lead to its curtailment for use as as fuel for all but essential reasons. Renewable sources will of course fill a part of the yawning power gap which appears to be looming on the horizon but nuclear power is also very much a part of the final answer. It is the one energy source that today combines the benefits of displacing the use of fossil fuels, minimising pressure on land, avoiding resource depletion and restricting harmful emissions. The UK and the USA, both countries with over regulated nuclear power generation environments will necessarily open up their laws to ease the setting up of newer power facilities, based on nuclear fuels. The building of nuclear energy capacity necessarily comes with the enormous added responsibility of ensuring public health and safety, involving first, the storage and containment of harmful waste material and second, the prevention of dangerous nuclear material going into the hands of rogue states and terrorist organisations. Contemporary business organisations will need to survive in similar circumstances for the next few years until additional nuclear and renewable energy facilities are set up. This is essentially going to be a slow, expensive and careful process and the period of infrastructure build up will be open to all the risks that exist today, namely uncertain supplies and skyrocketing prices. It is only with the spread and extensive use of nuclear power on a global basis, the establishment and strict enforcement of protocols for responsible and peaceful use of nuclear energy and the rooting out of rogue states and terrorist organisations that businesses will be able to witness and take advantage of stability in supplies and cost of energy, free of the worry of a global environmental threat from emissions of harmful gases. 4. Summary and Way Forward In the UK the 2006 review of the energy policy has put development of nuclear energy firmly on agenda and public opinion is also now veering towards its use. It has been determined that all the new plants will have to be built by the private sector with internalised waste and decommissioning costs. All barriers that threaten to slow down investment will be looked at very carefully, without compromising public safety; new and speedier licensing procedures will also be considered. The use of nuclear fuel for energy is gaining ground globally after years of stagnation but some of the old concerns still remain. Environmentalists and anti nuclear campaigners have a number of worries, most of which concern safety, the prevention of hazards from nuclear plants and the misuse of nuclear fuel by rogue states, international criminals and terrorist organisations. While their strident objections to the theory of nuclear energy being much cleaner and â€Å"greener† than energy derived from fossil fuels could be taken to be substantially incorrect, it would be presumptuous to brand all their worries about safety and the possibility of nuclear proliferation as facile and alarmist. Many of these concerns are still valid and do need attention. The two major areas that demand consideration are the disposal of nuclear waste and the reprocessing of spent fuel. The sustainability of nuclear power, the ability to make it work for long time frames and to think of it as a real long term solution to the global power issue depends upon obtaining an acceptable and workable solution to the problem of managing nuclear waste. Nuclear wastes are classified differently from other toxic residues and need to be kept safely for thousands of years, whereas the timeframe for non radioactive toxics of between 50 to 70 years is far less. Work is needed in this area on two fronts, the carrying out of continuous scientific research, needing significant governmental and institutional funding to find a solution to the storage problem, and a fresh look at regulatory laws to assess whether they can be revisited without compromising safety. Reprocessing relates to the process in which plutonium and uranium are chemically separated from spent fuel for reuse, as is done in France. Reprocessing allows for more complete usage and tapping of the energy potential of nuclear fuel and makes waste management easier, reducing both bulk and long term hazards which could arise from the waste. However, the separated plutonium could create a potential nuclear threat, if it finds its way to the wrong hands, and again will need very careful security. After years of stagnation, the several demands of the twenty first century have combined to make the world seriously think of the need for nuclear power. The increase in demand for power and electricity in the developing world, the sharply eroding global resources of fossil fuels, the continuing global geopolitical instability, the skyrocketing prices of oil and gas, and the need to severely restrict carbon emissions are forcing nations to turn towards nuclear fuel for release from their energy worries. The need of the moment is to think and to cooperate in this global mission. As Paul Lorenzini states: The most critical step is to build a consensus among energy planners and policymakers that sustainability as a policy goal should include nuclear power. Bringing nuclear power back into the mix for energy planning means shedding ideological biases. It means openness of thinking to resolve the tension between the human desire for modernization and the global need for sustainability (2005) References Caldicott, H, 2005, Nuclear Power is the problem, not a solution, Common Dreams News Center, www.commondreams.org/views05/0415-23.htm Clapp, R. W., 2006 Nuclear Power and Public Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(11), 720+.Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5012166072 [27 Aug 2006] Lorenzini, P., 2005, Spring. A Second Look at Nuclear Power: By Overlooking Nuclear Power in the Quest for Clean Energy, We Are Condemning Ourselves to a Future of Increased Fossil Fuel Use. Issues in Science and Technology, 21, 31+. Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5009414160 [27 Aug 2006] Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom, 2006, World Nuclear Association, www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf84.htm [27 Aug 2006] Taylor, J. J. (2004, Spring). The Nuclear Power Bargain: The Potential Benefits Are Enormous If We Can Continue to Make Progress on Safety, Environmental, Fuel Supply, and Proliferation Concerns. Issues in Science and Technology, 20, 41+. Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5006170378 [27 Aug 2006] Webster, P, 2006, Britain goes nuclear to beat energy crisis, Times Online, www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2184192,00.html [27 Aug 2006]

Unreasonable Searches By Police Are Illegal Essay -- Police vs the Fou

No one should be searched without a good reason and warrant. People should have the right of privacy- it is important to them. It is ethical for police to have search warrants before searching a person’s personal belongings. There have been recent conflicts on police powers over the pass years. Police are disobeying the fourth amendment by searching illegally. Critics frown upon police, while supporters agree with the police. Being searched without a permit is unconstitutional, and police could take advantage of their power, and abuse it. It makes US citizens feel less secure and safe. Citizens need to be guaranteed rights as long as they behave. Neighborhoods do not benefit because if the police seize this power of going into a person’s belongings without a permit, then they would use their powers to see what kind of person they are, or finding out on people’s personal business. In general, police will not respect the privacy of the person and his belongings. Therefore, no one should be searched without an extremely good reason and a warrant. Unreasonable searches are unethical. There are many people involved in this issue. They are the police force, the media, the communities, teens and families, victims and families, and the justice system. Neighbors need to feel safe and controlled, and everybody needs to feel equal. â€Å"Liberty is freedom from arbitrary or government† (http://dictionary.com/), and the Fourth amendment assures that we have the freedom of privacy from the United States government. The Bill of Rights is ten rights that could not be taken away from people. The court Case Board of Education V. Earls (12/26/01) deals with the 4th amendment. Earl’s is a student at a school that requires students to h... ...Citizens need to be guaranteed rights as long as they behave. The 4th amendment shows that each and every citizen has privacy rights, and that a search without a permit is illegal. Citizens of the United States of America should not be searched without enough evidence and a permit. Works Cited "The Oyez Project, Board of Education v. Earls , 536 U.S. 822 (2002) ." OYEZ- U.S Supreme Court Media. N.p., 2002. Web. 31 Mar 2015. . "United States V. Jeffers, 342 U.S. 48 (1951)." FindLaw|Cases and Codes. N.p., 13, November, 1951. Web. 31 Mar 2015. .

Confucianism :: Papers China Religion

Confucianism Confucianism is the major system of thought in China. It was developed from the teachings of Confucius and his disciples, and concerned with the principles of good conduct, practical wisdom, and proper social relationships. Confucianism has influenced the Chinese attitude toward life, set the patterns of living and standards of social value, and provided the background for Chinese political theories and institutions. It has spread from China to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam and has aroused interest among Western scholars. Although Confucianism became the official ideology of the Chinese state, it has never existed as an established religion with a church and priesthood. Chinese scholars honored Confucius as a great teacher and philosopher but did not worship him as a personal god. Nor did Confucius himself ever claim divinity. Unlike Christian churches, the temples built to Confucius were not places in which organized community groups gathered to worship, but public edifices designed for annual ceremonies, especially on the philosopher's birthday. Several attempts to deify Confucius and to convert Confucianism failed because of the essentially profane nature of the philosophy. The principles of Confucianism are contained in the nine ancient Chinese works handed down by Confucius and his followers, who lived in an age of great philosophic activity. These writings can be divided into two groups: the Five Classics and the Four Books. The Wu Ching (Five Classics), which originated before the time of Confucius, consist of the I Ching (Book of Changes), Shu Ching (Book of History), Shih Ching (Book of Poetry), Li Chi (Book of Rites), and Ch'un Ch'iu (Spring and Autumn Annals). The I Ching is a manual of divination probably compiled before the 11th century BC; its supplementary philosophical portion, contained in a series of appendixes, may have been written later by Confucius and his disciples. The Shu Ching is a collection of ancient historical documents, and the Shih Ching is an anthology of ancient poems. The Li Chi deals with the principles of conduct, including those for public and private ceremonies; it was destroyed in the 3rd century BC, but presumably much of its material was preserved in a later compilation, the Record of Rites. The Ch'un Ch'iu, the only work reputedly compiled by Confucius himself, is a chronicle of major historical events in feudal China from the 8th century BC to Confucius's death early in the 5th century BC. The Shih Shu (Four Books), compilations of the sayings of Confucius

Education and Egalitarianism in America :: American Education School Educators Essays

Education and Egalitarianism in America The American educator Horace Mann once said: "As an apple is not in any proper sense an apple until it is ripe, so a human being is not in any proper sense a human being until he is educated." Education is the process through which people endeavor to pass along to their children their hard-won wisdom and their aspirations for a better world. This process begins shortly after birth, as parents seek to train the infant to behave as their culture demands. They soon, for instance, teach the child how to turn babbling sounds into language and, through example and precept, they try to instill in the child the attitudes, values, skills, and knowledge that will govern their offspring's behavior throughout later life. Schooling, or formal education, consists of experiences that are deliberately planned and utilized to help young people learn what adults consider important for them to know and to help teach them how they should respond to choices. This education has been influenced by thr ee important parts of modern American society: wisdom of the heart, egalitarianism, and practicality... the greatest of these, practicality. In the absence of written records, no one can be sure what education man first provided for his children. Most anthropologists believe, though, that the educational practices of prehistoric times were probably like those of primitive tribes in the 20th century, such as the Australian aborigines and the Aleuts. Formal instruction was probably given just before the child's initiation into adulthood -- the puberty rite -- and involved tribal customs and beliefs too complicated to be learned by direct experience. Children learned most of the skills, duties, customs, and beliefs of the tribe through an informal apprenticeship -- by taking part in such adult activities as hunting, fishing, farming, toolmaking, and cooking. In such simple tribal societies, school was not a special place... it was life itself. However, the educational process has chang ed over the decades, and it now vaguely represents what it was in ancient times, or even in early American society. While the schools that the colonists established in the 17th century in the New England, Southern, and Middle colonies differed from one another, each reflected a concept of schooling that had been left behind in Europe. Most poor children learned through apprenticeship and had no formal schooling at all. Those who did go to elementary school were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.

Teaching To Be A Successful Teacher Education Essay

Pattern of learning and larning are altering from twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours with alteration in pupils behaviour. In olden yearss, teacher is one who inculcates the cognition in scholar through instructing, but as the coevalss changed, learning profession has besides seen batch of alterations ; it has become one of the most of import professions that have batch of impact on society. Teaching has become more of sharing than merely teaching. As a hereafter instructor, I should be able to get by up with this altering scholar ‘s behavior and should learn them in the manner they understand better and demo maximal end product. In the words of former Indian president, Scientist and now functioning as professor at one of the top universities in India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam â€Å" Educationists should construct the capacities of the spirit of enquiry, creativeness, entrepreneurial and moral leading among pupils and go their function theoretical account † . These were the chief motivational factors that created the passion of learning in me. I believe that I can construct assurance in pupils to come frontward to show themselves, promote them in stand outing in surveies and their field of involvement. From my experience as a pupil, I learnt that non all the pupils will be take parting in the same manner in the category and it is hard for teachers/ professors, to concentrate on peculiar pupils ‘ advancement. Hence, I believe that, I as a instructor should be capable of managing these type of jobs sanely and do certain that all the pupils improve their accomplishments and take part actively in schoolroom.Personal BiographyAs a pupil and good perceiver, I have been detecting different techniques and methods used by instructors to affect pupils in the category. As an MBA pupil in international concern school, I got the rare chance of larning different learning accomplishments of professors from different states round the universe. The manner the y teach, their interaction with pupils, their handling of different cultural issues ( as pupils are from different parts of universe ) , their handling of capable and helping pupils in using the theory to show concern universe made me more passionate towards taking this learning class. Their presence in the category would do pupils delighted and more interested towards topics.Ideas, beliefs and valuesTeaching has changed from merely accretion of facts through teaching process to developing scholars ‘ ability by helping them to believe critically and experiment. I still retrieve the college yearss, where my instructor Mrs. Fareed used to take particular attention of every pupil personally. She is one of the most powerful instructors I have of all time met. She has all the qualities that a instructor has to hold. She merely does n't used to learn us, she used to demo a practical concrete image in forepart of our eyes and therefore doing it easier and interesting. It ‘s bee n long clip, I departed from her, but her influence is still on me. . This form of learning through imaginativeness is a proved success factor. Whitebread ( 1929 ) , a celebrated philosopher from Harvard University, in his work â€Å" The purpose of instruction † stated â€Å" Imagination can non be measured or weighted and so supplied to pupil. It is an art that should be possessed by instructor and communicated to scholars in an orderly manner † . Whitebread ( 1929 ) work on instruction system is still taken as standard by many writers and philosophers. I would be uniting my experience as a pupil with the acquisition from these class and model myself into good instructor. I will seek to make an environment where pupils can interact with me ( teacher ) , and other pupils sing topic and better their ability in the countries that they are excited about. Because I believe that the acquisition would be successful, merely when it is meaningful. Here, I would wish to advert about my HRM professor Mrs Marian Sullivan ( guest module ) from Coventry, who has 25 old ages of industry and academic experience is so down to earth, that she is ever ready to welcome new thoughts from pupils and even larn new things from them. These characteristic in her, taught me that the ability of learning prevarications in the ability of larning. I will seek to larn new thoughts from pupils and would promote their engagement in category to convey out their creativeness. While reading through one of the articles by philosopher Mitchalak ( 1986 ) , I noticed him indicating out this art of doing pupils take part in categories is most important for being a successful instructor. He qu oted â€Å" Students should be motivated to go active scholars in category, or else, they will neither develop thought accomplishments nor engage in the category † . I will help in constructing assurance in the pupils and do schoolroom activities more interested by accommodating the instruction form, in which pupils are interested in. I besides strongly back up parents / defenders engagement in pupil acquisition accomplishments. I do n't waver to be in regular contact with parents about pupils ‘ advancement and their engagement in community activities. Learners get inspired by parent ‘s activities, functions and milieus ( neighbours, and friends ) . Harmonizing to me, parents are the first instructors in one ‘s life. Hence, I encourage parent ‘s engagement in pupils larning life. This is non merely my thought towards instruction, but it ‘s a proved fact. In one of the research conducted by William and Chavkin, they found the fact that â€Å" The more parents take part in schooling, in a sustained manner, at every degree, the better for pupil accomplishment † . Before fall ining the class, I had the basic thoughts of learning from my instructors and professors. These thoughts lighted the fire of passion for learning in me. After fall ining the class, I realised that it ‘s non merely about learning, but about sharing cognition, larning new things every twenty-four hours, altering with twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours and actuating myself and many people around me. Harmonizing to me, scholars are influenced by many factors around them. Few of them include societal safety, schoolroom environment, their personal demands and most significantly societal life. I have besides learnt that my thoughts towards learning are non merely plenty to be a good instructor and these thoughts demands to be changed harmonizing to today ‘s and in fact mundane altering single behaviour. Teachers play a important function in every 1 ‘s life. Students and society expression at instructors for alterations in present coevals. They would be the first individual to be pointed out at, when scholars does n't execute good in community. While reading through different articles on instruction and todays educational alterations, I have come across my doctrine of instruction is merely what is followed by most of the instructors around the universe. The doctrine â€Å" The art of learning prevarications behind the art of acquisition † is implemented by many instructors around the universe. Brookfield ( 1990 ) , in his work â€Å" the adept instructor † , explained this doctrine as one of the best doctrines possessed by instructors in present coevals. He mentioned that â€Å" the successful instructor is one who is able to larn from pupil and do pupil take part in category activities successfully † . Teacher, who has excellent learning accomplishments wo n't acquire success until pupil participates in schoolroom activities. By the terminal of this class, I would turn out myself to be successful instructor and scholar and get down my new calling by helping scholars to accomplish their ends. In today ‘s universe, where engineering is playing cardinal function and instructors have to accommodate with these turning engineering to make pupils good. At higher secondary schools, about all pupils, might lose giving a reading to their notes, but non lose their inbox in mail. Teachers in US and UK are following up with this tendency. Some instructors are utilizing chirrup to remind pupils of their prep and some instructors are utilizing Facebook to reach pupils, clear up uncertainties and mentor them. Governments are besides taking enterprises by carry oning extended researches on instruction system. They are in uninterrupted dialogues with instruction suppliers ( schools, colleges, universities ) to do certain that instruction is up to criterions. Encouraging pupil creativeness is besides of import for today ‘s changing universe. Students should be given opportunity to experiment theories. They should be allowed to portion their thoughts with everyone. This environment encourages advanced thoughts in scholars, which helps development of state. In words of A.P.J Abdul Kalam, â€Å" Teachers play important function in developing state with beautiful heads † . By the completion of this class, with the accomplishments gained I can travel against any challenge in Mauritanian instruction system and impart scholars with assurance and accomplishments. There have been many arguments against the instruction system in schools. Students are afraid of doing wrongs or giving incorrect replies, which finally is doing them to lose their assurance. Sir Ken Robinson, in his talk show on TED, blamed schools and instruction system, for killing creativeness in pupils by non promoting them. He farther added â€Å" you will ne'er come up with something advanced and utile, unless you are non prepared to be incorrect † . Students should be encouraged to talk out in the category, from these small beautiful heads, originative thoughts develop in hereafter. Here, I would wish to remind the words of Linda Lumsden ( 1994 ) , who has done a batch of research on pupil motive towards acquisition. Harmonizing to her â€Å" Motivation is successfully gained by general experience, but largely, it is straight related defining and communicating of outlooks, and direct direction or socialization through others ( chiefly, parents and Teachers ) † As I stated earlier, to accomplish good consequences, instructor and scholar should work together. As a instructor, I will ever maintain in head that both learning and larning are straight related to each other and when tied together decently and planned good, they can take to first-class result.