My classroom free essay sample

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards; and curiosity itself can be vivid and wholesome only in proportion as the mind is contented and happy.   (France, cited in Richards, 2006:14) This ethos is imperative to a successful learning environment and will be the philosophical foundation on which all learning and administrative functions within my school will be structured. Teaching is an art and every artist needs good tools and an open environment in which to work. A dynamic socially interactive environment which nurtures curiosity and inquisitiveness blended with support and appreciation for the needs and goals of the individuals within the school and the school community itself. Exploration and investigation will be facilitated and encouraged by teachers so that students are given the opportunity to think critically and become individual, successful autonomous learners and collaborators. The classroom is not only the core center for learning but also a source of inspiration, research and reflection on curriculum development. All subjects will be given an equal level of importance; problem and design based projects will play a role in blending the boundaries between subjects to achieve a more fluid learning environment. There will be links with the global community as a resource that plays a practical role in the educational process. As we move forward into the 21st century new skills such as problem-solving, cultural awareness and digital fluency are crucial in order for the next generation to succeed in life and be happy which is essentially the purpose and aim of education. The Ideal We live in an expanding multi-cultural digital age; as a result how we think, learn, communicate, process and source information has changed drastically in recent times. This rapid technological advancement is set to continue and for that reason it is vital to incorporate it into our educational system. Digital media has infiltrated almost every part of daily life and schools should embrace this digital world which is a source of limitless information and a valuable resource. Changes in curriculum are necessary to adapt the process of learning so that it meets the needs of our digital society and students who have become accustomed to interactive technologies as a way of life. There is a huge gap between how we embrace and use technology in society and within our educational system that needs to be addressed (Strommen and Lincoln, 1992:467). The school will aim to produce students with digital fluency, awareness of global citizenship, interpersonal and cross cultural communication skills that all support and complement a foundation of core knowledge. The combination of these competences in conjunction with a focus on emotional intelligence and a flexible approach to learning will empower students and prepare them for success in life. The development of all different aspects of the self will be adopted in order to foster positive emotional qualities and develop practical life skills. â€Å"institutions of the future need to dedicate themselves much more intensely to emotional and social capabilities and convey a more extensive, value-orientated education concept. The importance of acquiring factual knowledge will decline significantly, in favour of the ability to orientate yourself within complex systems and find, access and creatively utilize relevant information. † (Clouder, 2007:1) The Classroom The meaning of the word educate is derived from the Latin word educe to draw out, to develop from within (Oxford English Dictionary, 1989) therefore helping students learn how to think independently and create their own path through discovery based learning is the focus of the classroom. â€Å"creative thinking is itself a way of learning something new. You are not quite sure where your trail of thought will lead you. So there is a connection between thinking and learning or rather trying to teach oneself† (Adair, 2009:52) Classrooms will be fully digitized with individual computers, digital whiteboards and most importantly an area for discourse and group interaction. The teacher’s desk will be located near to the group interaction area and not the focal point of the room in order to create a communicative class environment placing importance on student participation and using the space as a pedagogical resource. The classroom is the core center for student learning and development, with teachers playing a key role in the process of developing self-directed learning as advisors and facilitators providing support through guided cognitive and constructivism methods. The internet will be utilized with a pedagogical purpose. Creating an environment in which students are exposed to technology as an infinite provider of information, an aid and resource to learning that needs to be filtered and analyzed. Students construct knowledge based on previous understanding and connections made between new information and old information. Sourcing and selecting new material and integrating it with what they already know in a logical structure (Mayer, 2003:17). This is a complex balance to accomplish that requires active student driven involvement and self-motivation in order to develop self-organized learning capabilities through discovery based learning. Sugata Mitra (2013) has shown in his recent studies that groups of children have the potential to learn almost anything when given access to relevant information in an open an engaging environment thus arousing curiosity and encouraging children to inquire and learn for themselves. However, if students only focus on personal interests without being aware of societal issues this will limit their development (Bottery, 1990:12). Children actively build and develop their ideas and the teachers’ constructivist role is to facilitate and accelerate this process by encouraging students and providing guidance. Students require freedom to become active independent learners but simultaneously need some guidance in order that their learning process results in the construction of knowledge (Bruner, 1961 cited in Mayer, 2004). Skills need to be developed so that students can identify, synthesize and analyze useful information (Trilling and Hood, 2001:9). Incorporating the use of innovative computer software systems has the potential to personalize learning so that students can develop at their own pace. Students can progress at a pace that not only challenges them but also ensures conceptual understanding of a topic before advancing forward. Software systems, like Khan Academy, provide students with this ground-breaking opportunity. The software is developed so that failure is not penalized but looked at as a challenge to get to the next level, similar to a computer game, which fosters a different mentality towards learning (Khan Academy, 2013). Students are given more responsibility to monitor their own development and have a sense of what they have achieved and the time to fully comprehend complex topics without the pressure of having to perform in exams, keep up with a group, or in the case of high achievers be bored within a group. It cultivates students who â€Å"assume a greater responsibility over their own learning† (Barron and Darling-Hammond, 2008:4). It also provides teachers with automatic diagnostic data about student development so that they can fully utilize class time for productive interaction and personalized guidance. This supports Vygotsky’s concept of the ‘zone of proximal development’, in that it highlights actual development and fast tracks the teacher’s ability to offer support and guidance in areas of difficulty and therefore advance potential development (Vygotsky, cited in Pollard, 2002:113). By using new technologies teachers can quickly avail of data to determine the students who need extra assistance and speak to individuals or create groups so that peers can support each other. It provides teachers with tools so they can utilize their time more efficiently and supportively furthermore creating time for interactive project based work that complements core learning knowledge, applying it to real life situations and engaging the students collaboratively. Collaborative learning methods have a positive effect on student relationships, attitudes towards learning and sharing ideas and as a whole it improves the process of learning (Barron and Darling-Hammond, 2008:12). The student is an active member of the class community and the teacher is a member of this community providing resources and activities. Students can contribute to their learning content using tools such as podcasts, screencasts, and blogs monitored by the teacher and accessible to both the class and the global community (November, 2012). With the use of technology it is possible to create educational links with school communities and experts from around the world with the objective of learning from each other and improving global communication skills (Hew and Brush, 2006:224). Creating multimedia resources and social media links integrates technology by using it as a means to support and further learning as opposed to learning about technology independently. In conjunction with this a focus on multi-cultural studies will provide students with a broader cultural understanding of the world, learning from other cultures and connecting this with their own interpersonal relationships (Trilling and Hood, 2001:10). Learning how to find, interpret, analyze, synthesize, and share information enhances the development of the knowledge age competence skills as defined by Trilling and Hood (2001). Working in collaboration on problem-based activities guided by the teacher, structured in a way that combines a variety of core based knowledge alongside interpersonal skills, project management and cultural understanding leads to creative thinking and the development of innovative ideas. This active collaborative social interaction creates an environment in which the group developmental level is higher than the sum of each individual’s personal level of achievement (Tharp and Gallimore, 1988 cited in Polard, 2002:256). In theory this is a valid learning model however as Bottery (1990:13) argues this places a huge level of responsibility on the teacher with regard to constructing the appropriate teaching materials and selecting the issues to be discussed. The role of the teacher is complex in more ways as it is â€Å"difficult to conceive of pedagogically sound ways to apply a technology when you are not familiar with it† (Strommen and Lincoln, 1992:473). Training and support are crucial to the integration of technology with a pedagogical purpose, as an inadequate utilization of these resources will result in computers being â€Å"little more than ‘electronic workbooks’, bearing an awkward and peripheral relationship to an otherwise unchanged curriculum† (ibid. , p. 473). Technology and project based learning can only fully support self-directed learning in so far as the paradigm of academic testing and adherence to curriculum is changed. Introducing a flexible curriculum is imperative to the process of constructivist learning in a technological environment and is required so that relevant criteria and engaging projects can support child driven learning. A new form of assessment that reflects this epistemology alongside a change in curriculum is inherent to its success. Importance placed on standardized testing not only discourages student engagement and collaboration but also hinders the learning progress together with consuming a large amount of teacher time and attention (Hout and Elliot, 2011). Assessment Assessment and curriculum are interlinked in that assessment dictates both the content of a subject and how it is taught (Hew and Bush, 2006:232). As assessment is â€Å"the activity of measuring student learning†, (Reeves, 2000 as citied in Hew and Bush, 2006:230) portfolios of work can be generated by tracking the natural progression of students’ critical understanding, use of knowledge, construction of ideas and how they synthesis information to problem solve (Papert, 2004). Project and problem based group work that is displayed and presented can form the basis of formative assessment as students and teachers evaluate through discourse. Prominent display of student work shares ideas, recognizes student achievement, motivates the class and encourages a strong work ethic. (Kress et al. , 2003:39). This uses visual space and assessment as a pedagogical resource to guide students in their educational development and self-directed learning whilst providing teachers with data that supports a more diagnostic and reflective method of teaching. This type of assessment is challenging but it supports a curriculum that focuses on the knowledge age competences and places value on the inquiry based learning aims of the school. We are in an age of growth and development and in order to grow we must explore and experiment. Where this will fail though is if we continue â€Å"to test within the framework of traditional curriculum† (Papert, 2004:2). To avoid this teachers and administration need to work together in unity to develop both a curriculum and an assessment strategy. Organizations like the Pearson Research Innovation Network are producing technologies that can potentially change the classroom, the teacher’s role and the curriculum structure. This is the future of education and we need to embrace it (McKnight, 2013). â€Å"new tools alone do not create educational change. The power is not in the tool but in the community that can be brought together and the collective vision that they share for redefining classroom learning† (Riel, 2000 cited in Strommen and Lincoln, 1992:472) Curriculum In my opinion a school, much like an organism is a multifaceted and interactive entity that is constantly changing and adapting to effectively support its growth. It is necessary to have a system in place that enables this growth to flourish and a trust and flexibility within the community to allow it to develop (Coppieters, 2005:129). Teachers and administrators will work together to design a flexible inquiry based curriculum, with objectives and guidelines, that recognize and serve the needs of the student, incorporate the values of the school community, and embrace innovative ideas within the school framework. Key to the functioning of this system is trust for and amongst teachers. An efficient and supportive administration team is vital for this to be accomplished as there needs to be distinct channels of communication between teachers and administration. This cooperative, democratic structure creates a clear path to the collaborative goal of continually improving teaching methods and learning processes. â€Å"Teachers creativity is a powerful force for positive educational change, but it can thrive only if it is unleashed and supported by strong institutional commitments† Ongoing teaching training within the school will be provided so that teachers understand technology-supported-pedagogy, improve research methods so they can contribute to curriculum development and the inquiry based learning process. Value placed on the development of teaching skills motivates teachers and enriches the school community (Sahlberg, 2007:156). This is limited by the policy makers, political and religious, that enforce a strict curriculum and subject based syllabus that hinders the power of individual schools and teachers to make decisions that promote pragmatic change. A struggle incurs that paralyzes the school as it is subjected to rigorous testing under present educational policies, which leave little time or freedom to introduce alternative teaching methods, adapt curriculum or change assessment modes. However, a national curriculum does have qualities such as measuring progression and continuity, providing a clear structure and monitoring standards (Pollard et al. , cited in Pollard, 2002:375) in contrast though the â€Å"prescriptive, outdated content specific national syllabus† (Pollard, 2002:158) available at the moment advocates a stagnant uniformity. It is restrictive and conflicts with the aims of a dynamic, organic view of the school and therefore I think it is important that individual schools be given more freedom to devise a curriculum that meets the needs of the student as adherence to and repetition of strict textbook packages results in a lack of teacher and consequently curriculum development (Apple, 1986, cited in Marsh 2004:34). A fluid movement between subjects will be supported and encouraged as a dichotomy between disciplines is unproductive as art has the potential to complement science and vice-versa, â€Å"somebody whose interest is in graphic arts can use mathematics  as an instrument to produce shapes† (Papert, 2004:2). Design and problem based projects blend analytical and intuitive thought processes which broadens understanding using subject based knowledge more freely to advance ideas in other disciplines and create a dynamic learning environment. Health and Emotional Intelligence Another important aspect which will be incorporated into the curriculum is a humanistic view to the development of all different aspects of the self which will be adopted in order to foster positive personal qualities and develop life skills and emotional intelligence. White identified personal fulfillment and practical wisdom as two of the key curriculum aims in his curriculum proposal (White, 2007). Both aims reflect what I believe to be some of the new challenges presented by modern society but are quite often overlooked and not given sufficient status in the education system. Developing a sense of self-confidence and the ability to voice emotions and opinion leads to an improvement in communication, collaboration and aids successful project based learning. Finding purpose sustains motivation and leads to creativity (Robinson, 2010). Lifestyle has a huge impact on educational development and there are increasingly more elements in modern society that affect a student’s ability to learn. Social skills are not developed through critical thought but on the basis of example. Though, this is essentially a natural and interactive development I feel students would benefit from a more informative and critical understanding of how personal behaviour and emotions effect how they feel, perform and communicate with each other. Providing students with relevant cognitive behavioral skills to deal with barriers to learning and promote healthy student development is very important. Programs, such as COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment), have shown that the inclusion of health and emotional development programs have a positive outcome on both learning and personal development (Caldwell, 2013). Challenging the stigma attached to mental health is another aspect that needs to be dealt with in schools. Depression and anxiety disorders among young people are prevalent in society (Green et. Reducing this stigma will allow for a more open development of emotional understanding and support a curriculum that teaches emotional intelligence alongside creating social awareness and empathy towards mental health issues. Practical life skills and an understanding of emotional intelligence are not only vital to successful functioning in our modern society but also learning how to utilize this skill based knowledge will complement and further deepen students understanding of personal strengths and weaknesses throughout their educational journey. Featuring a prominent life skill module of this caliber within the curriculum largely requires freedom to adapt and include relevant modules on an independent school level as â€Å"school health programs do not have high status in the educational hierarchy and in current health and education policy initiatives† (Adelman and Taylor, 1999:147). The decentralization of authority with regard to curriculum is necessary to develop and integrate modules that reflect the social, cultural and economic factors within a community. Placing importance and value on personal growth and understanding to support learning development as opposed to viewing it as a separate supplementary activity is a challenge in itself (ibid. , p. 153). Conclusion To achieve an effective amalgam of technological integration and a humanistic approach necessitates a delicate balance. It will require innovation, determination and exploration on the part of both teachers and administration to carve a path towards the educational practice of the future which is not without obstacles and challenges. The aim is that students will possess the tools needed to effectively engage with the process of learning, the skills and knowledge required to function in the 21st century and the ability to achieve personal fulfillment. Optimal student development is valued and a flexible curriculum that can be continually adapted will support this. Assessment will be used for the benefit of accelerating the learning process, maximizing the quality of class time and providing support for both students and teachers so that a system can be developed that empowers and motivates educators and students. This will ultimately arm future generations with valuable skills and qualities and a sense of social responsibility that can improve the world in which we live. If we want the next generation to be critical, problem-solving innovative thinkers then it is our duty to lead by example. In order to succeed you need to create the opportunity to evolve as it is radical change that makes a difference and inspires others.

Legalization Of Marijuana (5383 words) Essay Example For Students

Legalization Of Marijuana (5383 words) Essay Legalization Of MarijuanaSeveral pressing issues have arose throughout time, such as abortion and capitol punishment. The controversies have been addressed and decisions have been made. A new topic has emerged l states (1986, Congress), (Buchsbaum, 8). This crowds court rooms and jail cells, often times forcing judges to release violent offenders. In 1994 alone, 1.35 million people were incarcerated because of possession and use of marijuana (Buckley, 70). Even though only an estimates ten million Americans use marijuana on a monthly basis, about seventy million have at some time tried it. The current laws would justify putting all seventy million citizens in jail (Buckley, 70). Several pressing issues have arose throughout time, such as abortion and capitol punishment. The controversies have been addressed and decisions have been made. A new topic has emerged and demands recognition. It is the legalization of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana has become a widely discussed topic in the United States and the world for several reasons, including its role in industry and in recreation. Over the centuries, marijuana has been used to make such things as rope, sails, paper, cloth, oil, birdseed, and other various products. It was a major cash crop in the United States until 1937 when the Marijuana Tax Act was enacted by Congress. Harry Aslinger is responsible for leading the nation in an anti-marijuana movement. He initiated the uproar by publishing false stories of people in Mexico dying and going insane due to the use of hemp, or marijuana, products. Aslinger created a myth of the killer reefer and the assassin of youth, in which he depicted marijuana as the plant of evilness. The public naively presumed his stories were true, and avidly protested the growth of marijuana. The government had no choice but to act on the issue, outlawing the production of marijuana in an effort to satisfy the publics demand. Today, however, there is a growing number of marijuana activists. In 1994 alone, there was twenty-five million dollars worth of products created from hemp (Barry, 22). China, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain are large suppliers of hemp products which the United States imports. Such companies as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Adidas, and Disney offer hemp commodities to the public. Popular Mechanics has listed over 25,000 products which marijuana could be used to make. Daily uses include: clothes, soaps, hair products, flour, candles, oil, paper, motor and fiberboard for building, hemp chips for horse bedding, textiles, and machine lubricants. The list is endless. If marijuana was used to make oil, it would reduce gasoline consumption by o ne half. Likewise, it would cut back deforestation by one half if the pulp was excreted to create paper. The United States Department of Agriculture has calculated that, over twenty years, one acre of hemp would yield as much pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees. (Barry, 22)Perhaps one of the best arguments for marijuana activists is that the marijuana plants are actually environmentally-friendly. The crop can be produces with little or no fertilizers or pesticides, which could help save the planet from chemical doom. (Barry, 23). Cotton, presently one of the largest cash crops in the south, is a chemical dependent crop and requires large quantities of water, which, in most cases, must be supplied by artificial means. Not only would marijuana eliminate a large amount of chemicals that are being pumped into our environment daily, but it would also remove heavy metals from the soil and replenish the ozone. The legalization of industrial marijuana is under consideration in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Missouri, Washington, and Kentucky, which was the largest producer of hemp when outlawed by the Marijuana Prohibitive Act of 1937 (Elvin, 17). Struggling Vermont farmers are supporters of revitalizing this miracle plant, and rightfully so. A majority of the Vermont farmers presently produce milk, which has a gross income of three hundred million dollars annually. Just and acre of hemp would have a nine hundred dollar commercial value. The legalization of industrial hemp would undoubtedly improve Vermonts economy. (Elvin, 17)There are two major oppositions to industrial hemp legalization, the law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The law enforcement argues that it would be difficult to differentiate between a farmer growing marijuana for industrial purposes and someone growing marijuana to be used and sold for illegal, recreational purposes. In truth, they are two separate plants with distinct differences. The industrial plant is tall and stalky with few leaves, whereas the smokable plant is short and bushy with a plethora of leaves. The diversity is obvious, even to an untrained eye. The DEA detests industrial hemp for similar reasons. DEA spokesman, Dana Seely, stated that If youre doing aerial surveillance there would be no way to tell. (Elvin, 17). Seely is referring to the visible difference between industrial and smokable forms of marijuana. The genetic properties of the two plants is also entirely different. The amount of active tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, in an industrial plant is under .02 percent. The smokable plant contains anywhere between four and eleven percent active THC (Elvin, 17). The Economist illustrates the fact when printing that industrial hemp contains so little of marijuanas psychoactive ingredient, THC, that even the most determined pothead could smoke it all day to little effect. (28). The advantages of legalizing industrial marijuana are evident. The citizens of the United States and their government must decide if such advantages constitute legalizing, or if it would be more beneficial to observe the present laws. Either way, the issue must be faced, and all options weighed accordingly. Industrial marijuana is the possible primary cash crop, and demands acknowledgment. There is yet another expanding group of activists that deem that the recreational use of marijuana ought to be legal. One of the largest organized activists groups in the United States is the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF). DPF was founded by Arnold Trebach. The staff of ten has worked to gain over 13,000 members. They recruit powerful members of society, such as lawyers and public officials. They raise and spend millions of dollars to boost their efforts. Presently, DPF is focusing on legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Other activists groups include Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR), National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Cannabis Action Network. Cannabis Action Network is unique because it is a youth activist group. Members promote recreational usage of marijuana primarily on college campuses and at concerts (Cotts, 42). All advocates argue that marijuana is virtuall y harmless, and therefore, should be legal. Marijuana is not physically addictive. However, it is thought to be extremely psychologically addictive. Marijuana is linked to lung cancer and short term memory loss, but activists argue that these problems are no worse than those of tobacco or alcohol. No one has ever actually died from an overdose or misuse of marijuana. Studies do show, however, that marijuana leads to the abuse of harder drugs, which in time, may kill a person. Marijuanas popularity is thriving. In 1994, marijuana expanded into a ten million dollar industry. It is prevalent in television shows, lyrics of songs, caps, T-shirts, earrings, and tattoos. Between the years of 1992 and 1994, twenty-six percent of seniors in high school had smoked marijuana at some time, and the number of students who considered marijuana to be harmful decreased by ten percent. Presently, ten states have decriminalized being in possession of marijuana, which makes the crime equal to a parking violation (Buchsbaum, 8). The number of citizens that feel marijuana should be legal for medicinal reasons is also on the rise. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans feel that marijuana should be available for doctors to prescribe. In December of 1993, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was quoted as saying that legalization was worth studying. (Buchsbaum, 8). Most recent changes are occurring in California. Activists have successfully convinced the government to legaliz e marijuana for medicinal purposes. In other words, doctors may now prescribe marijuana for such illnesses as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other diseases. Recreational use of marijuana is legal in the Netherlands, Columbia, Switzerland, and Australia, as well as, parts of, Germany, Austria, and Britain. The Netherlands legalized marijuana in the mid-1980s in an attempt to drive a wedge between the hard-drug and soft-drug communities, between casual users and big-time dealers. (Morais, 115). The countrys officials argued that it wasnt the psychoactive properties of hashish, but contact with the criminal subculture that leads to serious antisocial behavior. (Morais, 115). Immediately proceeding legalization, coffee shops emerged throughout the Netherlands. The coffee shops sell various foods made with marijuana and the plant in smokable form. There are approximately 450 coffee shops in Amsterdam, distributing about 150,000 dollars worth of marijuana annually. Siberia sells 1,000 dollars worth daily. Tourists purchase an estimated 180 million dollars each year, which accounts for twenty-five percent of the countrys income from tourism. The legalizing of marijuana has boosted the Netherlands economy. There are more jobs in farming due to the sudden high demand. The accumulated number of business owners have sky-rocketed. This is primarily a byproduct of the public demand for coffee shops. Furthermore, the government profits from legalization. The government now has the ability to tax marijuana. Before, all the proceeds went to drug lords and petty drug pushers. The government has also gained more control over the trafficking of marijuana. They control the supply, which in turn means they control inflation of the price and availability. (Morais, 118)The coffee shops contribute to the medical field as well. Store owners work with area doctors to prescribe various forms of marijuana to patients. Also, each coffee shop helps to donate a total of twenty kilos of marijuana to the Berlin Institute for AIDS Research annually (Morais, 118). Some critics feel that the coffee shops are trading stations for a number of hard-dru gs that remain illegal. That simply is not true. Coffee shops are placed under strict regulations. The shops are instantly closed if there is even suspicion of hard-drug dealing, such as heroin or cocaine. With so much to lose, coffee shops owners have hired bouncers to eject anyone using or selling hard drugs. In other words, the Dutch cops now have the soft-drug communities helping them contain and discipline the hard-drug users. (Morais, 120). Bernhard Scholton, the Amsterdam polices foreign affairs spokesman, said, Its better to have all this in the open so we can keep and eye on it. (Morais, 120). Surrounding countries feel that the Netherlands have become too relaxed with the present drug policy. Nevertheless, statistically, the Netherlands tower over all neighboring countries. In 1994, police seized 524,000 pounds of illegal marijuana trafficking. That is four times what France obtained, yet still, France is threatening to close its borders. The Netherlands shut down twenty-seven highly organized drug rings, netted 18,000 pounds of cocaine, 541 pounds of amphetamines, and 437 pounds of heroin (Morais, 119). Hard-drug use has descended as well. The Netherlands have 1.6 addicts per 1,000 people. In comparison, France has 2.5, Italy has three, and Switzerland has 5.3. The Netherlands government accredits marijuana for the low rate of hard-drug addicts. Again, this is due to the fact that the mild drug, marijuana, users are aiding the police in shutting down illegal drug activities. It simply is no longer welcome in their society. (Morais, 115)As far as marijuana use, the Nether lands statistically exceeds the United States. According to estimates by the United Nations International Drug Control Program, over seven percent of the United States population abuses cannabis. It was found that some ten million Americans smoke marijuana on a monthly. In the Netherlands, marijuana abuse is just four percent (Morais, 115). Me myself and I Essay ThesisThere is yet another expanding group of activists that deem that the recreational use of marijuana ought to be legal. One of the largest organized activists groups in the United States is the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF). DPF was founded by Arnold Trebach. The staff of ten has worked to gain over 13,000 members. They recruit powerful members of society, such as lawyers and public officials. They raise and spend millions of dollars to boost their efforts. Presently, DPF is focusing on legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Other activists groups include Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR), National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Cannabis Action Network. Cannabis Action Network is unique because it is a youth activist group. Members promote recreational usage of marijuana primarily on college campuses and at concerts (Cotts, 42). All advocates ar gue that marijuana is virtually harmless, and therefore, should be legal. Marijuana is not physically addictive. However, it is thought to be extremely psychologically addictive. Marijuana is linked to lung cancer and short term memory loss, but activists argue that these problems are no worse than those of tobacco or alcohol. No one has ever actually died from an overdose or misuse of marijuana. Studies do show, however, that marijuana leads to the abuse of harder drugs, which in time, may kill a person. Marijuanas popularity is thriving. In 1994, marijuana expanded into a ten million dollar industry. It is prevalent in television shows, lyrics of songs, caps, T-shirts, earrings, and tattoos. Between the years of 1992 and 1994, twenty-six percent of seniors in high school had smoked marijuana at some time, and the number of students who considered marijuana to be harmful decreased by ten percent. Presently, ten states have decriminalized being in possession of marijuana, which makes the crime equal to a parking violation (Buchsbaum, 8). The number of citizens that feel marijuana should be legal for medicinal reasons is also on the rise. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans feel that marijuana should be available for doctors to prescribe. In December of 1993, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was quoted as saying that legalization was worth studying. (Buchsbaum, 8). Most recent changes are occurring in California. Activists have successfully convinced the government to legaliz e marijuana for medicinal purposes. In other words, doctors may now prescribe marijuana for such illnesses as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other diseases. Recreational use of marijuana is legal in the Netherlands, Columbia, Switzerland, and Australia, as well as, parts of, Germany, Austria, and Britain. The Netherlands legalized marijuana in the mid-1980s in an attempt to drive a wedge between the hard-drug and soft-drug communities, between casual users and big-time dealers. (Morais, 115). The countrys officials argued that it wasnt the psychoactive properties of hashish, but contact with the criminal subculture that leads to serious antisocial behavior. (Morais, 115). Immediately proceeding legalization, coffee shops emerged throughout the Netherlands. The coffee shops sell various foods made with marijuana and the plant in smokable form. There are approximately 450 coffee shops in Amsterdam, distributing about 150,000 dollars worth of marijuana annually. Siberia sells 1,000 dollars worth daily. Tourists purchase an estimated 180 million dollars each year, which accounts for twenty-five percent of the countrys income from tourism. The legalizing of marijuana has boosted the Netherlands economy. There are more jobs in farming due to the sudden high demand. The accumulated number of business owners have sky-rocketed. This is primarily a byproduct of the public demand for coffee shops. Furthermore, the government profits from legalization. The government now has the ability to tax marijuana. Before, all the proceeds went to drug lords and petty drug pushers. The government has also gained more control over the trafficking of marijuana. They control the supply, which in turn means they control inflation of the price and availability. (Morais, 118)The coffee shops contribute to the medical field as well. Store owners work with area doctors to prescribe various forms of marijuana to patients. Also, each coffee shop helps to donate a total of twenty kilos of marijuana to the Berlin Institute for AIDS Research annually (Morais, 118). Some critics feel that the coffee shops are trading stations for a number of hard-dru gs that remain illegal. That simply is not true. Coffee shops are placed under strict regulations. The shops are instantly closed if there is even suspicion of hard-drug dealing, such as heroin or cocaine. With so much to lose, coffee shops owners have hired bouncers to eject anyone using or selling hard drugs. In other words, the Dutch cops now have the soft-drug communities helping them contain and discipline the hard-drug users. (Morais, 120). Bernhard Scholton, the Amsterdam polices foreign affairs spokesman, said, Its better to have all this in the open so we can keep and eye on it. (Morais, 120). Surrounding countries feel that the Netherlands have become too relaxed with the present drug policy. Nevertheless, statistically, the Netherlands tower over all neighboring countries. In 1994, police seized 524,000 pounds of illegal marijuana trafficking. That is four times what France obtained, yet still, France is threatening to close its borders. The Netherlands shut down twenty-seven highly organized drug rings, netted 18,000 pounds of cocaine, 541 pounds of amphetamines, and 437 pounds of heroin (Morais, 119). Hard-drug use has descended as well. The Netherlands have 1.6 addicts per 1,000 people. In comparison, France has 2.5, Italy has three, and Switzerland has 5.3. The Netherlands government accredits marijuana for the low rate of hard-drug addicts. Again, this is due to the fact that the mild drug, marijuana, users are aiding the police in shutting down illegal drug activities. It simply is no longer welcome in their society. (Morais, 115)As far as marijuana use, the Nether lands statistically exceeds the United States. According to estimates by the United Nations International Drug Control Program, over seven percent of the United States population abuses cannabis. It was found that some ten million Americans smoke marijuana on a monthly. In the Netherlands, marijuana abuse is just four percent (Morais, 115). On May 5, 1994, Columbia legalized the possession of small quantities of cocaine and other drugs, including marijuana. The war on drugs in Columbia, sponsored primarily by the United States, actually did more harm than good. There was a sharp rise in human rights abuses, government corruption, and crime. Trying to reduce the drug supply hurt the people of Columbia. For example, a fifty percent crop reduction would only cause a five percent inflation of the drugs price. However, the farmers would be in despair, which would escalate violence and social dislocation. (858). Columbias attorney General Gustan de Griff addressed the United States in saying, Couldnt it be that there are people in the United States Senate who would like to see struggle continued in Columbia, a safe distance away from the United States, rather than consider alternatives that distribute the burdens of the drug war more equally? (858). The United States spends between fourteen and twenty billion dollars a year on their own War on Drugs. About two-thirds of that money is used to stop the supply, which essentially means to more funds for a larger law enforcement force. Sadly enough, less than one-third is used to stop the demand, which constitutes education and treatment. If marijuana was legalized, money would be spent to stop the demand. Drug treatment facilities would emerge across throughout the country. Overall, treatment would prove to be seven times more cost efficient than the constant increase of the law enforcement. Take tobacco use for example, which has been continuously dropping. It is not dropping because tobacco was outlawed, but because the public is more educated on the risk involved. The Unites States jails and judicial systems are highly overcrowded. In fact, fifty percent of trial time and fifty percent of jail spaced is used by drug offenders. Presently, the possession of marijuana has a mandatory jail sentence in severaf legalizing marijuana. It could put criminals out of business. There would be no need for pushers to be invading the playgrounds, or drug lords controlling the communities. Legalization could help to end drug wars. There would be more room in jails for violent criminals, which would create a safer, harmonious environment. The government would be in control of the price, purity, distribution, and access. Addiction would be treated as a health problem, not a crime. If the government kept prices low, addicts would not have to steal to support their habit. The government would be able to tax marijuana which would be extremely profitable. There is also legitimate reasons not to legalize. In the Netherlands, teenage use of marijuana has increased 25 0% while it has decreased two-thirds in the United States (Califano, 7). In theory, health and welfare costs would rise due to the growing number of addicts. The government has been unable to control underage use of cigarettes and alcohol. If marijuana was legalized, it would be nearly impossible to ensure any set age limit would be respected. The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has found that adolescents who smoke marijuana are eighty-five times more likely to use cocaine, and are more prone to violent behavior and suicide (Forbes, 26). There are also physical dangers to consider. One joint does the equivalent damage to the lungs as four cigarettes. If marijuana was legalized, a rise in the number of lung cancer patients should be expected to rise. Marijuana weakens the immune system. It reduces the IQs of babies born to inhaling mothers. Marijuana distorts perception, impairs memory, and reduces concentration. It is known to be psychologically addictive (Forbes, 26). Legalizing marijuana would reverse much of the work to lower drug use. In 1990, Alaska recriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana by a 55% vote (47). From 1979 to 1994, drug use has dropped from 24.8 million people to thirteen million people (Califano, 8). It is time that this nation faces the issue of legalizing marijuana, and determine what would enhance the lives of American citizens. Both the use of marijuana for industrial and recreational purposes has evolved into a moral question. One must look inside himself or herself to arrive at a personally satisfying answer. In the end, righteousness will prevail. Legal Issues Essays

Life Or Death Who Has The Right To Make The Choice Essays

Life or Death Who has the Right to Make the Choice This paper will introduce a case study that results in an ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma will be clearly stated including obligations and conflicts. Using the Contemporary Utilitarianism theory I will analyze the ethical dilemma. Finally I will analyze the same case using an Egoistic approach as an alternative course of action. Case Study An apparent 19 year old male is brought to the emergency room by ambulance in respiratory failure related to end stage cystic fibrosis. The patient is accompanied by his girlfriend who states that the patient has a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. As the emergency room physician tries to contact the patients primary care physician he finds that the patient is under the care of a pediatrician which makes him suspicious of the DNR request. He confronts the girlfriend about the patients age because the patient is unable to communicate due to his respiratory condition. The girlfriend breaks down and admits that the patient is actually 17 years old. The physician immediately intubates the patient in an effort to stabilize his respiratory condition. The patients respiratory condition is stabilized after a short time and he is extubated. The patient relates to his nurse that he does not want to be intubated again or placed on a respirator. The nurse relays this information to the ph! ysician who at this point does nothing. The patients mother arrives at the emergency department and the physician explains the patients condition and his request for a DNR order. His mother refuses to sign a DNR order and this information is explained to the patient by the physician with the mother present. A discussion insues between the mother and her son and she reluctantly agrees to sign the DNR order. The physician is informed of her decision and assists the mother in signing the appropriate paperwork. The patient soon confronts the physician and makes him promise to stick to the DNR order no matter what his condition, the physician agrees. Shortly after the DNR is completed and all other appropriate paperwork are in order, the patient goes into respiratory arrest. All the parties involved in this situation are present when the respiratory arrest occurs. The physician stands by will all intentions of honoring the DNR but within 30 seconds of the arrest, the mother orders the physician to intubate. The physician looks to the patient as he shakes his head indicating that he does not want to be intubated, the physician also is aware that the patient will be 18 years old in three weeks. Ethical Dilemma Initially it appears as if the dilemma revolves around what the physicians next move should be. When actually the real dilemma is who owns the rights to make this life or death decision. It is clear what the patient wants for his course of treatment. It is equally clear what his mother will allow his treatment to be. Each have equally selfish reasons for wanting their decision to be upheld. The mother does not want to lose her son and will at all costs keep him alive. She feels he is romanticizing death and has no real concept of what dying means. Her son lived with cystic fibrosis since age four and has seen many of his friends placed on ventilators only to later die. He does not want that quality of life in his final days. The physician is supportive of the patients request but is placed in an awkward legal position if he abides by the patients request. The nurse who has acted as an intermediary throughout this entire process continues to acts as a patient advocate an ensur! e the patients rights are observed and that his wishes are acknowledged. Ethical Analysis of Dilemma Contemporary Utilitarianism is divided in to four basic principles, each principle will be used to analyze this dilemma. The first principle considers which action will provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number. As we look at the action in this case the patient should not be allowed to discontinue treatment because his mother and girlfriend do not wish fort him dye. This action does not provide the greatest good and it appears that the

Writing a Sample of an Artist Experient Essay

Writing a Sample of an Artist Experient EssayIn order to be a professional writer, you need to have a sample of an artist essay. The art essay will vary depending on the writer, the subject, and what the reader wants to learn.It is important to know the guidelines when writing an experient essay. The idea behind this is that the artist is going to tell the story in his or her own words about how they felt about the work they created. So this should be an experient essay that allows the reader to understand what the artist was feeling when they made the piece.Writing the article can be tricky, so it is always good to research the topic before you get started. It is a good idea to do a bit of reading about the artist's work and check to see if there are any websites that cover the artist in some way. When you are ready to start writing, pick an artist that you admire and spend time gathering the information needed to write the experience essay.One of the first things you should write i s a description of the experience. This should be a realistic description of what you had for dinner or whatever special event the artist was involved with. There are plenty of websites that can help you get the proper details of the event. This is the starting point and can be built upon as the article progresses.Next you need to start to get into the piece. Start by choosing a random event from the artist's work. Then write down what the artist thinks of the piece, if anything. Try to go into as much detail as possible. This will allow the reader to understand why they chose the piece, what they liked about it, and what parts they disliked.Another tip when writing an experient essay is to listen to the piece and see what the artist has to say about it. Write down what you hear. This can be difficult to do if you are just getting started. In order to get a feel for the artist, listen to their work, read through the pieces, and start getting ideas. Once you have an idea for the expe rience, be sure to write it down and be sure to get the 'artist voice' out loud.As a final note, some writers choose to do a couple of interviews with the artist in order to give more insight into the piece and show the reader more of the piece. It can also be a way to get their thoughts into words without being heard by the general public. This is a great way to end the essay and let the reader know more about the piece.When you are ready to begin writing a sample of an artist experience essay, it is a good idea to start by researching the piece. Start out with a bit of research on the artist and the work and build from there. Writing an experient essay is a great way to gain more insight into the artist's work.

buy custom Wicked Widget Company essay

buy custom Wicked Widget Company essay The president of the Wicked Widget Company argues that his company will sustain its profitability next year because of its best workers retaining their jobs. This is because it has decided to save money by paying its employees on the basis of widget produced as opposed to on hourly basis. The company believes that by doing so, it will enhance efficiency and quality of the produced widgets. Additionally the president argues that this will save in management costs and electricity because the efficiency attained will help retain the best workers and reduce the weekly time spent on factory floor operation. This argument is not well reasoned because this practice will not automatically result to savings because the employees can produce more widgets in an hour and their wages will remain constant even if the widgets are very many as opposed to paying them for every widget as it can inflate their wages to a large extent if they manufacture many of them. To begin with, the president argues that the policy will enhance the terms of efficiency by reducing the costs incurred by the company and the minutes spend by employees on widgets. He goes ahead to explain how it will improve the quality of the widgets because payment will only be made on the accepted wigets. This reasoning is not valid because the likely situation is that employees will want to produce more widgets to earn more money compromising their quality. Only few widgets will be accepted to generate less income for the company. To validate this statement, it has to be assumed that most widgets produced will meet the standards of Widget Inspection Team. This assumption will strengthen his argument by maximizing profits from quality widgets. Another flaw in the presidents reasoning is that paying employees basing on the widgets produced will increase efficiency. This he feels, will be realized due to reduced companys costs and increased widget quality. This can not happen without an appropriate assumption being made to validate it. The assumption is that reduced employee minutes per widget will enhance efficiency, therefore ensuring that even if they produce many of them within a short time, their quality will no be compromised. This point of view/assumption will strengthen the point because even if the number of widgets produced will be more, their quality will not be questionable. The last flaw in his argument is that benefits from efficiency will enable the company keep only the best employees and manage the factory floor for lless time weekly hence savings in management costs and electricity. This is not obvious because it is not keeping a small number of employees will not routinely result in to efficiency at the company but other management factors have to be appropriately organized to achieve this. Therefore an assumption to be made has to be only if all other factors are effectively managed to run the company well. This point serves as strength to the argument because there are a number of other issues which affect cost effectiveness of personnel. In conclusion, the presidents argument was questionable because some of the reasons he brought forth as means through which his company will retain the best employees and improve its profitability are not valid. To begin with paying employees on the basis of widgets produced can slower their rate of production or increase the rate of wages all together. Secondly the celebrated efficiency gains may not be realized as fewer employees are not a guarantee of enhancing quality production. Lastly, the projected savings in management costs and electricity as some other factors need to be implemented for this to be realized. The presidents argument can be improved by carefully looking at and considering all the factors that affect efficiency in production. Buy custom Wicked Widget Company essay

Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Paper - Essay Example This war gained heavy criticism and the critics have established that US was wrong in conducting this war. War on Iraq was not justified due to several reasons including: it had no weapons of mass destruction, it was a weak nation, Iraq did not participate in the attack on the World Trade center, led to increase in terrorists, war was ethically wrong, led to loss of allies, higher cost lower benefits, war was fought for self interest over the interest of the community and led to the destruction of the global economy. Body The main official reason due to which US attacked Iraq was that Iraq and Saddam was in control of weapons of mass destructions and these weapons even were expected to include nukes. US might have made a just decision of going to war on this particular reason but later it was figured out that intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction was misleading and no weapons of mass destruction were identified in the nation (O’Neill, 2012). The basis on which thi s war took place was that Iraq has previous used weapons that were dangerous in nature during the period of 1980s, but all those weapons were either utilized or recognized as unusable during the 1990s (Zinn, 2002). This clearly represents that US attacked Iraq on the basis of obsolete intelligence and the decision of going to war made by the administration of Bush was not justified. The intelligence gathered during the 1990s clearly showed that Iraq was not in possession of weapons of mass destruction and was not a plausible threat either to US or its allied nations. Even Saddam Hussein never had threatened US and neither to its allied force of attacking them. Neither Saddam nor Iraq poised a threat to the neighboring countries and neither the neighboring countries feared Iraq. Iraq had never attacked any of its neighbors since the end of the Gulf War as it had become quite weak and could not afford any war (O’Neill, 2012). US suspected that Iraq and Saddam had close ties wit h the terrorist group Taliban and its leader Osama Bin Laden and the US even suspected that he might have contributed to the attacks of 9/11 (Zinn, 2002). Since 9/11 US has been at a war against terrorism and has been at war with Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda had openly accepted the responsibility of the 9/11 attacks and even threatened US to attack US and allied nations in future due to which US launched an attack at Afghanistan and stood victorious. But Saddam Hussein had never conducted such threatening activities and should not have been attacked on the basis of terrorism. Instead of wasting resources in Iraq and causing damage throughout the world US should have focused on its war against terrorism in Afghanistan where the real terrorists exist and who continue to not only disturb the US society, but societies all over the world. Attack on Iraq did not lead to decrease in attack conducted by terrorist groups; rather terrorist groups have beco me much stronger due to this war. Individuals living in Iraq and other countries have started raising their voices against US and there are even those who do not appreciate what US did to Iraq, due to this the terrorist groups have gained more men and more personnel to dismantle US as these terrorist groups use the hatred against US to cause destruction in US. Instead of US distributing its resources

Choose the topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Choose the topic - Essay Example The argument that human influence on climate change has numerous negative connotations is based on facts and issues. Case in point is that human beings have politicized the climate change to the extent that scientific reasoning has been compromised. While global warming remains a critical challenge to the local communities and the international system, individuals have politicized the issue for political milestones. Parliamentary committees, governments and houses of representatives have failed to come up with essential solutions that can first track cabbing of global warming. Human beings through political representation have stalled the process of coming up with solutions based on political considerations. Human beings influence on climate change has a number of cons in the sense that a critical thought has not been given to alternative sources of information. Case in point is that while suggestions have been presented on alternative energy use, human beings have remained resistant to change. The old habits persist in the face of global warming because no serious considerations have been given to the sources of energy that induce global warming. If the human beings embraced alternative sources of energy, it would be relatively easy to deal with the challenges of climate change. The political elites are the major beneficiaries in the debate concerning climate change. Case in point is that they develop policies and guidelines that are not geared towards solving the problem, but to massage the issues, and challenges presented. While the political class comes up with information and guidelines that are supposed to guide the debate on climate change, they are careful never to antagonize the system by proposing stringent measures that may not be agreeable to their constituencies. To this extent, it is important to note that political expediency is a driving agenda when climate change is discussed by the elites. Though the politicians benefit through