Traditions and Values in American Education :: Learning Schooling College Papers

Traditions and Values in American Education The question of whether colleges and universities serve to pass on to students the great traditions and values of Western culture is one of many issues that I would like to discuss as it pertains to my high school teaching. The Presence of Others has given me the opportunity to read the opinions of several educational thinkers on this subject, and from them I have formed a clearer idea about the value of a broad education which would necessarily include the traditions and values of Western culture. To begin with, I should like to discuss Cardinal Newman, who in the 19th century argues for liberal studies because he felt that education is preparation for life. Its purpose is to train the mind for whatever problems arise in an individual's future by grounding him in cultural traditions and values. He describes a liberal education in the following way: "A habit of mind is formed which lasts through life, of which the attributes are, freedom, equitableness, calmness, or what in a former Discourse I have ventured to call a philosophical habit."(Lunsford & Ruszkiewicz 48). I very much agree with this idea. In my opinion a student should be educated broadly, not like me, for instance, who was very well trained in math but not prepared for anything else, and now I am finding it hard to fill in the empty spaces, but the need to know more and learn more is strong in me, so I keep trying. But the point is that even though I am educated, I feel ignorant . That's my reason for saying that students in high school and university should get a broad education. And I am happy that my children have not been trapped by a special talent as I was, and that they are interested in the every area of their education equally. They will be getting the education that I was denied; and they will learn the traditions and values through their history and literature classes, for example, which will better prepare them for life here in the United States especially, where citizens must be able t o participate in the democratic process. I will use as an example my son Gagik, who was enrolled in the magnet law program at Monroe High School. But even though he wasn't in a mth program, neverthless, he was able to take higher math up through calculus.

Honesty: Lie and Personal Responsibility

Being Honest with Yourself Honesty is the best way to succeed in future endeavors, both in relationships and business. Though being honest can hurt others it is beneficial to succeeding in life. This is a personal responsibility any individual should have both in education and in everyday life. When it comes to being honest in school, plagiarism is one of the biggest lies a person could do.Plagiarism means â€Å"an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author†(Dictionary. com,2013). Plagiarizing someone’s work is not being honest to the instructor, but most of all not being honest to your own work; it is not showing that you have that personal responsibility to the school work. Researchers have a personal responsibility to be honest on their work.Sometimes when the research is being conducted, the writer wi ll add other more honorary titles into that research; this is less than honest when it comes to a research. When the researchers add extra information that is not valid to the paper it starts to become a lie. In childhood a young child has that personal responsibility to be honest to their parents. If they were not honest with them, normally they would be disciplined for lying. While in school a child will learn how to be honest on their school work and to be honest with their peers.In both aspects they would need to show that they know what honesty is, and that they are responsible for proving that they truly understand what that honesty is. Sometimes when growing up and being taught that being honest is the way life should be and that the individual should always be honest. Honesty does have its time and place. â€Å"Do theses pants make my butt look fat†, for gentlemen this is an all-time question, tell the truth and let your wife know, yes those pants make you look fat, o r say honey no you look amazing in those pants.Some honesty could be a little too much for a woman already feeling insecure about her body. So the individual will tell a little white lie and things seem to continue to run smoothly throughout the day and night. Now if the person were a snitch, say for the FBI, this could be a deadly ordeal for that person. Tell the truth only to the FBI and take that chance of being caught by a gang of some sorts, and be killed for saying secret information. Then again if that snitch never gets caught, there might be an amazing award for that person.Going to another country or state might become their haven, and they can continue a normal and productive life. Some views on honesty are that a person is a snitch, or maybe they just do not know how to tell a lie. Either way, honesty is a personal responsibility that most would view as an important aspect to everyday life. Whether it is in school or in everyday life honesty is the best policy. References Sharma, B. , & Singh, V. (2011). Ethics in writing: Learning to stay away from plagiarism and scientific misconduct.Lung India, 28(2), 148-150. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 4103/0970- 2113. 80337 Steneck, N. H. (2011). The dilemma of the honest researcher. EMBO Reports, 12(8), 745-745. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 1038/embor. 2011. 134 Victoria Talwar, Angela M. Crossman, Children’s lies and their detection: Implications for child witness testimony, Developmental Review, Volume 32, Issue 4, December 2012, Pages 337-359, ISSN 0273-2297, 10. 1016/j. dr. 2012. 06. 004. (http://www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0273229712000251) Honesty: Lie and Personal Responsibility Being Honest with Yourself Honesty is the best way to succeed in future endeavors, both in relationships and business. Though being honest can hurt others it is beneficial to succeeding in life. This is a personal responsibility any individual should have both in education and in everyday life. When it comes to being honest in school, plagiarism is one of the biggest lies a person could do.Plagiarism means â€Å"an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author†(Dictionary. com,2013). Plagiarizing someone’s work is not being honest to the instructor, but most of all not being honest to your own work; it is not showing that you have that personal responsibility to the school work. Researchers have a personal responsibility to be honest on their work.Sometimes when the research is being conducted, the writer wi ll add other more honorary titles into that research; this is less than honest when it comes to a research. When the researchers add extra information that is not valid to the paper it starts to become a lie. In childhood a young child has that personal responsibility to be honest to their parents. If they were not honest with them, normally they would be disciplined for lying. While in school a child will learn how to be honest on their school work and to be honest with their peers.In both aspects they would need to show that they know what honesty is, and that they are responsible for proving that they truly understand what that honesty is. Sometimes when growing up and being taught that being honest is the way life should be and that the individual should always be honest. Honesty does have its time and place. â€Å"Do theses pants make my butt look fat†, for gentlemen this is an all-time question, tell the truth and let your wife know, yes those pants make you look fat, o r say honey no you look amazing in those pants.Some honesty could be a little too much for a woman already feeling insecure about her body. So the individual will tell a little white lie and things seem to continue to run smoothly throughout the day and night. Now if the person were a snitch, say for the FBI, this could be a deadly ordeal for that person. Tell the truth only to the FBI and take that chance of being caught by a gang of some sorts, and be killed for saying secret information. Then again if that snitch never gets caught, there might be an amazing award for that person.Going to another country or state might become their haven, and they can continue a normal and productive life. Some views on honesty are that a person is a snitch, or maybe they just do not know how to tell a lie. Either way, honesty is a personal responsibility that most would view as an important aspect to everyday life. Whether it is in school or in everyday life honesty is the best policy. References Sharma, B. , & Singh, V. (2011). Ethics in writing: Learning to stay away from plagiarism and scientific misconduct.Lung India, 28(2), 148-150. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 4103/0970- 2113. 80337 Steneck, N. H. (2011). The dilemma of the honest researcher. EMBO Reports, 12(8), 745-745. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 1038/embor. 2011. 134 Victoria Talwar, Angela M. Crossman, Children’s lies and their detection: Implications for child witness testimony, Developmental Review, Volume 32, Issue 4, December 2012, Pages 337-359, ISSN 0273-2297, 10. 1016/j. dr. 2012. 06. 004. (http://www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0273229712000251)

The Effects Of Insanity In The Story Of Hamlet - 1435 Words

Insanity is the state of being mentally ill and not in the common state of mind. During the story of Hamlet insanity is a major factor to many situations. Hamlet showed many of signs of being insane, which also led to the death of others. Many ask, was â€Å"Hamlets insanity real or fake† and if so how did it affect the story in the ways it did. Many also wonder the signs that he shows to be insane and did his sickness cause others to lose the mental state of mind. In the story of Hamlet the actions of others play into the decisions of others and make their actions rash and harsh. The cause of insanity led to the actions of Hamlet and Laertes and how they both handled the death of their fathers in different matters. Through the story of†¦show more content†¦Gertrude, Hamlets own mother has come to think Hamlet has gone mad â€Å" O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul, and there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave thei r tinct.† This comes from Hamlet telling her he sees his father and telling him to keep his mother from sleeping with the king. As Hamlets mother responds â€Å"Alas, he’s mad.† She does not think Hamlet knows right from wrong anymore and has lost his mind. Insanity does not only take an effect on Hamlet but on others as well. The daughter of Polonius, Ophelia the girl in love with Hamlet. Hamlet and Ophelia wanted each other, her father and her brother kept it from happening. Polonius was the father of Ophelia and Polonius, he and Polonius thought Hamlet only wanted his daughter to have sex with her. From Hamlet and Ophelia not allowed to show their love for on another, this drove her mad. Due to the death of their father, Laertes is set on getting his revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father. The actions of Hamlet and Laertes take to avenge their father was different in many ways. In the final scene, he kills Hamlet with a poisoned sword to avenge the de aths of his father and sister, for which he blamed Hamlet. While dying of the same poison, he implicates King Claudius. â€Å"And so have I a noble father lost; a sister driven into desperate terms, whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age for her perfections; but myShow MoreRelatedHamlet and the Yellow Wallpaper1002 Words   |  5 PagesThe Nature of Insanity in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and â€Å"Hamlet† There are many different events in a person’s life that could lead them to insanity. In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† you are dealing with a woman who is a victim of male over-protectiveness and isolation that eventually leads to her insanity. In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet† you are dealing with a man who has to deal with his father’s death and rejection from the love of his life that eventually leads himRead MoreThe Insanity Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1517 Words   |  7 PagesThe Insanity in Hamlet Insanity, a theme explored by multiple authors in countless classic selections, has instilled itself as one of the darkest and interesting themes in the literary world. In Shakespeare’s legendary Hamlet, the audience questions the sanity of Hamlet and Ophelia constantly, as well as that of the other characters. As the story progresses, this becomes more and more relevant, bringing the reader to consider the causes and effects of the characters’ mental states on the resolutionRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1174 Words   |  5 Pages42nd Vice-President of the United States). The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, written by William Shakespeare, is a classic piece of literature in which the characters’ actions alone contribute to one’s understanding of the entire story. One such character is known as the fair Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover. Ophelia is naive, malleable, and muddled. Throughout the play, Ophelia is seen as an oblivious maiden who is just another role in the story. However, as the play progresses, the audience begins toRead MoreTheme of Revenge in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay872 Words   |  4 PagesThe desires of Hamlet, Laertes, and young Fortinbras each exhibit how the plot of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare revolves entirely around revenge. The theme of revenge starts off very early in the play, when Hamlet speaks with the ghost of his deceased father. When the ghost tells Hamlet how Claudius murdered him, Hamlet is infuriated and overtaken with feelings of responsibility to right the wrong that has been done; to murder Claudius. The effects of this experience on Hamlet are portrayed clearlyRead MoreHamlet As A Nihilism1566 Words   |  7 Pages William Shakespeare s Hamlet portrays as multitude of ideas, meanings and interpretations. In this essay, I will focus on analyzing Hamlet through the post-modern existential lens of nihilism. Nihilism has five main types; political, moral, epistemological, cosmic, and existential. Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet shows many characteristics that showcase these principles , such as apathy and despair. Hamlet is a nihilist character because through his actions of mania and despair heRead MoreHamlet Comparison Essay755 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeares play titled Hamlet, Lies, deception, and foul play are all encompassed into an iconic tale of revenge. The tragedy takes place in Denmark, following the death of Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet. Shortly after his death, King Hamlet’s brother Claudius marries, the Queen, who is prince Hamlet’s mother. The ghost of the dead king later shows himself to Hamlet in order to reveal that he was actually murdered by his own brother Claudius. After the ghost instructs Hamlet to avenge his death, heRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet : Relationship Between Passion And Reason1472 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare the relationship between passion and reason plays an important role in the fate of the young Prince Hamlet’s life. Throughout the play Hamlet finds out a numerous amount of unsettling news that pushes him towards rash decisions. The ghost of Hamlet’s recently deceased father, the King, sets the play into motion when he bestows Hamlet w ith the order to kill his murderer, Hamlet’s uncle (1.5.24-25). Relying only on his trusted friends, Hamlet sets out to findRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1874 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, where the main character, Hamlet, begins going insane after the death of his father. His insanity is caused by a recent death in his family, his mother’s remarriage, the growing effects of trying to be something you are not, and the burning desire for revenge. His withering state of mind progressively worsens over time and is seen throughout the story line by everyone, that is everyone but Hamlet himself. Hamlet does not believe the things he is doingRead MoreEssay On Revenge In Hamlet1526 Words   |  7 PagesThose are some of the many things that make the characters in the story of Hamlet tick. There is almost always method to someone’s madness, and there is always a motive behind revenge although it may not be the best option. Sometimes, the man who wants revenge gets so wrapped up in the thought of getting even with a person, they do not realize they are hurting the people around them. It is affecting their lives like poison. Hamlet took the life of an innocent man because he did not stop to thinkRead MoreThe Importance of the Now1714 Words   |  7 Pagescenturies. Fictional characters are no exception. Hamlet, in particular, seems very concerned with the prospect of facing the consequences of one’s actions in the afterlife. In Act 3, he is afraid Claudius will be forgiven if he dies while praying (Ham. 3.3.77-83). In his famous â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy, Hamlet concludes that fear of the afterlife is what prevents man from committing suicide and escaping the miseries of an earthly existence(â€Å"Hamlet†). Hamlet is also consumed by the idea of death itself-