My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Teaching Philosophy Education Essa

My Philosophy of Education A child’s education is one of the most important, if not the most important, aspects of his or her life. With this in mind, teachers are very influential characters. Therefore it is essential that teachers develop their educational philosophy and their educational goals before making the big step from being a student to being a teacher. I would now like to present my educational philosophy and goals. I will do this by combining the thoughts of Rousseau, Plato/Socrates, Sophistry/Foucault, Pragmatism/Progressivism and interpreting and creating it into my own. First, I would like to share my thoughts on the nature of human beings. I agree with Plato and Socrates in the sense that most human beings (students) are not alike and are therefore sorted into groups. I do not believe, however, that it is my right or responsibility to sort students into my own defined groups. This proves to be unfair and provides no sense of autonomy to the students. In today’s society, mainly the students do the sorting process, themselves, into what we know as â€Å"peer groups†. This is why I also agree with the Pragmatists and Progressivists’ view in which they believe that human beings are social as well as experiencing, exploring, and thinking individuals. In addition, I feel that students are innocent with a capacity for good or evil and the environment determines their direction, as does Rousseau. Unfortunately, the environments surrounding children today are not always conductive for learning; therefore, I want to present m y classroom as a safe, positive, and conductive atmosphere. Next, I want to examine the nature of knowledge. I strongly agree with Rousseau’s view of knowledge. I... ...the classroom and to begin building upon my teaching experience. I do not plan to stop there; I plan to further my education every chance that I get by taking more classes, going to seminars, and so on. I feel that a good teacher is one that never stops learning; one’s education is never ending. However, I have a strong feeling that I will learn so much more once I become part of a classroom filled with little ones awaiting my every word and watching my every move. Yes, teaching is a heavy responsibility and should not be taken lightly; but I am ready. In conclusion, I cannot choose one philosopher that I agree with 100%. But I do think highly of Rousseau’s philosophy of education. Furthermore, with a strong education foundation, I feel that I will be able to attain my goals as a teacher through that of the various philosophies presented in this paper.

How was the Gupta Empire (India) scientifically advanced Essay

When thinking back to the Gupta Empire in India, one might remember the famous works of literature, or perhaps the vast lands conquered by the great rulers of the time. But it would be imprudent to ignore the influential achievements made in the areas of science, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy that made the empire scientifically advanced. Many people fail to realize that countless things mistaken for solely modern-day science, for example, plastic surgery, existed centuries ago. Here, the technologies of the Gupta Empire (320-467), such as the development of a more accurate value for pi, the perfection of the modern numeral and decimal system; surgery, inoculation, the formulation of medical guides and a better calendar; and lunar astronomy, will be discussed in detail. First we will deal with the area of mathematics. One of the most recognized achievements of the Gupta period was the highly accurate calculation of pi, made by the renowned mathematician Aryabhata. Before this time, pi, the value that explained the relationships between the area, circumference, diameter, radius, and volume of circles and spheres, was frequently represented by Indian mathematicians as three, or the square root of ten. (Although both of these values are far from accurate, the fact that the civilization had a knowledge of geometry and mathematical relationships is proof of scientific advancement, especially when one compares it to Europe, which in the eleventh century still had no knowledge of mathematics.) Aryabhata calculated pi to the fourth decimal place at a value of 3.1416. Aryabhata also studied and improved other concepts of mathematics; for example, he determined the rule for the area of isosceles triangles and researched algebraic identities and intermediate equations. His work can be observed in the Gitikapanda, a book which includes a trigonometrical sine table, rules for extracting square and cube roots, the concepts of spheres, pyramids and other plane figures, concepts of interest, the rule of three, and fractions, as well as the principles mentioned previously that pertain to him. All of these ideas can be found in modern-day science, which shows their great influence. Another prominent Indian mathematician of the Gupta period was Brahmagupta, who systemized the rules of astronomy, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry and  published his works in the Brahmasphuta-Siddhanta and ‘Khandakhadyaka.’ Other mathematical knowledge that had its foundations with Indian mathematicians were the so-called â€Å"Arabic† numerals and the decimal system, as well as the concept of zero and symbol for infinity, all of which previously did not exist. The number system that Gupta mathematicians devised was based on ten, and was the first of its kind. After a period of time, it was passed on to the Muslims of Baghdad, and then to the Europeans, which is why it is referred to as Arabic, though it really had its origins in India. Indian medicine was also remarkably advanced. Indian doctors of the Gupta period knew how to perform surgery, including plastic surgery to repair injured ears and noses–something thought of exclusively as new-age medicine and only recently perfected in the United States–and were experienced in setting broken bones. Furthermore, their surgical methods were quite sophisticated, as they knew to sterilize their tools before and after usage in order to prevent the spread of diseases and to keep a level of hygiene. More proof of their advancement in medicine comes from their philosophy of it; like ancient Greek doctors, as well as the doctors of today, the doctors of the Gupta Empire used an ethical code similar to the Hippocratic oath, in which they pledged to be honest and moral in their practice of medicine. Indian doctors were the first to give inoculations to prevent diseases, and were well ahead of their European peers, who did not give vaccines for another 1,000 years. Their cowpox vaccine was helpful in preventing epidemics of the fatal smallpox disease, and they even had free hospitals in which to administer it. Ironically, this is perhaps more progressive than today’s society, where free hospitals are considered an unreachable ideal. As well as advanced surgery and inoculations, the Indians of the Gupta Empire possessed medical guides much like those of today, such as the Bower Manuscript and the Hatyayurveda. These manuals contained information on things such as medicinal plants, prescriptions, diseases and children’s medicines. In total, â€Å"†¦these works classified more than 1,000 diseases and  described [the properties of] more than 500 medicinal plants,† such as garlic, a lotion that promoted eyesight, oils from trees, etc. There was even information on animal disease treatment! For these reasons, the Indians from the Gupta period were extremely advanced in their knowledge of medicine and treatment of ailments. Another area of science that flourished during the Gupta Empire was astronomy. The partial cause of acquired knowledge pertaining to it was the increase in trade, because while at sea, sailors used the stars to find their positions. Knowledge of astronomy also increased because of the work of Aryabhata, the mathematician previously mentioned. He was the first to tell that the earth was a sphere that rotated on its axis and revolved around the sun, and that lunar eclipses were caused by the shadow of the earth falling on the moon. He even founded his own mathematical-astronomical school and wrote a book on astronomy, called the Aryabhatiya. Thus, scientists of the Gupta period were knowledgeable even of such complex areas of science as astronomy. With an increased knowledge of astronomy, scientists were able to keep better time, basing their calendars on the cycles of the sun, appropriating a seven-day week, and breaking each day into hours, as is the way with Western timekeeping. Aryabhata had calculated the length of the solar year to 365.3586805 days, which is very close to modern measurements made by an atomic clock–thus the calendars of the time were accurate. Another well-known astronomer from the Gupta age was Varahamahira, who in the sixth century wrote the Panchasiddhantika, which summarized other astronomical works, and the Brihat samhita, an encyclopedia of astronomy and other sciences. Paired with the work of Aryabhata, Gupta knowledge of astronomy was ample. The people of the Gupta Empire were technologically very well developed. They had a great knowledge of medicine, astronomy, and mathematics, had an accurate value for pi, knew how to perform plastic surgery and administer inoculations, understood the stars, and were far ahead of other areas, such as Europe. Their advancements were a representation of an excelled and  sparkling civilization that will be remembered for centuries to come by scientists and philosophers alike. Bibliography Beck, Roger B. (et al). World History: Patterns of Interaction. McDougal Littel. Boston. 1999. This textbook provided quality information that was relevant to the topic and accurate when compared to other sources. Binongo, Jose Nilo. â€Å"Randomness, Statistics, and Pi.† Proquest. online. Internet. 1 June 2002. The source was not relevant to the topic, as it pertained to modern estimations of pi, but was interesting and of good quality. The website through which I obtained it was helpful and easy to use. Cajori, Florian, Ph. D. A History of Mathematics. Macmillan. New York. 1924. The book gave good information on general advancements that were made in India, but did not state periods, which made the information difficult to navigate. However, the information was accurate and easy to read. Chattopadhyaya, Debiprasad. History of Science and Technology in Ancient India. Firma Klm Private Limited. Calcutta. 1991. The majority of the book focused on very early advancements that took place long before the Gupta period, but there was some valuable information at the end on the topic. â€Å"Gupta.† Encyclopedia.com. online. Internet. 7 May 2002. The information, though accurate and relevant, was not specific enough to really help. Jaggi, O.P. Dawn of Indian Science: Volume Two. Atma Ram & Sons. Delhi. 1969. The information was irrelevant to the time period as well as inconsistent with the other sources. Jain, Nem Kumar, M. Sc. Science and Scientists in India. Indian Book Gallery. Delhi. 1982. The book was helpful in identifying names of people and their achievements, but had very little information on the topic otherwise. Krieger, Larry S. (et al). World History: Perspectives on the Past. McDougal Littel. Boston. 1997. The textbook gave a general overview of the information but did not go into specifics. However it was accurate, relevant, and helped spark interest in the topic. Langer, William L. (ed.). An Encyclopedia of World History. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 1968. The information was relevant and accurate, but not specific. It did, however, provide some interesting new details that were not known previously. Mookerji, R. K. The Gupta Empire. Shri Jainendra Press. Delhi. 1969. The information was relevant and accurate when compared to other sources. It was well-organized and provided useful information of the topic. Papanek, John L. (ed. et al). Ancient India: Land of Mystery. Time-Life Books. Virginia. 1994. The information was accurate and somewhat relevant to the topic. It was a little difficult to follow, but did provide some good information. Ronan, Colin A. Science: Its History and Development Among the World’s Cultures. Facts on File Publications. New York. 1982. The information was interesting and relevant, but badly organized, as it did not provide specific dates. Also, it did not go into great enough detail. Saran, Santosh and Ravindra N. Singh. History of Science and Technology During Gupta Period. Prachi Prakashan. New Delhi. 1994. The source contained some relevant information in the beginning that was accurate and of good quality. It gave specific information on areas usually ignored, such as animal medicine. Smith, Vincent A. The Early History of India. Oxford University Press. England. 1924. The book was not very relevant to the topic, but helped clarify previous information with dates.

Ethical and moral issues in business

Ethical and moral issues in business Ethics and morals may seem similar to many, but basically they are different. Morals are more related to an individual’s character and behavior. On the other hand, ethics describes ways in different societies and other social set ups practically use these personal values. Alternatively, ethics can be defined as expectations by a certain group or by the society from its members.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical and moral issues in business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different persons have different morals as well as ethics depending on the environment in which they live. In a business set up, issues related to ethics are based on an individual’s good conduct or misconduct in relation to the workplace expectations (McHenry, 2003, p. 1). All employers require their employees to be morally upright; failure to which they have the right to expel them from work. Business ethics are, therefore, bas ed on norms that should be exercised in a group of individuals while moral values are based on human behavior more important in determining what is wrong and what is right. Business managers are usually very strict with ethical issues. They often find suitable solutions to any unethical related problems to avoid failures in business institutions. Most businesses today are failing as a result of unsuitable solutions to problems concerning ethics. Many managers find it difficult to handle ethical problems because of the relationship they may be having with their employees where they are dependent on certain employees to the point of being unable to act appropriately to workplace misconduct (Gallagher, 2010, p.1). Similarly, an individual with good moral values interacts well with other groups and the community at large. In the same way, people who lack good character traits find it difficult to conduct themselves well in a group of people. In other words, morality influences the ethic s of an individual. Different people have different views and beliefs on ethics that a person should have. Because of this reason, many business corporations set up codes of conduct that the employers are supposed to follow and practice (McHenry, 2003, p. 1).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These codes consist of both business ethics that are generally expected in a workplace and specific personal moral values which would lead to good behavior by the employees. Good moral values are necessary in business management and leaders. However, the application of these values in businesses and personal lives has never been practiced equally. This occurs when even the morally upright persons in the society ignore the expected ethics in their places of work with the notion that it will not hurt anyone. Many people, therefore, do not mix their personal lives with business mat ters. Business ethics and personal moral values may even clash at times where the expectations of the employer are too much and not favoring an individual’s morality (Gallagher, 2010, p.1). The desire to obtain quick money by most businessmen causes them to have unseasonable demands to their employees which may be stressful to the point of consuming the employees’ time that they are supposed to spend with their families and children. All employers should consider the moral values of their employees when making the codes of conduct in their work place to suit everybody’s needs. In cases of profession, an individual’s moral values may differ with the work ethical issues. For instance, a defense lawyer, just like any other person, will consider murder a wrong doing from his personal morals. Law ethics, however, require that all accused individuals be defended in court no matter how guilty the lawyer may think the accused is. Moral and ethical values of an in dividual are very important both in the society and in any kind of business. Employees should adhere to the codes of conduct that are expected of them by their employers. Personal moral values should as well be practiced in businesses and in the society. Good ethical values are deep rooted from an individual’s upbringing. People with good morals, therefore, find it easy to follow ethical codes in business corporations as well as in the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical and moral issues in business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Gallagher, C. (2010). Business ethics and fraud prevention. Retrieved from https://chuckgallagher.wordpress.com/category/business-and-personal-ethics/ McHenry, P. (2003). What is business ethics? Retrieved from https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-ethics.htm

Northeastern Indians essays

Northeastern Indians essays Northeastern Indians The Northeastern Indians are the Indians who live in the Northeast part of the United States. The area consists of three types of land: the coast of the ocean, fertile valleys and forests. Therefore, their three main occupations were fishing, farming and hunting. No one is exactly sure how the Northeastern Indians got there in the first place. Some believe they migrated from northeastern Asia to Alaska and then to the Americas. Others believe that they are descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel while others think they can be traced to a colony of Welshmen founded by Prince Madoc in 1170. At one time there were 39 tribes living in the Northeast. They spoke basically two languages: Iroquoian and Algonquian. This report will focus on the Iroquois Indians who lived in the Northeast Woodlands. Today this part of our country is called upper New York State. The Iroquois Indians were actually a nation of Indians made up of five tribes. These tribes were the Senecas, Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas and Mohawks. These tribes kept fighting with each other until they joined together to become the Iroquois League in about 1570. Then instead of fighting with each other, they started fighting with their neighbors (other Indian tribes). The Iroquois had a society where the women were in charge. Kinship was determined through the mother and women owned all property. Each of the five tribes was further divided into three groups: turtle, bear and wolf. A matriarch headed each clan and the women of the clan chose these leaders. The Iroquois lived in villages that were pretty permanent and only moved when the soil dried out or there was war. They built log walls all around their villages. The wall had only one opening. They could quickly close this opening if their enemies came near. In 1600, the height of the Iroquois nation, the population was about 20,...

Gun control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Gun control - Essay Example They insist that strict regulations on gun ownership are not the solution to high crime rates. They point out that, since the 1997 ban on handguns in England, crime rates have more than doubled (Malcolm, 2003 as cited in Mackey & Levan, 2011). What has triggered this flurry of activity geared towards permitting people to carry guns in public places? Bruce & Wilcox (1998), note that in the U.S, when citizens learn of death occasioned by a gun attack, many believe that they stand a chance to survive such an incidence if they have a firearm. Pro-gun forces counter any criticism to gun-friendly legislation by pointing out that the government needs not worry about law abiding citizens who voluntarily go to have their backgrounds checked so as to acquire a gun license, but rather, the criminals who have no business in abiding by the law. Gun rights activists argue that law-abiding citizens carrying concealed guns may be able to save lives due to the history of mass shootings in the U.S. According to the Wall Street Journal (2012), in December 2007, there were 7000 people inside the new life church in Colorado Springs when an armed man stormed: He killed two people and wounded many others. What prevented him from killing and wounding more was a congregant who had permission to carry her licensed concealed gun in church property. On the other hand, advocates of gun control argue that even law-abiding citizens with authorization to carry weapons can lose their temper, with fatal results. Such a scenario is portrayed in a teen ager succumbed to gunshot wounds after a dispute over loud music (The New York Times, 2014). In an attempt to neutralize the strength of the pro-gun forces, advocates of gun control have been developing initiatives to make the battle in the legislature more vicious. In April 2014, billionaire Michael Bloomberg announced plans to inject $50

Reflecting on Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflecting on Identity - Essay Example Throughout my life, I have conducted considerable self-investigation into my gender and have come to embrace many elements of feminist philosophy. Ultimately, then I recognize that being a feminist is an essential element of my identity. Today, feminism has become a highly complex term; women’s rights and equality movements, however, have been in existence since at least the late 19th century. Still, feminism did not emerge until the mid-20th century as a formal movement and philosophy (Stansell, p. 20). I recognize that many different versions of feminism have emerged since that period and there are conflicting perspectives within the feminist movement. These perspectives, however, greatly inform the way that society perceives feminists. In this way, feminists are oftentimes perceived as potentially overbearing or men haters, while other people simply view them as politically active. My personal vision of feminism is the belief that women should have equal rights throughout s ociety. In this way, feminist ideas have greatly come to form my identity. I believe that there is a degree of inequality in many instances that occurred throughout the world. This is not to say that just because one is a woman their life is necessarily more difficult than other people but, rather, women may not have equal access and equitable treatment to all the opportunities in life they fairly should. In this way, I believe that because of male physical strength society evolved in a way where women assumed less dominant roles. With the advancement of technology women’s roles remained subservient, while the need for physical advantage in society decreased. What exists then is a gap between the rights women should be afforded. Within this gap, I believe, is a fundamental recognition of my identity. I have experienced some conflicts because of my identity as a feminist. I believe that both men and women should be judged on their competency as a person and that they should be given equal voices in decision making. In many instances, however, I have recognized that males are given a greater voice than females because they exhibit more aggressive or intimidating behavior. In these situations, reflecting on feminist doctrine has allowed me to recognize that it is not right for males to take advantage of these situations. Subsequently, I have felt more empowered to speak-up and ensure that I am given treatment based on my competency and work ethic rather than on my gender. Through speaking up, I have come to personally resolve the conflict I am facing regarding such empowerment issues. I further recognize that in these situations my identity as a feminist is highlighted. I further recognize that feminism reflects my identity, as well as the way society reflects upon me. In this way, my attention is drawn to the feminist notion of objectification. For feminists, objectification occurs in the media wherein women are depicted as objects rather than situated as people deserving of equal treatment. At the heart of the conflict, I believe, is not so much that I have been objectified by the media, but that I recognize that the media’s depiction of females is not always fair and equitable. I recognize that I must self-reflexively consider my position in the world despite what the media depicts. For instance, the media may be more active in depicting males in leadership positions or positions of competency. In this way, a stereotype is established that

The American colonization, on the eve of Revolution Essay

The American colonization, on the eve of Revolution - Essay Example A few years later, the parliament passed the Tea Act to save the East Indian Company from bankruptcy. It removed all the duties on tea exported by the British thus giving them undue advantage over other exported tea to America. On the day, the first shipments of the tea arrived in Boston, three members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians boarded the ships and threw all the tea into the sea later known as the Boston Tea Party. For the first time, leaders of the twelve colonies, excluding Georgia met in Philadelphia and convened the First Continental Congress to create a single unified stand and response to the laws and policies passed by the British Parliament. Through the congress, they filed a petition called the Declaration of Rights and Grievances to the British king. At the height of the revolution, all of the thirteen colonies convened again as Second Continental Congress. An Anglo-American philosopher in the name of Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet entitled â€Å"Common Sense† and asked whether â€Å"a continent should be ruled by an island†. Only a few Loyalist Americans then were ready and willing to defend Great Britain. This was due to the continuing clashes between the Patriots and British troops. The Patriots then were the primary army who are fighting against the British. These clashes further advanced the growth of American patriotism. The Second Continental Congress took the ultimate steps. They organized an army to continue the fight called the Continental Army with George Washington as the commander-in-chief. The Patriots then were the staunch supporters of the continuing revolution while the Loyalists would still want to be part of the British Empire. Most of the Loyalists then were wealthy and politically powerful people in the American society. These include the merchants, lawyers and landowners. And the Patriots were