Saturday, January 18, 2020

‘Miss Brill’ by Katherine Mansfield Essay

The short story ‘Miss Brill’ written in 1922 by Katherine Mansfield revolves around an elderly woman named Miss Brill. This particular short story is deeply influenced by Mansfield’s private life. Miss Brill is an unmarried, older English woman who lives by herself in a tiny apartment in France. She teaches English to students in France and reads the newspaper several times a week to an elderly man. The story is a reflection of Miss Brill’s inner conflicts, feelings of estrangement, loneliness and deep desire to be an important person. The old woman in the story wants very badly to belong to a family or a group. So every Sunday she goes to a seaside park, listens to the conversations of strangers and hears the band play. Her park visits help her in coping with her loneliness and provide her with much enjoyment. She sits on a special bench every week and listens to the conversations of others. While she listens to strangers she feels included and part of their lives. She experiences a sense of communion with the strangers in the park and imagines being a family member of the band. In this way, her rose colored glasses protect her from her lonely existence and empty life. Everything in the park is in great contrast to her actual life. The park for her is an alternate reality where she plays the part of an actress on a great stage. In reality, she is no longer important to anyone. However, in the park as an actress, her mere absence would cause great dismay to others. Her living conditions are gloomy and dark but the park that she visits is bright, sunny and filled with happiness. Her fur stole also becomes a dear pet when she visits the park. She attributes feelings and personality to the inanimate fur. She calls it her â€Å"little rogue!† and often strokes it affectionately. Another indicator of skewed reality is the fact that Miss Brill forgets that she herself is an old, odd, silent woman who had just come out of a dark room. She puts other elder people who also visit the park every Sunday in this category but not herself. By using these defenses she feels included, important and connected to other people around her. She fools herself into believing that she has a deep purpose in life. She has unintentionally set herself up to be hurt by reality. On one particular Sunday all her illusions are shattered. She is forced to understand her self-deception.   While looking at strangers, she sees an elderly woman with a fur hat. Miss Brill can identify with this other elderly woman. She sees the other woman being met by a gentleman. Like her lonely self, the other woman is also quite excited by new company.   The man pays no attention to her and instead rudely puffs into the other woman’s face. The man walks away but leaves the other woman humiliated. Miss Brill empathizes with the other woman and feels he has hurt both women equally. She quickly puts herself in her actress mode to avoid hurt and continues listening to others. She starts paying attention to the conversation of a young couple seated besides her.   The young man callously refers to her as â€Å"that stupid old thing†. He questions why the old lady comes to the park and why she strokes her stole. Instantaneously, her world of self deception is completely shattered. She finally understands that she is neither an actress on a stage nor an important part of this crowd. She has no choice but to return to her little apartment or her dark cupboard like room. This particular Sunday she does not stop by the bakers on her way back home. She feels no need to buy herself her usual slice of honey cake. She realizes that her coping mechanisms cannot help her cope with reality forever. At last, the young man’s rude remarks had woken her up from her happy dream into her nightmarish reality.

Friday, January 10, 2020

A Comparison Between ‘Requiem For The croppies’ And ‘The Tollund Man’, both by Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heany is a poet, born in Northern Ireland in 1939. He currently divides his time between his home in Dublin and Harvard University, where he is ‘Emerson poet in residence'. Heaney's poems are rarely political but two poems which comment indirectly on sectarian violence are ‘Requiem For The Croppies'- written in 1966, and ‘The Tollund Man' which was published in 1972. Each poem is inspired by the past but is revolving to the recent troubles. Heaney was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize for Literature' in 1995. ‘Requiem For The Croppies' was written in 1966 to mark the anniversary of the Easter rising (the Easter rising refers to a rebellion against the British by the catholic Irish which brought about the civil war.). The poem tells of an earlier rebellion of the Irish against the protestant British in 1798 and how this rebellion can be linked to the Easter rising and current sectarian violence in Ireland. Heany writes the poem in the first person, as if he were one of the croppies; a peasant youth rebelling against the protestant British who are running catholic Ireland. ‘The Tollund Man' is another of Heaney's poems in which he comments indirectly on the sectarian violence in Ireland. This poem was written after Heaney was inspired by a book by P.V Glob which features recently discovered two-thousand year old bodies, which had been perfectly preserved in a peat bog in Denmark. This poem opens with the poet, Heany, saying how he would like to visit the body of ‘The Tollund Man' at a museum in Aarhus, Denmark; something he actually did in 1973. ‘Requiem For The Croppies' opens with the lines: ‘The pockets of our greatcoats full of barley – No kitchens on the run, no striking camp- We moved quick and sudden in our own country', This refers to how the croppies, a small unprepared army of catholic Irish citizens, marched across a land they believed to have been theirs. These lines describe how the croppies filled their pockets with barley for food as they had no travelling kitchen or organised meal arrangements. The poem tells how war is a great equaliser among men. In 1798, classes rarely mingled with each other, however, these men are all fighting for the same cause and so see each other as equals and sleep together, as told in line four: ‘The priest lay behind ditches with the tramp'. The fact that a priest is fighting the war also gave the Catholics moral legitimacy. The croppies appeared as hikers to passing folk, they did not march as it was an informal undisciplined army. The croppies had small victories fuelled by spontaneity The word ‘until' shows the sudden pivot of luck in the croppies tale; the rebels were slain on the Vinegar Hill in what Heaney described as ‘the fatal conclave'. ‘Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon. The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave.' These lines describe just how pathetic the weapons of the rebels were compared to those of the British. The Irish rebels had scythes to defend themselves in battle, which were generally no match for a prepared army with cannons. And so, the rebels, fighting in rows side-by-side (like terraces), were slaughtered. The idea of the ‘blushing' hillside, gives the idea of how blood was spilt on the land and giving it the red, ‘blushing' appearance. The croppies were buried without ‘shroud or coffin'; this explains how the croppies were given a mass burial with no ceremony or funeral rites which is very important to the catholic religion. ‘The barley grew up out of the grave. This line has a lot of meaning in the poem, the croppies were buried in the clothing they wore and the barley from their coats literally took root and grew, this implies that you can defeat an army but the spirit of resistance lives on. ‘The Tollund Man' is divided into three parts. The first part of the poem opens with: ‘Some day I will go to Aarhus To see his peat-brown head, The mild pods of his eyelids, His pointed skin cap. This first verse expresses Heaney's wish to visit the Tollund man in Aarhus, Denmark, he has only seen photographs of the body and wants to see it in person. Heany describes the ‘Tollund man' as having a ‘peat-brown head' this is because when the body was discovered the skin was stained brown from the peat. The ‘mild pods of his eyelids' refers to just how well the body had been preserved (the Tollund man still had his hair, teeth and eyes, as well as the contents of his stomach, perfectly preserved (‘the last gruel of winter seeds caked in his stomach)). Heaney then says how he would stand in awe of the body, full of reverence, if he were able to visit it (I will stand a long time, bridegroom to the goddess'). In the fourth verse of the first section Heaney describes the Tollund Man's death quite sexually; ‘She tightened her torc on him, And opened her fen, Those dark juices working him To a saints kept body' This is Heaney's way of describing the Tollund man's execution (a sacrificial ritual to the pagan god of fertility, Nerthus). The Tollund Man's neck was broken in a vice (tightening the torc) and he was buried in the peat bog (‘opened her fen') where he sank deeper into the peat to be preserved perfectly for two thousand years (‘those dark juices working him to a saint's kept body). The final verse closes with Heany commenting on how valuable the find was to the archaeologists and now the mud stained face ‘reposes' at Aarhus. Part two of this poem is about four catholic brothers who were ambushed by protestant men. The brothers were tied to the back of a train and dragged to their death over several miles of train line, parts of their bodies were found up and down the line including teeth and patches of skin. Heany says that if it were possible to bring the brothers back to life by risking blasphemy and praying to the Tollund man, then he would do so. The third section of this poem discusses Heaney's journey to Aarhus. He will feel estranged because of ‘language barriers' but at home because he can link the death of the Tollund Man to the deaths of people in his homeland, both die for their religion. ‘Requiem for the croppies' is in Miltonic sonnet format, it comprises of fourteen lines in an octave plus sestet format. The poem also features a complex rhyme scheme of ABABCDCD EFEFEF. The dashes on the third line regarding the croppies' feeding habits add parenthesis (conversation aside). Heany uses a few metaphors (e.g. ‘terraced thousands' ‘hillside blushed') to add imagery to this piece of writing and the antithesis of ‘shaking scythes at cannon' is a good contrast to use when comparing the weak to the strong. ‘The Tollund Man' is written in a conversational tone and comprises of several quatrains per section and it has no rhyme scheme. The poem uses metaphors to describe the shape of the eyes; ‘pods' allows the reader to visualise a thin layer containing some sort of round object e.g. a pea pod. The paradox ‘unhappy and at home' is an ironic paradox relating to his how he has become accustomed to killing around him yet it still makes him sad to know it is going on. The oxymoron ‘sad freedom' is ironic because you wouldn't tend to use two words which involve opposite emotions to be next to each other in descriptive writing. I prefer ‘Requiem for the Croppies' because I find it more dramatic and moving. The pivot in the story adds a thrill to the tale and it is not as long and cryptic as ‘The Tollund Man'.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Conversation Topics for College Office Hours

Its no secret: college professors can be intimidating. After all, theyre super smart and in charge of your education—not to mention your grades. That being said, of course, college professors can also be really interesting, really engaging people. Your professors likely encourage you to come speak with them during office hours. And you may, in fact, have a question or two youd like to ask. If youd like a few additional topics to have on hand for your conversation, consider any of the following  things to talk to your professor about: Your Current Class If youre currently taking a class with a professor, you can easily talk about the class. What do you like about it? What do you find really interesting and engaging? What do the other students like about it? What recently happened in class that youd like more information on, that you found helpful, or that was just plain funny? An Upcoming Class If your professor is teaching a class next semester or next year that youre interested in, you can easily talk about it. You can ask about the reading load, what kinds of topics will be covered, what expectations the professor has for the class and for students taking the class, and even what the syllabus will look like. A Previous Class You Really Enjoyed Theres nothing wrong with talking to a professor about a previous class you took with him or her that you really enjoyed. You can talk about what specifically you found interesting and ask if your professor can suggest other classes or supplemental reading so that you can pursue your interests further. Graduate School Options If youre thinking about graduate school—even just a tiny bit—your professors can be great resources for you. They can talk to you about different programs of study, what youre interested in, what graduate schools would be a good match for your interests, and even what life as a graduate student is like. Employment Ideas It could be that you absolutely love botany but have no idea what you can do with a botany degree once you graduate. A professor can be a great person to talk to about your options (in addition to the career center, of course). Additionally, they may know of internships, job opportunities, or professional contacts that can help you along the way. Anything Covered in Class That You Loved If you recently went over a topic or theory in class that you absolutely loved, mention it to your professor! It will undoubtedly be rewarding for him or her to hear about, and you can find out more about a topic you didnt know youd love. Anything Youre Struggling With in Class Your professor can be a great—if not the best—resource for getting clarity or more information about something youre struggling with. Additionally, a one-on-one conversation with your professor can provide you with an opportunity to walk through an idea and ask questions in a way that you simply cannot do in a large lecture hall. Academic Difficulties If youre facing larger academic struggles, dont be too afraid to mention it to a professor you like. He or she might have some ideas to help you out, might be able to connect you with resources on campus (like tutors or an academic support center), or just might give you a great pep talk that helps your refocus and recharge. Personal Problems That Are Impacting Your Academics While professors arent counselors, its still important for you to let them know about any personal problems youre facing that might be having an effect on your academics. If someone in your family is very sick, for example, or if youre financially struggling because of an unexpected change in financial status, it might be helpful for your professor to know. Additionally, it can be wise to mention these kinds of situations to your professor when they first appear instead of when they become a problem. How Current Events Connect With the Course Material Many times, the material(s) covered in class are large theories and concepts that dont always seem like they connect to your day-to-day life. In reality, however, they often do. Feel free to talk with your professor about current events and how they might connect to what youre learning in class. A Letter of Recommendation If youre doing well in class and you think your professor likes and respects your work, consider  asking your professor for a letter of recommendation  if you need one. Letters of recommendation that have been written by professors can be especially helpful when youre applying for certain types of internships or even graduate school or research opportunities. Study Tips It can be all too easy to forget that professors were once undergraduate students, too. And just like you, they likely had to learn  how to study at the college level. If youre struggling with study skills, talk to your professor about what theyd recommend. This can be an especially helpful and important conversation to have before an important midterm or final, too. Resources on Campus That Can Help Academically Even if your professor wants to help you more, he or she might simply not have the time. Consider, then, asking your professor about other academic support resources that you can use, like a specific upper-class or graduate-level student whos a great tutor or a great TA who offers extra study sessions. Scholarship Opportunities Your professor undoubtedly receives regular mailings and emails about scholarship opportunities for students interested in certain academic fields. Consequently, checking in with your professors about any scholarship opportunities they know about might easily result in some helpful leads that you might otherwise not find out about. Jop Opportunities True, the career center and your own professional network can be your main sources of job leads. But professors can also be a great resource to tap into. Make an appointment with your professor to talk generally about your job hopes or options as well as what connections your professor might know about. You never know what former students they still keep in touch with, what organizations they volunteer with, or what other connections they may have to offer. Dont let your nervousness about talking with your professors disconnect you from what could be a great future job!

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Peace The Beauty Of Enlightenment - 2599 Words

Kosisochukwu Nwafornso Dr. James Fodor Clar-101-10 October 2, 2016 Peace: The Beauty of Enlightenment. The prologue which is the life of learning in general is basically talking about peace and the goals of higher education. This section is arising the question of what is education? Not in the sense of exact definition but how it affects the individual and society. This question has been asked for centuries, and even in modern times the answer is not obvious. Education has many grey areas when it comes to the question of its effects, long and short term. The authors Bonaventure, Marcus Tullius Cicero, Annie Dillard, John Henry Cardinal Newman, Richard Rodriguez, Thomas Wolfe, and Richard Wright all shed some light upon education with their works, â€Å"The Journey of the Mind into God†, â€Å"In Defense of the Poet Aulus Licinius Archias†, â€Å"An American childhood†, â€Å"The Idea of a University†, â€Å"Hunger of Memory†, â€Å"Young Faustus†, and â€Å"The Library Card†. Some of these passages are similar while some other passages are very dissimilar based on their contents and structures but they all give clarification of the same idea: Education is enlightenment, and through this enlightenment comes power, improvements and peace of individuals, societies and countries at large. In the Journey of the mind into God by our beloved Bonaventure was talking about the connections between peace and the ultimate goals of higher education. He also spoke about the act of contemplation which he explained as anShow MoreRelatedInto The Wild By John Krakauer1735 Words   |  7 PagesChris’ journey of self-discovery in his quest for â€Å"ultimate freedom† is inherently selfish or nobel. McCandless’ quest is noble in many ways. The first of which is his desire to leave behind the modern materialistic world and isolate himself to find peace. He also has this deep seated desire to fill a void, a missing piece of himself, by walking on a spiritual path through nature. Finally, his high standards for hims elf and society drives the idea of fighting back the darkness of the world through theRead MoreEssay on Romantic Poetry1126 Words   |  5 Pagesalone a great literary movement is Romanticism or the post-enlightenment Romantics. Romanticism was a philosophical and literary movement in the middle to late seventeen hundreds. It surfaced as a reaction to the Enlightenment Ideas of the day, Romanticism favors more emotional and passionate objects, whereas the Enlightenment thinkers were focused on science, and progress politically and economically. More than all, the Enlightenment thinkers were focused on rationality. Romantics have a deepRead MoreFrankenstein : Underlying Tones Of Romanticism1279 Words   |  6 PagesFrankenstein: Underlying Tones of Romanticism By Nishaat Rupani Unlike the ideas from the period of Enlightenment, which were comparatively more scientific and rational in nature, the ideas from the period of Romanticism aimed to elevate the role of emotion, instinct, spirit and soul. Although a number of critics argue that Frankenstein does not conform to the brighter themes and subjects of the works of Mary Shelley’s contemporaries, many critics argue that Victor Frankenstein’s story â€Å"initiatesRead MoreSiddharthas Spiritual Journey Essay examples622 Words   |  3 PagesSiddhartha searches for the three stages on his journey to enlightenment that are the stage of the mind, the stage of the flesh, and the stage of transcendence. When Siddhartha discards all material possessions and tries further to flee his own body and control his other needs he becomes a Samana. He felt he had learned enough of spiritual discipline and again changed his path in life because perhaps that this is what prevents you from finding peace(146). The patience is the most important (127) wasRead MoreJohn Smith And Walt Whitman Essay1248 Words   |  5 PagesThis is an example of how Smith was using religion to push his agenda of colonizing the new world. Jonathan Edwards was a puritan preacher and theologian whose works served as a transition between the puritan and enlightenment literary movements. Edwards works, â€Å"The Spider Letter† and â€Å"Beauty of the World† are examples of his unique worldview. Edwards believed that the laws of nature and physics were evidence that god exists and that his plan could be read though the patterns of nature. Edwards emphasizesRead More Kwan Win: Buddhist Bodhisattva Essays880 Words   |  4 PagesKwan Win: Buddhist Bodhisattva Compassion and Peace as a Spiritual Guide The path to spiritual freedom is sought by many people in this world. Relief from suffering is sought by many more. In these times, in all times past, and probably in times to come, the need for a spiritual guide is apparent. Kwan Yin (Guan Shih Yin in China, Kannon in Japan) is a Buddhist goddess of compassion who provides this guidance and direction for countless people. Kwan Yin reflects the Mahayana Buddhist conceptRead MoreNature Vs. Society : A Timeless Discrepancy1626 Words   |  7 Pagesfind joy and enlightenment when governed by the laws of nature rather than the laws cultivated by man. Hawthorne exhibits a strongly romantic view of nature and juxtaposes it with the Puritan society. In this exceptional contrast between the town and the forest, Hawthorne criticizes and highlights the Puritan s harshness and lack of compassion in their restricting, close-minded, and nefarious society. Hawthorne utilizes the symbol of the rose frequently as a representation of beauty and natureRead MoreRomanticism was developed in the late 18th century and supported a shift from faith in reason to800 Words   |  4 Pagescentury and supported a shift from faith in reason to faith in the senses, feelings and imagination. It emerged as a reaction against â€Å"The Age of Enlightenment†, which had emphasized reason and logic. Many Romantic poets and writers sought solace and peace in nature, and they also recognized the power of nature and its effect on men. Therefore, the glory and beauty of nature and the power of the natural world was accentuated commonly. The topic â€Å"nature† has been developed in many important novels and poemsRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein - Romanticism And Enlightenment1233 Words   |  5 Pagesin. Ideas such as romanticism and post enlightenment are seen throughout the work and have a great impact upon the book. Now the story of Frank enstein is legendary and everyone knows something about the book but most people probably know about the Hollywood version of the story, there is no Egor in the book he was added into the movies to add a comedic side to this horror and bleak story. The novel as a whole has many examples of romanticism and enlightenment ideas sprinkled throughout the novel.Read MoreBuddhism, Spiritual Wisdom, And Ontology Parts939 Words   |  4 Pagesthe truth of reality. Idealism is the belief that most real entities are ideas and other immaterial entities. I believe in idealism because I believe in things that cannot be proven or touched by the senses. I believe in the ideals of religion, beauty, intelligence, and knowledge which are only proven through idealism without it these could not exist. Pragmatism is the belief that what is real is what works and predicts what is likely to happen next. Pragmatism is not about how things actually

Monday, December 16, 2019

Leadership film analysis (Memo Format) - Stand and Deliver (1988) Movie Review

Essays on Leadership film analysis (Memo Format) - Stand and Deliver (1988) Movie Review Memorandum December 7, Leadership Film Analysis – Stand and Deliver The purpose of this memo is to briefly describe the leadership event(s) that took place in a 1988 American drama film that is based on the true story of high school math teacher Jaime Escalante. Consequently, we will use the theory and the concepts from the books and our observations and discussions in class to explain what happened and why it happened in the drama film. Additionally, the memo will basically give a theoretical/analytical summary of what the leader in the film did, what the outcomes were and why. Stand and Deliver is based on a true story and presents an inspirational tale of a teacher who is dedicated at rescuing a group of poor Latino students from potential delinquency by turning them into math whizzes. Jaime Escalante employs the use of humor, imagination and a variety of other means in ensuring that he gets his students at East Los Angeles high school to pass advance placement tests in calculus with flying colors and they consequently pass to an extent that the testing board thinks that the students have cheated and consequently forcing them to retake the tests. Behavioral approaches to leadership gives focus to the specific behavioral traits of a leader. We can describe Jaime’s style of leadership as both task oriented and people oriented. As regards to be task oriented, Jaime lives up to notion of a raving fan who delivers completely and improves above and beyond 100% every year. As a matter of fact, Jaime Escalante was never content to letting his students become losers. As regards to being people oriented leader, Jaime was determine to change status quo and promised to teach math in his student’s language which would enable them make it. Situational leadership is based on leader follower’s relationship and serves as a framework for analyzing different situations based on a number of issues. Based on situational approaches to leadership, we can term Jaime’s style as house’s path-goal theory which is based on expectancy theory of motivation. Initially when Jaime started teaching at Garfield High School, he was initially disheartened by the lack of preparation of his students. He however never gave up on his students and constantly told them that they could do this as they were the best while encouraging them to go to college. Additionally, he fought to keep his students in his math program with the main goal of making them successful in life. The leadership traits that Jaime possessed include that he was focused and had a vision for his student. He kept telling his students that he will not only teach them math, but that was their language which will make them make it and not only go to college, bu t go to college and sit in the first row as they were going to know more than anybody. Jaime was also determined to achieve his dreams even with all odds against him and was never distracted or discouraged until he achieved his goal for his students. The behaviors that were important contributors to Jamie Escalante’s success as a leader were to inspire vision and encourage the heart. He had a vision of showing the world that his students who were from a poor background and were economically disadvantaged could still achieve the highest level of academic success and pass AP Calculus Exam and in the process inspiring them to succeed in powerful ways. As regards to encouraging the heart, Jamie persuaded his first few students the only way they could control their future was through the right education and always reminded them that despite the fact that they would have jobs in engineering, electronics and computers, they would still need to learn math to succeed. Both Coach Boone and Jamie had a number of things in common with the important one being that both were guided by a vision. While Coach Boone had a vision for the team to win the championship, Jamie had a vision of ensuring that his students passed AP Calculus math exam. It is consequently evident that they both withstood numerous challenges without getting distracted or discouraged with Jamie having to fight to keep his students in the math program while Coach Boone having to fight racial disparity. Their differences came in their leadership approaches with Jamie being diplomatic and charismatic right from the start while Coach Boone was started out as a dictator and later transformed to a transactional leader. In the spirit of modeling the way, the leadership trait that I see in Jamie that I would like to incorporate into my leadership portfolio is his determination to achieve his dreams even with the odds against him. This is because most of us have dreams but lack the determination to complete them as we easily get distracted and discouraged by circumstances or lack of resources. Additionally, most people lose hope as in most cases we realize other people do not believe in our dreams and vision. The other concepts covered in MGT 471 that I see in Stand and Deliver include the importance of being guided with a vision that is shared between the leader and the subject. Having a shared vision I have come to understand goes a long way in determining the success or failure of any program. The other concepts I found relevant include the power of resilience especially when it comes to doing what one believes in. Please use the information in this memo to help me further refine my skills on the issues addressed by the film. If you have any question or need any clarification, contact me at abcnet@xyz.com or at 702-123-4567.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Technology In Agriculture, And Its Application To Essay Example For Students

Technology In Agriculture, And Its Application To Essay The Grapes Of Wrath Technology In Agriculture, And Its Application To Essay The Grapes of Wrath Although technology has become a standard in todays society, it was a major cause of the Great Depression. Before the advent of the tractor, may people made their living as farmers. As seen in The Grapes of Wrath, many of these people lost their occupations and their farms due to industrialization of farming. A tractor did the work of fifteen farming families, so more and more families were put out of business by the owners of these tractors. John Steinbeck lived with migrant workers such as the Joad family before he wrote The Grapes of Wrath. His fictionalization of a family forced out of the dust bowl accurately shows the effects of technology on the farming family. They were forced out of their home to make way for a large company, as was everyone else in the area. They got word of work in California, so they packed up the family into a big truck and headed West. Most of the work was already taken, and the demand for jobs was so high that it drove the wage down. The Joads had to keep moving. Big business has always been the downfall of the family business. In the 1930s, the tractor allowed smaller groups to produce greater amounts of product, and this overproduction led to price fluctuation over that period. In the case of wheat, the size of bushels shrank and the price of a bushel grew. The smaller producers who could not affort to industrialize had to cope with these lower prices, which drove them out of business. The same principle is in effect in present time; its almost akin to survival of the fittest. The ones who can adapt to the changing times will survive. History .

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Leadership In Higher Education free essay sample

For a long time, America has been known for seeking higher civic and moral purposes in all its undertakings. Campus faculties have been on the run to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary tools to be leaders in the future but at the same time connecting with the current world (Hollander, 1999). The doors of universities, unlike in the past are now open to everyone including the minorities, the immigrants and even international students. The students are trained on professional and technical skills that they must posses. Both the parents and students visualize higher education as an investment and do expect returns at the end of it all. Scholars argue that a college is a place where students, in collaboration with their faculties work together to enhance teaching and learning. It is a place where one is allowed to express oneself freely but at the same time observing courtesy. According to Green and Barblan (2004), it is a community where ones sacredness in obeyed and diversity recognized. We will write a custom essay sample on Leadership In Higher Education or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Here, obligations are carried out with no compromise and behaviors are governed by laid out rules for the good of everyone. Tpectations. Rarely are they achieved because the students are perceived as customers. The services rendered are thus compromised so as to maximize profits. Students on the other hand have a notion of just going to classes at their own pleasure, seek professors attention and demand to succeed with less strain than what they input in their previous academic levels. Others would view these institutions as places where faculties would just wait upon them and fulfill all their demands without considering costs. There are so a many challenges that face these higher institutions of learning. Over years, there has been the challenge on the quality of students produced, financial concerns, faculty frustrations and technological challenges (Saleh, Lamkim Cox, 2008). The biggest problem currently facing university presidents is production of quality students. Depending on regional placements, there are institutions branded as the best. The main criterion used to categorize these institutions is the quality of students they give. Institutions could produce some very good students based on the quality of their professionalism. Parents would strive to enrol their children in such places. However, so much sacrifices go along with this. So many challenges would be encountered in the process of trying to achieve these objectives. First is financial difficulties. The state has been deteriorating in its mandate to fund public institutions. Probably, the increase in intake numbers has led to this. The state has been overwhelmed by the numbers and their allocations for higher education have since become too limited. The little income the institutions find for themselves become very challenging as they try to satisfy the expected standards of training students. These numbers are not only affecting the state but also the institutions. Providing for the individual needs of these students become very tricky when they are in extremely large numbers. Facilities end up being overstretched and thus limited to the satisfaction of the students. The lecturers too are faced with a hard time trying to impart the necessary skills with limited resources. Technology is another challenge. Everyday comes with its inventions only to make life even better. Keeping at par with these changes has been a major concern. No sooner are new facilities acquired than they become obsolete. Similarly, lecturers are faced with the challenge of updating their knowledge so that they dont teach what they were taught but rather what is current in the world. Knowledge keeps advancing and new discoveries made every now and then. It is thus the duty of the respective faculties to educate their members of staff on proper measures to take in order to ensure that they are not left behind. The basic foundation laid on these students could also be a problem. Most O-level institutions, especially the private ones would concentrate on making their students pass and join universities at the expense of them acquiring the necessary skills. The core role of higher institutions of learning is to recognize students complexity and diversity. Without any discrimination, all students are imparted with the required knowledge. Despite the financial hardships, the presidents of these institutions should look for alternatives to make sure that these students are equipped with the necessary knowledge and are trained accordingly. The lecturers should be encouraged to find out the foundations of these students in academics. From this, they should come up with best suited methods to determine how these students would be trained. They should come to their level of understanding and with no excuse on the limited resources, provide the best for these students. They should constantly be researching in their respective fields and liaising with professors worldwide to be up to date on the new discoveries around. At no one point should the universities and colleges fail to embrace new technologies. The presidents should see to it that these technological advancements do not pass by their students. Though leading higher institutions of learning could prove cumbersome, presidents of these institutions should find the best ways possible to solve issues facing them. They should even consult with other presidents the world over to see how best they carry out their activities. At all times, students should receive quality education. REFERENCE LIST Hollander, E. L., Bringle, R.G., Games R. Malloy, E.A. (1999).   Colleges and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   universities as   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   citizens. Boston, MA. Saleh A., Lamkin M. and Cox D. (September, 2008). Empirical Research. The Role of Higher   Ã‚   Education in America: A Spa or a Smà ¶rgà ¥sbord?, Volume 4, Issue 3, Green M. and Barblan A. (2004). Higher Education in a Pluralistic World: A Transatlantic View:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American Council on Education, Center for Institutional and International Initiatives.