Educational Issues and Special Educational Needs Essay - 1

Educational Issues and Special Educational Needs - Essay Example the Act key intent was to help the all the children including those with special educational needs to achieve five outcomes which matter most to them, their parents as well as their carers (The Children Act 2004) These outcomes were; staying safe, being healthy, achieving and enjoying, making positive contributions to the society and also the economic and social wellbeing of the children. The Every Child Matters Children Act 2004 has had a great impact in the lives of the children especially those children who have various special educational needs. This Act has led to the promotion of the equality and the opportunities for the children who have special needs in education. This has enabled majority of these children with special needs to be treated equally as the other normal children and they are not alienated by the educational system because of their disabilities. (The Children Act 2004) Similarly these children receive equal treatment as the rest of the children who do not have any learning disabilities. On the other hand the Act has led to the creation of a lot of changes locally as well as internationally and also various programs have been instigated and this has led to the improvement of the of the outcomes for the disabled children. The Act has had major policy priorities which are very relevant to the children with special educational needs and this enables them to receive fair and equal treatment in all their educational learning processes. (The Children Act 2004) The legislation has further led to the bridging of the gap of the children with special needs who do not attend school regularly and this has further led to the improvement of their school attendance. Similarly through this act the government has initiated a strategy for meeting the needs of the children with special educational needs. This has also led to the removal of various barriers that hinder the progress of these children with the special needs and it has led to the improvement of

Western Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Western Civilization - Essay Example These are examples of things that have been brought about the western civilization; they have improved efficiency in business operations like faster communication, management and general quality improvements (Wright W. 1913). However, other practices from western civilization have been discouraged in many societies, for instance, some kinds of fashion; music and entertainment have been described as insane, increasing immorality and eroding the conservative nature of most other world civilizations. Following worldwide concern over the influence of western civilization, the violations experienced from this civilization can be said to be changing forms in the wake of modern developments in technology (Wright W. 1913). For this reason, the internet invention has risen to become the chief influence of people’s behaviors and actions. Western civilizations Influence of human violence has been seen to be changing forms, this has been necessitated by new lifestyle patterns and technological advancements. Before, human violence based mostly on nations superiority, ground and military might, however, in modern times, the dimension has shifted to include economic patterns. In this case, the violence that was experienced earlier can be seen to have changed its form

The process a person has to undergo to open a bank account Essay Example for Free

The process a person has to undergo to open a bank account Essay The bank will have in place a process that customers must have to follow to enable them open an account. This process involves various activities that the application must have to go through before a decision can be made to open an account. The initial process starts once the customer enters the Bank and speaks to a Customer Service Adviser about opening a new bank account. The adviser will asks the customer various questions in order to establish the customers banking needs. This enables the adviser to clarify what kind of account is more suitable for the customer. Since the customer does not know what kinds of bank accounts are available, the Customer Service Adviser enables this process to take place. Without the support of the adviser, the process of opening the account might have been more difficult and time consuming. The customer is also advised on the time duration it might take in the process of opening the account. The customer then has to fill in an application form which enables the process to move to the next stage. The customer can call on the adviser for assistance in filling out the form at any point in time. Once the form has been properly filled in, it is processed by the bank staff (using processing software on the computer by sending the information to a referencing agent to check if the applicant details are correct and for a credit check to find out if the customer has any adverse credit history. These are guides used by the bank to determine whether the information given by the applicant is true and to decide on credit facilities that might come with certain bank accounts). The information sent off is then verified and sent back to the bank. All the information sent are assigned scores using guides (software) that the bank has installed to make the process more efficient. Depending on the customers score, a suitable account would be recommended. A decision will then be taken in regards to the opening of the account and details of the account are entered into the computer. At this point of processing the account, some delays would be experienced while the adviser inputs the details of the new account into the computer. While this is being facilitated, the customer then receives details of his/her account. The customer leaves now as their input into the process of opening the bank account has been completed. The account details and customer information relevant to operating the account is then sent for printing to the card manufacturing company. The machinery, plastic and paper used in the process of manufacturing the relevant items for the bank enables the process of opening the account to be completed. The cheque book, card and pin number for use with the account are then mailed by the printing company to the banks customer or sent to their local branch for collection. Once the cheque book, card and pin are received by the customer, it enables the use of the bank account and without this, the operation of the account would be made more problematic. Volume looks at how many different jobs one person performs in the business. In a supermarket, each person works one station on a shift and rarely swaps during it unless it is extremely necessary. In some cases, there are enough people employed in the supermarket so that they only ever have to perform one duty during their time employed there. In the supermarket, there are sometimes 20 people working on the tills during the busy periods but often there are not this many people working in a bank at any one time. By having this high Volume, you will find that the each person will find their job extremely repetitive as it is all they perform all day long. In some cases, people will work behind a till for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for several years. This high repeatability often isnt appealing to a lot of people though. However, since people are performing the same tasks day in and day out, they become an expert in their area. This leads to highly specialized people in the supermarket which is good for the business. In a bank, there are normally two or three people who deal with the individuals bank accounts, and processing cash transactions, and then there is one person who deals with opening bank accounts, another working on loans, and someone possibly dealing with mortgages. This low volume of staff means that if anyone is sick, then the other staff will be required to cover the area for the duration. If you work in a bank, your position is often changed to where you are required most so you need to be multi-skilled and have good knowledge of the job. Variety looks at the degree in which the business responds to different customer requirements. A supermarket would have high variety as they order in a wide variety of products, made by different brands and sometimes of different ethnic origin to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. This means that the supermarket is flexible about what it orders, in order to meet the needs of the customer. A bank has very low variety in terms of the accounts they offer. They have their standard set of accounts such as Flex account Savings and ISA but there are few variations off the standard model. 90% of people who go into the bank to open up a savings account will leave with the same account. These standardised accounts make the whole process of opening up a bank account very routine and so the staff working there could do it with their eyes closed. Variation In Demand is how much demand changes over a period of time. In a bank, the accounts very rarely change. The main changes to them are the interest rates but this is usually determined by the government and so changes are infrequent. This keeps the bank in a routine, and also proves them to be very predictable in what they offer to the customer. This means that it doesnt matter when an individual opens a bank account as it will almost always be the same. In a supermarket however, there are seasonal changes constantly. They cater for all of the holidays that occur over the year, Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, Summer Holidays and Halloween. They need to order in the seasonal goods in advance to the holiday so that it entices people to buy them early. They can also adjust their ordering to meet customer demand, i. e. if the store holds a Buy One Get One Free offer on a particular popular product, then they know that they are going to sell a lot of it therefore they will adjust their ordering accordingly. After the promotion finishes, it is highly unlikely that they will continue to sell the same numbers so they will reduce the amount ordered. Visibility relates to where the process is carried out. In a bank, you see very little of the processes being carried out in front of you therefore there is low visibility. Credit Checks are done online by an independent company, cards and chequebooks are manufactured in another place altogether, Money is taken from you and put into a till and your account credited electronically. Sometimes, especially if you are paying in a cheque, there is a time lag between processing your transaction and seeing the results. It can take up to a week to send out new cards, new chequebooks, or new PIN numbers if you lose them and so this could be problematic for the consumer, as they may not have access to any money during that period of time. In a supermarket though, you see quite a few processes occurring in front of you. You can see people continuously stacking up shelves to ensure there is food available for the customer and you see your food being processed through the tills. This leads to low waiting tolerance however, and the consumer always wants their product immediately and often voices their dissatisfaction if they are unable to get exactly what they want. On the Deli counter, you can see your choice of meat being cut exactly how you want it to be and wrapped for you, and in some supermarkets, you can even choose for someone to make your own personal pizza for you. In order to offer these services, there needs to be good customer service skills in place so that any questions regarding anything in the store can be answered if needed. Company success relies heavily on consumer satisfaction and so the store must ensure that the shelves are full, that there are a wide range of products on offer, and that customer service skills are excellent. By offering all of these things, the supermarket can ensure good satisfaction and repeat business.

Energy Security For India Environmental Sciences Essay

Energy Security For India Environmental Sciences Essay India stands on the verge of achieving its dream of being a world power today as her economy races ahead seemingly unstoppable. Though we have been able to achieve food security to feed our burgeoning population, the hunger of our economy is yet to be satiated. A growing economy demands energy an uninterrupted supply of energy. Today in this world of competing economies, the conflict of securing means of energy within the rising economy of the world has the potential of being the spark needed to ignite a new world war. No country produces enough energy in the required forms to satisfy its energy needs, thus we are facing the possibility of conflict as each nation tries to nudge out the other from the energy producing areas of the world in order to ensure a continuous supply of energy. India today faces this formidable challenge of not only meeting her energy needs but also providing adequate varied energy of desired quality to the users at a reasonable cost in a sustainable manner. With an economic growth of 8-10 percent sought after, the quality quantity of energy required is only going to increase exponentially. 4. As India looks to the future and aims to secure her rightful place in the emerging new world order, it is imperative for the nation to understand and plan for a secure energy environment to cater for sustained economic growth. Energy security will play a pivotal role around which Indias rapid progress and development may be sustained in the foreseeable future. It is incumbent on each one of us to have sufficient knowledge of the complexities of this issue which will play such an important role in our day to day lives in the years to come. 7. There are certain terms and definitions which are peculiar to the concept of Energy Security. The term Energy Security itself is yet to get a single definition and various interpretations of this term abound. The following few terms relevant to the syndicate research effort are clarified in the subsequent paragraphs. 8. Energy Security. Energy security can be defined as The continuous availability of energy in varied forms in sufficient quantities at reasonable price This definition of energy security implies the following:- (a) Energy should be provided to all citizens and if this is not possible, then it is not a sustainable situation for a country. (b) Energy security requires that the lifeline energy needs of the nation are met in full. Lifeline energy is the basic necessity of a person to live. (c) Demand of energy backed by the ability to pay by whole strata of society should be fully met. (d) Safe and convenient energy is desirable as use of traditional fuels such as wood or cow dung cakes lead to indoor air pollution which has adverse impact on the health of women and children. (e) Energy is required in different forms to meet different needs. Energy in one form cannot be easily substituted by other forms. If we try this substitution, it would cost a lot of money and quality of the end product also goes down. For example, using kerosene for lighting houses instead of electricity. (f) Energy should be available at all times. An interruption in this chain imposes high cost on the economy. (g) To ensure energy security at all times, shocks and disruptions should be anticipated. A country should have the ability to absorb these shocks or disruptions. 9. The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri M.M.Deora, delivered a speech in the Shell Distinguished Lectures Series at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. on 31 March 2006. During this speech, he defined energy security in the Indian context as the assurance of energy supply to all Indian citizens at affordable cost at all times with a prescribed confidence level considering shocks and disruptions that can be expected.  [2]   10. In our context, the above definition could be further modified. In India, energy security can be defined as follows We are energy secure when we can supply lifeline energy to all our citizens irrespective of their ability to pay for it as well as meet their effective demand for safe and convenient energy to satisfy their various needs at competitive prices, at all times and with prescribed confidence level considering shocks and disruptions that can be reasonably expected.  [3]   11. Relevant Terminologies. (a) Energy Independence. The condition in which a country is not beholden to foreign nations or fluctuations of the market in meeting its energy needs. Most countries would like to have a greater degree of energy independence. (b) Energy Interdependence. The idea that oil producers and consumers are mutually dependent on one another. An appreciation of interdependence is an important component in the evolving conception of energy security. (c) Resilience. Resilience as the term itself implies, refers to a security margin that would allow a country to absorb any minor shocks to its energy supply and facilitate recovery after disruptions. Global Energy Situation 12. For the first time since 1998, global primary energy consumption fell in 2009, but like the broader economic downturn, changes varied greatly across regions. With consumption falling, energy prices declined in 2009, though again the pattern varied by fuel. Oil prices began the year below $40 per barrel, and increased steadily during the year as Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) production cuts were greater than the decline in consumption. Natural gas in competitive markets fell sharply and remained weak through most of the year due to falling consumption, continued development of unconventional resources in the US and rising Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply. Coal prices also fell and then started to recover, while displaying regional variety. The recession and now, hopefully, the recovery, has taught us how interlinked the world really is.  [4]   13. Oil. Global oil consumption declined by 1.2 million barrels per day (b/d), or 1.7percent, the largest decline since 1982. China, India and Middle Eastern countries accounted for all of the non- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) growth. Global oil production dropped even more rapidly than consumption, falling by 2 million b/d, or 2.6 percent, the largest drop, again, since 1982. OPEC production cuts implemented late in 2008 were maintained throughout 2009, resulting in a decline of 2.5 million b/d, or 7.3 percent. Every OPEC member participating in the production-cutting agreement reduced output in 2009. OPECs Middle Eastern members accounted for nearly 75 percent of the overall reductions. Oil production outside OPEC grew by 0.9 percent or 450,000b/d. Non-OECD capacity surpassed OECD capacity for the first time. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than 80 percent of the global growth, largely due to increases in India (+19.5percent, or 580,000b/d ) and China (+10.5percent, or 820,000b/d). Global crude runs fell along with oil consumption, declining by 1.5 million b/d, or 2 percent. The proved oil resources and oil consumption by the region are enumerated in the map and graph :- 14. Natural Gas. Globally, natural gas was the fuel that experienced the most rapid decline in consumption, falling by 2.1 percent, the largest decline on record. Consumption declined in all regions except the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Russia had the worlds largest decline (in volumetric terms), with consumption falling by 6.1percent. OECD consumption fell by 3.1 percent, the largest decline since 1982; the decline in the US was a relatively modest 1.5 percent, as weak prices improved gass competitive standing against other fuels. Iran saw the worlds largest volumetric consumption growth, while Indian consumption growth of 25.9 percent was the highest among major countries in percentage terms. Global gas production declined for the first time on record. Production fell sharply in Russia (-12.1 percent) and Turkmenistan (-44.8 percent), driven by declining consumption in Russia and much of the rest of Europe and the availability in Europe of competitively priced liquefied natura l gas (LNG).  [5]  Continued expansion of unconventional supplies allowed the US to record the worlds largest increase in production for the third consecutive year, surpassing Russia as the worlds largest producer. Production in the Middle East and Asia Pacific also increased, driven by growth in Iran, Qatar, India and China. The proved natural gas reserves of the world are shown below:- 15. Coal. World coal consumption was essentially flat in 2009, the weakest year since 1999. For the first time since 2002 , coal was not the fastest growing fuel in the world. The OECD and the former Soviet Union experienced the steepest decline on record, while the growth elsewhere was near average, largely due to above average growth in China, which accounted for 46.9 percent of global coal consumption.  [6]  Today coal accounts for 23.3 percent of the worlds energy demands and this figure is likely to increase by 60 percent by 2030. 16. Nuclear Fuel. Global nuclear power generation declined by 1.3 percent a third consecutive annual decline. Lower output in Europe and Eurasia as well as North America,outweighed increases in Asia Pacific.  [7]  Nuclear fuel contributes to only 6.8 percent of global energy requirements; however, this is likely to see a sharp rise by 2030. 17. Hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity output grew by a below average 1.5 percent which was non the less sufficient to make it the worlds most rapidly growing major fuel in 2009. Growth was led by China Brazil and the USA. USAs Energy Policies and their Impact on India 18. The first decade of the new millennium has seen the energy interests of India and the United States of America intertwine like never before. The issues of continuing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing dependence on imports to satiate energy hunger and the need to address the issue of climate change has further enhanced the cooperation between the two countries. The United States of America has enunciated the following as the strategic goals and the measures to achieve them, for its energy policy:- (a) Energy Diversity. Increase energy options and reduce dependence on oil, thereby reducing vulnerability to disruption. The strategies to reach this goal are as follows:- (i) Reduce dependence on energy imports, particularly oil in the transportation sector, by developing and effectively deploying technologies to increase fuel efficiency and enable the substitution of alternatives such as bio fuels, electricity, and hydrogen. (ii) Collaborate globally with governments and scientists to expedite the development and deployment of unconventional energy resources, such as bio fuels, that can substitute for oil and natural gas. (iii) Collaborate globally with governments and scientists to expedite the development and deployment of nuclear power which can substitute for oil and natural gas. (iv) Ensure adequate crude and regional home heating oil supplies during emergency shortages by maintaining the operational readiness of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and North East Home Heating Oil Reserve. (v) Ensure an expanding supply of domestic energy for the American public by promoting the construction of an Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline and the environmentally responsible development of the Outer Continental Shelf and the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. (b) Environmental Impacts and Energy Strategies to Reach this Goal. (i) Support the creation of new nuclear generation capacity to produce carbon-free electricity in the near term (2015); complete a permanent repository for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain by 2017; and, develop next generation advanced reactor and fuel cycle technologies for deployment in the long term (2025) for both electricity and hydrogen production. (ii) Advance clean coal technology through public-private partnerships for continued electricity generation from the countrys extensive coal resources, ultimately resulting in near-zero atmospheric emissions power plants. (iii) Support research and development efforts to reduce the costs of renewable energy technologies and accelerate the large-scale use of carbon-free electricity sources. (iv) Develop technologies to reduce vehicle emissions by improving efficiency and greatly expanding the use of clean fuels, while maintaining vehicle safety, performance, and cost characteristics. (c) Energy Infrastructure and Strategies to Reach this Goal. (i) Develop advanced wires and coils to increase the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of the electricity system. (ii) Advance real-time visualization and control tools to improve the reliability and efficiency of the Nations electricity delivery system by increasing the utilization of transmission and distribution assets. (iii) Integrate advanced technologies, including distributed generation, storage, and load management on distribution utility feeders to improve the efficiency and reliability of constrained sections of the electricity grid. (d) Energy Productivity and Strategies To Reach This Goal. (i) Support enhancements to existing energy markets that will help stimulate private investment in more efficient and economically productive end-use technologies. (ii) Develop integrated building technologies and formulate appliance standards to significantly increase the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings. (iii) Partner with energy-intensive industries to develop technologies that enable more efficient use of energy in their industrial processes. (iv) Develop technologies that enable cars and trucks to be fuel efficient, while remaining cost and performance competitive. 19. Impact on India. (a) Development and Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies. The domain of renewable energy offers tremendous opportunities for strengthening Indo-US relations. While US companies have already invested heavily in the Indian market, especially in the field of solar energy, Indias own Suzlon Energy Cooperation has emerged as the worlds fifth largest supplier of wind turbines and the US forms a hub for its operations. Thus this two way exchange benefits both countries. (b) Promoting Energy Efficiency and Power Sector Reforms. The Unites States of America had set this as a major target for its energy security goals in the coming future. At the same time,the Indian energy security policy also aims at achieving better energy efficiency across all sectors. The USAID collaboration with the Government of India has already brought out the formulation of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in India which has set the energy efficiency standards for various appliances in the country. As the US take further strides in this field, India too can benefit from its experience. (c) Civil Nuclear Deal. The signing of the civil nuclear deal has opened up new opportunities for the Indian nuclear industry. With the technology now available as a result of the deal, India would be able to increase the share of nuclear energy in its energy basket form a meagre three percent now to nearly eight percent by 2030. (d) Clean Technologies in the Field of Non Renewable Resources. With the world still dependent on non renewable sources such as oil and coal, the need of the hour is to develop technologies which can assist in better utilisation of the fuel in a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner. The two countries can collaborate in this field to develop these technologies. Chinas Energy Policies and thier Impact on India 20. China become a net importer of oil in 1993 and since then embarked on wide ranging changes in its energy policies in order to ensure a continuous supply of energy to fuel its phenomenal growth. With its entry into the global oil bazaar as a major importer, China quickly learned the hazards of relying solely on purchase policies in the open markets. The more aggressive recent foreign investments of its state owned enterprises, notably China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), stem directly from a May 1997 policy paper in which former Premier Li Peng blessed Chinese involvement in the exploration and development of international oil and gas resources .He also tied such projects specifically to the objective of stable, long-term supplies of oil and gas. The Chinese governments energy policies are dominated by the countrys growing demand for oil and its reliance on oil imports. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is the primary policymaking and regulatory authority in the energy sector, while four other ministries oversee various components of the countrys oil policy. The government launched the National Energy Administration (NEA) in July 2008 in order to act as the key energy regulator for the country .The policy focused on the following areas: (a) Self sufficiency. (b) Encouraging the diversity of energy structure and imports. (c) Improve energy efficiency and adjusting economic structure. (d) Energy conservation. 21. Impact on India. (a) Chinas String of Pearls strategy is well known as a means of encircling India; however the origin of this strategy lay in securing her energy needs. These pearls extend from the coast of mainland China through the littorals of the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and onto the littorals of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. China is building strategic relationships and developing naval forward presence along the SLOCs that connect China to the Middle East. The list of pearls include the following: upgraded military facilities in Hainan Island, upgraded airstrip on Woody Island located in the Paracel archipelago about 300 nautical miles east of Vietnam, container shipping facility in Chittagong, Bangladesh, construction of a deep water port in Sittwe, Burma, construction of navy base in Gwadar, Pakistan, pipeline through Islamabad and over Karakoram Highway to Kashgar in Xinjiang province that would transport fuel to China itself, intelligence gatheri ng facilities on islands in the Bay of Bengal near the Malacca Strait and construction of Hambantota port in Sri Lanka. (b) Loan for Oil. China is taking advantage of the economic downturn to step up its global acquisitions and financing of projects. One of the financing strategies is to secure long-term deals is Chinas bilateral loan-for-oil deals with several countries. These loans amount to about $50 billion or 70 percent of the total investments by the 3 major NOCs since 2008 according to industry sources. While several resource-rich countries have been strapped for cash during the credit crunch of 2008-09, China can use its vast foreign exchange reserves, estimated at $2 trillion, to help leverage such investments. China finalized loan for oil deals recently with Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Ecuador and reportedly agreed to a loan of $3 billion to Turkmenistan to assist in developing the South Iolotan gas field project to feed the Central Asia Gas Pipeline. China agreed to loan Russian companies, Rosneft and Transneft $25 billlion to finance the East Siberia Pacific Ocean oil pipeline i n exchange for 300,000 bbl/d of oil shipments. The Chinese Development Bank (CDB) also agreed to loan Petrobras of Brazil $10 billion so that Sinopec can access 200,000 bbl/d of oil for export to China. The loan to Venezuela stands at $4 billion to finance various projects increasing oil exports to China almost three-fold to 1 million bbl/d by 2015. CNPC and the China Export-Import Bank intend to lend Kazakhstan $5 billion each in two loans allowing CNPC a much larger role in the upstream oil development in the Central Asian country, following the companys acquisition of Petro Kazakhstan in 2005. (c) Acquisitions in Africa. Many in the oil industry agree that the most pragmatic acquisition strategy would be to look for good exploration blocks. But this is predicated on having a corporate team capable of evaluating possible exploration acreages in the world, which the big international oil companies have. Unfortunately, however, most of the Indian oil companies, unlike the Chinese companies, do not have a comprehensive set-up or database to follow this strategy, with the result that India ends up acquiring blocks that are in the very high risk category. Neither are the exploration blocks acquired in the bidding round examined in depth due to shortage of time available thanks to lack of adequate research of the area. Although Indian oil companies have notched up some successes over the last few years in buying equity stakes in foreign oil and gas blocks, the most notable being the Sakhalin-1 (offshore) project in Russia and the Greater Nile project in Sudan where the Chinese al so have a major interest, they have failed in many more or managed to acquire marginal stakes in others. For instance, India lost a bid to acquire Royal Dutch/Shells 50 per cent interest in Block 18 offshore Angola, which includes the Greater Plutonia development, with reserves of one billion barrels, after the Chinese government offered the Angolan government a 17-year, $2 billion loan at a low (1.5 per cent) interest rate along with the offer to build hospitals, and electronics manufacturing factories.  [8]  The Indian government was also prepared to support ONGC by offering $200 million to help build a railway, but this was dwarfed by the Chinese package.

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member Essay -- Biography B

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member    "Where I came from, in order to be down you had to be 'in'" (Shakur, 226). This quote, taken from Sanyika Shakur's (aka Monster Kody Scott) Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member relates the mind set of those growing up the concrete jungle of South Central L.A. This powerful account of the triumph of the human spirit over insurmountable odds brings the reader into the daily battles for survival. His story starts at the beginning of his gang life (being initiated at age 11), moves through his teen years (mostly spent in various correctional facilities) and ends up with his transformation in a member of the New Afrikan Independence Movement.    When Kody Scott was 6 years old, the gang wars started in Los Angeles. It started out as a battle between the Crips and the Bloods, but by the late 70's and continuing today, the biggest killer of Crips is other Crips. The Crip Nation was divided into different divisions, which Monster compares to the U.S. Army. "For instance, one who is in the army may belong to the F... Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member Essay -- Biography B Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member    "Where I came from, in order to be down you had to be 'in'" (Shakur, 226). This quote, taken from Sanyika Shakur's (aka Monster Kody Scott) Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member relates the mind set of those growing up the concrete jungle of South Central L.A. This powerful account of the triumph of the human spirit over insurmountable odds brings the reader into the daily battles for survival. His story starts at the beginning of his gang life (being initiated at age 11), moves through his teen years (mostly spent in various correctional facilities) and ends up with his transformation in a member of the New Afrikan Independence Movement.    When Kody Scott was 6 years old, the gang wars started in Los Angeles. It started out as a battle between the Crips and the Bloods, but by the late 70's and continuing today, the biggest killer of Crips is other Crips. The Crip Nation was divided into different divisions, which Monster compares to the U.S. Army. "For instance, one who is in the army may belong to the F...

Islam :: essays research papers

After the assigned readings and class discussions, I realized that Muslim law is very strict. Muslims must try to live according to God’s book, the Koran, and by the rules Mohammed taught them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every Muslim should pray five times a day: at dawn, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. He needs to pray facing Mecca. On Friday at noon, Muslims go to a Muslim temple to pray. After praying, they hear a sermon. There is no priest or minister, only a leader called the Iman. The mosque is built so that when the people pray they will face towards Mecca. Before they pray, the people must wash themselves. God is the greatest king of all, and no one should stand before Him with a dirty face.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muslims are expected to give some of their money every year to help the poor Muslims. Once in their lifetime, if they can, every Muslim must go to the holy city in Mecca on a pilgrimage. Every Muslim who is physically and economically able to do so is required during his lifetime to make at least one pilgrimage (hajj)to the holy city.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once a year, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast. For one whole month, from very early morning until the sun goes down, he does not eat or drink anything. Their fasting is very strict. They are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, and engage in sex or violence before sunrise until after sunset for that whole month. Muslims aren’t even allowed to think about these things. I agree that this type of fasting can teach a person self -awareness and to be more sympathetic towards others who are less fortunate. Going hungry and thirsty for this amount of time allows Muslims to realize how grateful they are to have food and water.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muslims also must never worship anything or anyone but God (Allah). Allah is the personal name of the One true God for Muslims. Nothing else can be called Allah. By having no gender or plural form, the name Allah shows its own uniqueness when compared with the word god, which can be made plural – gods, or feminine – goddesses. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator, Preserver, and Sustainer of the universe, and nothing is comparable to Him. In order to be a Muslim, to surrender oneself to God, it is necessary to believe in the oneness of God, in the sense of His being the only Creator, Preserver, Nourisher, etc.

Education and Social Change

Education and Social Change Education in Technical Sense. Is the process by which society; through schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions, deliberately transmits its cultural heritage – its accumulated knowledge, values, and skills – from one generation to another. Social Change * a response to many type of change that take place on the social and non-social environment * Generally affected by the agents of socialization John Dewey * A prominent American philosopher and professor of the late 1800s and early 1900s * Father of Progressivism Progressivism was derived from pragmatism *John Dewey wrote the Essay on â€Å"Education and Social Change* EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE * â€Å"How schools† participate in the Social Change * Dewey supports the notion that society is constantly changing, and that education reflects, generates, and guides social change. * *There is some confusion in how the school lead the society *Definition by the â€Å"Conse rvatives† Conservatives Those People who are considered to be traditionalists. They want the old ways rather than the new ways. Conservatives are opposed to modernism and progressivism * Conservatives believe that schools should not influence or guide social change * They favor older types of study and â€Å"disciplinary methods† in schools (Dewey, 2001, p. 335). â€Å"Impotence of Education† * Those who represent dominant and economic political regime, together with the conservatives, believes that education does not influence social order or social change. * Economy is the influence, and education merely reflects this social order and the dominant economic class. * Nothing can hange without overthrowing this dominant economic class and replacing it with another, not even for education. * Dewey argues that if all of this were true, then any coup of the current dominant economic class would also have to bring with it other changes in the morals, mentality, and cu lture of society so that this new system/social order can survive * But Dewey finds no evidence that an economic change can solely make these other kinds of changes in society * Schools shape morals, mentality, and culture in agreement with the economic class. Education still plays a vital role in social change * Dewey states that schools and educators can: Dewey states that schools and educators can: a) continue to influence society without exploring b) employ a scientific method of teaching and learning that corresponds with the cultural forces that learning that corresponds with the cultural forces that cause social change. ) take a conservative approach and make schools a force of maintaining old order and rejecting any new a force of maintaining old order and rejecting any new forces that steer society away from this old social order. Democracy * Since Dewey argues that education infulences social change, then it must have some â€Å"frame of reference,† or else educatio n would be meaningless. * Democracy was the frame of reference No clear definition but involves active participation for society * Education was founded on the principle of equal opportunity * Acting and making decisions together helps build a better society. Psychosocial Development Theory * Erik Erikson * Based on an individual’s development * Trust vs Mistrust * Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt * Initiative vs Guilt * Industry vs Inferiority * Identity vs Role Confusion * Intimacy vs Isolation * Generativity vs Stagnation * Integrity vs Despair SUMMARY * John Dewey founded Progressivism Progressivism is the educational theory that supports active learning * John Dewey’s essay â€Å"Education and Social Change† tells us about how schools participate in Social Change * Conservatives disagree with Dewey because they believe that School should not affect the individual or the society * Some believe that it was the economy that’s responsible for social change an d education reflects the social orders * Dewey presented his points and made a strong point that what the Conservatives and others were pointing was wrong * Educational and Social change has a symbiotic relationship, they benefit from each other * Dewey wanted primarily was Educational Democracy * Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development helps us understand how an individual develops and understand himself, thus, he finds his position in the society.