Balance Between Life And The Culture

Balance Between Life And The Culture Keeper N Me by Richard Wagamese, is a novel based on the necessary balance between life and the culture in which one belongs to. This is a necessary aspect in order to maintain a steady relationship with ones self. In this novel passing on traditions or a certain way of life from generation to generation is one of the most important aspects of guiding someone of the Ojibway culture, as the Ojibway people have very strong beliefs and take their culture very seriously. The people of the Ojibway culture believe that through storytelling and dreams one can realize the importance of tradition and its influence on their identity. Wagamese throughout his novel tries to teach the readers the power of ones community and traditions as he reflects a positive view of Native life. Passing on traditions is a very important aspect of guiding someone of the Ojibway culture in this novel, but to stick to a certain way of life has its challenges as everyone receives different views and opinions from t he many different people they encounter throughout their life. The authors concept in Keeper N Me is much more than just someone who provides guidance but it is how storytelling and the teaching of traditions are used to help guide. Garnet Raven, being isolated from the rest of his family, has struggled with knowing his true identity. Furthermore, the author shows not only the significance of finding a place to belong, but rather the importance of ones actions and emotions in finding a balance in life but at the same time not letting the presence of dominate views overlook the power of ones self. Passing on traditions in the Ojibway culture is a very important aspect of guiding and teaching someone. Due to the Ojibway people having such strong beliefs, they take their culture very seriously. The culture must be maintained for future generations to come as the generations is slowly being bombarded by white society. Such behaviour results in the newer generations of Ojibway people to become less interested in learning and living in the traditional Ojibway lifestyle. These younger generations of Indians need to be guided by their elders in order to keep that traditional culture alive, which creates a a string bond with ones family and ancestors, inspiring them to become guides for next generations as well. Dreams are also a guide in Ojibway culture, one of the things that elders tell you nowadays to try real hard to remember, write them down even to help you.' (Wagamese 252). It is believe that through dreams one receives visions that are sent to them by the spirit world. That v ision could be just about anything and was meant to be a sacred and private thing for the seeker. Gave a direction for their life.' (252). Dreams are believed to be important messages that provide one with direction and strength'(252). The Ojibway honour the traditional way of storytelling as a guide in which it provides a way to pass on words of wisdom and tradition from one generation to the next. Bernice Weissbourd says: Because its not only a child is inseparable from the family in which he lives, but that the lives of families are determined by the community in which they live and the cultural tradition from which they come. In Keepern me, Garnet was taken away from his family and placed in numerous different white foster homes starting from the age of three; everywhere they moved me I was the only Indian and no one ever took the time to tell me who I was, where I came from of even what the hell was going on.' (16) Because he was isolated from family and culture, he lacks the knowledge and strength he needs to be himself. Garnet, living in an all white society is unaware of what culture and from what society he actually belongs to, which is why he is in constant search for something he can call his own. Garne t does not know what its like to be Indian which initially Zammit 3 makes him feel unease and disconnected with his family and culture; growing up in all-white homes, going to all-white schools, playing with all-white kids can get a guy to thinking and reacting all-white himself after a while. I just figured I was a brown white guy' (17) so he feels that he has no choice but to become one of them, as he knows no different. Soon after that, Garnet learns the negative stereotypes about Native people when one of his foster fathers drives him to the Indian section of town showing Garnet all the drunks and homeless people, See. Those are Indians. Look at them. If you dont start shaping up and doing what youre told around here, thats what youre going to be!' ( 18) this takes away all the culture he ever had and encouraged him to not want to be Indian as he did not want to become like the people he saw. Keeper as a storyteller tries to pass the message of traditions and a way of life to guide Garnet, once he arrived in White Dog reservation. Finally, after spending some time at the reservation, Garnet was given another chance to gain confidence with the person he was. With the help of Keeper, Garnet is learning how it feels to be part of the Ojibway culture for the first time. Garnet was taught that to be a true Indian one must be a participant. To be a true Indian, one needs to learn the why of this life instead of just the how'(307). Author Richard Wagamese with the help of Bernice Weissbourds quote informs the readers of the importance of tradition and its possible influences on ones identity. The culture in which an individual grows up molds the views of ones self and the world around them, in which maintains a connection with ancestors and traditions. A necessary factor in the lives of many people today, is the feeling of belonging to a group of people with similar interests, beliefs, religion, culture, traditional ways, etc.. Such behaviour is a very important aspect in the shaping of identity. Many are taught at a young age that ethnic traditions are meant to be celebrated and carried on from one generation to the next. In this novel, one of the most significant lessons to be taught is to always Zammit 4 find balance between culture, yourself and the world; Find balance with things. Yourself. The world. Everything, on accounta change is the biggest law of nature. Fight change you fight yourself' (196). Culture is so important because its extends the inner self of a person, to members within a society, or a community. Culture can form invisible bonds between members in the community, which can result in the passing on of values and traditional ways. This also builds up a long term tradition after years and years. Culture and tradition is strengthened by the passing on from generations and provides a background to its later generations, allowing there to be gain in a sense of belonging withing people and the culture in which they share. Throughout Keeper N Me, Richard Wagamese portrays and informs the importance of tradition in the novel based on the necessary balance between life and the culture in which one belongs too, in order to maintain a steady relationship with ones self. It is made clear to the reader of the significance of passing on traditions or a certain way of life from generation to generation, and how it is one of the guiding aspects of the Ojibway culture. Wagamese throughout his novel is also tries to teach the readers the power of ones community and traditions as he reflects a positive view of Native life. Furthermore, the author shows not only the significance of finding a place to belong, but rather the importance of ones actions and emotions in finding a balance in life but at the same time not letting the presence of dominate views overlook the power of ones self.

What does it to be a good leader Essay

What does it to be a good leader? A leader is that person who uses social, organizational, intellectual or such authority to command a group, organization, or country (Cragg & Spurgeon, 2007). Generally, a leader’s primary responsibility is to enlist the contribution of his/her subjects to accomplish a common task. Therefore, a leader should possess qualities that help him/her organize, command and realize the objective of the group or organization (Cragg & Spurgeon, 2007). A good leader needs to be both proactive and reactive (Gachte, Nosenzo, Renner & Sefton, 2008). This means that the leader should think several steps ahead of their subjects, so that they can see problems before they arise and hence develop counter mechanisms for them. This also means that a good leader should be flexible and adaptable, so as to fit into whatever new unexpected or uncomfortable situations. The leader also needs to be initiative- he/she should be the source of ideas and plans that benefit the group (Gachte et al, 2008). Communication is one of the most important pillars in teamwork. Therefore, an exceptional leader is that who knows how to communicate effectively. This entails having good listening skills, asking the right questions as regularly as possible, understanding the subjects’ needs and remitting directions and ideas in the best way possible (Cragg & Spurgeon, 2007). A leader who not only values feedback, but also acts according to it is most likely to produce good results (Cragg & Spurgeon, 2007). A good leader also needs to display confidence and enthusiasm for his/her job, thus causing the people under to follow in the same spirit. That is an important form of non-verbal communication for a good leader. Although the leader is the most powerful member in a group, the effective leader acknowledges the inputs and efforts of each and every member (Gachte et al, 2008). A good leader will respect all his subjects and treat them without discrimination or favoritism. In the same line, a good leader has an open mind so that they can weigh and consider all possible fruitful options even from junior members. In case a member of the team does well in achieving the groups’ mission, an exceptional leader will recognize and reward them, while motivating others to work even harder (Gachte et al, 2008). A common saying goes, â€Å"a good leader leads by example†. A good leader is not a boss, but a servant with the others. For this reason, a good leader should be resourceful and instrumental in the actual implementation of the organization or team’s tasks (Wills, 1994). Therefore, the leader requires proper skills, training and education to match the duties and responsibilities of the respective leadership position. Moreover, an effective leader should be well-organized, punctual and always ready for his/her duties (Wills, 1994). Authority and leadership are two qualities that are hardly separable. Although a good leader is a servant too, it is impossible to lead without authority over other members of the organization. A good leader understands their power such as to delegate duties, to allow or deny certain actions by the members, to reward or penalize a member, etc. (Wills, 1994). However, a leader should not use the authority vested upon them for their own good, but rather for the good of the whole organization. There are numerous other qualities that characterize a good leader, but the above are some of the basic good leadership traits. As discussed, good leadership revolves around personal endowment effective teamwork- only that the leader should understand place at the top of an organization, group or team. References Cragg, R., & Spurgeon, R. (2007). Competencies of a good leader. How To Succeed As A Leader. Ed. By Chambers R Etc. Redclif Publishing, Oxford-Newyork, US, 33–40. Gachter, S., Nosenzo, D., Renner, E., & Sefton, M. (2008). Who makes a good leader? Social preferences and leading-by-example. Wills, G. (1994). What Makes a Good Leader?. The Atlantic Monthly, 273(4), 63–80. Source document

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Thesis Writing Essay

1.1 Background of the Study An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of academic learning known as elementary or primary education. In most countries, it is compulsory for children to receive proper education although it is permissible for parents to provide it. The major goals of education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, mathematics, geography, history and other social sciences. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_school) The education system of the Philippines includes formal and non-formal education. Compared to other Asian countries, the Philippine education system differs in a number of ways. Basic education in the Philippines is only 10 years as against 12 in other countries. The Philippine education system is closely related to the American system of formal education while other Asian countries are influenced by the English, French or Dutch system. The Philippines is using a bilingual medium of instruction. Certain subjects are taught in English and the rest in the national language which is Filipino. However, since June 4, 2012, DepEd started to implement the new K-12 educational system, which includes the new curricula for all schools. In this system, education is now compulsory. K-12 means â€Å"Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.† Kindergarten points to the 5-year old child who undertakes the standardized curriculum for preschoolers. Elementary education refers to 6 years of primary school (Grades 1-6) while secondary education means four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10 or HS Year 1-4). In addition to this, two years are now allotted for senior high school (Grades 11-12 or HS Year 5-6). Northside Christian Academy is one of the well-known Christian elementary schools in Bacolod City. It can be located at They provide good teaching aid and services for pupils in elementary. Through the dream and aspiration of the founders of the school, it became into existence. The researcher chose it as her course study because as an institution that offers needs for pupils, it should also provide an attractive, functional, stable and green environment for the children to learn and to be educated. The school had been there for almost 2 decades but the school hasn’t changed much since then. It needs proper planning of the spaces, ventilation and a stable design that would fit for an elementary school. As a student designer, working to aim this goal will achieve to answer the stated problems through gathering data, analyzing and planning. This proposed study does not only provide for their children’s care but also a workable environment for the teachers and also for other working facilities and parents. It could accommodate a space where in they can be comfortable and relaxed and a space where each unit has its function of its services. This would affect a better development of the school and also it will benefit to them to receive more credits and many visits from new visitors and enrollees. 1.2 Statement of the Problem Parents know what’s best for their children. They want their children to send them to school because it is their learning experience with teachers and having groups of friends. It’s an opportunity to learn to share, follow instructions and begin learning that will occur in a school. But sometimes parents have their common worries about the space being uncomfortable get intimidated by the institutional ambience of the schools which sometimes children would usually get scared of entering or left there. In creating an interior environment of the proposed, the researcher will aim for a functional, stable, attractive, and organized space for the parents to bring their children by seeking answers to the following questions during the course study: 1. Considering the design standards, what will be the appropriate interior design concept for the school? 2. What will be the color schemes that will give the school’s students and teachers a more effective and comfortable environment for education? 3. What will be the proper interior treatment and finishing material for the following? 3. a. Furniture 3. b. Floor 3. c. Ceiling 3. d. Walls 3. e. Lighting 4. What are the additional changes needed to pay attention as a researcher? 5. What is the proper lighting plan for the school offices and classrooms? 1.3 Theoretical Framework The concept planning for the improvement of the interior environment of Northside Christian Academy is to study the given spaces and conduct a research towards redesigning and improving the school’s interior by getting sources of inspiration out of other concepts and abiding to its design principles which can be suited. For the users’ benefit, the proponent is trying to create a design that considers, creative aesthetics, functional, stable and organized environment. This would enhance the school’s working environment for both students and teachers and staff. Before the proponent plans out the concept, she first gathered some of her sources. There is no perfect classroom design. However, Lippman (2002, 2003) in his study of schools mentions that providing a variety of spaces within a classroom supports student-teacher / child-adult relationships. With the understanding that schools are learning centers for development, and building on his research findings, Franklin (2008) recognized that non-traditional, modern learning environments could encourage students to fully participate in activities with others as they acquire knowledge for themselves. He then developed the following criteria for the modern classroom: †¢ The classroom layout should have the amount of space a child will need varies with the activity, such as reading, writing, working or simply listening. Therefore, the plan has to be able to accommodate instruction, experimentation, or group related activities. †¢ It has to accommodate the formation and functioning of small learning groups while providing a sense of separation, because groups working together will experience distractions and non-productive interaction. †¢ It has to be flexible enough to allow the continual reorganization of the whole class into various sizes and number of small learning groups. This means the space must be as free as possible of permanent obstructions. †¢ It has to be manageable by a single teacher who has command of the entire space. This means the space must be compact and open (Dyck 1994) In terms of school design, connection, on one hand, involves pathways between spaces within the school building. In this case, safe, easy movement and allowing surveillance are three basic requirements. On the other hand, connections also refer to the allowance of school and community functions to be integrated into a cohesive network of closely adjacent facilities, creating an involvement and awareness of the educational process. Circulation such as hallways and corridors are a costly percentage of a school building. The circulation provision has to create gentle transitions from different spaces, taking advantage of turns and bends to create unique areas of learning. Conversely, for issues of safety, circulation paths also need to ensure supervision by, not only administrators, but also students, teachers and parents. Poorly designed circulation can make movement around the building difficult and even facilitate bullying. It is not just a corridor. It is a critical dimension where good design can make a real difference to spatial quality. Lying behind the detail of design elements for general and particular needs there is also a recurrent theme around the general level of stimulation that is appropriate for given situations. In broad terms this may vary from buildings designed for relaxation, such as, homes, to those designed to stimulate, such as theatres, but also variation will be appropriate within buildings. So in a school, classrooms may need a different approach from assembly areas. Children of kindergarten through elementary-school ages are mostly extroverted by nature. A warm, bright color scheme complements this tendency, thereby re- ducing tension, nervousness, and anxiety; color may be light salmon, soft, warm yellow, pale yellow-orange, coral and peach. Colors of opposite temperature should also be introduced as accents. Under no circumstances should it be believed that by pinning drawings, cartoons or the like on the wall, the child’s need for changes in hue, color intensity, and lightness, is satisfied, or that it will reduce a monotonous room experience. 4. Significance of the Study A. To the Students This newly planned, functional and sustainable interior environment of Northside Christian Academy will be beneficial for the students. It presents that for a small institution; it will be a place of comfort and created to enrich their minds with the use of the interior design, conducive for effective learning. B. To the Parents This proposed interior space will be improved and at the same time will be the suitable design for their children’s environment. To create a second home for their children that will always bring them to comfort and safety. C. To the Principal, Teachers and Working personnel It will help the school’s interior to be improved and at the same time to present a good working environment for them. Creating a safe place will bring them to the warmth of home and belongingness. And also to which it will be beneficial for their interaction with the children. D. To the Proponent As the proponent, this study is significant for me to learn in enhancing my skills, to utilize my knowledge for research and to share my ideas to those who will benefit. And a stepping stone for me to achieve what I want by applying this project as my experience for me.

Concept And Measurement Of Poverty - 2774 Words

2.0: Introduction: This part reviews some of the available literature on concepts, theories and previous research findings pertaining to the research problem so as to establish the theoretical and empirical base of the study. Literature review is used by the researcher to bring the reader update with current literature on a topic and forms the base for another goal, such as future research that may be needed in the area. It is also used to provide solid background information under the study. The literature reviews aims at finding the gap between what other authors have explained theoretically and empirically and what has not been explained. The knowledge gap needs to be established and fitted by the researcher. 2.1: Concept and Measurement of poverty 2.1.1: Definition of poverty Poverty of an individual or household is defined as a state of having an income or consumption expenditure which is below a certain level/standard known as the poverty line (Bigsten ; Abebe, 2003). Townsend (1985) defined poverty as not only a failure to meet minimum nutrition levels but also as a failure to keep with a standard of living prevailing in the society. Thus according to Townsend a household is considered as being poor if and only if its standard of living is below that of the society. Poverty on the other hand can be observed as the condition of a household being unable to meet basic needs including food, shelter, education etc. (World Bank, 1996). According to the economist a householdShow MoreRelatedThe Social Issue Of Canada1087 Words   |  5 Pagesbeing position 19 out of 22 nations (Breznitz and Zysman, 2013). This has been attributed to the precarious levels of poverty in a majority of Canadian households. The country has not recognized any official poverty measurement although other universal measures such as LICO is used for measuring relative poverty, a more determinable measure of poverty for wealthy countries. 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