Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Example Essay Example

Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Example Paper Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Introduction Of all the roles in parenting, no part is as important as raising children with good values. As parents, we may hope our children are good athletes, achieve in school, are artistically talented, or good looking, but nothing is as important as their moral behavior. If our children are not good, honest, self-disciplined, kind, hard-working people, then their humanity is diminished. Parents need to respect children and require respect in return. Discipline must be respectful and model the restraint, gentleness, and fairness we expect of our children. As children get older, we need to ask for and consider their opinions when setting rules and consequences. These past ten years might as well go down in history as the â€Å"Decade of Moral Erosion. † Wall Street â€Å"leaders,† politicians, celebrities, and even the clergy and their parade of unethical acts were continual news stories. The Internet became scarier;TV featured more casual sex and vulgarity; political and corpor ate scandals became raunchier and more public; video games became even cruder; music lyrics were ruder; movies were often steamier and more violent. And if that isn’t enough, data shows that those ethical infractions are impacting the kids. Their social scene is even meaner and more aggressive. Bullying has not only intensified but is also no longer limited to playgrounds. Cyberbullying is the hot new craze. According to Good Kids, Tough Choices, â€Å"A Boys and Girls Club of America survey of 46,000 teens confirmed by their own reports that peer pressure is fiercer. Drinking, shoplifting, cheating, lying, stealing, and sexual promiscuity have not only increased but are also hitting our kids at younger ages† (Rushworth, 2010). Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Body Paragraphs These really are scary times to raise kids. We need to nurture a solid moral core that will guide our kids to stand up for their beliefs and act right even without us. Children can learn the core virtues and skills of strong character and moral courage even when they are toddlers. The following characteristics help promote moral development: †¢honest and trustworthy †¢faithful and loyal †¢hard-working, responsible, and self-disciplined †¢kind, with concern for their fellow human beings †¢independent, able to resist the pressure of the crowd †¢generous, giving, and selfless loving, empathetic, sensitive, and tolerant †¢friendly, helpful, cheerful, and gentle †¢concerned for justice, and respectful of legitimate authority, rules, and laws †¢respectful of themselves and the rights of others †¢respectful of life, property, nature, elders, and parents †¢courteous, polite, having good manners †¢fair in work and play †¢mercifu l and forgiving, understanding the futility of holding a grudge †¢service oriented, willing to contribute to family, friends, community, country, religious organizations, and school †¢courageous †¢peaceful, calm, and serene Children develop morality slowly, and in stages. These stages have their foundation in a secure attachment and basic trust, beginning in the preschool years and continuing to develop even in the adult years. Each stage has its own theory and idea of what is good and right and different reasons why people should be good. Each stage brings a person closer to mature moral development. Treating kids with respect means treating them like persons, being fair with them, relating to them at their level, and making some allowances for the immaturity of their developmental stage. It means giving kids the feeling that you’re trying to consider their point of view. Since morality is a two-way street, we can require respect in return from our children. W e can insist on courtesy and expect consideration. We can require in firm, unmistakable ways, the special respect that is due us as parents and caretakers and the simple respect that is due every human being. One of the surest ways to help our children turn their moral reasoning into positive moral behavior is to teach by example. Teaching kids respect by respecting them is certainly one way to teach by example. But teaching by example goes beyond how we treat our children. It has to do with how we treat others as adults, how we treat and talk about others outside the family. It has to do with how we lead our lives. Think back to how your own parents influenced your moral development by the examples they set. We teach respect for all persons by the examples we set. Even though it is extremely important to teach by example, it is not enough. Children are surrounded by bad examples. They need our words as well as our actions. Parents with clearly identified moral convictions are more likely to raise ood kids. Because their kids know what their parents stand for and why they do, their kids are more likely to adopt their parents’ beliefs. They need to see us leading good lives, but they also need to know why we do it. One great question to ask yourself each day is: â€Å"If I were the only example my child had to learn moral habits, what did she learn today from watching me? † The answer can be quite revealing. By watching your choices and hearing your casual comments, kids learn our moral standards: For example do you: †¢eat a â€Å"sample† from a store’s candy bin in front of your child without paying? buy a ticket for a â€Å"child under twelve† even though your child is older? †¢drive faster than the speed limit with your child as a passenger? †¢tell your child to say you’re not there when your boss calls? †¢do the majority of your child’s work on a school project, but then have him sign his name? Children’s books can be helpful in illustrating values. Moving stories that are told through television shows or movies can also open the conversation with children about morality. Worship, study, and celebration of your religious faith together as a family also can promote moral development. Speaking frequently to your child about values is called â€Å"Direct Moral Teaching. † Parents who raise ethical kids use it often. So look for moral issues and talk about them as they come up- from TV shows and news events to situations at home, school, and friends. Tell your kids how you feel about the issue and why. Share examples of morally courageous heroes such as Rosa Parks, Pee Wee Reese, Harriet Tubman, Abe Lincoln. There are wonderful books and videos in your local library that you can also share with your child. Cut out articles in the newspaper and use them as â€Å"Hero Reports† at the dinner hour with your kids each day. Stand up for your beliefs whenev er you feel a major value is jeopardized. Your child needs to see and hear about moral courage so he has an example to copy. It is not enough to set a good example and tell children what we think, important as those things are. We also have to teach them to think for themselves. One father describes how his parents did that: â€Å"Whenever I did something wrong, my parents didn’t just demand that I stop my behavior. Instead, they almost always asked, ‘How would you feel if someone did that to you? ‘ That gave me a chance to reflect on whatever I did and how I’d like to have it done to me. † (McGowan, 2007) There are two very important moral lessons here. First, take the time to think. Second, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Neither of those things comes naturally to children. We can help their moral development by giving them constant encouragement to stop and think and to take the viewpoint of others into consideration. Children who think about and discuss moral issues make better headway through the stages of moral reasoning than children who don’t. Have your children complete chores and jobs around the house, take responsibility for their own homework, or take care of a younger sister or brother, an ill family member, or animals. Volunteering, service projects, and giving to a charity provide an opportunity to give of self through responsible action. Children need limits with independence, roots, and wings. Finding the balance can be tricky. Too much parental control can lead children to rebel and make poor choices just to get some freedom. Too much freedom leads to children feeling overwhelmed – having too much power before they are ready for it. With an overabundance of freedom, children may get the idea that parents don’t really care what they do or what kind of person they become. According to Parenting Beyond Belief, â€Å"Parental love helps a child take in parental values and rul es. Parents who spend quality and quantity time with their children as well as love them abundantly have children who have higher levels of moral development. † (McGowan, 2007) Kids who stick up for others are kids who feel for others. Empathy is what motivates that feeling, halts cruel behavior and urges kids to take a stand. New research also shows empathy is what activates our conscience. A close family gives children people to identify with, examples to learn from, values and traditions to uphold, and a support system to turn to in times of need. When children feel connected to the family, they’ve got a rudder that helps them hold to a course of responsible conduct in the face of pressure from peers. The truth is that it takes real moral strength to go against peer pressure and to stick up for your beliefs. So teach your child assertive skills so he can take the right kind of stand whenever he’s confronted with a moral dilemma. (Rushworth, 2010). Here are thr ee ways to boost moral courage: †¢Teach assertive posture. Teach your kid to stand up for his beliefs by using confident, assertive posture. Stand tall with feet slightly apart, head held high, and look the person straight in the eye. †¢Say no firmly. Stress that he must say his beliefs using a friendly, but determined voice. Then don’t give in. His job is not to try changing the other person’s mind, but to ollow his beliefs. †¢Tell reasons why. Ask your child to give the person the reason for his stand. It helps strengthen his conviction: â€Å"Stop bullying him; it’s cruel. † Or â€Å"No, it’s illegal and wrong. † Repeating the belief several times boosts assertiveness and helps your child not back down from his stand. (Rushworth, 2010). Keep in mind that your child’s moral growth is an ongoing process that will span the course of her lifetime. The moral knowledge, beliefs, and habits you instill in her now will becom e the foundation she’ll use forever. So savor this time with your child and use it wisely, for although your child has the potential to achieve moral goodness, it is far from guaranteed. It must be nurtured, influenced, modeled, and taught. Doing so will be your greatest legacy for your child and the best hope that she can rise to the occasion and demonstrate moral courage whenever it may be needed. We will write a custom essay sample on Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Raising Ethical and Moral Children Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Technology Assisted collaborative communications The WritePass Journal

Technology Assisted collaborative communications Introduction Technology Assisted collaborative communications IntroductionReference:Related Introduction Netiquette is a social convention adopted by internet users on the web that help interact over networks ranging from mailing to blogs and forums and live chat. Since the internet has changed rapidly, its netiquette does too, the need for a sense of netiquette arises mostly when sending or distributing e-mail, chatting or posting comments. To some point, the practice of netiquette relies on accepting how e-mail, chatting or other aspects of the internet work or is practiced. For example, on an email discussion list – not everyone may have seen past message- it’s considered polite to quote from a message you’re replying to, so your response has context. It is considered that to keep quotes short and relevant. Web based forum, on the other hand where the original messages are visible to all, quoting is unnecessary. Netiquette is a term referring to a good behaviour while connected to the internet below is some good and bad examples of netiquette while using the internet facilities. Good Examples: Requesting permission for images and extra intellectual rights from the author and owners. Using proper grammar and spelling Not Using someone else’s identity such as name and pretending to be someone else Not posting something illegal Not using abusive and threatening language. Not post racist comments Not trying to capture personal information about someone Bad Examples: Trying to be someone else and using their personal information and their identity Using foul language in a message or in a live chat Posting comments on racism To gather private information about someone Netiquette is communicating clearly online; this helps students with their learning as it gives the students a guide on   how to speak or type in a message or to people using online communication tools such as Facebook, Skype or Windows live Messenger.   This helped me to attempt my assignment one as it was a group assignment we had to use online communication tools in order to communicate. We clearly used appropriate language to communicate and sent brief short message emails to each of the group members. As a group we used appropriate behaviour to communicate with each other and it helped us into attempting assignment one it helped us to keep quotes short and relevant and easy to read. Throughout this module we had to attempt Assignment one; and in order to do that we had to communicate we each other as it was a group assignment. As we didn’t have time to communicate all the time due to other modules and other coursework and not everyone in our group was doing the same modules, we had to communicate by online communication using Skype, Facebook and Windows live messenger. We used mainly Skype as we were able to communicate as a group and not individual. Using online communication was an advantage for us as a group this is because we communicated anywhere, we didn’t have to discuss everything face to face or coming to the university and discussing the work, we discussed it over Skype and other online communication in order to help each other out for the group assignment and how to attempt each part. Blackboard was also used; it was used in order get in touch with the lecturer we posted comments in the discussion forum as a group or individual to get he lp with the assignments and other work relating to the lecturer. Online communications are used to be reserved for emails sent to co-workers and bosses. Today, however, emails and online conferences and other different methods kinds of online communications have not only become widely accepted, but often preferred to other methods. Online communications can offer several advantages and disadvantages. There is convenience; users don’t need to wait in for the other person to be available in order to get the message to them, they can just send an email.   Today for better communications, we can avail the facilities of e-mail, we can chat for hours. There are plenty messenger tools in present, these services it has become easy to start a friendship where users can share their thoughts. Advantages of Instant messaging is; users are able to send message in real time, free to use, having to have a proper face to face conversation without making a large bill and users are able to chat to more than one person at the same time. However there are disadvantages in using online communications. Some people decide to send viruses via email and in the processing infecting the user computers. Virus email can be difficult in order to be detected especially to someone with a very little knowledge of computer viruses and how they work. It’s not only emails that are the downside of online communications there are more such Instant messaging, the downside of instant messaging is that viruses can be sent via files, needs internet connection and computer and last of you don’t who you are really talking too. As technology progresses and the world has become more reliant up on internet functions online learning has gained popularity and functionality.   I personally can say it has benefited me, as it enables me to access it 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I am able to have the ability to read and re read lectures, discussion, explanations and comments. Each student has their personal way of learning some can learn visually and others do better when they â€Å"learn by doing†.   As online learning has benefited me I can study the lectures and materials of the modules on my own time or whenever I have the access to a computer or to the internet, it allows me to work at my own pace when learning modules. As I can choose when I want to work on my studies, I am more likely to devote my full attention to the task and not be distracted to comprehend to the lesson.   One of greatest things about online learning is that I can learn anywhere this is a benefit to me as I can learn even in the comfort of my own home; this can save me countless hours of transits. Instead of enduring a boring and often a stressful- rush to get to class at a horrible hour of the morning, I can use these hours for actual learning. Normally I often have more one on one interaction with my lecturers as correspondence through email is essential as my lecturers will know more about me and they way I learn and needs than a student they see two or three times a week in their lecturers. Online learning has not benefited me in this course; this is because in all of my modules it is required that we attend lectures and tutorials so for that we don’t miss out in anything important. Throughout the course, I’ve tried learning some things online, but it was a fail. It was only clear if the lecturer explained it, there was no point learning it online or any other way as it wasn’t clear enough. Online learning is a benefit in some of the modules but for this modules is not, when the work is set is required we practice it there and there so therefore there is no need to learn something online. Online learning does benefit some students in the course as for them they think it’s better to learn in this method, but for some it’s the other way around they think it’s better to attend lectures and tutorials to learn the module. Reference: Netiquette: Erin Hoffman. (2005). what is netiquette. Available: wisegeek.com/contest/what-is-netiquette.htm. Last accessed 28th March 2011. Wendy Grossman. (2010). what is netiquette. Available: bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-netiquette. Last accessed 4th April 2011. Advantages and disadvantages: Jayashree Pakhare. (2006). Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet. Available: buzzle.com/articles/advantages-disadvantages-internet.html. Last accessed 4 April 2011.

Characteristics Of Authentic Literacy Instruction Education Essay

Characteristics Of Authentic Literacy Instruction Education Essay Introduction When children come into the world, they come with the innate desire to explore their surrounding and this is seen in their daily interaction with the environment around them when it involves language development and more. They actively participate in their learning of spoken and written language from their parents and other people interactions (Teale & Sulzby, 1986). They see print in the world through signs on shops, along the road and even the supermarket and begin to make associations when they explore printed material (i.e.paper and crayons, and story books). They develop their written experiences by trying out different things, experimenting and inventing their own literacies. As the activities begin to take on more meaning, they increase their knowledge of how written language is formed and how they function in the real world, depending on different situations (Goodman, 1986). As a result, the real world offers these children an entire environment that is literall y rich with language experiences that the children can learn and produce in a natural setting. These settings will also involve human relationships that affect how children may or may not use the literacy tools they encounter (Tharp & Gallimore, 1988). Unlike the empty slate that some people believe children are born with, they are actually vital members of a dynamic system in which the environment influences (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). The more children use the resources available to them in the environment to expand on their knowledge and skills in relation to constructing more solid understanding of factors in the literary world, they are engaging in solving problems that utilizes cognitive skills and through their interaction with members of their environment. Therefore, children’s learning about literacy is integrally tied with practical action, resulting from their need to control, manipulate, and function in their environment. Without a doubt then, children cannot escape t he realities of reading and writing, which are so much a part of their lives as there are so many relationships and contexts that are tied in with these realities (Teale & Sulzby, 1986). Through participating in activities that require cognitive and communicative functions, children are drawn into the uses of these functions by their caregivers in ways that may nurture and develop them. Consequently, children’s earliest conceptions of literacy and strategies for reading and writing are likely to be formed through activities that are often socially instigated (Bruner, 1972). Therefore, the case for authenticity in literacy is a natural process. Authenticity refers to the real-life experiences an individual experiences when carrying out specific activities (Ableser, 2008). This involves life experiences that are naturally occurring in the lives of children and individuals. When a child argues with her parent on the merits of getting a dog, the points and arguments provided are a result of a natural and real reason for doing so. This authenticity is carried into the area of literacy in the classroom as the concept seems a logical progression of utilizing the innate curiosity and purpose of carrying out an activity as a part of the process of learning, into the classroom teacher’s goal of getting her students to learn and do academic related activities. The authentic activities that individuals typically exercise in day-to-day situations are replicated in the classroom. Unfortunately the ordinary practices of the culture-what people do in daily, weekly, and monthly cycles of activity do not seem academically sufficient to meet the educational standards set by the power that be. Such practices, for example, include shopping for the best bargain, figuring out the health hazards of microwaves or examining costs for a planned holiday are not translated adequately and therefore seem to be lacking in some way. Authentic literacy practices then seem to have failed in some way.

Applying Sociology to Public Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Applying Sociology to Public Practice - Essay Example Sociology is defined as the 'scientific' study of the relationship between human social organization and human behavioural processes. Its early proponents and even sociologists today believe that they can develop a scientific way of studying mankind and his social nature in the same way as natural scientists have formulated a scientific approach to explain the physical world. Fundamental to the field is the notion that the relationship between human organization and social behaviour are subject to law-like processes and forces which can be revealed thru a systematic and careful observation and study. The theoretical models of causality should also be subject to empirical tests. (James, 1996) The problem with sociology which can be observed in the article authored by Francis et al (2007) entitled "Attitude toward Christianity among secondary school pupils in Northern Ireland: shifts in denominational differences" is that sociology tends to become unscientific. Sociology attempts to understand human behaviour not thru a set of a step-by-step analysis of characteristics of individuals but on the influence of interactions among individuals. It emphasizes the social forces present in a certain group which cannot be generalized to other groups much like the way scientific laws work. Social forces cannot be observed directly but must be inferred from human behaviour. In other words, there is no assurance that an observed and analyzed social phenomenon could be applied on another set of events. For example, the case for the article can only be found in Ireland. Sociology, therefore, becomes ambiguous. There is no finality in sociological pursuits because it is subjected to change and what is much more pressing is that mechanisms are often unidentifiable. Even if it was identified, there is always the question of finality. In the article by Francis et al, one can note that there was not even an attempt to determine the mechanism which caused the change in the regard for Christianity by male and female Irish children. All they did was to determine whether there was a change without even attempting to identify whether this was expected or whether it followed some kind of process. There was not even a discussion of a theoretical background discussing the mechanism of change for religious perception. They even conveniently stated that they did not deem it proper to know the underlying cause because it was out of the limits they have set. While it is good to know that there is an improvement in religious perception, wouldn't it have been more useful if one knows what is causing the chan ge so that it may be further developed Sociology will only assume the science mantle when it shakes off its reliance on first person subjective evaluations and surveys. The article itself depends widely on previous studies for comparison and does not even provide a scale of similarity with the procedures used. Most sociologists have little or no understanding of calculus yet they often present least-squares results as with the article. Sociology is for the most part verbal rather than quantitative. (James, 1996) Competing Perspectives As can be deduced from the previous discussion, there is a tendency for sociological knowledge to become of little value. According to Levin (2006), while there are indeed sociological researches that

Technology for business Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Technology for business - Coursework Example This is through the various tools that are available ranging from software management and social networking tools. Finally, the company has achieved improved customer experience as technology has led into better ways of managing and retrieving customer information. On the other hand, the use of technology poses threats to the company. First, the company is likely to lose its customers who rely on the products that are carefully crafted by the employees. The use of technology makes the products that are produced by the similar to other companies in the market. It can be observed that the customers opt for products that are produced by the company since they are specially crafted by hand (Attaran 588). The second threat is that technology within the sector is dynamic and this means that the entity is forced to invest heavily in technology. The company is advised to implement the new technology gradually into its poduction and this will ensure that the customers accept the change process in the same way. Finally, the company should invest into the form of production that is likely to be used for a longer

Minimum Wage :: Minimum Wage Essays

The Minimum Wage and Why We Should Leave it Alone When was the last time a "value" meal from McDonald, let alone any other fast food chain, did not cost five dollars or more? When was the last time premium gas was under a dollar a gallon? It's hard to remember, isn't it? Wouldn't it be great if everything cost a nickel, like back in the good ol' days? According to the laws of economics, it's not logical for things to have gotten more expensive competition should drive prices down. Then why have prices continued to rise over the years? The continuing demand of more money for less work has forced Uncle Sam to raise the minimum wage innumerable times in the last half century, which results in higher prices for the rest of us. Another raise in the minimum wage would, as all the others before it, raise prices for consumers, which would again result in another demand for a raise in the minimum wage. It's a viscous cycle that must be stopped before it loses control. Not only does a raise in minimum wage result in a raise in the cost of living, it also causes the dismissal of hardworking people who are happy with their current income. When the firing axe starts to fall, seniority often determines who goes and who stays. The more a single employee costs a business an hour, the fewer employees the business can afford to employee an hour. This results in the dismissal of employees to compensate for a raise in labor costs, which creates a smaller staff, which results in slipshod service. Although most reasonable people would rather pay more for better service, the plain fact of the matter is that the service hasn't really gotten any better. The service is better than it was when there weren't enough employees so people assume the service itself has gotten better, while the truth is that the service is just as haphazard as before. The laborers are simply replaced because of a need for more employees, more often than not by people who have never worked in those positions before. By having a staff that is constantly fluctuating, the business hurts itself the service is hurt because the new employees are in need of training, and in the end it is us, the consumers, who feel the real pain The pain we experience is that of rising costs in the market it's that sharp pain we feel every time we reach for our wallet, but it is in no way as painful as the fact that we give bonuses for no reason in the form of raises in the minimum wage.

The Ukrainian Higher Education System Today

A lot of us soon or late being either thinking students or worrying parents face with such problems â€Å"Which school is the best to study? Higher or Secondary Education† All this questions do not have clear and right answer but even though education is still one of the main and the most important problems of our society. So, how does the classical education system present itself? During the period of Renaissances- lyceums, colleges and gymnasiums were the main elements of High Education. And the basic subjects were Latin and Greek language, history and literature.Its aim was acquire of self-education skills, which in further life would help in studying out other subjects. In addition, this system of education was paid, that is why it was available to not all population. Classical education was substituted be real education, the foundations of which were exact science. Real education system has given the ability for developing of technical specialization. New, at that time kn owledge of math, physics and chemistry have brought into life electricity, steam machinery and electronic. In the beginning of the 20th century the education was still paid.But with the advent to power Communists Party, the education has become free. Free education became available for every person, even from villages, small towns and poverty from cities. The young state developed industry enterprises, built railways, were mastering virgin soil and Sibir. All this activities needed the specialists in exact science. In Soviet Union the school was chosen due to place of living. All school were the similar: the same program, same books, same education. Such position made senseless searching for another school.However, there was small number of special schools with deeper studying of foreign languages as German, French, Spanish and of course English. For the liquidation of illiteracy on one level with daily there also were evening schools, where adult people could receive basic knowledg e. Huge number of soviet people even having families wanted to be educated. Therefore Soviet Republics spaced a lot of means and attention to Higher and Secondary Education. The peculiarity of secondary Technical Education was receiving school education simultaneous with receiving specialization.Higher education stipulated for going out to better position in society. The quality of real education, on sample of Soviet Union, had given huge number of experts who later were demanded all over the world. In the end of 20th century great country died, as died its education system. New government decided to return some points of classical education. As you can see, among us someone graduated from simple school, someone from lyceum, someone from gymnasium. However, the attempts to resume the classical education were done partially.That means that the refuse of real education did not bring the increasing of education level. The fact is that all knowledge received must be used in labor activi ty. If it is not so- such knowledge does not make sense. The problem of our country today is small demand of technical knowledge. We really have specialists but they are old and they even do not have ability to share their skills with. We do not have enough factories to work, we do not have appropriate substitution for this, that is why we just simply cannot gave good specialist.We have bad statistic, there is small number of people who really wants to study and does it but then when they finally received their knowledge in our corrupt country, they prefer to use it abroad. The position of our villages is so frightening that young, just graduated students, do not want to work there. That is why now in 21st century every person have to clarify what to do and how, because who else will teach, treat and rule is now you choose irresponsibility, laziness and indifference†¦