Sugar Cane Alley Essay Example

Sugar Cane Alley Essay Sugar Cane Alley, originally Rue Cases Negres, was an adaptation of Joseph Zobel’s novel with the same title.   The film was directed by Euzhan Palcy, whom was born and brought up on the archaic island of Martinique in the French West Indies like Zobel.   The film depicts the teenage life and endeavors of a boy named Jose who lives in a rundown-town of Martinique in the mid-1930s, giving viewers a sense of appreciation for what they have.   Jose lives with his grandmother and is well-acquainted with the French colonial presence, but they are far away from his world and life of dearth (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002).   He causes ruckus and learns important life morals from an aged, former slave.   Despite his neuroses, Jose’s meticulousness with his studies eventually pays off.   What is more, Sugar Cane Alley toddles through issues relating to society, politics, and economy.   Thus, gaining director Euzhan Palcy the 1983 Cesar â€Å"Best First Film†. Plot Jose lives in the sugar cane fields of Martinique in the mid-1930s.   From a seemingly normal life, according to what he knows, his world takes quite a turn when he wins a scholarship to attend high school in the capital, Port-de-France.   His life becomes one of many valuable lessons.   Firstly, he learns about the complexity of racial dealings through his friendship with a half black and white boy, the illegitimate son of the Creole plantation owner.   Secondly, he learns about misuse of power when he is confronted with a female neighbor that offers him a meal in exchange for servant work, resulting in late attendance for his class.   Thirdly, he rebels against his stuck-up professor by running away from school to throw rocks at her treasured dishes. (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002).   Lastly, he learns about the African roots of his culture from his guru, who lives in the same village, Medouze. We will write a custom essay sample on Sugar Cane Alley specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sugar Cane Alley specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sugar Cane Alley specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Harsh realities begin due to the fact that Jose’s scholarship is merely partial and his grandmother is forced to drag her tired, old body from door to door in the rich sectors of town as a laundress.   So it is not enough that he already requires himself to make a great effort to meet the deadlines and orders of his teacher, but he also comes to realize where he falls in the class divide.   Of course, this is something completely new to him as he had come from a hometown of equal footing.   Plus, Jose comes face to face with racial and colonial aspects of his life.   The racial element comes into play during his â€Å"moment of glory†, when his teacher reads his essay aloud to his class.   His essay is a representation of a paean to the lives of poverty-stricken African Americans, inspired by the ancient tales of slavery told to him by Medouze.   Medouze had told Jose about a time when he was young boy just like him wherein the blacks emerged from the hills to invade St. Pierre.   With them, they had in tow various weaponry like sticks, machetes, guns, and torches.   According to Medouze, they were ready to attack and burn all the homes and rather than rebelling, the whites remained in their abundant homes out of fear and simply waited to die.   Upon this occurrence, Medouze claimed that t was the end of slavery. (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002).  Ã‚   Though the teacher accuses him of plagiarism, which causes him to take off, it develops into a turning point for Jose.   Moreover, it is truly marked as a milestone as his teacher later decides to follow him home to express his change of opinion and to congratulate him.   Finally, Jose is commenced with a future that can answer questions about his roots, even as his grandmother passes away. Cinematic Style The film has high quality production, in spite of a humble budget.   Palcy’s direction is executed with illusory elegance.   It contentedly unifies psychology and realism in which conventional fiction works are made. The use of unknown child actors is key in this film and is not only exceptionally successful on the children’s part, but also on the part of Palcy’s directing (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002). Through the length of the film, Palcy utilized cinematic juxtaposition in depicting the power struggle, oppositional class forces in society to produce sense out of conflict (Review of Sugar Cane Alley, 1997).   In doing this, the film followed an expansive subject of existence as clashing components that would integrate the structure of the mosaic.   The scenes would continuously change from night to day and vice versa, as if diffusing extreme opposite poles.  Ã‚   To elaborate, there were actually two specific scenes that stood dominant towards one another.   First, there was the funeral scene, wherein the characters have made a fire and they are engrossed in shadows, as opposed to the second and following scene that is set in water and uses bright sunlight (Review of Sugar Cane Alley, 1997).   Thus, Palcy shrewdly illustrated contradictory elements of dark vs. light, fire, vs. water. The film retains the psychological experience of the teenage boy hero as a focal point, but quantifies each scene with illuminating and contextualizing material. It conveys important meaning without lessening the tale to the same (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002).   There is deep sense involved, but the picture is enlightened, so to speak. Indeed, Sugar Cane Alley is a case of paying attention to meticulous detail. Socio-Economic Relationship Palcy’s film ends by emphasizing how the basic economic connection in which black labor produces proceeds for white owners stayed the same after liberation.   The same is apparent through Jose, his grandmother, and Medouze’s storytelling.   First, Jose must adapt to French ways as a source of socio-economic mobility.   Secondly, his grandmother is forced to do laundry for privileged, white folks just to get by and to uphold his education.   Lastly, it seems that Medouze’s primary function is to open senses to perception that defies the hardcore truths in history, regardless of acknowledgement of the roles of black resistance to slavery Racial-Political Issues Racial and class issues are directly confronted in the film through Palcy’s character, Leopald.   This character exemplifies the socio-political position played by the â€Å"mulatto† or bi-racial personality in Martinican society.   Furthermore, he is the child of a white Frenchman and his black mistress.   Leopold’s ego is badly bruised when he overhears his father on his deathbed stating that he will not pass his French family name, de Thorail, to his son. (Literature Film Quarterly, 2002).   For his father, his name is too above a bastard child, even he is his own.   By collaborating the elements of race and society into a lucid character and subplot, the director is able to develop an equally important story.   Leopold demonstrates the fusion but troubled nature of Caribbean identity and there is a direct relationship between his political consciousness and his white father’s rejection.   Hence, this crack in power is definitely meant to expose the politics and fundamental biases against African cultural heritage. Discussion The familial, social, political and economical issues in Euzhan Palcy’s Sugar Cane Alley are probed through her characters.   Not only does Palcy utilize the likes of her protagonist, Jose, but also through her sub-characters and her sub-plots who serve as important influences to Jose.   Moreover, all of his lessons are taken through his encounters with each sub-character.   He learns about racial relations and the history of slavery through Medouze, while learning a different aspect of race, society and politics through Leopold who also involves family hardship.   Through his own family or primary caretaker, his grandmother, he comes to realize the space between where he came from and what he must be in order to advance.   Palcy’s use of authentic actors and eye-catching footage that demonstrate conflicting elements of earthly life fuse reality with something coherent in a very suitable manner.   To conclude, the film and all its entities are of great value and open viewer’s eyes to important issues without preaching.

Describe That Possible Signs, Symptoms, Indicators and Behaviours That May Cause Concern in the Context of Safeguarding. Essay Example

Describe That Possible Signs, Symptoms, Indicators and Behaviours That May Cause Concern in the Context of Safeguarding. Essay Example Describe That Possible Signs, Symptoms, Indicators and Behaviours That May Cause Concern in the Context of Safeguarding. Essay Describe That Possible Signs, Symptoms, Indicators and Behaviours That May Cause Concern in the Context of Safeguarding. Essay DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE An abused child is any child, up to the age of 18, who has suffered from, or is believed likely to be at risk of, physical injury, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or verbal abuse. (Source: www. yesican. org) It is recognised that that it is abuse when someone inflicts harm or fails to prevent it. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or by a stranger, for example, via the internet. Child abuse can have major long-term effects on all aspects of a childs health, development and well being. The main forms of ill-treatments are: )Physical Abuse Physical abuse is deliberately causing physical harm to a child. This might involve punching; kicking, biting, burning, scalding, shaking, throwing or beating with objects such as belts, whips, or sticks. It also includes poisoning, giving a child alcohol or illegal drugs, drowning or suffocation. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or care r fabricates the symptoms of illness in a child. 1. 1) Signs of Physical Abuse There are certain signs that need to be acknowledged when suspicion arises that physical abuse is occurring: Any injuries not consistent with the explanation given to school staff. Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to falls or rough games Injuries which have not received medical attention Reluctance to change for, or participate in PE or swimming Bruises, bites, burns and fractures, for example, which do not have an accidental explanation The child gives inconsistent accounts for the cause of injuries 1. 2) Possible effects of physical abuse Physical abuse can lead directly to neurological damage, physical injuries, disability and in extreme cases death. Physical abuse has been linked to aggressive behaviour in children, emotional and behavioural problems and learning difficulties. (Source: /www. secasa. co). 2) Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse is where repeated verbal threats, criticism, shouting, lack of love and affection causes a severe adverse effect on a childs emotional development. It consists of communicating to children that they are worthless, unloved, and inadequate or valued. Emotional abuse may include not giving a child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or making fun of what they say. It may feature inappropriate expectations being imposed on a child, over protection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child from taking part in normal social interaction. It may also involve seeing or hearing a person being ill-treated and you do not do anything to stop the abuse. With the development of the internet the so called cyber-bullying is another matter that has become prevalent over the past few years; which in turn causes children to frequently feel scared or in danger. 2. 2Signs of possible emotional abuse Depression, aggression, extreme anxiety, changes or regression in mood or behaviour, particularly where a child withdraws or becomes clingy Obsessions or phobias Sudden underachievement or lack of concentration Seeking adult attention and not mixing well with other children Sleep or speech disorders Negative statements about self Highly aggressive or cruel to others Extreme shyness or passivity Running away, stealing and lying 2. 3Possible e ffects of emotional abuse This type of abuse can lead to adverse long-term effects on the child’s development. Emotional abuse has a significant impact on a developing childs mental health, behaviour and self-esteem. This type of abuse is as important as the other three types, and can be detected as the signs are more visible and can be easily detected. Domestic violence, adult mental health problems and parental substance misuse may be features in families where children are exposed to such abuse. (Source: www. nspcc. org. uk) 3) Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This may involve physical contact including penetrative sex, oral sex, masturbation, kissing, rubbing, or touching outside of clothing, or it may involve non-contact activities such as involving children in watching sexual activities, producing or looking at sexual images, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Abusers can be men, women or other children. Between 21% and 36% of sexually abused children will display few or no symptoms (Source: Oates, OToole, Lynch, Stern Cooney, 1994). . 1) Signs of possible sexual abuse Any allegations made by a child concerning sexual abuse The child has an excessive preoccupation with sexual matters and inappropriate knowledge of adult sexual behaviour for their age, or regularly engages in sexual play inappropriate for their age Sexual activity through words, play or drawing Repeated urinary infections or unexplained stomach pains The child is sexua lly provocative or seductive with adults Inappropriate bed-sharing arrangements at home Severe sleep disturbances with fears, phobias, vivid dreams or nightmares which sometimes have overt or veiled sexual connotations Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. 3. 2)Possible effects of sexual abuse Behaviour such as self-harm, inappropriate sexual behaviour, sadness, depression and loss of self esteem has all been linked to sexual abuse. The effects of sexual abuse can affect the individual into their adult life. The extent or the severity of each case is determined by the time span of abuse, the more serious the abuse, the younger the child is and the relationship of the child to the abuser. Once sexual abuse has been identified the support of an adult who believes the child helps, starts to help the child understand the abuse and can therefore offer help and protection to the abused child. 4) Neglect Neglect has been described as the â€Å"most serious type of child maltreatment and the least understood† (Crittenden 1999: 67). It is the most common reason for inclusion on the child protection register in the UK. In the year ending 31st March 2006, 43 per cent of child protection registrations in England related to children considered to be at risk of neglect (Source: DfES, 2006) . Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic physical and or psychological needs, which is likely to affect the child’s health or development. Neglect is when a parent or carer fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment), medical care, or protection from physical and emotional harm or danger. Additionally failure to ensure access to education or to look after a child because the carer is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is considered as Neglect. 4. 1Signs of possible neglect Dirty skin, body smells, unwashed, uncombed hair and untreated lice Clothing that is dirty, too big or small, or inappropriate for weather conditions Frequently left unsupervised or alone Frequent diarrhoea Frequent tiredness Untreated illnesses, infected cuts or physical complaints which the carer does not respond to Frequently hungry Overeating junk food 4. 2Possible effects of neglect Neglect can seriously impair a childs health, phys ical and intellectual growth and development, and can cause long term difficulties with social functioning, relationships and educational progress. Extreme cases of neglect can cause death. (Source: nspcc. org. uk/Inform/research/briefings/childneglectpdf_wdf51503. pdf) 5) Bullying Bullying is also recognised as a type of abuse. Bullying is always distressing for the victim and can have serious consequences. Bullying should always be taken seriously. Emotional bullying is the most commonly reported by children and young people and is often more difficult to spot. Bullying can take place both inside and outside of the school. Bullying happens when an individual or a group show hostility towards an individual and this can be: Emotional, such as name-calling, ‘sending to Coventry’ (not talking to someone), taking or hiding personal items, humiliating, spreading rumours or teasing Physical, such as pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching or threatening to use physical force Racist, such as racial taunts or gestures Sexual, such as inappropriate physical contact, sexual comments and innuendo, or homophobic taunts. (Source: nspcc. org. uk) 6) Cyber-bullying In recent years, a new form of bullying known as ‘cyber-bullying’ has become increasingly common. Studies show that one in five children were cyber-bullied in 2008. Cyber-bullying may be emotional, racist or sexual forms of abuse. It happens through emails, text messages or telephone calls. Information about someone may also be shared by putting it on to social networking sites. This can include the sharing of private photographs. (Source: www. avg. com) Children and young people who use this method of bullying often feel disassociated from their actions, but the consequences can be just as serious for the child. This type of bullying can be particularly distressing as children are unable to get away from it, it even invades their home.

Analysis of Section 2-204 of the Uniform Contract Code Assignment

Analysis of Section 2-204 of the Uniform Contract Code - Assignment Example The offer has to be accepted and this acceptance has to be communicated to the other party. The acceptance has to be with respect to a particular consideration. Such consideration has to be in respect to the contract which is formed. The consideration is the purpose behind which every contract is formed. After the acceptance and the communication of the same, the contract starts to exist. Purpose and Function of Uniform Commercial Code: â€Å"The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a comprehensive code addressing most aspects of commercial law, is generally viewed as one of the most important developments in American law.† â€Å"This body of law, created by a private author, aimed to create a uniform scheme applicable to the sale of goods and commercial transactions. The UCC applies to the sales of goods and commercial transactions. The sales of goods involve the buying and selling of tangible items, such as boxes of a product. Commercial transactions include primarily banking tra nsactions and are considered debt instruments.† Understanding from the above notions with respect to the Uniform Commercial Code, we can ascertain that the Uniform Commercial Code governs and manages all the contracts formed within the different territories of the United States of America. The Uniform Commercial Code basically creates a uniform scheme and system for all the contracts which are formed in the United States of America. The Uniform Commercial Code, therefore, is a procedural and a substantive law which overlooks the affairs of all the contractual obligations taken forwards in the realm of the contract law in the United States of America. Contract of Sale: In order to understand the contract of sale, here is an example which shall help explain the infer functioning and the working of the contract for sale. Don, who is a shopkeeper, has an Apple showroom. He is running the Apple showroom in Oklahoma and manages all the Apple products.  Ã‚  

Assault Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assault - Essay Example 774). A sexual battery kit offers evidential value to prove that an assault has occurred; a medical professional can collect evidences of the assault through a head-to-toe exam. The examination takes into account the physical injuries of the victim and during the examination the physician can take the blood, urine, saliva, pubic hair combings, or nail samples so that they can be used as evidences in rape cases. However, it is imperative that the victim seeks sexual battery exam kit soon after the assault has taken place for better results. Another advantage of the sexual battery kit is that the victim can keep his/her rights intact and can ask for confidentiality if he/she wishes to do so. As such, the consent of the victim is a necessary prerequisite in the case of sexual assault examinations and the examination is often accompanied by follow up treatment whereby the victim gets alleviated of the mental and psychological trauma associated with the assault. There is no doubt that the sexual battery examination kit has been instrumental in bringing many of the perpetrators to the courts and the evidences obtained through the sexual assault examinations have been considered as valid evidences by the

What is European Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

What is European Security - Essay Example One of the most important difficulties when trying to develop effective security schemes has been the identification of the conditions under which these schemes will operate; another issue in regard to the above initiative is the understanding of the needs that these schemes will serve. Current paper focuses on the examination of the various aspects of European Security; it has been proved that the concept of security can refer to a variety of issues aiming to address different needs. These needs are identified in the literature presented in the sections that follow. It is revealed that the identification of the characteristics and the role of the European Security is related with the environment – mostly political and social – in which this concept is developed. In this context, European Security has been found to be related with specific factors, like the following ones: a) the practices adopted by other similar Frameworks, for example the US Security Framework, and organizations, like the NATO, b) the rules of international authorities, especially those referring to the defense of a state’s rights and existence, c) the political systems in countries across the European Union; these political systems can strongly affect the form and the eleme nts of the European Security Framework at the level that the rules included in this framework may not be fully accepted by a specific member state and d) the cultural and other conflicts that are developed in European Union; usually, these conflicts are expected to be handled using the rules included in the European Security Framework; however, in many cases the above Framework has been ignored – referring especially to the cases that US or NATO military forces has entered a country in Europe aiming to define the terms under which the regional conflicts will be ended. The above fact, which is strongly emphasized in the literature, indicates the failure of the European Security

Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development

Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development Lev Vygotsky views collaboration with peers as an effective way of development. He suggests that more cooperative learning activities should be used in the classroom in which less capable students develop with assistance and support from more knowledgeable peers, within their zone of proximal development. In other words, according to Vygotsky, the task becomes â€Å"internalised through actual relations between† the students (Vygotsky, 1978:57) and successfully performed. In one of my English Literature lessons, I taught a group of Y11 second language learners how to answer and analyse a question using PEER (Point – Evidence –Explain – Reflect) technique. The students were revising exam-type questions and had to be ready for analysis. I started with a demonstration activity from the novel I am the King of the Castle. With some leading questions, I started analysing the point, involving the students in finding evidence, linkers, explanation, etc. As soon as the students were assigned with an individual task, the majority of them (7 out of 10) were able to perform with no challenges due to their prior knowledge and vocabulary. On the other hand, the ‘ripe’ students were not able to follow the critical task unaided. Therefore, they were paired with more able students to practise analysis, finding evidence, explaining and evaluating. The less able students were doing it correctly till the point when more criticality needed. With a little aid from a more competent peer, they developed conceptual learning. In future lessons, given a similar task, students will be able to perform with more confidence; and once it is internalised, scaffolding might be removed. I think as a conceptual tool for teachers the ZPD is very helpful in developing a curriculum which will challenge students’ learning and enable them to enquire; it also helps teachers in effective grouping of students where less able students can achieve with some guidance and support from more competent students. Finally, the ZPD might be helpful in assessing students’ abilities in order to decide their year group distribution. ===================================================================================== In this specific lesson, I managed scaffolding the group of Y11 second language students to write effectively. My main objective was how to write interesting, imaginative and thoughtful texts, using appropriate and effective vocabulary. (The lesson objectives were taken from the Writing Assessment Foci (AF1/AF7) of the National Curriculum.) Due to the different ability level of students, I demonstrated all the instructional options summarised by Wood, (1988). In the video clip, David Wood explained evidently the difference between contingent teaching and scaffolding, highlighting that scaffolding is â€Å"a functional analysis of the kinds of activities that a teacher might undertake to simplify the students’ learning; whereas contingency is about interaction, process, it’s how teachers go about of supporting a particular individual when they are setting out to learn.† Therefore, I involved all the five instructional options as aspects of scaffolding. I introduced the lesson objectives and outcomes of writing effectively, and assigned the students to write a one line description of a man who is smiling coldly. My verbal instruction was to look at their partner’s work and compare their responses, ensuring that the sentences matched the assessment foci. The more competent students performed very well because of their pre-existing knowledge of literary devices, sentence structure, effective vocabulary, and the ability to look at the context, whilst the less capable students used very simple and uncomplicated sentences. At this point, I provided some prompt by asking them to write a one line description of a man who is smiling coldly, using the word ARCTIC. This time, the students also worked individually and upon their task completion, I asked them to compare their responses with the model sentence on the board: â€Å"Mr. Fisher had a smile of arctic brightness.† While working as a class and comparing their sentences, t he students then had to consider how the description worked there, what literary devices were used to make the sentence more effective. Obviously, a few of the students with less competence could construct a sentence with the word ‘arctic’ because they did not know what it meant. I then provided a thesaurus support, asking them to first look up the word and then, using some other techniques of personification or imagery and careful sentence structure to construct a sentence, which meets the objectives of the lesson. The students still struggled with the use of a simile, metaphor, etc.; therefore, a group of more knowledgeable students was swapped to provide support to those less competent peers by sharing their examples, reinforcing the use of literary devices, using effective vocabulary and correct structure. With the additional support, the students came up with a variety of sentences. They were also provided with a checklist of expected skills they needed to accomplish the task. This was done as a class work, thoroughly read and explained. In Wood’s terminology, this was a stage where I demonst rated contingent teaching with the features of interactive instruction. I indicated the material and prepared them for the assembly. The rest of the lesson was spent in focus on exploring the necessary skills in writing; and the students were assigned with a final task of writing a character description using one of their carefully crafted sentences as a starting point. To sum up, I should put together Wood’s theory of scaffolding: General Verbal Prompt (GVP) was given throughout the lesson to give instruction and introduce the topic, etc. Special Verbal Instruction (SVI) was given as well when the students had to construct their own sentences and compare them either with their partners or with the model. Even though this work was done individually, the students still could do this unaided, due to their pre-existing knowledge. Indicating Material (IM) was the next step when I suggested the use of a dictionary, constantly reminded the students of the AFs, objectives of the lesson, and provided the assistance of more competent students to help to successfully accomplish the task. To prepare for the assembly of the final writing piece using literary devices, appropriate and effective vocabulary, and an effectively written text, the students were distributed a checklist and framework of expected skills explored during the lesson. A demonstration (DEM) of how to write imaginary and thoughtful sentences using an effective word choice was also used throughout the lesson by sharing model sentences with all the students to facilitate their work and understanding. Throughout the lesson, there was a varied level of teacher interaction supporting the students to ‘internalise’ the knowledge and complete the task successfully, at which point, the teacher should have not intervene. The following lesson aimed at peer marking and spotting mistakes and the discussion of the skills acquired during the previous lesson. ===================================================================================== Child-centred learning has been advocated by several educationalists and psychologists for many years. Its basic emphasis is children’s individual interests and needs in education, which may vary in terms of development rates and the nature of the teacher’s control. The term ‘child-centeredness’ is related to children’s individual needs and decisions about the curriculum and the teacher’s role in the classroom. However, since child development theories vary, child-centred learning also varies in a classroom. Pioneers in child development theory, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygostsky, observe considerable differences between cognitive and social constructivist theories assigned to each individual child and the social context of play in their development. They both support the idea of knowledge construction by individuals. However, Piaget believes that knowledge is a product of the individual and the environment. Vygostky, on the other hand, advocates the idea that knowledge is constructed due to social interaction and then internalised by guidance. Piaget and Vygostky differently promote the relationship between learning and development: Piaget believes that development follows learning, whilst Vygotsky shows that learning leads to development and plays a vital role in it. He states that â€Å"†¦the only ‘good learning’ is that which is in advance of development† (Vygotsky, Mind in Society and the ZPD, 2002:113). Both theorists emphasise, though, that peer interaction and cooperation promote children’s learning. Since Piaget’s and Vygostky’s child-centred approaches vary greatly, their implication in a classroom varies as well. Piaget’s approach relies on the liberty of children and appropriate environment for learning, where children learn by exploring things by themselves. Those with Vygotsky’s approach, provide a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated classroom, where teachers provide assistance to ensure that the children are able to attain a higher l evel within their ZPD. Other theorists, John Dewey and Maria Montessori, have also played a significant role in child-centred learning theory development. Despite the similarities in their belief that some guidance is important for children to help them develop their intelligence, they both have different perspectives about the role of children’s freedom in education and the teacher’s role in the classroom. Dewey believes that democratic schooling is based on child-centeredness where learning means experiencing. Being a progressivist, he believes in the development of the ability in children to function well in the larger democratic society and attain personal fulfilment. Dewey emphasises that the construction of children’s freedom of intelligence via observation is more important than their freedom of will. Therefore, he summons up the teachers to act as a representative of the children’s interests as a whole. They should create self-control in children, which will assist the t eacher to understand the aim of education. Montessori, by contrast, sees teachers’ authority in the support they give to the children rather than in their â€Å"dignity†. She believes that orderly environment and appropriate materials will promote children’s development. Teachers, therefore, should prepare motives and inspire children to develop without any direct instruction. I think the combination of all four theories is beneficial for my understanding of child-centeredness in education and in conceptualised classroom situations. Piaget’s cognitive constructivist theory helps me understand when children have freedom to explore and construct knowledge, they make choice and experience. Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory can help me understand children’s ability to develop with adult guidance to attain their ZPD. Dewey’s understanding of children’s freedom of intelligence to promote learning will assist me how to nurture this with guidance for each individual’s constant growth. Finally, Montessori’s support of each child’s potential to have inner drive to learn, will help me remove all the obstacles that impede learning. ===================================================================================== Nowadays, Early Years Education (EYE) has a mixture of their foundation in the work of Montessori and her critics W. Kilpatrick and J. Dewey. A confident Early Year practitioner should be aware of the ways how children learn and develop; support them in solving problems and making decisions; and provide them with practice and roles to enhance learning. The Montessori method has been partially embraced by the International Community School in Amman, Jordan, where I am currently working. Some of the pedagogic principles, however, have not been accepted by the school administration due to their understanding of the method as â€Å"purely academic, mechanistic and rigid†. Below, I will demonstrate the aspects which are currently practised in the school, and which I, a Secondary Teacher, have observed as part of my EC in Lower Primary. One aspect of â€Å"good practice† in Foundation Stage of the school is that the teachers utilise activities in â€Å"sensory rich† environment. The students are guided and supported to learn to interact and thus develop independent learning. In this environment, the children choose their activities and learn by doing. Montessori believes that training senses is fundamental and that it will promote the basis for the development of imagination. According to her, intellect should be developed early, through stimulation of senses, as a basis for the development of imagination and social relationships (Montessori, 1964). The FS teachers do apply this aspect of learning because they find it fruitful: students become prepared for KS1 as â€Å"self-directed†, independent students, who are able to perform and master inter-connected and challenging tasks. On the other hand, W. Kilpatrick argues in his book The Montessori Method Examined (1914), that imagination and social relations should be developed before the intellect because the premature development of the intellect can stifle creativity. Kilpatrick believes in the opposite that providing children with â€Å"socially conditioned environment† will create a spontaneous unity of groups to work out their tasks. This suggests that children will develop their imagination and social relationship by â€Å"cooperating† with each other. The FS teachers apply this aspect of learning in their classroom as well, believing that only through their [teachers’] â€Å"consideration† and â€Å"suggestion† (p.20) can the students cooperate socially and learn effectively. Another aspect of â€Å"good practice† utilised by the FS teachers is the child’s liberty. Montessori believes that students’ free choice and freedom on the â€Å"educational playground† can be advantageous and can promote their free self-expression. This is practised in my school with caution, however. The teachers as well as Kilpatrick believe that too much liberty will not lead to â€Å"right conduct† (p.23). He emphasises that â€Å"†¦in the effort to suppress†¦ impulses, a certain amount of positive pain association (â€Å"punishment†) will prove necessary†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.24). Thus, having acquired a positive self-expression with the guidance and support of the teacher, the child develops self-discipline and â€Å"proper conduct† (p.24). Finally, one more aspect of â€Å"good practice† applied in FS of my school is that the students exercise â€Å"practical life† in their classroom. Activities like cooking, cleaning, serving, setting tables, washing hands, constructing, etc. become so intrinsically meaningful that the students develop their potential to perform these tasks with interest and concentration. Utilising this approach, teachers create the Montessori model which is â€Å"the school should fit the needs of the students.† This means that the Montessori curriculum is based on the students spending a lot of time taking part in different sessions of uninterrupted activities, which last several hours. These activities contain a variety of independent and group-solving tasks related to different subjects: maths, science, music, geography, etc. Here, Kilpatrick agrees with Montessori that â€Å"schools should function more definitely as a social institution, adapting itself to its own environm ent, utilising more fully actual-life situation† (p.41). In contrast to a Montessori classroom, the FS classrooms are NOT mixed age, but are counterparts. This is why the teachers mix the children according their abilities when less-able students are supported by more capable students. To conclude, our students are a combination of the Montessori Method and a modern democratic school, where the child’s day is a mixture of activities, starting from unstructured approach – where the students play and learn independently and ending with highly structured approach – where the tasks are teacher-directed and there is little play. Other activities are focused learning, when students are guided by the teacher and play and learn via experiential activities; and finally, the activities are child-initiated, when students interact sensibly and sensitively in a supportive and enabling environment. All these approaches are used by Early Year Foundation Stages (EYFS) in international schools in Amman. ===================================================================================== Freire’s views explicitly recognise the relationship between education and knowledge. He emphasises that liberal education would build on the knowledge resources and agency of learners: â€Å"Liberation education consists in acts of cognition, not transferals of information† (Freire, 2002:366). In Jordanian education system, however, â€Å"the raison d’etre of liberation education† lies in its didactic approach of teaching – the ‘banking’ concept of education – where teachers are ‘depositors’ and students are ‘depositories’. The system heavily relies on memorisation techniques, which is done for the academic performance. Students are required to learn from seven to ten subjects within the period of two years. At the end of the two-year, they sit for the end-of-year external examinations. The students’ learning styles involve a lot of writing and memorising; the classes are teacher-centred and in â€Å"transferals of information†; the content is massive and should be covered in a two-year period; and time constraints are obstacles to interactive lessons. Within this short time framework, students and teachers work hard to cover the content of learning, which is overwhelming. They display their â€Å"absolute ignorance† towards the â€Å"oppressed† situation and fail to respond to the â€Å"essence of consciousness†. They also fail to recognise cognition and thus, do not â€Å"establish an authentic form of thought and action.† (p.366) Problem-posing education would liberate Jordanian state school students if they were taught facts of the reasons and means of humans’ existence; if teachers regarded dialogue as a precondition to cognition; if students were taught how to think critically; if they built their understanding on creativity, etc. I believe the Jordanian education system would be one of the best if they accepted individuals as â€Å"historical beings† to clearly acknowledge their present, past and their willingness to †wisely build the future† (p.367).

Are Women Slaves to Fashion and Beauty? Essay -- Feminism Feminist Wom

Are Women Slaves to Beauty?      Ã‚   What does it take to feel beautiful? Perhaps a little bit of time, make-up, and a breathtaking dress; or at least that's what we have been programmed to believe.   Without a doubt, all of the magazines, advertisements, and make-up beauty tips have influenced women’s beliefs about what it means to be beautiful. An artificial image of beauty has been imposed on each and every woman in our culture.    I would like to begin with the fact that women have always been known to dedicate their time to beauty. Those who are devoted to their appearance most often believe that beauty brings power, popularity, and success. Women believe this, because they grow up reading magazines that picture beautiful women in successful environments; not to mention they are popular models and world famous individuals. Beautiful women are no longer just a priority for most advertising, but we have become a walking target for the working class employers. It is documented that better-looking attorneys earn more than others after five years of practice, which was an effect that grew with experience (Biddle, 172). We cannot overlook the fact that it is always the most popular and most beautiful girl who becomes homecoming-queen or prom-queen. While these are possible positive effects of the "beauty myth," the negative results of female devotion to beauty undercut this value. These effects are that it costs a lot of money, it costs a lot of time, and in the long run, it costs a lot of pain.    First, women spend huge amounts of money to improve their looks. So here we are unable to escape the reality that we can never be flawless or blemish free; moreover, as long as women have the belief that all greatness de... ...take pleasure in making yourselves up "is like telling you to stop enjoying food, sex, or love" (Newsweek vl127, 68). Just don't let it run your life, and stop feeling that beauty should be valued by what is seen on the outside. Now go out, buy your Prom dress, and do it for fun. Not for who or what you should be.    Works Cited Biddle, Jeff E & Hamermesh, David S. (1998). Beauty, Productivity, and Discrimination: Lawyers' Look and Lucre. Journal of Labor Economics, 16(30). 172. Morin, Carole. (1997). Dead Glamorous. UK: National Publishing Company. Malkin, Carole. (1990, February), True Colors-Make-Up That's Tailor-made for You. Working Woman, 104. Schmid, Wendy. (1994, August). Making Up. Vogue, 198. Lieberman, Rhonda. (1995, April). Guys and Dolls. Artform, 21. Springen, Karen. (1996, June). Eyes of the Beholders. Newsweek, 68.