Jaguar free essay sample

You can quickly get a feel for the culture of an organization just by looking around and talking to the people who work for it. For example, some organizations are very dynamic and their people are encouraged to take risks. Others are backward looking and rarely take risks. The culture of the organization provides the meaning, direction and clarity (the human glue) that drives the business to achieve its goals. From time to time it becomes necessary to change the culture of an organization to make sure that it fits the environment in which the organization operates. Changes in the car industry The car industry has changed dramatically. At the start of the twentieth century, the industry was dominated by the achievements of Henry Ford who created a manufacturing system that was known as Fordism. In Fordist organizations, the manufacturing system was geared towards creating standardized products such as the Model T Ford. We will write a custom essay sample on Jaguar or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The needs of the production line determined the life of the production line worker. Workers knew exactly what was expected of them and were given set periods of time to carry out particular operations. This system was very successful, lowered production costs and brought the motor car within the budget of the ordinary family in the west. However, during the 1980s the car industry was transformed by new manufacturing approaches from Japan. Japanese success was based partly on the competitive prices they were able to ask for their products and services, but mainly on their quality. The concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) was developed in the US after the end of World War Two but was implemented first in Japan. It changed the balance of world trade and ed many companies in the west to rethink their attitudes, policies and structure. TQM can only operate when responsibility and power are delegated downwards through all levels of the organization. Responding to changing demands As the world became more competitive, organizations had to respond quickly to rapidly changing demands. They could no longer rely on producing standardized products but had to manage a wider portfolio of as sociated products. This demanded increased flexibility, and the active co-operation of a versatile and increasingly skilled workforce. In the 1980s and the 1990s, many American and European companies adopted more flexible Japanese ways of working so they could respond quickly to changing market conditions. In recent years the world car industry has been rationalized. Instead of hundreds of car companies world-wide, there are ten major global players. Part of this rationalization has seen the development of a new Ford group of companies. In the 1990s Ford took control of Jaguar. It recently overhauled the Halewood plant to produce the new X400 Jaguar and created a new way of working. Many of the employees at Halewood had previously produced Ford Escorts using traditional manufacturing techniques, in which they were not encouraged to show initiative. They now needed to learn new approaches to work which involved empowerment and flexibility; more responsibility was given to the operative at the sharp end of production. What better place to introduce a culture change than by starting with a prestige marque like Jaguar? Strategy To manage the change process at the Jaguar plant, Ford worked closely with a consultancy group called Senn Delaney Leadership. Senn Delaney believes that it is important to align the culture, structure and the strategy of an organization. The organization that seeks to change its strategy without changing its culture will experience resistance to change. The successful management of change is crucial. The strategy of the organization includes the overall business direction and the plan to achieve it. Structure includes the organisational design and model, the processes, systems, policies and procedures that support it. Organizations involved in the hange process often focus on strategy and structure and neglect culture change. As a result, the existing culture acts like an invisible anchor that drags the business down. Teamwork approach In the motor industry in the early 1990s, many employees were not used to making decisions for themselves. They expected to be told what to do. This slowed down change when companies wanted to move on to self-managed teamwork approaches. In the 1990s Jaguar overhauled its app roaches to work to create an environment in which employees were encouraged to ‘take ownership’. They would be involved in managing a process of continuous improvement that revolved around ‘lean production’. Lean production involves standardizing work processes to cut out waste. The standard set is the best identified method of operation at a particular moment in time. This standard is continuously improved. The key to lean production is to identify which production processes add value. Processes which do not add value are cut out so that labour and machinery can focus on added value activities. To introduce lean production at Halewood it was necessary to transform existing attitudes in the workforce. Employees had to take responsibility for introducing new working methods and to continuously suggest further improvements. They would work in small teams with a team leader. The Jaguar Vision To transform working patterns at Halewood, a Halewood Difference Programme was introduced based on a new vision and set of guiding values and behaviours. Jaguar targets industry leadership in quality, value for money, customer care and human resource management. Compatible with these targets the vision for the Halewood body and assembly plant is: †¢ a world class vehicle manufacturing facility producing Jaguar cars for the discerning luxury car buyer, providing maximum job satisfaction and security †¢ a safe environment in which highly motivated employees demonstrate a pride, passion in the product and an earnest desire to drive continuous improvements †¢ a management that respects its employees and is committed to best practices in terms of fairness, recruitment, communications, training, education, diversity and individual employee welfare †¢ anagement and employees working together to achieve shared goals, volume and job growth opportunities †¢ The leading manufacturer in the community, fulfilling environmental responsibilities and proactive in supporting local initiatives. Guiding values and behaviours set out a picture of how people within the plant would work with each other and with external customers on a day -today basis. This provided the basis for a new organisational culture. On a day-to-day basis Halewood people would focus on: †¢ Quality: consistently delivering world class quality products and service. †¢ Customer focus: striving to exceed customer expectations. Accountability/Responsibility: being accountable and responsible for their personal conduct and their tasks. †¢ Respect: treating each other with respect, dignity, courtesy and having pride in the workplace. †¢ Open communication: openly communicating with each other regardless of level. †¢ Teamwork: working together for the good of Halewood as members of one team. †¢ Adaptability and flexibility: showing a commitment to embrace change. The Halewood programme stimulated a more open and democratic relationship between managers and employees as employees became key decision makers. Making the change You cant force a new culture on an unreceptive workforce. Introducing changes in culture involves a detailed programme for introducing new ideas in a participative way. †¢ Needs and assessments measurement The first stage was a series of one-to-one interviews and focus group activities for representatives from all areas of the organization. These identified the cultural strengths and the barriers to change at Halewood. These sessions were designed to find out how employees thought and felt about their work culture, and to provide the feedback to outline the strategy and the key messages for the culture change programme. Management workshops -The next phase involved a series of three day sessions for managers to build up a commitment to the change programme. †¢ Union workshops Union leaders took part in workshops so they could better understand the new Jaguar approach to building cars on the basis of pride and dedication. This gained union support for the change and showed everyone what the benefits would be. †¢ Management and union workshop Management and unions identified a joint approach to take the initiative forward and embrace the new values. †¢ Supervisors’ workshops Supervisors were to play a key role in introducing the new ways of working. Supervisors’ workshops therefore concentrated on how they could help to lead the change process. †¢ Pilot workshops Five pilot workshops of thirty participants taken from all levels of the organization were trialed. The emphasis was on breaking down divisions within the organization so that a new model of team working relationships could be established. †¢ Selection and training of internal facilitators To cascade the Jaguar (Halewood) Difference message across the organization, sixteen internal facilitators from all areas and levels of the organization were selected and trained. Two day workshops for all employees The final stage of the roll out of the culture change programme were a series of two-day workshops led by the internal facilitators. These sessions gave all 3,000 employees a clear understanding of the difference between working on a Ford Escort and creating the new Jaguar X400. They also heightened awareness of the Jaguar Difference values and behaviou rs. The early phases of the new programme were very encouraging. It was immediately obvious that everyone had a common goal to make a success of Halewood. By involving everyone in the culture change programme it was relatively easy to establish a shared vision. Through the workshops, employees built up real enthusiasm for the empowerment process. Employees were motivated by the fact that they had a role to play in the change process. For example, one employee commented favorably on the initiative when he stated, ‘I always thought the company wanted me to leave my brain at the gate’. Conclusion The success of the X400 production system at Halewood is based on three pillars. 1. An emphasis on quality at every stage in the production of the new cars. . The culture change programme – creating an empowered, entrepreneurial and committed workforce, and 3. Establishing centres of excellent practice across the organizations which act as benchmarks for improving performance in areas carrying out similar operations. New facilitators will take the change process forward even further. They are being coached by existing facilita tors and throughout the organization employees are being formed into empowered teams to drive lean production forward. The Halewood plant will provide the benchmark for improvements across the Ford organization in the UK.

Free Essays on Stars & Constellations

What is it that makes our universe work how was it formed and why is it here? Is it merely for our enjoyment and livelihood, or is there from of a large picture aspect of it all? It is hard to know why and how how our solar system came to be but there are several things in science that make it seem more that just a random collection of gases and dust particles formed together to make up a bunch of planets, stars, and all the various other strange phenomenon that you find in space. It has been a question on the minds of scientists for years and years as to what made the galaxy form the way it did was it formed by a supreme being of some sort or was it just purely coincidence. My belief is that to a point there is a need for both sides of this argument and neither side is 100% correct. Although there is no way to prove whether or not there is a supreme being of some sort we have to take into account the fact that most of the world approximately 85-90% of all living human beings on this planet believe in some sort of creator or supreme power who rules over us. Although not the point I feel it important to make sure that we touch on this subject based on the staggering statistics of religious followers in the world. Stars, Planets, Constellations there are so many various objects of interest out there it is difficult to talk about them all so I would like to concentrate on the Constellations and Stars in our Galaxy. The most prominent and well known star because of the inate ability to recognize it and to navigate by it is the North Star. From the earliest recorded record there is reference to the North most star or the Bright star that has always been used as a means of navigation to a Lost travelers with no other means of navigation. Sailors of olden days would plot their course and travel at night to be able to use the night sky as a guide to their travels. Some of the structures of Stars out at certain times of the mon... Free Essays on Stars & Constellations Free Essays on Stars & Constellations What is it that makes our universe work how was it formed and why is it here? Is it merely for our enjoyment and livelihood, or is there from of a large picture aspect of it all? It is hard to know why and how how our solar system came to be but there are several things in science that make it seem more that just a random collection of gases and dust particles formed together to make up a bunch of planets, stars, and all the various other strange phenomenon that you find in space. It has been a question on the minds of scientists for years and years as to what made the galaxy form the way it did was it formed by a supreme being of some sort or was it just purely coincidence. My belief is that to a point there is a need for both sides of this argument and neither side is 100% correct. Although there is no way to prove whether or not there is a supreme being of some sort we have to take into account the fact that most of the world approximately 85-90% of all living human beings on this planet believe in some sort of creator or supreme power who rules over us. Although not the point I feel it important to make sure that we touch on this subject based on the staggering statistics of religious followers in the world. Stars, Planets, Constellations there are so many various objects of interest out there it is difficult to talk about them all so I would like to concentrate on the Constellations and Stars in our Galaxy. The most prominent and well known star because of the inate ability to recognize it and to navigate by it is the North Star. From the earliest recorded record there is reference to the North most star or the Bright star that has always been used as a means of navigation to a Lost travelers with no other means of navigation. Sailors of olden days would plot their course and travel at night to be able to use the night sky as a guide to their travels. Some of the structures of Stars out at certain times of the mon...

Analysis of a compelling project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Analysis of a compelling project - Essay Example While I agree with several of Lanier’s criticism’s of Technology, I nonetheless believe wholeheartedly that Technology is leading us forward and that it is revolutionizing communication in an ultimately positive manner. That said, Technology remains very unpredictable – as in the case of technological singularity – and often difficult to manage and direct once it has been released into the culture, particularly via the economy. Once the marketing cycle has taken up a piece of Technology, its future leaves the hands of the designer forever. Therefore, designers and technologists need to take our embryonic design steps very cautiously as we advance even farther into the realm of Technology. As Lanier explains: [Technology] can change how you conceive of yourself and the world. [Designers and technologists] tinker with your philosophy by direct manipulation of your cognitive experience, not indirectly, through argument. It takes only a tiny group of engineers to create technology that can shape the entire future of human experience with incredible speed. Therefore, crucial arguments about the human relationship with technology should take place between developers and users before such direct manipulations are designed (6). This supposition on the part of Lanier’s I agree with one hundred percent. ... Artificial Intelligence typically receives a negative treatment in the media, particularly in the cases of dystopian visions of a world once Technological Singularity has occurred. The standard plot line features hapless human beings at the mercy of or terrorized by malevolent Artificial Intelligence forms such as those found in I, Robot, Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and AI. The dystopian nightmare scenario of Technological Singularity received full treatment in the 2004 to 2009 sci-fi television series Battlestar Galatica, wherein a race of Artificial Intelligence life forms created by human beings and called the Cylons evolved to the point where they declared war on their human creators, exiled the human beings from their home planet, and hunted them mercilessly across multiple galaxies. While the dystopian, negative treatment of Technological Singularity may be the norm, it originates largely in fear and ignorance. I am not a technophobe, and I do not believe in the inhere nt dystopian view of Technology and Artificial Intelligence. I do however believe in mindful awareness of the power of technology to transform human society – for good or ill. In Lanier’s words, I understand that â€Å"Technology is not innocent, because its consequences are too direct† (Lanier 5). I found the topic of Week Four, You Are Not A Gadget: Technologies, Devices, Mediations to be the most appealing one and the lecture most aligned with my studies. The readings for this topic relate more with my interests in Design and Technology, and I believe that conducting research about this topic will benefit me in my future endeavors in the field of Design and Technology. Before coming to the

The Girl who played with fire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Girl who played with fire - Essay Example Nonetheless, to a bigger extent, this novel is a mirror of the society today, and therefore, presents a challenge, and offers insightful platforms for moral transformation of individuals and whole society. Lisbeth Salander is one of the main characters who carry most of the themes in the novel. Most of the events in this novel are a representation of what happens in the society today. This therefore, plays the role of highlighting these moral concerns in society, thereby, instilling the urge of change in the people who read this novel. The society today is faced with a high level of moral decadence, just as the case in this novel. First, the aspect of violence is rampant in the novel. The author has used different violent scenes to show this. For instance, forms of sexual violence; including rape, shoot-outs, murders, bombings, and axing, are all forms of violence present in this novel. Salander, the main character propagates some forms of violence; while on the other hand, she is al so a victim of violence. She uses violence as a defence mechanism for herself and others. As a victim of violence, Salander’s character suffers in the media and in the social welfare system. â€Å"POLICE TRACKING LESBIAN SATANIST CULT.† (20.173). ... Teleborian had pretended that Salander was violent, which was not the case. The court systems and police force also propagate a form of violence when they fail to address the concerns of rape victims in a just manner. The height of violence is also manifest at the end of the novel, when Salander’s brother buries her alive, after being shot in the head by her father. The novel therefore, highlights violence, which is highly despised in society, but still rampant. Gender and gender discrimination is another moral question present in Larsson’s book. There are both good and bad male characters in this novel. The good men show a higher level of respect for the females. The bad men in the novel are sadistic and perpetuate discrimination of women in the novel. For instance, they show disrespect for women by using obscene words such as â€Å"whore,† â€Å"bitch,† and â€Å"slut† to refer to women. Some of the men are responsible for raping women, killing wo men, and beating them up. â€Å"The press would rip him to shreds. A member of the Security Police who exploited teenage prostitutes†¦If only those fucking cunts hadn't been so young.† (23.29). Gunnar Bjorck views women as sex objects, and does not feel guilty that he abused them, he only fears being exposed. Apart from sadistic men, the media, systems of justice, social, and health institutions also contribute to discrimination of females. â€Å"When it later turned out that Norgren had been convicted for sexual offenses twice before, the prosecutor decided to drop the case. But that did not mean the social welfare report on Salander was set aside.† (21.10). Although Norgeren assaults Salander, he is not punished for it, yet Salander continues to be depicted as a

Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement

Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement Education is the most important part of life to uphold intelligence and human can increase knowledge through which an individual move the world for good and sinful on the basis of his wishes. Education, in fact, is one of the major life processes of human beings, as there are other vital processes to live likewise education, are also a vital process in every aspect of human life. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013) There are many factors which effects on students learning and academic achievement including student performance, teacher role, family support, school environment, peer relationship and the most important factor is the socioeconomic status of parents. According to Mehmood and Saifi (2011), socioeconomic status is a combined measure of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position relative to others, based on income, education, and occupation.† The home environment is influenced by the factors such as parent’s education, occupation, income, and facilities provided to their children. All these factors together can be defined by a single term the â€Å"socio-economic status† (SES) of parents. Thus we can say that the socioeconomic status of parents affects the performance, learning and academic achievement of students. I have selected this topic because of the multiple reasons; the reason is that being a student I have also face many hurdles during my studies till now so those movements force me to choose this topic. Like me, most of the students in our society also face financial problems. So due to low socioeconomic status students cannot compete and unable to achieve their goal. In addition, they become dependent on parents and parents make decisions for them. Moreover many students end up with psychological problems like stress and depression due to the financial crisis and they can’t achieve their ultimate goal. It is generally said that the performance of students in academic depends on the socioeconomic status of their parents. Higher the socioeconomic status the better exposure to learning facilities. If parents are well educated and economically stable they afford their children to get a better education and they always support their children what they want to do. As in literature, it is also stated that well-educated parents ensure their children’s future earning by providing them auspicious learning environment but the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status family even they can’t afford their basic needs. Such students do not have access to learning facilities. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013). Research shows that students from lower socioeconomic background faced a higher risk of low achievement as compared to students from a higher socioeconomic background. Home environment and parents education are directly effect on students learning. (Nasreen. A, 2013). So the environment at home is the basic learning unit and effects a child interest and ambitions for the future. If we look upon on our society most people are more interested in rich people and they show more respect towards them and their children. So research shows that lower Socioeconomic status students have lower and lower academic achievement as compared with students of higher Socio-economic status. When a teacher makes a decision about students based on their class and Socio-economic status, they are taking the first step in checking students from having an equal opportunity for academic achievement. Ghazi et al. (2013). Due to teachers stigma mostly students suffered from their studies and they cannot show good performance in education. So its educators responsibility to overcome this stigma of poverty and help those students to boost up their hidden talent. Being a citizen of a developing country almost more than half of the total population is living in rural areas and they mostly belong to the low socioeconomic family. As our country is on the list of poor countries where the majority of the population belongs to low socioeconomic status. So it’s very difficult for parents to fulfil all the needs of their children. Poverty is the main problem which has a direct effect on students learning especially when it occurs early in the child’s life. When it remains throughout their life it influences child development in different ways, like the physical and mental health of the child as well as it influences on parents health also. It also influences child affective interactions. According to Karwowski (2012), Parents’ social position influences many aspects of their childrens school careers. The higher social position of parents of children with disabilities may make it easier for them to meet their costly needs, as well as to act as they support their children in contacts with educational institutions and to help them in their studies. I have also experienced this kind of situation in my school life. When I completed my secondary education with good grades, I got admission in Aga Khan higher secondary school but unfortunately, at that time, my father lost his job. At that time I had no any option to get admission even I couldn’t continue my studies and I missed one year and I felt at that time. Even I didn’t talk to my family members and it was a moment of disappointment for me and the family as well. At that time I consulted a counsellor who advised me to continue my studies in another college. After all these situations I realized the importance of socioeconomic status.at that time I became very sad because it was very difficult for me to cope with that situation. Due to the economic crises, I had to leave my previous school which was at the top level in our area. In literature, it is also stated that parents income level is an important factor that affects the academic achievement and performance o f their children. If the parents earn good and adequate than there would be less stress for the parents as well as for their children. They will provide learning resources easily to their children. While parents with low income, they cannot afford easily their children such a learning environment which becomes a barrier in the learning process. (Ahmad. I Khan.N, 2012). In addition, low income of parents also leads to conflicts in families due to lack of access to basic needs of their children. So the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status they cannot get a quality education and they cannot access new technology facilities like the internet to get information and they are unable to acquire new technology. As in a research among the students of a university in Sargodha shows that students who are getting facilities of new technology show high grades and they show better performance as compared to those students who belong to low socioeconomic status. Azher et al,. (2013). Another factor which affects students learning and academic achievement is parents education. Educated parents can easily understand the basic needs and important resources for their children. For the progress of any individual education plays a vital role in their life. According to Ahmad and Khan (2012), parent’s education level play an important role in the academic performance of their children. Because educated parents can easily manage the difficulties in any mode of their children’s education and they know how to encourage to create interest in the academic performance. Educated parents can easily manage their timetable to check and balance their daily activities.in addition, especially mother education is very important for child development which has a big effect on a child’s performance and academic achievement. According to Lacour. M Laura. D (2011). It is stated that mother education has an important effect on children’s score rather than parents income. The mother’s educational level has 20% higher efficiency than the father’s education level on the academic achievement of students. Another negative effect of low socioeconomic status is the cognitive development of children. Most parents use alcohol and other substance like cigarettes to cope up with stress during financial crises as I encountered such a client in my neighbour who always drinks alcohol when he faces any problem. He has two children and both are not good at their studies. Both of them always missed their classes and they even cannot solve simple mathematics problems. According to Brogan (2009). The families among low socioeconomic status there are more incidents of substance abuse, which effects on their child’s cognitive development. Especially if any mothers use alcohol during pregnancy their children are more prone to attention problems and the children with premature birth develop neurological problems like mental retardation. They also cause lessened brain development. All these problems lead to learning and performance disabilities which effects on academic achievement of children. Being a nursing student it’s our responsibility to teach about the importance of education for the better development of child and family. Another important factor is parent’s income which influences a student’s performance, therefore, it is recommended that the government should take some serious initiatives to provide jobs to people and raise the socioeconomic status of people. The government should provide financial support and should give scholarship especially to those who cannot afford the expenses of education. Mass media also play an important role in the awareness among people regarding the poor literacy condition in our country on account of socioeconomic problems.in addition, we can counsel students to do extra efforts along with their studies so that they don’t have to compromise with their studies. In conclusion, I want to say that keeping the view of the above discussion there is a direct relation between socioeconomic status and students learning and academic achievement. Especially the parents income and education level which has a great impact on children academic achievement. Therefore it’s very important to raise the socioeconomic status of people so they can easily afford their children education expenses. For this, we can have interventions individually and on government level like educating parents, mass media awareness, and scholarship etc. As it is stated in a study which is conducted in International Islamic University Islamabad that socioeconomic status has a significant impact on students learning. Akhter (2012).

Personal Philosphy Essay

It is important for teachers to develop their own educational philosophy. It is important because this philosophy defines the teacher and what they stand for. The philosophy describes the teacher’s attitude, their teaching styles, and how they feel about their students being successful. â€Å"A teacher’s personal philosophy of education is a critical element in his or her approach to guiding children along the path of enlightenment. † (Examples, 2013) Writing philosophies at the beginning of your teaching career is very helpful. Once you begin teaching for some time you notice that those initial philosophies change. Writing teaching philosophies are important to teachers because it identifies their thoughts, beliefs, and what they represent in the classroom. Personal Philosophies After thinking and realizing what I stand for in the classroom, I came up with these three philosophies that identify me. I believe that every student is a special education class can learn. Regardless of the child and their disability I believe that every child in a classroom is able to learn. It does not matter how small the progress is just as long as there is progress. I believe that inclusion has both positive and negative aspects on teachers and students. Inclusion allows students to be mainstreamed with peers their age. This gives them a chance to be around students their age as well as learn new things. Sometimes inclusion causes special services student to act out. This happens because they are not familiar with the information and they act out so they will not be embarrassed because their lack of knowledge. Finally, I believe that one-on-one time with special education students is valuable. Working with students individually helps them a lot. The teacher gets a chance to see exactly where they need help and are able to answer all their questions. Philosophies That Relate To Me â€Å"I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. † (Sample, 2013) After reading this philosophy I realized how much this should be included in one of my philosophies. I believe that each student is different. I also believe that each student should be handled differently and appropriately in order for them to show growth. Not only should a teach help the student grow educationally but they should assist them in growing socially, physically, and emotionally. It is a teacher’s job to produce growth in their students. That is why they should cover all aspects available in order to prepare their students for the real world. This philosophy covers everything I believe in as a teacher. In order for a student to learn they have to be comfortable and feel secure with their surroundings. In order for a student to open up to a teacher and peers they have to be comfortable with their surroundings. That is why it is important for teachers to provide a relaxed, secure classroom for the students. A classroom that welcomes questions, discussions, and learning. In the beginning the teacher should let the class know that questions are always welcome and that no one is allowed to laugh. Once a student realizes they have a teacher who always want to hear their questions and cares about them and how they learn, the student will feel secure and open to learn. This philosophy can be adopted as one of my own because I am aligned and stand for everything it says. â€Å"I believe the children are our future. † (Sample, 2013) Children are our future. In order for us to have a bright future, we have to prepare our youth the lead the country in an outstanding way. As a special service teacher I think it is important to prepare our students for the real word. Not only do we prepare them intellectually, we prepare them mentally, physically, and emotionally. As a teacher I think in order to prepare students to be our future we have to teach them everything they need to in order to function in society. In order for children to be our future we have to help them be successful by teaching them the necessities. In special education classes independent living skills can be taught. In order for our children to be our future, these things have to be taught. In order to be our future we have to teach them everything that is beneficial for our children to function properly in and outside of the classroom. â€Å"I believe that children learn best from expert teachers who know what they are talking about. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) I believe that a certified teacher should be in charge of a classroom. Although there is teacher’s assistance in classrooms to help I do not believe that they should lead discussions. I think that our children should be influenced by a certified teacher. Teachers go through lots of training and take classes that teacher’s assistants do not. Although they are trained to handle behavior, they are nor trained nor certified to teach. Students should be taught by someone who knows how and what to teach. I believe that students learn from expert teachers. An expert teacher is someone who has a degree and has met all state requirements to be certified. And that is who should teach our children, an expert teacher. â€Å"I believe that an effective teacher helps leaner increase their awareness of significant social and political issues so that they can have an impact on these situation. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) This philosophy has some points that I agree with. I do agree that teachers should keep students aware of the political and social issues that are going on. That is important so that students are aware of the current events. I think that this philosophy is important. It is important for student to know how to handle certain situations that deals with the economy and government. When students enter the real world they should have some knowledge of the government and how it works. They should be familiar with what goes on so that they are able to handle certain situations when they are older. Voting is one of these things they should be familiar with and the procedures in order to be registered to vote. This philosophy is one that I will adopt or add to one I already have. Conclusion Having a personal philosophy is very important. As a special education teacher I think it is important to have more than one. Each year I teach I either amend my philosophies each year or add a new one. The more I teach the more things I begin to believe in. A teacher and their philosophies are important because the students, parents, and community are aware of what to expect from you as an educator.

The Amish Community: the Effects of Subsistence on Aspects

The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Tristin Bovee ANT 101 Ilda Jimenez y West October 29, 2012 The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Any person who observes an Amish community may catch a glimpse of a lifestyle that looks as if it adheres to no modicum of logic. Why would a whole group of people choose to live without the technology that makes life so much easier? The answer is simple and uncomplicated; cultural preservation.The Amish are culturally aware of themselves, and as such have put forth the effort to sustain their traditions and way of life for hundreds of years (Kraybill, 2001). The further technology advances in the world outside of the Amish community, the broader the Amish lifestyle becomes from the modern American culture amongst which they live. However, if the Amish belief system is viewed from an anthropological perspective, their values and reasoning is much more understandable to modern thinkers . There are many different sects of the Amish belief system but for the sake of simplicity, this paper will concentrate on the Old Order Amish.The Amish faith sprung out of traditional Protestantism in the sixteenth century. Then referred to as Anabaptists, the Amish believed that baptism should not occur in children or infants, but only in adults that can make the decision for themselves (Kraybill, 2001). They also called for a separation between church and state, and a return to literal interpretation of the bible. Suffering extreme persecution for their beliefs, the Amish fled to northern Europe to escape harsh treatment from authorities and religious leaders alike (Fischetti, 1997).While living in these remote regions, the Amish grew dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture has been the primary mode of Amish life ever since. Many Amish beliefs today are stemmed from their subsistence strategy of emerging agriculture. Body The most widely known belief of the Ami sh community involves the refusal to use electricity or modern technology, such as television, in their homes. The Amish belief system is centered around family and community values and as such, they hold a strong conviction that modern technology shatters those relationships (Fischetti, 1997).The use of electricity opens the doors for mass media influence which holds the possibility of fracturing Amish traditional values. The very values that the Amish hold are a result of their emerging agricultural subsistence. When livelihood depends on bringing in crops and dairying, community and family are the primary modes of labor, and cooperation is of the utmost importance in order to maintain their way of life. Some analysts argue that the individualism seen in modern cultures is caused primarily by industrialization (Kraybill, 2001).By avoiding modern technology and said industrialization, the Amish believe they are maintaining their closely knit communities. From the etic perspective, this may seem to limit the quality of life that the Amish live, especially their youth, but from an emic perspective, this is the lifestyle that they know works for them and does not challenge what they believe. Amish adults are only looking out for the wellbeing of their children on a spiritual level. Like band societies, the Amish do not believe in accumulating wealth; they believe in having what one needs to survive.Beyond enduring, what is important to them is helping each other, which is an aspect in most cultures that grow or forage for their own food (Marlow, 1996). Amish and band societies have much in common, such as their reciprocal economic system of general reciprocity. A reciprocal economic system is a variety of trade between family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). General reciprocity is an exchange without an instant return or a determined value of the trade (Nowak & Laird, 2010); this is what the Amish community practices between members.Within the Amish, assistance or supplies are given freely to those who are in need of it; the provider knows that anyone in their society would do the same for them under similar circumstances. Due to their belief in self-sufficiency within their community, the Amish do not believe in government assistance. Coupled with the collective Amish decline of private health care, one may wonder how they pay for medical expenses; their church and community. The Amish church picks up most medical costs, and what it does not cover is picked up by the individual family and community.The Amish lifestyle is based upon the literal interpretation of the Christian bible, as well as a set of unwritten, adaptable guidelines called the Amish Ordnung. The Amish Ordnung provides the Amish community with cultural capital, or awareness of the morals, principles, convictions and responsibilities of Amish life (Kraybill, 2001). It outlines correct behavior, clothing choice and technologies that are deemed acceptable for use without fear o f destroying the family (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). The guidelines that the Amish Ordnung outlines are changeable.This is to better facilitate solutions toward the difficulties of living in contemporary society while maintaining their cultural heritage and beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). While many people living in modern society have faith of some kind, the Amish live their faith every day. Every aspect of their life is centered around their biblical interpretations and beliefs. Family and community are a huge part of the Amish belief system which is evident by the way their kinship systems work and live together. The Amish are a patriarchal society.Men are the breadwinners and thus the head of the household; women ensure the upkeep of the home and the upbringing of the children (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These gender roles begin at a very young age. In some societies, such as pastoralist societies, this division of labor via gender creates an environment of ine quality in favor of male family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is not the case in an Amish household; each family member is respected and valued for the person they are, and also for the work they accomplish.The strong nuclear family and the division of labor being gender-based provide the Amish with a strategy to impress upon their children the importance of their beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). Young members of an Amish community are not required to be baptized into their faith until eighteen years of age (Kraybill, 2001). Eighteen years living within an Amish community results in these kids knowing nothing else and it is often easy for them to make the decision to continue living their experienced lifestyle. However, should anAmish child refuse, they would be shunned. Shunning is the practice within the Amish community of excommunicating members who do not hold to the community beliefs. Most parents would like to keep their children as close as possible, which is ju st another motivation for immersing their children in the Amish world in order to keep them from being shunned. Often, two or three generations of extended families live in neighboring homes and work the same farmland. This is because a large part of who makes up an Amish community is determined by geographic proximity (Kraybill, 2001).Amish grandparents will often retire to a home on the farm referred to as a dowdy house (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These practices demonstrate the provision of a support system through all stages of life. Societies which practice agriculture for subsistence often establish large families to assist with the amount of labor required for farming (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is demonstrated in Amish families, which on average produce six children per nuclear family (Kraybill, 2001). However, agriculture is becoming less common amongst Amish communities as there is little farmland large enough to accommodate them.This has led many Amish families to re cognize the importance of family planning, since little farming requires less farm labor and family assistance with farm chores (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). In addition, many Amish families have turned to selling crafted items to supplement the income lost from the declining amounts of agriculture. In the book, Riddle of Amish Culture, author Donald Kraybill (2001) states that â€Å"the hallmark of Amish society has been a close-knit, highly integrated community where the threads of social life are woven into a single fabric that stretches from cradle to grave† (pg. 19, para. 4).This quote emphasizes the Amish social life centering on family, community and church from birth to death. Social activity in the Amish community can be described in three words; family, community, and church. Amish society is organized into three basic social units. The first unit, the settlement, consists of Amish families living within a common location and typically ranges in size from a dozen families to several thousand. The second unit, the district, is the organizational unit above the family and refers to the church. One church district usually includes twenty-five to thirty-five families within the immediate area.The third unit, affiliation, is the collection of church districts that hold similar religious practices and cooperate with each other (Kraybill, 2001). Amish children are taught in parochial schools, in which the highest level of education achieved is the eighth grade (Kraybill, 2001). The Amish believe that their way of life does not require more than an eighth grade education; most Amish children know how to run a household well before they finish their schooling. Conclusion If it weren’t for their way of life, they would have been acclimated to societal norms long ago.However, the Amish people are capable of seeing the world from an emic and etic perspective, ostensibly at the same time. Because of this awareness, they are able to take the corre ct steps to ensuring the survival of their cultural and spiritual beliefs. REFERENCES: Donnermeyer, J. F. , & Friedrich, L. (2002). Amish society? : An overview reconsidered. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 8(3), 14. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/220297959? accountid=32521 Fischetti, P. R. (1997). The Amish. Washington, United States: Educational Extension Systems. Retrieved from http://search. roquest. com/docview/189310852? accountid=32521 Kraybill, D. B. (2001). Riddle of Amish Culture (Revised Ed. ). Baltimore, MD, USA: John Hopkins Univeristy Press. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford/docDetail. action? docID=10021650&ppg=2 Marlow, E. (1996). Teaching about another culture? : The Old Order Amish. The Social Studies, 87(4), 161. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/274834778? accountid=32521 Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://conte nt. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/ch00