Analysis Of The Novel Tomorrow When The War Began

English Expository Essay Keely Shang The characters in the novel Tomorrow When the War Began (TWTWB) (1993) begin as very human, very believable and, very ordinary. Then their lives are changed in an instant and they are forced to respond, to change, to grow and to adapt.. The characterisation is so well done that Ellie, Robyn, Fi, Homer, Chris, Corrie, Kevin and Lee become real to the reader, and you find yourself relating to them as you would actual people. Author John Marsden creates characters based on Australia’s unique multicultural society in TWTWB. The novel is based on an Australian town where John Marsden uses stereotypes as the main characters. They start out as fairly stereotypical examples of teenagers, but they undergo a character metamorphosis as the story progresses. Characters such as Homer, first introduced as a very stereotypical law-breaking teenager often seen in todays society, undergoes a transformation into a strong leader as the story develops. Homer is a character in the novel whose personality starts off as very stereotypical but changes as you get deeper into the story. Coming from a Greek background, Homer is forceful and domineering and has trouble dealing with other strong personalities. Although, he is a natural leader, brave and can even be a little insecure at times. In his teenage years Homer had built a front to hide behind, a front as a disrespectful, insensitive, uncaring guy. He starts to fall inlove with Fi, a refined and delicateShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1635 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Fitzgerald was an American author of novels. His book, The Great Gatsby, is being told on how there is a difference between people having old money and new money, and cheating themselves through that to have a lifestyle they cannot maintain, and in the end will throw them down. 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The following sections of this BookRags Premium Study Guide is offprint from Gales For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, CompareRead MoreReview Of A Thousand Splendid Suns Essay3732 Words   |  15 PagesAFTER EFFECTS OF WAR IN KABUL AS BASED ON A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Award of Degree of Bachelors of Arts (Hons.) in English Submitted By: Supervised By: Sahib Alam Shaily Dabra Ma’am SYNOPSIS The title of the current research is ‘the after-effects of war in Kabul’ based on the novel-A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS. 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Cont. Article Review Example

Essays on Cont. Article Review Coursework Article Review Article Review The statistical discussion in the hypertension article uses inferential statistics to sample its data obtained through random variation as observed. In its analysis and selection of statistical tests, the article often uses aspects of comparison to determine the validity of both independent and dependent variables especially when trying to influencing the outcome. On the other hand, in regards to distribution tests, there is analysis of variances as seen in the understanding of hypertension as disease that results to cardiovascular failure. However, the use of the 1,239 respondents is an indicator of the prevalence of the illness because of the statistical rationale of using observational study. Selection for the tests is equally based on the rationale of relating the sample data sets that are fundamental in the methods of determining the effect of hypertension within the cross-sectional community. Alternatively, the decision to interview 7,164 families amongst the population totalling 45,587 reveal the connection between dependent and independent variables in influencing results (Creswell Clark, 2011). These results, for instance, demonstrate that 35 percent or 434 males are directly affected by the disease because of socioeconomic status experienced in the rural areas. On the other hand, according to Creswell’s table, association between groups and group comparison is a reflection of the study subjects because it identifies the risk levels of the high blood pressure among the population. Comparing of significant correlates of the disease in terms of the variables of age group, gender, and literacy level also portray the difficulty of using cluster sampling to determine the correct results. ReferenceCreswell, J. Clark, V. (2011). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research. New York, NY: SAGE.

Prioritizing English over the Loss of Your Language Free Essays

Prioritizing the English language over the possible erosion of your native language Nearly 72% of the information available on the internet is in English. How did it all start? The English language spread throughout the world because England in the late 16th century formed colonies all around the world. And until now the English language is growing and becoming more and more popular worldwide, English has official or special status in at least seventy five countries with a total population of over two billion (The Cambridge Encyclopedia). We will write a custom essay sample on Prioritizing English over the Loss of Your Language or any similar topic only for you Order Now More and more people see learning English even if they might lose their native language as positive. Personally, I believe that English should be prioritized over the possibility of erosion of a native language for a number of reasons. English breaks the language barriers between different countries especially through the internet and there are more job opportunities if one is able to speak and write English fluently. In this essay I’m going to focus mainly on these two points. [good] The internet is a system of interconnected computer networks, to serve billions of people worldwide. The internet is a place where everyone comes on from different countries to communicate with one another and to share all sort of things like what’s really happening in their community/ country. It’s a place where the people of the world come together as one. English breaks the language barrier also, by allowing people from around the world to get to know each other, work together and communicate whether it’s face-to-face, by phone, via email and most importantly via the internet. What percent of the internet is really in English? ’ this is a question asked by many. And the last time anyone made a serious attempt to answer this, was a study conducted by Excite AtHome in 1999, which looked at 600 million webpages and concluded that 72% were in English (Zukerman, 2009). With so much information mainly in English freely available on the internet, this motivate d people from different countries to learn the language so they can seize the change of getting valuable information for almost free of charge. There is only one language for airlines taking off and landing in 157 countries around the world and that’s English. English is the universal language of air traffic control. Therefore, a pilot from an Arab country for example, where English is not spoken that often, will have a better chance of being hired by any airline around the world if they can speak proper English. English is necessary also for official business that’s why companies hire their employees based on their y capability of speaking and writing English. Job opportunities worldwide in let’s say big international companies such as Ernst Young or other large companies; look for such employees with top notch English. Meanwhile, if more people speak English in a country, potential business opportunities sky rocket because it’s the only way business partner, franchisers and investors can communicate, discuss, negotiate and make a deal with one another. This enhances the profit of a country and benefits the country as a whole in the long run. To sum it all up, personally, I feel that the advantages out way the disadvantage of prioritizing the English language over the possible erosion of you native language. First off, job opportunities increase when one is capable of speaking and writing English fluently because it’s one of the criteria in most major international companies. Secondly, The English language allows people from different backgrounds and mother tongues to communicate effectively and get to know about each other. References: Zukerman, M. Musing on Africa, International development and hacking the media, 2009. http://www. ethanzuckerman. com/blog/2009/06/01/what-percentage-of-the-internet-is-in-english-in-. chinese/ MacNeil, R. , McCrum, R. , Cran. W. (Producers). (1986). The Story of English . [Documentary]. http://topdocumentaryfilms. com/story-of-english/ How to cite Prioritizing English over the Loss of Your Language, Essay examples

Mentorship and Becoming an Adult Essay Example For Students

Mentorship and Becoming an Adult Essay One person that I would consider a mentor is my best friend, Shamaila. The reason that I would consider her as a mentor is because she has got me through so much and has had a big impact on my life. She has guided me through thick and thin; and she has stood by me every minute of every day no matter how tough a situation has gotten. She has continuously offered her suggestions, and has always helped me make the right decision so that I can continue to pursue my dream of becoming an accountant, and so that I can properly grow into adulthood. She reminds me of my different responsibilities and always offers her support through what I am doing and through my experiences. Shamaila and I’s relationship came to be when we met in grade 9. I was quiet and she was very loud, but we had one thing in common. We were both friends with one person. We were sitting together, and we got to know each other and this lead to our friendship, and we are still the best of friends today. In my opinion, no one really initiated the relationship that we have, it was more of us coming together for one cause, or one reason, and that was to help each other out in different situations. It was to know that others loved us other than our parents and family, so we could have other people to invite into our circle of happiness. In our community, it is unusual to have mentors, or an adult initiation ceremony, but we got together and now both of us have each other’s backs. The goal of our relationship is simple. It is to guide one another to success, and for each of us to know that we are loved. There is no timing for our relationship, and we are both going to be there for one another, till we go our separate ways, and try new things. But even then, we will alw. . that takes a lot of time, and it can’t happen over one ceremony. It takes years, and grows with responsibility, and this can’t be piled onto a person who isn’t yet ready. You have to give that responsibly, one task at a time. In my community, I don’t have any rituals, but if I had to choose one to have, it would be that I would want a ceremony that would acknowledge when I have grown up. So the ceremony would not happen when you reach a specific age, but when each individual feels that they are old and mature enough to have that ceremony. When they know that they are ready for the responsibility that comes with growing up and being a role model for others, especially kids. Mentorship is a special relationship. It is one of teacher and student. But in the end, a mentor is a best friend, a teacher, a parent, and an overall good influence, packaged into one person.

Whose Art Is It Essays - Surname, Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld, The Bronx

Whose Art Is It Whose Art Is It?, an essay by Jane Kramer, talked about John Ahearn, an artist living in the South Bronx. Kramer describes John as a white male living in a predominantly African American and Hispanic community. His artworks sparked a great controversy not only in the town but the entire city of New York. His intentions were not to offend anyone but he created such a public outcry against his works that will be look backed upon forever. John Ahearn was an active part of the community. South Bronx is known as a place of suffering, poverty, crime, drugs, unemployment, and Aids (Stimpson 18), but this did not stop Ahearn for making his artworks. His earlier works were plaster portraits of the people that lived there. Some even displayed them in their homes. So he gained acceptance in South Bronx, nobody really minded he was white. The place became home to him. On April 1, 1986, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs began to choose? an artist to create a piece in front of a new police station in the 44th Precinct (Stimpson 19). With his gained popularity in the town, Ahearn was commissioned to make the sculpture. He believed that his sculptures should be looked upon as guardian angels or saints. He believed that the people in his work should be the everyday, real people. To commemorate a few of the people? having trouble surviving in the street, even if they were trouble themselves. He wanted the police to acknowledge them, and he wanted the neighbors, seeing them cast in bronze and up on pedestals, to stop and think about who they were and about what he calls their South Bronx attitude (Kramer 38). So he turned to his immediate neighbors and casted to make his pieces. In 1992, Ahearn created three bronze figures: Raymond, a Hispanic, with his pit bull Toby; Corey, an African American with a boom box and a basketball; and Daleesha a second African American youngster on a pair of roller skates. They were not outstanding citizens, but were a part of the everyday struggle that Ahearn wanted to portray. Kramer explains that the people were insulted and wanted a more positive image of the town. They wanted the artwork to show them not to be struggling. Some of the neighbors wanted statues of Martin Luther King or Malcom X, or statues of children in their graduation gowns, or of mothers carrying home the groceries, or of men in suits on their way to important jobs downtown (Kramer 42). Some even evoked statements about stereotypical intent and Ahearn being a racist. Neighbors complained that Ahearn was a white man and made derogatory images about the African American and Hispanics. Some called his works to be scary and too dark. He tried to make changes with casts, making them brighter and more pleasant to look at, but the majority of the public still disapproves. After five days of being displayed Ahearn would take them all down after he had just installed them with great effort. But not the entire community disagreed with the meaning of the sculptures they know that Ahearn's intent was not to offend. Kramer talks about the multicultural controversy that was upon the community. She says that even though Ahearn was white and making sculptures of a different race, his purpose was of a positive notion. Since he has lived there, he has done nothing but positive things for South Bronx. Trying to pinch in his share for the better of the society. His affinity to these people was very special to him and Ahearn tried to show this through his artworks. On the flip side of all these facts, there was a question of racism. The people believed that, his pieces had stereotypical connotations. While living in the South Bronx, Ahearn learned to be like everybody else, from the people's values, cultures, and traditions, and in return his neighbors learned his. He looked beyond racial boundaries. He accepted the challenge of being different and the town welcomed him. He believed that he spoke his mind through his artworks. Kramer argued that the public was complaining so much that they oversaw the

Example Sentences of the Verb Begin

Example Sentences of the Verb Begin This page provides example sentences of the verb Begin in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. Base Form begin / Past Simple began[i/] / Past Participle begun / Gerund beginning Present Simple He usually begins work at eight oclock. Present Simple Passive Construction is often begun before the plans are finished. Present Continuous We are beginning to understand the problem. Present Continuous Passive The report is being begun this very moment. Present Perfect Peter hasnt begun yet. Present Perfect Passive The report hasnt been begun yet. Present Perfect Continuous None Past Simple The school began to ask students to come earlier. Past Simple Passive The project was begun last week. Past Continuous They were beginning to eat as I arrived. Past Continuous Passive The book was being begun when I got to class. Past Perfect She had begun work before I arrived. Past Perfect Passive The project had been begun before he approved the final plans. Past Perfect Continuous None Future (will) It will begin soon. Future (will) passive The project will be begun by John. Future (going to) Oliver is going to begin a new job next week. Future (going to) passive The process is going to be begun next month. Future Continuous He will be beginning his new job in two weeks time. Future Perfect The concert will have begun by the time you arrive. Future Possibility The movie may begin soon. Real Conditional I will begin if he arrives soon. Unreal Conditional She would begin soon if they offered her the job. Past Unreal Conditional If it had begun earlier they wouldnt have finished in time. Present Modal I must begin working hard! Past Modal They should have begun the project earlier. Quiz: Conjugate with Begin Use the verb to begin to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In some cases, more than one answer may be correct. The school _____ to ask students to come earlier.The project _____ before he approved the final plans.We _____ to understand the problem.He usually _____ work at eight oclock.The report _____ yet.Oliver _____ a new job next week.She _____ soon if they offered her the job.She ______ before I arrived.It _____ soon.The concert _____ by the time you arrive. Quiz Answers beganhad been begunare beginningbegins  hasnt been begunis going to beginwould beginhad begun workwill beginwill have begun

The Diplomatic Views of Benjamin Franklin Essay

The Diplomatic Views of Benjamin Franklin - Essay Example It was important according to Benjamin Franklin to have virtues that remind you of your humanity and help you carry out your civic duty. He was known for being proud and humility was a virtue he worked on attaining. Humor was considered by Benjamin Franklin to be important especially for one in a position like himself, having to make important decisions that affect both the individual and the society. Humility would in his opinion bridge the gap between those in power, that is the politicians and the general public. Benjamin Franklin sought to express this virtue openly to demonstrate its effect on private citizens much to the objection of other elected officials. Our opinions are not in our own power, they are formed and governed much by circumstances, that are often inexplicable as they are unstable. This was a comment made by Benjamin Franklin in a letter to his son after the revolution. Thus he stresses the importance of the citizen and formulation of laws that are passed by the government and the role they play in making sure elected officials act in accordance with law for the good of the country. Armed with the knowledge that those in public office do not necessarily act in the best interest of the community as evidenced today, Benjamin Franklin's vision was to empower the everyday man with the freedom to voice opinions. As most regular folks assume, the government does not usually have the best interests of the general public at heart. Today's society feels an increase in national insecurity, due to recent events.

To What Extent NGOs is the Voice of Civil Society Essay

To What Extent NGOs is the Voice of Civil Society - Essay Example Many people believe that NGOs emerging from the Civil Society; hence representing it. In their opinion, NGOs mediate relationships between state and civil society and they are part of civil society. In order to learn more about the role of NGO’s in a civil society, it is necessary to define the term civil society. Civil society is an ambiguous term. There are plenty of definitions attached to the term civil society by different scholars. â€Å"The paradox about civil society is that it covers a vast range of activities - yet it's very hard to define. One description puts it quite succinctly: 'A civil society is a public space between the state, the market, and the ordinary household, in which people can debate and tackle action† (What Is Civil Society?. When applied in developing country contexts, it is often used to refer to the NGO sector, social movements and trade unions. It sometimes even includes the private sector. â€Å"The term civil society is generally used to classify persons, institutions, and organizations that have the goal of advancing or expressing a common purpose through ideas, actions, and demands on governments†. In any case, politicians, governmental and nongovernmental organizations are working for the well-being of the civil society; at least on papers. According to Lister, â€Å"The legitimacy of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is poorly theorized in development studies literature, where it is usually seen as dependent on accountability, performance, and representativeness

Proposal document Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Proposal document - Essay Example advancement of technology has brought with it additional academic pressures since professors expect that students can harness the information highway optimally to enhance the learning process and, concomitantly, expectations have risen insofar as quality of student output is concerned. Currently, there are four hundred public computer stations at the IUPUI library that provide access to campus electronic resources and to the internet, but they are not connected to the net either locally or wirelessly. In fact, it is not possible to download data on some computers in the library that are not equipped with the necessary software. The Policies: One of the variables that make things difficult is the set of policies imposed at the library. In the IUPUI library, there are four types of computers that students are permitted to use with added caveats, as listed below: The problem is the inability to download data using all computers available at the IUPUI library. This is a direct fallout of the library policy as detailed supra. Limiting the types of PCs that may be used for downloading data to only two categories, i.e., PCs with yellow tags and MAC computers, reduces the computer units usable in downloading certain software in furtherance of their assignments and projects. According to the Help Desk Supervisor, Adam, there are only eighty-six PCs on the third and fourth floors with yellow tags. Although MAC computers can also be used to download data, many students are not be able to use them due to their unfamiliarity with MAC computers. Even with the assumption that MAC computers are fully utilized, the paucity of units available is an impediment that is beyond the control of students needing access to PCs. Computer Information Technology (CIT) major students, like me, are left with no recourse but to purchase their own Laptop computers and bring them to the library, which is an undesirable and avoidable stop-gap measure. An analysis has been carried out by me to

Being an effective primary school teacher

Being an effective primary school teacher Being an effective primary school teacher Introduction This essay discusses the question, â€Å"What do you consider to be an effective primary teacher?†. With reference to recent research, government initiatives and your own experience, the essay explores this question, based on my own educational principles and the ways in which these will underpin your professional practice in the future. The essay begins by reviewing the Government policies and initiatives that are relevant to the research question, discussing, in particular, the document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003) and the subsequent Primary Strategy framework for primary education. The essay then moves on to discuss the aims of these policies and initiatives and the implications these have had for schools and teachers. The assessment framework is discussed, and how this impacts on teacher effectiveness is also noted. The essay then moves on to looking at the qualities of effective teachers, and effective teaching in a primary setting, and concludes that some of the facets of Government policies and initiatives – such as continual assessments – run counter to my ethos of effective teaching and actually serve as little other than distractions from pure teaching time, through all the administration such assessments bring and the amount of time this takes away from lesson planning, for example. Recent policies and initiatives in primary education In terms of Government policy towards primary education, in 2003, the Government launched the policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  which set out a vision for the future of primary education built, formally, on the striving for higher standards through the formulation of a rich and varied curriculum which is aimed at developing children in a number of ways. As explained by the DfCSF (2008), the key to making this vision a reality lies in the need to empower primary school children to take control of their own learning, to be innovative and to develop their own character. The DfCSF (2008) also noted that the aims of the policy  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  should also be achieved through schools being able to set their own targets, based on challenging but realistic targets for the progress of each individual child, with LEA targets being set after this. In addition, the policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  encourages schools to network to learn from each other and to develop good practice, in partnership with parents in order to help children as far as possible and to forge links between schools and communities (DfCSF, 2008). The policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  was intended as an enabler, with leadership in schools being strengthened in terms of professional development of teachers towards the whole curriculum, and in terms of helping schools themselves design broad curriculum that links different areas of the curriculum and which thus provides children with as wide as possible a range of learning experiences (DfCSF, 2008). The policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  argues that the best primary schools are those that offer a broad and rich curriculum, and that, based on this it is fundamental that schools develop their own distinctive character through taking ownership of the curriculum, by being creative and innovative, using tests, targets and tables to help every child to develop his or her potential (DfES, 2003). Essentially, the policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003) urged the promotion of excellence in primary teaching through building on the success of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, using the new Primary Strategies to extend this success in to other areas of the curriculum, including in foreign languages, sport and creativity, amongst other areas, measuring the success of this curriculum through assessments (DfES, 2003). The Assessment Process: its implications for teaching practice and childhood attainment There are many ways in which assessment activities can take place in the classroom, including monitoring normal classwork activities, using specific assessment tests designed by the teacher, designating assessment tasks as part of normal classwork, providing assessment tasks as part of homework assignments, and others, which are the domain of higher educational levels than the foundation stage, such as the use of standardized National Curriculum tests and/or formal examinations (Kyriacou, 1999; p.107). Kyriacou (1999; p.107-109) details each of these assessment protocols, showing, for example, how, although monitoring classroom activity is a part of the normal routine of a teacher, the monitoring, when it becomes investigative and active can become a form of assessment (Kyriacou, 1999; p.107; Kyriacou, 1997). In this way, the monitoring can inform teaching practice, through leading to suggestions for improvements in how learning is delivered, based on observations of areas in which t he children are failing to learn as quickly or as thoroughly compared to other areas, for example. In this way, monitoring and assessment can be a route through which teaching can be improved and teachers can become more effective. In terms of how the assessment is actually made (i.e., the actual process of assessment), evidence is collected through an ongoing process, via the teachers knowledge of the child, information from other contributors who are in regular contact with the child, anecdotes about significant moments in the child’s development, and focused assessments, based on observation where observation is understood to mean â€Å"the practice of watching and listening to a child as they engage in an activity and demonstrate specific knowledge, skills and understanding† (NAA, 2007). As pointed out by Kyriacou (1999; p.106), it is imperative that an adequate record of the child’s achievements, and their assessment, is kept, and that portfolios of children’s work are kept in order to exemplify the standards that are being sought, and so that teachers can use these records as a benchmark to build upon, through which improvements to teaching practice can be made and teacher effe ctiveness be improved. Teachers thus need to be competent in many areas in order to ensure that the assessment process goes smoothly for all concerned and that the assessment process is something that can be useful for teachers, in terms of improving teaching practices. The need for teachers to be competent in the assessment of children is reflected in the fact that the DfEE (2000) list of standards for teachers lists the ability to assess and record each pupils progress systematically as a competency (Kyriacou, 1999; p.106). In addition, it is fundamental that assessment judgements are agreed amongst all concerned, so that all those involved can make the best, fullest, use of the information. The Primary Strategies outlined in the policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003)  thus built on the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies to lead to the development of the Primary Curriculum, with the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies being embedded in the  Primary Strategy  (under the framework of the Primary Framework for literacy and mathematics that was launched in October 2006) (DfCSF, 2008). This new framework builds on the learning that has taken place since the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies were launched in 2003, providing new structures and new impetus to the vision embodied in the policy document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003), extending, as it does, the support given only to literacy and to numeracy to other subjects (DfCSF, 2008). The overall ethos of the new Primary Strategy framework is that excellent education is an education that is tailored to children’s specific needs, allowing them to engage with the educational process and giving them the start they need to be able to succeed in the context of secondary education (DfCSF, 2008). In terms of the future education of primary children, and how assessments at the primary level affect children’s future educational development, it is well documented that the level of educational attainment of a child (as assessed through Key Stage 1 assessments) cannot – alone – be used as an indicator of how well a particular teacher or school has performed; it is the  relative  progress that needs to be considered in terms of making an assessment of how children’s future educational prospects are affected by the assessment process (Kyriacou, 1999; p. 106). Ways to do this include taking baseline measurements of achievement and comparing these with achievement following a certain time period of education, or taking value-added measurements (Kyriacou, 1999; p.106). In terms of tracking how children progress beyond the primary level, the relationship between Key Stage 1 assessments and attainment in terms of National Curriculum levels needs to be explored (AAIA, 2007). As discussed by AAIA (2007), however, Key Stage 1 attainments cannot be directly related to National Curriculum levels and any such attempts would result in spurious information (NAA, 2006). It is clear, however, that the higher the child’s assessment at Key Stage 1, the more likely it is that the child would attain high levels following the National Curriculum tests (AAIA, 2007). Models of good early years education Cohen  et al.  (2004) provides information on how to plan and organise classes, and shows how the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has set out principles for early years education (QCA, 1999; 2000; 2001), on the basis that, â€Å"effective education requires both a relevant curriculum and practitioners who understand and are able to implement the curriculum requirements†¦building on what children already know and can do, encouraging a positive attitude and a disposition to learn and to protect against early failure†. As the QCA (1999, 2000, 2001) point out, early years education should be carefully structured, providing different starting points, depending on what the child can already do, should have relevant and appropriate content, matching the different levels of children’s needs and should provide planned and purposeful activities which provide opportunities for teaching both indoors and outdoors, with teachers who are able to observe and respo nd appropriately to the children under their care. This is on the basis that â€Å"parents are children’s first and most enduring educators† (QCA, 2000, p.9), and that teachers provide a series of stepping stones through foundation stages, through Early Learning Goals, through primary level, which articulates with the National Curriculum which all children from age five are legally bound to follow (Cohen  et al.,  2004; Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 2000). Cohen  et al.  (2004) show how key aspects of effective learning at the primary level are active, integrated, socially constructive, cognitively constructive and linguistically rich learning, beginning where the individual learner is at themselves, in terms of their learning process, so that the individual child is the agent of their learning, empowering the children to enable their own learning by casting learning as problem-solving (Morrison, 2000; Cohen  et al.,  2004). As Morrison (2000; p.122) states, â€Å"the intention (of learning) is to extend play, to empower students and to enable them to take responsibility for their own, active and autonomous, learning and to develop in all aspects of their learning†. This is conducted, generally, through four key elements: classroom arrangements (with such things as centres of interest), daily schedules of plan-do-review sessions, key curricular and learning experiences and content and assessments through observation, rec ording and sharing, using authentic assessment and portfolios (Cohen  et al.,  2004). By following such suggestions for enabling learning at the primary level,  continuity  and  progression  are ensured. Continuity  is  generally defined, and understood, as ensuring that the overall aims, values and beliefs that give direction to, and put boundaries around, the scheme of work are consistent, regardless of who is teaching or answering later questions (Fabian and Dunlop, 2002).  Progression  is defined, and understood, generally, as the process through which the schools planned activities gradually extend pupils’ thinking, their exploration of values and attitudes, enrich language, knowledge and strategies through increasingly demanding inputs and challenging explorations, matched to pupils chronological age, readiness and circumstance (Fabian and Dunlop, 2002). Through ensuring continuity and progression, children can be enabled to achieve the goals they want to achieve, within the frameworks that are set them. My personal teaching ethos This section takes one or two of my principles to explain how I intend to be an effective primary teacher, using examples from your my school experiences. In essence, I concur with Cohen  et al.  (2004) that, â€Å"effective education requires both a relevant curriculum and practitioners who understand and are able to implement the curriculum requirements†¦building on what children already know and can do, encouraging a positive attitude and a disposition to learn and to protect against early failure† and I agree with the overall stated ethos of the new Primary Strategy framework is that excellent education is an education that is tailored to children’s specific needs, allowing them to engage with the educational process and giving them the start they need to be able to succeed in the context of secondary education (DfCSF, 2008). Taylor and Hayes (2001) provide a discussion as to how education  should  be delivered, leading me to arrive at several conclusions as to how I should organize my time as a teacher in order to provide the most effective teaching possible to my pupils. I agree with the aims of the Primary Strategy as set out in the policy document,  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003), which  encourages schools and teachers to network to learn from each other and to develop good practice, in partnership with parents in order to help children as far as possible and to forge links between schools and communities (DfCSF, 2008). The dictates of the assessment processes and the Curriculum mean I have to teach within these boundaries, but this does not mean that lessons have to be rigid and that assessments and tests and Curriculum have to be frightening terms to primary age pupils. One of my responsibilities as an effective teacher is to prepare students, as well as possible, for the assessments and to teach the Curriculum in such a manner that the children’s sense of wonder is upheld (see Allen and Ainley, 2007) and that children’s awareness of themselves as part of a whole and as spiritual beings is also encouraged (Eaude, 2005). My aim as a primary teacher is to foster a sense of enjoyment in the learning process and, through this, to foster a love of learning that will continue well beyond the primary level, encouraging success at the secondary level and forging a lifelong love of learning in each individual pupil, based on a sense of wonder at the world, its contents and its processes. I, personally, agree with Cohen  et al.  (2004), who show how key aspects of effective learning at the primary level are active, integrated, socially constructive, cognitively constructive and linguistically rich learning, beginning where the individual learner is at themselves, in terms of their learning process, so that the individual child is the agent of their learning, empowering the children to enable their own learning by casting learning as problem-solving (Morrison, 2000; Cohen  et al.,  2004). It is my aim as a teacher, wishing to be an effective teacher, to foster the empowerment of children, through developing a sense of the wonder of learning and empowering the children to direct their own learning, within the context of the Curriculum, so that children feel they are capable of learning and are capable of achieving the standards they set themselves. The Success of New Labour’s Policy Towards Primary Education Tymms (2004) look at how successful the changes to primary education have been, following the introduction of the Numeracy and Literacy Strategies and finds that, whilst the introduction of these Strategies contributed to a rise in standards, independent tests of children’s attainment have shown that this rise in standards is not as widespread nor as high as claimed and that, as such, an independent body should be set up to monitor standards over time, with the purpose of testing how Government planning for education is actually being received on the ground, as it were. A recent Oftsted report (Ofsted, 2003) also shows that some of the aims of the National Numeracy and Literacy Strategy were not achieved (with weak subject knowledge being a common failure of schools), suggesting the Government’s approach to primary education needs to be looked at further. Allen and Ainley (2007) back this suggestion, through their analysis of education in the UK, presented in their book  Education make you fick, innit?  Allen and Ainley argue that as institutionalized learning has become more common-place in the Uk, through schools and work-based training programmes, possibilities have been foreclosed for emancipating minds, something that is increasingly being applied to primary level education, through the introduction of the Primary Strategy, for example, and the assessment-based curriculum this embodies, which, argue Allen and Ainley (2007) forces teachers to concentrate more on training children in the Curriculum for the purpose of attaining high scores on the assessments than on actually instilling a sense of wonder in learning. Allen and Ainley (2007) argue that this process is killing the sense of wonder in children, and that, even for primary school children, education, the process of going to school, has become little more than a daily g rind, rather than a joyous process the children are happy to undertake because they enjoy the process and because the process can bring them knowledge and enjoyment. Conclusion This essay has discussed the question, â€Å"What do you consider to be an effective primary teacher?†. With reference to recent research, government initiatives and your own experience, the essay has explored this question, based on my own educational principles and the ways in which these will underpin your professional practice in the future. The essay began by reviewing the Government policies and initiatives that are relevant to the research question, discussing, in particular, the document  Excellence and Enjoyment – A Strategy for Primary Schools  (DfES, 2003) and the subsequent Primary Strategy framework for primary education. The essay then moved on to discuss the aims of these policies and initiatives and the implications these have had for schools and teachers. The assessment framework was then discussed, and how this impacts on teacher effectiveness was also noted. The essay then moved on to looking at the qualities of effective teachers, and effective t eaching in a primary setting, and concluded that some of the facets of Government policies and initiatives – such as continual assessments – run counter to my ethos of effective teaching and actually serve as little other than distractions from pure teaching time, through all the administration such assessments bring and the amount of time this takes away from lesson planning, for example. The main conclusion to the essay is that effective teaching at the primary level should serve to instill a sense of the wonder of learning and should open children’s minds to the possibilities that learning, and the learning process, encompasses. I converge with Allen and Ainley (2007) that the current trend towards assessments, more assessments and yet more assessments is not healthy for children, because it causes stress and can initiate a sense of failure in children who do not achieve high scores on these assessments and also because managing these assessments takes time away from teaching, through all the administration that the tests generate. The argument that these tests do little than to confirm that the education policies the Government is espousing are correct seems valid, and it is, as has been seen, in any case questionable that the standards suggested by the Government, in the Primary Strategy are actually leading to rises in standards (see Tymms, 2004). That the overall stated ethos of the new Primary Strategy framework is that an excellent education is an education that is tailored to children’s specific needs, allowing them to engage with the educational process and giving them the start they need to be able to succeed in the context of secondary education (DfCSF, 2008) is thus a good basis to begin, as an effective teacher, but, in order to avoid boredom in the education process, and psychological problems, due to the huge amount of testing and assessment primary children are subject to, effective teaching not only needs to teach the Curriculum and prepare children for the battery of tests and assessments they will be subjected to, but also needs to foster the empowerment of children, through developing a sense of the wonder of learning and empowering the children to direct their own learning, within the context of the Curriculum, so that children feel they are capable of learning and are capable of achieving the standards they set themselves. Effective teachers are thus not only bound by the dictates of Government policy and teaching research which suggests  how  teachers should teach, but they are, in my opinion, also bound by a responsibility to children, to instill in children a sense of the wonder of learning. In my opinion, and something I will endeavour to achieve in my teaching practice, this sense of wonder can be best achieved through empowering children to realise their potential and to realise they can achieve their goals, through fostering a love of learning. These qualities not only make for an effective teacher but also an inspiring teacher, who will inspire their pupils to want to learn. References AAIA (2007). Assessing children’s attainments in the foundation stage: guidance produced by the AAIA. Available from  http://www.aaia.org.uk/PDF/FAQs%20-%20assessing%20children’s%20attainment%20in%20the%20foundation%20stage.pdf  [Accessed on 29th  February 2008]. Alexander, R. (2004). Still no pedagogy? Principle, pragmatism and compliance in primary education.  Cambridge J. of Education  34(1), pp.7-33. Allen, M Ainley P (2007).  Education make you fick, innit?  Tufnell Press, Reading. Brown, M.  et al.  (1998). Is the National Numeracy strategy research-based?  Brit. J. Educ. Studies  46, pp.362-385. Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2004).  A guide to teaching practice.  Routledge Falmer. DfCSF (2008). The National Strategies: Primary. Available from  http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/about/  [Accessed on 29th  February 2008]. DfEE (1998).  Teachers: meeting the challenge of change.  London: DfEE. DfEE (2000). Curriculum guidance for K1 stage. Available from  http://www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs/resources/downloads/5585_cg_foundation_stage.pdf  [Accessed 29th February 2008]. DfES (2003).  Excellence and enjoyment: a strategy for primary schools.  London: DfES. DfES (2004).  Department for Education and Skills: five year strategy for children and learners.  London: DfES. Eaude, T (2006).  Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.  Learning Matters, Reading. Fabian, H. and Dunlop, A-W. (2002).  Transitions in the early years: debating continuity and progression for children in early education.  Routledge Falmer. Higgins, S.  et al.  (2002).  Thinking through primary teaching.  Chris Kington Publishing, Cambridge. Kyriacou, C. (1997).  Effective teaching in schools. Nelson Thornes Ltd. Kyriacou, C. (1999).  Essential teaching skills.  Nelson Thornes Ltd. Kyriacou, C. (2005). The impact of daily maths lessons in England on pupil confidence and competence in early mathematics: a systematic review.  Brit J Educ Studies  53(2), pp.168-186. Morrison, G.S. (2000).  Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education.  Prentice Hall. NAA (National Assessment Agency) (2007). Additional guidance on completing foundation stage profile assessments. Available from  http://www.naa.org.uk/downloads/FSP_factsheet-_2007_Guidance_LA_Completing_Foundation_v042.pdf  [Accessed 29th February 2008]. Ofsted (2003). The national literacy and numeracy strategies and the primary curriculum. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2000).  Report on early years learning.  London: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Pollard, A (2002).  Readings  for Reflective Teaching Continuum. QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) (1999).  Early learning goals.  London: QCA. QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) (2000).  Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. .  London: QCA. QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) (2001).  Planning for learning in the foundation stage. .  London: QCA. Siraj-Blatchford, I, Sylva, K, Taggart, B, Melhuish, E., Sammons, P, Elliot, K. The EPPE Project [1997-2003] Available from http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachers/  issue34/secondary/features/steppingup www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/  ks1-2citizenship/cit1/2 [Accessed on 29th  February 2008]. Springate, D (2004).  Democracy in Schools: Some European perspectives. Springate, D (2006).  Empowering Children Through their own Research. Taylor, W. and Hayes, D (2004).  The RoutledgeFalmer Guide to Key Debates in Education.  RoutledgeFalmer. Tymms, P. (2004). Are standards rising in English primary schools?  Brit Educ Res J  30(4), pp.477-494. Webb, R.  et al.  (2004). A comparative analysis of primary teacher professionalism in England and Finland.  Comp Educ  40(1), pp.83-107. Webb, R. and Vulliamy, G. (2006). The impact of New Labour’s education policy on teadhers and teaching at Key Stage 2.  FORUM  48(2), pp.145-158. Wilce, H (2007).  Nurture Groups: Can they prevent bad behaviour in the classroom?

Prejudice, Racism and Education :: Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays

Racism has been a steady problem all through time. One of the most troublesome areas of racism is in places of education. Finding a cure for this would be a major step towards ending racism in general. No one has ever thought of a solution yet, and racism will be strong as long as there isn't one.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It all started back when the colonists traded certain goods for slaves. They had never seen a black person before and thought of them as lower human beings because they did all of the colonists' work for them. Since blacks were so low, they were never given a good education.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This lack of education continued throughout the centuries. Even in the 1700's slaves were never taught how to read or write. In the 1800's everyone's feelings about slavery, good or bad, culminated in one big war, the American Civil War. During this period, the slaves really tried to break free from their past stereotypes. A small percentage of them taught themselves to read and write and they began to teach others.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some blacks even fought in the Civil War. The most educated   were selected and several black units were formed. Once the North had defeated the South in the war, the slaves were freed from bondage, however, that did not mean that they would be free from the terrible prejudice that still permeated the country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Schools sprang up in all black areas but were not given the public funding that they needed and deserved. They were usually only one room and very dirty. They were given the oldest and most worn out books and equipment that were available. There weren't even many teachers who were qualified and were willing to teach at an all black school. Even though education was instituted for African Americans, which was a step in the right direction, it was a very small step and still didn't give blacks the education they deserved.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This treatment prevailed for many years after the Civil War. A new concept, segregation , evolved and was predominant from the late 1800's through the first half of the 1900's. Whites assumed that they were better than black people and didn't want to be around them in anything they did. For example, in buses, whites were given privileged seating in front; but blacks had to sit in the back. Moreover, if there were not enough front seats whites could preempt blacks from their back seats. There were separate restrooms, drinking fountains, stores and, of course, schools.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Segregation remained the same for many years until one day in 1955 a Prejudice, Racism and Education :: Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays Racism has been a steady problem all through time. One of the most troublesome areas of racism is in places of education. Finding a cure for this would be a major step towards ending racism in general. No one has ever thought of a solution yet, and racism will be strong as long as there isn't one.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It all started back when the colonists traded certain goods for slaves. They had never seen a black person before and thought of them as lower human beings because they did all of the colonists' work for them. Since blacks were so low, they were never given a good education.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This lack of education continued throughout the centuries. Even in the 1700's slaves were never taught how to read or write. In the 1800's everyone's feelings about slavery, good or bad, culminated in one big war, the American Civil War. During this period, the slaves really tried to break free from their past stereotypes. A small percentage of them taught themselves to read and write and they began to teach others.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some blacks even fought in the Civil War. The most educated   were selected and several black units were formed. Once the North had defeated the South in the war, the slaves were freed from bondage, however, that did not mean that they would be free from the terrible prejudice that still permeated the country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Schools sprang up in all black areas but were not given the public funding that they needed and deserved. They were usually only one room and very dirty. They were given the oldest and most worn out books and equipment that were available. There weren't even many teachers who were qualified and were willing to teach at an all black school. Even though education was instituted for African Americans, which was a step in the right direction, it was a very small step and still didn't give blacks the education they deserved.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This treatment prevailed for many years after the Civil War. A new concept, segregation , evolved and was predominant from the late 1800's through the first half of the 1900's. Whites assumed that they were better than black people and didn't want to be around them in anything they did. For example, in buses, whites were given privileged seating in front; but blacks had to sit in the back. Moreover, if there were not enough front seats whites could preempt blacks from their back seats. There were separate restrooms, drinking fountains, stores and, of course, schools.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Segregation remained the same for many years until one day in 1955 a