Free Essays on Public Education

Adults remember† how tough it when they were in school,† but growing evidence supports the public’s position that school, while getting easier, ignores the increasing knowledge base needed to compete in a high tech marketplace. Parents and taxpayers see falling test scores, inclusion, affective learning, self – esteem training, and values clarification lessons as proof that schools are not teaching as much material as they used to. Furthermore, they believe the material being taught is not as difficult as it should be. Parents and taxpayers demand that â€Å"basic skills† regain the attention of educators. They wonder how a person who lacks the skill to complete an employment application managed to graduate from a public high school. This is a strong perception in the community, one educator would be unwise to dismiss as â€Å"hate mongering from the radical right.† The lack of academic standards in the public schools is profound. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1930;† most of the 1 million white illiterates and 2 million black illiterates were people over the age of 50 who had never been to school. By 1990, 30 to 35 million American citizens could not read. Most are people under 50 who have been to school for at least eight years†(Wood, 1992,p.51). In response to these problems Noble prizewinning economist Milton Friedman developed a plan that, though a radical departure from the status quo, would empower parents as well as quality educators. The idea is to set up a sort of free market system of education: parents shop for the school they want, which receives that child’s portion of the school budget (7,000 in New Jersey, for example). The schools that are picked must improve to compete or else close their doors (Tashman 1992). Gary Rosen, an associate editor of Commentary, examines the criticisms of public education and argues that vouchers and choice are well suited to correct its deficiencies without dama... Free Essays on Public Education Free Essays on Public Education Adults remember† how tough it when they were in school,† but growing evidence supports the public’s position that school, while getting easier, ignores the increasing knowledge base needed to compete in a high tech marketplace. Parents and taxpayers see falling test scores, inclusion, affective learning, self – esteem training, and values clarification lessons as proof that schools are not teaching as much material as they used to. Furthermore, they believe the material being taught is not as difficult as it should be. Parents and taxpayers demand that â€Å"basic skills† regain the attention of educators. They wonder how a person who lacks the skill to complete an employment application managed to graduate from a public high school. This is a strong perception in the community, one educator would be unwise to dismiss as â€Å"hate mongering from the radical right.† The lack of academic standards in the public schools is profound. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1930;† most of the 1 million white illiterates and 2 million black illiterates were people over the age of 50 who had never been to school. By 1990, 30 to 35 million American citizens could not read. Most are people under 50 who have been to school for at least eight years†(Wood, 1992,p.51). In response to these problems Noble prizewinning economist Milton Friedman developed a plan that, though a radical departure from the status quo, would empower parents as well as quality educators. The idea is to set up a sort of free market system of education: parents shop for the school they want, which receives that child’s portion of the school budget (7,000 in New Jersey, for example). The schools that are picked must improve to compete or else close their doors (Tashman 1992). Gary Rosen, an associate editor of Commentary, examines the criticisms of public education and argues that vouchers and choice are well suited to correct its deficiencies without dama...

Postmodern at The Truman Show Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Postmodern at The Truman Show - Essay Example A tool by which to analyse The Truman Show is irony. What this means essentially is that the levels of meaning intersect only through the audience, because the levels of meaning are all contained in one artistic work but can only be dissected by the audience, who connect with the artist through the work. It is irrelevant which medium the work is in for it to be ironic and in fact the term post-modern essentially means only that it comes in the period after the modern. The audience and the artist have become familiar to such a degree that levels of meaning can be understood by one another without explicit definition or formulation, with shifting definitions and formulations seeming to be more of a conversation. We must use irony so that the conversation can be analysed. Much of the conversation is mediated by Christof, the character who created the Truman Show, who directs from the Lunar Room. Christof may be seen as a form of alter ego for Truman, because whereas Truman believes that he is leading his own life, in reality he is being led by Christof. The Lunar Room is a command post through which all the characters in Truman's world - Seahaven Island - walk on their ironic way from an ever intruding, yet supervening, reality. "It's a life", says Christof, about Truman in the opening sequence in the Lunar Room, although we are not given to understand whether he is referring to himself or to Truman. He speaks with a self-reflexivity, using the collective pronoun "we", but we - as the audience - do not know for sure whether Christof regards himself as the "we", because Christof is an actor in a movie. Perhaps the contextualising of the film means that the real irony lays in the fact that Peter Weir is Christof and Christof is Weir. Such appropriation of identity never really leaves us throughout the movie. Each character in the movie has multiple characteristics. For example, Meryl who plays Truman's wife speaks rapturously: MERYL Well, I mean, there is no--there is no difference between a private life and a public life. My--my life is my life, is The Truman Show. The Truman Show is...a lifestyle. It's a noble life. It is...a truly blessed life. The post-modern characteristic is that Meryl's life is not her life at all, it is not The Truman Show; it is neither public, nor private. This aesthetic denies that it is aesthetic through repetition and irony - note the repetition of "there is no", "my - my", "The Truman Show". What Weir's script and the magnificent acting of Laura Linney - as Hannah Gill, as Meryl Burbank - has achieved is to erase the lines between fantasy and reality; however we need a point of contact with the movie. It becomes essential for us to identify with Truman Burbank. There is a very neutral aesthetic running throughout The Truman Show whose purpose is to draw as many of the audience as possible into the drama. Along with the controlled action, which many audience members will be able to identify with, Truman works in the seemingly ubiquitous corporate world: TRUMAN (to mirror cam) I'm not going to make it. You're going to have to go on without me. No way,

Catholic Theology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Catholic Theology - Essay Example It will be demonstrated how Jesus fits into each definition. Jesus is considered a man of the Word. He had a more direct connection to the Word, as he is alluded to in the scriptures as being God, but in human flesh. Jesus was often quoted within the bible saying, "I myself, say unto you". This would lead us to believe that he spoke under his own authority, and on the authority of the Father. Jesus can be thought of as a messenger. In the Old Testament, prophets told the future and truths about God. In viewing a prophet as a messenger of the future, Jesus imparted the news of the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20 - 22). Not only could he be considered as a messenger, but he was able to "read events and see them in God's way" (Hayes, 99). This would make him a visionary. Jesus was a man of the present. Through use of his vision, he could be called a social prophet. He challenged the patriarchal, purity, and dominion system that were in place during his time. He violated the purity system by healing those that were no longer recognized or considered unclean. He spoke with women, and considered them part of his group. Jesus utilized an open table fellowship in a time when eating was a political act, and it mattered with who you ate. It could be said that he was advocating for a different social outlook by challenging the current system (Howard). It is upheld that God was present in his divine yet human form as Jesus Christ to discuss with clarity his revelations for a new creation of mankind during his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 - 2). It is believed by Christians that this served as a commentary for the Ten Commandments.The spirit was at work in Jesus. In saying "I myself, say unto you", brings up the issue of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is belief in God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The argument is that God can be spoken of as one person or spoken of as three. Trinity means "three in oneness". So, in speaking of Jesus, you are speaking of not one but three people. It can be said that the spirit was at work in him. Through miracles that he performed, i.e. bringing the dead back to life, (Luke 7:13 - 16), he can be considered as much more than a simple prophet.Jesus performed actions that shook, aroused, intrigued, and caused people to change (Hayes, 100). His actions in the temple were anti-purity acts, which upset the people there to buy and sell to the elite (Mark 11:15 - 19). He aroused the masses through speaking the Word of God to one and all, but in doing so aroused the suspicion and anger among the Pharisees. He inspired vision (Mark 1:14 - 18), enabled others to act (Mark 3:13 - 15), and modeled the way (John 8:3 - 11).In most references within the Bible, Jesus has not spok en anything of prophesy but is being named thus. Jesus was chiefly talked about as if he was a pebble in the pond, and because of his birth, the ripples or effects of what came afterward led to the fulfillment of prophesies from the Old Testament. Jesus and his existence must be looked at from the angle as to how he fulfilled prophecy, if He is to be seen as a prophet in all aspects.In the Old Testament, numerous references to the coming of the Messiah sparked what is called Messianic Prophesy, which lists

Importance of open book assessments Essay Example for Free

Importance of open book assessments Essay An open book examination is one in which examinees are allowed to consult their class notes, textbooks, and other approved material while answering questions. It is ideally suited to teaching programmes that especially aim at developing the skills of critical and creative thinking In order to appreciate the merits of open book examinations, it is first of all necessary to understand the nature of teaching programmes in general. Most conventional examinations test how much information the students have been able to store in their minds. In order to cope with this demand, students memorize the information in class notes and textbooks, and transfer it to answer books during the examination. In this type of examination, success depends on the quantity of information memorized, and the efficiency with which it is reproduced. Does this leads to creative thinking? Noooo This is where open book examinations come in. Open book examinations Provides a chance for students to acquire the knowledge during the preparation process of gathering suitable learning materials rather than simply recalling or rewriting it. It Enhances information retrieval skills of students through finding the efficient ways to get the necessary information and data from books and various resources Also it enhances the comprehension and synthesizing skills of students because they need to reduce the content of books and other study materials into simple and handy notes for examination A more important reason for using open book examinations is that they have a tremendous impact on promoting the right mental sets in both learning and teaching. The most immediate result on students will be that they will stop mugging or rote learning. Most students used to conventional examinations think of studying as the mechanical memorization of information in textbooks and class notes in order to reproduce it in examinations. Open book examinations will effect a fundamental change in this attitude. If textbooks can be consulted in the examination rooms, why bother to memorize them? Does this mean that students dont need to study for examinations? No. It implies that studying should not be equated with memorizing; instead, it should be of understanding concepts, and using these concepts (along with available information) to practice the skills of modifying and building knowledge, thinking critically, and solving problems. In acquiring the right strategies of studying, nothing is as effective as the shocking realization that mugging is of no use in the examinations. Given open book examinations, there will be no more mugging. Once the burden of mugging is taken away, education can be a pleasurable activity, not a painful drudgery. What is learnt with pleasure is learnt more effectively, and retained better.

Analysis of poetic techniques in The Company of Lovers Essay -- Judith

Judith Wright, who was born during the First World War, lived through, and was greatly influenced by, many wars that Australia had involved herself in. During an interview in 1985, Judith Wright recounts how her childhood was overshadowed by images of war, and therefore many of her earliest memories were connected with war and its effects. The constant presence of danger forced Wright to confront her awareness that all life ends in death, which has haunted her poetry throughout her years. The fear of death and loss has been expressed in 'The Company of Lovers', which was published in 1946, after Wright saw the influence of the Second World War on Australia. Judith Wright's success in translating human existence into poetry has resulted in a rich creation of exuberant expression and sincerity. Her poetry has the ability to connect reason and emotion through various poetic techniques in such a way that knowledge and experience are represented in a powerful yet dense fashion. One would find a great challenge in expressing deep experiences in a poem consisting of simply two octaves. However, through the employment of poetic techniques Judith Wright has captured her knowledge of life and death, and the effects of war, and successfully translated them into her poem ?The Company of Lovers?. This poem reflects an entire generation, worldwide, who went to war, and their lovers and family who were left behind, indicated in the opening line, ?We meet and part now over all the world?. Wright has employed a paradox, ?We meet and part? to encourage an awareness of coinciding union and departure. This paradox serves two functions, to suggest that a brief moment between lovers may soon be disrupted, and to communicate said idea in a condensed... ...remarkable capacity to go beyond and above what can be grasped by the senses. ?The Company of Lovers?, which literally associates love and death, contains a raw essence that supports attributes of reality which explores the connection between inner existence and actual reality, which is effectively and concisely represented through these use of poetic devices, such as paradox? and personification. Wright?s concern with love and death, a feminist and metaphysical issue, had been constantly in her thoughts. However, later in her life, once she had met her lover and had their daughter, she was able to accept death as not an enemy but as phase in the cyclical nature of life. Through the use and develop of poetic techniques, such as structure, language, imagery and movement, Wright has been able to address her concerns with love and death in a vivid but compacted manner.

Court Issues Analysis Essay

In discussions regarding court system issues, most tend to forget that crimes would not happen if there were proper societal values in place and those values were enforced. Society has shifted from a culture of marriage, family values and strong familiar bonds to a culture that cultivates a staggering divorce rate, single mothers with many children born out of wedlock with little to no income. A culture that is has no patriarchal figure to lead and teach the children right from wrong aids and abets a systematic control of the poor and minorities. Instead of encouraging the pursuit of education, society encourages the pursuit of false hope and dreams through get rich quick methods that essentially remove the rights of those who chose to pursue criminal behavior. Most are imprisoned due to criminal activity and having no fatherhood figure themselves, there is no sense of value to one’s life. This loss of the father figure not living in the home, especially in the African America n and Hispanic communities, has a negative outcome not only in the community, but on society as a whole. Without the complete family unit to provide guidance, encourage the children to stay in school and avoid criminal activity, or to become a productive member of society; then our court systems will continue to provide severe punishment for minor crimes and negative social behaviors when the court should offer solutions to preventative crime and supportive services to those families whose members are involved in the vicious cycle of incarceration. Victims’ assistance programs should also support the families of the criminal, as well as the providing treatment programs and assistance to those. The majority of innovation and changes made to the court system over the past 30 years have been tested and administered in urban locales or focused on suburban jurisdictions, where a bulk of the financial resources are given due to the larger population. Rural areas tend to have much larger geographic locales, smaller populations and limited legal, social and health services to assist the general public; this can provide a challenge for rural courts. With the lack of specialized justice practitioners and service providers, rural court jurisdictions tend to work closer with the community when handing out sentencing and punishment. Research conducted by the Justice Management Institute suggests six areas where the criminal justice system needs improvement, after some review I have combined them into the four topics below. Improvement of Court Practices and Procedures for Indigent Litigants The first thing the courts need to work on is improving practices and procedures for self-represented defendants. This includes proper caseload management, administrative management techniques that are informative and efficient so that no cases or indigent defendants become ‘lost’ within the incarceration process and are given the right to due process. In order for the aforementioned to work there would have to be an upgrade to the current indigent defense services that are available to defendants. This includes public defenders that are compensated with good salaries and other support needed to manage caseloads; making them more prepared to battle for their client’s freedom instead of plea-bargaining an agreement. One change that should be made is the building of informative websites that provide information about the court system and the types of cases that are handled by jurisdiction. Providing the public with listings of case statuses and docket information can be helpful for pro bono attorney looking for clients to represent, and having detailed information and the proper forms that would be needed for a person to represent oneself in court; can help disperse the caseload. The development of performance standards and methods for supervising attorneys, assigned counsel, and court officials will ensure that courtroom behavior is ethical and in favor of the defendants. Enhanced Technology and Information Management The enhancement of technology is another area of concern regarding court administration today. Modernization of older court buildings with upgrades to newer security features, such as video cameras and weapon detection systems, can offer a greater sense of security for the public and those involved in the court process. The employment of properly trained security guards, who are rehearsed in threat assessment, will ensure that future security officers are able to handle any crisis that may occur. This includes the effective use of communication equipment, proper weapons training and new technologies that are implemented. The employing of degreed peace officers as administrative staff, who have a working knowledge of security systems and policing; that are familiar with the software used, and any hardware that is required to provide a safe court environment, ensures that security processes and procedures will be followed. Storing of information is important when building databases to control the flow of information within the court system and making sure that information is secure, obtainable and available to all jurisdictions is not only beneficial in the court process but should be a priority to ensure that the system does not become overloaded. This includes the creation and updating of all proper forms, documentation, and the incorporation of any digital media that is needed to complete the judiciary process; plus the technical support and communication infrastructure to manage all the information. Finally, the proper training for court staff on how to access all information, customer service in providing the appropriate assistance and the relaying of proper information to the public and for all justice system practitioners and service providers. Web based education is a consistent way to ensure that all court personnel receive the same standard of training in core subjects. Greater Availability of Community Programs Having readily available resources to provide those who have addiction problems or commit crimes due to addiction, such as inpatient/outpatient programs, drug court and probation programs that teach recovery and coping skills, and providing transportation vouchers to those defendants who do not own or have vehicles. Although some courts have drug courts, the establishment of a mental health court could substantially help with caseload. With qualified treatment providers and caseworkers who are educated in mental illness (with or without drug abuse training) can provide information to the court through home visits, doctor office visits, and the tracking of those individuals who are required to be on medication and in treatment programs while on probation, thus being able to use the information gathered to forecast defendants whose criminal actions are due to some sort of mental illness. Overcoming Language Barriers Providing improved court interpreter services through technology will allow for greater range of court interpreter services. Language barriers are one of the biggest issues with the illegal immigrant population. It is imperative that court system recruit interpreters who are fluent in many languages, so that those who do not have a good command of the law are able to understand what crime has been committed and the punishment for that action, why that particular action is a crime, and to ensure that they understand the court process in relation to their rights. Judges, attorneys and client representative should also be trained in several languages or be given access to a competent interpreter so that nothing can be lost in translation. Through the use of technology, such as Skype, court interpreters can instruct, educate and disseminate information so that those who do not understand will have some comprehension of the resources available to them and the sentencing/punishment that is handed down. References Robinson, M. B. (2009). Justice blind? Ideals and realities of American criminal justice (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson/Prentice Hall.

The Environmental Application Of Microorganisms - 1930 Words

Microorganisms have been used by human beings to their benefit for centuries. Ancient biotechnology utilized yeast to make bread and wine – perhaps well before they even knew that tiny microbes were causing bread to rise, or grapes to ferment! In the modern day, the use of microbes has extended so far as to actually help us reverse the damages we cause to the environment. One such environmental application of microorganisms is Bioremediation – the use of either indigenous or Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCBs) to rapidly digest hydrocarbons from oil spills. According to a recent study by The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited, between 2010 and 2012 there were 21 tanker spills, 5 of which were above 700 tons (2012).†¦show more content†¦The study conducted by Kadali et al. examined a range of hydrocarbons contained in crude oil and determined the key hydrocarbon degrading bacteria in each constituent. These types of studies are crucial to the process of improving the efficacy of bioremediation whilst limiting the alteration of native microbial communities. The importance of maintaining native biodiversity is underscored by a 2012 study by Dell’Anno et al. titled â€Å"High bacterial biodiversity increases degradation performance of hydrocarbons during bioremediation of contaminated harbor marine sediments†. This study demonstrates that â€Å"biodegradation effiencies of hydrocarbons were significantly and positively related with bacterial richness and evenness† (Dell’Anno et al., 2012). Methods, Observations and Discussion The study conducted by McKew et al. examined the efficiency of degradation of n-alkanes (or straight-chain hydrocarbons) in response to various types of intervention strategies. It is somewhat established that the native marine bacteria may not be able to degrade the constituents of crude oil spills without the aid of microorganisms that are specialized in disintegrating hydrocarbons – Hydocarbonoclastic bacteria, or HCBs. McKew et al.’s study quantifies this