Simon Bolivar :: essays research papers

Throughout history there have been several leaders who used their cunning and sly intelligence to trick the general population into following them and their beliefs. Eventually, these leaders had so much support, they could no longer be called leaders, but absolute and dictatorial rulers. However, during the period of Enlightenment and of the French Revolution, non-maleficent ideas, created by Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and other Enlightenment Philosophes, were spread throughout the European population. They stated the opposition to absolute monarchies as well as a new main focus on people’s innate rights and freedoms. Many leaders after this period of Enlightenment preached its ideas, while others simply used them to gain power. Simon Bolivar might have preached opinions that mainly reflected the ideas of the French Revolution. However, his actions contradicted these opinions, and revealed that his true intentions were selfish and illiberal. In several documents and speeches, Bolivar stated that he was very fond of freedom, liberty and equality. Clearly, it would seem that he desired democracy. This can be seen in his "Jamaican Letter", where he states "More than anyone I desire to see America fashioned into the greatest nation in the world, greatest not so much by virtue of her area and wealth as by her freedom and glory." However, he adds to this "love of freedom" in saying that it is "inconceivable" to set up such a government, simply because there is not enough political knowledge for a system such as that to run. Further, Bolivar says that he agrees with the ideas of Montesquieu, who played a very important role during the Enlightenment period, and states that he is against absolutism. In looking at the beliefs Bolivar spoke of, one could almost come to the conclusion that he directly lectured the ideas fought for in the French Revolution; opposition to absolute monarchies, natural rights and freedoms, ideas of Montesquieu, and ruling for the people’s best interest. Interestingly, however, Bolivar never actually put any of his "glorious ideas" into action. Instead of setting up a democracy, ideas of which he praised, he arranged a system in which his total control was made known. He declared himself president until he died, created a weak legislative body with almost no power, and limited the right to vote to the Creoles, who were American-born Spaniards. Not only did this contradict his great "Love of freedom" that he originally spoke of, but also his hate of monarchy, a system of government not too far off from the "paternal constitution" he himself created. Furthermore, this government system doesn’t reflect ideals fought for in the French Revolution, which he once agreed with. In a document written by Bolivar, he states that he fears Black

Education in Private and Public Schools Essay

Over the past years, there has been lots of interest among the policy makers to compare private and public elementary and secondary schools in the United States. In a sense, both private and public schools follow the same general goals set out in 1979. These goals as Sizer pointed out are expected to serve equally well both the American’s public and private elementary and high school (p. 349). These goals according to Sizer aimed to develop the students’ fundamental scholastic capacity and to make them competitive and responsible individual. Both the private and public are expected to come up with this end, and to touch most aspects of an adolescent’s existence, mind, body, values and career. Generally, as reported by Teresa Mendez in her article said that private schools had performed very satisfactory during the latest Standardized Test for scoring higher than public school. This report summarized the concept that private schools are getting more professional in performing their jobs. This report is very significant since America has set educational policies that are common for both public and private schools. Sizer had stated in his book â€Å"What High School Is† that despite America’s multi-diverse culture and decentralized school government, most schools across America are common in terms of vision or goals related to academic achievements of students. However, as one will look into Sizer’s discussion of similar circumstances and scenario inside a high school in California, he or she can notice some problems regarding students’ attitude and behavior inside and outside the classroom. In particular Sizer portrayed this concept through Mark who is a student who is bored and uninterested with school requirements. On the other hand, there are teachers and staffs who are busy with work and mindful of responsibility at home. These two parties are both elements that comprise education and yet, it seems that the academic goals or vision are not emphasized. This is because; Mark being a recipient of the knowledge appeared to be passive and stubborn since knowledge is somehow undesirable on his view, while teachers and staff are not good mover or instruments of those knowledge. This concept presented by Sizer is common in America, and he seems trying to reconcile the educational goals with proper implementation by adapting some changes in terms of school policy. To better understand this, it is important to analyze the school system in America and how it tries to meet the present needs of the educational system of America, as well as its impact to the existing scenario in most schools. Given the same objective, we can expect less difference although we may expect much similarity between public and private high school education. But studies conducted by the National Center for Education Statistic showed that there are many differences in the public and private education. They explained that although the central goal of education is the same with public and private but both can freely choose objectives and goals related to what has been set up by the government (p. 7). This means that, each school has freedom to set objectives and goal, yet, all of them should match the overall goals of the central government. These goals are directed towards the fundamental academic achievements, career and economic competence, citizenship and civil responsibility, aesthetic awareness and cultural diversity of the students (Sizer, p. 349 – 350). In general, education in America as they view it should cater to the growth and development of individual for the country’s fundamental advancement whether in public or in private schools. It is evident in most schools in America that even though, private and public schools follow through same principles in terms of educational system, and yet, they are differ in many ways from curriculum to policies. The findings of the study done by the National Center for Education Statistic reveals that majority of the public school have curriculum with emphasis on basic literacy and reading skills as their most important goal, while private schools chose to put priority on religious development of their students (p. 8). However, other results of analysis and studies of NCES showed that faculties in public schools are more professional than those in the private school as public school uses a full range of professional living requirements. The article published by the NCES entitled â€Å"Teacher Professionalization and Teacher Commitment: A Multilevel Analysis† noted that teachers in public school are required to have a substantive training in areas of specialization, complete accredited training program, and passage of examination (p. 25). Whereas teachers in private schools, the report appears to be less professional on many ways (p. 25). The report also cited that there is more turnover of teachers in private schools than in public schools. This indicates that public school have more stable teaching force than the private school as public school teachers are receiving much higher salaries which is one of the important factor for teacher to stay in their work. Aside from that, the article noted that private school teachers receive inferior salaries that cause high turn over on the part of private schools. Thus, the report shows that despite the privileges and benefits received by teachers in public school, these teachers have shown lesser commitment as compared to teachers in private schools. In comparison, neophyte teachers from private and public school have greater commitment than those in senior level or those teachers receiving higher salary (p. 26-27). Other factors associated with increase in commitment in teachers according to study are: high-end-of career salary and individual autonomy for teachers. The professionalization and commitment of teachers affect so much the credibility of education imparted to students. Policies implemented in the school system certainly affect the general performance of the school. The goal which the school is heading have influenced not only on the teachers but among the student as well. Roelande Hofman said that studies have shown that private schools have a positive effect on academic achievement (p. 119). Hofman pointed out that private school have the freedom to the kind of students they want to enroll and kick out students who display behavior that violates their own set of rules. Because of this autonomy, it gives the private school authority to reject or to accept students which the public school had only limited autonomy (p. 19). On students and parents preference, private school seemed to attract more because of selection policy. Hofman noted that in public school, the diversity of students’ background as the individual characteristic of students home environment affect with the school. It means that the behavior and conduct of students in school affects the general performance of the school in the areas of character and conduct as Sizer has portrayed in his book, many of the students seemed to have lost appetite to seriously search and acquire knowledge through schooling. In fact, students’ activities inside the campus appeared to be unmonitored by the school authorities as students can transact illegal drugs inside the school premises. Whereas in private school, students activities are daily monitored and any unacceptable manner or any violation of the given rules would easily be met with either warning or punishment. The issue is that the student feels more responsible to study well as they carry in themselves the pride that they there among other students like them who are truly sincere in their study. In general, it appears that though the teachers in the public school have a much better salaries and benefit systems and are more stable in their position compared to their peers in the private schools, yet private school teachers are more committed in their work than teachers in the public school. Second, the policy and goals and vision seem to work well in the private school despite of the fact that teachers in the public school are more professional and more trained and more fitted to work because of the specialization in the field they are handling. Third, that despite of the fact that teachers in private school are less qualified in the position given the requirements required for a public school teacher, yet private school appeared to be preferential choice of parents and students for one more reason disciplined. The similarities between public and private have been quite obvious in the levels of commitment of female teachers than their male counterpart. Both the public and private teachers reflect that female teachers are slightly committed than their male counter part. The article cited that those who are more experienced teachers have less commitment than those new ones which is the same with the private schools. Aside from this, there was not much given similarities between the public and private school. In fact, some authors were even exaggerated to express that what is between public and private are distinct difference in all aspect. Thus, the similarities given were limited only in comparison of male and female teacher in the public as well as in the private school.

Genetic Engineering and a Brave New World - 1694 Words

Genetic Engineering is one of the current hot button topics of our world today and its also the fundamental theme in widely know novels such as Brave New World and My Sister’s Keeper. But what exactly is Genetic Engineering? What exactly does Genetic Engineering entail? Genetic Engineering in its self is a mammoth and board field, yet not many people actually know or even understand the diversity that Genetic Engineering entails. When most people perceive the slightest sound of the word Genetic Engineering they robotically think about cloning. A massive ninety seven percent of people in the Unites States of America have heard of cloning at least once in their lives has a from of Genetic Engineering. Most undoubtable because of infamous†¦show more content†¦In 1990, a young child with an extremely poor immune system recieved genetic therapy. Some of her white blood cells were genetically manipulated and re-introduced into her bloodstream while she watched Sesame Stre et. These new cells have taken over for the original, weak white cells, and her immune system now works properly. Although relatively few people have had their cells genetically altered, these advances have made the prospect of mainstream genetic medicine seem more likely. Genetic engineering is so expansive and unpredictable that there is no certain line of attack to illustrate precisely what the future has in store for it development. It would seem that the most logically need for genetic engineering would be in medicine. Since disease and viruses have a genetic component, it is said that healing may be sped along in the future by using bacteria-made proteins to augment the healing process. The genes regulating the production of these proteins can be inserted into bacteria, teaching the bacteria how to make the identical proteins. (Future of Genetic Engineering) Unfortunately, this is a supremacy that is without difficulty mistreated. 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In Brave New World, Huxley predicts what is happening in today’s world and what will continue happening in the near future. In Huxley’s world, everything is based on technology and the people that live there are pretty much dehumanized. And all of this starts in small test tubes with embryos inside of them. In this societyRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1334 Words   |  6 Pageso read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is to understand the fear for the future during the 1930’s. Widely considered ahead of its time, Brave New World is one of the most influential novels regarding the destructive outcome of genetic and public manipulation through regime control. The story contrasts two worlds: the traditional world where the â€Å"savages† reside and the new World State: a negative utopia where unrestrained sexual freedom, reproductive technology, and mind numbing drugs run rampantRead MoreDesigner Babies1566 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Review of Designer Babies: The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering Author: Siew Yang Yi Yin Ren. Designer Babies: The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering. MURJ Volume 12, Spring 2005. Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genome through direct human manipulation of the DNA using modern technology. Although classical genetic methods using selective breeding has been done by humans since thousands of years ago, the manipulation of genome of organism through advanceRead MoreThe Human Genome Project Led By James Watson1308 Words   |  6 Pagespeople in our lives die from hereditary diseases and our genetic makeup is almost completely responsible for the traits we are born with and unfortunately stuck with. However the genes and genetic predispositions responsible for these common and rare hereditary diseases have been identified, which allows diagnosis of these diseases in prenatal stages. What if we as humans could choose to improve ourselves and our offspring by a series of genetic testing and germline gene therapy to produce a genetically