How to Create Your Own Homeschool Curriculum

Many homeschooling parents—even those who start out using a pre-packaged curriculum—decide somewhere along the way to take advantage of the freedom homeschooling allows by creating their own course of study. If youve never created your own teaching plan, it can sound daunting. But taking the time to put together a customized curriculum for your family can save you money and make your homeschooling experience much more meaningful. Here are some general steps to follow to help you design a curriculum for any subject. 1. Review Typical Courses of Study by Grade First, you may want to research what other children in public and private schools are studying in each grade in order to make sure your children are covering approximately the same material as other students their age. The detailed guidelines linked below can help you set standards and goals for  your own curriculum. Typical Course of Study for Elementary SchoolTypical Course of Study for Sixth GradeTypical Course of Study for Seventh GradeTypical Course of Study for Eighth GradeTypical Course of Study for Ninth GradeTypical Course of Study for Tenth GradeTypical Course of Study for Eleventh GradeTypical Course of Study for Twelfth Grade 2. Do Your Research. Once you have determined what subjects you will cover, you may need to do some research to make sure you are up-to-date on the particular topic, particularly if its one you are not already familiar with.   One solid way to get a quick overview of a new subject? Read a well-written book on the topic aimed at middle schoolers! Books for that level will tell you everything you need to know to cover the topic for younger students, but still be comprehensive enough to get you started on a high school level. Other resources you can use include: Popular nonfiction young adult books;Websites about a subject for students;Review books written for high school students;Self-help books for adults (such as the For Dummies series);Textbooks, particularly ones that are recommended by other homeschoolers. As you read, make notes on key concepts and topics you may want to cover. 3. Identify Topics to Cover. Once youve gotten a broad view of the subject, start thinking about what concepts you want your children to learn. Dont feel you have to cover everything—many educators today feel that digging deep into a few core areas is more useful than skimming over many topics briefly. It helps if you organize related topics into units. That gives you more flexibility and cuts down on work. (See below for more work-saving tips.) 4. Ask Your Students. Ask your children what they would like to study. We all retain facts more readily when were studying a topic that captivates us. Your children may be interested in topics that fall right in line with what youd want to cover anyway, such as the American Revolution or insects. However, even topics that may not seem educational on the surface can provide valuable learning opportunities. You can study them as-is, weave in related concepts, or use them as a springboard for more in-depth topics. 5. Create a Timetable. Figure out how long you would like to spend on the subject. You can take a year, a semester, or a few weeks. Then decide how much time you want to devote to each topic you want to cover. I recommend creating a schedule around units instead of individual topics. Within that time period, you can list all the topics you think your family would like to learn about. But dont worry about individual topics until you get there. That way, if you decide to drop a topic, youll avoid doing extra work. For instance, you may want to devote three months to the Civil War. But you dont need to plan out how to cover each battle until you dive in and see how it goes. 6. Select High-quality Resources. One big plus of homeschooling is that it lets you use choose the very best resources available, whether they are textbooks or alternatives to textbooks. That includes picture books and comics, movies, videos, and toys and games, as well as online resources and apps. Fiction and narrative nonfiction (true stories about inventions and discoveries, biographies, and so on) can also be useful learning tools. 7. Schedule Related Activities. Theres more to learning a topic than accumulating facts. Help your kids put the topics you cover into context by scheduling in field trips, classes, and community events that relate to the subject you are studying. Search out museum exhibits or programs in your region. Find experts (college professors, craftspeople, hobbyists) who might be willing to talk to your family or homeschool group. And be sure to include lots of hands-on projects. You dont have to put them together from scratch -- there are lots of well-made science kits and arts and crafts kits, as well as activity books that give you step-by-step directions. Dont forget activities like  cooking, making costumes, creating ABC books, or building models. 8. Find Ways to Demonstrate What Your Kids Have Learned. Written tests are just one way to see how much your students  have learned about a subject. You can have them put together a research project that includes an essay, charts, timelines, and written or visual presentations. Kids can also reinforce what theyve learned by making artwork, writing stories or plays, or creating music inspired by the subject. Bonus Tips: How to make writing your own curriculum quicker and easier: Start small. When youre writing your own curriculum for the first time, it helps to start with one unit study or one subject.Keep it flexible. The more detailed your teaching plan, the less likely you are to stick to it. Within your subject, pick a few general topics you want to touch on. Dont worry if you come up with more topics than you can possibly cover in one year. If one topic doesnt work for your family, youll have options to move on to. And nothing says you cant continue on with a subject for more than a year.Choose topics that interest you and/or your kids. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you child is fascinated with a subject, chances are you will pick up some factoids about it as well. The same goes for you: Teachers who love their topic can make anything sound interesting. Writing your own curriculum doesnt have to be a daunting task. You might be surprised to discover how much you enjoy personalizing your familys curriculum—and how much you learn along the way. Updated by Kris Bales

How to Do a Quickweave Essay - 708 Words

Melissa Williams English 101 Essay 1: How to do A Quick Weave Ladies have you ever wanted to change your hairstyle and didn’t know what to do? Do you ever get tired of looking the same way? Do you want to look classy with long flowing hair? Here is a great idea for you. Quick weaves are beautiful, fast to do, and easy to maintain. It doesn’t cost a lot, and the hair would make you fall in love with yourself. You can have short, long, thin, or thick hair. It doesn’t matter this will work for you. You will receive information on the tools you need, the steps, and the styling. It is the beginning of a beautiful makeover. The main ingredient for this process is the hair extensions. You can go to the nearest beauty supply†¦show more content†¦Take the hair that’s hanging from the ponytail, pull it tight, split it in half, and gel both sides down. Sit under the dryer for one hour or until your hair is dry and hard. Once your hair is dry you are ready to start the next process. Now get ready to use your hair extensions, glue, and scissors from your supplies. Take the hair out of the packaging and unroll it. Start by laying the tracks in the back from ear to ear and work your way to the top. Once you reach the top of your head where you left the hair out, use it to cover the tracks. Now you have a beautiful quick weave that is ready to style. Long hair is what people usually prefer. With long hair you can take the straightening iron and go over the hair to make it blend. If you like short hair and want a bob pull the hair in the ponytail to the back of your head. Take the scissors and cut the hair that’s hanging out the rubber band off, and take out the rubber band. Use the straightening iron and curl the hair under and there is your bob. Play with your quick weave and style it however you want it’s your hair. Quick weaves are one of the greatest hair styles. If you never had one and you are confused, you can YouTube or Google beautiful, trendy, and popular styles. They are better than wigs, and you can change hairstyles as often as you like. If you have little or no hair and want long hair, this is definitely for you. If you have long hair and it’s thin you can use this

Hamlet Masks We Wear Essay Example For Students

Hamlet: Masks We Wear Essay MasksA mask is a covering worn on the face or something that disguises or conceals oneself. All the characters in Shakespeares Hamlet hide behind masks to cover up who they really are, which contridictes a main idea, expressed by the fool, Old Polonius, To thine ownself be true (Polonius 1.3. 84). All the characters share strengths and triumphs, flaws and downfalls. Instead of revealing their vulnerabilities, each of them wears a mask that conceals who they are and there true convictions. The masks brought about feelings such as fear, hatred, insanity, indecisiveness, ambitiousness, and vengeance all of which contribute to the tragic ending of the play. Shakespeare reveals the idea of the masks in the first lines of the play, Whos there (Barnardo 1.1.1). Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself (Fransisco 1.1.2). These masks are upon each character, placed there by either society, self-ignorance, or guilt. Ophelia, Polonius daughter and Hamlets lover, hid behind a mask, just like Queen Gertrudes. It was, according to the society and the culture of the time, in the best interest of the woman to display a passive behavior for their personal preservation, which served as Gertrudes mask. Gertrude was brought up to believe that when a woman protests her innocence, in any matter, too much then people will begin to think otherwise. Gertrude revealed the idea of her mask, when responding to Hamlet inquiry of her likes to the play, her response was a bold reply, The lady doth protest too much methinks (Gertrude 3. 2.254), while viewing The Murder of Ganzago. Hamlets disgust with his mothers lack of strength, in regards to Claudius sexual temptations, was evident in his soliloquy, after Gertrude begged him to stay with her and Claudius in Elsinore. And yet, with a month let me not think on t; fratility, thy name is woman. (Hamlet 1.2.149-50) Gertrudes submissiveness is also evident in her refusal to face the pain of the true nature of her husbands murder. Gertrude begs O Hamlet, speak no more! / Thou turnst my eyes into my very soul, / And there I see such black and grained spots / As will not leave their tinct (Gertrude 3. 4.99-103). In relation to Gertrude, Ophelia is even weaker and more passive. This is obscure to the audience until, her confrontation with Hamlet, set up by Claudius and Polonius to determine whether it was Polonius refusal to allow her to see Hamlet that made him crazy. It was during this confrontation that Hamlet openly spurned and rejected her, leaving her no place to turn except to herself. Ophelia is rendered ineffectual regarding the loss of her father because she can not take revenge against her lover, Hamlet, who is also her fathers murderer. After her fathers murder by Hamlet, her true love, two of the three men she loved most were forever lost and the third in some far off country, Ophelia could no longer find any sense of security, and without security her sanity would be nowhere found. The masks created by society for Ophelia and Gertrude resulted in the tragic endings for both of them, Gertrude by the hand of her husband, Claudius, and Ophelia, by the loss of her loved ones. Self-ignoranceis the laking knowledge or comprehention of ones own self, and therfore the self-ignorance of Rosencranz and Guildenstern, allowed for the King to coax them into betraying their good friend Hamlet, by posing as a spy for the King. Upon the arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet welcomed his friends but became suspicious about their reasons for visiting. After Hamlet asked them three times for their business with Hamlet, and received lines such as, To visit you, my lord, no other reason. (Rosencrantz 2. .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .postImageUrl , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:hover , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:visited , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:active { border:0!important; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:active , .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364 .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf89caf45702e3b2c6493fc05df1a9364:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Supreme Court (503 words) Essay2.292), Hamlet then asked if they were sent for, Gulidinstern replied with, What should we say my lord? (Guildenstern 2.2.299). With this Hamlet concluded to Rosencranz and Guildenstern that the good queen and king have sent for you. (Hamlet 2.2.304-05), and agreed that they had been sent for. Rosencranz and Guildensterns masks of friendship towards Hamlet resulted in no information to the King of Hamlets insanity, and their death in place

Piggy Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Piggy Lord of the Flies Paper Lord of the flies is a novel about a group of boys who crash land on a island and are left to fend for themselves. Piggy is a fat boy who wears thick spectacles. Piggy lives with his aunty and has asthma. Piggy is a clever, cautious and rational thinking boy. Piggy is very cautious he admits to Ralph that he can not swim he says I cant swim I wasnt allowed, my asthma, my aunty wouldnt let me, blow on account of my asthma. This shows that piggy is very cautious about entering the water and does not on account of his asthma. Also this quotation shows that piggy is very attached to his aunty. When the other boys find out that Piggy has asthma they pick up on that straight away and use it against Piggy Ralph said, Sucks to your ass-mar. Piggy is a very clever boy the book states that Piggy was no chief, but Piggy for all his ludicrous body, had the brains. This shows that although Piggy is fat he is the only one that can think logically and sensibly. Piggy says, We ought to have a meeting this also shows that piggy is thinking sensibly. This combination between this physical appearance and his brains does not make Piggy very popular as he is also an easy target. The other boy on the island most of all Jack dislike Piggy, they call him fat and discriminate Piggy as he is physically different. Ralph is the only one on the island that finally appreciates Piggys intelligence. At first Ralph thought in the same way as the others but in the end changed his mind and realised that he was the only intelligent one on the island. Piggy is a victim, Piggy chooses to make himself a victim. He stood outside the circle of boys. We will write a custom essay sample on Piggy Lord of the Flies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Piggy Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Piggy Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He chooses to exclude himself from the other boys as he strongly believes that he is different not just because he is physically different but mentally too. He feels different because all the other boys make fun of him an do not include him in what they are doing. The other boys are having fun making a tribe, swimming and hunting, but on the other hand Piggy knows that it is more important to survive first to make shelters and have civilised society inlike Jack who like chaos. So Piggy omits himself from the group as he feels that he is better than the rest. So not only Piggy chooses to reject himself but also Jack and the others do too they call him names and treats him badly like when they stole his glasses, which is why he is a victim. Jack is very weak on the island he cant cope with order he hates it because he likes every think to be chaotic. He also loves power he said I ought to be chief he said with simple arrogance. When Jack singles out Piggy it makes him feel good about himself it makes him feel powerful he only picks on Piggy because he is different amd can not stick up for himself. Jack knows that he is an easy target. I feel Piggy is an important character in the novel as Piggy is the only one with the brains and he is the only one except Ralph that thinks about been rescued and about the future. I believe that it is Piggys intelligence helps them to survive but when Piggy died and the conch smashed the symbol for intelligence, order and logic died with him. So there fore Piggy is an important figure in the novel as he help the natural leader Ralph make the vital decisions.

Domestic violence dangers mount with economic, seasonal pressures

Summary of the article The article, Domestic violence dangers mount with economic, seasonal pressures by Ortiz Elias reviews the effects of economic downturn on domestic violence since it propels seasonal pressures in the family. The author identifies financial conflict as a major cause of domestic violence especially during the cold season when cases of sexual abuse are reported as highest.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Domestic violence dangers mount with economic, seasonal pressures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The economic conflict is highest during cold weather since such families cannot afford proper shelter and may resort to sexual abuse to counter the cold weather. The author concludes that investment and consultative approach to economic conflicts may reduce domestic violence by a large proportion since these families will be in a position to afford better shelter (Ortiz, 2013). The dependent and independent variables The independent variable in this article is the economic stress-reduction intervention as a strategy for reducing domestic violence contributed by economic conflicts. The two dependent variables include cold weather and a measure of coping behaviors from sexual abuse. These variables are believed to be able to prompt the family to explore the experiences and meanings of stress and stress management. Theory and significance Significant changes in the family’s normal stress levels may occur due to intervention and practice. A life crisis might escalate the stress response and negate the intervention effect. Conversely, crisis resolution might reduce the response to stress. As proposed by the ‘loss of control’ theory, the family must take a leading role in reduction and prevention of domestic violence. It is through this approach that a better understanding of the sequel of domestic violence can be obtained including coping strategies and stre ss management efficacy. The ‘loss of control’ theory is more significant than the ‘learned helplessness’ theory since it recognizes the cognitive element in the intervention and control mechanisms when handling cases of sexual abuse as a result of domestic violence. Besides, this theory focuses on empowerment in the family unit to create harmony. Empowerment focuses on social, economic, and spiritual strength of the individual who may be the victim or perpetrator of domestic violence. As a matter of fact, empowerment is a vast concept that should not be concentrated upon women affairs since the victim and the perpetrator should be reading from the same page.Advertising Looking for article on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis As suggested by the article, addressing feminine issues in domestic violence surrounding feminist theorist should be complete and reflective of the roles a nd acculturation as adopted by the society expected to embrace gender equality to minimize domestic violence. For such reason, supportive intervention should be provided to vulnerable and marginalized women in order to address their needs. Through application of informative learning, women and men are put in a position to understand and appropriate the need for stress management (Ortiz, 2013). Through this, it is relatively possible to control violence in the family unit and manage the process without having to create conflict in the intervention mechanisms. Empowering women and gender equality are vital to the attainment of minimal cases of domestic violence since they are always the victim in most instances. Therefore, policies which fail to address gender inequality also fail to support women to enhance important development activities in their societies. As a matter of fact, resolution for this financial problem should be in the form of measures adopted to promote and empower bo th women and men. Some have criticized the idea of empowering women alone since it contributes to gender inequality instead of promoting equality (Ortiz, 2013). Conclusion This article has successfully addressed the financial reasons for occurrence of domestic violence in the modern society. However, the article is not convincing enough on how domestic violence is related to changing seasons. Reference Ortiz, E. (2013). Domestic violence dangers mount with economic, seasonal pressures Web. This article on Domestic violence dangers mount with economic, seasonal pressures was written and submitted by user Ben Reilly to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Biography of Mohandas Gandhi, Indian Freedom Leader

Biography of Mohandas Gandhi, Indian Freedom Leader Mohandas Gandhi (October 2, 1869–January 30, 1948) was the father of the Indian independence movement. While fighting discrimination in South Africa, Gandhi developed satyagraha, a nonviolent way of protesting injustice. Returning to his birthplace of India, Gandhi spent his remaining years working to end British rule of his country and to better the lives of Indias poorest classes. Fast Facts: Mohandas Gandhi Known For: Leader of Indias independence movementAlso Known As: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma (Great Soul), Father of the Nation, Bapu (Father), GandhijiBorn: October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, IndiaParents: Karamchand and Putlibai GandhiDied: January 30, 1948 in New Delhi, IndiaEducation: Law degree, Inner Temple, London, EnglandPublished Works: Mohandas K. Gandhi, Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Freedoms BattleSpouse: Kasturba KapadiaChildren: Harilal Gandhi, Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi, Devdas GandhiNotable Quote: The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. Early Life Mohandas Gandhi was born October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, the last child of his father Karamchand Gandhi and his fourth wife Putlibai. Young Gandhi was a shy, mediocre student. At age 13, he married Kasturba Kapadia  as part of an arranged marriage. She bore four sons and supported Gandhis endeavors until her 1944 death. In September 1888 at age 18, Gandhi left India alone to study law in London. He attempted to become an English gentleman, buying suits, fine-tuning his English accent, learning French, and taking music lessons. Deciding that was a waste of time and money, he spent the rest of his three-year stay as a serious student living a simple lifestyle. Gandhi also adopted vegetarianism and joined the London Vegetarian Society, whose intellectual crowd introduced Gandhi to authors Henry David Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy. He also studied the Bhagavad Gita, an epic poem sacred to Hindus. These books concepts set the foundation for his later beliefs. Gandhi passed the bar on June 10, 1891, and returned to India. For two years, he attempted to practice law but lacked the knowledge of Indian law and the self-confidence necessary to be a trial lawyer. Instead, he took on a year-long case in South Africa. South Africa At 23, Gandhi again left his family and set off for the British-governed Natal province in South Africa in May 1893. After a week, Gandhi was asked to go to the Dutch-governed Transvaal province. When Gandhi boarded the train, railroad officials ordered him to move to the third-class car. Gandhi, holding first-class tickets, refused. A policeman threw him off the train. As Gandhi talked to Indians in South Africa, he learned that such experiences were common. Sitting in the cold depot that first night of his trip, Gandhi debated returning to India or fighting the discrimination. He decided that he couldnt ignore these injustices. Gandhi spent 20 years bettering Indians rights in South Africa, becoming a resilient, potent leader against discrimination. He learned about Indian grievances, studied the law, wrote letters to officials, and organized petitions. On May 22, 1894, Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress (NIC). Although it began as an organization for wealthy Indians, Gandhi expanded it to all classes and castes. He became a leader of South Africas Indian community, his activism covered by newspapers in England and India. Return to India In 1896 after three years in South Africa, Gandhi sailed to India to bring his wife and two sons back with him, returning in November. Gandhis ship was quarantined at the harbor for 23 days, but the real reason for the delay was an angry mob of whites at the dock who believed Gandhi was returning with Indians who would overrun South Africa. Gandhi sent his family to safety, but he was assaulted with bricks, rotten eggs, and fists. Police escorted him away. Gandhi refuted the claims against him but refused to prosecute those involved. The violence stopped, strengthening Gandhis prestige. Influenced by the  Gita, Gandhi wanted to purify his life by following the concepts of aparigraha  (nonpossession) and  samabhava  (equitability). A friend gave him Unto This Last  by  John Ruskin, which inspired Gandhi to establish Phoenix Settlement, a community outside Durban, in June 1904. The settlement focused on eliminating needless possessions and living in full equality. Gandhi moved his family and his newspaper, the  Indian Opinion, to the settlement. In 1906, believing that family life was detracting from his potential as a public advocate, Gandhi took the vow of  brahmacharya  (abstinence from sex). He simplified his vegetarianism to unspiced, usually uncooked foods- mostly fruits and nuts, which he believed would help quiet his urges. Satyagraha Gandhi believed that his vow of  brahmacharya  allowed him the focus to devise the concept of  satyagraha  in late 1906. In the simplest sense,  satyagraha  is passive resistance, but Gandhi described it as truth force, or natural right. He believed exploitation was possible only if the exploited and the exploiter accepted it, so seeing beyond the current situation provided power to change it. In practice,  satyagraha  is nonviolent resistance to injustice. A  person using satyagraha could resist injustice by refusing to follow an unjust law or putting up with physical assaults and/or confiscation of his property without anger. There would be no winners or losers; all would understand the truth and agree to rescind the unjust law. Gandhi first organized satyagraha  against the Asiatic Registration Law, or Black Act, which passed in March 1907. It required all Indians to be fingerprinted and carry registration documents at all times. Indians refused fingerprinting and picketed documentation offices. Protests were organized, miners went on strike, and Indians illegally traveled from Natal to the Transvaal in opposition to the act. Many protesters, including Gandhi, were beaten and arrested. After seven years of protest, the Black Act was repealed. The nonviolent protest had succeeded. Back to India After 20 years in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India. By the time he arrived, press reports of his South African triumphs had made him a national hero. He traveled the country for a year before beginning reforms. Gandhi found that his fame conflicted with observing conditions of the poor, so he wore a loincloth (dhoti) and sandals, the garb of the masses, during this journey. In cold weather, he added a shawl. This became his lifetime wardrobe. Gandhi founded another communal settlement in Ahmadabad called Sabarmati Ashram. For the next 16 years, Gandhi lived there with his family. He was also given the honorary title of Mahatma, or Great Soul. Many credit Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the 1913  Nobel Prize for Literature, for awarding Gandhi this name. Peasants viewed Gandhi as a holy man, but he disliked the title because it implied he was special. He viewed himself as ordinary. After the year ended, Gandhi still felt stifled because of World War I. As part of  satyagraha, Gandhi had vowed never to take advantage of an opponents troubles. With the British in a major conflict, Gandhi couldnt fight them for Indian freedom. Instead, he used satyagraha  to erase inequities among Indians. Gandhi persuaded landlords to stop forcing tenant farmers to pay increased rent by appealing to their morals and fasted to convince mill owners to settle a strike. Because of Gandhis prestige, people didnt want to be responsible for his death from fasting. Confronting British When the war ended, Gandhi focused on the fight for Indian self-rule (swaraj). In 1919, the British handed Gandhi a cause: the Rowlatt Act, which gave the British nearly free rein to detain revolutionary elements without trial. Gandhi organized a hartal (strike), which began on March 30, 1919. Unfortunately, the protest turned violent. Gandhi ended the  hartal  once he heard about the violence, but more than 300 Indians had died and more than 1,100 were injured from British reprisals in the city of Amritsar.  Satyagraha  hadnt been achieved, but the Amritsar Massacre  fueled Indian opinions against the British. The violence showed Gandhi that the Indian people didnt fully believe in satyagraha. He spent much of the 1920s advocating for it  and struggling to keep protests peaceful. Gandhi also began advocating self-reliance as a path to freedom. Since the British established India as a colony, Indians had supplied Britain with raw fiber and then imported the resulting cloth from England. Gandhi advocated that Indians spin their own cloth, popularizing the idea by traveling with a spinning wheel, often spinning yarn while giving a speech. The image of the spinning wheel (charkha) became a symbol for independence. In March 1922, Gandhi was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison for sedition. After two years, he was released following surgery to find his country embroiled in violence between Muslims and Hindus. When Gandhi began a 21-day fast still ill from surgery, many thought he would die, but he rallied. The fast created a temporary peace. Salt March In December 1928, Gandhi and the Indian National Congress (INC) announced a challenge to the British government. If India wasnt granted Commonwealth status by December 31, 1929, they would organize a nationwide protest against British taxes. The deadline passed without change. Gandhi chose to protest the British salt tax because salt was used in everyday cooking, even by the poorest. The Salt March began a nationwide boycott starting March 12,  1930, when Gandhi and 78 followers walked 200 miles from the Sabarmati Ashram to the sea. The group grew along the way, reaching 2,000 to 3,000. When they reached the coastal town of Dandi on April 5, they prayed all night. In the morning, Gandhi made a presentation of picking up a piece of sea salt from the beach. Technically, he had broken the law. Thus began an endeavor for Indians to make salt. Some picked up loose salt on the beaches, while others evaporated saltwater. Indian-made salt soon was sold nationwide. Peaceful picketing and marches were conducted. The British responded with mass arrests. Protesters Beaten When Gandhi announced a march on the government-owned Dharasana Saltworks, the British imprisoned him without trial. Although they hoped Gandhis arrest would stop the march, they underestimated his followers. The poet  Sarojini Naidu  led 2,500 marchers. As they reached the waiting police, the marchers were beaten with clubs. News of the brutal beating of peaceful protesters shocked the world. British viceroy Lord Irwin met with Gandhi and they agreed on the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which granted limited salt production and freedom for the protesters if Gandhi called off the protests. While many Indians believed that Gandhi hadnt gotten enough from the negotiations, he viewed it as a step toward independence. Independence After the success of the  Salt March, Gandhi conducted another fast that enhanced his image as a holy man or prophet. Dismayed at the adulation, Gandhi retired from politics in 1934 at age 64. He came out of retirement five years later when the British viceroy announced, without consulting Indian leaders, that India would side with England during  World War II. This revitalized the Indian independence movement. Many British parliamentarians realized they were facing mass protests and began discussing an independent India. Although Prime Minister  Winston Churchill  opposed losing India as a colony, the British announced in March 1941 that it would free India after  World War II. Gandhi wanted independence sooner and organized a Quit India campaign in 1942. The British again jailed Gandhi. Hindu-Muslim Conflict When Gandhi was released in 1944, independence seemed near. Huge disagreements, however, arose between Hindus and Muslims. Because the majority of Indians were Hindu, Muslims feared losing political power if India became independent. The Muslims wanted six provinces in northwest India, where Muslims predominated, to become an independent country. Gandhi opposed partitioning India and tried to bring the sides together, but that proved too difficult even for the Mahatma. Violence erupted; entire towns were burned. Gandhi toured India, hoping his presence could curb the violence. Although violence stopped where Gandhi visited, he couldnt be everywhere. Partition The British, seeing India headed for civil war, decided to leave in August 1947. Before leaving, they got the Hindus, against Gandhis wishes, to agree to a  partition plan. On August 15, 1947, Britain granted independence to India and to the newly formed Muslim country of Pakistan. Millions of Muslims marched from India to Pakistan, and millions of Hindus in Pakistan walked to India. Many refugees died from illness, exposure, and dehydration. As 15 million Indians became uprooted from their homes, Hindus and Muslims attacked each other. Gandhi once again went on a fast. He would only eat again, he stated, once he saw clear plans to stop the violence. The fast began on January 13, 1948. Realizing that the frail, aged Gandhi couldnt withstand a long fast, the sides collaborated. On January 18, more than 100 representatives approached Gandhi with a promise for peace, ending his fast. Assassination Not everyone approved of the plan. Some radical Hindu groups believed that India shouldnt have been partitioned, blaming Gandhi. On January 30, 1948, the 78-year-old Gandhi spent his day discussing issues. Just past 5 p.m., Gandhi began the walk, supported by two grandnieces, to the Birla House, where he was staying in New Delhi, for a prayer meeting. A crowd surrounded him. A young Hindu named Nathuram Godse stopped before him and bowed. Gandhi bowed back. Godse shot Gandhi three times. Although Gandhi had survived five other assassination attempts, he fell to the ground, dead. Legacy Gandhis concept of nonviolent protest attracted the organizers of numerous demonstrations and movements. Civil rights leaders, especially Martin Luther King Jr., adopted Gandhis model for their own struggles. Research in the second half of the 20th century established Gandhi as a great mediator and reconciler, resolving conflicts between older moderate politicians and young radicals, political terrorists and parliamentarians, urban intelligentsia and rural masses, Hindus and Muslims, as well as Indians and British. He was the  catalyst,  if not the initiator, of three major revolutions of the 20th century: movements against colonialism, racism, and violence. His deepest strivings were spiritual, but unlike many fellow Indians with such  aspirations, he didnt retire to a Himalayan cave  to meditate. Rather, he took his cave with him everywhere he went. And, he left his thoughts to posterity: His collected writings had reached 100 volumes by the early 21st century. Sources Mahatma Gandhi: Indian Leader. Encyclopaedia Britannica.Mahatma Gandhi. History.com.

Parenting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Parenting - Essay Example This paper briefly analyses the importance of parenting. According to Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, "Most children need their parents' help and encouragement to discover the satisfaction of using their own imaginations" (Thoughts for Today). Psychological development of children is as important as the physical development. Many parents- even the educated parents- concentrate more on the physical development of the children and give less importance to the psychological or emotional development. Such parents believe that their duty remains only in giving proper food, clothing and shelter to the children till they become adults. In fact parents’ love, care and attention are more important to the children than the food or other physical things. Growing children do not know how to adapt with its surrounding. He will look suspiciously or anxiously at all new things which may catch his attention. The presence of parents and their advice will help the children in dealing with new situations more comfortably. â€Å"Some parents believe that if they've spent an hour of "quality" time with their children, they've done enough. This hour is usually focused on an enjoyable activity: watching TV going out to eat, going to the movies, etc† (Parenting Tips: Giving Your Children the Gift of Time). Many of the mothers are professionals and they get less time to spend with their children. Infants and children often forced to spend their majority time in the day care centers with nannies rather than mothers. The services of nannies can never be considered as the substitute of mother’s services to a child. In order to compensate for the less time spent with the children; some working mothers have the habit of spending an hour with the children when they come back their home. They are of the false belief that spending an hour as a friend with their children is enough for the proper development of their children. Children need the services of parents rather than friends . If parents give the services of peers, from where the children will get the services of parents? â€Å"Suffice it to say that guilty parenting overcompensates and causes children to view themselves as victims. This happens because children model our behavior and point their fingers at the parent who points the finger at himself† (Parenting Tips: Giving Your Children the Gift of Time). Parents who failed to spend adequate time with their children often try to give more love and care to their children when they get opportunities to spend time with their children. This overcompensation usually do harm to the children rather than goods. Over activities of parents will increase the children’s desire for the presence of their parents further and further. Failure to spend increased time with parents will develop the feeling of victimization among children. According to Frank A. Clark, â€Å"The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them† (Parenting Quotes). Making the children self sufficient to meet the realities in life is the core of good parenting. Parents are the first teachers in a child’s life. They consider their parents as the role models in their life. Whatever the things they learned from the parents or family will often reflect in their behavior in society. Society or schools can do little in the molding of children when we compare the roles parents can