Current UK Government Initiatives That Focus On Personal And Emotional Essay

Current UK Government Initiatives That Focus On Personal And Emotional Development - Essay Example Donaldson argues powerfully that young children, in order to be able to build on what they already know and can do, need to be in situations which make 'human sense' to them. The current situation in England is one in which the growth of the ECEC sector, in terms of numbers of places, is positively encouraged by the government, especially by the Treasury. This appears to emphasise the care aspect. However, at the same time there are other government-initiated developments concerning the need for improvements in the quality of provision, such as a new training pack for those who work with children aged from birth to three (Abbott et al. 2002) and the Secretary of State Charles Clarke's pledge for more resources. Since 2000, UK governments have invested heavily in leadership development in the NHS to secure policy change and modernise the service. A plethora of leadership programmes and initiatives have been supported with variable success. During recent years in the UK, there have been numerous government initiatives relating to the care and education of young children. Some of these, such as Sure Start, have been very successful, whereas others have proved to be more complicated to implement and fund. The idea that children have rights is a fair... However, Saraga (1998) states that '"rights" like "needs" is a highly contested concept particularly when applied to children'. Saraga goes on to say that children depend on the adults who care for them to assert their rights for them and that rights are limited by the child's vulnerability and dependency. Children's learning and development Child development falls into the two main categories of physical and neurological. Physical skills involve both gross motor skills such as rolling over, crawling and walking, and fine motor skills such as hand-eye coordination, grasping objects, drawing and later writing. Sensory development is also physical and includes sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Intellectual and cognitive development centre on activity in the brain including use of language, smiling and giggling, imagination and working out. Our children's emotional wellbeing also develops in the brain and comprises many areas such as self awareness, self esteem and the ability to interact with others. Playing in some form or another helps to refine these different areas of development in babies and young children. (http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/play.html) Children need activities which will stimulate their social, physical, intellectual, linguistic, emotional and moral development. The early years curriculum should be linked with a child's stage of development, which can be ascertained by careful observation of the child and discussions with the parents and family. The child's progress should be monitored, recorded and shared with the parents. Equality of opportunity The individuality of each child

Cathedral written by Raymond Carver Essay Example for Free

Cathedral written by Raymond Carver Essay In the story Cathedral written by Raymond Carver, it seems that stereotypes of the blind form barriers between the blind and the sighted. The man in the story has always had misconceptions of the blind which came from the movies (Carver 1). The title, Cathedral, is significant because it helps the man envision the life of Robert. As Robert, the blind man, entered his life, it was hard for the man to form any bond with Robert due to his visual impairment. The man even created a picture in his mind of what Robert would look like, and how he would act. This is because the man has never had any interaction with a blind person, making him have preconceived ideas about Robert. Having Robert stay at the mans house left the man feeling quite uneasy. Not only was Robert a threat to his wife, he also thought that Robert may be a hassle to deal with. The man stated, I wasnt enthusiastic about his visit. He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me (Carver 1). Because the man had such strong images in his mind about Robert, the first time he saw Robert caught him by surprise. Roberts appearance was not unordinary, and did not look like a blind person. He wore brown slacks, brown shoes, a light brown shirt, a tie, a sports coat. Spiffy (Carver 32). At this point, the mans ideas about the blind peoples appearance had been contradicted. When the man realized that his assumptions about Robert were false, and that they actually shared some things in common, he began to feel more comfortable with Robert, even being, glad for the company (Carver 84). This is the first time the man was being polite and friendly to Robert. Soon after, a bond between Robert and the man had begun after a program about cathedrals came on the television. The man becomes aware that, There were times when the Englishman who was telling the thing would shut up, would simply let the camera move around over the cathedrals (Carver 92). The silence in the room became awkward for him because he realized that Robert did not know what was happening when the narrator stopped speaking. Since the mans stereotypes were beginning to shed during the cathedral conversation, the man came more open with Robert, and realized that Robert is not much different from the rest of society. The two of them began to  compare how well each of them envisioned the cathedrals. Robert gave facts that were heard tight off the television, demonstrating his limited knowledge. The man also attempted to describe this cathedrals, theyre really big,(Carver 100) he explains, theyre massive(Carver 100). At this point, he understood just how little he actually knew about the cathedrals, even with a picture right in front of him. Now the man is awakened to his newly, humbled, equal position along side Robert, with the help of the cathedral. With the mans stereotypes diminishing, he became to trust Robert and is giving him a chance to build a relationship. When Robert brought up the idea for the man to draw the cathedral out as Robert follows, the man was able to appreciate what blind people go through. When he finished the drawing, Robert said, Well are you looking?(Carver 125) The man replied, Its really something(Carver 126). The man had allowed himself to experience, even if for just a few minutes, what Robert experiences every second of his life. This was the same man, who only a few hours ago did not want Robert to be in his house. Overcoming prejudices, fears, and misconceptions are only possible when you allow yourself to get close to a person who these feelings are directed towards. By the man becoming close with Robert, he was capable to see what was necessary to gain an understanding of what life is like for a blind man, with the help of the vision of the cathedral. The man began to draw the cathedral to try and help Robert visualize what one looked like. What he did not realize is that Robert was actually helping him visualize what blindness felt like.

High-fi Cy-fi Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Literature Papers

High-fi Cy-fi The world of Cyberpunk can be compared to a creature of fantasy. This fantasy creature unfolds wings of enchantment and uncoils a sinewy body of treachery and suspicion that is adept at drawing the attention of anyone who has an interest in science fiction or adventure. Cyberpunk is a form of science-fiction that is described by Garyn Roberts as "characterized by tough characters in tough worlds (Intro 1006)." The toughness of cyberpunk heroes can be related to the detective fiction stories of the 1920’s and 1930’s. This particular genre is also characterized by themes of technology, particularly virtual reality. In this form of science-fiction literature, it is very easy to discern the involvement of Rock ‘n’ Roll and punk themes. In this essay, I plan to prove that cyberpunk is a very creative form of literature and not the irrelevant, or unimportant, literature it was once perceived to be (Intro 1006). To do this I will provide an in-depth description of what is referred to as the Matrix, access to the matrix, descriptions of the extent to which technology is integrated into the life of those inhabiting a cyberpunk reality, and electronics capable of creating artificial creatures. The Matrix. In the cyberpunk world it can be linked to everything or it can represent everything such as in the movie The Matrix. When spoken of in terms of being a physical entity the matrix is simply nothing. The matrix is a name given to the theoretical space that exists in the digital world. "Trying to remind myself that this place and the gulfs beyond are only representations, we aren’t "in" Chromes computer, but interfaced with it, while the matrix simulator in Bobby’s apartment generates this illusion†¦ (Gibson 1011)." In ... ...rpunk is a form of writing that is sure to grow in popularity. Bibliography Bear, Greg(ory Dale). "Blood Music." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Leah Jewell. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 1019-1035 Cameron, James. "Terminator, The." Published by: Pacific Western, Hemdale Film Funding, Euro Film Funding, and Cinema 84: 1984. James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd Gibson, William (Ford). "Burning Chrome." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Leah Jewell. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 1006-1019 "Matrix." Infoplease Dictionary. 2001 Learning Network. 7 Dec, 2001 http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/AO531187.html. Roberts, Garyn G. "Introduction to ‘Burning Chrome’." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Leah Jewell. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 1006

Do We Define Our Lives Essay

Over the last decade or so people have begun to make a shift into accepting a new way of looking at the world that we live in – the belief that is making this impact is that you create your own life and, in some respects, you are in charge of your own destiny. This system of beliefs became known as the â€Å"New Age Movement†, however it’s really not all that new. The â€Å"law of attraction†, as it’s also known, has been around perhaps nearly as long as humans have been able to have reasonable thoughts. In fact, there’s a quote from Buddha saying, â€Å"All that we are is a result of what we have thought.† This law of attraction has only gained popularity recently because of the emergence of books like The Secret into popular culture that seemed to take the world by storm. As with anything that becomes hugely popular, it has varied from being widely accepted to being strongly criticized. There are numerous authors who have written boo ks instructing readers how to â€Å"tap into the universe† and use the law of attraction to bring things into your life that you want. Conversely, there are just as many who criticize this new way of thinking as being lazy, selfish, and causing people to not take responsibility for the actual work needed to achieve their goals. Perhaps the biggest criticism of the New Age movement comes unsurprisingly from the Christian community, who claim that the idea of you being in control of your own life takes away from the teachings that are portrayed in the Bible – that God is is ultimately in control and that we should leave things completely up to Him. However, even in books guiding people to understand the law of attraction, they use quotes from the Bible or use the name â€Å"God† to describe the force that is helping people achieve their best lives. It’s hard not to get caught up in something that claims that we can â€Å"attract† great things into our lives with little or no effort, or to get caught up in the argument that it’s selfish of us to want certain things in our lives and to pursue them. Ultimately, I think what it comes down to is what you find that works for you. I believe the biggest influence on convincing people that the law of attraction works is participation in the act of defining what you want out of your life instead of floating thorough it aimlessly, and in doing so, you cause yourself to put in motion the actions that will make those things happen. My English professor, Dr. Janet Smith, expressed it best when she said, â€Å"You can’t control other people and you can’t control the world, but to some extent you can control your own life.† Another influence from the law of attraction is actively changing your perspective on the events that are happening in your life. Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, â€Å"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be† and I have to say that I agree whole-heartedly with him. To begin to understand the law of attraction and the effect that it’s had on the world and even on your own life, the first thing that you should look at is the book The Secret written by Rhonda Byrne, released in 2006. The book actually came out some time shortly after the movie that shared the same title and is basically a way of reiterating the main thoughts that were presented in the film, but in a text version that could be easier used for referring back to. The book begins by introducing the idea of the law of attraction by saying, â€Å"When you focus your thoughts on something you want, and you hold that focus, you are in that moment summoning what you want with the mightiest power in the Universe† (Byrne 14). The book actually takes the liberty of describing the law of attraction as a definable law of nature as is seen when Byrne states, â€Å"The law of attraction is a law of nature. It is as impartial and impersonal as the law of gravity is. It is precise, a nd it is exact† (Byrne 27) and also, â€Å"Just like the law of gravity, the law of attraction never slips up† (Byrne 36). The Secret then goes into describing how a person can tap into the law of attraction and bring about the life that they’ve envisioned for themselves. The book highlights â€Å"gratitude† and â€Å"visualization† as being key components to receiving what you seek. Byrne takes an example from her own experience and says, â€Å"With all that I have read and all that I have experienced in my own life using The Secret, the power of gratitude stands above everything else. If you only do one thing with your knowledge of The Secret use gratitude until it becomes a way of life† (Byrne 76). Visualization is described as, â€Å"†¦ powerfully focused thought in pictures†¦ When you are visualizing, you are emitting that powerful frequency out into the Universe. The law of attraction will take hold of that powerful signal and return those pictures back to you, just as you saw them in your mind† (Byrne 81). By using these two powerful forces of attractio n, supposedly you can bring about whatever it is that you desire to have in your life. However, the most important thing to notice here is that by using gratitude in whatever circumstances you find yourself in, you are forcing yourself to change your perspective of how your life appears; and by visualizing what you want out of your life, you are defining clear goals that you want to work to achieve and your subconcious begins to take actions to make that happen for you. One of my good friends, Mark Aspiazu, defined life as a Plinko game: â€Å"The coin is basically going along the path that your life is taking, and each peg is a decision that you make, every day, every hour, every minute, etc. If you have unclear goals, the coin just bounces along and goes wherever. If you define your goal, you find yourself making decisions that push the coin one way or the other; and if you find yourself off the path and then remember your goal, you can bring the coin back to where you want it. Sometimes you meet your goal, sometimes the goal changes, but your decisions never stop pushing the coin (your life) along the path.† – Mark Aspiazu, President of Herzing University (New Orleans campus) A book that I read recently, The Alchemist, written by Paolo Coelho in 1988, is another novel that introduces readers to the idea of the law of attraction and the universe helping people to achieve what they set their minds to. However, in The Alchemist, rather than having personal desires fulfilled by the Universe and the law of attraction, we are introduced to the idea of having a predetermined path that will make our lives complete, should we make the decision to follow it. Paolo Coelho lays out his teachings through the story of a young shepard boy named Santiago who discovers his life path, or â€Å"personal legend† as the author refers to it, through a recurring dream. He then takes bold measures to pursue it and loses everything he has at least twice in the process. But along the way, he meets key people who instruct him on the practice of following your personal legend and lead him in the right direction to follow his own. One of the first, and most influential people that Santiago meets is an old king who introduces him to the idea of personal legends and says, â€Å"†¦ when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it† (Coelho 22). The biggest thing that Santiago is taught to look out for is omens that come from God in various shapes and sizes, â€Å"In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that He left for you† (Coelho 30). However, following the omens can sometimes be intimidating because it’s a step that you have to take that pushes you out of your comfort zone and into unknown territory. This is where the idea of having the courage to follow your personal legend really comes into play – â€Å"Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World† (Coelho 117). This isn’t a foreign concept to anyone and is brought up throughout history, one quote being by Basil King circa 1900, â€Å"Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid†, and another more recently by the former owner of the New Orleans Hornets, George Shinn, â€Å"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known into the unknown.† Santiago succeeds and manages to follow his personal legend to the end, even though he regretted it and wished to return to his sheep several times along the way. Though sometimes it may seem as if he’s strayed off the path, God and the universe continue to push him and gently guide him in the direction that he’s meant to go. At every crossroad, he’s given the option to turn back or move forward, and though he’s afraid, he perseveres remembering, â€Å"†¦people need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want† (Coelho 76) and eventually finds success and happiness. The idea that Coelho introduces through his simple story is one of choosing to follow a predetermined fate and having God (and therefore, the universe) conspire to help make that a reality. It introduces the law of attraction in a way that would maybe be easier to swallow for those who were most opposed to it. The biggest argument against the uprising movement that The Secret inspired came from the Christian community, and with good reason – it seems to go against the very basic fundamentals that are taught in the Bible, to follow God’s will unfalteringly and let Him handle everything, no questions asked. At first glance, they could be seen as being right. But when you look at the supposed dilemma through the eyes of Coelho’s young shepard boy, you see someone making choices, yes, but choices to follow a path that has been laid out for them. There’s no denying that God has a designated a path for you, for He himself says, â€Å"For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future† (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). While The Secret can be seen as bordering on herecy according to some Christians, it actually claims to follow the formula that’s demonstrated in the Bible on how to receive what you’re looking for and uses the passage to display this, â€Å"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours† (Mark 11:24 NIV). Jesus also says, â€Å"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you† (Matthew 7:7 NIV). However, these can be considered to be taken out of context. The dilemma that’s causing the real issue here is: Is what you’re asking for what you want for yourself or is it what you believe God wants for you? Christians believe that God gave us free will, and if that’s the case then He gave it to us for a reason – and part of that involves making the decision to follow His path for us or to attempt to forge our own. The Bible says, â€Å"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him† (1 John 5:14 NIV). So if you’re following the will of God, then you are surely asking for what God would want for you, and will therefore receive it. In The Alchemist we have the idea that God gives you signs and conspires to help you to find what you’re seeking for, but only if you’re following your personal legend (or your predetermined path). This aligns neatly with the Puritanical views of predestination and the Christian views of following God’s path that’s laid out for you, but it still demonstrates the â€Å"Universe† complying to the law of attraction and giving you what you visualize yourself receiving. Though both novels are demonstrating the law of attraction with equal clarity, because of the different approaches that they took, The Alchemist could be easier for someone coming from a Christian background (who would normally be opposed to the law of attraction) to accept. Getting caught up on religious specifications and the different titles that people use to define â€Å"God† may be the biggest obstacle holding multitudes of people back from discovering the actual potential that their lives hold. In some cases perhaps it’s better to separate yourself from religious restrictions that confine and limit your beliefs and allow yourself to be open to new possibilities that present themselves to you. To quote Abraham Lincoln once again, â€Å"When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion,† – this is maybe the approach that more people should be willing to take. As Paolo Coelho shows in his novel, it is entirely possible to believe in following the will of God and to have the law of attraction work in your favor to help you achieve it. It all relies on your perception of how you view your life and how you choose to bring about what you want from it. One of Eleanor Roosevelt’s most well-known quotes is, â€Å"Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be† and this rings true in every aspect. The key to achieving real success in your life is to clearly define what you want and to appreciate the things that you have. Ultimately it all comes down to you. William Ernest Henley wrote it best in the concluding lines of his poem, Invictus – I am the Master of my fate: I am the Captain of my soul. There is no herecy in accepting your God-given right as a human being to decide on the path that you wish to walk; and know that no matter which way you choose, always keep a clear visualization of your end goal in mind, and be grateful for every step that you are able to take. Byrne, Rhonda. The Secret. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2006. Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986

New Moon Book Report

This book report is being written for Mr. Reynold Bassant, lecturer for Comparative Literature. The book which was carefully selected is New Moon, it was written by Stephanie Meyer, one of the most promising new authors of this century. The book has 563 pages and was first published in hard cover by Little Brown and Company in September 2006, in the United States of America. After mass circulation and the sale of two million copies, the book became the New York Times Number One bestseller for 2007. It was later published in soft cover by First Media Tie in September 2009.As a sequel to The Twilight Saga, New Moon is now a major motion picture which has received numerous accolades. Even though this saga comes in four parts- Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, I chose to do this review on the second saga because it best documents the sacrifices, heartaches and forgiveness one faces in the trials of true love and friendship. What makes the book even more exciting is the fact that Meyer chooses to weave this web of friendship with a mortal human, a wolf boy and a 145-year-old vampire.I find the book intriguing because Meyer has created an amazing hybrid of romance, tragedy and adventure wrapped between the covers of this exciting sequel. The main characters of the book are Bella Swan, a 17-year-old high school student, her childhood friend and werewolf Jacob Black and Edward Cullen, a mind-reading vampire. Bella moves out of her mother’s home in Phoenix and goes to live with her father Charlie, who is a Sheriff. She promptly falls in love with Edward. Meanwhile, Jacob is a proud descendant of the Quileutes Indian tribe who lives in a reservation called La Push.He and several other Quileutes are honour bound to protect the town from blood thirsty vampires. Because of this both Edward and Jacob are mortal enemies and Bella is trapped in between her star-crossed supernatural love for Edward and her genuine friendship with Jacob. The villains of the b ook are Victoria, a revengeful vampire, and the ancient Volturi vampire family who uphold law and order among their immortal clan. Other important characters in this book are Edwards’s family- father Carlisle, mother Esme, sisters Rosalie and Alice and his brothers, Emmett and Jasper.Like Edward they are all â€Å"vegetarian vampires† who survive on animal blood. Carlisle is a prominent doctor who saves Bella’s life on two occasions. Alice is psychic who has an uncanny ability to predict the future. Her skill weaves a hypnotic thrill of suspense as she sets the pace for the various scenes in the book. Jasper can control moods with his mind while Emmett has brute strength. Rosalie is considered the most beautiful of the group while Esme is the glue that holds the family together.Meanwhile, Bella’s mother Rene and step-father Phil lives in Florida and keeps regular contact with her through e-mail. Jacob’s father is Billy, a wheel-chair bound Quileute warrior who holds all the secrets of La Push. There are at least six wolves headed by Sam Uley and includes Leah and Seth Clearwater, Quil Atera and Embry Call who safeguard human life in Forks and La Push. New Moon is undeniably a suspense thriller. The book is mainly set in the contemporary rainy town of Forks, located in Washington DC in the United States of America.Most of the scenes take place at Forks, at the La Push Indian reservation, located a few miles away, the town of Port Angeles and finally at Italy where the Volturi clan resides. Both Bella and Edward attend the Forks High school where they spend time with other friends such as Jessica Stanley, Angela and Mike Newton. But in the second chapter when Jasper attempts to attack Bella, Edward becomes concerned and decides to leave Bella so that she could enjoy her human life with someone from her own clan.He makes the ultimate sacrifice knowing that Bella could never fit into his world. When Edward leaves, Bella spends th ree months as a mere shadow of her former self. She becomes introverted and it was only when Charlie decides to send her back to Jacksonville with her mother that she decides to visit Jacob. She gives him two motorbikes to repair and starts spending all her afternoons at the Reservation. Bella soon realises that whenever she does anything risky, she hears Edward’s voice in her head, cautioning her.She becomes dependant on his voice in her head. When she jumps off a cliff to skydive, Alice gets a vision and Edward believes that Bella had committed suicide. Unable to live with himself, he goes to the Volturi hoping that they can end his life. The Volturi leaders Aro, Caius and Marcus refuse as they value Edward’s mind reading gift. Edward decides to reveal himself to Italians knowing that the ultimate penalty for such exposure would be death. But Alice gets another vision of Edward’s intentions and takes Bella to Italy to save him.She manages to stop him before he commits the act. But the Volturi captures them both. They eventually release Bella and Edward after they both confess their love. They are allowed to leave only when Edward promises to change Bella into a vampire. When they return home, Jacob is broken hearted because he had fallen in love with Bella and cannot believe that she would return to Edward after he rejected her. The book shows the trials of sacrifice and the tragedy of love, especially love that is star-crossed.Although New Moon is a fascinating book filled with myths and legends of ancient tribes, it is unfortunate that Meyer chooses to associate suicide with love. The book reveals that both Edward and Bella cannot live without each other. They both sacrifice themselves for each other’s happiness. While this is commendable, I believe that the emphasis on suicide in the final scene with the Volturi, as well as Bella’s apparent desire to die by doing risky things, is not healthy for the impressionable young readers who read this exciting trilogy.I also find fascinating the plot that Meyer uses where Bella saves Edward. This is a refreshing change from the usual plots where the hero saves the damsels in distress. There is also a strong emphasis on the importance of family and friendship which I find commendable. Therefore, I will definitely recommend this book to other readers as it is impossible to stop reading this sequel once you get started. The book gives one an insight into the sacrifices that we humans would make, in our quest to protect those whom we love.