Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Americas Education Crisis

Introduction Over the past few years, it has become apparent that the American Education system is failing. This is a classical argument that is advanced by Moore in his publication entitled â€Å"Idiot Nation†; Moore argues that America, being the world’s richest country is lagging behind from an educational point of view.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The America’s Education Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is also an argument advanced by Orfied Grays’s â€Å"Schools more separate† as he documents that from the early 1990’s, American schools have become more segregated. With a large focus being placed on corporate earnings at the expense of its educational systems, the country is destined for desegregation at the expense of educating its citizens. The public schools are separate and unequal; they are also to a very significant extent racially segregated. A s Orfield (par. 2) point out, the measure of resources between schools is not equal in terms of quantity and quality. This paper therefore provides useful insights on the state of American education; it also provides suggestive arguments on where the problem lies and its causes, and finally it points out as to why the American educational situation is desegregating. The state of American Education System America faces present and possibly future educational problems if the current persistent educational problems are not addressed. In March, 2009, President Obama articulated that the current educational system must work towards improving the student performance in an effort to regain the lost international educational standing, he further quoted â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..despite our unmatched resources globally, our grades are still poor, schools crumble, the quality of our teachers constantly falling short and other nations outdo us.† It is also important to note that even with t his reality nothing much has been done to improve the quality of America’s public education. For many Americans residing in major cities with no firsthand information with regard to the actual happenings in the public schools; there is a tendency to generalize and create a vague idea that the greater racial segregations that were of major concern some forty or many years down the line have diminished in the recent American years. The truth however is the reverse; those schools that were segregated by then are now less segregated while those that were integrated are now gradually becoming more re-segregated. The Public School Enrolment Trends Kozol (par.7), in his article â€Å"Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid†Ã‚  says that by the year 2002-2003, in Chicago, 87% of the enrolment in public schools was black or Hispanic; with the remaining proportion being white. The same trend was also observed in Washing D.C, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles and even New York City. These general trends in enrolment rates, where Africans or Hispanic origin racial citizens occupy a large percentage of the poorest public schools represent how deeply isolated the poorest of American citizens have been in the pursuit of education.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To further compound the problem, Orfield Gray (par. 15) of Harvard University in the publication, â€Å"Re-segregation in American Schools† argues that the little progress that had been made in the early 60’s towards integration has now been reversed. Large proportion of America’s black students were in minority schools between 1968-69 whereby the educational standards were poor as compared to white schools, the figure of black students dropped slightly to 62.9% in 1996-97from the earlier figures of 76.6%, unfortunately by 1971 the figure had regressed further to 68% of students of black origin in an integrated environment. As others would point out, it would be a disheartening experience if great American minds like Martin Luther Jnr. were to visit public schools that have their names or that of other leaders who fought for schools integration only to find out that a number of these schools are promoting â€Å"Contemporary Segregation.† The Public School Segregation In New York City, a school named after Martin Luther Jnr. was located in the upper middle class of white residents in the hope that many of the white students from the neighborhood would easily access the school given its location while the blacks and Hispanic students would perhaps use other modes of transport to come to the school. In 1975 during the opening of the school â€Å"it was seen† as Dillon Sam reported in The New York Times (par. 3) â€Å"†¦as a progressive effort to integrate white, Hispanic and black students†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It turned out that the parents from the neighborhood were reluctant to take their children to the school even with its location and ‘cultural expectations’; not long after, the school became home to black and Hispanic students who were denied admission into better performing schools. Today, the school represents the nation’s problematic architect of an American expectation that is quickly receding and a legacy of betrayal. Causes of American Public School Educational Segregation Perhaps the main reason why racial segregation thrives can be attributed to the refusal to accept the existence of the problem or refusal to openly talk passionately about the problem as otherwise would have been advanced fifty years ago or so. Most of the schools for that matter do not even want to be associated with words like ‘Racial segregation’ and instead misleading statements as ‘Diverse student population’ are often used to describe such schools. Subseque ntly, the cause of segregation in American schools is largely attributed to social and political factors: these include court rulings that reversed desegregation orders in the late 1980s, the progressive isolation of whites in the suburban schools, with increasing segregation of their black and Hispanic counterparts in suburban schools.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The America’s Education Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Orfield Gray (par. 18) further argues that the number of white students has in the recent years dropped while that of their black and Hispanic counterparts has re tremendously grown; this has led to the widening of racial segregation. This is in contrast to an earlier expectation and argument advanced by Moore (par. 6) that the education system has continuously created a divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ and that education should be univers ally accessed by everyone. The Public education systems also fail as a result of sabotage by many educational stakeholders including teachers, administrators, and political legislators. Public education from the conservative’s point of view, fails due to social and cultural inclinations that interfere with classroom discipline and moral framework of education. The gap of achievement between black and white students progressively narrowed between the years of integration until 1980, it started to record higher widening gaps in 1990s as a result of Federal courts’ decision to resegragate by abandoning the principles of Brown decision. The gap continuously widened or remained unchanged with public secondary schools recording the wider gaps ever. Conclusion As America deepens racial isolation and educational inequalities in education, finance and uptake of innovative reforms, the inner city schools are busy making choices other than urban public schools. Many of these publ ic school children have been forced to dedicate a great deal of time and energy into developing appropriate adaptive mechanisms that will guarantee discrete gains within the limits that the educational inequalities allow. Works Cited Dillon, Sam. â€Å"Merger of Memphis and County School Districts Revives Race and Class Challenges†. The New York Times, 5th Nov. 2011. Web. Kozol, Jonathan. â€Å"Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid†. Harper’s Magazine V.311, N.1864, 2005. Print Moore, Michael. Idiot Nation.Vol. 24. Westminster: Penguin Publishers, 2005. PrintAdvertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Orfield, Gray. Schools More Separate: Consequences of a Decade of Re-segregation.  Cambridge MA: Harvard University, 2001. Print This essay on The America’s Education Crisis was written and submitted by user Mentor to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Jesus and Mohammad Paper Hum 130 Essays

Jesus and Mohammad Paper Hum 130 Essays Jesus and Mohammad Paper Hum 130 Essay Jesus and Mohammad Paper Hum 130 Essay Jesus and Mohammad Paper Two of the most prevailing figures who influence modern religions are Jesus and the prophet Mohammed. Although both religious figures have numerous detractors, they are also highly revered by many. Regardless of one’s stance with regard to religion, the fact remains that both Jesus and the prophet Mohammed are central figures of Christianity and Islam respectively. Their teachings and doctrines manage to influence both the secular and sacred aspects of society in the past and continue to do so today. There are people tend to see the differences between these two monotheistic religions; however, closer scrutiny reveals remarkable similarities as well historically the lives of these two influential figures of Christianity and Islam; compare the impact their deaths had on their respective religions; and describe the way in which each individual was or is worshipped. In addition, the purpose is to explain how their messages carry out in the world today. Jesus Christ of Nazareth The prophecy of the coming Messiah, who was sent by God and sacrificed for all the sins of the world as well as the Immaculate Conception of the virgin Mary are two of the most popular stories of the Bible. The story of Jesus’ journey on earth began with the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary as she was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. The angel informed Mary that God chose her to be the mother of the Son of God (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born to Mary and His earthly father Joseph in Bethlehem in about 6 B. C. (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). As the story goes, toward the end of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to register for census. Upon their arrival, they realized that there was no available room for them to spend the night. Subsequently, the couple was offered refuge in a stable, where incidentally, that same night, Mary gave birth to a baby boy. The couple named the child Jesus, which means God Saves (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). Extraordinary signs appeared that night as if in recognition of His Divine presence in the world. These signs help to confirm for those who believed in the prophecy that the baby Jesus was indeed the Lamb of God. One such signs was the appearance of a host of angels to shepherds in a nearby field. The angels informed them of the birth of the Messiah in the city of David. These shepherds helped to spread the word of Jesus’ birth, and wise men from the east who knew the significance of a certain star, followed the star and brought gifts and paid respect to Mary and the baby (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). Even as a child growing up around his father’s carpenter shop, people could see that Jesus was no ordinary child. People would remark upon the fact that Jesus was wise beyond His years, based upon His teachings about the word of God. On a trip with his parents to Jerusalem at the age of 12, Mary and Joseph found Jesus at the Temple in discussions with Rabbis about the Torah. The rabbis found it perplexing that a child so young could be so knowledgeable about Jewish laws. At His parents query about His presence at the temple, Jesus pointedly asked them if they did not know that He was suppose to be in His Father’s house (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). This proclamation by Jesus explains His close connection with God that would reveal later in His life. No written account is available with regard to the young adulthood of Jesus; neither is there any record to suggest that He ever had a wife or children. However, He emerged again at 30 and it was at this age that He asked His cousin John the Baptist, who was performing baptism in the Jordon River to baptize Him. John the Baptist was reluctant at first because he believed he was unworthy to baptize the Son of God. However, Jesus was adamant so John fulfilled the last of his mission as Jesus’ forerunner and baptized Him (History of Jesus Christ, n. d. ). Some religious scholars believed this baptism was symbolic as it solidified Jesus’ commitment to the mission His Heavenly Father gave Him; and this was in preparation for the daunting task ahead (Ross, n. d. ). Jesus went on to perform miracles as He traveled throughout the land spreading God’s message of love and forgiveness. He healed the sick, performed exorcisms, resurrected the dead, changed water into wine, and symbolically fed thousands of people who came to listen to one of His sermons with a few loaves and fishes (History of Jesus Christ, n. . ). Along with His teachings of love and forgiveness, many people were drawn to this calm, enigmatic, and charismatic man, who claimed to be Son of the living God. He had disciples of different socioeconomic backgrounds, and even had a female disciple name Mary Magdalene who later became one of the witnesses to His resurrection. Although Jesus’ message attracted many believers, the Roman Empire and the religious est ablishment of that period saw Him as a threat. They sought to destroy him and subsequently, succeeded in killing Him. It appears that the prophecy came to fulfillment when three days after His death; Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. The Prophet Mohammed Just like Jesus, the prophet Mohammed came from humble beginnings. He was born around 570 A. D. and raised by relatives. While visiting Syria as a teenager, Mohammed was pointed out by a Christian monk as bearing the birth mark of a prophet (Handbook of Today’s Religions, n. d. ). He grew up as honest and hardworking, led a normal life, and engaged in business that required extensive traveling by caravans. As the story goes, it was during this time when he met and married a wealthy woman named Khadijah. She became one of his staunchest supporters and gave him encouragement at times when he lost confidence in himself and his mission. Her understanding gave him opportunities for contemplation and solitude. His mission started a little later in life at 40, as he was on a retreat during Ramadan. The angel Gabriel appeared and informed him that God chose him to be the last prophet and his mission is to preach submission to Allah’s will; this marked the commencement of the continual revelation of the Qur’an (Handbook of Today’s Religion, n. . ). The Qur’an was not written immediately after the revelation because even though Mohammed was an eloquent speaker, he was also illiterate (Handbook of Today’s Religions, n. d. ). For a period Mohammed and his followers would recite and memorize the messages relayed by the angel. They later compiled the Qur’an out of concerns that the teachings might become lost because of the killings of his followers during the persecution as well as their dying from old age. His mission was no easy undertaking as he encountered oppositions to his message. In retaliation against persecution, Mohammed organized an army to protect his followers and to complete his mission. He taught his followers self-control and discipline; fought against racial and social class distinction, and even encouraged prayer on the battlefield. Mecca failed to acknowledge him and his mission and he and his followers were exiled to Medina. He built the first mosque as an exile in Medina, so that Muslims could have a place in which to worship. For his accomplishment Allah gave Mohammed permission to wage war in an effort to reunite the people in the region of Mecca and Medina. It is believed that this act was the foundation of the Islamic ideology of Jihad (Handbook of Today’s Religions, n. d. ). Mohammed’s doctrine of equality for all humankind and his proclamation of universal brotherhood are also two of his most important accomplishments. Mohammed became the central figure in Islam and he is seen as a person who embodies what is good and righteous. He was an orator, a businessman, a warrior, and a prophet. His teachings create an atmosphere that allows people, regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds or status to remain neutral as they bow down side-by-side and proclaim, â€Å"God alone is great. Jesus’ death became a central and pivotal point for Christian adherents. His death symbolically cleansed the sins of the world, and essentially made sacrifices of burnt offerings for the atonement of sins unnecessary. His death also meant salvation and redemption. Adherents believe that God’s sacrificing of His Son represents His lov e for His people, which only help to strengthen the Christian belief. Subsequently, divisions within Christianity resulted in the formation of many denominations. On the other hand, Mohammed’s death was considered a loss of a significant leader. Disunity erupted among his followers shortly after his death. Some revert to idolatry, giving the Caliphs leadership of the Islamic religion. This split led Sunnis to recognize the succession of the Caliphs to lead the religion, while Shias resisted, believing that the Islamic religion should be led by direct descendants of Mohammed (Amin, n. d. ). To a certain degree, Jesus was treated as an ordinary person and respected by his followers on earth. However, He gained more acceptability after His death and resurrection, and was ever since divinely worshipped as part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to this day. On the other hand, although Mohammed was highly esteemed, he was never divinely worshipped by his followers. He is still regarded and acknowledged as the last prophet of God in the Shahada and daily prayers to Allah. Both the teachings of Jesus and Mohammed are memorialized in the Holy Bible and the Qur’an respectively. Both the Bible and the Qur’an are available in print and electronic devices. The respective messages of Jesus and Mohammed remain alive today, taught ceaselessly throughout many generations, and account for two of the largest religions in the world today. References Amin, H. A. (n. d. ). The Origins of the Sunni/Shia Split in Islam. Retrieved July 25, 2011 from, islamfortoday. com/shia. htm Handbook of Today’s religion (n. d). Islam. Retrieved July 25, 2011 from, greatcom. org/resources/handbook_of_todays_religions/03chap09/default. htm History of Jesus Christ (n. d. ). Jesus Christ. Retrieved July 25, 2011 from, historyworld. net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories. asp? historyid=ac34 Ross, A. (n. d. ). The Baptism of Jesus. Retrieved July 25, 2011 from, http://bible. org/seriespage/baptism-jesus-matthew-313-17

Thursday, November 21, 2019

US Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

US Economy - Essay Example The economy of the United States in the past few years has gone through a major slump. This slump has been seen through their real estate crisis, rise in unemployment rates, and their reduced competitiveness in the global economic setting.This economic crisis was not helped by the matching economic crisis felt in other western nations as well, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and similar developed nations. In so many ways, this crisis has been a result of the rise in oil prices which has affected the general prices of commodities and the transport of people and goods from one place to another. Much analysis is needed in order to fully comprehend the US economic crisis. This paper shall now analyze, compare, contrast the economic growth, unemployment, and inflation rates in the United States. This paper is being conducted in order to establish a dynamic and academic understanding of the topic, as well as its implications to the country’s progress. Discussion The US remains to be the world’s largest economy. Based on the CIA Factbook, their 2007 GDP was at $13.84 trillion which represents three times the size of the next largest economy which is Japan at $4.4 trillion (Economy Watch). With the creation of the European Union however, the dominance of the US was reduced with the European market presenting an equivalent of $13 trillion. The growth of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) has also threatened the US global dominance with China forecast to overtake the US in size in the next 30 years (Economy Watch). These are imposing threats on the US economy which have also been plagued by the housing crisis. The failure of the US housing and credit markets caused a major slowdown in the US economy with the 2007 GDP growth being 2.2%, plunging down to 0.9% in 2008. This represents a significant decrease in the GDP when the 10 year average was at 2.8% (Economy Watch). Similar to developed nations, services have been considered an impo rtant element of the US economy. In 2007, services comprised 78.5% of the GDP, the industry represented 20.5% and agriculture represented less than 1% (Economy Watch). About two thirds of the country’s total production has been dictated by personal consumption. And even as it is an economy which is considered free market, government regulations still protect some aspects of their economy like energy and agriculture (Economy Watch). In any case, it can instead be considered a consumer economy. As the largest economy in the world, the US consumer dictates about two thirds of the economy and is a major driver in the global market (Economy Watch). It is also driven by the basic interplay of supply and demand which dictates the prices of goods and services. The impact of the government in the US economy is important in terms of monetary decision making and fiscal policy conceptualization. The federal government considers all the possible initiatives in order to guarantee the growt h of the US (Economy Watch). The US government considers all economic tools, including money supply, taxes, and credit control in order to make the corresponding adjustments in economic growth. During such considerations, the US federal government has also been tasked to regulate the operations of private business concerns in order to control monopolies (Economy Watch). The government provides different services by giving support for national defense, monetary aid for research and development programs (Economy Watch). The national debt is one of the most controversial issues in the US. In 2008, its federal debt was at $9.2 trillion. This represents 67% of GDP and is about $79,000 for each American taxpayer (Economy Watch). American consumers have also become dependent on debt and re-mortgaging to higher loans while using their extra cash to fund their high purchases. Their debt totals are one of the largest in the world; however in terms of GDP percentages, it is still less than Jap an and other European countries. Moreover, much of the debt is