The Main Provisions Of The 1944 Education Act And 1988...

The 20th century saw more changes to education than the thousand years preceding it. This was largely in response to a recently industrialised country; with newly acquired voting rights, it became apparent that education should not be only for elites. Education is a crucial element of social mobility and it is important we fully understand both the positive and negative aspects of previous legislation to help us plan for the future. The were two major 20th century pieces of legislation: 1944 Education Act and 1988 Education Reform Act. Both brought with them changes that are still being felt today. This essay will cover those Acts in detail, along with other sizable changes such as comprehensivisation, marketization and how other external†¦show more content†¦The ramifications of Butler’s failure to separate church and schooling and further pandering by all subsequent ministers can still be witnessed today. The church s influence on teaching on subjects evolution has forced the requirement of a law to ban creationism being taught (BHA, 2014). It has also come to light that many faith schools teach a very narrow worldview pertaining of just their own beliefs (NSS, 2015). Furthermore the school age was raised to 15 in 1947, with secondary education beginning at 11. Though the lack of funding and teaching costs meant this took a long time to fully implement as the act stated it should be raised to 16 as soon as feasibly possible but this did not happen until 1972. Other changes included free milk and meals, clothing grants as well as transport to and from schools. As families would normally expect children to be working by the age of 13-14 these measures ensured there was not too high a financial burden on parents. Giddard (2011) argues that although there were many problems with the 1944 Act its redeeming features were forward looking and progressive. Few debates in education have been given more time than grammar schools. Though not a part of the 1944 Act the tripartite system was based on a report by the Norward committee (1943); which made recommendations based on the pseudoscience notion of there being three types of mind:

The Methods And Activities Of Teaching Education Essay Free Essays

string(154) " the ICT working in the normal environment of an organisation before inquiring the pupils to organize sentiments on what the engineering may be used for\." Teaching method is the survey of the methods and activities of instruction ( Cambridge online lexicon ) . This Assignment will look at how we can associate teaching method in learning Applied ICT to a group of Year 11 pupils of assorted ability in a typical interior metropolis Secondary school, to the theories of larning which are the foundations of how we teach and learn. Based on what has been observed during a arrangement in the secondary school, and besides on farther reading it is hard to specify precisely what â€Å" larning † is, but for the intent of this assignment acquisition can be linked to alterations in behavior, apprehension, capableness and the cognition that is acquired by both instructors and students. We will write a custom essay sample on The Methods And Activities Of Teaching Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now In a simplistic position it can be said that there are many different theories of acquisition, but the two chief countries that underpin this in instruction are the humanistic attack, looking at what pupils â€Å" want to larn † , and the behavioral attack, concentrating on what â€Å" the instructor is desiring † the student to larn. It was noted that within the schoolroom and whilst on a school visit at that place seemed to be no important behavioral jobs within the group of students. Teaching Applied ICT gives the chance to travel out of the schoolroom environment and visit companies and administrations so that pupils are able to see ICT working in context within the workplace. Giving pupils this chance should assist them derive a broader cognition and apprehension of this topic, but taking pupils out of a schoolroom environment can make alterations in the behavior of pupils, and it is besides of import that the capableness of all the pupils is challenged. The Humanistic position to acquisition is that of ‘natural desire ‘ , where acquisition is student lead and personalized, and the function of the instructor is thought of as more of a facilitator. One of the cardinal premises of this humanistic position harmonizing to Huitt ( 2001 ) is the fact that people act deliberately and with values. Humanists believe that you should look at the person as a whole, and that it is of import to see how an person learns throughout their life as they grow and develop. Smith ( 1999 ) discusses the basic concern for the human potency of growing. It was noted that in some instances in the schoolroom environment pupils are non needfully come ining the schoolroom with the purpose of larning. As pupils have chiefly decided on taking to larn and prosecute in the subject of ICT within the 14-19 course of study, this suggests that at some phase the pupils did hold a natural desire to take up the topic in order to prosecute in the acquisition and hopefully come on onto makings. The possibility is that the existent desire of pupils on a twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours degree may be greatly different to the desire that they have to larn over a longer period of clip. Abraham Maslow ‘s Hierarchy of demands argues that people aim to run into basic demands first, and so they seek to run into in turn higher demands in the signifier of a hierarchy until they reach self-actualization, or self fulfillment. Behavior and acquisition is motivated by an persons desire for personal growing an the demand to go all the things that a individual is capable of going ( Maslow,1970 ) . Although non straight linked to the instruction of ICT within the schoolroom it is really important that pupils are likely to hold other demands other than that of larning in order to accomplish their true potency. I have noted on several occasions that pupils have non been concentrating during the beginning of lessons, even when the starting motor exercising has been accessed by the bulk of pupils. When these pupils were questioned, particularly during forenoon periods, the reply given was that they could non concentrate and they were hungry, which coincides with the lowest degree on the hierarchy. Maslow foremost introduced his construct of hierarchy in 1943 in his paper â€Å" A Theory of Human Motivation † , which was closely followed by his book â€Å" Motivation and Personality † . There are many facets of this theory that can be linked to the person ‘s motive either within the parturiencies of a lesson, or over a period of clip. These hierarchies are closely linked to the construct of ECM which is now high on the authorities ‘s docket for schools. There is nevertheless a few exclusions that often occur within this theoretical account, such as persons when questioned did experience safe and secure in the schoolroom environment even when they have non had breakfast. In the theoretical account it is merely possible to seek the safety of a secure environment when the physiological demands are met, hence another issue with this theoretical account is that there are no clip limits set. An person could perchance drop to the underside of the hierarchy within a lesson if a student has forgotten a jammed tiffin or their dinner money. They may get down to merely believe of where they are traveling to acquire their following repast. Closely linked with the humanistic attack theoretician David A. Kolb suggests â€Å" acquisition is the procedure whereby cognition is created through the transmutation of experience † Kolb, ( 1984, p. 38 ) . The theory consists of a rhythm which is in four phases, where you are able to get down at any one phase, but so each phase must follow in sequence: â€Å" Make † or Concrete experience â€Å" OBSERVE † or Brooding observation â€Å" Think † or Abstract conceptualisation â€Å" Plan † or Active experimentation Along with the larning rhythm Kolb besides offers a manner into understanding the single people ‘s acquisition manners. Within Applied ICT it is really helpful taking pupils out of the schoolroom and into organisations where they can ‘observe ‘ ICT working. Rather than learn pupils how and why the ICT is being used it was found to be more productive to allow the pupils experience the ICT working in the normal environment of an organisation before inquiring the pupils to organize sentiments on what the engineering may be used for. You read "The Methods And Activities Of Teaching Education Essay" in category "Essay examples" In the instance of detecting a working eating house, pupils were able to see restaurant staff taking orders and so walking back to the order desk to put the orders on a touch screen. Once observed the pupils reflected on why the staff were continually traveling towards the same computing machine terminus after taking orders, organizing an sentiment as to why they must be inputting the information into an ordination system for the kitchens. The pupils besides noted that it would besides be possible to utilize the same ordination system to associate the drinks orders to the saloon staff. All of this information was so confirmed by allowing pupils really taking an order themselves and come ining it into the order database, where they gained a concrete experience. Looking at how the pupils really learned, Kolb ‘s acquisition manners can get down to go understood. Some pupils found it much easier to understand the usage of engineering by come ining the order, and so reflecting on how this would be utile when watching the servers ( diverging ) . Assimilator scholars found that it was easier to gestate how the ordination would take topographic point before watching the order pickings and so reflecting on how this wasaˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦ Learners who had conceptualized the order pickings, but had non truly understood how and why the ordination worked through observations started understand more when they started to believe how it would work if they had really witnessed a drinks order being processed ( meeting ) . Finally the scholars who were ‘Accommodating ‘ merely understood truly what was traveling on when they non merely entered the orders themselves, but started to believe about which other types of orders could be placed on the system. The whole work of Kolb underpins the course of study and how it may be delivered in schools today, although readying for the trip was non simple as one of the issues with Kolb ‘s work is that vitamin E does non take into history the different attainment degrees to which the pupils are working at, therefore it was necessary to fix resources for the pupils at different degrees so that all pupils could prosecute with the acquisition and develop their cognition. The theory of multiple intelligences was developed by Howard Gardiner in 1983. He suggests that persons possess a figure of different independent intelligences ( at least seven ) , and that these can be acquired at different degrees. Gardner besides suggests that if persons have an ability to larn in a certain mode, they should be encouraged to develop their acquisition utilizing this endowment. Gardner material During instruction, the thought of pupils being able to develop their abilities to larn focussed planning on the single pupils and how to include and develop all pupils within the category. This attack closely links back to the Every Child Matters docket and how to develop the cognition of all persons within the schoolroom. Although concentrating on certain facets of Gardner ‘s intelligences, such as the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical abilities of pupils within the schoolroom it is besides of import to see the overall interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities of pupils more to supply a more rounded and balanced course of study. There is a demand to provide for pupils at different abilities, whether within the schoolroom, the twelvemonth group, or the cardinal phases. Depending on how pupils are grouped should impact the manner in which lessons are planned and delivered. Although some of the thoughts behind the theory of Gardner are used within the schoolroom the overall footing of the theory is non adequate to alter the manner in which persons are grouped, as at that place seems to be stronger influences that bind persons larning together, such as those described by Maslow. It is possible to distinguish within lessons so that an effort is made to assist the pupils to larn to the best of their ability. How far you can continue with this construct whilst taking into history that pupils are on the whole grouped together in age instead than overall ability, and besides sing the ability of the instructors to develop the lessons with the equipment and resources available makes it hard to do a judgement on whether each kid is larning to the best of their ability. No affair what the ability of pupils there is a theory that suggests that by detecting and copying behaviour, this can take pupils to ‘think for themselves ‘ , which is cardinal to a pupil ‘s patterned advance throughout their instruction. The Social Learning Theory developed by Bandura ( 1977 ) stresses closely the nexus between pupils detecting behaviours that may hold been modeled and copying these, taking to larning. Bandura ( 1977 ) provides a elaborate description on acquisition. For him Learning would be extremely arduous, non to advert risky, if people had to trust entirely on the effects of their ain actions to inform them what to make. Fortunately, most human behaviour is learned observationally through mold: from detecting others one forms an thought of how new behaviours are performed, and on ulterior occasions this coded information serves as a usher for action. ( Bandura 1977, p.22 ) Within the schoolroom environment it was noted that it is really utile to pattern undertakings to pupils as they will so hold a higher and better apprehension of the undertaking and what they need in order to finish the activity. Outside the environment of the schoolroom, whilst engaged in larning within an organisation that the pupils were analyzing it was noted that pupils responded in several different ways. The behaviour of pupils, instead than going more riotous became more professional and respected. This may hold been the fact that they were in a professional environment with other members of the populace in attending. One other facet of the pupils ‘ behaviour became noticeable when they met the usher demoing them around the edifice. It was obvious that pupils accidentally copied the idiosyncrasy of the usher, which can be attributed to the positive attitude and attributes that were seen by the students on what they perceived as a function theoretical account. Although whilst pupils are acting right in and out of the schoolroom, there are times that pupils do non prosecute with lessons and get down to misconduct. Piaget ( 1932 ) discussed the moral development of persons and an apprehension of others. It can be noted that morally pupils should truly cognize they are at school to larn, and non interrupt the schoolroom. Further work by Piaget ( 1952 ) , produced by decennaries of detecting immature kids lead to his theory of cognitive development. The footing of the theory of cognitive development is that there is a displacement of kids ‘s thought over certain phases of their ripening, as they are turning up. These phases were split into four, with the concluding phase, when a pupil is in adolescence they should be able to ground hypothetically and infer results, hence actively build their ain cognition and understand results, believing for themselves. In instruction it is clear that persons are grouped in phases, therefore miming theory of Piaget. Year groups are grouped into Key Stages for development, but although pupils still receive lessons in their twelvemonth groups it is obvious that non all students develop at the same rate. Within the schoolroom environment and besides whilst taking visits it is still really of import to distinguish lessons so that all students are able to entree the lesson, and besides supply extension undertakings where students have completed work to a satisfactory degree within the clip and have no other work to finish. The theory behind cognitive development does non associate to â€Å" how † a pupil can be cleverer with relation to their knowledge harmonizing to their age. There is besides small or no grounds of other factors such as societal or emotional facets which may act upon larning. Similarly at that place seems to be no nexus towards unnatural development or development upsets that may be present in a pupil. Unlike Piaget where it is considered that the development of a kid must predate their acquisition, the sociocultural position of Vygotsky ( 1978 ) argued that â€Å" acquisition is a necessary and cosmopolitan facet of the procedure of developing culturally organized, specifically human psychological map † ( Vygotsky 1978, p.90 ) . This position suggests that in existent fact that societal acquisition would predate the development of an person. Therefore whereas Piaget would reason that the development of a student is due to them being actively funny and desiring to be involved in the acquisition taking topographic point, Vygotsky would reason that the societal part and interaction, for illustration with the usher on the visit, helped the procedure of development of the students. Taking the thoughts of Vygotsky into the schoolroom it has been noted that pupils working collaboratively, when they are socially interacting either with their equals or instructors, or whether working in braces or groups, will bring forth a high degree of work if kept on undertaking. This cooperation Vygotsky argues leads to cognitive development. Vygotsky ( 1978 ) besides viewed the Zone of Proximal Development as an country where counsel or instructions can be given, leting students to work on their ain to develop higher mental maps. Within the planning and instruction of a lesson it is clear that aims and success standards have been planned and shown to the students. This clearly develops the ability to finish undertakings to different degrees of accomplishment for the students, and allows them to progress their acquisition in a manner that is clear and concise. In kernel, on an single footing, a pupil needs to understand how they can ‘learn to larn ‘ in order to derive the best instruction they can accomplish. Students have to take duty for their ain acquisition, with the aid of instructors, parents and as many resources as possible that will profit them overall. The pupils single acquisition manners must besides be noted down by instructors in order for them to be after, develop and present lessons in a individualized manner, for as many persons as possible in each lesson. Taking into history that pupils are grouped in cardinal phases and in twelvemonth groups, and even possibly in sets, there will ever be a scope of pupils within the schoolroom that have to be catered for. It is of import for instructors to encompass as many instruction and acquisition manners as possible if they are appropriate to travel any of the single scholars in the schoolroom forward. In Applied ICT although the pupils may understand the theory of the existent ICT, it may be hard for the pupils to set the existent application of the usage of the ICT into context. Timetabling deductions mean that it is impossible to wholly personalise the acquisition of an person at present as the resources are clearly non available for this to go on. As this is the instance personalization has mostly got to take topographic point within lessons associating in with the humanistic attack to distinguishing for the person or groups. This attack will besides assist with the multiple intelligences within the schoolroom and cater for different ability pupils, scaffolding lessons so that all pupils engage within the acquisition environment and are able to come on in a safe environment. A How to cite The Methods And Activities Of Teaching Education Essay, Essay examples

Smoking In Public Places

Question: Describe about the Smoking In Public Places? Answer: Smoking is injurious to health. This is a truth no one can deny. Smoking harms most of the organs of the body. 87 % of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking (Nlm.nih.gov, 2015). It also causes many other health problems. These include cancer of the mouth, liver, stomach, kidneys, pancreas, cervix, colon, rectum, throat, liver. Autoimmune system also gets hampered due to smoking. There may be disturbance in vision and blindness may also occur. Blood vessels get thickened and it thus increases blood pressure. Bones get weak and it gives rise to osteoporosis. Chronic asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis and other pulmonary disease are other problems that arise due to smoking. Women who smoke get problems during pregnancy (Betobaccofree.hhs.gov). Smoking kills millions of people every year. Smoking causes about one in five deaths in United States each year. About 480,000 deaths happen annually, including the deaths from passive smoking in U.S.A. (Jha et al.). Smoking is not only injurious for the smoker but also for other people. The smoke coming is breathed in by others who are nearby and they also develop the same problems. This is known as passive smoking or second hand smoking (Nlm.nih.gov). It is a cause of danger for everyone. The smoke coming from tobacco has thousands of chemicals out of which over 50 are causes of cancer. Compounds like ammonia, formaldehyde, sulphur irritate the throat, nose, eyes, and lungs. These become harmful to people suffering from respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Exposure to smoking triggers symptoms and worsens them. Passive smoking has been proved to be a cause for lung cancer by different health organisations(Better Health Channel). Breathing in such second hand smoke is harmful in children. They develop chances of cot death, developing asthma, meningitis, cold and cough, hearing problem (Nhs.uk). Passive smoking increase risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy in pregnant wo men. The more the woman is exposed to smoking, the more is the chance of getting affected by it. Pregnant woman who are subjected to passive smoking have a tendency to give birth to babies who are susceptible to cancer. The same genetic damage in unborn infants occurs as in adult smokers who have cancerous tumour (Mail Online, 2014). These factors have led to ban on smoking in public places. Now-a-days many countries across the world have put a ban on smoking in private places. There are the public policies, consisting of laws and regulations related to health and safety that inhibit smoking of tobacco in public places. Smoking is optional in our lives. But breathing is definitely not optional. Thus banning smoking from public places ensures protection of people from effects of passive smoking which are cancer, heart disease among the others. There are legislators where there are evidences for harmful effects of smoking and passive smoking. Other reasons why smoking is banned in public places are reduction in risk of occurrence of fire where explosives are present, cleanliness in the places where medicines, food, instruments, machinery are made, less amount of litter. We all know that cigarette smoking is injurious to health. The Government of different country invests a lot of money every year behind anti smoking campaign (The Washington post). The question is whether smoking should be banned in public or not? To address this we need to consider the ill effects of smoking. According to American Lung Association Cigarettes composed of about 600 ingredients. When someone burn it, they are generating several chemical compounds and the number is 7000 (American Lung Association). Many of the similar compounds found in cigars as well as hookahs and pipes. According to a report of the National Cancer Institute cigars contain higher amount of toxins, carcinogen and tar than cigarettes (National Cancer Institute). In United State the rate of death or mortality rate of smokers is three times more compare to non smoker. Smoking causes severe systemic damage to our vital systems. One of the components of tobacco is Nicotine. Its a stimulant of nervous system. But when its effect are subsided people might be feeling tired and crave more. Smoking may cause the risk of cataracts, and poor eyesight and degeneration of muscle. If a person withdraws smoking, it will make him irritated, anxious and depressed. Smoking causes harm to lung system. Gradually our lung will lose the capacity of filtering. Smokers have the tendency to develop colds, flu and respiratory infections compare to others. Smoking reduces the level of good cholesterol and increase the blood pressure. It increases the risk of blood clot formation. Apart from that it has great impact on our digestive system, our external organs and our reproductive system. A smoker experience different complications during her pregnancy period which include miscarriage, problem with premature delivery. A pregnant mother who is exposed to passive smoking has the higher chance of delivering a baby with low weight during birth. So people should be careful enough while smoking. They should keep in mind that they are not only harming themselves but also their upcoming generations. But confliction regarding antismoking campaign does exist regarding the following issue (Heartland.org). Smokers who already pay a high amount of money as tax need the write of smoking. It hurts small businesses. The harm causes by smoking can be reduced by educating the smokers. Encourage them to use electronic cigarettes. Considering the above facts it seems that we should allow smoking in public place. But before being judgmental we need to think several times. For some people smoking is not a substance for addiction, for them it is the commodity for showing their status and luxury. They spend a handsome amount of money for their luxury. We should always remember that it is a habit which leads a person to death. As a responsible citizen of a country we need to take care about the well being of our country. Number of people affected by passive smoking is also very high. So considering this facts one should avoid smoking in a public place. They should understand that banning smoking in public place is not the curbing of their fundamental write. Smokers need to be sensitive enough that the future of their country lies on their present. References: American Lung Association,. 'What's In A Cigarette? - American Lung Association'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015. Betobaccofree.hhs.gov,. 'Health Effects Of Smoking | Be Tobacco Free.Gov'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015. Better Health Channel,. 'Passive Smoking - Better Health Channel'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015. Heartland.org,. 'In Defense Of Smokers | Heartland Institute'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015. Jha, Prabhat et al. '21St-Century Hazards Of Smoking And Benefits Of Cessation In The United States'.New England Journal of Medicine368.4 (2013): 341-350. Web. 26 June 2015. Mail Online,. 'Passive Smoking Increases Risk Of Miscarriage And Stillbirth'. N.p., 2014. Web. 26 June 2015. National Cancer Institute,. 'Cigar Smoking And Cancer'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015 Nhs.uk,. 'Is Passive Smoking Harmful? - Health Questions - NHS Choices'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015. Nlm.nih.gov,. 'Smoking: Medlineplus'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 June 2015.

A Lesson Plan for Teaching Rounding

A Lesson Plan for Teaching Rounding In this lesson plan, 3rd-grade students develop an understanding of the rules of rounding to the nearest 10. The lesson requires one 45-minute class period. The supplies include: PaperPencilNotecards The objective of this lesson is for students to understand simple situations in which to round up to the next 10 or down to the previous 10. The key vocabulary words of this lesson are:  estimate, rounding and nearest 10. Common Core Standard Met This lesson plan satisfies the following Common Core standard in the Number and Operations in Base Ten category and the Use Place Value Understanding and Properties of Operations to Perform Multi-Digit Arithmetic sub-category.   3.NBT.  Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100. Lesson Introduction Present this question to the class: The gum Sheila wanted to buy costs 26 cents. Should she give the cashier 20 cents or 30 cents? Have students discuss answers to this question in pairs and then as a whole class. After some discussion, introduce 22 34 19 81 to the class. Ask How difficult is this to do in your head? Give them some time and be sure to reward the kids who get the answer or who get close to the right answer. Say If we changed it to be 20 30 20 80, is that easier? Step-by-Step Procedure Introduce the lesson target to students: Today, we are introducing the rules of rounding. Define rounding for the students. Discuss why rounding and estimation are important. Later in the year, the class will go into situations that don’t follow these rules, but they are important to learn in the meantime.Draw a simple hill on the blackboard. Write the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 so that the one and 10 are at the bottom of the hill on opposite sides and the five ends up at the very top of the hill. This hill is used to illustrate the two 10s that the students are choosing between when they are rounding.Tell students that today the class will focus on two-digit numbers. They have two choices with a problem like Sheila’s. She could have given the cashier two dimes (20 cents) or three dimes (30 cents). What she is doing when she figures out the answer is called rounding- finding the closest 10 to the actual number.With a number like 29, this is easy. We can easily see that 29 is very close to 30, but with numbers like 24, 25 and 26, it gets more difficult. That’s where the mental hill comes in. Ask students to pretend that they are on a bike. If they ride it up to the 4 (as in 24)  and stop, where is the bike most likely to head? The answer is back down to where they started. So when you have a number like 24, and you are asked to round it to the nearest 10, the nearest 10 is backward, which sends you right back to 20.Continue to do the hill problems with the following numbers. Model for the first three with student input and then continue with guided practice  or have students do the last three in pairs: 12, 28, 31, 49, 86 and 73.What should we do with a number like 35? Discuss this as a class, and refer to Sheila’s problem at the beginning. The rule is that we round to the next highest 10, even though the five is exactly in the middle. Extra Work Have students do six problems like the ones in class. Offer an extension for students who are already doing well to round the following numbers to the nearest 10: 151189234185347 Evaluation At the end of the lesson, give each student a card with three rounding problems of your choice. You will want to wait and see how the students are faring with this topic before choosing the complexity of the problems you give them for this assessment. Use the answers on the cards to group the students and provide differentiated instruction during the next rounding class period.

Bus Stop, a 1955 Broadway Play by William Inge

Bus Stop, a 1955 Broadway Play by William Inge William Inges comedy, Bus Stop, is filled with sentimental characters and a slow-but-pleasant, slice-of-life storyline. Although dated, Bus Stop manages to charm its modern audience, if only due to our inherent longing for a simpler, more innocent past. Most of William Inges plays are a mixture of comedy and drama. Bus Stop is no different. It premiered on Broadway in 1955, just on the heels of Inges first Broadway success, Picnic. In 1956, Bus Stop was brought to the silver screen, starring Marilyn Monroe in the role of Cherie. The Plot Bus Stop takes place inside a street-corner restaurant in a small Kansas town about thirty miles west of Kansas City. Due to icy conditions, an inter-state bus is forced to stop for the night. One by one, the bus passengers are introduced, each with their own quirks and conflicts. The Romantic Leads Bo Decker is a young ranch-owner from Montana. He has just fallen head-over-heels for a nightclub singer named Cherie. In fact, he has fallen so wildly in love with her (mainly because he just lost his virginity), he has whisked her onto a bus with the assumption that the young lady will marry him. Cherie, on the other hand, is not exactly going along for the ride. Once she arrives at the bus stop, she informs the local sheriff, Will Masters, that she is being held against her will. What unfolds during the course of the evening is Bos macho attempt at luring her into marriage, followed by a humbling fist-fight with the sheriff. Once he is put in his place, he begins to see things, especially Cherie, differently. Ensemble Characters Virgil Blessing, Bos best friend, and father-figure is the wisest and kindest of the bus passengers. Throughout the play, he tries to educate Bo on the ways of women and the civilized world outside of Montana. Dr. Gerald Lyman is a retired college professor. While at the bus stop cafe, he enjoys reciting poetry, flirting with the teenage waitress, and steadily increasing his blood-alcohol levels. Grace is the owner of the little restaurant. She is set in her ways, having gotten used to being alone. She is friendly, but not trusting. Grace doesnt get too attached to people, making the bus stop an ideal setting for her. In a revealing and amusing scene, Grace explains why she never serves sandwiches with cheese: GRACE: I guess Im kinda self-centered, Will. I dont care for cheese mself, so I never think torder it for someone else. The young waitress, Elma, is the antithesis of Grace. Elma represents youth and naivete. She lends a sympathetic ear to the misbegotten characters, especially the old professor. In the final act, it is revealed that Kansas City authorities have chased Dr. Lyman out of town. Why? Because he keeps making advances on high-school girls. When Grace explains that old fogies like him cant leave young girls alone, Elma is flattered instead of disgusted. This spot is one of many in which Bus Stop shows its wrinkles. Lymans desire for Elma is shaded in sentimental tones, whereas a modern playwright would probably handle the professors deviant nature in a much more serious manner. Pros and Cons Most of the characters are very willing to talk the night away as they wait for the roads to clear. The more they open their mouths, the more clichà © the characters become. In many ways, Bus Stop feels like antiquated sit-com writing which is not necessarily a bad thing; though it does make the writing feel dated. Some of the humor and the comradery taste a bit stale (especially the talent show that Elma coerces the others into). The finest characters in the play are the ones who dont blather as much as the others. Will Masters is the tough-but-fair sheriff. Think of Andy Griffiths amiable nature backed up by Chuck Norris ability to kick butt. Thats Will Masters in a nutshell. Virgil Blessing, perhaps the most admirable character in Bus Stop, is the one who tugs at our heartstrings the most. In the conclusion, when the cafe is closing up, Virgil is forced to stand outside, alone in the dark, frosty morning. Grace says, Im sorry, Mister, but youre just left out in the cold. Virgil replies, mainly to himself, Well... thats what happens to some people. Its a line that redeems the play - a moment of truth that transcends its dated style and its otherwise flat characters. Its a line that makes us wish that the Virgil Blessings and the William Inges of the world would find comfort and solace, a warm place to take off lifes chill.

How firms gain competitive advantage in the changing business dynamics Essay

How firms gain competitive advantage in the changing business dynamics - Essay Example The intention of this study is the change management that has increasingly become key element of competitive advantage for the business organizations in the current environment of volatility and rapidly transforming socio-economic and political imperatives. The need to identify the drivers of change and incorporating the same within the business strategies by organizational leadership has become top priority for mot only to succeed but also to survive. The five authors discussed in the paper believe that changes are good for the firms and firms which have flexible approach are better able to absorb changes and surge ahead of others. In the highly competitive market, firms need to leverage their competencies for competitive advantage. The various modules and mechanisms of evaluating and analyzing the performance metrics become highly critical factors for success of the firm. The internal and external exigencies influence the performance of the firms and therefore need to be analyzed, evaluated and exploited for gaining leverage against their rivals in the industry. Indeed, the firms survive or fail in the competitive market mainly because they either unable to anticipate changes in the environment or failed to exploit the opportunities that were offered by the changes to survive and gain competitive edge. The visionary outlook of the leadership and the innovative approach of the firms are vital inputs that facilitate and create opportunities to maintain their niche market position. The paper would primarily be evaluating the works of five authors who have introduced radical concepts in the business strategies to cope with the environmental changes.... The paper would primarily be evaluating the works of five authors who have introduced radical concepts in the business strategies to cope with the environmental changes. Section 1 What is change and how companies cope with changes Change is inevitable and irreversible process that provokes reaction and forces people out of their comfort zone. Most importantly, impact of change becomes most visible when it is viewed adversely. Bateman and Zaithaml (1990) stress that organizations need to change because the environment within which they operate is constantly changing. The organizational leadership therefore becomes the vital ingredient that prepares and motivates people to become flexible. It not only helps them to adopt changes but also to look for opportunities in contextual changes which can be exploited for improving their productivity and outcome. As the following authors assert, changes become enabling factors when they are explored for opportunities. Indeed, the authors have dif ferent perspective on change and change management. Change management has become a critical issue for firms. They emphasize that it helps them to understand, anticipate, evaluate and analyze changes to identify the drivers of change and explore opportunities for exploiting them. They believe that changes are good for the firms and firms which have flexible approach are better able to absorb changes and surge ahead of others. Some of the mechanisms that are evolved to cope with changes are: fostering business alliances; using technology; thinking out of the box; being innovative through new development and R&D; creating learning environment; exploiting human

Barbie Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Barbie Assignment - Essay Example One of the arguments against girls playing with Barbie dolls is that by â€Å"dramatizing stereotypical feminine roles during play, girls will internalize† (Kuther & Mcdonald 39) and later strive to personify such roles. Boys do not wish to be seen playing with dolls, hence Barbies’ impact on them is less. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate Barbie dolls and their impact on oneself, as an essential area of gender and sexual studies. One’s Personal Perceptions of Barbie as a Child and Adolescent Though boys generally would not dream of playing with Barbies, most have experiences of some kind of destructive play with a Barbie belonging to their siblings or friends. As a child and while growing up, I had a fascination for the perfectly formed Barbie doll that my younger sister would dress in garments she stitched on her own. As a ten year old, she played imaginatively with her doll, and was proud to display it with her handiwork, of what sh e believed was high-fashion wear fit for the runways of Paris and Milan. Being her brother a couple of years older to her, I took immense pleasure in hiding her doll in inaccessilbe places, rolling it in mud, or coloring her hair with multi-colored inks, to horrify my kid sister. This would result in her crying and reporting to our parents, which would inevitably lead to some kind of punishment for me. However, her look of utter shock over my destructive work would give me immense satisfaction. The demolition was in a way related to the fact that the perfectly formed adult shape of Barbie made me uneasy. Hence I considered destructive measures to be a good way to display my disdain for all things feminine and attractive. This natural impulse that boys have is reiterated by Kuther and Mcdonald (p.46) who state that torture play with Barbies is commonly reported by boys. Another reason was my wish to teach my kid sister a lesson for having to baby sit her for short durations while I w ould have preferred to join my friends’ boisterous outdoor games. This destructive phase however, did not last long, and I stopped harassing her due to parental imposition. Girls in relation to their experiences with Barbie doll play are found to have long-lasting outcomes resulting from the unrealistically ideal body shape of the doll. It is widely argued that girls are severely constrained and even subjugated by the â€Å"rigid boundaries of normative femininity as well as the patriarchal and overly sexualized portrayals of females in Western cultures† (Ivashkevich 40). This is further rooted in the fact that the female body is checked, obsessed over, beautified and objectified through the media and other cultural products and discourses. In rebellion, girls are also stated to innovatively and imaginatively transform existing cultural texts and artifacts created for their consumption, not content to passively internalize cultural norms and values. On the other hand, one of the approaches that girls have towards their childhood play with Barbie dolls is a practical one, as revealed by Reid-Walsh and Mitchell (p.175). They state that they grew up loving the doll, and her exaggerated proportions made no difference to them. Further, they believe that those who consider Barbie dolls to be the root of their eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa should look into themselves for the causes,