Primary education Essay

According to the Kenyan government, education is â€Å"A long term objective to provide basic quality education to enhance Kenyans ability to preserve and utilize the environment for productive and sustainable livelihoods, to develop quality of the human race; to realize the universal access to education and training for all including the disadvantaged and the vulnerable and as a necessary tool for development and protection of the democratic institutions of human rights† (Ministry Of Education Science and Technology, 2005 pp2). The current Kenyan education system consists of Early Childhood Education, primary and secondary education. Early Childhood Education takes one year. At the end of the primary education, pupils sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) prepared by the Kenya National Examination Council. Performance in the KCPE determines who is admitted to secondary schools. At the end of secondary education, students sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. Primary school education in Kenya is a basic and is considered the root of all formal and informal learning in Kenya. Free and compulsory primary education for Kenyan children was one of the key pre-election promises that led the NARC government led by President Mwai Kibaki, to ascend to power in December 2002. Since then, an estimated 1. 5 million children, who were previously out-of school, have turned up to attend classes (Paul Kenya, 2008). The free Primary Education policy was first implemented in January 2003. The FPE policy focuses on attaining Education For all and in particular, Universal Primary Education. Key concerns are access, retention, equity, quality and relevance and internal and external efficiencies within the education system (Ministry Of Education Science and Technology, 2005a, pp3). Through the FPE policy, the NARC government scrutinized the current 8-4-4 systems, which had previously been coupled with retention and reduced enrolment before it came to power. The policy’s focus is on â€Å"quality education and training as a human right in accordance to Kenya law and international conventions† (Ministry Of Education Science and Technology, 2005 pp3). VISION Quality education for development. (Elimu bora Kwa Maendeleo) MISSION To provide, promote and co-ordinate lifelong education, training and research for KLenya’s sustainable development. POLICY OBJECTIVES 1. To achieve education for all (EFA) by 2015 2. To achieve transition rate of 70% from primary to secondary from the current rate of 57% 3. To enhance access, equity and quality primary education 4. To achieve 50% improvement levels of literacy by 2015 5. To attain universal primary education (UPE). This is in line with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals 6. To reduce the number of primary school children drop outs. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE POLICY 1. Increase in number of children enrolled in primary schools. Primary education has witnessed phenomenal growth since the policy was established. The number of primary school pupils rose dramatically from 5. 9 million in 2002 to 7. 6 million in 2005 to 82. 78 in 2009, according to a World Bank report, published in 2010 2. Significant reduction in the repetition rate. The number of students repeating and dropping out has reduced significantly() this may be attributed to the fact that parents no longer have to think about paying school fees. CHALLENGES FACED BY THE POLICY. 1. Delays in Funds Disbursement Delays in distributing funds to support free primary school education is one of the challenges facing the policy implementation. This has frustrated many teachers, put pressure and on parents financial burdens. Teachers thus lack motivation to teach the increasing number of pupils as a result of the introduction of the policy. 2. Teacher Shortages A UNESCO survey on the evaluation of the Free Primary policy (UNESCO, 2005) indicates that the teacher: pupil ratio, in a significant number of schools was 1:70 which was far beyond the recommended maximum rate of 1:40. Such a high ratio has got challenges. For example, teachers find it impossible to pay attention to all learners, especially the slow ones. Also teachers were not able to give adequate assignments to the pupils, as they could not cope with the marking and teaching workload (UNESCO, 2005). 3. Teacher-Learning Facilities There is a challenge in the limited teacher-learning facilities, which forces pupils to share. Sharing of facilities such as textbooks, exercise books, pens e. t. c has affected pupil’s accessibility to the books while at home and many have to do their homework early in the morning the next day when in school. There is also the issue of inadequate physical facilities where most schools did not have adequate classroom to accommodate the large number of pupils enrolled under the FPE programmes. 4. Managerial Skills Most school managers (the head teachers) are not well equipped in managerial skills. This is to say that their managerial skills are poor and these results to poor results by the schools they head as well as mismanagement of available funds. 5. Mobility from Public to Private and within Public Schools This may not be a major challenge but it still is a challenge. Teachers complain that pupils’ frequent transfers from one school to another at any point of the term and in any class affect content delivery. This may be as a result of a preference for free and cheaper education, school availability and its proximity as well as the highest grade offered in a school. A lower fee is also a factor, and cheaper or free schools seemed to be an important motivation for school transfer. 6. Embezzlement of Funds and Corruption Embezzlement of funds is a core challenge. Some government officials are corrupt and hence there is mismanagement or misallocation of funds that are allocated to them, (UNESCO, 2005). For instance, the sponsor’s funds; this makes some children who are poor miss the opportune moments of schooling. I addition to that, senior officials in the Ministry of Education, in Kenya have been accused of protecting corrupt headmasters suspected of embezzling funds because they are also indirectly benefiting from incentives that are being paid by parents, disgruntled senior education officials have revealed, (UNESCO, 2005). RECCOMENDATIONS 1. Timely release of funds. Funds should be released as soon as they are available. This will ensure the teachers and students remain motivated to learn. 2. Increase numbers of teachers employed and increase their wages. Increasing the number of teachers permanently employed in public primary schools will help to take care of the teacher-student ratio. Increasing their wages will also ensure that the teachers are motivated to do their work well. 3. Investing in Teacher-Learning Facilities. The government should invest in building more classrooms to reduce the current congestion in the classrooms. The government should also work hand in hand with sponsors and international investors to ensure the pupils have enough books, pens and other facilities needed by both teachers and pupils. 4. Training of managers. Heads of schools should be trained on how to manage the funds given to them as well as efficiently running the schools. 5. Monitor ministry officials and those handling the funds. An organization or body that can monitor the ministry officials and those handling the funds such as the anti-corruption commission of Kenya to ensure that those handing the funds are not corrupt and those caught in corrupt practices face the law. REFERENCES 1. UNESCO (2005). Challenges of implementing free primary education in Kenya: assessment report. Kenya. Nairobi: Ministry of Education, Science & Technology. 2. Okwach, A. and George, O. (1997). Efficiency of primary education in Kenya: situational analysis and implications for educational reform. Nairobi: Institute of Policy Analysis and Research. 3. UNESCO (2006). Fact book on education for all, UNESCO Nairobi 4. Voss, R. ; Bedi, A. ; Kimalu, P. K. ; Manda,D. K. ; Nafula,N. N; Kimenyi, M. S. Achieving universal primary education: Can Kenya Afford it? University of Connecticut: Department of Economics working paper series.

Fields Which Contributed to the Growth and Development of Psychology Essay

Psychology and Anthropology Anthropology is the study of Humankind and Psychology is the study of human mind. So there is an obvious connection between the two fields. Anthropologists study the past and present of humans to understand the complexity of cultures across the human history. It is evident that this field has contributed to what psychology is today. Early findings reveal that there was a hollow in the skulls they have found in the Stone Age. Psychologists believe that this was the first methods used by our ancestors to treat those who were possessed by evil spirits. They thought that the spirit was in the head and therefore made a hole in the skull, so that the spirit could go away. Surprisingly this may seem to have worked back in time. The findings on different cultures by anthropologists has greatly aided psychologists adjust themselves when dealing with individuals with different cultural backgrounds as well as multicultural groups Psychology and Biology Biology is the field that study living organisms. The most important study of biology that has affected psychology in a great deal is the study of human brain. Brain plays an important role in our sensation and perception. It is the mediator that controls our responses to the stimuli and it’s impossible to study the sensory processing without knowing the function of the brain. Also, the finding of the localization of ructions in the brain has helped psychologists to categorize the disorders and improve the treatments. Secondly, genetics plays a major role in Psychology too. In the study of personality, we must consider both genetic and social learning experience to get a good understanding. Studying one alone would not lead to a full explanation. We do even have a separate branch in modern psychology related to biology. These biological psychologists study the relationship between the physiological bases and behavior. Psychology and Evolution Evolution is the change in inherited characteristics of population over generations. It is in fact an interesting field to study in relation to Psychology. Charles Darwin in his theory proposed how new species are created and how existing species changes to adapt to the current environment. The human evolution suggests that humans have changed not only physically but also behaviorally. It is surprising to see the long way man has come since then. This does not necessarily take ages. Just think about whom you was when you were a 12 year old and look at a 12 year old today. You will be amazed at how they have changes in a few years time. And when you think way back, how did man who had no language initially are multi lingual now? Psychologists are keen to find out answers to these questions. How did man acquire languages, how was it developed, how men did started creating relationships with each other, with animals etc†¦ Answering these questions has lead psychology grow as a file d, day by day to where it is now. Learning differences, adapting to differences, both behaviorally and psychologically was what we learnt from evolution. Natural selection, Sexual selection and adaptation are important principles that have contributed to the field of psychology. Natural selection talks about the survival of the fittest. Species that have stronger adaptations skills tend to pass on these genes to the next generation and has better chances of survival whereas Sexual selection talks about the principles of attraction. Adaptation in the other hand explains why certain behaviors exist and also the Ultimate proximate causes of such behavior. These adaptations increase fitness. For example, a pregnant mothers show aversion to toxic food during their pregnancy. This is an adaptation to protect the fetus. Psychology and Medicine Development in the field of medicine has indeed aided Psychology in its journey up to date. Finding of various new medication techniques had caused implementation of effective treatment techniques with patients. Even if psychologists do not prescribe medicine, medication indeed helps. For an example, you cannot start psychotherapy on a severely depressed client. Medication is used to bring down the severity and then only the psychotherapy begins. And especially for disorder like schizophrenia, OCD, etc., medication has become a must. And it is proven that it needs medication and psychotherapy combined with social skills training works best for most psychological disorders. Psychology and Buddhism Psychology ahs some of its roots embedded in Buddhism too. Meditation techniques Buddhists use are used in some areas of Psychology. Further when you look at Psychological schools live Existentialism and Humanistic perspective we can see a lot of touches added by Buddhism. The famous existentialist Yalom, talks about four principles death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness. And when studying his theory you come across a lot of Buddhist principles he has used in developing the theory. Also in the fairly new treatment technique MBCT, which is used mainly to treat relapse prevention in depression, and it also has got Buddhists’ principles embedded in it. Concept of Metacognitive Awareness is one example that directly relates with Buddhism. Even though if psychology has come far as a science, there is still a lot of philosophical influence on the subject throughout its branches which has nourished the field to what it is today. Psychology and Education The advancements of the education process in deed had been an enormous support to the development and growth of the psychology field. There is even a separate branch dedicated as Educational Psychology where psychologists study on new changes and additions to the learning curriculum, infrastructure, special needs etc. to make the learning teaching experience more efficient and effective. Also there is a branch naming School psychology that works within the educational system to help children with personal, social and academic issues. These developments as well as the advancements to education itself, has made the field of psychology vast. In early days there were a very minimal number of psychologists working in the field and it was field most of the people couldn’t even understand. But thanks to education, now we have millions of students learning psychology from high schools and collaged and many psychologists working towards the growth of the field.

How Great Websites Help Improve Your Business

Take a look at the websites for Harley-Davidson (www. harley-davidson. com), Yamaha (www. yamaha-motor. com), and Indian (www. indianmotorcycle. com). Who are their potential customers? How is each of these companies appealing to their potential customers? Are they using emotion, facts, comparisons, etc? How effective do you believe each of them to be? Harley Davidson (www. harley-davidson. com) Who doesn’t know Harley Davidson? It is a popular American motorcycle manufacturer. Also known as H-D or Harley founded in 1903 by William Harley and Walter, William, and Arthur Davidson, who built their first three motorcycles in a shed in Milwaukee.Harley sells heavyweight which is over 750  cc motorcycles designed for traveling on highways. It was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the  Great Depression during the first decade of 20th century. Harley-Davidson has come a long way since filing for bankruptcy in 1986 once the company realized how to conne ct with potential customers. According to Ken Schmidt, Harley-Davidson's former director of communication said that they don’t compete with hardware which only creates pricing pressure. Instead, they use the hardware as protection and the process behind it as their weapon.Their weapon of choice is getting potential customers to like them more than their competitors. From a hardware and utility perspective, everything does the same thing, so Harley do business with people, brands and organizations they like. Schmidt also said â€Å"When all things are the same and we feel no inclination to do business with one particular company over another, we buy from whoever is willing to sell us a cool piece of hardware at the lowest price. We are all consumers; the things we buy, the reasons we buy them, regardless of how much we spend, do not make sense. Notice our customer is one of the key points in doing business. Harley-Davidson sale person continuously ask potential customers what that they really wanted and produce that product and sell it to them at a profit. Harley-Davidson brings motorcyclists together to create social network. Today there are 1,300 Harley dealers worldwide, 650 of which are in United States. The group are getting larger. The sales person refers the customers as a friend. The customer feels good once you treat them like a friend.By this they will go out and spread the word which create a bigger chain of ‘friends’ around the world. Current customers have told Harley-Davidson’s management to keep the identity, look and sound of the motorcycles because they are unique. When customers view are heard and accepted it develop greater brand loyalty, creating customer experience that is unique and valuable. Harley-Davidson ranging from CEO and sales person maintained personalised relationships with customers through face to face and social media contact. They use advertising nationally about four to five television commercials a year.These commercials are recognised because they are advertising the company not the product. They also advertised in national magazines such as Road ; Track, Popular Science, and Fortune as well as specific motorcycle magazines as Easy Rider. Locally, individual Harley-Davidson dealers advertise on the radio and through direct mail. Internet is a great and fast way to promote as it reaches the entire world. Harley owners can find new product where new customers are able to see what products Harley-Davidson has to offer and can compare the price with similar products.The more information the public can get the more chances of a potential customer. The purpose of Harley-Davidson's mass media advertising is to inform and remind which move customers from ignorance to awareness. The plant's maintenance organization is a strong proponent of: * Technology * A focus on detail and root causes * Team concepts * Communication and sharing By effectively using these â€Å"tools,† sa ys lead maintenance reliability engineer Dana Fluet, â€Å"We are moving toward being 100 precent proactive and having zero fire-fighting. It's the way that we're doing business at Harley-Davidson. As a result for the full year 2012, Harley-Davidson continues to forecast a five – seven percent increase in motorcycle shipment compared to last year, 2011. Companies can build customer relationships at many levels, depending on the nature of the target market. Harley-Davidson established the  Harley Owners Group  (HOG) in 1983 which gives Harley riders a way to share their common passion of â€Å"making the Harley-Davidson dream a way of life† HOG also build on the strong loyalty and community of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts as a means to promote not just a consumer product, but a lifestyle. HOG members typically spend 30% more han other Harley owners, on such items as clothing and Harley-Davidson-sponsored events. HOG went international in 1991, with the first officia l European HOG Rally in Cheltenham, England. Today, more than one million members and more than 1400 chapters worldwide make HOG the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization in the world. HOG benefits include two magazines (Hog Tales and Enthusiast), a HOG Touring Handbook, a roadside assistance program, a specially designed insurance program, theft reward service, a travel center, and a â€Å"Fly & Ride† program enabling members to rent Harleys while on vacation. . http://www. sema. org/sema-enews/2010/13/sema-show-seminar-how-harley-davidson-reinvented-itself 2. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Harley-Davidson 3. http://www. scribd. com/doc/2670384/Harley-Davidson-Analysis 4. http://www. scribd. com/doc/19943405/Harley-Davidson-Case-Study 5. http://catalogue. pearsoned. co. uk/assets/hip/gb/hip_gb_pearsonhighered/samplechapter/0273755021. pdf 6. Text Book Principle of Marketing Thirteenth edition Yamaha (www. yamaha-motor. com)Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Ka ichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). He was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company. He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles including motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period. â€Å"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is. With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energy into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Yamaha continued to grow. They have diversity products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more. Genichi K awakami step up for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies.His total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products. Yamaha motor has expended to Star motorcycles, Sport, Outdoors, Watercraft and Marine. Now Yamaha motor has more than 400 dealers across the country and now they are planning to spread out to more cities increasing its dealer network to 2000 by 2018. To be on top you have to know your customer.Genichi once said, â€Å"I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it. † An example of the commitment to â€Å"walking in the customers' shoes† was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. John Bayliss who is the Motorcycle Product Manager of Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd said â€Å"The new FJR1300 is attracting lots of very positive feedback. A number of customers have already stepped up and left deposits with our dealers, without even seeing the bike in person! It tells us that the designers and engineers have done a great job and satisfied customers need.Yamaha motor website makes the customer easy to find what they want. Yamaha motor also created a link ‘My YAMAHA’ is for you. By becoming a member of ‘My Yamaha’ customer will have access to many exclusive member benefits such as build a customised web page and set as your browser’s home page, Create & Save accessorised ATVs in any of the Build-Your-Own sections, Build & Save a Wish List for Genuine Yamaha Parts and Accessories and also customer can view and print vehicle Maintenance Schedules & Services Specifications back from year 2002.Yamaha motor also offer Pro Yamaha Motorsports dealer. A Pro Yamaha Motorsport dealer is a customer satisfaction focused dealer ship that has consistently excelled in providing customer with the best sales experience, the best service experience and the best ownership experience. By ‘Walking in customers shoes’ slogan it will make Yamaha motor understand the needs of customer by this they will deliver faster and better. By having more products in the market, it will be easier for people to know your brand. 1. www. amaha-motor. com 2. http://www. presidion. com/industry_solutions/commercial/materials/case_studies /Yamaha%20Motor%20Europe. pdf 3. http://cars. sulekha. com/yamaha-motors-expand-their-dealership-network-in-maharashtra_car_news_2935 4. http://www. yamaha-motor. com/sport/myyamaha/login/L3Nwb3J0L215eWFtYWhhL2hvbWUuYXNweA==/starthere. aspx Indian Motorcycle (www. indianmotorcycle. com) The Indian motorcycle was originally founded as the Hendee Manufacturing Company by George M. Hendee in 1897 who manufacture bicycles.They renamed the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company  in 1928. Ca rl Oscar Hedstrom  joined in 1900. Both of them are former bicycle racers and manufacturers. They teamed up to produce a motorcycle in Hendee’s home town of Springfield. It was successful and the sales increased drastically during the next decade. In April 2011, Polaris Industries purchased Indian Motorcycle Company. Backed by $2 billion Company, the customer can expect the confidence of the Polaris engineering team, vision, quality and performance to be delivered in the classic Indian Motorcycle.Now, Polaris is redesigning Indian bikes from a clean sheet of paper to capture the spirit of the Chief and other Indians from a half-century ago, but to use a modern engine and other components to make the bikes rider-friendly. With the slow economy, Indian had a tough road due to a restricted and high end line of motorcycles. Polaris, on the other hand is far more expanded and able to weather the current market conditions. This could be a good combination for both companies This store also carries many ranges of back seats, decorative trim, leather jackets, hats, shirts and more.Customers and fans can join a rewards membership program for added benefits, events and discounts. We use mobile toolboxes & equipment to set up a fabrication shop under canopy for customers to get a unique & personal experience in the techniques. There are hundreds of events held all over the country each year. Indian motorcycle show potential customers that the modifications & builds can be done without huge machines & million dollar facilities, they can get their local dealer to do the modifications or even do some themselves.They even do small workshops for potential & existing customers. This can help to change customer thinking. In Indian Motorcycle website it stated RIDE PROUD. RIDE INDIAN. Indian Motorcycle is determined to deliver a premium experience to riders around the world. Indian Motorcycle is looking for a select dealer business operator that will proudly represent t heir brand while assuring a premium buying and ownership experience for consumers. Understanding what customers need in a purchase experience is critical in meeting the needs of the market.We spent a substantial amount of time talking with motorcycle riders to understand what they want from their dealer. This understanding was the basis for the store design and dealership operational expectations. The customer experience is paramount in the success of the Indian Motorcycle brand and a profitable dealership. Indian Motorcycle store branding was established directly from what consumers told us and what they expected when shopping for a premium motorcycle. These riders want an open environment that allows enough room to walk between the motorcycles.They do not want to have to walk through or around other products to get to the bikes. Having an adequate selection of apparel and accessories is also very important to their potential consumers. The store layout and design will give custome rs a premium shopping experience that is constant with their expectations. This look and feel will be consistent in the dealerships, at major motorcycling events, and all other consumer and public interactions with Indian Motorcycle. In addition to the dealership location and shopping environment, customers also have expectations about how they should be treated.They want to be able to sit on the motorcycles, start the motorcycles, and take a test ride. It is important to them to be able to feel firsthand how the motorcycle performs and fits their riding style. These riders want to be able to have conversations with a knowledgeable staff that listens and responds properly. They want the staff to be motorcycle buffs that understand motorcycle riders. Indian motorcycle training, support, and operational standards will help ensure a positive â€Å"frictionless† interaction with our consumers.With the development of this strategy, they also understand the need to align with the r ight partners in the market. Indian Motorcycle dealers will need to understand and embrace the â€Å"Ride Proud, Ride Indian† culture. They should understand that that they are making an investment in their future with Indian Motorcycle. They will be expected to maintain the highest level of respect for the Indian Motorcycle brand and the Indian Motorcycle rider. Indian Motorcycle gathers and uses your personal information to run the Indian Motorcycle Web site and carry out the services you have requested.They also use your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from Indian Motorcycle and its associates. Indian Motorcycle may also contact you via surveys to conduct research about your opinion of current services or of potential new services that may be offered. Indian Motorcycle keeps track of the websites and pages that customers visited within Indian Motorcycle in order to decide what Indian Motorcycle services are the most popular. This data is used to deliver modified content and advertising within Indian Motorcycle to customers that are interested in a particular subject area.Indian Motorcycle is an iconic brand with a proud legacy and a bright future. We will offer Indian Motorcycle Brand training to ensure that all dealership appreciate the legendary heritage of Indian Motorcycle and the brand that they have been entrusted to help steward and grow. Training will also be provided to be certain that dealership personnel understand who the customer is and what they expect in a finest shopping experience. 1. http://www. indianmotorcycle. com/en-us/pages/home. aspx 2. http://www. phatridez. biz/Polaris. html 3. http://thekneeslider. com/polaris-buys-indian-motorcycles/

Apple Inc Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Apple Inc Case Study - Essay Example The key factors were seen to be innovative products not backed by quality, frequent change of leadership and the recessive trends in the economy that had significantly reduced the buying power of the consumers. It is felt that in the fast changing environment of technology and rapid globalization, there is marked convergence of changing preferences across the globe. Therefore, it becomes important for the firms to introduce the product at the right time is crucial but at the same time, the success would also depend on its quality and the pricing. The report is prepared for the management of Apple Inc. so as to identify the issues and problems, analyze them to evolve strategies and recommendations to improve and improvise the performance outcome of the organization’s aims and objectives. The company had undergone dramatic changes since its inception in 1976. The early success was followed by considerable loss in revenues and market share in 1981. The company’s fortunes catapulted to regain its market position that kept steadily rising till 2008, when the company was again faced with many challenges and slow growth, showing significant loss of revenue. The main problems and issues identified were as follow: The management seemed to lose its initial focus on innovation and preferred analyzing the current problems to the exclusion of introducing newer products to meet the fast changing demands of the public. When the company was launched in 1976 by Wazniak and job, both were driven by the fact that the novelty of the product (computers) and its utility value outweighed its cost and appeal to the people. That was the reason that the Apple products had huge initial success. Later, when IBM and Microsoft came into the field and introduced affordability into the market strategy, Apple Inc was the hardest hit company and showed tremendous decline in profits and plummeting of its market share to 3%. The

Lectopia. More Convenience And Control to Learning in Tertiary Essay

Lectopia. More Convenience And Control to Learning in Tertiary Education - Essay Example In Australia, for example, employers' dissatisfaction rate with fresh graduates was increasing. Obviously with these concerns in mind, the University of Western Australia (UWA) developed the country's first iLecture system in 1998, followed by Macquarie University in 2005. According to McElroy & Blount (2006), another consideration for the introduction of Lectopia in these schools was the changing socioeconomic profile of students in Australia, which now runs third behind the US and UK in hosting the largest number of international college students. A non-English speaking background is a handicap for international students because they may go through a lecture with little comprehension (Bennett & Lockyer, 2004). Applicability remains one of the most compelling reasons for the adoption of Lectopia in Australian universities. The student population in Australian universities being dominated by the Net Generation, Lectopia is compatible with the characteristics identified with this generation, whose preferences include online communication, mobility and accessibility (Thielfold & Scheef, 2004). Williams & Pardon (2007) observe that the youth in the Net Generation are more comfortable with hypertext, laptop libraries, instant messaging and beamed messages such that they took to iLecture like fish to water. For this reason, a survey on the use of Lectopia by Macquarie students showed that 73.15 percent agreed to its capability to improve the quality of education (McElroy & Bount, 2006). The survey involved 828 students in a second-year accounting course, of which 202 were locals and 626 were foreign students.... This essay stresses that education is the latest sector to join the ICT bandwagon because of the increasing realization that technology can provide academics with the tools to interact with students in a more flexible way and support a more student-centered approach to teaching. The desire for an alternative system in the conduct of lectures was impelled partly by growing concerns that today’s university graduates lack the skills and competencies that would make them competitive in the technology-driven workplace In Australia, for example, employers’ dissatisfaction rate with fresh graduates was increasing. Obviously with these concerns in mind, the University of Western Australia (UWA) developed the country’s first iLecture system in 1998, followed by Macquarie University in 2005. most compelling reasons for the adoption of Lectopia in Australian universities. The student population in Australian universities being dominated by the Net Generation, Lectopia is co mpatible with the characteristics identified with this generation, whose preferences include online communication, mobility and accessibility. This paper makes a conclusion that there are as diverse types of students as there are different learning styles and preferences. For this reason, it is not advisable and educationally beneficial to adopt Lectopia as replacement for traditional face-to-face lectures. As in other newfangled technologies, the one-size-fits-all approach will not work for this system since there as many foreign and working students as there are locals who are professional students.

Group project analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Group project analysis - Assignment Example In this case, a group is treated as a single student regardless of the gender, age of ethnicity of the members forming it. This reflection paper explores the latest group assignment we deed establishing the dynamic involved with group as well as key issues. The group I belonged was made up of five members including myself working toward a common goal of completing the class assignment on time and at the highest quality level possible. Because the mark scored by the group was to appear on the result slip of the respective members of the group, it was expected that the contribution of members would equal to each other. Second, there was expected to be effective mutual communication between the members to enable them integrate the individual work into group work before submission to the lecture for marking as the lecturer had specified beforehand that piecemeal work was completely unacceptable. Third, there was expected for members not only to complete the assignment but also to learn new ideas from their interaction in the group to enable them grow their knowledge base as well as their skills in team/group work. Although the ultimate goal of submitting the assignment on time was achieved, the final score deviated from the expected score (95% instead of 100%) because of several challenges faced. Contrary to the prior expectation of equal contribution from members involved, only three members significantly contributed to the final document of the assignment. This does not mean that the two members did not contribute, they contributed but at a smaller percentage compared to the three most active members. This reminded me of the influence of personal factors such as behavior and attitudes on contribution in group or team work (Ramayah et al, 2003) considering other factors constant; same lessons timetable and same goal of excelling in our

Days of Heaven by Terrence Malick Research Paper

Days of Heaven by Terrence Malick - Research Paper Example Bill, Abby and Linda works at the same farm. The farmer who was the owner of the farm was a wealthy guy. The farmer somehow falls in love with Abby. At the same time it comes to the knowledge of the farmer that he is dying off some unidentified disease. When Bill gets to know about it, he designs a plan and try to convince Abby to marry the farmer. Bill wanted Abby to marry the dying farmer so that when he is dead they both can have his inherited money (French). Bill convinces Abby and after they both get married, Bill stays at the farm being Abby’s brother. The farmer’s foreman suspected the scheme. At the same time, the farmer is also able to resist the disease and stayed healthy. This ruins Bill’s plan. The farmer also gets to know about Bill’s and Abby relationship. On the other hand, Abby starts loving her new husband. The farmer tries to kill Bill but instead Bill kills him and escapes with Abby and Linda. Police eventually finds Bill and kills him. The music in the film is thoughtful and is filled with regret and loss. The musical mode in the film is like that of ‘The Godfather’, but is not very strong and remembered. This shows that Malick wanted to reflect a sad psychological connection of the characters with music. This has helped in determining the mental conditions of the character throughout the film (Schager). ‘Good days of heaven’ was not very well received by critics. The film, however, won an Academy Award for best cinematography. Regardless of the unfavorable critics, it is one of the most acclaimed films.

Teens and Drunk Driving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Teens and Drunk Driving - Essay Example This research paper would be presenting those circumstances, the thought process of teenagers, the reaction of teenagers towards drinking, and the hazards of driving after drinking. The drunk driving by the teenagers is another topic under discussion by the school systems, parents, and media because it brings lots of dangers and hazards from both safety and health point of view. The arguments for this statement would be presented in the rest of the paper. Driving is a very responsible duty but driving while being intoxicated or drunk is highly regarded as irresponsible and risky for the drivers because it increase the risk of accidents, injuries and deaths every year around the globe. Drunk driving to the limit where driving capabilities become impaired with that of driving motor vehicle is highly prohibited legally in almost every country in the world. In fact, it is a crime in most countries around the world. In some countries, for example, Canada, the prohibited amount for driving starts from Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) 80mg/100ml of blood. People get drunk in parties and friends or family gatherings and drive recklessly which is dangerous not only for the driver, but the people sitting with in the vehicle and the other pedestrians (Mittelman and Inc NetLibrary 178). The issue of drinking by the teenagers is there sinc... Drinking - Forbidden Fruit for Teenagers The issue of drinking by the teenagers is there since centuries. It has been said that young adults used to drink buckets of ale in the Pre-Revolutionary America. At present, in the present United States, drinking publicly is prohibited for the young adults less than twenty-one years of age. This has created the image of liquor as forbidden fruit for the teenagers. The number of drunken teenagers is growing rapidly these days and it is considered very harmful for the young adults. The drinking habits of teenagers can start from occasionally at indoor family gathering (which is obviously comes under the restrict guidance of parents or guardians) and then can grab the habit of becoming habitual with friends and off campus whenever they get a chance. Although, the teenagers are not legally permitted to buy liquor from any authorized dealer or store, but they somehow find a way by bribing an adult friend who could easily buy all the required drinking materials for his young adult friends . The increasing number of drinking teenagers has increased the tension between the school systems and parents because they get highly tensed how to overcome this problem by convincing their kids not to drink liquor (Jacobs 13). The reason for extreme limit of drinking by the teenagers is because of the fact that they are not allowed to have it openly and is prohibited from their parents, guardians and school systems. This not only increased their urge to drink liquor more frequently, but they ought to take drinking as adventure while partying and having little friends' get together. The drinking slowly and gradually turns into habitual drinking which is very dangerous from the health

What Is HRM, And Does It Matters HR And Organization's Performance Essay

What Is HRM, And Does It Matters HR And Organization's Performance - Essay Example Broadly, human resource management is referred as a rational and strategic approach for managing a firm's most valuable asset. This valued asset is employees who contribute to the organization in an individual and collective manner in order to reach its strategic goals( Armstrong, 2006, p.5).According to Storey (1989) HRM can be defined as a "set of interrelated policies with an ideological and philosophical underpinning"(cited in Armstrong, 2006, p.5).Storey(1989) highlights four aspects that constitute significant version of HRM, it includes: a specific collection of beliefs and assumptions; a strategic drive for informed decisions about people and management; line managers' central involvement; and dependence on a set of 'levers' for shaping employment relationship(cited in Armstrong, 2006, p.5).).Storey(1989) highlights four aspects that constitute significant version of HRM, it includes: a specific collection of beliefs and assumptions; a strategic drive for informed decisions a bout people and management; line managers' central involvement; and dependence on a set of 'levers' for shaping employment relationship(cited in Armstrong, 2006, p.5).... HRM deals with the achieving objectives' in areas that include: organizational effectiveness, human capital management, knowledge management, reward management, employee relation, meeting diverse needs, and filling the gap between rhetoric and reality (Armstrong, 2006, p.11). HR matters as it has influence on diverse areas of organization's performance. According to Purcell et al. (2003), HR can lead and contribute to the development and implementation of high performance work practices. In particular, the practices linked with job work and design, flexibility, resourcing and talent management, reward, employee development, and employee representation. It contributes to the process of formulation and incorporation of clear vision and values of organization; development of positive psychological association and means of increased motivation and commitment; creation of a perfect workplace; support and guidance to managers for the implantation or HR policies and procedures; and effectiv e change management. HR and Organization's performance HRM practice is based on the assumption that employees are key resource, and overall organizational performance is largely dependent on them. Therefore, appropriate HR policies and policies and their effective implementation can make substantial improvements in organization's performance. Several HR commentators identified the crucial need to establish that there exist an evident and positive association between HRM practices and organizational performance. It is not sufficient to prove that HR is a good thing, but the initiatives that ensure its effectiveness. It is the 'black box' exists between intentions and outcomes as

The Effect of the Increase and Decrease of Inheritance Tax in the UK Essay

The Effect of the Increase and Decrease of Inheritance Tax in the UK Economy - Essay Example Exchange rate is the value of two currencies relative to each other, like exchanging the US dollar for a certain number of British pounds. This may be floating which means it changes from day to day or it may be pegged to another which means that it may have a certain amount of its currency held in another currency. The former is volatile while the latter is more stable since their setting is by the government fiat. [Aguirre, A., Ferreira, A. & Notini, H., 2003] The exchange rates have been experiencing fluctuations in different regions of the world and this has had major impacts in these regions which have involved the private sector as well as the government and in some cases the government has had to play the role of the private sector so as to stabilise the rate. In this context the exchange rate rise has been on the fore front and this has had adverse effect and implications on the economic activities as well as the social aspect of the people in these regions. The rise if the f oreign exchange affects the foreign direct investment [FDI]. This is an international flow of capital that provides the multinational organisations and companies with control over foreign affiliates. The foreign exchange can influence both the total FDI and the allocation of this investment across different countries. The increase reduces the countries production costs and the wages relative to those of the foreign country. This means that the value of its currency depreciates relative to that of the other country. This means that the overall rate of return to foreigners is increased and this contemplates the overseas investment projects in a country. The increase in the foreign exchange may be sometimes anticipated and this will leads to higher costs of financing of the projects due to interest rate parity conditions. In these cases, multinationals prefer to fund their overseas projects from the local kit as financing from the local become relatively expensive. This covers their mo nitoring costs and even the capital that keeps on increasing. The volatility of the exchange rates affects the production flexibility and also the risk aversion. There arises a problem where the producer produces the goods without the knowledge of the exchange rates as they affect the rate of production and the actual level of employment. Where there was risk aversion, the investors demand that they be paid compensation for the risks they incurred as the higher exchange rate raises the variability of and lowers the certainty. In this case therefore, the high rates of exchange tend to raise the values of the investment projects and due to the high costs; the profits are reduced. [Goldberg and Kolstad, 1995] The Australian bank decided to leave the rate of cash unchanged, while the central bank highlighted on its ability to lower the benchmark of the nation’s interest rate so as to ease the inflation pressures. Fig 1: Graphical illustration of Australian Interest rates from Jan uary 2004 through January 2010 This rising exchange rate leads to the tightening of the monetary policy. This in effect raises the interest rates to higher levels which are visibly seen to rise faster in the short run than in the long run. The result of this is that the foreign investors hold foreign assets because of the increased rate of return on the domestic assets with the tightened monetary policy and they expect that the domestic value will fall in future. There arises foreign debt due to the high appreciation of the real exchange rate. These may make the local currency to reach parity against the foreign currency like it was for the euro against the dollar between Australia and US. [Aron, J., Elbadawi, I.A. & Kahn, B., 1997] Identify the possible causes of this appreciation and analyse the extensive implications on the Australian economy which was saved by the collapsing economy of the Australian government and economy. The appreciation of the real exchange rate brings diver se effects which are extensive the short term aspect of

Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Essay With more than six billion people in this world, with a huge variety of human shapes, colors and sizes can race really be defined? As people spread across the world. Mixing among each other creating new kinds of faces there is no true race. But people such as Hitler believed that the Aryans where the superior race responsible got the cultural achievements in Europe and that they has to stop racial contamination that would come from breeding with inferior races by destroying them. Which caused the slaughtering of those deemed inferior: Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, slaves, and people with disabilities. It didnt stop here, youd think the world would try to make a difference but as Hitler era was fading, the ethnic cleansing by Serbs in Bosnia, the mass killings of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994 were and are stilling taking place years after Hitler. What these people failed to see is that there is no pure race. People show such a mixture of physical characteristics ? in skin color, hair textures, body shapes, eye color, height, weight and so on that there can not be a pure race. Our characteristics follow endlessly together, the mapping of genome system shows that were strikingly homogenous. Although large groups of people can be classified by blood type and gene frequencies they still cannot be classified as a race. The idea of a race in far from a myth, its embedded in our culture, it is part of our everyday lives. Sociologist D. S. Thomas observed that if people define situations as real, theyre real in their consequences in other words, people define situations as real, theyre real in their consequences in other words, people act on beliefs, not facts. As a result to that we will always have people like Hitler who feel that killing people that they believe is inferior is perfectly fine.Incidents such as the above still happen in todays world but they are hidden from the public eye, what isnt hidden and does continue toady seems as if no one is trying to make a difference is prejudice and discrimination, a war that will never stop. Prejudice can be defined as a prejudging of some sort, discrimination on the other hand can be defined as an action, and unfair treatment directed against someone on basis of their age, sex, height, origin, marital status, education, income, religion, etc, but when its due to race we usually call it racism. Why are people prejudices? The common sense answer is that people may have had a negative experience with a member of the other group. But Psychologists such as Eugene Hartley (1946) made studies showing that its more than just an old incident, his studies showed that prejudice against all other groups as well. Social scientists have developed several theories to explain prejudice; there are two types of theories, Scapegoat, and the Authoritarian Personality. People who are unable to release there stress to the source usually tend to release it on other people and they tend to find someone to blame their mishaps on and this usually becomes their scapegoat, often a racial, ethnic, or religious minority that they unfairly blame for their troubles. The other theory is The Authoritarian Personality Theodor Adornos term for people who are prejudice and rank high on scales of conformity, intolerance, insecurity, respect for authority, and submissive to superiors. Sociologists find these theories to be inadequate, they stress that the key to find prejudice is from the outside not form within. Sociologists focus on how some environments foster prejudice, while other discourages it. Sociologists have a few theories; Hitler used Functionalism, he hired Fritz Hippler, a Nazi intellectual was put in charge of the entire German film industry and he was told to create anti-Semitist, and he did by producing movies that compared Jews to rates, that their breeding would contaminate their pure breed. You can see that prejudice is functional and it creates in-group solidarity, and destroys human relationships. Conflict Theory- a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups competing for scarce resource. Symbolic interactionism examines how peoples labels affect perception and create prejudice. When we apply a label to a group we tend to see its members as all alike, this leads to stereotyping and discrimination and may even create a depicted behavior. Symbolic interaction shows that were not born to a race, and ethic group where we lean beliefs, values; we learn to perceive them negatively or positively. If discrimination is common in our groups, we learn to practice it commonly. Discrimination is like a learned skill if you practice it enough you wont even realize you using it. William Julius Wilson, a sociologist, argues that social class has become important that race is determine the life chances of African Americans. Prior to the Civil War African Americans were excluded from everything that could help you advance in life and become wealthy. As African Americans moved out of the inner cities, as legislators began opening doors for African Americans, as a result they were able to get better paying jobs, live a middle-class life, but those who were left behind in the inner cities they were trapped in poverty. I believe that people choose their way of life, yes it is true that things may be harder for an African American or a Latino person, but things are hard for everyone in their own individual ways. I do believe that in todays world things arent based on race in some places yes but as from what I see I believe its based on your social class, who you are, who you know, where you work, and how much money you have, thats what I believe matters in todays society. Although sociologists like Charles Willie, states that even African Americans do the same work as whites, whites average higher pay than African American, he argues that it racial discrimination not social discrimination. He states that we need to provide more jobs for the people in the inner cities; with more jobs theres more hope in inner cities and an anchor to a responsible life. But being richer for an African American is still a problem because certain people start assuming things for example an African American person driving a new car a cop tends to find reason to pull them over, just to make sure the car isnt stolen. Both sociologists have a strong point of view, but I also do have my own view in prejudice and discrimination. In todays society minority groups have a better chance to achieve their goals, for example everyone can attend the same college, travel the country, eat in the same place and even be best friends with someone of a different ethnicity, while this is taken for granted I honestly think its a beautiful thing. Prejudice and discrimination is a war that will be fought through out ones life regardless, of their race, color, size, height or social status. As we flash back we see that discrimination has always been around in all different forms. We, as the human race need to focus on not judging people before we know them for who they are. Today, there are so many type of people in the world that stereotyping are always incorrect. If everyone in the world had respect for one another we would live in peace and be able to let others believe in what they wish and except everyones differences. If we teach our children and change our ways, sometime in our future we will be closer to accepting that a mans character is based upon content of his soul, not his color, ethnicity, or their religion.

Crime Data Comparison Paper Essay Example for Free

Crime Data Comparison Paper Essay The two metropolitan areas I have decided to do my research paper on are Cincinnati, Ohio and Dallas, Texas. I choose Cincinnati because it is one of the bigger cities where I live. I choose Dallas because there seems to be a big difference in crime rates compared to Cincinnati. In this paper I will be comparing the burglary rate between these two cities. I will identify the number of burglaries reported to the police in each area and also explain which area had more reported burglaries as well as what were the rates of the crimes in each area. I will also explain whether the rates have changed at all and look into what factors that might be involved that might explain the difference in the burglary rates. Looking at the research, Cincinnati, Ohio had a rate of 6,287 burglaries that were reported to police in 2009 (Crime in the United States, 2009). Dallas, Texas on the other hand had 19,428 burglaries in that same year. The rate of crime given for Cincinnati in 2009 was 375.1 occurrences per 10,000 persons (Crime in the United States, 2009). Dallas by comparison had a crime rate of 1505.7 occurrences per 100,000 people. According to the crime statistics, crime in Dallas, Texas is down 6.4 percent from 2008 and Cincinnati has one of the highest crime rates in the country compared to all communities of all sizes. Ones chance of becoming a victim of property crime is one in twelve. (NeighborhoodScout, 2012). There are many factors that could explain the differences in the crime rates between these two cities. One factor could be the difference in population. The population in Cincinnati is 296,943 within the city limits according to the 2010 census. (Crime in the United States, 2009) whereas in Dallas, Texas the population is 1,197,816 according to 2010 censes. When you look at the numbers the more people living in an area the higher the crime rate will be. There are also other factors that could explain the big differences between these cities. The ethnic and racial makeup of the people living there and their educational levels could be a big difference. To really explain the increase or decline in both these cities is difficult because the two areas that I choose are so very different in population is really the biggest difference. In conclusion, in comparing both these big cities Cincinnati is showing an increase in the number of burglaries and almost every other crime as for Dallas, the crime rate there is down 6.4 percent. With the population in Dallas being 1,197,816 and Cincinnati’s population being 296,943 people would think that Dallas would be a city full of crime but Cincinnati is far worse. According to NeighborhoodScout . com, on a scale of 100 to 1(100 is the safest) Cincinnati rates just a two. This scale shows that Cincinnati is just safer then two percent of the cities in the United States of America. There are many factors that could explain why Cincinnati has one of the fasting growing crime rates in the nation. One could be the economy where there is nine percent unemployment in the city alone. Another factor could be the racial and ethnic makeup of the city. Looking at the Dallas, Texas crime rates, it rates a six in the crime index (NeighborhoodScout.com). This means that Dallas, Texas is safer than six percent of the cities in the United States. In Dallas there were 8,341 violent crimes and 63,022 property crimes compared to Cincinnati’s 3,087 violent crimes and 20,911 property crimes. Looking at how big Dallas is compared to Cincinnati you would think that there would be more crimes per 1,000 residents but it is not even close. In Cincinnati there are 10.42 crimes per 1,000 residents compared to Dallas’s 6.82 annual crimes per 1,000 residents. When you compare Cincinnati with Dallas, the crime index, population, and the crime rates going up or down, Dallas to me would be the safer of the two cities to live in. References Crime in the United States of America. (2009). February, 2012 http://www.2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_06.html Neighborhood Scout. (2012) http:/www.neighborhoodscout.com/Cincinnati/crime http:/www.neighborhoodscout.com/Dallas/crime

Hinduism Buddhism in India

Hinduism Buddhism in India Chapter II: Ancient India Birthplace of Hinduism Buddhism. Hinduism and Buddhism There is a nice analogy which was told to me while visiting a Thai monastery many years ago. Buddhism and Hinduism are like two siblings raised in the same household, such as a brother and sister may have a certain family resemblance. A visitor would not mistake one for the other. And just like siblings they may differ in opinion in many things even to the point of arguing. Yet they still love and respect each other. If the household of these siblings is the Ancient Indian sub-continent then that is the logical place to start. Before looking at Hinduism or Buddhism in the following chapters it is necessary to look at the Ancient Indian civilization and culture prior to any written records as both of these religions have their origins in the ancient history of the Indian sub-continent. The references used are some of the earliest written works and the study will look at these in greater detail in the chapter concerning Hinduism and its teachings. The reader should note that modern science is now re-examining many of the statements made in these earlier works due to discoveries made by modern research which has scientific facts as its proof. Ancient India Pre-History Period For this section I have chosen to follow the consensus of opinion, and for that reason, the dates given here are those found in other references. We must begin by stating that the Indian continent was first populated 250,000 years ago. When the original thesis paper was written, the first major civilization was considered to be the Harrapan civilization that occupied the Indus Valley where Baluchistan was a farming community from 3500 BCE (this may well have been pre-dated by the 9000 BCE Gulf of Cambay civilisation once more is known about it) Prehistoric India The consensus held by scholars and historians, is that ancient Indias indigenous people were a dark skinned race. There are prehistoric cave paintings and rock art, which provide the basis for these assertions. This is said to be a 40,000-year-old cave painting seen on a white silica sandstone rock shelter depicting existence of human civilization is seen in Banda district 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India. The painting below depicts hunting by cave dwellers in the Paleolithic age. These caves were discovered recently. Notice the horse with rider. A 40,000 Year Old Cave Painting (AP Photo/Shekhar Srivastava) Origins of the Indus Valley Civilization The geography of India is one of many extremes. The land mass encompasses desert, mountains, forest, and jungle. All of these environments were susceptible to unpredictable periods of flood, drought, and monsoons. Though India contained some of the most extreme geological and climatic features, these difficult conditions were also an asset to the development of its early civilizations. The Himalayas provided a natural protective barrier from any nomadic or military invasions from the north, and other mountain ranges provided similar protection in the west and east. The account of the Indus valley and its people, (also known as the Harappa civilization), is a story of a people intricately tied to their environment. The waterways of the Indus valley provided an excellent resource for trade, commerce, and agriculture. Throughout Indias history, the rivers were crucial to the inhabitants of the region. As is found with most societies, especially non-nomadic ones, a rise in the cultivation of agrarian resources often leads to a surplus. Other factors permitting, this normally leads to an eventual population increase. As far as we can surmise, the development of civilization in the Indus valley followed this pattern ie. a static society, fertile soil , good harvest and no major wars or pestilence diminishing the populace. The diverse geography of ancient India resulted in an increase of both the quantity and the specialization of agrarian crops. Faunal remains around the era of 3000 BC shows such trends and suggests that the Indus valley civilizations were benefiting from the rich alluvial soil of the Indus River. This region produced high yields of cereal grains, cultivated crops and plant materials. By 2,700 BCE, the presence of a state level society was evident, complete with hierarchical rule and large-scale public works (irrigation, etc.). Such large-scale growth in so short a period can be attributed to two factors: The unique and rich environmental resources India provided, An organized civilization, which took direct control of its natural environment. By 3000 BCE turmeric, cardamom, pepper and mustard were harvested in India. The Harappans who occupied Harappa and Mohenjodero in the Indus Valley, were of mixed stock They had club wheat, barley, sheep and goats from the Iranian Plateau and cotton from Southern Arabia or North East Africa. Sumer had trade links with the Indus Valley via Hindu Kush by 3000 BCE. and by sea from 2500 BCE, thus linking the Harappans with both Sumerians and Egyptians, where cumin, anise and cinnamon were used for embalming by 2500 BCE We can summarize by saying the Indus valley was populated by a dark skinned race of indigenous people who had a structured hierarchical agrarian society, the floods of the local rivers providing rich alluvial topsoil, which replenished the minerals on cultivated land. The non-nomadic conditions coupled with the harvest surplus were conducive to growth population. Why then, can we assign some stories of ancient India to the period of nearly 10,000 BCE? Are there any material facts or evidence? Pre-Harappan Evidence Found in Gulf of Cambay VADODARA, INDIA, July 19, 2004: In an underwater exploration in the Gulf of Cambay, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), scientists discovered almost 9,500-year-old bricks made of clay and straw. Archaeological experts of the MS University who, too, are involved in a part of the exploration near Surat and the coast of Gulf of Cambay, however, feel that a further insight into the size of the bricks can confirm its age and its period. The bricks, believed to be pre-Harappan, have been identified to be of the Holocene age. In the NIOT surveys in the 17 sq km area, stone artifacts like blade scrapers, perforated stones and beads were found. The bricks, according to NIOT scientists, were used for construction. It indicates that the people of that age led an advanced form of life. The artifacts found on the seabed, 20 to 40 ft below the present sea level, consisted of housing material. It is important to confirm the brick size as people of the pre-Harappan age made bricks in the ratio of 1:2:3. A confirmation on the brick size can add more credence to the discovery, says head of the archeology and ancient history department V. H. Sonawane. WARANGAL, INDIA, Feb 12, 2002 Mysterious Sunken City Found Near Surat Michael Cremo recently attended a meeting of ranking Indian governmental officials at which Murli Monohar Joshi, Minister for Science and Technology, confirmed the archeological find by an Indian oceanographic survey team. Could the recent discovery of a sunken city off the Northwest Coast of India near Surat revolutionize our concept of history? Michael A. Cremo, historian of archeology and author of Forbidden Archeology, claims that all the history textbooks would have to be rewritten if this ancient find proves to be of Vedic origin. Radiocarbon testing of a piece of wood from the underwater site yielded an age of 9,500 years, making it four thousand years older than earliest cities now recognized. According to Cremo, The ancient Sanskrit writings of India speak of cities existing on the Indian subcontinent in very primeval times. Although historians tend to dismiss such accounts as mythological, these new discoveries promise to confirm the old literary accounts. Michael Cremo is acknowledged as a leading authority on anomalous archeological evidence. Asserting the recent find may be just the first step, he says, It is likely that even older discoveries will follow. The cultural identity of the people who inhabited the underwater city is as yet unknown. Most historians believe that Sanskrit-speaking people entered the Indian subcontinent about 3,500 years ago, from Central Asia. Other historians accept India itself as the original home of Sanskrit-speaking people, whose lifestyle is termed Vedic culture because their lives were regulated by a body of literature called the Vedas. A City Dating Back to 7500 BCE As was announced on January 16, 2002 from New Delhi, Indian scientists have made an archaeological discovery that dates back to 7500 BCE. This suggests, as a top government official said, that the worlds oldest cities came up about 4,000 years earlier than is currently believed. The scientists found pieces of wood, remains of pots, fossil bones and what appeared like construction material just off the coast of Surat. Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi told a news conference. He said, Some of these artifacts recovered by the National Institute of Ocean Technology from the site, such as the log of wood date back to 7500 BCE, which is indicative of a very ancient culture in the present Gulf of Cambay, that got submerged subsequently. Current belief is that the first cities appeared around 3500 BCE in the valley of Sumer, where Iraq now stands. A statement issued by the government said. We can safely say from the antiquities and the acoustic images of the geometric structures that there was human activity in the region more than 9,500 years ago (7500 BCE), said S.N. Rajguru, an independent archaeologist. Malleswaram boasts of many temples, but none is so shrouded in controversy and mystery as this one is. The ancient Nandeeshwara temple at Malleswaram 17th cross was discovered only three years ago, but it has stood for 7,000 years on that spot. Being buried over the years has not dim inished its aura at all. It still draws huge crowds all day. According to residents living nearby, the temple was completely buried and the land above it was a flat stretch. Three years ago, a politician tried to sell this plot. But people objected on the grounds that the land should first be dug through to see if they could find something, says the priest, Ravi Shankar Bhatt. Therefore, when they started digging up the land, they found buried underneath, this temple. It was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of soil. This underground temple was enclosed within a stone cut courtyard supported by ancient stone pillars. At the far end of the courtyard, a Nandi was carved out of a black stone with eyes painted in gold. From its mouth a clear stream of water flowed directly on to a Shivalinga made out of the same black stone at a lower level. There were steps that led to a small pool in the centre of the courtyard where the water flowed and collected. The pools centre had a 15 feet deep whirlpool. Everything remains the same today. Nobody knows where the water comes from and how it passes from the mouth of the Nandi idol on to the Shivalinga. Nobody knows how the whirlpool came into being. The source of water, the sculptor, even the time when it was built remains a mystery. There has been no scientific explanation for the source of water to date, says resident Shivalingaiah. Some say it was built by Shivaji Maharaj. Some say its older. However, of one thing we were sure, the temple has remained untouched over the years. We found it exactly as it might have been before it was covered by soil, he adds. On Shivaratri day, overwhelming crowds gather at this temple. Some perform the milk puja. Others just come to marvel at a temple. A Malleswaram committee has been specifically created to look after the temple. Committee president C Chandrashekhar functions along with a 11-member committee. We are slowly introducing improvements in the temple to keep it in good shape. A lot of people come even from other parts of Bangalore, he says. The committees next step is to build a gopuram in the temple premises. Mehgarh 6,000 BCE Mehgarh is located 125 miles west of the Indus valley, and provides early evidence of village dwelling level within the Indus Valley. The initial site is quite small and exhibits evidence of crop farming, with produce such as Asiatic wheat. The site also shows use of domestic goats and extensive trade with the west. Traded goods included turquoise, copper, and cotton from as far away as Arabia. By 5,000 BCE the dwellings of the Mehgarh went from simple semi-permanent housing to mud brick, and then large permanent housing. The economy was largely dependent upon trade. Such trends, specifically emphasizing trade, continued well into 4,000 BCE when the culture clearly identified as Harappan became evident. 5000 Year Old Harappan Township Found in Haryana Evidence of a township of the 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan Era) has been found during excavations near Bhirdana village in Fatehabad district of Haryana . The excavations are being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The ASI had earlier discovered the presence of same townships of the Indus Valley Civilisation at two other places, Kunal and Banawali, in the district. The evidence found at Bhirdana includes many structures made of mud bricks, peculiar of the Harappan era; a well, a fortification wall, pottery and other antiquities. Mr L.S. Rao, Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI, who is leading the team of excavators here, informed that the team, comprising a Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, three Assistant Archaeologists and other officials like photographers, draftsmen, artists, and surveyors, was working on the excavation site spread across 62,500 square meters and situated on a mound. Fifteen students of Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi, have also been assisting the team. The excavations, being carried out under the `Saraswati Heritage Project of the Union Government, were part of a series of such excavations being made to unearth the old civilisations on the bank of the ancient Saraswati river. The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Haryana, had protected the area of the present excavations. Mr Rao said the area where the excavations were being carried out was the bank of the Saraswati. The whole riverbed had been converted in to agricultural lands with the passage of time, he added that the ASI based its findings on the antiquities collected during the excavations on the surface of the mound. Pottery, among the antiquities, is the main criteria for ascertaining the civilization. The excavators have also discovered a 2.4-metre-wide wall considered to be the fortification wall of the township on the excavation site. Ms Ankum, from Nagaland, a student of the Institute of Archaeology, who was manning the fortification area, said a clinching evidence of the township was that the earth outside the wall comprised of virgin soil while the one inside the fortification wall had all the evidence of structures. Mr Prabhash Sahu, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, explained that it was a horizontal excavation and the whole mound had been divided into four parts for convenience. Mr Rao said the residents of the area were cooperative and were showing keen interest in the excavations. First Harappan Burial site Found in Sinauli, Uttar Pradesh SINAULI, June 28, 2006: Imagine for a moment that youre a farmer, leveling your field, when suddenly your plough hits something hard. You wipe away the dust and discover its a bone, hardened over time. You dig some more and discover the remnants of pottery next to an ancient human skeleton.This is what happened to Sattar Ali while working in the sugarcane fields in Sinauli village near Baghpat in western UP, some 75 km from Delhi. Although he didnt know it at that time, Ali had chanced upon an ancient burial ground of the late Harappan period, believed to be more than 4,000 years old. Matters would have rested there had not a local youth, Tahir Hussain, informed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) about it. Since August last year, ASIs excavations have been going on in full swing. Dharamvir Sharma, superintending archaeologist, ASI, says, The findings here are very important and have the potential to change the way we look at the history of Asia. Sinaulis find is unique because this is the first Harappan burial site to be found in UP. More importantly, its the first Harappan site where two antenna swords were found buried next to the skeletons. These were of the copper hoard culture, which has been a cause of debate among historians. These findings might just prove that the copper hoard was associated with the late Harappans, says Sharma. The excavations have already yielded a rich haul. Almost 126 skeletons have been recovered, which indicates that the mound was a fairly large habitation. While some are broken, others are remarkably well preserved. One of the first skeletons to be discovered was found wearing copper bracelets on both hands. Some distance away, another was found buried along with an animal, presumably intended to be a sacrificial offering. Other finds include bead necklaces, copper spearheads, gold ornaments, and a few anthropomorphic figures which were typical of Harappan settlements. While these are all relative evidence of the late Harappan period, believed to be around 2000 BC, carbon dating of the skeletons would put a firm date on it. Sinaulis findings might also prove that the Harappans were a part of the Vedic culture and followed prescribed Vedic practices. Sharma says, All the skeletons have been found lying in the North-South direction, as prescribed by the Rig Veda. Near their heads have been found pots, which probably contained grains, ghee, curd and somarasa as an offering to Yama, the God of Death. This was in accordance with ancient Vedic burial practices, mentioned in the Shatpath Brahman. However, not all historians agree with this view. They feel it is too early to jump to conclusions without carbon dating being done. The Early Harappan 4,000 BC to 3,000 BC From the humble, but rapidly advancing beginning of the Mehgarh, came the eventual arrival of the early Harappan. The early Harappan evidenced very densely packed villages and village centers, all with extensive irrigation systems, and much the same subsistence pattern as the Mehgarh. The early Harappan people planted a wide variety of crops, including barley, and wheat, and did so according to the predictable cycles of the Indus River. The farmers of the Indus would plant their crops as the floods receded between June and September, and by early Spring harvested them. The result of the Harappan civilizations emphasis on agriculture and irrigation lead to a plethora of irrigation systems around which human settlements were built. The settlements along the river were susceptible to periods of violent flooding. In such cases, stone walls were erected as flood barriers. Ironically, these flood barriers eventually became the city walls of some settlements. The Harappan 2,500 BC. to 2,050 BC From the Early Harappan arose such settlements as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, as well as numerous other settlements which spanned roughly 1,000,000 miles of the Indus Valley. The culture of the classical Harappan era surrounded the rivers of the Indus valley and was greatly dependent upon the valley and trade for its subsistence. Indicative of all Harappan sites are the fire mud brick houses and the net-like city plans that took generations to evolve.3 The Indus Valley Civilization The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the worlds first great urban civilizations. It flourished in the vast river plains and adjacent regions in what are now Pakistan and western India. The earliest cities became integrated into an extensive urban culture around 4,600 years ago and continued to dominate the region for at least 700 years, from 2600 to 1900 BCE It was only in the 1920s that the buried cities and villages of the Indus valley were recognized by archaeologists as representing an undiscovered civilization. Modern satellite images and field surveys indicate that the once mighty Saraswati River appears to have changed its course several times and became completely dry in approximately 1900 BCE. Some experts believe that the phonetically close affinities between the Deva Bhasha Sanskrit and several European languages may be due to natural calamities that may have caused the Indus Valley people to migrate out of India. The Mohehjodaro in Sind was discovered in 1922 and Harappa in West Punjab a few years later. Although the two sites were about 600 km apart, these two civilisations covering an area in excess of a million square kilometers, were considered as one Indus civilisation in view of the similarity of the objects discovered in the ruins. A comparison of the archaeological remains of Indus Valley with the Vedic civilisation can be made from the Vedic hymns. These reveal almost one hundred per cent similarities between the two civilisations in food habits, animal rearing, cotton weaving, personal cleanliness, use of metals for weapons and ornaments, method of worship, practice of Yoga, cremation of dead, belief in immortality of soul and after-life etc. Indian Trade and Maritime Sea Routes India, situated at the central point of the ocean that washes its coasts on three sides, appeared destined for a maritime future. The majority of Western scholars have underestimated Indias achievement with regard to commerce, shipbuilding, navigation, and sea travel. The Indian world stretched far beyond its borders, and it must be noted, that India had no policy of violent conquest to spread her influence. The antiquity of these voyages are most remarkable; regarding Indias Western trade routes:- there is archaeological and historical evidence to show that as early as the 8th century BCE, there existed regular trade relations, both by land and sea, between India on the one hand and Mesopotamia, Arabia, Phoenicia, and Egypt on the other. The Eastern routes, which are the most pertinent to this study, can be traced back to the 7th century BCE using Chinese literary texts, which refer to their maritime trade activity. The fact that this information is recorded and documented by non-Indian races, having nothing to gain by stating these ancient links, must lend substantial weight to the claims of Indian scholars and historians. The evidence may support many claims made by Hindus about the advanced culture that existed in Indias ancient past. However, it is inconceivable that the Chinese, Egyptians, Romans etc wrote these articles to enhance or raise the status of what would have been a foreign power and alien religion. We can confidently conclude that there was a time in the ancient past, when Indians were masters of the sea borne trade of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They built ships, navigated the sea, and held in their hands all the threads of international commerce, whether carried overland or sea. Sanskrit literature is replete with tales of merchants, traders, and men engrossed in commercial pursuits. Manu Smriti, the oldest law book in the world, lays down laws to govern commercial disputes having references to sea borne traffic as well as inland and overland commerce. Lord Elphinstone has written, The Hindus navigated the ocean as early as the age of Manus Code because we read in it of men well acquainted with sea voyages. Noted historian, R. C. Majumdar, observed: The Indian colonies in the Far East must ever remain as the high watermark of maritime and colonial enterprise of the ancient Indians. It has been proved beyond doubt that the Indians of the past were not, stay-at-home people, but w ent out of their country for exploration, trade, and colonization. For some of the oldest information we have to look in the ancient Rig Veda. One passage speaks of merchants going everywhere and frequenting every part of the sea for gain (L. 56.2) and another (I. 25.7) represents Varuna having a full knowledge of the sea routes. The Ramayana (translation in the English language by T.H. Griffith), refers to the Yavan Dvipa and Suvarna Dvipa (Java and Sumatra)* and to the Lohta Sayara or the Red Sea. The drama Sakuntala Ratnavali of King Harsha Sisupalvadha of Magha, relates stories of sea voyages of merchants and others. Ancient Indian books the Kathasagara, the Jatakas and others refer to these wondrous regions that set the imagination of civilized Indians on fire, to Suvarnabhumi, the fabulous Land of Gold. Overall, the Indian influence on Southeast Asia proceeded peacefully. Local chiefs and petty chieftains were admitted into the caste structure as Ksatriyas through a ritual known as vratyastoma, performed by an Indian Brahmin. The Brahmin pri ests would, no doubt, have found it a relatively simple matter in persuading a local ruler to elevate his status and standing among his people. Professor A. L. Basham, who reduced India along with her culture to a wonder-land in his book Wonder That Was India has observed that: certain over-enthusiastic Indian scholars have perhaps made too much of the achievements of ancient Indian seafarers, which cannot compare with those of the Vikings or of some others early maritime peoples. Is this comment a fair assessment of the facts? What was the Viking achievement? It is clear that the Vikings, during the period 800 to 1200 BCE, migrated to all the corners of Europe. They did not do this peacefully, and had no lasting cultural influence on the people they came into contact with. On the contrary, they lost their identity when settling under the influence of the superior cultures of the lands they visited.In comparison to this, both from the qualitative and quantitative viewpoints, what was the Indian achievement? With regard to their contact with Southeast Asia Professor D. P. Singhal remarks, Indians came into contact with the countries of Southeast Asia principally for commercial reasons. Wherever they settled, they introduced their culture and civilization. In turn, they were influenced by the indigenous culture, laying thus the foundation of a new culture in the region. Indian cultural contact with Southeast Asia covers a period of more than thirteen hundred years, and segments of Indian culture even reached eastwards of this region. 1 Sir Aurel Stein (1862-1943) a Hungarian and author of several books including Ra`jatarangini: a chronicle of the kings of Kashmir and Innermost Asia.The vast extent of Indian cultural influences, from Central Asia in the North to tropical Indonesia in the South, and from the Borderlands of Persia to China and Japan, has shown that ancient India was a radiating center of a civilization, which by its religious thought, its art and literature, was destined to leave its deep mark on the races wholly diverse and scattered over the greater part of Asia. 2 Indians of old were keenly alive to the expansion of dominions, acquisition of wealth, and the development of trade, industry, and commerce. The material prosperity they gained in these various ways was reflected in the luxury and elegance that characterized their society. Some find allusion in the Old Testament, to Indian trade with the Syrian coast as far back as 1400 BCE, and we have noted the archaeological evidence shows Chinese links from the 8th century BCE. Recent excavations in the Philippines, Malay Peninsula, and Indonesia confirm early and extensive trade, which continued down to the historical period. This naval network enabled Indians to explore and colonize the islands in the Indian Archipelago. Shortly after, there grew up a regular traffic between India and China, both by land and sea. India also came in close contact with the Hellenic world. We learn from ancient authority that in the processions of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.) were to be found Indian women, Indian hunting dogs, Indian cows, also Indian spices carried on camels, and that the vessels of the ruler of Egypt had a saloon lined with Indian precious stones. Everything indicates that there was a large volume of sea-trade between India and the western countries as far as African coast. From the coast the goods were carried by land to the Nile, and then down the river to Alexandria which was a great emporium in those days. There was a mercantile colony of Indians in an island off the African coast in the first century CE. The adventurous spirit of the Indians carried them even as far as the North Sea, while their caravans traveled from one end of Asia to the other.3 On journeys by sea, there were jalaniryamakas guides who could predict the behavior of waters. In the sea-coast town of Shurparak, there was an arrangement to train persons with the help of the Niryamak Sutras. According to these verses, those persons who traveled together in a ship were called sanyatrika. The Greater India with Islands Comparing the achievements of the Indians and the Chinese in Southeast Asia, T. V. Mahalingam observes. Though China also exercised a considerable influence over countries of Southeast Asia, Indian influence was more effective and durable for the Chinese always remained colonies of foreigners with little inclination to mix with the local population and in contrast to what the Hindus achieved, there is nowhere any trace of the taking-over of Chinese culture by the children of the soil. His views have been upheld by John F. Cady who concluded that: Indian cultural patterns in particular became widely disseminated during the early centuries CE, while Chinese influence, although culturally less contagious, virtually dominated from Sung times (960 and later) the trade and politics of the eastern seas.4 Amaury de Riencourt wrote: The brightest sun shining over Southeast Asia in the first centuries CE was Indian Civilization. Waves of Indian colonists, traders, soldiers, Brahmins and Buddhist beat upon one Southeast shore after another. Great military power based on superior technical knowledge, flourishing trade fostered by the remarkable increase in maritime exchanges between India and these areas, the vast cultural superiority of the Indians, everything conspired to heighten the impact of the Indian Civilization on the Southeast Asian. Passenger ships plied regularly between the Ganges, Ceylon and Malaya in the middle of the first millennium CE. Indian settlers from Gujarat and Kalinga colonized Java, for instance, while others set out for Burma, Siam and Cambodia. Old Indian books the Kathasagara, the Jatakas and others refer to these wondorous regions that set the imagination of civilized Indians on fire, to Suvarnabhumi, the fabulous Land of Gold. On the whole, the Indianization of Southeast Asia proceeded peacefully. Local chiefs and petty chieftains were admitted into the caste structure as Ksatriyas through a ritual known as vratyastoma, performed by an Indian Brahmin. All over Southeast Asia tremendous ruins are strewn, testifying to the immense influence of Indian Civilization. 5 Ancient Indians knew Atlantic Ocean Buddhist Jataka stories wrote about large Indian ships carrying seven hundred people. In the Artha Sastra, Kautilya wrote about the Board of Shipping and the Commissioner of Ports who supervised sea traffic. The Harivamsa informs us that the first geographical survey of the world was performed during the period of Vaivasvata. The towns, villages and demarcation of agricultural land of that time were charted on maps. Brahmanda Purana provides the best and most detailed description of a world map drawn on a flat surface using an accurate scale. Padma Purana says that world maps were prepared and maintained in book fo

Summary of James Hiltons Goodbye, Mr. Chips Essay example -- Teachers

Summary of James Hilton's Goodbye, Mr. Chips James Hilton’s novel Goodbye, Mr. Chips is the story of an English schoolmaster who dedicated his entire adult life teaching young boys. He was a somewhat shy person. Nevertheless he was a competent school teacher, professional and attractive in many different ways. Although his first teaching experience was not successful, he was determined to become a good schoolmaster. After coming to Brookfield, he began to warm up to his students. But more important he brought discipline to his school which is the requirement for good teaching—something he did not achieve while teaching at Melbery. After teaching 25 years at Brookfield, Chips was still unmarried. Everyone thought that he would never get married because he had passed the usual marrying age. But, he did marry and it happened under unusual conditions. He went on a trip to the Lake district of England and there, he met his future wife, Katherine Bridges. During the trip, he was climbing a steep hill when he saw a woman from far waving at someone down below. The woman was standing on a dangerous-looking ledge and appeared to be asking for help. Chips thought that she needed to be rescued and proceeded to help her. Instead of helping her, he hurt his ankle, and in the end, she ended up helping Chips. Within weeks after their first meeting, they fell in love with each other and before the end of summer, they got married. Katherine deeply loved Chips and he loved her in return. Within a short time, the charming Katherine turned Mr. chips into an good-natured gentleman who was adored by his students. He was changed by the power of love. Chips became a kind, congenial, friendly individual to everyone—so much so that he became the most beloved teacher at Brookfield. Full of enthusiasm, young English schoolmaster Mr. Chipping came to teach at Brookfield in 1870. It was a time when dignity and a kindness of spirit still existed, and the dedicated new schoolmaster expressed these beliefs to his disorderly students. Nicknamed Mr. Chips, this gentle and caring man helped shape the lives of generation after generation of boys. He became a legend at Brookfield, as continuing as the institution itself. And sad but grateful faces told the story when the time came for the students at Brookfield to bid their final goodbye to Mr. Chips. This novel Goodbye, Mr... ...ool’s war dead; for everyone else they are just names, but for Chips, each name has a face attached. After the War the retireds, after 42 years teaching Roman History and Latin at Brookfield. Mr. Chips is the living personification of institutional memory. The classes of boys, the teachers and headmasters, even the subjects and teaching methods, come and go, but Chips has remained throughout. He â€Å"still had those ideas of dignity and generosity that a frantic world was forgetting.† He embodies the pre-War world and its values. In the very middle of an era that was witnessing an unregulated attack on all of the West’s institutions and values, Hilton created Mr. Chips, it represent the conservative ideal—providing a bridge of memory to all that is beautiful and good and decent in our past, just in case, in our zeal to create a perfect world, we forget the qualities and accomplishments which give us the pretty good world in which we live. This book is unabashedly sentimental. I appreciate the sensitivity non-political way in which they make the most important of political points: even as we move forward we must always preserve those things and ideas of value in our past.

The False Equality of Americans :: Economics Social History Essays

The False Equality of Americans In economic, social and political terms, equality is more of an idea than a reality for many people in America; the majority of money and power has been in the control of White men since colonial times. Ideologies like racism and sexism perpetuate the status quo by isolating under- privileged groups. Problems arise from divisions that are created between two under- privileged groups. For example, the cry for equality loses much of its power when it is fractured into several segmented cries. The book Outside the Magic Circle, addresses this issue. Organizations which successfully fought for equality, like the NCAPT, were destroyed by forces (such as anti communism) which essentially divide the groups’ members and the groups, themselves. Thus, any given group becomes ineffective. This book demonstrates that unity is the best way to fight for equality. The red scare was brought upon by men like Joseph McCarthy, who were eager to exploit people’s fear of Russia for personal benefit and power. Anyone who was associated with communism was highly scrutinized to be a Russian spy. Instead of fighting for the rights of the accused individuals, many social action groups ridded themselves of these very people. Durr realized that red baiting would destroy liberal groups which were fighting for justice. The NCAPT refused to dismiss people who were believed to be communist, but other groups were driven by fear and fired large numbers of people. â€Å"Everybody began to purge. The NAACP purged, the unions purged, everybody purged† (191). Instead of fighting stereotypes many groups fell prey to them, and in doing so lost their ability to challenge the status quo. Therefore â€Å"the whole liberal movement of the United States died...(because) it became exclusively anti communistic† (186). Equally effective at seperating people as anti-communism was the upper class which manipulated and abused the lower class for profit. â€Å"Every Southern state, every chamber of commerce, and every corporation thought the way to make the South prosperous was cheap labor† (179). Thus, members of the Southern upper class employed methods to keep people in lower classes. â€Å"The Southern oligarchy was ruining all the unions by keeping them from organizing† (156). At a time when labor unions were beginning to cross racial lines, the manner in which their empowering rise was quelled made alleviated race relations impossible. The False Equality of Americans :: Economics Social History Essays The False Equality of Americans In economic, social and political terms, equality is more of an idea than a reality for many people in America; the majority of money and power has been in the control of White men since colonial times. Ideologies like racism and sexism perpetuate the status quo by isolating under- privileged groups. Problems arise from divisions that are created between two under- privileged groups. For example, the cry for equality loses much of its power when it is fractured into several segmented cries. The book Outside the Magic Circle, addresses this issue. Organizations which successfully fought for equality, like the NCAPT, were destroyed by forces (such as anti communism) which essentially divide the groups’ members and the groups, themselves. Thus, any given group becomes ineffective. This book demonstrates that unity is the best way to fight for equality. The red scare was brought upon by men like Joseph McCarthy, who were eager to exploit people’s fear of Russia for personal benefit and power. Anyone who was associated with communism was highly scrutinized to be a Russian spy. Instead of fighting for the rights of the accused individuals, many social action groups ridded themselves of these very people. Durr realized that red baiting would destroy liberal groups which were fighting for justice. The NCAPT refused to dismiss people who were believed to be communist, but other groups were driven by fear and fired large numbers of people. â€Å"Everybody began to purge. The NAACP purged, the unions purged, everybody purged† (191). Instead of fighting stereotypes many groups fell prey to them, and in doing so lost their ability to challenge the status quo. Therefore â€Å"the whole liberal movement of the United States died...(because) it became exclusively anti communistic† (186). Equally effective at seperating people as anti-communism was the upper class which manipulated and abused the lower class for profit. â€Å"Every Southern state, every chamber of commerce, and every corporation thought the way to make the South prosperous was cheap labor† (179). Thus, members of the Southern upper class employed methods to keep people in lower classes. â€Å"The Southern oligarchy was ruining all the unions by keeping them from organizing† (156). At a time when labor unions were beginning to cross racial lines, the manner in which their empowering rise was quelled made alleviated race relations impossible.