Patricia J. Williams Essay -- Patricia Williams Law Society Essays

Patricia J. Williams While most pundits of America's social and political discourse are either beating dead horses or tilting at windmills, Patricia J. Williams seeks out the racist, sexist, heterosexist, and classist forces that underlie a number of socio-political pathologies. Williams' regular Nation magazine column, "Diary of a Mad Law Professor" is curious in that it often evokes visceral negativity in casual readers. It certainly affected me that way. At first it was difficult to get beyond the name of her page; thumbing through each issue I sheepishly wondered what this crazy lady would get bent out of shape about this week. Though I generally agreed with her ideas, it struck me that Williams was too radical (as if there really is such a thing in a mainstream media culture that chooses to wear blinders). Williams vigorously uproots conventional wisdom as she strips away the "rich-white-male"-centric viewpoint; power and a voice are given to those who simply are acted upon. Like Howard Zinn who has promoted a view of history through a populist lens, Patricia Williams promotes a viewpoint that examines and judges the treatment of the marginalized. Williams is clearly not the only contemporary essayist with a broad-minded viewpoint on social issues. Katha Pollitt, E.L. Doctorow, Gore Vidal, and Alexander Cockburn, among many others, are similarly progressive in their opinions on society, politics, and culture. Williams, however, has a modified gestalt upon which her liberal commentary about socio-political affairs is based. The way in which the mechanics of society can be explained is a relationship of dominance and submission, a pornographic association. As described in "Clarence X", pornography, on a level greater ... ...aracterization like the Nutty Black Feminst Ultra-Liberal Professor. The key to accessing Williams is the key she teaches us for accessing a more equal society: a society in which pigeon holes are eliminated, since clearly, neither we nor Patricia Williams can be so categorized without losing our humanity. Works Cited Williams, Patricia J. The Alchemy of Race and Rights. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1991. "Clarence X," Rooster's Egg. 121-136. "Fire and Ice." Alchemy. 133-145. "A Hearing of One's Own." Rooster's Egg. 137-149. "Little House in the Hood." The Nation. 19 Jun 2000: 9. "Mirrors and Windows." Alchemy. 166-178. "The Pain of Word Bondage." Alchemy.146-165. "Racial Ventriloquism." The Nation. 5 Jul 1999: 9. "Radio Hoods." Rooster's Egg. 42-56. The Rooster's Egg. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1995. "Teleology on the Rocks." Alchemy. 55-79.

My Philosophy on Education Essay -- Learning Personal Teacher Essays

My Philosophy on Education â€Å"Wake up! It’s time to get ready for school.† I loved those words as a child but grew to hate them as a teen. As a child, school consisted of hands-on activities, mingling with others, and enticing lessons. As a teen, school consisted of being forced to remain seated, reading a chapter, answering the questions at the end of the chapter, and completing a worksheet. I found school to be boring and excessively routine. Therefore, I never aspired to be a teacher. I cringed at the thought of that routine! After graduating from college with a degree in recreation and spending ten years in wonderful jobs that always led me back to children, like working at a child-care center for the abused, a children's museum, and a youth organization, I’ve finally stopped resisting what I’ve now considered to be the inevitable. I’ve embraced the idea of being a teacher. Unlike the cookie cutter approach, I want education to be a different experience for stude nts than what my experience was. Education can be and should be so much more. Education should include acquiring knowledge, processing knowledge in order to become a critical thinker, having book sense as well as common sense and thinking skills, using a variety of techniques, curriculums, and/or structure, and measuring results through testing as well as application. No matter what the stage in development, whether prenatal, toddler, early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence, I believe that given the right tools, every child can learn. My husband is a special education teacher of students with many different handicaps, including the behavioral or learning disabled. Our conversations often include: â€Å"There is something that can touch each one of... ...t teachers, we enter the profession for the child not for the money, prestige, or rank. I plan to acquire teaching certification for Language. Whether English, Reading, Sign Language, or Journalism, I believe that communication, written and oral, is key to student success. I’d also like to combine Language and Journalism with my recreation degree in order to teach Travel WV and to pursue various writing possibilities such as travel writing and children's literature. I’ve helped create a traveling exhibit on WV Writers. I’ve attended several Children's Literature Conferences. I’ve written various curriculums, press releases, manuals, agendas, and evaluations for workshops, camps, and classes. Upon certification, I’ll continue to be involved with WV Writers and Young Writers, will be affiliated with WVEA and the NEA, and will pursue my Masters degree.

Leadership Philosophy

Eisenhower said once said, â€Å"Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well†.   (http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/awc/ns/electives/sld/sldsy.htm) Any deliberation about leadership must begin with the recognition of the fact that people want to be led. It is obvious to a great extent in the face of a calamity they find comfort and inspiration from their leaders. This is also true on a day-to-day basis. People tend to need and seek out guidance from strong leaders. â€Å"Leaders organize people—whether in a multinational corporation, a civic or charitable enterprise, a family business, or a high school.† (Ashby and Miles, 2002) According to Fairholm (1998), â€Å"one of the fundamental characteristics of leadership philosophy is its emphasis on a few values held in common by group members†. These values are summed up in a vision of what the group and its members are and can become. â€Å"In the United States, the vision typically integrates values described first by the founding fathers. These values include personal liberty, respect for life, justice, unity and happiness. These are widespread values that are essentially held and to the achievement of which most people dedicate their energies. Unless leaders tap these energizing values, they risk not being able to lead†. (Fairholm, 1998) A Policeman’s life is riddled with high standards of selfless service. They have to have integrity and it is widely known that they have worked hard without waver since their inception. A question which arises often is â€Å"How do you lead men in such a way that they will put their life on the line for you in an encounter situation in times of danger, and work twenty hours a day for weeks and sometimes months to resolve a crisis?† Of course this can be achieved through perpetual torture and extreme fear of the leading officer but Constables and Lieutenants under such a Captain will not give their job a 100 percent and the direct negative outcome of that will be that the team will not be functioning at full capacity. Firstly a leader must illustrate devotion and commitment to a life of service. Secondly, it is of vital importance that a leader must be considerate and concerned about his people. (Puryear, Jr.) These tie in with the principle of observation of a role model. A leader’s subordinates have to see that their leader is entirely dedicated to his job and doesn’t only treat it as a job or simple tasks which have to be performed out of duty. A leader must display his love of the occupation so that his subordinates have a role model to follow. However, they will not follow him without question if he doesn’t demonstrate affection for those under him. There is no need for physical forms of affection. The kind of affection needed can simply be demonstrated by thoughtfulness from a leader. A leader needs to be genuinely concerned about the safety of those under him. In a job such a police officer’s this is particularly important. An officer's subordinates need to know without any doubt they their lives are in the hands of someone who cares. Brilliant examples of concern for staff have been littered through the US military history, â€Å"Gen. Vandenberg invited a colonel to sit in on a conference with the legendary Macarthur. Gen. Twining gave up his Christmas vacation to permit Quesada to catch up on his flight training. General John P. Ryan took coffee to mechanics working late at night. General Brown allowed a crewman to release his frustration by putting on his cowboy hat and boots. He also provided flights home during temporary duty for his officers and men, and he saw to it that enlisted personnel living in barracks could have a leisurely breakfast on Sundays.† (Fairholm, 1998) With such an amazing array of leadership in our country’s history, one should take a leaf out of their book. Some may think that all leaders would comprehend and be aware of the significance of looking out for those underneath your authority, yet such is not always the case. A primary principle which policemen follow is to develop a sense of responsibility among their subordinates. General Marshall would say throughout his career to his subordinate officers, â€Å"Fix the problem, not the blame†. At times, a leader has to rely on himself and more imperatively, on his workforce to see him through the storm or bad weather. (Barber, 2004) It is of vital importance that the subordinates discover that they are capable of achieving more, the subordinates assessment of what constitutes of difficult is a direct consequence of their frame of reference. This problem can be solved with mentorship. Part of mentoring someone involves placing a subordinate in contact with people at the top who are making the toughest decisions. As Murphy and Riggio (2003) put it, â€Å"Opportunities such as observing another's leadership and management skills in action or gaining self-awareness through another's perspective are just a few of the benefits of mentoring†. Using Gen. Shy Meyer's definition, a mentor is someone who provides â€Å"guidance, counseling, advice, and teaching† and, with that, â€Å"door opening† -meaning opportunity. â€Å"The result of door opening and mentorship is that with progress in rank and responsibility one gets the toughest jobs, the longest hours, and the greatest sacrifices in family life.†Ã‚   (Puryear Jr., 2000) Unfortunately many leaders have developed the â€Å"one-size-fits-all† mentality. This blunder is the outcome of an ironic combination of overconfidence and under confidence in the value of an old, recognized and formerly victorious plan and under confidence in being able to master or develop an original but new and so strange plan.   Sometimes Police officers want to get fast results and so get impatient and apply this theory their operations. One's previous knowledge is always an advantage and it is a huge part of any operation but it must only come into play in the context of the present circumstances. Some may attribute the habit of to a lack of ability to comprehend or even mental laziness. Inductive reasoning is required to avoid such am error.   This entails the skill to look at and understand the bigger picture. Of course this may require the investigation of hundreds or thousands of concrete facts and observations, then set aside those which are insignificant and of no great consequence and finally amalgamate the remainder of it into tiny basic conclusions and standards. The final question has to be â€Å"What does this all add up to?† This can be done through two ways; Inductive reasoning and Deductive reasoning.   Inductive reasoning is based on simplification prioritizing. It involves turning complexity into simplicity by imposing order on seeming chaos and identifying what has to be done before any other outcomes can be achieved. What is a fundamental need to be considered and this fundamental feature is what everything else will rely on and function upon. Deductive reasoning works in another manner. It involves integrating what has been discovered with prior knowledge and then applying it to the current situation. Some may find the level of complexity required too great. So they bluster and make demands on subordinates and use familiar strategies, but they never get to the real heart of the problem because they do not know what it is. There may be a lack of creative imagination as well. All of this is very hard mental work and requires intelligence and logical thinking; a policeman’s work is not only restricted to physical activities! A few leaders often do not know that they cannot handle the job properly. More often than the foundation of their self-esteem is always being right and always being in control of things. They would feel humiliated and degraded if they admit that they cannot complete a task correctly. They lie to themselves by convincing themselves that they can do it and fall into a whirlwind of desperate, inept measures. None of them could be right but that point they stop thinking. They replace thinking with clumsy actions. When things begin to go bitter, they lash out at their subordinates and then segregate themselves so that they will not have to hear the bad news. All this makes them progressively less able to fix what is really wrong with the operation. (Murphy and Riggio, 2003) Henry L. Stimson, the secretary of War through 1990 and 1911 once said, â€Å"I had been accustomed throughout my life to classify all public servants into one or the other of two general categories: one, the men who were thinking what they could do for their job; the other, the men who were thinking what the job could do for them.† (Puryear, 2009) True leaders who others follow without any doubts or questions even in the worse of circumstances are those who do the former. References Barber, E. Brace. (2004) No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers. Hoboken, NJ. Wiley. Fairholm, W. Gilbert. (1998). Perspectives on Leadership: From the Science of Management to Its Spiritual Heart. Westport, CT. Quorum Books. Murphy, E. Susan & Riggio, E. Ronald. (2003). The Future of Leadership Development. Mahwah, NJ. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Puryear, F. Edgar, Jr.(2000) American Generalship: Character Is Everything The Art of Command. Presidio Miles, A. Stephen & Ashby, D. Meredith (2002) Leaders Talk Leadership: Top Executives Speak Their Minds. New York Oxford University Press. AWC Elective: Strategic Leader Development http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/awc/ns/electives/sld/sldsy.htm Accessed January 5, 2007   

Bankruptcy Among Young People Because of Credit Card Essay

Consumer credit can be defined as a debt that someone incurs for the purpose of purchasing a good or service. Common forms of consumer credit include credit cards, store cards, motor (auto) finance, personal loans (installment loans), consumer lines of credit, retail loans (retail installment loans) and mortgages. The spread of credit card ownership and usage across developing Asia Pacific countries has been overwhelming. A review of literature on credit card reveals that most studies have been undertaken in developed country settings. Credit cards were first issued in the USA in the early twentieth century. Since then, they have become a major system for exchange of transactions (or payments) that stimulates household and personal spending even in many developing countries of the world (Watkins, 2000). In Malaysia, cards were first introduced in the mid-1970s. At the early stage, credit cards were only issued to professionals or those considered successful businesspersons by card issuing companies. By the end of 1970s, an estimated 20,000 cards were issued. During that time, owning a credit card was considered a symbol of prestige. However, with the passage of time, eligibility criteria for obtaining credit cards have been increasingly relaxed. As a result, the number of cardholders reached to about three million by the turn of the last century. One of the fastest ways to bankruptcy is the misuse of credit cards. One of the more common reasons that people end up filing for bankruptcy is due to too much credit card debt. Credit cards are so often too seductive because they offer the ability to buy what we want now. We can then pay it off later, using very small and affordable monthly payments. Credit cards offer a way for us to make attractive purchases that we might not be able to make otherwise. Suddenly, it seems as though we can afford anything we want. The low monthly payments seem reasonable and easy to fulfill. That is one of the biggest problems associated with credit cards. It is easy to forget about the high rate of interest that we are paying instead we consider the low minimum payments we make each month and count that our self is lucky. We can continue for years, making minimum payments each month and building up credit card debt. However, one day something may happen. We could have our hours cut at work, or maybe our minimum payment will be increased. We might have a costly hospital stay, or our home may be struck by a natural disaster not covered by our home insurance. Suddenly, our credit card payments do not seem as affordable as we once did. After looking at our situation, it dawns on us how much credit card debt that we have. The only way out of our financial mess may seem like bankruptcy. An article from New Straits Times Online dated 14 November 2011 has highlighted the issue of easy cash turns many into bankrupts. Easy cash here means credit card. Credit card is a familiar type of open-end credit. The term credit card is used to cover a variety of types of cards, some of which actually do not involve credit. In general, a credit card is a plastic card printed with an account number and identifying the holder as a person who has entered into revolving credit agreement with a lender. From the article it states that Malaysian youth are becoming increasingly reckless with spending, thanks in no small measure to the convenience offered by credit cards. An average of 41 Malaysians are declared bankrupt daily, with the majority failing to repay their car purchase loans. BANKRUPTCY STATISTICS BASED ON CREDIT CARD DEBTS IN MALAYSIA The Department of Insolvency Malaysia (MDL) had restructured 80,348 bankruptcy cases from 2005 to May 2010 categorized as following: 31,950 cases – Malay 26,805 cases – Chinese 7,661 cases – Indians 13,932 cases – Others Some of the cases involved in different type of loans that caused the bankruptcy: 19,380 cases for failing to settle hire purchase loans 9,464 cases for failing to settle personal loans 8,786 cases for failing to settle business loans 6,022 cases for failing to settle housing loans 4,417 cases for failing to settle credit card debts 4,291 cases for failing to settle corporate loans 3,726 stood as guarantors CAUSES OF BANKRUPTCY The proliferation of credit cardholders has brought an indiscriminate spending by users with many side effects. Many Malaysian consumers seem to display excessive buying behavior, commonly known as ‘‘compulsive buying.’’ Easy availability of credit and compulsive buying has led to many adverse consequences such as addiction to shopping and excessive debt. Another noteworthy feature of card users in Malaysia is that they use the card to grant loans for themselves. It is easier to obtain credit cards in Malaysia rather than applying for personal loans, which requires the applicant to comply with more formalities like providing guarantors or collaterals. It was reported that outstanding debts from credit card holders amounted to RM15.719 billion by the year March 2009 (RM or Ringgit Malaysia is the local currency, 3.40 RM was approximately equal to 1 USD at the time of study). By the year 2009 outstanding credit card debts accounted for 1.35 percent of the total loans outstanding or 11.41 percent of the total consumer credit (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2009). On a more serious note, 6.43 percent of the outstanding debts had to be converted to non-performing loans. An alarming increase in the number of credit card holders seeking bankruptcy proceedings over the years was also reported. Shopaholic is one of the causes of bankruptcy among young people because of credit card. On average, 41 are declared bankrupt every day, mostly due to credit card debts, while every weekend, about five million peoples throng the 300-odd shopping complexes in the country. These habits are among the shocking revelations on why Malaysian consumers cannot cope with the rising cost of living. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) discovered that many of those declared bankrupt due to credit card debts were below 40 years old. Another cause of bankruptcy is poor financi al management skills. Article from New Straits Times states that 10 million of credit cards had been issued but only 30 per cent of card holders is able to meet the monthly repayments. From the article, Chief executive officer of FOMCA Datuk Paul Selvaraj said it is because of the convenience of credit cards that people seem to prefer using them rather than cash. He also said that credit card holders do not  feel the immediate pinch of emptying their wallets when they make a purchase. It was reported that those who used credit cards were more inclined to spend 17 per cent more compared with those who used cash. Besides that failing to repay credit card debts is also the cause of bankruptcy. This is because credit card interest rate for outstanding balance is very high. Banks require consumers to pay only the minimum which is 5% or RM50 (whichever higher) of total outstanding balance (debt). If they only make minimum payment, it takes about 2 years to clear all the outstanding balance providing that there is no new spending. On top of high interest rate, consumers are also subjected to finance charges if they do not make full payments every month. This means, if they make partial payment, minimum payment or do not make payment on or before the payment due date, finance charges will be imposed from the day the transaction is posted to the card account. The relationship between psychographic variables, attitude development and credit card usage by cardholders in Malaysia. HOW TO OVERCOME A total of 87,583 individuals were declared bankrupt up to October this year, with 4,651 or 5.1% of them due to unpaid credit card debts. In light of this, the government will be discussing with Bank Negara on finding a solution to the problem of high interest rates imposed on credit card users, resulting in many being unable to settle their outstanding balance. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said a solution was necessary as the number of credit card users declared bankrupt was worrying with the majority of them being young people (The Sun Daily, 15 December 2010). One way to overcome credit card debt is consumers have to have full payments prior to due date. They will enjoy interest-free period for retail transactions for 20 days on retail transactions. Cash advance, balance transfer and installment payment plan programs are excluded from interest-free period. Consumers also subjected to late payment charges minimum of RM5 or 1% of total outstanding balance, whichever is higher, up to RM50 if they fail to make payments before due date. If you have problem  to settle your credit card debt, the best solutions is to cut the card and stop using it. Second way to overcome credit card debt is pay more than the minimum payment. Always pay more than the minimum amount that you owe. If you can afford to do it, double or triple the minimum payment. This will help you get rid of credit card debt more quickly. If you have multiple credit cards, you might want to concentrate the bulk of the money you have available to paying one off at a time. The credit card you should focus on first is the one with the highest annual percentage rate. Pay this card off and then move on to the next highest one and so forth. This not only gets rid of the worst credit card debt (i.e. the one with the highest interest rate), but it gives you a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind, knowing that you have one less payment to worry about. Third way to overcome credit card debt is treat a credit card like a debit card. The biggest fallacy of credit cards is that they are ‘additional money’ to be spent each month. The typical household sees the monthly credit card bill as just another bill to spend money paying off. Worse, many people see ‘responsible’ credit card use as paying the minimum or slightly more each month. Using a checkbook to balance your finances or free financial software such as Mint.com or paid software such as Quicken can help you balance finances and ensure there will be enough money each month to pay off the credit card bills. Every time you make a purchase with a credit card, treat it like a debit card and deduct that money spent out of checking or savings accounts. Software can do that automatically when linked to the accounts, but a checkbook or simple pen and paper works the same way. Next, set alerts to avoid missed or late payments. A missed or late credit card payment can put even the most responsible credit card user over the edge and into debt. Interest rates get raised and high fees will tack on finance charges to the bill. Set up free e-mail or text message alerts from your credit card issuer’s online account management site. If your credit card issuer does not offer online account access, consider finding a new credit card company. Many late fees and missed payments are due to using regular postal mail to keep up with bills and make payments. Online payments are time stamped and come with an e-mail record of statements and payments. Another way to overcome credit card debt is do not spend money that we do not have. This tried and true financial tip holds true for credit cards as well. Credit cards can be an excellent financial  tool to establish and build credit. They can also allow responsible users to earn rewards such as cash back or points. Credit cards also act as interest free loans in a pinch with grace periods ranging from 20-30 days for users who can pay the balance off when the bill comes due. Spending on a credit card should adjust according to one’s financial situation. Responsible credit card use starts with spending less than one has in their bank account month to month. Besides that you must try not to rack up your credit card bill. If you can avoid it, do not use your credit card at all, as this will just put you deeper into debt. Try to pay cash for what you need and eliminate the things that you want (even if only temporarily). The horrible thing about credit card debt is that it is so easy for your debt to increase. Write down a list of expenses is also a way to overcome credit debt. It is very beneficial to know exactly where your money is going each month. Money seems to disappear before you even get your hands on it. Writing down a list of where your money goes will get you thinking about certain areas where you can save money. You can change your money habits by taking the time to understand where it is going. When you look at your list (and you should include what you are paying in credit card debt), you will probably be motivated to do what you can to try to hold on to more of your money. Lastly, pay down your credit card debt before you put money in a savings account. Your credit card interest rate is exponentially higher than what you gain from a savings account at a bank. Get rid of the credit card debt first, otherwise it will keep growing. CONCLUSION In conclusion, those who want to avoid bankruptcy do their best to avoid credit card debt to begin with. Bankruptcy can damage your credit score and cause other financial problems. On top of that, the financial strain can begin to take its toll on your relationships. Avoiding bankruptcy requires careful financial planning. We should create a budget and track our spending. Live within our means so that we are not acquiring debt. Each month, pay off our credit cards bill. We can use credit cards as part of our financial spending plan but we need to be careful to avoid carrying a balance. Besides that, we must set aside money for emergencies. That way, if  unexpected expenses come up, we won’t be as devastating. Being debt free and having some savings built up and can go a long way toward helping us to stay away from bankruptcy and providing us with some of the cash flow we need. With careful financial planning, credit cards can be a helpful tool, rather than a path to bankrupt cy. Do not let something so useful become our downfall. The problem with credit card debt is that it is very easy to get into but hard to get out. (Some people associate it with a bad marriage, and it is really similar to it). To get into a credit card debt is even easier than any other debt, because the plastic is just there in out wallet all the time, as an easy solution, and we tend to use it as a â€Å"quick fix. Credit card debt reduction is although a different story, to get out of credit card debt you needs discipline and planning to reduce your outgoings and change your attitude towards your spending. Getting to a stage when you realize that you must eliminate your credit card debt before it gets out of control is kind of scary experience. When you realize that you need to find a solution because there is no other way out, and you cannot carry on piling up interest on your debt. You can start reduce credit card debt with preventing it from increasing and paying off the capital or getting a lower interest credit scheme, therefore reducing your total credit card debt (credit plus monthly interest). Other than following the step by step instructions of your credit card debt consolidation plan, there are more methods to eliminate credit card debt. You can always seek assistance either at your own credit card company or an independent credit card debt specialist. Your credit card company wants their money back, so most of the times they are ready to compromise, give you a lower APR or freeze the interest if you agree a credit card debt consolidation plan. You must remember if you are not confident enough to negotiate a deal with your credit card company, there are many companies who are willing to support you and also offer free credit card debt consolidation consultation. REFERENCES Books: 1. Vickie L. Bajtelsmit with Linda Rastelli, (2008), Personal Finance, Wiley Pathways. 2. Sarah Young Fisher and Susan Shelly, (2009), Personal Finance in Your 20s &30s, Alpha Books. 3. Curtis E. Arnold, (2008), How You Can Profit From Credit Cards, FT Press. Journals: 1. A study of financial awareness among youths, Joyce K.H. Nga, Lisa H.L. Yong and Rathakrishnan D. Sellappan. 2. Malaysian consumers’ credit card usage behavior, Zafar U. Ahmed, Ishak Ismail, M. Sadiq Sohail, Ibrahim Tabsh and Hasbalaila Alias. 3. The influence of image consciousness, materialism and compulsive spending on credit card usage intentions among youthJoyce, K.H. Nga, Lisa H.L. Yong and Rathakrishnan Sellappan. Web: 1. http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/easy-cash-turns-many-into-bankrupts-1.5518 2. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/23/nation/12361423&sec=nation 3. http://voices.yahoo.com/credit-card-debt-one-cause-bankruptcy-7101354.html?cat=3 ARTICLE

The Importance of Providing the Best Learning Condition Through Online Public Schooling for ADD/ADHD Students

The Importance of Providing the Best Learning Condition Through Online Public Schooling for ADD/ADHD Students Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn† (King p. 126). For the ADD/ADHD student, providing the best learning condition is often overwhelming and seems impossible to achieve. Online public schooling is a solution to meeting this type of student’s educational needs. An online education addresses an ADD student’s need for a more individualized, self-paced/flexible learning experience. Organizational skills are easier to manage in an online system. The community of learners, who have the same interests as the student, is broadened to include the world and not limited to a small classroom. Teachers state that â€Å"ADD students, who have difficulty learning in a traditional classroom, often do better in a setting that provides them with a more individualized, self-paced and flexible learning experience.†(Schwartz) Online public education is one way to provide this type of experience. Traditionally, in a brick and mortar school, many ADD students raise their hand to ask a question and the teacher never answers, while others get into trouble for asking too many questions. In online schooling, a student is able to think about an answer to a question before discussing it. One source has stated, â€Å"It also helps students who need time to gather their thoughts during a discussion† (Rae Jacobson). In online schools, such as Texas Connections Academy, livelessons are provided (and recorded) to aid students in these types of discussions. If the student is unable to attend the livelesson, or needs to hear the information again, the student is able to replay the lesson as many times as they need until they understand the concept. The â€Å"re-watching† of a lesson is not possible in a traditional school. An online student is able to complete the schoolwork at their own rate. Students can work at a time of the day that best fits their biological clock. â€Å"Your child can choose the time of day or night when he works best† (Rae Jacobson). Since some ADD students learn faster than others, an online school gives the student the opportunity to move on. They do not have to sit there and wait on other students to finish before moving on to the next assignment. Individualized learning and the ability to succeed, is a must for all students with learning difficulties. ADD students often have difficulty with organizational skills and completing tasks on a strict time schedule. For an ADD student, going from class to class can be challenging. A brick and mortar school requires students to carry all of their supplies and switch between teachers, assignments, and classrooms in a timely fashion (Cedar Hill High School). Traditional schools expect students to sit rigidly at a desk that does not fit the shape of the student’s body. In an online public-school system, students do not have to carry around textbooks, or supplies. A majority of their schoolwork is already organized right in front of them. Everything is at the student’s fingertips. The classroom is the students home or library. The optimum learning time for ADD students can vary. Brick and mortar high school students are on a fixed schedule and students must attend classes at a designated time and complete homework assignments in the evenings (Cedar Hill High School). Online stud ents have the ability to access and complete the class materials at any time, day or night. From my personal experience with Texas Connections Academy, I know that you are able to get access to your lessons and especially the message board, at any time of day. Your child can choose the time of day or night when he works best. â€Å"There is no set class schedule so you can attend class any time of day† (Southwestern Oklahoma State University). The burden of being super-organized and on a time crunch is virtually eliminated in an online school. Opponents of online school say â€Å"There’s something about watching a movie with a large group of people that is different from watching it all alone. Same for the classroom, it’s a group experience† While the quote itself may be true, this argument is narrow in its statement. Online education is beneficial and actually broadens the community for the ADD student. The student is no longer stuck in a small room. They have the ability to be a part of a group of people with the same interests all over the world. Thomas Jefferson believed in learning from others and practicing what he learned from others. Online schooling can increase the cultural experiences of the student. â€Å"It is important for students to have a deeper global awareness and understanding of other cultures† (Josà © Picardo) from any part of the world. The greatest way for a student to learn about another part of the world is to talk to a person who lives in that part of the world. Choos ing an online school, like Texas Connections Academy, keeps in mind the importance of social interactions and includes field trips as part of their curriculum. A student is not limited in an online classroom and has the possibility of learning more by talking to people from around the world and listening to their story of an event first hand, instead of reading a boring textbook in a traditional classroom. The impossible is possible with online schooling. Meeting an ADD/ADHD student’s individual learning style is important in order for them to have a successful educational experience that prepares them for the real world. Online schooling is the real world. The community of learners, who have the same interests as the student, is massive. Flexible learning can help meet the needs of a diverse range of students, allowing students to combine their work, their study, and even their family, and enables the students to develop skills and attributes to successfully adapt to change† (Ryerson University). Online, flexible learning, gives students the choice of when, where, and how they learn. All students can learn, if given the right condition to do so. An online education opens a door for the learning challenged student to be competitive in the 21st century. George W. Bush once said â€Å"†¦We’ll never be able to compete in the 21st century unless we have an educati on system that doesn’t quit on children, an education system that raises standards, an education that makes sure there’s excellence in every classroom† (Bush p. 2495). Online schooling is that classroom that provides excellence for ADD/ADHD students.

Disscuction Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Disscuction - Article Example Adoption or utilization of the new concepts illustrates either positive or negative aspects of the new opinion or concept. I accept data which challenge my present views. The challenging data provides very many alternative courses of action. For example, I presently believe that the main reason for education is knowledge development for employment purposes. But there are other significant views on benefits of education such as; developing entrepreneurship potential, ensuring innovation and creativity in society, and finally realizing good political governance through developing law abiding citizens. Accepting challenging data ensures understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the view that I illustrate. For instance, my view on affirmative action is always positive. But there are shortcomings of affirmative action, for example, giving average employees in terms of competencies senior management positions in organizations. There are ideas that can challenge the comfort level that I am in currently; for example technological innovation ideas. New technology creates new processes. The emergence of the social networks has changed the way I communicate with friends. Because of busy work and education schedule, I mostly communicate with friends via Facebook and twitter

Calture and landscape Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Calture and landscape - Research Paper Example The country can be hot and dry in one region and at the same time cold and freezing in another (Dwyer and Alderman, 2008). However, the only universal connection between these different regions is the indigenous people. They all posses a enthusiasm for life and make any guest swiftly feel relieved. The estancias, tango, and gauchos are the country’s most well known attractions and once there, guests find life’s tempo exciting. The natives only stop for siesta. They play hard, enjoy life to its fullest, and work harder. Most guests go straight for the country’s headquarters; Buenos Aires, which is a thriving modern and cosmopolitan city. It is full of character and well known for its exhilarating nightlife, fantastic food and excellent shopping prospects (Palang et al., 2003). Hotels come in a range of standard and price, those offering more facilities and better service being in the upper price bracket. In the capital, Buenos Aires, sumptuous hotels are spread al l over the city while not expensive hotels are mostly located in Avenida de Mayo. Anywhere you choose to hang about in Argentina, service is usually excellent, and nearly all quarters have air conditioning. Anywhere you tour in Argentina, you will not be short of activities to take part in and things to see. It is a great family vacation as well as being a preferred haunt with tourists (Mayda, 2013). The food is outstanding and the shopping is healthier. The nation of Argentina is separated by its weather patterns. The south and north of the country experiences a very different weather patterns throughout the year. The northern Argentina experiences a subtropical climate with rainfall throughout the year. The heat can frequently be high and the air is often humid. One will need to pack frivolous linens and clothes if you are on vacation in this area. The central region of Argentina typically experiences lovely weather with humid and hot interlude during summer, from December to Febr uary, and cool and wet weather patterns during winter, from July and August. December all through to February is busy in central region, as lots of Europeans arrive to seek out the winter sun (Rubenstein, 1999). Tierra del Fuedo, in the southern region has a sub arctic temperature all year round. It is perfect for winter spots and it is not so perfect for those looking to getaway to the sun. Heavy and warm clothes are a necessary for those travelling to the south. For residents of the northern part, Argentina gives a possibility for traveler to enjoy at least two summers in a year. However, the country’s great variety and the extended geography shows that visiting is pleasant at any season of the year. The climate of Argentina ranges from subtropical in the north to steamy and humid in the center while it is cold in the southern part. The upper Ades region experiences erratic rainfall with much flash flood during summer, scorching heat, and snow at higher elevations (Duncan e t al., 2007). The lowlands receive enough rainfalls that support the swampy forests and the upland savanna. Rainfall decreases as you move to the west while shallow summer floods are commonly experienced in the east. After quite along period of the summer, winter period is pronounced. This gives chance for a dry season and takes off the brutal summer heat. On the