Impact of the Common Core Standards

Impact of the Common Core Standards The Common Core Standards will be fully implemented beginning in 2014-2015. So far there are only five states that have chosen not to adopt these standards including Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Virginia. The impact of the Common Core Standards will loom large as this is perhaps the biggest shift in educational philosophy in the history of the United States. Much of the population will be significantly impacted by the implementation of the Common Core Standards in one form or another. Here, we look into how different groups may be affected by the upcoming Common Core Standards. Administrators In sports, it has been said that the coach gets too much praise for winning and too much criticism for losing. This will likely hold true for superintendents and school principals when it comes to the Common Core Standards. In an era of high stakes testing, the stakes will never be higher than they will be with the Common Core. The responsibility of that school’s success or failure with the Common Core Standards ultimately falls back on its leadership. It is essential that administrators know what they are dealing with when it comes to the Common Core Standards. They need to have a plan for success in place that includes providing rich professional development opportunities for teachers, being logistically prepared in areas such as technology and curriculum, and they must find ways to get the community to embrace the importance of the Common Core. Those administrators who do not prepare for the Common Core Standards could end up losing their job if their students do not perform adequately. Teachers (Core Subjects) Perhaps no group will feel the pressures of the Common Core Standards greater than teachers. Many teachers will have to change their approach altogether in the classroom in order for their students to succeed on the Common Core Standards assessments. Make no mistake that these standards and the assessments that accompany them are intended to be rigorous. Teachers will have to create lessons that include higher level thinking skills and writing components in order to prepare students for the Common Core Standards. This approach is difficult to teach on a daily basis because students, particularly in this generation, are resistant to those two things. There will be more pressure than ever placed on teachers whose students do not perform adequately on the assessments. This could lead to many teachers being fired. The intense pressure and scrutiny that teachers will be under will create stress and teacher burnout which could lead to many good, young teachers leaving the field. There is also a chance that many veteran teachers will choose to retire rather than make the necessary changes. Teachers cannot wait until the 2014-2015 school year to begin to change their approach. They need to phase Common Core components gradually into their lessons. This will not only help them as teachers but will also help their students. Teachers need to attend all the professional development that they can and collaborate with other teachers about the Common Core. Having a firm understanding about what the Common Core Standards are as well as how to teach them are necessary if a teacher is going to be successful. Teachers (Non-Core Subjects) Teachers who specialize in areas such as physical education, music, and art will be affected by the Common Core State Standards. The perception is that these areas are expendable. Many believe that they are extra programs that schools offer as long as funding is available and/or they do not take critical time away from core subject areas. As the pressure mounts to improve test scores from Common Core assessments, many schools could choose to end these programs thus allowing more instructional time or intervention time in the core areas. The Common Core Standards themselves present opportunities for teachers of non-core subjects to integrate aspects of the Common Core standards into their daily lessons. Teachers in these areas may have to adapt to survive. They will have to be creative in including aspects of the Common Core in their daily lessons while remaining true to the academic roots of physical education, art, music, etc. These teachers may find it necessary to reinvent themselves in order to prove their mettle in schools across the country. Specialists Reading specialists and intervention specialists will increasingly become more prominent as schools will need to find ways to close gaps in reading and math that struggling students may have. Research has proven that one-on-one or small group instruction has a greater impact at a quicker pace than whole group instruction. For students who struggle in reading and/or math, a specialist can work miracles in getting them on level. With the Common Core Standards, a fourth-grade student who reads on a second-grade level will have little chance to be successful. With the stakes as high as they will be, schools will be smart to hire more specialists to assist those fringe students who with a little extra assistance can get on level. Students While the Common Core Standards presents an enormous challenge for administrators and teachers, it will be the students who unknowingly benefit the most from them. The Common Core Standards will better prepare students for life after high school. The higher level thinking skills, writing skills, and other skills attached to the Common Core will be beneficial to all students. This does not mean that students will not be resistant to the difficulty and changes associated with the Common Core Standards. Those wanting instant results are not being realistic. Students entering middle school or above in 2014-2015 will have a harder time adjusting to the Common Core than those entering Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. It will probably take a full cycle of students (meaning 12-13 years) before we can realistically see the true impact of the Common Core Standards on students. Students need to understand that school will be more difficult as a result of the Common Core Standards. It will require more time outside of school and a focused approach in school. For older students, this is going to be a difficult transition, but it will still be beneficial. In the long run, a dedication to academics will pay off. Parents The level of parental involvement will need to increase in order for students to be successful with the Common Core Standards. Parents who value education will love the Common Core Standards because their children will be pushed like never before. However, those parents who fail to be involved in their child’s education will likely see their children struggle. It will take a total team effort beginning with the parents for students to be successful. Reading to your child every night from the time they are born are beginning steps to being involved in your child’s education. A disturbing trend in child rearing is that as a child gets older, the level of involvement decreases. This trend needs to be changed. Parents need to be as involved in their child’s education at age 18 as they are at age 5. Parents will need to understand what the Common Core Standards are and how they impact their child’s future. They will need to communicate more effectively with their children’s teachers. They will need to stay on top of their child making sure that homework is completed, providing them with extra work, and stressing the value of education. Parents ultimately have the most impact on their child’s approach to school and no time is this more powerful than it will be in the Common Core Standard era. Politicians For the first time in the history of the United States, states will be able to compare test scores accurately from one state to the other. In our current system, with states having their own unique set of standards and assessments, a student could be proficient in reading in one state and unsatisfactory in another. The Common Core Standards will create competition between states. This competition could have political ramifications. Senators and representatives want to their states to thrive academically. This could help schools in some areas, but it could hurt them in others. The political influence of the Common Core Standards will be a fascinating development to follow as the assessment scores begin to be published in 2015. Higher Education Higher education should be positively affected by the Common Core Standards as students should be better prepared for a college curriculum. Part of the driving force behind the Common Core was that more and more students entering college were requiring remediation particularly in the areas of reading and math. This trend led to a call for increased rigor in public education. As students are taught using the Common Core Standards, this need for remediation should significantly decrease and more students should be college-ready when they leave high school. Higher education will also be directly impacted in the area of teacher preparation. Future teachers need to be adequately prepared with the tools necessary to teach the Common Core Standards. This will fall on the responsibility of teacher colleges. Colleges who do not make changes in how they prepare future teachers are doing a disservice to those teachers and the students whom they will serve. Community Members Community members including merchants, businesses, and tax paying citizens will be affected by the Common Core Standards. Children are our future, and as such everyone should be invested in that future. The ultimate purpose of the Common Core Standards is to prepare students adequately for higher education and to enable them to compete in a global economy. A community fully invested in education will reap rewards. That investment may come through donating time, money, or services, but communities that value and support education will thrive economically.

Free Essays on Jesus

––– –––Jesus Essay––– ––– God had promised a messiah to the oppressed Jews. This messiah would be the savior of the world and bring prestige back to the Jews by conquering their enemies, and letting them reclaim their land, the land that God gave them. There were two ideas of what this messiah would be, a â€Å"suffering servant† or a strong military leader who would rule the Jews. The Jews favored the latter because they wanted to conquer their enemies and gain their land back, proving their dominance over other nations. Well, it didn’t quite work out as they hoped. The prophesy of the messiah was true, but instead of a strong military leader, they received the suffering servant as their savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was a peaceful man. He avoided confrontations and physical altercations-the exact opposite of what the Jews were hoping for. Jesus was very fond of children. He believed that they were the key to the kingdom of God. Often, he would speak to groups of children, and tell them stories while at the same time preaching to them. In one instance, Jesus’ apostles were holding back a group of children who wanted to see Jesus, but they sent them away. Jesus scorned the apostles, and told them to let the children come through. This shows a loving, caring Jesus. While he was loving and caring, He was also forgiving. The apostles, who many times were short- sighted in what Jesus was preaching, tested his forgiving spirit. Often when Jesus told a parable, or talked about prayer, the apostles were quick to question Him on the meaning of his parables, which told His stories. They could not comprehend the message that Jesus was conveying to them and to the crowds, and often did not follow Jesus’ examples. However, Jesus forgave them. Jesus was also forgiving to sinners as well. One such example is his recruiting of Levi, later known as ... Free Essays on Jesus' Free Essays on Jesus' ––– –––Jesus Essay––– ––– God had promised a messiah to the oppressed Jews. This messiah would be the savior of the world and bring prestige back to the Jews by conquering their enemies, and letting them reclaim their land, the land that God gave them. There were two ideas of what this messiah would be, a â€Å"suffering servant† or a strong military leader who would rule the Jews. The Jews favored the latter because they wanted to conquer their enemies and gain their land back, proving their dominance over other nations. Well, it didn’t quite work out as they hoped. The prophesy of the messiah was true, but instead of a strong military leader, they received the suffering servant as their savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was a peaceful man. He avoided confrontations and physical altercations-the exact opposite of what the Jews were hoping for. Jesus was very fond of children. He believed that they were the key to the kingdom of God. Often, he would speak to groups of children, and tell them stories while at the same time preaching to them. In one instance, Jesus’ apostles were holding back a group of children who wanted to see Jesus, but they sent them away. Jesus scorned the apostles, and told them to let the children come through. This shows a loving, caring Jesus. While he was loving and caring, He was also forgiving. The apostles, who many times were short- sighted in what Jesus was preaching, tested his forgiving spirit. Often when Jesus told a parable, or talked about prayer, the apostles were quick to question Him on the meaning of his parables, which told His stories. They could not comprehend the message that Jesus was conveying to them and to the crowds, and often did not follow Jesus’ examples. However, Jesus forgave them. Jesus was also forgiving to sinners as well. One such example is his recruiting of Levi, later known as ...

Merchants of Cool-Movie Review Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Merchants of Cool- - Movie Review Example This is indeed a very conservative approach. Quite often, the product being promoted is not in the best interest of the children or the society at large, but Merchants of Cool indicates, â€Å"in order to remain cool, you have to keep ahead of the curve† (Sine, 2008, p. 85). The Merchants of Cool portrays both media and corporations negatively. This is so because it reveals a disturbing scenario, depicting how many corporations see teenagers, not as persons with real life, issues and problems, but as talking and walking dollar signs and as possible marketers of their products. There are many other tormenting issues in the movie if not somewhat unreasonable ideas. For example, the idea that individuals are made to look trendy are just ‘plants’ by corporations to influence peers to have a sensation that they should buy something for them to look like the person is extremely disturbing. This is because they can be found anywhere. This aspect does not perpetuate a sen se of unity among the youth who should feel with each other rather a very strong sense of jealousy and suspicion. It is undoubtedly evident from the documentary film that it is attempting to portray corporations and media negatively so as to reveal the truths (Sine, 2008). However, the most disturbing question that one may ask is, â€Å"How truthful is this?† Just like the anthropologists, the cool hunters search for teenage cultures and employ the early teen trendsetters to design new products and develop new marketing strategies, to hook the teenagers (Sine, 2008). These teenage cultural studies are seen through interviews held with some marking gurus drawn from big corporations, and MTV. The first encounter is with Todd Cunningham of MTV who narrates how MTV engages in research so as to be able to understand teens, including their sources of Gold studies and Ethnography. The other is Sharon Lee and Dee Dee Gordon, the co-founders of Look-Look, which is a research corporati on that specializes in youth culture. They outline how their company is searching out teen trendsetters searching for what is cool, how the corporations use the information they gather and challenges in their guest. Sine (2008) notes that increasingly, the merchants of cool find new stealth technique to persuade and encircle the teenagers. He notes that they use acquaintances, friends, buzz, sleepovers, and at times youth groups to show example of the latest glam fashions, technologies and cosmetics. It is then that they pay cool teenagers to persuade their friends to become cool insiders by buying the cool products. The documentary reveals that marketers at times resort to using rebellion and anarchy to sell their products. By watching the ad, one can clearly notice that the merchants of cool not only market the opportunity to be an insider, but they also communicate that the youths can find their sense of self-worth, identity, life purpose and spirituality by living in the fiction al stories that the company storytellers of cool create for them (Sine, 2008). The movie also depicts the popular media culture of trying to use issues that they feel the audience like most to sell their agenda. For instance, marketers know very well that â€Å"sex sells.†

Global civ. (Guns, Germs, and Steel) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global civ. (Guns, Germs, and Steel) - Essay Example Basically, Diamond argues that those humans who moved out to areas that were ecologically and geographically favorable for food production became advantaged. Instead of spending all their lives hunting animals and gathering fruits from the wild, they practiced agriculture and domesticated animals. More food could be obtained faster by engaging in agriculture than in hunting and gathering thus creating enough time for other things. According to Diamond, this extra time obtained was used in inventing the things that he views to be the proximate causes of the inequality witnessed today. Consequently, these proximate factors helped these societies to come up with political organizations and later on facilitated the conquering and taking over of other societies. The ultimate argument that Diamond presents is that ecology and geography determined the fate of societies. He notes that initially all human beings were hunters and gatherers. Hunting animals and gathering food from the forest was not very productive and very little was obtained. The result of this was spending so much time in searching for food. Basically, Diamond argues that people’s lives circulated around looking for food to eat and doing nothing else. When people started to move from Africa to other continent this situation changed in some places. The author notes that some regions were fertile and could support agriculture. With the emergence of agriculture, food production increased greatly and surplus was created. Animals were also domesticated (Diamond 83). For the first time people could focus on other things apart from just looking for food. But this only happened in those areas that were geographically and ecologically favorable for agriculture. The surplus time which had been created was used to invent other things which the author views to be the proximate causes of the

The Benefits of Organic Food to Human Health Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of Organic Food to Human Health Essay Organic refers to the way agricultural foods is produced and processed. It is using methods and materials that are of low impact to the environment. And the primary goal is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants and people. Research published in a 2001 study showed that the current fruit and vegetables that are conventionally grown in the United States have about half the vitamin content of their counterparts in 1963. The study was based on a comparison of published USDA figures. Produced in organic farm, organic food is grown under government supervision. Therefore it is healthier for the environment which it is produce with an organic farming method that are less disruptive to the ecosystem and less dependent on chemical. . In today society, people are always in search of factors that give them an edge in maximum their health. As we all known a healthy diet and appropriate rest all has an impact on our health. Therefore there has been an overwhelming group of people that believe the benefits of organic food. Many people purchase organic food because it contains more nutrient than conventionally grown food. Its true there have been more than a hundred studies comparing the nutrient content of organic and non-organic foods. Official food composition tables, including data compiled by the US Department of Agriculture, reveal that since the 1940s the mineral levels in fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy have declined substantially in conventional foods. Combine this with longer storage, and more processing of crops and its not surprising that we may be getting fewer nutrients in our food than we were 60 years ago. The artificial fertilization associated with conventional crops produces lush growth by swelling produce with more water. On a pound-for-pound basis, organic food has more dry matter (i. e. iron). We can expect also that phytonutrients, which are antioxidants involved in the plants own defense system, will be higher in organic produce because crops rely more on their own defenses in the absence of regular applications of chemical pesticides. Evidence is emerging that confirms this expectation. Higher levels have so far been found of lycopene in organic tomatoes, polyphenols in organic potatoes and flavonols in organic apples. A recent review of the subject estimated that organic produce will tend to contain 10-50% higher phytonutrients than conventional produce. ( Mark Jeantheau,2005) Partly because of this and for other reasons too, there are higher levels of nutrients in organic produce. Research by American nutritionist Virginia Worthington has confirmed that, based on the dietary patterns, the differences can be enough to help you achieve certain nutrients that you otherwise might not get. Despite of improve a person nutrient level intake, organic food also has a lower pesticides residue. A Consumer Union report found that fresh peaches, frozen and fresh winter squash, apples, grapes, spinach, pears, and green beans had some of the highest Toxicity Index ratings. (Edward Groth III,February 1999). However conventional-food provider also claims that pesticide residues are no threat to human health. Yet consumers intuitively know this is a false assurance. In 1999, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimated that nationwide there were at least 10,000 to 20,000 physician-diagnosed pesticide illnesses and injuries per year in farm work. Exposure to pesticides can cause a range of ill effects in humans, from relatively mild effects such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea, to more serious effects such as cancer and neurological disorders. (U. S. General Accounting Office, GAO-01-815, Page 4, August 2001). Researchers have linked symptoms such as headaches, tremor, and lack of energy, depression, anxiety, poor memory, dermatitis, convulsions, nausea, indigestion and diarrhea with dietary intakes of pesticides. It also has claimed that women diagnosed with breast cancer are six to nine times more likely to have the pesticides DDT or hexachlorobenzene in their bloodstreams compared to women who did not have breast cancer. Organic food also has no harmful and less food additives. Antibiotics, growth promoters and other additives are added to non-organic meat during the animals life and while the meat is prepared for consumption. Normal intensive farming methods mean that animals live in overcrowded, unhealthy conditions where disease would quickly spread through the herd where antibiotics not used. Although antibiotics are still used to treat organically reared animals, the healthier living conditions of the animals mean that antibiotics are used prudently to treat specific ailments, rather than as a preventative method. Once the animal has been slaughtered and the meat is being prepared for human consumption, additives are often added to it to improve the flavour, colour or texture of the meat, or to make it stay fresh longer. (T. H. Carson,2005). Organic food producers are prohibited from using additives that research has shown may be harmful to human health, such as sulphur dioxide or artificial colourings. But as our organic meat is reared more naturally, the meat has its own natural flavour, texture and colour, and does not need any artificial enhancers! Besides that, children also need organic food the most as childrens are generally fast on developing organs, brains, and detoxification, however weak on immune systems. Children also have a large intake of food per kilo of body weight. Children may be at risk of higher exposure to the toxins found in nonorganic food because the food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues. Pesticides pose special concerns to children because of their high metabolisms and low body weights. More than 1 million children between the ages of 1 and 5 ingest at least 15 pesticides every day from fruits and vegetables. More than 600,000 of these children eat a dose of organophosphate insecticides that the federal government considers unsafe, and 61,000 eat doses that exceed benchmark levels by a factor of 10 or more. (Ranchers and Foresters,1998, pp. 1-3. ). Meanwhile, artificial colorings and preservatives in food and drink are thought to contribute to hyperactivity in pre-school children, and while many still contest this issue, a recent study in the UK found that the proportion of hyperactive children was halved when additives were removed from their diets. Many additives such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colorings and flavorings, MSG, hydrogenated fat, and phosphoric acid are prohibited in organic food production. As a conclusion, it is so important that the organic food benefits be made aware to the people as it offers a lot of good benefits to human health. Many people usually wonder why there are so many diseases these days. Therefore, making a commitment to organic food means making a commitment to your health. Organic food is how foods supposed to be, a valuable part of any regimen intended to maintain, improve, or restore health. Although there are many different benefits that we can get from the consumption of organic food, the most basic organic food health benefit that we get is pure, clean fruits, vegetables and other foods and a lot more healthier.

The Pearl :: essays research papers

The Pearl By John Steinbeck   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The setting of the story was primarily in an impoverished Mexican-Indian community in La Paz, roughly around the 1900s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kino is a prime example of a developing character. From beginning to the end, he develops drastically. At the beginning, he was thought out to be a good loyal husband, but as time went on, he became a selfish, greedy individual who would do anything for money. Juana was Kino’s young wife. She was respectful, and very tolerant towards Kino. Coyotito was Kino and Juana’s only child. Juan Tomas was Kino’s brother, and Apolonia was his wife; both had four children, and very little is known about both of them. The doctor was a very stout, and greedy man, and didn’t heal, or treat his patients if they didn’t have money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The conflict began when a scorpion stung Coyotito. He became very ill, and the doctor refused to cure Kino’s son for the reason that they had no money. On that very same day, Kino found the pearl that would change his life, as well as the people around him. The pearl brought great danger to Kino and his family. Everybody in the community knew about Kino’s finding, which resulted in everybody desiring the pearl.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ever since King Midas' lust for gold, it appears to be that man has acquired a greed and appetite for wealth. Kino, Juana, and the doctor have all undergone a change due to money. They’re all affected by their hunger for wealth and are the base for their own destruction, and the destruction of society. The theme of The Pearl is mainly of man's self-destruction through greed, and the hunger for wealth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several different symbols in this story. The scorpion that stung Coyotito could simply mean the vulnerability and the possibility of danger that Kino and his family face ahead. The pearl may also symbolize evil, and how it brought the radical change in Kino and his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The pearl was thought to be the stability and prosperity that Kino hoped for his family. However, there were also alternate feelings of jealousy and greed in the community. The pearl was intended to solve all of Kino’s problems, but it ended up destroying his life, dreams, and the death of his son.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kino lived with his wife Juana, and his baby son Coyotito in a brush hut. Coyotito got stung by a scorpion, and got very ill.

Benefits of Leisure Essay

‘All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy’ – something we were taught in kindergarten, but something we forgot along the way. Although we are all aware of the need and benefits of leisure, it’s not until something seriously goes wrong with our health or relationships that we start thinking about it. The importance of leisure has been so vividly understood, that companies and organization’s are slowly beginning to regulate overtime and over-working, and are encouraging employees to take time off during weekends and holidays. They no longer encourage late-nights, but instead prefer their employees to check-in and check-out at the correct timings and work more productively during office hours. So, what has caused this change? To understand that, let’s look at some of the major benefits of leisure. 1. Healthier and longer life: The health benefits of leisure are well-known. People use their leisure time to engage in activities that include both exercises as well as other stress-relieving recreational activities. Exercises provide a lot of health benefits such as cardiovascular benefits, reducing cholesterol and hypertension, improving spinal and neurological problems, increasing bone mass and muscles, increasing lung capacity, and improving overall wellness. Entertainment activities also has its share of benefits by relieving stress, reducing tension, soothing mind and body, bringing about positive changes in attitude, and improving social communication and interaction. These psychological changes also impact physical health in a positive manner. 2. Economic benefits: If you need to exercise or relax, you need the time, space, and opportunity to do so. The places of recreation are unlimited these days. It is a complete industry in itself like the hospitality industry. Leisure and fun-time activities are a big-time business today. Whether it is the play station and play areas at the malls and cinemas, or the resorts where you just spend your weekend, all are intended to ensure you enjoy and relax yourself. And while you relax there are others working around to ensure you get the complete benefit of a holiday. And all this simply means that there is a whole new world of job and business opportunities. Travel and tourism is believed to generate more money flow and income within and between countries. It generates more income than even the agriculture and automobile industries. 3. Better society: Leisure has lots of social benefits that are not easily noticed or widely advertised, but make a significant difference to the society. A work-oriented society will not find many opportunities for the growth of art, culture, and sports. Leisure is what provides the opportunities for the growth of these activities. Recreational activities also encourage tourism and that in turn promotes awareness of culture and history. 4. Strengthens family bonds: Leisure not only promotes the creation of a better society but also promotes the bonds of family ties. Setting aside time for recreation ensures that you spend more time with family, especially the special people in the family like the elderly and little children. Spending time with family and friends strengthens relationships and thereby strengthens the society as a whole. This integration brings about social cohesion and adds more meaning to life. 5. Protects environment: Although in an indirect manner, leisure also contributes to the protection of the environment. The need to create recreational places compels people to look into maintaining a clean and green environment. This leads to the maintenance and protection of the environment from harmful elements. Be it our local park or the forest resorts that we enjoyed our holidays in, all these in their own little way contribute toward a greener environment. Thus, leisure is essential not only to ensure a healthy body, an active mind, and strong relationships; but in its own way, it also contributes to a better economy and a better environment. benefits of leisure.

The Value of a College Education

The value of a college education In the 21st century depends on why the person Is attending In the first place. For some It's a family tradition, their fathers, fathers went to college and so the tradition should continue. Which would make the the value In this case acceptance from ones family. Others have no Idea what they want out of life but hope college is the place to find it. For me college is a means to and end.It's become the next logical step in my life because without it I can no longer move up in the Job field I'm currently in. The value college education is priceless. Of course most think of it as another bill but let's not forget their s always a way to get around that like scholarships, tuition pay and financial aid. But what most don't realize is that value of education is really the doors that open up or that piece of paper you studied and paid for.With a college education your possibilities are endless. The knowledge you gain will give you the upper hand in life, bei ng employable for a Job with a future. Because after all no one wants to work In retail forever or any other dead end Job for that matter. More now than ever a college Is needed. The relationship between success and a College education becomes stronger every year. A higher level of education Is

Biography of Kurt Schwitters, German Collage Artist

Biography of Kurt Schwitters, German Collage Artist Kurt Schwitters (June 20, 1887 - January 8, 1948) was a German collage artist who anticipated many later movements in modernist art, including the use of found objects, Pop Art, and art installations. Initially influenced by Dadaism, he created his own style, which he called Merz. He used found objects and items others considered garbage to create aesthetically appealing works of art. Fast Facts: Kurt Schwitters Full Name: Kurt Hermann Eduard Karl Julius SchwittersOccupation: Collage artist and painterBorn: June 20, 1887 in Hanover, GermanyDied: January 8, 1948 in Kendal, EnglandParents: Eduard Schwitters and Henriette BeckemeyerSpouse: Helma FischerChild: Ernst SchwittersSelected Works: Revolving (1919), Construction for Noble Ladies (1919), The Merzbau (1923-1937)Notable Quote: The picture is a self-sufficient work of art. It is not connected to anything outside. Early Life and Career Kurt Schwitters was born into a middle-class family in Hanover, Germany. At age 14, he suffered an epileptic seizure, a condition that recurred throughout much of his life and had a significant impact on the way he looked at the world. Schwitters began studying art at the Dresden Academy in 1909 seeking a traditional career as a painter. In 1915, when he returned to Hanover, his work reflected a post-impressionist style, showing no impact from modernist movements such as cubism. In October 1915, he married Helma Fischer. They had one son who died as an infant and a second son, Ernst, born in 1918. Initially, Kurt Schwitters epilepsy exempted him from military service in World War I, but as conscription expanded late in the war, he faced enlistment. Schwitters didnt serve in battle, but he spent the last 18 months of the war serving as a technical draftsman in a factory. Genja Jonas / Public Domain First Collages The economic and political collapse of the German government at the end of World War I had a profound impact on Karl Schwitters art. His painting turned toward Expressionist ideas, and he began picking up litter in the streets as found objects to incorporate into works of art. Schwitters gained the attention of other artists in postwar Berlin with his first one-person exhibition at Der Sturm Gallery. He created a non-sensical Dada-influenced poem, An Anna Blume, for the event and displayed his first collage works. Through the use of items that others would consider garbage, Schwitters illustrated his idea that art could emerge from destruction. Construction for Noble Ladies (1919). Kurt Schwitters / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Kurt Schwitters was suddenly a respected member of the Berlin avant-garde. Two of his closest contemporaries were Austrian artist and writer Raoul Hausmann and German-French artist Hans Arp. Merz or Psychological Collage While he engaged directly with many artists in the Dada movement, Kurt Schwitters devoted himself to the development of his own style that he labeled Merz. He adopted the name when he found a piece of an advertisement from the local bank or kommerz that contained only the last four letters. The Merz magazine first appeared in 1923. It helped solidify Schwitters place in the European art world. He supported lectures and performances by a wide range of Dada artists, musicians, and dancers. He often created collages to help advertise the events. The Merz collage style is also often called psychological collage. Kurt Schwitters work avoids non-sensical construction by trying to make sense of the world with a harmonious juxtaposition of found objects. The materials included sometimes made witty references to current events, and other times were autobiographical including bus tickets and items given to the artist by friends. In 1923, Kurt Schwitters began the construction of the Merzbau, one of the most ambitious of his Merz projects. He ultimately transformed six rooms of his familys house in Hanover. The process was a gradual one and involved contributions of art and objects from Schwitters ever-expanding network of friends. He completed the first room in 1933 and expanded from there into other parts of the house until fleeing to Norway in 1937. A bombing raid destroyed the building in 1943. Merzbau. Sprengel Museum / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain In the 1930s, Kurt Schwitters reputation spread internationally. His work appeared in two landmark 1936 exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in 1936. One show was titled Cubism and Abstract Art and the other Fantastic Art, Dada, and Surrealism. Exile from Germany In 1937, the Nazi government in Germany labeled Kurt Schwitters work degenerate and confiscated it from museums. On January 2, 1937, after finding out that he was wanted for an interview with the Gestapo, Schwitters fled to Norway to join his son who left a week earlier. His wife, Helma, stayed behind in Germany to manage their property. She visited Norway regularly until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. The last time Kurt and Helma saw each other was a family celebration in Oslo, Norway in June 1939. Helma died in 1944 of cancer before World War II ended. After Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway in 1940, Schwitters escaped to Scotland with his son and daughter-in-law. As a German national, he was subject to a series of interments by the U.K. authorities in Scotland and England until he eventually arrived at Hutchinson Square in Douglas on the Isle of Man on July 17, 1940. Dadaists in Germany including Kurt Schwitters. Apic / Getty Images A collection of terraced houses around Hutchinson Square served as an internment camp. Most of those in residence were German or Austrian. It soon became known as an artists camp since so many internees were artists, writers, and other intellectuals. Kurt Schwitters soon became one of the most prominent residents of the camp. He soon opened up studio space and took on art students, many of whom later became successful artists. Schwitters earned release from the camp in November 1941, and he moved to London. There he met Edith Thomas, the companion of his last years. Kurt Schwitters met a number of other artists in London including British abstract artist Ben Nicholson and Hungarian modernist pioneer Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. Later Life In 1945, Kurt Schwitters moved to the Lake District of England with Edith Thomas for the last stage of his life. He moved into new territory in his painting creating what are considered precursors to the later Pop Art movement in a series titled For Kate after his friend, art historian Kate Steinitz. Schwitters spent many of his last days working on what he called the Merzbarn in Elterwater, England. It was a recreation of the spirit of the destroyed Merzbau. To maintain his income, he was forced to paint portraits and landscape pictures that could be sold easily to residents and tourists. These show a heavy influence from his Post-Impressionist past. Kurt Schwitters died on January 8, 1948, from chronic heart and lung disease. This is a cover of a book of 8 lithographs entitled Die Kathedrale, published in Hanover in 1920. This publication was created as response to the Dadaism included in the periodical Dada: Receuil litteraire et artistique by Tristan Tzara. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images Legacy and Influence Whether intentional or not, Kurt Schwitters was a pioneer anticipating many later developments in modernist art. His use of found materials anticipated the later collage work of artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. He believed that art couldnt be and shouldnt be restricted to a frame on a wall. That point of view impacted the later development of installation and performance art. The series For Kate is considered proto-pop art through its use of a comic book art style. Merzzeichnung 47 (1920). Kurt Schwitters / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Arguably, the most complete representation of Schwitters artistic point of view was his beloved Merzbau. It allowed those in the building to immerse themselves in an aesthetic environment composed of found objects, autobiographical references, and the contributions of friends and acquaintances. Sources Schulz, Isabel. Kurt Schwitters: Color and Collage. The Merrill Collection, 2010.

The eNotes Blog Letters to Juliet A Project of Love for theLovelorn

Letters to Juliet A Project of Love for theLovelorn One of my favorite things that has been going around the internet for some time is the EMO person who posted, What if hes your Romeo, but youre not his Juliet? The lightning-fast response was, That means youre his Rosaline and you survive the friggin play. Despite the reality of what happens to the star crossd lovers, the persistence in thinking of them as the romantic ideal lives on. See? Most people, even those who have never read or seen the play, are more likely to conjure up this image, or something close to it, than gruesome deaths: I didnt know, however, until I heard a story on NPRs Morning Edition yesterday, that men (mostly, I guess) have been penning letters to Juliet for  centuries.   Initially, shortly after the plays performances, people left notes at what was thought to be her tomb. The numbers of letters left became so great that the post office of Verona established a special office to handle the volume.   The remarkable thing about the letters left for Juliet is that she actually answers.  Well, understudies for Juliet do.  Dozens of volunteers in Verona, who call themselves The Juliet Club answer, by hand, each of the 6,000+ letters addressed to Shakespeares heroine each year.   All of the letters are retained in a massive archive, to which more letters are regularly added. The job must be tough but many of the volunteers have been at it for ten and twenty years, some even longer. What do they say to these heartbroken people? Here is one of their answers to someone who was driving herself crazy asking, What if? What and If are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I dont know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then its never too late. If it was true then, why wouldnt it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I dont know what a love like Juliets feels like love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but Id like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didnt, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet† You can read more about the long history of the Juliet Project in Lise Friedmans study,  Ã‚  Letters to Juliet: Celebrating Shakespeares Greatest Heroine, the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love

Spain and its unemployment problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Spain and its unemployment problems - Essay Example Causes of high unemployment rates in Spain There have been high reported incidences of unemployment throughout the entire region of the European Union and Spain being among the countries highly affected by the issue. According to data collected by the economics ministry, the rate of unemployment varies among the countries in European Union. For example, it indicated that by then, the rate of unemployment in Luxembourg was 13%, while the rate of unemployment in Spain was 24%. Therefore, there must be different internal factors in Spain, which contributes to the increase of unemployment rates.These factors include; Spain faces high rates of unemployment due to Real Wage Unemployment. This is a dis-equilibrium unemployment, which happens when the required real wages for a given jobs are above the market clearing level. This type of unemployment in Spain results from trade unions and other wages boards. Secondly, Spain records high rates of unemployment because of demand deficient unempl oyment, which lowers the demand for both the goods and services produced within the country. Economic recession experienced in Spain contributes to this problem as they results into many companies closing up their businesses hence putting off workers. Thirdly, Spain has high rates of unemployment rates resulting from frictional unemployment. This type of unemployment occurs when people change jobs. It can also occur when fresh graduates from universities take a lot of time while in search of an appropriate job that has attractive wages hence being among the unemployed. Finally, incidences of unemployment are high in Spain due low quality and poorly designed... Unemployment refers to an economic indicator that measures the persons who are willing and capable of working but they cannot due to inadequate jobs. According to the report released by the Economy minister in Spain, the country is experiencing high rates of recession, which will result into an increase in the unemployment rates. The rate of unemployment in the country has highly increased to 25%; hence, negatively affecting its financial status. In Spain, the rate of unemployment is elevated amidst women than men. This is because in 2012, the total unemployed men accounts for 23.60% as women accounts for 24.60% (Dobre& Adriana 184). The rate of unemployment is very high among the youths, which shows the difficulties that young people encounter in search of jobs. Spain has also recorded an inflation rate of 1.9 %. Since 2002 up to 2012, the highest inflation rate was 5.3 % recorded in July 2008 while the lowest was 1.4% recorded in July 2009 (Osuna 43). Therefore, it is important for Spain’s government to introduce control bank monetary policy in order to maintain price stability so that the inflation rates can be below and close to 2% as increase in inflation rate increases the rate of unemployment in a given state (Osuna 43).As a means of solving the issue of unemployment in Spain, the government should ensure that it fosters economic growth because it highly generates more jobs. This means that the legislative authorities should study their economic process and introduce impetus to the economy including buying debts from agencies for them to hire.

Vegetarianism and Its Various Benefits Research Paper

Vegetarianism and Its Various Benefits - Research Paper Example People may also turn vegetarian since they feel that human beings are supposed to eat food that is obtained only from plant sources. Vegetarianism can also be manifested in different forms and degrees with some people deciding to be extreme followers and some deciding against it. With the increase in the number of vegetarians in the world, there are sects even within vegetarians. There are some who eat eggs and dairy products and others who avoid them. They are classified into lacto-vegetarians, ovo-vegetarians, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, vegans and so on and so forth (Vegetarianism, n.d.). These categories prove the importance that people assign to the constituents of their diet in a world comprising people who are increasingly conscious of their appearances and their health. In many industrial countries this may be a survival tactic to gain more immunity against the pollution that is prevalent in these countries. In others, it may be a means of gaining protein from certain sources whil e remaining faithful to their religious practices. Anyhow, these sects within the larger group of vegetarians prove how strong the overall movement against what they perceive as cruelty to animals is. In some cases, religious beliefs can be the root cause of vegetarianism and in such instances, people start attaching great value to their vegetarianism as it is a symbol of their culture. Especially in communities that consist of immigrants, vegetarianism can be a strong reminder of the culture of the homeland and may be held on to with great strength. This can be seen in the Jain communities of the United States of America. Originally from the Indian subcontinent, the people belonging to the Jain community are mostly lacto-vegetarians and they believe in not inflicting violence upon animals. This is a part of the larger theories of nonviolence that were propounded by the founder of Jainism, Mahavir (Mehta, n.d.). The importance of vegetarian diets is significant in the cultures of Ja inism and some sects of Jains even wear cloth masks so as to not accidentally inhale insects and cause harm to them. The conflict between different cultures that believe in vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism as parts of their religion creates problems for many nations. In multicultural and multi-religious societies across the world, such problems keep surfacing. In such a scenario, it becomes important for one to analyze the position of vegetarianism in the world and whether it would not be beneficial to adopt vegetarianism as a whole. This discussion is at a hypothetical level as people are free to choose the food of their choice unless of course, there are instructions from the state to the contrary. This paper shall look at the benefits of vegetarianism for human beings at an individual level and also for the environment. It shall speak of the different positive effects that vegetarianism ahs on the human body. It shall also discuss the negative effects that the meat industry ha s on the environment and the flora of a nation. The conservation of the environment would receive a boost if the presence of the meat-production centers in the world would decrease. Vegetarian diets often have the ability to provide the body with substances that would enable it to detoxify itself. The presence of various kinds of vitamins and minerals in these diets, absent from meat-only diets, helps the body to purify itself of the toxic substances that may be