Securing Your Oxygen Mask

   In the somewhat musty memories tucked into the corners of my mind, I can vaguely recall my thoughts about homeschooling before I took the plunge. Perhaps I had a bit of hubris, but overall I remember I felt pretty confident I could handle the challenges of homeschooling. I had been a good student myself and had enjoyed learning, both in high school and in college. And, I reasoned, how hard could it possibly be to teach kindergarten to one sweet, nearly perfect, little boy? And so our family gamely took the plunge. My husband trusted me to instill a love of learning into our children, and I was excited about the adventure upon which we were about to embark. Content to play with his toy cars and snuggle with his soft kitties, my sweet son was oblivious to the monumental decision we had finalized.. We duly began. My son and I counted and grouped MMs. We recited phonics ladders. We raised and released painted lady butterflies. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, we continued on our happy educational journey together. Eventually a younger brother was added into the mix, and his baby sister followed two years later. Our little learning group grew to three students, and I loved almost every minute of it. I continued to follow a Charlotte Mason approach to learning and kept school as hands-on and multisensory as possible. The kids grew as kids are wont to do, and the months, somehow without me noticing it, turned into years. When my oldest entered third grade, I first felt the first whisperings of inadequacy. And it appeared not as others might guess in mathematics or science. It wasn’t even in the study of grammar. No, instead I felt entirely inadequate in the study of history. While I had received A’s in my history courses in high school and in college, I had never enjoyed them. I equated history with drudgery. Unfortunately, much of my experience with my own history coursework required me to recall dates and battles. This was definitely not my strength. And so I began to fret about how I would teach my children a subject which I myself hated. Rather than diving straight into a history curriculum, I decided that I first needed to equip myself for the battle. If you have ever flown in a commercial airplane, the flight attendant will always instruct adults to first secure their own oxygen mask in the event of a loss of cabin pressure before they help their child. I realized that if I wanted to share the study of history with my children in a stigma-less, engaging style, I first needed to learn to embrace history study myself. I viewed it as a three-step process. (1) Banish the negative thoughts I had associated with history and replace them with positive ones; (2) Teach myself history using a variety of approaches that were interesting to me; and (3) Communicate my joy of learning history to my children. Step one in my plan was the most challenging. I had to dig myself out of a state of inertia. Eventually, though, I started to check out some videos on historical events from the library. While there, I also cruised through the juvenile non-fiction and biography area, selecting a variety of books about history that centered around a theme I was interested in. I had always loved Laura Ingalls Wilder’s tales of her life lived on the prairie, so I started there. I re-read her books and then started in on her letters. That led me to study her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Lane’s experiences as a journalist, political thinker, and global traveler at the turn of the century fascinated me. I read blogs about her, checked out books on her, and marveled at her globe-trotting experiences in the days before the the battle for women’s suffrage was even won. I started small, with one person—Laura Ingalls Wilder—but in short order my interest grew and spread to all sorts of things historical: westward expansion, women’s suffrage, World War I, and political party formation. It was a delight-driven seed that had sprouted and branched into many different directions, and suddenly I wanted to learn even more. For our first year of history study, I had planned on beginning at the beginning—the ancient world. To help me prepare, I bought bigger, scarier looking books—books with titles like The History of the Ancient World and Famous Men of Greece. I had already discovered that my connection to delight in learning history was through literature, so I re-read some of the books I’d encountered in my earlier years such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, and I found new books to read as well. And as I studied, my enthusiasm grew even more. No longer confined to memorizing dates and boring battles, history became a subject that I truly enjoyed. When I began our history study after â€Å"securing my own oxygen mask,† our studies took off. History became the core of what we did, and I built all of the rest of our curriculum around it. When we studied ancient history, we wrote about it using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons. We studied the stars using using a book about astronomy and a handy star chart. We learned how to use an abacus. I had shored up my personal weaknesses with history and in the process supercharged our family’s homeschool such that history remained our central focus for many years. Andrew Pudewa wrote an article a few years ago entitled â€Å"Fill Yourself† that describes this process, discussing the many benefits that pursuing self-education provides. It is a value that we as educators should inculcate within ourselves, for when we do, we model for our students the incredible value there is in personally pursuing education and prioritizing it. As you begin to plan and prepare for the upcoming start of the school year, decide that this will be the year for you to â€Å"secure your oxygen mask† by making your own self-education a priority. Not only will you be blessed by the effort, your students will, too. To begin, pick a subject you feel inadequate in and dive in. Perhaps you are interested in learning Latin (for more on that, check out this blog post). Or maybe you would like to shore up your understanding of grammar (Fix It! Grammar is a great way to begin!). Make this the time to address it. I promise you, your learning is contagious. After a ll, your students are watching you.    Jennifer Mauser  has always loved reading and writing and received a B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1991. Once she and her husband had children, they decided to homeschool, and she put all her training to use in the home. In addition to homeschooling her children, Jennifer teaches IEW classes out of her home, coaches budding writers via  email,  and tutors students who struggle with dyslexia.

A Comparison Of Alien Technology In Alien And Forbidden...

Nowadays we have amazing technology, I mean our phones are basically small computers now, but people freak out when their smart phones or laptops mess up and they cannot check social media. Technology has become such a gigantic part of our daily lives now that it is hard for most people to comprehend what life would be like without it or if it failed us like so many people were worried about with the Y2K bug. So, let us take it to a bigger scale like what would happen when you’re exploring an unknown planetoid and your technology fails you or when you discover alien technology on a different planet that you do not fully understand? Ridley Scott and Fred M. Wilcox delve into these questions wonderfully in Alien and Forbidden Planet. In†¦show more content†¦The final example from Alien is the on-board computer Mother. To the crew’s knowledge the only person who can access Mother is the captain which originally is Dallas until he dies and the honor is passed onto Ripley but what we do not know until a decent way through the movie is that Ash also has access to Mother. At first Mother seems like your standard space ship computer (I guess) until Ripley starts asking her questions that even the ship’s captain does not have authority to see the answers to and only Ash can access them. I think that nowadays that can be seen as a symbol of how technology rules over or has more power than humanity even if we do not think it does. In Forbidden Plant, the technology we deal with is actually what lead to the downfall of its creators the Krell, which is another great example of technology bringing the downfall of a civilization. Dr. Morbuis talks about how all of the people he came to the planet with mysteriously died besides him and his daughter. The cause of these deaths is finally revealed as Morbius’ sub conscious coming to life in the form of a monster through the Krell’s technology. While Forbidden Planet also has an example of good technology in Morbius’s robot companion Robby the Robot but he even gives off an eerie feeling throughout the movie but in the end, he malfunctionsShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesthat were perhaps greater than all of those achieved in previous history combined. During the same time span, however, state tyranny and brutal oppression reached once unimaginable levels—in large part due to the refinement or introduction of new technologies of repression and surveillance and modes of mass organization and control. Breakthroughs in the sciences that greatly enhanced our understandings of the natural world and made for major advances in medicine and health care were very often offsetRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesSUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 24 Diagnostic Survey and Exercises 24 Personal Assessment of Management Skills (PAMS) 24 What Does It Take to Be an Effective Manager? 28 SSS Software In-Basket Exercise 30 SCORING KEY AND COMPARISON DATA 42 Personal Assessment of Management Skills 42 Scoring Key 42 Comparison Data 42 What Does It Take to Be an Effective Manager? 43 SSS Software In-Basket Exercise 43 PART I 1 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 45 DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS SKILL ASSESSMENT 46 Diagnostic Surveys for

Vygotskys Theory of Sociocultural Development - 1076 Words

Vygotsky studied the Sociocultural Theory, which had three themes: the social sources of individual thinking, the roles of cultural tools in learning and development, and the zone of proximal development (Driscoll, 2005; Wertsch Tulviste, 1992 as cited in Woolfolk 2013). In other words, Vygotsky believed that the happenings of people occur in cultural settings and cannot be understood outside of these situations. This theory emphasizes the relationship between children and those who are more knowledgeable because children learn through the culture of their environment and through their interactions. According to Vygotsky, a child’s development appears two times: first, on the shared level and later on the individual level.†¦show more content†¦By: Andrea Davis Pinkney Brian Pinkney Objective: Students will be able to better understand how the inequalities of segregation led to the Civil Rights movement. One morning, unexpectedly, without the students being aware, divide the class in two groups for a few hours. †¢ Group 1 will sit in the front, stand in front of the line and receive privileges that the other group won’t have. †¢ Group 2 will sit in the back, be ignored by the teacher, and stand in the back of the line. They will be treated differently and not as good as the first group. †¢ After lunch, there will be a role reversal, Group 2 will be treated as good as Group 1 was and now Group 1 will be treated as badly as Group 2 was. The hypothesis is that because the teacher was being mean to group 2, group 1 would treat group 2 just as badly because they are imitating what they see from the teacher. They believe that it is ok to be disrespectful and mean because someone older is doing it. However, when group 2 is treated better than group 1, they will be more kind and respectful to their peers because they know what it felt like being singled out and mistreated. This is a way of scaffolding because the students learn from their peers and from those who are more knowledgeable than them. Because the teacher has authority, they believe it is the right to do to make fun and mistreat the lower group. Essentially this makes sense because people do what is accepted in society and are afraid ofShow MoreRelatedVygotskys Sociocultural Theory Of Development831 Words   |  4 PagesSocio-cultural developmental theory Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of development is essential in d primary school and early childhood settings. Through an understanding of the socio-cultural theory, it facilitates pedagogical practices and teaching strategies for educators. The socio-cultural theory is underpinned by the influence of the environment and cultural contexts such as beliefs, values and skills in facilitating development (Mooney 2013, p. 77). Smidt (2009, p. 7) states that children’sRead MoreLev Vygotsky And The Sociocultural Theory Of Development1016 Words   |  5 Pagesdeveloped and introduced the Sociocultural Theory of development that was heavily dependent on the influence of environmental factors—such as social groups, culture and institutions—on the cognitive development of children. Although Vygotsky constructed his theory during the late 1920s to early 1930s, it did not gain popularity till â€Å"the recent translation and republication of his work into English in 1 962† (Burkholder and Pelà ¡ez 2000). The development of Vygotsky’s theory was also heavily influencedRead MoreEssay on Lev Vygotsky and Social Development Theory1038 Words   |  5 Pagescreated the Social Development Theory/ Sociocultural Theory. Vygotsky believed that childrens mental, language, and social development is supported and enhanced through social interaction. Vygotsky also believed that beginning at birth, children seek out adults for social interactions and that development occurs through these interactions. The belief that social development sets a precedent for development(appeals to the nurture side of development). The general idea from this theory is that being awareRead MoreThe Sociocultural Theory Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pages The sociocultural theory was developed by a theorist named Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky was born in 1896 and was from the former Soviet Union. He was a psychologist who had an abundance of ideas and put them into many theories and writings. Although Vygotsky died from tuberculosis at the young age of thirty-eight, his most prominent work was done in a short period of ten years. When he died in 1934, the Soviet Union held most of his work and it was not until about 1960 that his work was translated intoRead MoreThe Theory Of Cognitive Development1025 Words   |  5 PagesMany philosophers have developed theories of how individuals learn over the decades. As an individual progresses through life from childhood to adulthood, the manner in which they take in knowledge, and mature is the basic theory of cognitive development. Cognitive development can be described as how an individual’s thought process develops, and how these thought processes impact how an individual comprehends and interacts in the world. The psychology theorists of the past have shaped the classroomsRead MoreVygotsky s Theory Of Human Development1386 Words   |  6 PagesVygotsky was an educator and a theorist known primarily for his sociocultural theory. Vygotsky developed the sociocultural theory, which is the theory of human development through social and cultural influences (Aimin, 2013), during the 1920’s-30’s. One of Vygotsky’s focuses was the concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD), which is the idea of a child being appropriately challenged, this will be discussed further on. His theory stemmed from how children’s learning is impacted greatly throughRead MoreSociocultural Learning Theory Essay701 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Sociocultural Learning Theory. His quote that â€Å"through others we become ourselves† could be the quintessence of the Sociocultural Learning Theory, which supports that learning is a social process†. This article consists of three main sections: a brief overview of sociocultural approaches; an examination of sociocultural method; and an overview of sociocultural contributions to research and applications to classroom learning and teaching. It explains the differences between sociocultural theoriesRead MoreSociocultural Theory And Second Language Learning902 Words   |  4 PagesSociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning â€Å"Language is the most pervasive and powerful cultural artefact that humans possess to mediate their connection to the world, to each other, and to themselves† [Lantolf Thorne 2006:201]. The idea of mediation inherent in this notion of the language is a fundamental element of Sociocultural Theory [SCT], one of the most influential approach to learning and mental development since 1990s’, drawing on its origin from the work of soviet psychologistRead MoreSociocultural Learning Affects the Development of Children Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesSociocultural Learning Affects the Development of Children ECE 101 Professor Kara Bullock Chakera Simon October 12, 2010 Sociocultural Learning Affects the Development of Children Lev Vygotsky believed that children learn from their own experience. As a teacher I have grown to learn that Vygotsky’s findings are true in so many ways. Just from watching the children in my classroom I see that the Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding play a huge part in the development of a child. Read MoreVygotsky And Constructivism Theory729 Words   |  3 PagesConstructivism theory is basically used to define how learners gain knowledge from their past experience or from prior knowledge. For example, even in the childhood the child is not in the blank state they grasp knowledge by the expressions and images. Lev Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist who has given socio-cultural approach to cognitive development. He wrote two famous books â€Å"Thought and Language† and â€Å"The Development of Higher Psychological Process†. Vygotsky’s theory is based on social-cultural

The Invention of the Saddle Stirrup

It seems like such a simple idea. Why not add two pieces to the saddle, hanging down on either side, for your feet to rest in while you ride a horse? After all, humans seem to have domesticated the horse around 4500 BCE. The saddle was invented at least as early as 800 BCE, yet the first proper stirrup probably came about roughly 1,000 years later, around 200-300 CE. Nobody knows who first invented the stirrup, or even in which part of Asia the inventor lived. Indeed, this is a highly controversial topic among scholars of horsemanship, ancient and medieval warfare, and the history of technology. Although ordinary people likely do not rank the stirrup as one of historys greatest inventions, up there with paper, gunpowder and pre-sliced bread, military historians consider it a truly key development in the arts of war and conquest. Was the stirrup invented once, with the technology then spreading to riders everywhere? Or did riders in different areas come up with the idea independently? In either case, when did this happen? Unfortunately, since early stirrups were likely made of biodegradable materials such as leather, bone, and wood, we may never have precise answers to these questions. First Known Examples of Stirrups So what do we know? Ancient Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huangdis terracotta army (c. 210 BCE) includes a number of horses, but their saddles do not have stirrups. In sculptures from ancient India, c. 200 BCE, bare-footed riders use big-toe stirrups. These early stirrups consisted simply of a small loop of leather, in which the rider could brace each big toe to provide a bit of stability. Suitable for riders in hot climates, however, the big-toe stirrup would have been no use for booted riders in the steppes of Central Asia or western China. Interestingly, there is also a small Kushan engraving in carnelian that shows a rider using hook-style or platform stirrups; these are L-shaped pieces of wood or horn that do not encircle the foot like modern stirrups, but rather provide a sort of foot-rest. This intriguing engraving seems to indicate that Central Asian riders may have been using stirrups circa 100 CE, but it is the only known depiction of that region, so more evidence is needed to conclude that stirrups were indeed in use in Central Asia from such an early age. Modern-style Stirrups The earliest known representation of modern-style enclosed stirrups comes from a ceramic horse figurine that was buried in a First Jin Dynasty Chinese tomb near Nanjing in 322 CE. The stirrups are triangular in shape and appear on both sides of the horse, but since this is a stylized figure, it is impossible to determine other details about the construction of the stirrups. Fortunately, a grave near Anyang, China from approximately the same date yielded an actual example of a stirrup. The deceased was buried with full equipage for a horse, including a gold-plated bronze stirrup, which was circular in shape. Yet another tomb from the Jin era in China also contained a truly unique pair of stirrups. These are more triangular in shape, made of leather bound around a wooden core, then covered with lacquer. The stirrups were then painted with clouds in red. This decorative motif brings to mind the Heavenly Horse design found later in both China and Korea. The first stirrups for which we have a direct date are from the tomb of Feng Sufu, who died in 415 CE. He was a prince of Northern Yan, just north of the Koguryeo Kingdom of Korea. Fengs stirrups are quite complex. The rounded top of each stirrup was made from a bent piece of mulberry wood, which was covered with gilded bronze sheets on the outer surfaces, and iron plates covered with lacquer on the inside, where Fengs feet would have gone. These stirrups are of typical Koguryeo Korean design. Fifth-century tumuli from Korea proper also yield stirrups, including those at Pokchong-dong and Pan-gyeje. They also appear in wall murals and figurines from the Koguryeo and Silla dynasties. Japan also adopted the stirrup in the fifth century, according to tomb art. By the eighth century, the Nara period, Japanese stirrups were open-sided cups rather than rings, designed to prevent the riders feet from becoming entangled if he or she fell off (or was shot off) of the horse. Stirrups Reach Europe Meanwhile, European riders made do without stirrups until the eighth century. The introduction of this idea (which earlier generations of European historians credited to the Franks, rather than Asia), allowed for the development of heavy cavalry. Without the stirrups, European knights could not have gotten onto their horses wearing heavy armor, nor could they have jousted. Indeed, the Middle Ages in Europe would have been quite different without this simple little Asian invention. Remaining Questions: So where does this leave us? So many questions and previous assumptions remain up in the air, given this somewhat scanty evidence. How did the Parthians of ancient Persia (247 BCE - 224 CE) turn in their saddles and fire off a parthian (parting) shot from their bows, if they did not have stirrups? (Evidently, they used highly arched saddles for extra stability, but this still seems incredible.) Did Attila the Hun really introduce the stirrup into Europe? Or were the Huns able to strike fear into the hearts of all Eurasia with their horsemanship and shooting skills, even while riding without stirrups? There is no evidence that the Huns actually used this technology. Did ancient trade routes, now little remembered, ensure that this technology spread rapidly across Central Asia and into the Middle East? Did new refinements and innovations in stirrup design wash back and forth between Persia, India, China and even Japan, or was this a secret that only gradually infiltrated Eurasian culture? Until new evidence is unearthed, we will simply have to wonder. Sources Azzaroli, Augusto. An Early History of Horsemanship, Leiden: E.J. Brill Company, 1985.Chamberlin, J. Edward. Horse: How the Horse Has Shaped Civilizations, Random House Digital, 2007.Dien, Albert E. The Stirrup and Its Effect on Chinese Military History, Ars Orientalis, Vol 16 (1986), 33-56.Sinor, Denis. The Inner Asian Warriors, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 101, No. 2 (Apr. - June, 1983), 133-144.

Causes of the American Civil War Essay - 1181 Words

The Civil War was caused by a myriad of conflicting pressures, principles, and prejudices, fueled by sectional differences and pride, and set into motion by a most unlikely set of political events. From the colonial period in America where the institution of slavery began, through the period of the revolution whereby blood was shed to validate the notion that all men were created equal (yet slavery existed in all thirteen colonies), to the era of the Civil War itself, it is undoubtedly clear that the main causative factor of the war was slavery itself. With that said, it is the objective of this brief essay to shed light on three of the causative factors that led to the Civil War while subsequently considering the question of whether or†¦show more content†¦Primarily, the north was concerned that the newly acquired western states of California, Arizona, and New Mexico from the Mexican War (mid 1800s), would become slave states and in turn would make it both politically and economically harder to contend with. Economically speaking, the northerners didnt favor the idea of further competition against slave labor, while politically speaking, the north was also concerned with the idea of an unbalanced legislature whereby the south would be the majority represented by slave-owning states. Therefore, as we come to a second cause of the Civil War, it is evidently clear that the socio-economic cause about to be discussed is directly related and consumed by enveloping factor of slavery. By the brink of the war (1860), the north and the south had become two disparate regions. The differences in political, social and economic views amongst the two regions continued to grow from the colonial period until the outbreak of the war (which served as a culminating expression of the supreme tension between the two areas). Despite the fact that each region attempted to impose their points of view on the other, compromise could only keep the country at bay for so long. Perhaps another cause of the war (as perhaps most widely viewed by theShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The American Civil War760 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War was one of the most momentous and pivotal periods in U.S history. After decades of tension between the North and South over matters involving expansion, slave ry, and the states rights these caused the beginning of a horrific devastating time known as the American Civil War, that lasted between 1861-1865. Within these 4 long barbaric and destructive years, it led to an innumerous amount of political, social, and economical changes for the U.S. Leaving 2.4 million dead and millionsRead MoreCause Of The American Civil War1403 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates on the causes of the American Civil War. Many have stated that slavery was the primary cause for the Civil War. Some historians have argued that there were other causes of the Civil War. The one thing that all historians agreed upon was the division between the North (known as the Union) and the South (known as the Confederacy) that escalated on the soil of the United States of America (In Stampp, 1965). The battle between the two states is what created the â€Å"American Civil War.† The AmericanRead MoreCauses of the American Civil War2672 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿ The American Civil War: Causes, Victor, and Validity Keagan Koerber History 205 Professor Childress December 9, 2014 The slightest mention of the American Civil War is enough to bring graphic and often horrifying images into one’s head: mountains of dead soldiers, amputations without anesthesia, and diseases running rampant. The Civil War was a war that no one wished for, it resulted in the deaths of several hundred thousand American lives, but it is often justified by itsRead MoreCauses Of The American Civil War1769 Words   |  8 PagesThe American Civil War was one of the most tragic events in American history. The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861 and ended on May 9, 1865. It was a bloody war between states. Hundreds of thousands of men died in the American Civil war. The war was fought between brothers and friends on each side. The issue of slavery was dividing the nation apart and it was a fight to death. The Confederate States of America seceded because they wanted slavery to continue and believed that they did notRead MoreThe Causes Of The American Civil War Essay2218 Words   |  9 PagesDay One: Grades: Elementary grade level 5th-6th Goal: Students will be able to identify the causes of the American Civil War. Objectives: 1. Students will be able to compare the cultures and economies of the Northern and Southern states. 2. Students will be able to summarize the main points of the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Declaration of Causes of the Seceding States. 3. Students will be able to discuss the actions of John Brown at Harpers Ferry and the reaction ofRead MoreThe Main Cause Of The American Civil War1047 Words   |  5 Pagesone main cause of the American Civil war must be resolved, and while there are many ideas, history reveals that there was only one. There are many arguable motives to the start of the Civil War, but there are four main concepts. These four concepts were slavery, taxation, the election of Abraham Lincoln and lastly, struggling with power between the Northern and Southern states. To start with, the end of slavery is undoubtedly one of the most popular arguments to the creation of the Civil War. WhileRead MoreThe Ultimate Causes Of The American Civil War941 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Civil War was a war fought within the United States of America between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) The war was one of the most critical events in American history. â€Å"It is estimated that 623,000 soldiers died during the Civil War†(Garrison) starting from 1861 and ending in 1865. While many still debate the ultimate causes of the Civil War, author James McPherson writes that, The Civil War started because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave statesRead MoreCauses of the American Civil War Essay1118 Words   |  5 Pagesversion of the civil war and even now I am just coming to a full understanding of the truth. The civil war was a terrible rift in our nation, fought between the northern states (known as the union) and the so uthern states (the Confederate States of America). The people’s opinions were so divided over the issues of the civil war that, in some families, brother was pit against brother. Eventually, the south succumbed to the north and surrendered on April 9th, 1865 but not before the war had caused 618Read MoreEssay on Cause of the American Civil War1732 Words   |  7 Pages The cause of the American Civil War has been a politicized subject for the past 152 years. There are many different theories for what the main cause is, however the best answer is an all of the above approach. The cause of the war that divided the nation cannot be narrowly defined into a single issue but each cause is affected and tied together. The main causes that resulted in the Civil War were the issue of nullification, tariffs, but most importantly just an overall difference in their waysRead MoreMajor Cause Of The American Civil War1224 Words   |  5 PagesMAJOR CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR I. Introduction to Civil War The American Civil War was a war within the United States of America fought by the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) starting from 1861 and ending in 1865. This war was one of the most devastating events in American history, consuming more than 600,000 lives. It was thought to be one that molded the character of the American individual today. This war was seen as a War for Southern Independence or War of Rebellion for the

Han Fei Tzu and The Art of Hotel Management Free Essays

Around 280 B. C. the royal family of Han gave birth to one of the greatest philosophers of China, Han Fei Tzu. We will write a custom essay sample on Han Fei Tzu and The Art of Hotel Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now He studied under Sun Tzu, and in addition, from other philosophers such as the Taoist Legalist philosopher, Shen Tao, and a Legalist philosopher, Shen Pu-hai. Though Han Fei Tzu did not invent Legalism, he furnished the ideas to its perfection. His theories went against those of Confucius’s and other philosophers, focusing more on the practical level. Though ill fated to die in the hand of his own student, Li Ssu, Han Fei Tzu’s theories prove successful in uniting China and establishing the first emperor of China. Han Fei Tzu is a Legalist. His ideas of government establishment and function strove for those of extremes, of utmost reward and punishment. Han Fei Tzu focused on the art of distrust. His ideas parallel those of the modern world business, where the society is filled with darkness. Moreover, his establishment of the hierarchy of government equals those of modern corporations. The Chief Executive Officer oversees each and every order carried out, with specialists occupying different offices. Speaking of corporations, there is one industry that would draw Han Fei Tzu’s close attention. Not only does Han Fei Tzu’s theories apply in this particular business; furthermore, it actually functions in identical ways. In the hotel industry, the vital component not only lies in skills, capitals, or services. Hotel management, for the General Manager, focuses on the tactics of administration. The society within the hotel stands upon tied complications between individuals. Each and every member and staff deal not only with their duties. They face the challenge of cooperation and service. Thus, almost everyone in the hotel industry faces the challenge of socialization, on the materialistic level. People do not approach without purpose. ‘Deals’ and ‘transactions’ lie beneath every interaction. These deals and transactions may be job promotion, favors, etc. When there is no use for any additional help, people depart in their own ways. As one general manager describes, â€Å"I’d rather have a true enemy then all these false friends†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Putting Han Fei Tzu and the art of hotel management together provides the perfect combo. Han Fei Tzu’s â€Å"The Way of the Ruler† should work in harmony with the way of a General Manager. On the level of executive administration, Han Fei Tzu said, â€Å"The ruler [GM] must not reveal his desires; for if he reveals his desires his ministers will put on the mask that pleases him. He must not reveal his will; for if he does so his ministers will show a different face. † (P16) A GM, like the ruler, must not reveal his true self to his employees. By revealing the GM’s true self, he is also showing his weakness. Thus, his employees will be acknowledged of where to get at the GM. By this, the GM loses his control and power over his staff members, disabling the superiority over them. The skill to perfect the coverage of identity is trust. â€Å"It is hazardous,† Han Fei Tzu warns, â€Å"for the ruler of men to trust others, for he who trust others will be controlled by others. † (P84) When trusting others, one reveals his secrets to them. In turn, one day these secrets may backfire and injure the position of the GM. Thus, making sure to ignore trusting others is a fundamental for GMs to stay in control. In connection to trust is the way of assignment. How can the GM appoint positions if he ceases to trust anyone? This is done through the means of observation. Han Fei Tzu recommended, â€Å"if one were only to observe a man’s features and dress and listen to his speech, then even Confucius could not be certain what kind of person he is. But if one tries him out in government office and examines his achievements, then even a man of mediocre judgement can tell whether he is stupid or wise. † (P124) The result of the work is observed to judge a person. Intuitions and visuals are discarded. Rather, results are used to judge an individual and used to place him or her in the right office. Due to the fact that the world of hotel management lies in deep connection with socialization, the line between the manager and managed must be drawn. Henceforth, if the managed lacks the fear against the manager, the order of the hotel will be disrupted. Employees will act lazily and try to reduce their workload. Thus, to avoid laziness and enhance work efficiency, extreme measures of punishment must be carried out. â€Å"The enlightened ruler,† Han Fei Tzu describes, â€Å"controls his ministers by means of two handles alone. The two handles are punishment and favor. (P30) With extreme punishment, the GM sets an example of how misconduct will be treated, while encouraging hard work by means of reward. The usage of punishment and reward also allows greater control by the GM. Han Fei Tzu explains, â€Å"†¦the officials will turn their backs on law, seeking only to establish weighty personal connections and making light of public duty. † (P23) Through punishment and award, managers will be pulled away from attendance of establishing connections with higher executives, while focusing more on their duty. As mentioned above, the skill of socializing is so abused that hotel staffs solely rely upon connections to escape responsibility. Thus, they will learn that, though with connections, punishments will be carried out when duties are not fulfilled. Similarly, rewards will be given even there exists no connections, as long as the job is done right. Speaking of duties, the difference between executive officers and specialized staff must also be specified. â€Å"Appoint one man to each office. Let no one,† Han Fei Tzu suggests, â€Å"do as he pleases, and never permit men to change office or to hold two offices at the same time. (P39) A waiter is a waiter, and his duty is to serve the customer. Topping the waiters is the chief-waiter, who oversees the functioning of the restaurant. F/B (Food Beverage) division manager sees to it that all the restaurants are providing the best service possible, keeping their customers content and jubilant. This is the distribution of responsibilities. To succeed in management, the GM must remember the words of Han Fei Tzu, where â€Å"the ministers name their proposals, the ruler holds fast to the name, and the ministers come forward with results. When names and results match, then superior and inferior will achieve harmony. † (P37) One’s own duty must be recognized, and regardless of the importance of the task, only by the fulfillment of every detail can a hotel function in its proper way. Moreover, â€Å"things have their proper place, talents their proper use. When all are in their proper place, then superior and inferior may be free from action. (P35)† Each member of the hotel secures their own position, making sure they have good ethics in their duties. One must not cross the lines of their responsibility, for it brings disorder and confusion to the hotel as a whole. Everyone minds their own task, and when appointed a certain position, they focus their energy to fulfill the requirements. Relating the bondage of duties and socialization of hotel members enter the competition for position. Every staff working in a hotel looks up to a higher level. They want to upgrade their status to increase their salary, to gain a better reputation, or other unspecific reasons. As a result, while everyone is socializing, treating each other in friendly matters, each one is in fact selfish. In reality, they fight over positions beneath the surface. Thus, a GM must â€Å"guard against danger, fear peril, make haste to designate your heir, and misfortune will have no means to arise. † As long as the GM announces the entitlement of certain positions, individuals will be aware of the occupied office, thus ceasing to plot for competitions. Even as the head of a hotel, the GM has to work in order to gain the ‘favor’ of his colleagues. Unlike the times of Han Fei Tzu, where the emperor ruled a province, GMs ruled only a hotel. Thus, punishments such as beheading and property confiscation could not be utilized. An alternative would be persuasion, to successfully convince his employees to follow his orders. This would be the usage of rewards, or wages. Han Fei Tzu suggests, â€Å"praise other men whose deeds are like those of the person you are talking to; commend other actions which are based upon the same policies as his. † Though this strategy is for ministers, the employers nowadays should also consider this tactic. Through persuasion, the GM may be able to command his people with greater efficiency. The hotel is like a province, and similar to ancient China, there exist more than one province. Competing hotels stand everywhere, and they are the ones that the GM battles. Thus, the GM must know how to maximize the usage of public resource and private capital to triumph in sales over other hotel competitors. Han Fei Tzu has already seen the significance in resource allocation, as he describes, â€Å"When the sage rules, he takes into consideration the quantity of things and deliberates on scarcity and plenty. † (P99) Though by this Han Fei Tzu means in terms of punishment and reward, this rule would be applied towards the usage of capital and investment, for the time is situated for such measures. The change of technology and uprising of new competing hotels also forces the GM to decide on major upgrades for the hotel. Which component of the hotel should the GM upgrade? Should technology be weighed heavier, or should the GM renovate the outlook? Han Fei Tzu recommends, â€Å"Those who have no understanding of government always tell you, â€Å"Never change old ways, never depart from established custom! † But the sage cares nothing about change or no change; his only concerns is to rule properly. † (P93) By this, the GM’s responsibility is to make the best decisions for the hotel, and because circumstances change according to the age, and ways of dealing with them change with the circumstances,† (P99) the GM’s decisions would be in reaction to the functions of competing hotels. If Hyatt renovated their lobby, Sheratons would check to see if this did create a higher room sales rate. If so, the Sheratons should also upgrade their lobby facility to compete against Hyatt. One particularly important writing of Han Fei Tzu is ‘The Eight Villainies’. This not only applies as a warning against the ruler and advice for the minister, it can also be manipulated to be used by the GM. Han Fei Tzu would certainly enjoy seeing his tactics used to its full extent. Here is a briefing for how this ‘Eight Villainies’ can be deployed and modernized for the best use by the GM: Making use of his bedfellows = Immediately upon distribution of reward, the GM may hope to ask for greater job performances, prior to the former one. Making use of his attendants = The GM, as the head of the hotel, can force lower employees such as waiters to agree with the GM, thus convincing the waiter-head to be held responsible for certain events. This applies to other offices as well. Making use of his elder and kin = By visiting the families of his employee, the GM may be more persuasive and successful at convincing his employee at undertaking certain task, for the family, in consideration of promotions, will try to convince particular individuals to gain favor of the GM. Encouraging baleful pursuits = The GM may appoint certain managers or staffs a better office, with fully equipped furniture and luxuries, thus impose heavier duty and greater responsibility unto the manager. Making use of the people = Considering one question, would the employees be in greater pursuit to gain favor from their GM or their manager? Given the fact that the GM is the head of the hotel, employees are certain to strive in contenting their wage-payer. Thus, the GM can impose a greater influence upon his employees to order managers indirectly to do so as the GM pleases. (This is very similar to ‘Making use of his attendants) Making use of fluent speakers = In one way, the GM may assign speakers from popular hotel management schools such as Cornell to speak in agreement with the GM. This increases credibility and enhances the strength of persuasion. Making use of authority and might = The GM is the head of the hotel, thus he possesses the greatest authority and might in the hotel. Using this power, the GM should exploit it to its full extent, by terminating unwanted managers or lazy employees. Making use of the surrounding = The fact that there are competing hotels can too, be used to the GM’s advantage. His position enables special ‘connections’ with other executives, thus when the GM’s own managers are not following orders, the GM can make certain that he would not be able to gain a similar job at a different hotel. Only the GM’s hotel is willing to accept this particular individual. Though these ‘Eight Villainies’ may too, be used against the ruler -Han Fei Tzu wrote it as a warning to rulers- GM should also consider these tactics to employ them himself. A final warning Han Fei Tzu suggests is the trade of authority and power. In this case, Han Fei Tzu warns, â€Å"no ministers should be allowed to borrow the power and authority of the ruler. † (P89) The GM is indeed the most powerful man in the hotel. If he was to lend his authority to managers, this power may be exploited in terms of corruption. Money might be drained, employees might be lost, and worse, the GM himself may be used as a scapegoat. Overall, the vital mentality that should be considered is not only the GM’s. The hotel functions as a whole, thus each and every member work together to benefit the hotel. In hotel management, the ways of the GM stands not alone, but with the support of his managers and employees. Thus, the mentality of these managers and employees should also be considered. Han Fei Tzu summarizes the essence of this whole construct. â€Å"The interests of the state and the individual are,† Han Fei Tzu analyzes, â€Å"mutually at odds, and both cannot prevail at the same time. Managers and employees must not act selfishly to gain their own benefits, but rather, everyone must work with good ethics to strengthen the hotel as a whole. The question, â€Å"what would Han Fei Tzu say about hotel management,† is asked. In response, Han Fei Tzu would comment, â€Å"Hence it is said that the art of hotel management affiliates itself to the rules of a king, they work in the same mechanism. Han Fei Tzu would promote a copy of his philosophies to the GM of the hotel. The ways of the ancient government and modern hotel construct are identical. The only difference lies in the lack of military. Yet, without military and arms, the essence of Han Fei Tzu’s philosophies remains. Without the conduct of arms, persuasion is the new modern weapon. To manipulate the thinking of others is the new rule. Han Fei Tzu’s theories are in reality a cookbook for dealing with people. This works perfectly for hotel management because GMs deal more with socialization than actual hotel functioning. Indeed, there involve skill and talent to administer the hotel, yet in order for jobs to be done, the GM must learn how to control his managers and employees. Han Fei Tzu would have been the perfect GM if he lived. He would not comment on everything, but only minor details, for his theories apply in great affiliation with hotel management. Even on a greater level, Han Fei Tzu’s theories are in bondage to corporate functions. The weapon in the modern days though, is wealth. Han Fei Tzu’s thinking not only applies to hotel management, but it also works for corporate executives. Han Fei Tzu would have said the same things to each officer working in a firm, for his teachings hold true for everyone. Han Fei Tzu’s work is actually a perfect guideline for modern day society, where people work to their own benefits and lack the altruistic characteristic that existed in ancient times. Han Fei Tzu focuses specifically on the level of trust and socialization. This skill is vital in the survival of society, because in the world of infinite talents, it is only luck and connection that surfaces a person’s identity and ability. Han Fei Tzu, though dislike the fact that this is true, admits to the flaw of the system. Human nature is ultimately bad and lazy. Each individual strives for their benefits, discarding benevolent practice. Thus, Han Fei Tzu discredits and criticizes the theories of benevolence, particularly promoted by Confucius and Mencius. In the modern world, everyone tries to survive under the tide of wealth and capitalism. They work in companies and firms to accomplish this goal. Yet, it is the interaction of individuals that make up societies, communities, and corporations. Han Fei Tzu, if living in today’s world, would indeed thrift in his philosophies, and make millions if he wrote the book, Han Fei Tzu and the Art of Humanistic Behavior. His ideas target not only rulers and ministers, they too, function well in today’s world. How to cite Han Fei Tzu and The Art of Hotel Management, Essay examples

Histories Maladies Essay Example For Students

Histories Maladies Essay It seems these days that our worlds history is becoming more and more misconstrued and misused. Everywhere you look or read about history, someone has made a massive blunder. Facts become fiction and fiction fact. And its always done so to someone or some groups benefit. Take the history of slavery, for example. This always controversial subject has been a key element in the history of our United States of America for many generations, and will be for many more. But the truth, rather the complete truth is not taught in school. Why? Because if it was there are certain groups of people that would be outraged. This is not a racist or prejudiced view, but people who seem to believe that others should be held accountable for what their ancestors did to the others ancestors will always hold a controlling voice in what is taught in history. Where did this point come from? Simple: as we all know, native Africans were sold into slavery during American colonial times. That has never been disputed. What is not taught, however, is who sold them into slavery. And why is that? Because if it were taught, that controlling minority would lose its control, not just over history, but politics, education and more. And whats more about slavery is that it wasnt only Africans who were sold into slavery during the course of mankind, but also Jews, Arabs, Irish, Scottish, English, Germans The list goes on. In fact, every major ethnicity or nationality has had members of its ancestry enslaved at some point in time. Its nothing that hasnt been performed for eons. But why do we concentrate so hard on the slavery of Africans? Because we have to. Another problem with history as it is taught is religious persecution. Christianity for many centuries has complained that it is persecuted constantly throughout history. Yes, thats true, but Christianity fails to point out that it itself is one of the worst religions when it comes to persecuting other religions. The Crusades are a prime example of persecution performed by Christianity. No religion is exempt from having been persecuted or having performed persecution. But were not allowed to know that. The Jewish religion is another example. Always one of the most fiercest anti-Christian religions, Judaism is known for being persecuted. Although true enough that their religion has most definitely suffered the worst religious abuse they too participate in the active destruction of other religions. But we will never be taught this. Why do we give so much power and control over history to small groups? Is it because we are afraid that if we dont they will repeat history, but in reverse? Are white Americans afraid that they will be forced into slavery like was done to black Americans? Are we afraid of another Crusade or Holocaust? Likely so, and in some cases justifiable. It does still happen in some parts of the world. But must we always live in fear of the truth? Truth is only knowledge, and what we learn from that truth will be the only thing that truly allows us to live as one world instead of many divided countries. All humans have red blood, two eyes, two legs and so forth. The only difference between one man and another is not the color of skin; it is the level of intelligence and wisdom that society allows them to achieve, a society that they are a part of. If we continue to allow ourselves to become more ignorant to the truth, the more we will hate those that live among us, and ourselves. We will become a world of each man for himself. We will fail as a species created by God in all aspects of humanity. History is our teacher, and we have a lot to learn.