Education Essay Example for Free

Education Essay Someone once told me that â€Å"Education is the building blocks of one’s character†. As much as it sounds too much of a cliche’ I couldn’t help but agree with this well known quotation. Although it may be true, that one’s education cannot define a man, it also holds true that different forms of education is readily available and it makes or breaks a man into who he is in his current disposition and into who he may want to be in the future. Some people claim that education is a matter of circumstance and privilege, that in this modern day and age, only those with the proper resources can have the proper education that one may need in order to be successful. If you ask me, this is only true in the terms of getting a degree to get all the right opportunities. But in reality, real education that will lead you towards the ends of your goals in life is the education you gain in life experiences. Let’s take Bill Gates and Albert Einstein who both didn’t finish college for example, they only succeeded in their personal aspirations by learning in the arena of their life and living itself. It may be important to note that in life, one must need a model to see how life is lived and how we learn from everything we see and experience in our day to day living. It may not always be formal education that we may attribute our learnings all the time, but it is imperative that any form of education should take place in order for us to grow in all different aspects of our lives. May it be in our professional lives, personal lives or for social reasons, a learning curb can be gained by us through the years because we were educated not only on how to live life, but most importantly how to be continuously educated till there is nothing more to learn in this life which may bring us to the breaking point of death or suicide. But in both scenarios, we still know that it is an imperative that a learning experience should be observed for us to prosper in a game called life.

Correcting Librarian Stereotypes Essay -- Library Career Profession

What do picture when you think of librarians? Librarians are often stereotyped as being conservative, orderly, thorough, and passive (1, 2, 3)? Perhaps the best known librarian stereotype is the "spinsterly and authoritarian naysayer over-concerned with regulations and maintaining a hushed library environment" (4). But where do these stereotypes come from, and are they really true? Perhaps librarians' professional invisibility is to blame for some of the stereotypes. Most people think that everyone who works in libraries is a librarian, and that librarian duties consist mainly of shelving and checking out books (5, 6). Think again! Librarians are not usually involved in shelving and circulation responsibilities. Much of the work librarians do isn't visible to library users. And even a children's story time involves behind-the-scenes work and knowledge. The history of libraries and librarianship may also contribute to these stereotypes. Public libraries were often started to "improve" working people, and librarians often really were "goody two shoes" (7). But although they still take their social responsibilities seriously, the librarians (and libraries) of today are very different. Keep reading to find out what librarians really do and who they really are. But first, follow me on a technological history of librarians. Where did the original stereotype of librarians as bun-wearing "shush-ers" come from? Let's think low tech--before the days of advanced communication technology, ideas were spread through word of mouth and writing. So did these traditional images come from interactions with real librarians which were then communicated amongst people and accepted into our society's lore of the librar... ...w.outsights.com/systems/dikw/dikw.htm>. In "Module 3: Introduction to Information and Digital Representations." LIBR 500: Foundations of Information Technology, Web CT Reading, Mary Sue Stephenson. 22. Stephenson, Mary Sue. "Module 3: Introduction to Information and Digital Representations." LIBR 500: Foundations of Information Technology, Web CT Reading. 23. Rybash, John M., Paul A. Roodin, and William J. Hoyer. Adult Development and Aging, 3d ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1995. 24. Scherdin, Mary Jane, and Anne Beaubien. "Shattering Our Stereotype: Librarians' New Image." Library Journal 12 (1 July 1995): 35-8. 25. Houdyshell, Mara, Patricia A. Robles, and Hua Yi. "What Were You Thinking: If You Could Choose Librarianship Again, Would You?" Information Outlook 3 (July 1999): 19-23.

Challenges of Studying Written and Oral Sources in Africa

One of the biggest issues facing African historians is the fact that the study of actual African History is relatively new. A large majority of the sources available are written from the point of view of Europeans, with an Intended audience of Europeans. L In this egocentric method of reporting history, Africans were viewed more as objects: a people with a past but no history. 2 The written â€Å"historical† sources provided by imperialists robbed Africans of their voice.The principal challenge facing African historians Is to find a way to Inject the African voice Into the narrative, and thus roved a more accurate representation of the continental history. This task presents more profound questions. What qualities make someone an African? Is it sufficient to be a black person living on the continent? Are there levels of ethnicity? Are the descendants of Africans brought to other parts of the world In the slave trade â€Å"Africans†? Ultimately, who decides who Is  "African†? Equally problematic is the Issue regarding what represents a credible source, either written or oral.Each presents unique challenges that must be addressed in order to qualify the value of the Information they portend to provide. While the more traditional African historical sources are Invariably prone to the problem of European bias, cave paintings offer a source that was born out of a desire of an African (not a European) to document their experiences. For example, the rock art of Gill Kefir in what is present-day Egypt represents people allegedly engaging in the catchy of swimming. 3 This offers historians perhaps the oldest example of source material regarding African history. UT what does this ‘Written† source actually tell African historians? Most importantly, it definitively proves that someone was there, and through scientific dating cuisines, It indicates approximately when they were there. This is real, hard evidence, which â€Å"underpins al l historical research. â€Å"4 This Is not to Infer that there are not problems with the use of the paintings as a source of usable evidence. The older a source is, it is more likely to be inaccurate. 5 Were the people in the paintings actually swimming, as scientists believe?Does that mean that the desert where the cave paintings were found was once a land that contained lakes or rivers? Or did the cave painters devise their art from the second-hand memories of others who had traveled to faraway lands? What was the reason they chose to document their experience? Was it graffiti? Was it done for religious reasons? Was it a territorial marking? Archaeological sites are less prevalent in Africa than other parts of the world, which Is problematic In having the ability to compare this particular site to others.Further, the available archives needed to compare these archaeological finds are fewer in number in African regions, and sometimes less accessible due to political reasons. The I nformation In the African archives that do exist Is often more difficult to translate than traditional archival Information In that most African engages are oral, and not written, and nearly impossible to document without the benefit of oral history. 6 How can African historians mitigate these challenges and ‘OFF source?One suggestion is to actively search for other existing examples of cave paintings and to compare them based on materials, method, content, location, etc. When such comparable examples do not exist, scientists could initiate more archaeological digs, extend communication among scientists to broaden the evidence base, and exert political pressure upon leaders to focus on scientific endeavors, as well as the preservation of the archives. Like historians in other parts of the world, African historians face the challenge of deteriorating archives because of damage caused by the elements, water damage, and insects. Traditional written sources such as government docu ments, tax records, and newspapers may also be lost due to archival neglect. Historians must consider several criteria of source criticism to determine each written source's historical value. 8 Regardless of the name on the document, who was the actual author? What was the real purpose of the document? Who was the intended audience? Did the author have personal motives in reporting it in the manner in which he did? For example, most government documents from Colonial Africa were written by Europeans, with an intended European audience.There is no African voice in this â€Å"history. † Africans were treated like objects,9 and colonial imperialistic authors of written sources â€Å"believed that they actually were generating history for the first time?that Africa (and Africans) had no history before their arrival. â€Å"10 Another limitation of written documents is that they are created from the point of view of an observer, and thus produce an opinion that is completely subj ective, and thereby, by definition, are open to other opinions and observations. To address the limitations of written documents, historians often attempt to incorporate oral sources in conjunction with written sources in order to strengthen historical evidence. â€Å"Anxiety about flawed written sources drew scholars away from libraries and into towns and villages for historical narrative. â€Å"12 The incorporation of oral history into the narrative makes it more evidential and gives the written documents a more verifiable African voice. Relying on written documents from the Colonial period without the incorporation of oral sources, in many cases, produces an inaccurate version of African history.Typically, in the African â€Å"history' provided by Colonial Europeans their culture, norms, and ideology were largely ignored. â€Å"One of the key methods to avoid (the possibility of denying Africans a voice in their own history) is to include a people's own oral traditions and li fe histories in ethnographically and archaeological work. â€Å"13 Because most African languages in Colonial Africa were oral and not written,14 it is imperative to consider oral sources to bolster the evidence provided by written sources. Oral sources can provide a wealth of historical evidence.For example, Historical linguists use oral sources to accurately track the movement of people across the continent. 15 This evidence of human migration can help explain cultural change, which is important when considering that a lack of concentration of people in a particular area makes a study of their culture less possible. Oral histories offer first-hand accounts of events. These oral histories evolve into oral traditions;16 stories passed down from generation to generation, offering us a glimpse of pre-colonial Africa not found in the Euro-centric written documents of imperialists.Oral sources obviously can complement the written, a realization that was for too long lost on most profes sional order to strengthen written sources to form cohesive historical evidence is Jan Vinson, who â€Å"established that the stories handed down from one generation to another †¦ Were as stable and reliable accounts of their past as were the written chronicles and personal narratives†¦ (and) that in fact they were of the same genre. â€Å"18 In Banana's own words: â€Å"by creating a lifelike setting, (oral tradition) gives evidence about how situations as they were observed, as well as about beliefs uncovering situations. 19 Thus, oral sources, through both shared oral history and oral traditions, combined with written sources, form a more credible account of historical occurrences than written sources alone provide. Oral sources, though, are not without their limitations. â€Å"(H)Astoria can place trust in oral sources only to the extent that they can be verified by means of external evidence of another kind, such as archaeological, linguistic, or cultural. â€Å" 20 Oral sources are subject to misinterpretation because of selective or collective memory, rumor, myth, or hearsay. That being said, oral sources subject to these limitations still offer substance, because historians can still study why the subjects believe it happened that way. 22 African historians can mitigate the limitations of oral sources by searching for information that is valuable, if not as historical evidence, but as information that is not readily apparent through the written archive. While attempting to glean evidence from a source on one topic, a historian may gain knowledge of another unintended topic.Ultimately, â€Å"it is the duty of the historian to subject all written accounts to radical internal and external analysis to determine authenticity and credibility. If the accounts are thoroughly examined, and the texts can be compared to one another with the information contained in oral and other sources, they will continue to yield valuable information on the hist ory of Africa. â€Å"23 These things considered; if an historian wanted to get an approximation of how many Africans were enslaved, maimed or killed in the occupation of King Leopold in the Congo, where would they start? What sources would they utilize, and what would they expect to find?What there information might they â€Å"accidentally' stumble upon? I propose that a good place to start would be to examine any existing hospital documents from 1885-1908, to determine if there is a written record of the number of people treated for loss of limbs. Local censuses (if available), police records, military ledgers, property records, death certificates might also prove as fruitful written resources. Additionally, missionary records in the region mighty prove to be valuable, especially considering that they would probably not require translation, lessening the possibility that any information would be mistranslated.Another possible valuable written source might be records in the Belgia n archive, or that of the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. The historian might hope to find information or documents concerning the Congo Reform Association, which might shed some light on the information she seeks. Additionally, research on the Congo Free State propaganda war and the International Association of the Congo might provide valuable useful written sources of evidence of injuries and deaths to those enslaved at that time.One might also be able to glean useful information from historical-based literature, such as Joseph Concord's Heart of Darkness, Sir Arthur Cowan Dole's The Crime of the Congo, and Bertrand Russell Freedom and Organization. Research on the parties evidence of the atrocities in the region, including Edmund Dine Muriel, Roger Casement and the aforementioned Bertrand Russell. Local museums might contain artwork from the region during Loophole's occupation that captures the outrage, despair and helplessness of the affected.By speaking to locals, she might learn, through oral tradition, the stories passed down from generation to generation about the occupation. In the unlikely, yet still possible event, that any 106-year-old residents still survive, they would be able to provide first-hand oral history. Other than gaining information regarding the number of enslaved, killed and maimed, she would, in all probability, gain an understanding of the long-term effects of the occupation of Leopold upon the citizens, as well as information of how Loophole's occupation came to an end due to intense international criticism.Possible obstacles that she might experience: In retreat, Leopold may have destroyed written evidence of the atrocities, as well as local artwork or libraries. His regime may have been so strict that any expression, either written or oral, was prohibited and subject to the same penalties as those who refused to work in the mines, or underperformed in their duties, diminishing oral sources. Let's consider that the same historian endeavored to learn the approximate number of the descendants of diasporas Africans who returned to partake in the so-called â€Å"redeeming of Africa. Where might she begin, and what would she expect to find? What limitations might she encounter? What other information might she learn along the way? A good starting mint would be to visit the archives in Liberia and Sierra Leone; countries set up as places of African repatriation for freed slaves. There, she could view the legal records regarding who came back and when they returned, who their family members were, where they lived, as well as their professions. Available Census documents would prove to be invaluable in that regard.Ship's manifests would reflect the number of passengers returning to these countries, as well as the number of family members that accompanied them. She could research the founders of both countries, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia, and Christopher Koru Cole and Osaka Stev ens, early leaders of Sierra Leone, to find documents pertaining to the numbers of returning Africans. She could study historical literature about repatriation, such as Back to Africa: the Colonization Movement in Early Africa by Timothy Crummier, as well as Black Migration in America: a Social Demographic History by Daniel M.Johnson and Rexes R. Campbell. She could also read the works of the men who themselves returned, such as George Washington Williams, Samuel Jay Crotchet, and Henry McNealy Turner. 4 Some limitations she might experience in her research: inconclusive data due to the relative impossibility of proving that they (or their descendants) were indeed originally removed from the continent. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation might also prove to be a stumbling block in attaining this information.Additional research on topics such as the American Colonization Society, and the histories of both Liberia and Sierra Leone would not only provide numerical data, but also und oubtedly uncover unintended useful information about the achievements and political and religious aims of those who returned, as well as how hey were received. Did they consider themselves more â€Å"civilized† than the native Africans whose descendants had not been removed from the continent?What other the reasons why some Africans did not return, even though they had the opportunity. Through personal interviews of present-day citizens who are descendants of returning freed slaves she could learn of the oral traditions they had developed. She might also learn of the artwork prevalent in these regions, as well as the folklore and literature that the return to Africa produced, and how it differed from that of indigenous Africans. â€Å"As a recognized academic endeavor, (African history) has emerged only in the last four or five decades. 25 Until recently, African â€Å"history' was written by and for Europeans, and as such, didn't provide a realistic depiction of the people , the culture, and the overall actual history of the continent, but served more as a record of White encroachment, and functioned as a tool of propaganda to legitimate the â€Å"civilizing mission† of Europeans. By altering traditional methodology and utilizing both written and oral sources, a more accurate picture of African history ND its people can be discovered and studied.Beyond the fade of imperialistic African â€Å"history,† there is a real history of the African continent that invites further study, and such an endeavor is necessary in restoring the African â€Å"voice. † If we fail to do so, â€Å"(w)e run the risk of not only denying people a voice in the reconstruction of their own history, but offending and demeaning indigenous cultures when we use them as a model for the past without recognizing not only their changing past but their active involvement in changing and/or maintaining their identities and history in the present. â€Å"26

Conflict English Essay

ESSAY PLAN CONFLICT – SHOULD I PURCHASE A 1940'S GENUINE MINK FUR COAT OR NOT? Opening para – browsing Ebay, personal dilemma over ethics, state below my personal argue for and against purchase and wear of said coat FOR animal is dead – (dead over 70 yrs), not slaughtered for me, mink farms don't exist any more, can't save them now * timeless and classic piece – should be enjoyed so wear it, take care of it, piece of history * cost effective purchase from ebay – have to go abroad to get this item (eastern europe), cost of shipping, worry, uncertainty, purchase not protect like on ebay * it's recycling – why destroy piece of art, left in dusty warehouse, eat by vermin, so enjoy craftsmanship, coat hand crafted, many hours work * can't buy something like this today – source abroad for similar * warm and luxurious – eskimos wear real fur, we don't get that type of weather, feels second to none, quality, depth, finish which is rarel y seen nowadays * statement piece – unique, never a coat like this, proud and honoured to wear it, exquisite AGAINST ethically wrong – slaughter for cosmetic is barbaric, educated people shouldn't wear it * target for activist – eg, tin of paint thrown at a woman * may encourage other to wear real fur – could in increase market interest eg stoles, hats etc, may lead to a ‘black market' trade * may be smelly – real fur has a certain smell, stinks when wet, rains a lot in UK, wet dog (yuk) * only an occasion piece – not worn daily, kept locked away, no max enjoyment, scared to wear it * conclusion – didn't buy, would feel uncomfortable in myself, dearly loved to own a piece of history, conscience won't allow, olden days this garment was common not now, made and worn in an era where there were no animal rights activist, can't take a life to adorn ourselves, it's a selfish and barbaric act to wear one. QUESTION GCSE LEVEL (GRADED A* ) The web host of a creative writing website approaches you to submit some writing for it. This month’s theme is â€Å"Conflict†. You have complete freedom in your choice of form, but are asked not to make what you submit longer than 1,000 words. Write your piece for the website. CONFLICT â€Å"Should I purchase a 1940’s genuine mink fur coat or not? † Recently I was browsing ‘eBay’ on the internet looking for a winter coat when I came across the above. I bid for the item and then began a personal dilemma over the ethics of whether or not I should own a coat such as this.Below is my own personal argument as to whether or not I should indeed purchase and wear a real fur coat. Argument for purchase * The animal is dead; in fact it has been dead for over 70 years. The mink has not been slaughtered for my pleasure alone and mink farms no longer exist in this country. No matter what I do, I cannot save it now. * It is a timeless and classical garm ent and should be enjoyed. The only way to do this is to wear it, take care of the item and treasure the fact that I own a piece of history. * It is recycling – what is the point of destroying a beautiful piece of ‘art’. Do you leave the coat in a dusty warehouse to be eaten by rats or mice, or do you enjoy the craftsmanship and work of art?These coats were hand crafted and took many, many hours/weeks to complete. * It would be very cost effective to purchase a fur coat from eBay. If I were serious about purchasing real fur, I would probably have to go abroad, say Eastern Europe, to source such an item. Then there is the cost of shipping and also the worry of buying from an unknown source. I may not be protected in my purchase like I will be with eBay. * I will never find a garment like this in a shop nowadays. Again, I would have to source the item most likely abroad and there are too many uncertainties. * It will be warm and feel luxurious to the touch. Eskimos wear real fur to eep themselves warm and although England doesn’t experience weather such as theirs, it will still keep the chill at bay. Also the feel of real fur is second to none. It has quality, depth and a finish on the garment that is rarely seen on mass produced items that are manufactured today. * It is a statement piece, and unique, there will never be another coat like this, ever and I would feel proud and honoured to wear such a garment as exquisite as this. Argument against purchase * It is ethically wrong. Slaughtering animal for cosmetic purposed is barbaric and as an educated individual I do not stand for much by wearing such a garment. * I may become a target for activist.For example, I once read in the newspapers that a woman who was wearing a real fur coat had a tin of paint thrown over her. * It may encourage others to wear real fur and this in turn could create a market for garments such as real fur stoles, hats, jackets etc. It may even create a ‘b lack market’ for real fur items. * I believe real fur has a certain ‘smell’ to it, made particularly prominent when wet. I do not like the idea of being caught in the rain wearing the coat only to find I smell like a wet dog. Also it rains all the time in England! * It would be an occasion piece. I would certainly not wear it daily, therefore would I get maximum enjoyment out of it? Would I be in fear of wearing it? Would it end up just sat in the wardrobe?Therefore, in conclusion to my personal conflict, I decided not go through with the purchase. I felt I would not be comfortable, in myself, wearing this coat. I would have dearly loved to have owned this piece of history, but my conscience would not allow it. In times gone by, garments of this nature were common place amongst the wealthy and in an era where animal rights activist were virtually unheard of; real fur coats were not an issue. Nowadays, many of us consider ourselves equal to animals and that we sho uld not take their lives just to adorn our own bodies. In my opinion, this would indeed be considered a selfish and barbaric act. (707 words)

Judy Garland essays

Judy Garland essays Little do most people know that Frances Ethel Gumm was one of the greatest actor and singer of all time. I know you are probably thinking well than why have I never heard of her. The reason you have never heard of this astounding actress and singer is because she is better known as Judy Garland. My purpose for this paper is to inform many Garland fans of not only her achievements but to let you know of some of the obstacles she incurred behind the scenes of her acting/singing career. Judy did not have much of a childhood due to her early start in the music business. It was at the age of thirty months when Judy held her first performance singing Jingle Bells on stage at her fathers theater. From there performances never stopped for the young Judy. At age, five her and her other two sisters began the Gumm Trio whose name later changed to the Garland Trio. This was a suggestion made by George Jessel after he heard some of the audience poking fun of the girls last name during a performance. Once the Garland Trio became more popular Judy finished elementary school and began school at Lawlers Professional School in Los Angeles. It was after one of the girls concerts in 1935 that Judy signed a 7-year contract with MGM. This contract was the only one MGM had ever signed without screen or sound tests. Why you might ask would MGM take such a risk. This is what they had to say Judy couldnt read music, had never had a dancing or singing lesson, but she was bright and inve ntive and powered with a fantastic drive.... She could read pages of dialogue just once, then go through a scene flawlessly. She was born to be a star. Later Judy began to attend University High School then eventually entered the school at MGM. Here she began movies. Her first film was Every Sunday Afternoon. This film sparked her acting career. From here she appeared in many great mov ...

Quality Assurance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quality Assurance - Research Paper Example Section 46.703 of the FAR spells out the criteria for use of warranties. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 46.7) outlines that the application of warranties is not mandatory. Nevertheless, if the benefits to flow from the warranty are proportionate to the cost of the warranty, the Contracting Officer (CO) should consider placing it in the contract. FAR Subpart 46.703 demands that the CO evaluate the form and application of supplies and services, the cost, administration and enforcement, reduced requirements, and trade practices (National Archives Records Administration, 2010). The rationale for incorporating a warranty should be documented within the contract file. The CO should consider the following factors when weighing in on warranties; nature and application of supplies or services, cost, trade practice, administration and enforcement, and minimized requirements. The nature and application of the supplies or services is influenced by factors such as degree of development, state of the art, end use, complexity and function, degree of development, probable harm to the government in instances in which the item is defective, and complexities in detecting defects prior to acceptance. Warranty clause does not limit the government’s rights under the inspection clause (Subpart 46.3) regarding latent defects, fraud, or gross mistakes that are tantamount to fraud. Subpart 46.706 (warranty terms and conditions) facilitates the pricing and enforcement of warranties whereby CO should ensure that the warranties state concisely the precise nature of item and components that the contractor warrants, scope and duration of the warranty, and extent of the contractor’s warranty inclusive of contractor’s obligations to the government for violation of contract (Meagher & Rennie, 2001). Contractor obligations under warranties encompass to all defects discovered at the

CANNIBALISM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CANNIBALISM - Essay Example In two fascinating articles on the subject, Billman, et al, and Dongoske, et al, explore these questions. In Billman's article, the archaeologists explored a site in Colorado, dating from about one thousand years ago. The authors describe the sites in detail and provide maps. A number of items were uncovered including tools. But the main discoveries are a number of disarticulated human bones consistent with the practice of cannibalization. A human coprolite also suggested that the people at the site had been consuming human flesh. The authors are careful to distinguish between different types of cannibalism. They carefully describe both: [I]n situ floor deposit sites and secondary deposit sites, might represent victim and perpetrator communities. At victim sites, villagers were killed, processed, and probably at least partially consumed. At perpetrator sites, captives and body parts would have been brought back, consumed, and then disposed of in a manner similar to routine food refus e. If in situ deposit sites and secondary deposit sites do represent victim and perpetrator sites, then high ratio of victim to perpetrator sites (8 to 1) in the Mesa Verde region suggests that cannibalism never became a multigenerational and institutionalized practice (Billman, et al, 2000).