Nonprofit Sector Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nonprofit Sector - Essay Example Secondly, comments have been directed toward nonprofit organizations in regards to their lack of market discipline as a predominant cause of their limited self-sustainability. Other factors involve rising service and administration costs, and the increased competition for limited donations amongst nonprofit organisations. By becoming a commercial enterprise nonprofits are able to leverage former sources of funding. Nonprofits are seeking additional revenue such as setting up peripheral commercial businesses as a way to add to their fee paying programs that do not generate profits. In many cases this is a strategy in which they can raise community awareness of their cause and simultaneously make money. Some nonprofits have sought to commercialize their key programs, relying less on donations and moving to fee payments by beneficiaries, or creating contracts with government organisations or corporations. Alternatively, nonprofits may charge a corporation, which in turn charges its beneficiaries for a once free service.

Diversity at London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Research Paper

Diversity at London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games Ltd - Research Paper Example The researcher states that diversity in the workforce can be categorized into these two aspects; functional level diversity and surface-level diversity. In today’s world firms need innovative ideas to sustain and flourish, a diverse workforce provides the proficiency to generate superb ideas for the company’s success. In order for LOCOG to stage a game for everyone, the corporation has the mandate to create a truly inclusive culture where diversity is valued and celebrated. Diversity is a fundamental part of the 2012 games and must remain at the heart of everything LOCOG does. Recruitment and development skills are critical components of achieving diversity objectives. LOCOG will establish the desired level of diversity for our workforce, suppliers, officials, and spectators, only by welcoming the world. Diversity management The human resource department can help LOCOG attain the vision of diversity by recruiting the workforce that is truly diverse, this workforce has t o incorporate all strands of diversity in disability, age, ethnicity, faith, and belief. The department should also regularly communicate the vision of diversity and inclusion to the workforce and stakeholders. The human resource department should also provide the workforce with the necessary tools that will enable them to integrate diversity and inclusion in their everyday work. Diversity management can help a LOCOG attain its mission in the following ways: 1. It will create a competitive advantage for the organization; members can provide the organization with knowledge resources. Diversity also produces a flexible, proactive and energized institution. 2. The organization will become more knowledgeable of the diverse customers; diverse members can understand and help customers who are similar to them. 3. Customers feel more comfortable when dealing with members of the organization, who seem similar to them, and that makes the customer feel an identity with the organization members . 4. Complex tasks usually require complex and collective input. This requires knowledge resources like skills information and different perspectives that can be provided by diverse members. 5. Diversity management will help LOCOG in increasing problem solving by providing a knowledge resource, diverse members can provide novel approaches, information, and immensely perspectives in the solving of the organizations’ problems.

Globalization And Environmental Education Education Essay

Globalization And Environmental Education Education Essay The two topics that I have chosen from the sessions are globalisation and sustainable development. I am interested to look at the views from globalisation and environmental education by looking beyond the sustainable development (what is sustainable development, the principles and the importance). First of all, before discussing further in details on the topic of sustainable development, we should know that globalisation and education are world wide issues that interrelated to each other. There is a significant amount of research involving the study of intertwined worldwide discourses, processes, and institutions affecting local educational practices and policies regarded to globalisation and education. Spring (2008) suggests that there are four major theoretical perspectives relating to globalisation and education. They are; world culture, world systems, postcolonial, and culturalist. Many researchers endorse that the major global educational discussions are about the knowledge economy and technology, lifelong learning, global migration or brain circulation, and neoliberalism. However, there are critics of current global trends support educational alternatives that will preserve local languages and cultures, ensure progressive educational practices that will protect the poor against the rich, and protect the environment and human rights. I found this is interesting and we should have a view that sustainable development is a global issue as well as the local one (Atkinsson, 1999). Therefore, personally I interested on the theme of sustainable development which is linked with that of the global dimension within the cross-curricular dimensions of the National Curriculum. I believe as a future teacher, this topic would be interesting to be discussed and analysed. This is because in the future I probably will be addressed by such responsible to educate students with such knowledge. Definition of globalisation and sustainable development Definition of globalisation The term globalisation is used in a variety of contexts, supposedly to indicate economic interdependency and the power exerted by some multinational corporations that no longer have strong links with any particular country, but see themselves as transcending national boundaries (Soubnita, A.T, Sheram. et. 2000). The technological revolution seems to be one of the most powerful engines of the globalisation process (Friedman, 1995: 341) I learned that globalisation is a term that has a very wide definition. Different groups will define it differently and will have different views on what globalisation really is. Moreover, I found that there are numbers of the definition for the term globalisation mostly emphasizing its agendas of growing prosperity and development opportunities for all. Green and Bare (2000) have the ideas that globalisation is the terrible triumph of unrestrained capitalism and the resulting cultural homogenization, the domination of the United States, plundering of the environment, and the widening gap between the rich and poor. Definition of sustainable development As globalisation is requiring development, therefore I believe that the need to avoid further depletion of the world resources in order to develop this world is a general understanding on the definition of sustainable development term. A conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 by the United Unions manifest the first international attempt to draw up action plans and strategies in order to moving towards a more sustainable development. Dresner (2002) mentions about the discussion made in the Brutland Commission in the 1987 where sustainable development was appealed as the resolution of the environmental problems. From the reading on several articles and books, I agree that sustainable development is about ensuring that people can fulfil their basic needs, while preserving the environment so that the future generation can also have the same or even better quality of life. Moreover, I understood that sustainable development recognises that the three pillars the economy, society and the environment which are all interconnected. I interested with a statement that; Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (IISD, 2012) 1.3 Personal views My stand is that the concept of sustainable development can be understood in many different ways, but at its most basic is an approach to development that looks to balance differently, and the needs against the awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations that we face nowadays. Therefore, I believe that sustainable development is about improving ways of implementing things, for the benefits of both the future and the present time. For the sake of sustainability, we might face many changes in the way we life but that does not mean that our quality of life will be reduced. Thus, from the definition of globalisation in relation to sustainable development I could say that sustainable development is a global issue that needs everyone to play their roles in order to ensure it is a success. Of course, there are goods and bad things regarding globalisation and the relation to the context of sustainable development. Globalisation and sustainable development in environmental aspects I am interested with one of the dominant principles of sustainable development which states that sustainable development is to live within our environmental limit (Dresner,2002). To clarify, the principle is respecting the limits of the earths environment, resources of biodiversity with aims to improve the environment and ensure that our natural worlds resources needed for life are not damaged and remain for future generations. Firstly, Dresner (2002) suggests that one of the principles of sustainable development is any development activity should help to sustain and not endanger our resources. We should have noticed that the Earths life-support systems are draining that once fertile areas can no longer sustain people ( Atkisson, 1999) ; fish resources have been depleted; the atmosphere, water courses and our food supplies have been polluted. It is challenging, to predict its effect on the ecosystems. For this reason, I believe that there is a need to apply the preventative principle that we can do to bring back our environments, which in turn opens up with many new development opportunities. Examples include organic farming and replanting trees. There is an idea that suggests if we are to sustain the planet, we must control population growth and change our patterns of consumption (IUCN, UNEP and WWF (1991)). Moreover, the worlds environment has continued to deteriorate (IUCN, UNEP and WWF (1991)). For example, deforestation at a rate of 14 million hectares a year; greenhouse gases are still increasingly pumped into the atmosphere, and there is a big amount of report mentions that the US has rejected the Kyoto Protocol and the present targets for emission reductions are clearly inadequate. Furthermore, there is a forthcoming crisis of water shortages around the world,and in India the problem is already there where some parts of India the people is still struggling to get enough fresh and clean water supply; and may news reporting that new technologies such as genetic engineering pose new environmental and health threats (IUCN, UNEP and WWF (1991)). I look all these matters with questions, if all these problems are revolving around the world, what is sustainable development really is? How successful is the idea to sustain the development? Globalisation and sustainable development in society To discuss further, I agree that the focus of sustainable development is to look it beyond just the environment. Atkisson (1999) mentions that it is also about to guarantee a strong, healthy and just society. Thus, I believe this means meeting the various needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal well-being, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity (Orr, 1992). In addition, Spring (2008) advises that our attitude on development affects everyone. The impacts of decisions made in a society have very real concerns in others lives. For instance,a poor planning of communities, reduces the quality of life for the people who live in them. Sustainable development proposes a way to making better decisions on the issues that affect all of our lives (Orr, 1992). For example, we can ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and leisure facilities by uniting health plans into the planning of new communities (Spring,2008). As I understood from sessions of the lessons, our world is not always fair. I find out that the majority of the global population does not have access to adequate resources; and these same people also suffering unjustly from pollution, depletion of resources and land degradation. Therefore, there still a question that pop-out in my mind; How do we work towards greater fairness, environmental justice and social sustainability? A report states that South Africa has taken a massive step forward by eliminating unfair apartheid laws and appointing a democracy that recognises equal rights (Cassius Lubisi, 2008). However, inequalities remain in the way people participate in the economy and benefit from it. On the other hand, there are demands for fairness in international trade procedures, which currently benefit the wealthiest nations when the wealthy people becoming wealthier while the poor stay poor or even poorer; and many cases on the discrimination against the less powerful ones. There are sum of research reporting economic injustices within each country. Therefore, in my view, economic policies and practices need a review in terms of their impacts on people and the world. To discuss further, we should know that social sustainability and well-being also involves education, health and a healthy environment, security, opportunities for relaxation and spiritual renewal, and peoples right to participate in decisions that affect them and not only dependent on jobs or income (Orr, 1992). This is also including the right to information about the environmental health impacts of development activities, and the right to legal action if such activities prove to be dangerous. Globalisation and sustainable development in economics limitation Speaking through the economics specs, Dreser (2002) suggests that to achieving a sustainable economy is meant to develop a durable, stable and sustainable economic development which provides chances for all, and in which environmental and social costs fall on those who enact them (polluter pays resolution), and efficient resource use is incentivised. A report from IISD (2012) states that sustainable development can lead to savings; as a result of SDC scrutiny, UK government has saved over  £60m by improving efficiency across its estate. I always have a thought that more development means for environmental protection and reduce poverty. Here a great mess started, because I believe linking the two concepts sustainability and development together opened the door for some to interpret the need for action as a need for more of the same development (Orr, 1992). They argued that where there is people in poverty and suffering, there is simply not sufficient economic growth. Thus, I assumed that the focus on the idea of sustainability shifted from nourishing living resources, to satisfying development. There are other better ways of thinking about development as a kind of development that would sustain or nourish people, including the poor, and at the same time not overshooting the Earths capacity to renew ecological resources. The Brundtland Report (1987) mentions about development that meets the needs of the present without conceding the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These ideas really require us to think in a different way about the needs of the present, especially the dilemma of the most needy people, but also beyond them, about the future. Therefore, I personally think that we need to change our focus from continuously abandoning these parts of world to on how to sustain people and the mother earth and not following the old ambiguous path of economic growth as we concern about it. My view is that this belief should be about economic activities that endure people and earth and not about maintaining an economy, especially one based on development-as-growth, which is as noted would damage the earth and fails to benefit the majority of South Africans (Cassius Lubisi, 2008). Sustainable Development calls above all for reforms in the manner that some countries conduct their economic activities (Wackernagel and Rees,1996). Numerous measures have been proposed including: Removing unfair trade barriers Economists estimate that this would allow poorer countries to generate a total income three times the sum of official development aid; Removing Government subsidies that harm the environment and the poor; Upholding the polluter pays principle that those who do harm, must pay for redress; Instituting clear paths of responsibility and liability as for example, a CEO should be liable for the accuracy of a companys environmental reporting; Shifting the tax base from labour to resource use; in other words, rather than taxing us on what we earn through the work we do, tax us on our impacts and what we consume; Price products not only on what value has been added to them, but also in terms of what value they have deducted from the common natural resource base; Increase resource productivity ; create wealth with ever fewer resources. (Wackernagel and Rees,1996) I personally believe that truthful answers will require many companies to change either the nature of their business, or the way in which they go about it. Education for Sustainable Development 5.1 How to educate? In the 1990s, mounting concern over environmental and development problems has meant greater support for an educational approach, which not only considers immediate environmental improvement as an actual goal, but also addresses educating for sustainability in the long term (Wackernagel and Rees,1996). Although some education literature has embraced this new focus of environmental education for sustainability (EEFS), it has failed to outline the essence of this approach and has neglected questions about how it differs from the environmental education of the 1980s (Billet, 2001). No document exists to date which translates the goals of EEFS into guiding principles for its development in schools (Spring, 2008). Essentially, I think EEFS needs further definition. 5.2 Business, society, government and educational institutions Education for sustainable development is a life-wide and life-long learning endeavor which challenges individuals, institutions and societies to view tomorrow as a day that belongs to all of us, or it will not belong to anyone. (UNESCO, 2004:9) The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005,2014) was initiated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The Decade has achieved an agreement that sustainable development will remain nothing more than an interesting idea without education,. This global initiative has generated inspirational innovations around the world (IUCN, UNEP and WWF (1991)) which I think later bringing a very big impact to the world of education. 5.3 What is education for sustainable development? Billet (2001) mentions that the Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) has for years debated that environmental education is about sustaining all life, in socially and economically fairways. EEASA members have also seen environment as the interrelationships between ecological life-support systems and the economic, political and other social systems interrelating within and with the natural world (Billet, 2001). Thus, in my opinion, there is not much difference between environmental education and education for sustainable development. I would recommend that environmental education be not just for teachers to teach the students in school, but it is meant for everyone, in certain those who have an instant impact on the world as corporate or political decision-makers. The implementation of sustainable development in education is expected to produce a higher national workforce to enhance economic growth too (Mohd Zanal, 2009). Mohd Zanal views that an economical aspect is one element in Sustainable Development, and through education in which the country expects to produce more students who are more likely trained in field-related skills. The main question here is what are the elements required in the curriculum at the secondary school level if it would be supportive to the sustainable development of the country? However, based on my schooling experienced years back then, this idea of concerning and understanding of environmental education is not widely shared, and we used to have this one assumption in our mind that environmental education is only for children to learn about nature and how to preserve it. The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) provides an opportunity to widen the public understanding of the role of education in moving towards ecological sustainability and social justice. This is good because I certain that it gives chances to bring the awareness the importance of education, apparently to educate people about ecological sustainability. Besides that, many countries can interpret education for sustainable development differently in ways that suit their certain context as advised by the lead agency for the Decade is UNESCO. This is because, reflecting back on the meaning of development, it is varied according to different groups views and needs. UNESCO itself has interpreted the idea as an umbrella concept for its various initiatives including the Education for All campaign associated with the Millennium Development Goals, as well as gender-sensitive education, rural development, health care, community involvement, literacy, HIV/Aids, human-rights education, peace education, and environmental education. This idea is hoped can be achieved and practised around the world. For a sense of what education for sustainable development might involve, I agree with the four domains of the Implementation Plan for the Decade: Creating access to basic education for all Re-orienting existing education programmes Raising public awareness and understanding Vocational and professional training for sustainability. The idea is to have Education for Sustainable Development in thousands of local situations on the ground, involving the integration of the principles of sustainable development in a multitude of different learning situations. (UNESCO) 5.3.1. Creating access to basic education for all Everyone should have a basic education if that particular countries are aiming to develop sustainably. In parts of the world, formal education is not yet universal especially for girls (UNICEF, May 2005). Schooling is compulsory in South Africa (Cassius Lubisi, 2008). On the other hand, report states that many children still do not go to school because of severe poverty, too few schools and poor communications and technology. There is also insufficient social support. It is reported that many learners stay home to care for babies and sick parents. In the many schools without ablution facilities, teenage girls are involuntary to miss classes each month. There is also a report states that some 40% of South Africas children are kept out of school to perform domestic duties or work in the fields. Even if a child makes it to school, governments limited capacity to organise existing resources often results in poor facilities and poor teaching (Cassius Lubisi, 2008). Thus I understood that these problems resulting to thousands of learners are dispossessed of the education that is not only their right, but the countrys key to social and economic development. 5.4 Teachers roles : Raising awareness and understanding : How? Creativity, teaching methods and industrial relations are the important elements of sustainable development efforts in the particular subject. This is consistent with the recommendations of Mohd Zanal (2009) who stated that sustainable development, in particular concerning to the development of teaching methods, interaction, participation, and collaboration in teaching and learning, should focus on hands-on experiences, visits to factories, field-work, laboratory work, and placement in specific industries. Mohd Zanal also ascertained that these methods would provide students with the necessary exposure and strengthen the sustainability of technical and vocational education. Supplementary teaching methods should also incorporate problem-solving skills, creativity, and innovation skills. Mohammad Sani (2001) considers that teachers undergo continuous education. This is prevalent particularly when viewed in a number of contexts such as changes in the educational environment itself, chan ges in the value of school and personal values, and changes in school management. This view was also supported by Halif (2006). The state training programs and courses in this service are essential in enhancing the level of teaching professionalism in facing challenges, which stem from outside the profession, such as the changing aspirations of society, and changes in technology. Internal challenges faced by teaching staffs ( the teachers, perhaps) would be the situation of educational organisations (governance), such as changes in curriculum, pedagogy and changes in government educational policies. Each student, for a certain period of time, will be placed in an industry related to their field of study. Billet (2001) viewed learning in the workplace as not only being very useful to students, but a matter which could not be avoided. Many students found the experience of working, partaking in conversation and gaining advice and knowledge from experienced employees pivotal in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for carrying out actual tasks. Further studies of learning in the workplace by Billet (1999, 2001) found that day-to-day activities in the work environment were a very important source of learning and experience to work. It was found that students received guidance in both direct forms through interaction with other employees and indirect form through observation and discussion of activities in the workplace. Workplace learning is also important to teachers or trainers and should become an in-service activity as part of their lifelong learning ( Mohammad Sani, 2001). Conclusion After all, I suggest that any significant efforts to improve the quality of teaching, the facilities at schools, and the health of communities is good steps to increasing access to basic education, and meeting the development requirement, which are fundamental to sustainable development. I believe that the challenge now is to help teachers to meet their responsibilities and do integrity to the exciting possibilities in the curriculum. I hope as a future teacher I would have the opportunity to teach this interesting topic on sustainable development as a global issue and be able to apply my understanding on the topic of globalisation and sustainable development.

From Oppressed Slaves to Champion Soldiers :: American America History

From Oppressed Slaves to Champion Soldiers This is just a small example of the doubt and hatred that was bestowed on the African American soldiers. However, during the war, they proved themselves to be brave and courageous men on and off the battlefield on many occasions. Despite deep prejudices and harsh criticisms from the white society, these men were true champions of patriotism. The cause of the Civil War was tension between the North and the South. The sectional division between the areas began in colonial times, largely resulting from geographical differences. The South was ideal for growing tobacco due to the warm climate and the fertile soil. Plantations brought in black slaves from Africa to provide most of the labor required for growing the crop. In time, other plantation crops such as cotton, sugar cane, indigo, and sugar beets were to thrive in the South. "By the onset of the Civil War, 2.4 million slaves were engaged in cotton production" (Long 16). A rural way of life that supported an agrian economy based on s lave labor was quickly established in the South. The North, however, was a cooler, rockier climate that would not support the development of plantations. As a result, the North's economy came to depend more on trade and industry than on agriculture. This economy supported the growth of cities, although many lived in rural areas during the colonial period. The sectional division between North and South had widened enormously by the mid - 1800's. The United States had expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean and was rapidly becoming a major industrial and commercial nation. However, industry and commerce were centered in the North. The Northerners welcomed modernization and the constant changes it brought to their way of life. Their ideals included hard work, education, economic independence, and the belief that the community had the right and responsibility to decide whether an action was moral or immoral. While Northerners looked forward to a different and better future, Southerner s held the present and past dear. They enjoyed a prosperous agricultural economy based on slave labor and wished to keep their old way of life. By the 1800's, northerners viewed slavery as wrong and began a movement to end it. Even though an antislavery minority existed in the South, most Southerners found slavery to be highly profitable and in time came to consider it a positive good. From Oppressed Slaves to Champion Soldiers :: American America History From Oppressed Slaves to Champion Soldiers This is just a small example of the doubt and hatred that was bestowed on the African American soldiers. However, during the war, they proved themselves to be brave and courageous men on and off the battlefield on many occasions. Despite deep prejudices and harsh criticisms from the white society, these men were true champions of patriotism. The cause of the Civil War was tension between the North and the South. The sectional division between the areas began in colonial times, largely resulting from geographical differences. The South was ideal for growing tobacco due to the warm climate and the fertile soil. Plantations brought in black slaves from Africa to provide most of the labor required for growing the crop. In time, other plantation crops such as cotton, sugar cane, indigo, and sugar beets were to thrive in the South. "By the onset of the Civil War, 2.4 million slaves were engaged in cotton production" (Long 16). A rural way of life that supported an agrian economy based on s lave labor was quickly established in the South. The North, however, was a cooler, rockier climate that would not support the development of plantations. As a result, the North's economy came to depend more on trade and industry than on agriculture. This economy supported the growth of cities, although many lived in rural areas during the colonial period. The sectional division between North and South had widened enormously by the mid - 1800's. The United States had expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean and was rapidly becoming a major industrial and commercial nation. However, industry and commerce were centered in the North. The Northerners welcomed modernization and the constant changes it brought to their way of life. Their ideals included hard work, education, economic independence, and the belief that the community had the right and responsibility to decide whether an action was moral or immoral. While Northerners looked forward to a different and better future, Southerner s held the present and past dear. They enjoyed a prosperous agricultural economy based on slave labor and wished to keep their old way of life. By the 1800's, northerners viewed slavery as wrong and began a movement to end it. Even though an antislavery minority existed in the South, most Southerners found slavery to be highly profitable and in time came to consider it a positive good.

Night vs the Color of Water Essay

Religion is one of the many aspects that make up a person’s identity. Religion plays a major role in the search for identity of Ruth McBride, in James McBride’s The Color of Water, and Elie Wiesel, in his memoir, Night. Elie is tortured an dehumanized in concentration camps because he’s a Jew. He was seen as inferior because of his religion. Ruth was restricted from doing what her heart truly believed in because she was controlled by her Jewish faith. Her father represented the constraint of Judaism because he was a rabbi. Both stories prove religion can have a hindering effect on a person’s search for identity. Elie’s identity was changed greatly due to the effects of Judaism and the Holocaust. His identity was changed because he’d lost his innocence. â€Å"The student of Talmud the child I was, had been consumed by the flames. All that was left was a shape that resembled me. My soul had been invaded – and devoured – by a black flame†, is Elie’s way of explaining that he’s no longer a child and had lost his faith in god’s justice (Wiesel, 37). He felt as though he was no longer a child or a student, he was a prisoner like any Jew. It made him angry to see what was happening to all the people in the camps. Elie began to question God and asked,â€Å"Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank Him for? † as he was entering Birkenau (Wiesel, 33). From this point on, Elie began to lose his unconditional devotion to God. Although he lost his faith, he continued to pray for strength to stay by his father’s side to support him because he was the most important person in his life. He said,†in spite of myself, a prayer formed inside me, a prayer to this God in whom I no longer believed† because he was praying for a way to preserve his humanity in a prison where every man would fend for themselves (Wiesel, 91). Judaism affected Ruth McBride deeply in various ways. She felt very restricted growing up in a Jewish Orthodox family and she complained that, †there were too many rules to follow, too many forbiddens and ‘you can’ts’ and ‘you mustn’ts’† (McBride, 2). Her father was a very unloving person who would mistreat Ruth and her mother by doing things such as threatening to send Ruth back to Europe. He would also sexually abuse Ruth without her mother knowing. He would threaten her and she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. She was â€Å"afraid of Tateh and had no love for him at all† (McBride, 42). Ruth tried to stay strong for her mother who was sick with polio, so she hid everything she was feeling. She was the type of person to always be running away and she had very low self esteem, which most likely came as a habit from her childhood. Her son James said that she had a bicycle and she would just ride around all the time and he â€Å"always thought mother was strange. She never cared to socialize with our always thought [his] mother was strange. She never cared to socialize with our neighbors† (McBride, 9). The bicycle symbolized her constant need for movement in order to deal with her stress and depression. If her life had been different, maybe she would’ve been able to find her true identity instead of being molded by fear and humiliation. Even though both Elie and Ruth weren’t able to be who they wanted to be because of their religion, both characters put family before themselves. Ruth always cared about her family, but her son would â€Å"starve for love and affection [but] didn’t get [any] of that† (McBride, 83). She didn’t show her children any love because that’s not how she was raised. Ruth would descibe herself as a â€Å"running-type person† (McBride, 42). Elie loved his father and wanted to take care of him even though his father wanted otherwise. When Elie wanted to watch over his father while they were freezing in a shed, his father said, â€Å"‘Don’t worry son. Go to sleep. I’ll watch over you’† and when Elie said otherwise, his father refused to take no for an answer (Wiesel, 89). Elie Wiesel and Ruth McBride both had their identity effected by religion. In Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night, he explained that he lost his faith because of all the killings and injustices done to his fellow Jews. He was prosecuted for being a Jew and was dehumanized. In The Color of Water by James McBride, Ruth Jordan describes the hardships that Judaism meant for her. It stood for her father and all the unreasonable rules she had to follow throughout the course of her childhood. Religion hindered both Ruth and Elie as they grew, but it formed the strong people they became as adults.

Self reflection in it truest sense education essay

Integrating a brooding pattern in one ‘s ain professional instruction methods, would be one manner to maintain up with the on-going assessments that should happen in any professional set up or larning experience. One could depict contemplation as looking back at past instruction experiences, either good or bad, and finding whether the experience could hold been better managed or taught. There is a clear differentiation between believing and reflecting. Thinking could be associated with a job and solution where as reflecting may non hold an absolute terminal consequence. Working as a instructor in a secondary school airss many jobs, and many inquiries that are really seldom answered. The job that surfaces with the thought of reflecting on 1s ain pattern is that we as instructors are non given the clip, or the motive to reflect more frequently, or more profoundly into our methods, learning manners or bringing of the course of study. The debut of standardization by manner of the N ational Curriculum towards the terminal of the 1980 ‘s and the beginning of the 1990 ‘s by the Conservative Government, has taken away the power from the single instructor in make up one's minding what is of import. It could be argued it has reduced the instructor to nil more than a courier of a province controlled course of study. It besides suggests a concealed docket. Neary, M ( 2002 ) highlights the ‘hidden course of study ‘ and the attitude towards instruction and the map a school should play in fixing people for society. Neary, M ( 2002, p45 ) states Lynch 1989 ( 1989, p3 ) : ‘The peculiar societal dealingss they deem of import in the generative procedure are chiefly the hierarchal division of labor between instructors and scholars, the anomic character of scholars ‘ school work itself, and the atomization in work – reflected in the institutionalized and frequently destructive competition among scholars through continual and apparently meritocratic ranking and rating ‘ . Neary, M argues that authors such as Bowles and Gintis have made connexions with a capitalist society and how this is reflected in the school system. It is of import to reflect on the course of study one Teachs and who decides what is ‘Really Useful Knowledge ‘ and how socially effectual this is for the scholars that we teach. The course of study that is offered at The Community College Whitstable is GCSE ‘S in all the nucleus topics, BTEC in Construction, Physical Education, Science, Drama, Science, Music, Business Studies, Travel and Tourism, Design and Technology, NVQ in Hairdressing, professional makings in Motor Vehicles ( IMA and ABC ) and A ‘ Levels. Students at The Community College Whitstable are progressively going familiar with BTEC instead than the traditional GCSE ‘S which are favoured by most Grammar and the top grade of other State schools. The logical thinking for this could be that province instruction is undergoing immense cardinal alte rations through political and ideological mentalities. The National Curriculum was sought to increase the pupil ‘s acquisition, the House of Commons 4th study provinces ( 2008, p10 ) : ‘This papers basically identified four wide intents ; presenting an entitlement for students to a wide and balanced course of study ; scene criterions for pupil attainment and to back up school answerability ; bettering continuity and coherency within the course of study, and helping public apprehension of the work of school: ‘ The school province system has now moved on more than a decennary since that pledge and is presently at the Centre of a political inspection and repair. The Community College Whitstable is come ining more pupils onto the BTEC programmes than of all time before. Through contemplation of the stance and vision that the school is taking, and with respects to the increased flexibleness of the school course of study programme, one could see that schools such as The Community College Whitstable are progressively fighting to vie on national and local footings through GSE ‘S consequences. Therefore turning to BTEC ‘s is a manner to increase pupils consequences and travel up the conference tabular arraies. The popularity with BTEC ‘s are that they are all coursework driven and this does give them an advantage over GCSE ‘S which are portion coursework, and portion terminal of twelvemonth test towards concluding Markss. The coursework is internally marked and externally v erified, pupils who would non hold had any opportunity of acquiring good consequences through GSES ‘s, stand a better opportunity with BTEC ‘s ( perchance acquiring 4 GSSE ‘s at A* – C class on another topic. ) The Community College Whitstable has been first-class in implementing the old Governments name for Vocationalism and Diversity in the course of study but is that all about to alter with the new Coalition Government. It is of import to reflect on 1s learning of the course of study, cognition, bringing, larning manners and methods, if we are to come on and turn as a instructor or facilitator. At present there are no school guidelines to go a Brooding Practitioner but there have been many writers and professionals that have laid down theoretical accounts for brooding pattern to be incorporated into the course of study. Brookfield, S provinces ( 1995 p29 ) : ‘We have available four lenses through which we can see our instruction. These lenses are represented by the four pointers in figure 2.1. They are ( 1 ) our autobiographies as instructors and scholars, ( 2 ) our pupils ‘ eyes, ( 3 ) our co-workers ‘ experiences, and ( 4 ) theoretical literature. Sing what we do through these different lenses alerts us to falsify or uncomplete facets of our premises that need farther probe. ‘ For illustration utilizing a ambitious pupil as a instance survey who attends the vocational Centre is a good manner to reflect on Brookfield ‘s lenses. The pupil that I have identified has had domestic jobs and personal jobs that stem from his place life. The pupil has a low academic ability and falls into the class of extra excess demands, which would hold been recorded on his informations from appraisals conducted in cardinal phase two and three. I believe this pupil suffers from low ego regard and assurance which reflects his aggressive nature towards instruction and higher-ups such as instructors and people in authorization. The pupil was pushed into the vocational Centre because of stereotyping and the low standards needed to inscribe on the classs at the vocational Centre at The Community College Whitstable. Taking this into consideration and seeing it from the pupil ‘s eyes would assist all instructors deal with his/her disputing behavior with greater empathy and compassion, and in bend this would enable us to undertake these jobs with greater cognition. A minority of pupils may hold an atrocious place state of affairs and life in a societal environment that does non advance larning. Students may be come to school with that luggage of place life and may endure from a deficiency of assurance through low academic ability. Sing this state of affairs from a pupil ‘s point of position should promote us as instructors to be more thoughtful and tactful when covering with certain pupils. From my experience of working and learning at The Community College Whitstable, the pupils who chose vocational classs are by and large lower ability pupils. Although there are some exclusions to this, and at that place will ever be pupils who opt for vocational class who are academically bright. Students that are on the Construction courses at The Community College Whitstable may hold jobs that range from behavioral, societal and academic through to the medic al and physical. Through my experience as a instructor, communicator or facilitator I have ever relied on my autobiographical acquisition, for illustration, learning pupils woodworking and joinery through my ain good experience as an learner and so traveling on to analyze at college. This contemplation into my past experiences has helped me to go a more rounded and competent instructor of the accomplishments of a trade that goes back many centuries. I believe that all instructors should utilize their autobiographical acquisition in their instruction because we can all retrieve the good instructors or the good teachers and employers. Our autobiography should organize the foundation of our learning methods and manners. Peer appraisal is a important portion of a instructors larning experience either informal or formal, both of these tools are every bit of import. Teaching on the BTEC Level 2 Construction class involves two members of staff and each member has equal duty to internally verify each others work. Fifty per cent of all pupils work will necessitate to be cross referenced and internally verified. There are regular squad meetings and departmental meetings on marker, pupil ‘s public presentation, attending and behavior. These meetings have ever been a good manner to go through on shared cognition and to interchange thoughts and beliefs on the best ways of learning. Informal feedback from 1s co-workers can be merely as effectual, for illustration inquiring a co-worker to come into a category to detect a peculiar portion of the lesson can supply us with greater cognition of the state of affairs. By merely inquiring other instructors how they deal with job pupils can work out the enigma. From my experience a co-worker had advised me to do up a seating program at the beginning of the lesson to battle bad behavior. The thought is that you have already taken control of the state of affairs and the pupil understands this and responds consequently. To this twenty-four hours the scheme has worked. Understanding how and why pupils behave in a mode requires understanding of human demands, this may non come of course to most of us, but the ability to reflect and to research is a tool all instructors have at their disposal. Completion of the Certificate of Education class in old old ages and now analyzing the BA Hons in Lifelong Learning, has put me on a acquisition curve utilizing theoretical literature that I am still researching and seeking to grok. This research into course of study political orientation, course of study alteration, cognition of instruction etc. suggests that instruction is non what it seems but a smokescreen for viing self-importances and constabularies f rom political parties at the helm of the state ‘s hereafter. Brookfield ‘s Lenses challenges us to travel off from our point of position and to take onboard other interventions that may or may non do a pupils advancement or fail. Brookfield highlights the complexnesss of how we learn, and how the acquisition environment is ever affected by more than one issue. By going a Brooding Practitioner it can assist one understand the jobs that arise from the jobs instructors face. Brookfield identifies Reflective Practice as a manner in which instructors can do sense of the instruction system and the political invasions that occur in the course of study. He suggests that through critical contemplation we find our terms and are so able to hold an openness that benefits both pupils and instructor. The pupils can be really ambitious and will all hold their ain set of issues to cover with as lineations above. Using Brookfield ‘s Four Lenses to cover with a ambitious pupil would be one manner of detecting the true art of pedagogical instruction. Brooding Practice through Brookfields theoretical account would be good when 1 encounters a hard twenty-four hours. Peer rating signifiers an of import function in our instruction methods, Brookfield highlight this in his Four Lenses and provinces ( 1995, p35 ) ‘Our co-workers serve as critical mirrors reflecting back to us images of our actions that frequently take us by surprise. As they describe their ain experiences covering with the same crises and quandary we face, we are able to look into, reframe and broaden our ain theories of pattern. ‘ This find through other instructors who deal with the same job pupils is really of import for a instructor to come on, and travel on in their chase of going a competent instructor. Brookfield ‘s 4th lens system focuses on theoretical literature whereby instructors and lectors should read more about the procedures of larning theory and research. Brookfield provinces ( 1995, p37 ) : ‘Reading a theoretical analysis that offers an alternate interpretative model for a state of affairs can be life salvaging – or at least, calling economy. Critical theory may assist us recognize, for illustration, that pupils ‘ neutrality is the predictable effect of a system that forces people to analyze staccato balls of cognition at a gait prescribed by course of study councils and license organic structures. ‘ Theoretical literature is covered by the leading squad at The Community College Whitstable in Staff Development eventides. From my experience this literature is used to warrant their scheme instead than to professionally develop a instructor ‘s head. Theoretical literature can assist instructors to still their frights and seek confidences from other professionals outside their on the job environment. Unfortunately excessively few instructors actively read theoretical literature on pedagogical instruction, from my experience reading and analyzing literature on behavior has been a great beginning of encouragement. Brookfield points out that the logical thinking for this is that the surveies carried out about learning in theoretical books are ever written by faculty members and non instructors. The old Government had realised this, the 4th study on the National Curriculum provinces ( 2008, p32 ) : ‘At the same clip, instructors need to be given a stronger sense that their ain inventions in teaching method can be valued. There is considerable support for the debut of some signifier of ‘pedagogic bank ‘ developed by instructors for instructors. ‘ In order for instructors to go a Brooding Practitioner or instructor they would hold to oppugn the footing of the Curriculum and the hierarchal establishment that administers it. This would convey them in direct struggle with the whole school system and the powers that control the system, both centrally through authorities, and straight through the senior direction of the school. This theory of oppugning the nucleus values of an educational establishment goes against the National Curriculum set up under the Conservative Government, where instructor control and powers are limited. In a universe where we are now used to following the regulations and codifications of administrations the true spirit of people power has been born out of us through Capitalism, Globalisation and laterality. If one was to take onboard brooding instruction and utilize it as portion of the course of study timetabling it would assist us to go better instructors and this would assist us learn pupils what we thin k is of import to them in the outside universe. Schon, D ( 1995, p332 ) argues: ‘What happens in such an educational bureaucratism when a instructor begins to believe and move non as proficient expert but as brooding practician? Her reflection- in-action poses a possible menace to the dynamically conservative system in which she lives. ‘ As mentioned earlier the ‘hidden course of study ‘ has many dockets, of all time since the debut of free province schooling in the 1940 ‘s the issue has ever been what should the pupils learn and why. Education was seen to be a manner to travel a state on from the injury of the World War and the deepnesss of desperation. The Education Minister at the clip was R. A. Butler. In a bill of exchange white paper ( 1943, pp182 ) he stated: ‘The new educational chances must non, hence, be of a individual form. Schools and classs must be available to accommodate the demands and aptitudes of different types of student or pupil. It is merely every bit of import to accomplish diverseness as it is to guarantee equality of educational chance. ‘ Although the Government were non straight involved in educational course of study there was a steadfast directive from the Government. Scholars throughout history have identified learning theoretical accounts and theories, armitage et Al ( 2003 ) identified five Models of Educational Political orientations: Classical Humanism, Liberal Humanism, Progressivism, Instrumentalism and Reconstructionism. Armitage argues that we as instructors need to understand these political orientations in order to take them on board and through this cognition we as instructors can put the acquisition experience for our pupils. Out of the five political orientations Reconstructionism seems the furthest off from our educational system and would accommodate the Developing World who need political orientations to draw themselves out of economical convulsion. Neary, M ( 2002 ) suggests that the Liberal Humanist political orientation has been the most relevant since the industrialized West evolved. Neary argu es that this political orientation had favoured the private and higher classed schools such as the Grammar schools but non the State schools. Tony Blair ‘s New Labour Government and the educational political orientation could be coined with instrumentalism. The educational policies under Blair such as the Leitch Report ( 2006 ) are in maintaining with the instrumentalism armitage et Al provinces ( 2003, p209 ) : ‘The instrumental course of study sees knowledge in factual footings and is clearly lecturer/teacher/trainer led. Therefore, through instrumentalism instruction and preparation pupils are fixing themselves for their functions in the workplace and in society as a whole. ‘ This instrumentalism has had a major consequence on province schools such as The Community College Whitstable because since New Labour, Vocationalism has made its manner into Secondary schools and is now portion of the course of study for 14 twelvemonth olds. It remains to be seen whether the new Coalition Government are prepared to transport on these political orientations or follow another way. In a perfect universe the educational political orientation would be Progressivism Armitage et Al provinces ( 2003, p208 ) : ‘The course of study would be based around active problem-solving in a assortment of societal contexts and be constructed of subjects which interested and challenged pupils ( larning from experience ) with the purpose that people would larn how to believe for themselves, make determinations, cooperate and take part as shapers of a democratic society. ‘ The job that has arisen in the course of study today is that pupils are being spoon fed the information and that they can non believe for themselves. This is the consequence of the course of study being excessively narrow and excessively focussed on good consequence and attainment instead than pupils growing. In order for our society or political administrations to make up one's mind the destiny of our instruction system or the function it plays in how the pupils will be taught, curriculum research is carried out to determine the terminal end. Neary, M ( 2002 ) has highlighted two course of study theoretical accounts the Product Model and the Process Model. The Product Model is linked with behavior and Neary, M ( 2002, p60 ) cites Tyler ( 1949 ) ; ‘1. What are the purposes and aims of the course of study? 2. Which larning experiences run into these purposes and aims? 3. How can the extent to which these purposes and aims have been met be evaluated? 4. How can these learning experiences be organised? ‘ Under this theoretical account each inquiry will necessitate to be answered in order for the development of the course of study to be successful and achieve the ends and results intended. Harmonizing to Neary the theoretical account was non without its critics based entirely on the idea that a course of study can non be based on Behaviourism. Armitage et al provinces there was an alternate theoretical account for course of study development, the Process Model ( 2003, p203 ) : ‘This is an attack to curriculum which is interested in the procedures and processs of larning so that the scholar is able to utilize and develop the content, non merely have it passively. ‘ Neary, M states the Process Model focuses on ( 2002, p61 ) : ‘Teacher activities ( and hence the instructor ‘s function ) , pupil and scholar activities ( possibly the most of import characteristic ) , the conditions in which the acquisition takes topographic point. ‘ Students on the BTEC degree 2 Construction classs at The Community College Whitstable will hold a variable grade of both theoretical accounts in the class purposes and aims and the construction and bringing of the content stuff and appraisals. The BTEC Level 2 Construction classs will already hold predetermined purposes and results in which the scholar will hold to run into to fulfill the awarding organic structure, if they are to accomplish the making, this type of course of study falls in line with the Product Model. The BTEC does let for some liberty of the instructors because the faculties or units will hold to be personally written by the instructor or lector for the pupils to finish. This does reflect portion of the Process Model but the ego written units and bringing of the units have specific guidelines laid down by BTEC Edexcel. Curriculum alteration and the political orientation behind it are really of import when sing a sweeping alteration of the National Curriculum for schools in Britain. With the debut of new makings, the appraisal of that is basically of import to the success and the length of service of the new set up. Knight, J Minister of province schools ( 14-19 ) provinces ( 2008, p1 ) : ‘Many schools are already seeing the benefits of utilizing appraisal for larning patterns and resources, but I want all schools to hold entree to high-quality preparation and support so that appraisal for acquisition can be embedded in all schoolrooms. ‘ The old Labour Government had targeted appraisal as the manner frontward for schools to undertake pupil ‘s weaknesss. Harmonizing to the section for Children, Schools and Families ( 2008 ) the appraisal for larning championed by Labour would enable pupils, instructors, parents and schools to cognize how the pupil is executing, where they should be and how they are traveling to accomplish a satisfactory degree of public presentation. For schools this meant that the construction would be crystalline for all to see. For instructors they would now hold a foundation to work from and be able to prove pupils intermittently against the in agreement appraisals and standards that are laid down by Government organic structures. There are many ways to prove pupils runing from summational testing ( terminal of twelvemonth test ) , to formative testing: this could be conducted in the schoolroom and workshops, and initial testing which would be carried out at the beginning of the class. The n ucleus inquiry that needs to be answered when assessing is, are the agencies of proving dependable and valid? Armitage et Al ( 2003, p 157 ) provinces: ‘A valid appraisal method is one which tests whether the purposes and aims of a learning experience have been achieved. ‘ The BTEC degree 2 Construction class that is taught at The Community College Whitstable has assorted signifiers of appraisal in order for the pupil to finish the units for that peculiar class. Currently pupils will hold to go through six units in which three are theory units, and three are practical units. The theory units are taught on a modular footing, one time the pupil has completed one unit they move onto the following 1. The units are broken down into three smaller balls of appraisal so that it is easier for the pupils to digest and use themselves and come on through the scaling system. The rating systems start with a base on balls and so travel onto a virtue and eventually a differentiation. This sort of appraisal follows the standard referenced path of appraisals, the pupils will hold a set of inquiries and each inquiry will hold base on balls, virtue or differentiation attached to it. The pupils can lucubrate on their replies and accomplish a higher mark or class. The prono unced work is so marked by the assessor and so internally verified by a co-worker learning the same class. This is indispensable for the appraisal procedure to be made valid and dependable. The practical elements of the BTEC degree 2 Construction class are marked by the assessor every bit shortly as the pupils has achieved the purpose, which could run from constructing a Flemish Bond wall, doing a panel door or preparing and painting a booth. The instructor ( assessor ) will immediately tag their piece of work in line with the class specification and rate the pupils a fail, base on balls, virtue or differentiation. This appraisal is in maintaining with a competency based expression which is similar with NVQ ‘s. There have been unfavorable judgments of this sort of competency based proving Armitage et Al ( 2003, p166 ) provinces: ‘Some argue that a competence-based system makes larning assessment-led. That is, for pupils at least, one oculus is ever on the competences that have yet to be awarded and the full class of survey the becomes skewed towards clicking off such competences. ‘ The pupils at The Community College Whitstable could place with this unfavorable judgment as we as instructors are pushed to increase accomplishments and base on balls makings instead than doing certain that the pupil is ready equipped for the outside universe. Assessment schemes and the dependability and cogency have become an issue with new Coalition Government. An independent reappraisal conducted by Sir Richard Sykes ( 2010p3 ) provinces ; ‘There is an compulsion with measuring, puting quantitative marks and roll uping conference tabular arraies, as though what can non be measured numerically has no value and should hold no topographic point in instruction. Yet the best things in instruction frequently can non readily be measured in this manner. ‘ Dockrell and Black ( 1980 ) pick up on this subject of cogency and dependability but their focal point is assessment in the affectional sphere. Dockrell and Black ( 1980 ) argue that this sort of appraisal is good for the success of the pupil ‘s patterned advance in their educational experience. Assessing person ‘s public assistance and fixing lessons to suit all pupils sat in forepart of them is portion of the pupil centred course of study at The Community College Whitstable. Teachers are expected to compose studies three times a twelvemonth on every kid they teach measuring both ability and attitude although this does non travel towards their concluding class it can move as a tool to measure the pupil ‘s advancement. Every kid must be taught to the best of their ability is the mantra at the college. Although I do non hold with the current instruction system in Britain one hundred per cent, there seem to be really small alternate. The 11 plus trial that is conducte d in the Kent District is designed to divide the brighter pupils from the less academic to the addition of the Grammar schools. This sort of appraisal has a immense consequence on all secondary schools in Kent, particularly The Community College Whitstable who will hold to choose pupils that have failed or are non eligible. The Tomlinson study ( 2004 ) had promised or set out a new course of study and appraisal that would hold revolutionised our province instruction. The study had identified that GCSE ‘s and A'Levels needed to be reformed every bit good as vocational instruction for 14 twelvemonth olds. Unfortunately, the reform did non transform the instruction system but was merely brought in a moire downed degree. Sir Richard Sykes ( 2010, p3 ) argues: ‘We therefore present a treatment and a set of recommendations which if adopted would, we believe, help to right the balance between instruction and appraisal. ‘ The new specification for all BTEC classs has been renewed as of September 2010, this follows a whole shingle up of the QCA model and the regulating organic structures that preside over the way of our making system in Britain. It remains to be seen whether this will convey the alteration that will bridge the spread between pupil ‘s advancement and an instruction system that is envied throughout the universe. In decision Reflective Practice enables one to see their professional function as a instructor and within society. It is of import that we as instructors and professionals encourage pupils to accomplish all that they can in the instruction system and to go life long scholars. It is of import that we encourage pupils to non merely larn what the course of study has offered them but to widen their acquisition. The essay has researched the course of study of The Community College Whitstable and how it has adapted to the alterations of a tiered school system through conference tabular arraies and appraisals such as the Eleven Plus. Schools such as The Community College Whitstable will hold to continually excel their outlooks if they are to last in this Capitalist State System. Brookfield ‘s Four Lenses is an of import starting point for contemplation in 1s ain professional pattern and this can set the teacher/professional onto the route of true satisfaction of 1s ain pattern. Curric ulum political orientations have played an of import portion in Britain and the World ‘s instruction system. This essay has focussed on instrumentalism and how this affects The Community College Whitstable and how it has played an of import portion in Britain ‘s Education System. This essay has identified and developed a cognition and apprehension of appraisals in our State Education System. It has identified how these appraisals are being used in a vocational sense through BTEC makings at The Community College Whitstable. It is of import to understand Britain ‘s instruction system, political orientations and cardinal beliefs as this will enable the instructor to come on and to do sense of educational alteration. Schools such as The Community College Whitstable have benefited from political orientation, political invasion and course of study development because more pupils are now come ining 6th signifier and traveling on to university or higher instruction than of all time before. Schools play an of import portion when educating the pupil and the local community, it is the start of womb-to-tomb acquisition for some pupils. Comparing the instruction system of the 1970 ‘s to the present twenty-four hours, pupils have a greater advantage because schools are now set up to profit the pupil. The Community College Whitstable offers a huge scope of makings that would be the enviousness of many states.