Ilya Repins Volga boatmen Essay Example for Free

Ilya Repins Volga boatmen Essay â€Å"Painting is a branch of the visual arts, in which color is applied to various surfaces to create a representational or abstract picture or design† (Vishny, 2003). A painting can represent an artist’s ideas or reflect the condition of a society. Some of the great masterpieces in art history include Peter Rubens’ The Battle of the Amazons, Frederic Church’s Heart of the Andes and Ilya Repins Volga boatmen. The Battle of the Amazons was painted by Peter Rubens during the Baroque epoch in 1616-1618. The painting employed the Flemish Baroque Style while the theme represented a battle scene from Greek mythology. It showed a violent struggle between Theseus (King of Athens) defense force and a group of women warriors commonly known as Amazons. In this graphical depiction of Rubens, he made use of strong dark colors of red, black and yellow that exemplified belligerence. â€Å"The glowing color and light that flickers across limbs and draperies gave a sense of movement and tactile strength† (Davison, 2006). For me, this piece of art showed that in a game of war nobody wins and everybody looses. No matter what the motivation or the cause of the conflict, war can’t still be justified because in reality lives are being taken and that is contradictory to human’s purpose which is to live. On the other hand, Frederic Church’s Heart of the Andes is a pleasant landscape illustration of a scenic view in Ecuador along the Andes Mountains. His delicate fusions of water, light and air and his seemingly infinite vistas emphasized an accurate depiction of an unspoiled and picturesque environment. This painting gave many Americans during the late 19th century their first glimpse of the tropics, which is rendered as exotic and as an underdeveloped terrain (Smith, 1989, pp-1-2). I think that the â€Å"Heart of Andes† reflected the artist’s love for nature. Meanwhile, Ilya Repins Volga Boatmen is a painting about bargemen which were called â€Å"burlaki† harnessed together along the shoreline of Volga River in Russia. Repin was able to convincingly depict the status of the working class during that period. He treated the main elements of his painting with dark colors to represent weariness, melancholiness and captivity which is contrasted by the light yellow and blue hues that showed nature’s beauty. Furthermore, Volga Boatmen became the model for mid-20th-century Soviet socialist realism that honestly and realistically demonstrated the social condition of Russia during that period (Davison, 2006). These three art works are representational paintings. The Battle of the Amazons, Heart of the Andes and Volga Boatmen represented a particular event, a definite place and a specific social condition. Ruben, Church and Repin used the same medium but they pointed out three different views. In the case of Ruben, he gave a glimpse of the Greek mythology, which is a commonly used theme in the Renaissance era, to his viewers. Beneath the nudes, animals and mythological creatures, issues on the effects of war and subordination of women were raised. For Church, he used his artistry to showcase an unspoiled landscape and stressed that places like this do exist outside their own backyard. The natural effect of the painting gave its viewers an organic feeling which is in opposite with Ruben’s somber depiction of the Battle of the Amazons and Repin’s gloomy rendition of the Volga Boatmen. Meanwhile, Repin showed in his painting his advocacy for socialist realism. He depicted a social scene with a realistic detail to impart to his viewers his social conviction. Overall, these paintings may differ in subject matter, color or styles but the only common thing in these masterpieces is that these are not only art works but are also considered as historical documents that tell a story of a certain period or time. More so, these paintings exude a serious mood with the common theme of battle. It is seen mostly in the small detailed elements that were carefully placed by the artists in their respective paintings. In the Battle of the Amazon, the use of dead nudes dramatizes the plight of women against the Greek men. The painting emphasized the social status of women as inferior to men but the battle scene depicted the attempts of the amazons to prove to the Greeks that they are not weak. Meanwhile, in the Heart of the Andes, it shows a different kind of battle. The presence of the white cross and open-root tree on the riverbank suggests the vulnerability of the environment. Church intended this element to show the fight to preserve and protect the pristine beauty of nature from the opportunist hands of man. As for Repins Volga Boatmen, the sea elements on the shoreline accentuates the barrenness of the place that heightens the unfavorable condition of the boatmen. This painting represents the conflict between workers and the upper class. It shows the class struggle of the masses against the privilege. References Davison, B. (2006). A Painting Critique: The Battle of the Amazons, Heart of the Andes, and Volga Boatmen. Associated Content Inc, pp. 1-2. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from http://www.associatedcontent. com/article/93533/a_painting_critique_the_battle_of_the. html. Lerkins Global Ltd. (2003). Rubens, Peter Paul The Battle of the Amazons. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from http://oldmasterpiece. com/rubens,peter,paul,the,battle,of,the,amazons,738. html? PHPSESSID=ed5695e80ea4b61861f84e53e04b9c7a Smith, R. 1989 October 30. Review/Art: Poetry and Showmanship of Frederic Church. New York Times, pp. 1-2. Vishny, M. (2003). Painting. Microsoft Encarta Reference Library. Microsoft Corporation.

Stages of Child Development and Strategies Involving Them

Stages of Child Development and Strategies Involving Them Introduction: In this assignment I will give a definition of social and emotional development while also explaining each individually. I will give a brief account of physical, cognitive, language and creative development and how they holistically combine for good overall development. I give an account of the social and emotional development of children form the ages 3-5. Then I will outline the different stages proposed by at least two theorists. I will give examples of strategies used to promote social and emotional development. To finish up I will make reference to the environmental, social and other factors that may affect such development and learning. Correct Definition of social and emotional development: Social-emotional development includes the childs experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others (Cohen and others 2005). It encompasses both intra- and interpersonal processes. In my opinion social and emotional development starts from birth and is given to the chid by the child’s parents or primary care giver. It is essential that the care given at this age is positive and loving as this early age is where we as adults leave the imprint on the child that stays with them for life. Emotional development directly links to the child’s intrapersonal skills by where they learn a lot about themselves like how they feel and then how they use or control their emotions within certain situations. By taking turns, having manners, being aware of their own emotions and feelings and having patience which all contributes to good emotional development. Social development directly links to a child’s interpersonal skills where children interact with other people in a good and mannerly way by always trying to understand other people’s point of view, by discussing problems and coming to some sort of compromise to solve problems. Children develop good social skills through understanding a situation and voicing their opinion rather than letting their emotions take over. Describe how the development area relates to the holistic development: Physical, cognitive, language and creative development all interlink and become increasingly interdependent in the first few years of life to give the child a good holistic development. If one development stage is weak it generally leads to the child struggling on the other areas of development to. Lev Vygotsky says â€Å"Thought and language become increasingly interdependent in the first few years of life† (prezi.com 2015) Physical development A child who has good social and emotional development will be a very outgoing child whose great at playing and will have great confidence to take part in all activities that arise and may even take on the role of the leader in certain activities. On the other hand a child who lacks in good social and emotional development will shy away from such activities and therefore may be left out of activities due to the lack of confidence. Cognitive development Good social and emotional development within a child allows them to have confidence to ask questions about situations they may not understand, in asking these questions they will get the attention and answers they need which helps them understand and store the information they more accurately to a child that has no confidence to ask questions and therefore these children won’t want to draw attention to themselves therefore leaving them lacking within the cognitive development area. Language development A child who has good social and emotional development will have good speech and will have no problem in interacting or conversing with other people and will be more accurate with the use of their vocabulary. If a child has speech issues they will lack in confidence causing them to shy away from vocally interacting with other people and may also cause them to be a target to bullying and isolation. Creative development A child with good social and emotional development will be very self-assured and confident leading them to having a great imagination and imagination is the key to a child’s creativity. This child will not be afraid to make suggestions or make up little role plays in their head .A child who lacks in creative development will be shy and may need encouragement to help them to be creative and will always rely on other people for direction. Stages of social and emotional development correctly described for a preschool chid: â€Å"Quality afterschool programs provide safe, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.† Debbie Stabenow 3 Years Old: At this age children have developed both emotional and social skills which allow them to be more happy and content as they now don’t need a familiar face to feel secure as they have gained a certain amount of control through their actions, thoughts and the use of language. They are more aware of the situations around them leading them to share and take turns and to also show affection. 4 Years Old: At this age children tend to question a lot of things like their own actions and the actions of others and are constantly asking how things work it’s like they suddenly become aware of their surroundings. They are capable of socially making friends and interacting with their friends in large groups. At this age they also learn feelings and emotions like being hurt, let down or by having a fear and by then in turn turning to a parent for comfort or reassurance. Also at this age children are normally very confident and have a lot of self-belief. 5 Years Old: At the age of 5 children tend to be very socially outgoing which leads them to loving time away from their parents through school or through being involved in social activities e.g: Hurling, football, dancing or drama. They love to play with their friends and even enjoy a bit of competiveness especially if they win, in which case they will show signs of being proud and even show signs of boasting. They are very much in tune with their feelings and now know the feeling of happiness, sadness and even have the sense of shame and hurt. Stages of social and emotional development proposed and supported by at least two theorists: Trust vs mistrust occurs from birth up to 2 years of age by where a child even at his young age acknowledges the type of care that they are given. If the child is well looked after and loved this gives them a sense of trust and where a child is neglected gives them a sense of mistrust as suggested by theorist Eirk Erikson who says â€Å"if a child feels successful trust, he or she will feel safe and secure in the world†.(child development booklet) Erik Erikson also believes if you mistrust from this early age it will stay with you in your later years causing it very hard for you to trust anyone due to your previous experiences. Relationships occur in children from the age of five upwards where children are now socially aware of their environment and can now socially interact with their peers. At this age they are constantly looking for approval from adults as well as their peers. Children form a very strong bond with their parents as suggested by theorist Sigmund Freud. Shame is a big factor in children’s development especially in their first big occasion where they have to do something for themselves. One example where children experience their first sense of shame is through potty training. If children have a bad experience through potty training Erik Erikson believes this stays with them throughout their life and therefore when they don’t achieve their goals in later years it brings them back to their early years of failure and that sense of shame. Four strategies to promote social and emotional development listed and explained: Taking turns and responsibilities by putting on a play while getting the children to come up with and choose the roles and responsibilities encourages them to interact and discuss with each other through the organising of these roles. This also encourages them to take turn and share out the responsibilities along with using the skill of dressing themselves and also gets them to use their imagination through the creative play. Teamwork and relationships by organising a sports day for the children encourages and teaches them the value of good healthy competition and how to control their emotions if they lose at a certain activity or on the other hand show pride in the achievement in winning. Through certain activities children learn to compete individually and also as part of a team allowing them to encourage each other and form good relationships with each other. Emotions and imagination using square cards or paper and draw feelings on faces e.g: happy face, sad face, etc. Then in turn get the children to pick up a card and act out the feeling on the card through facial expressions. This helps the children understand feelings, emotions and empathy through a fun game. Language and vocabulary by doing circle time and letting the children share a story with the group promotes their self-esteem and confidence to talk within a group. It also promotes the use of their language, vocabulary and even imagination through the telling of their story. Reference to environmental, social or other factors that may affect the learning and development of a child: Environmental: One environmental factor that may affect a child’s learning and development would be where a child grows up. E.G: If there is a stigma to the estate where a child raised by where it’s known as a disadvantaged or poor area this can lead child to feel they will never amount to anything due to the amount of negativity surrounding that area. On the other hand this type of negativity really spurs some children on to achieve the goals they want and gives them inspiration to do better for themselves and map out a better life for themselves and for their potential future children. Cultural Factors: One big culture that raises a lot of questions is the Jehovah Witnesses due to their beliefs they don’t celebrate a lot of big calendar days that most religions do e.g: Christmas, birthdays, etc. Therefore when these occasions arise it often leads to isolation of the child and this can have many negative effects on a child themselves through their own feelings of been left out and can also lead to other children socially out casting the child because if their beliefs. Social Factors: Family is one of the biggest contributing factors from the social view of learning and development within a child. For instance if you were raised within a big family who had a good sense of family spirit it is believed that you may be more confident as you would have been surrounded with lots of people from the start and these people will have cheered you on, helped you when you fall and thought you all of your traits that you will carry for a lifetime. Conclusion: In this assignment I have given a definition of social and emotional development, described the development areas and how they work on a holistic level. I have outlined the stages of social and emotional development from the ages of 3-5. Proposed stages supported by two theorists. I have given four examples of strategies used to promote social and emotional development and have made a reference to environmental, social or other factors that may affect such development and learning. Bibliography others, c. a., 2005. www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09socemodev.asp. [Online] Available at: www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09socemodev.asp [Accessed 24 june 2015]. toys, p. h., 2015. playhivetoys.com.au. [Online] Available at: http://www.playhivetoys.com.au/ [Accessed 30 06 2015]. toys, p. h., 2015. www.playhivetoys.com.au. [Online] Available at: http://www.playhivetoys.com.au/ [Accessed 30 june 2015]. Training, C., 2015. child developmetn booklet. In: s.l.:Creative Training . Prezi.com(2015)lev vygotsky, avalibale online to view at www.prezi.com on 02/07/2015 www.brainyquote.com

Put An End To Poverty, Increase The Minimum Wage Essay -- Minimum Wage

It is not shocking to hear that tens of millions of Americans are living in poverty. Startling statistics about the poor are constantly being tossed around on television with images of run-down neighborhoods and malnourished children. The real surprise, however, is that millions of those in poverty are full-time, minimum wage earning workers. Many say one should feel morally obligated to help these people. President Barack Obama said it best in his February 2013 State of the Union address, â€Å"Let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on earth, no one who works full time should have to live in poverty† (Lowrey n.p.). When minimum wage was created, President Roosevelt declared its purpose was to â€Å"maintain a minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being, without substantially curtailing employment† (Raising the Minimum Wage 1). Considering the poverty rate and poor living conditions present today, this vision is no longer being fulfilled. In order to create a nation with acceptable living conditions, lowered poverty rates and income inequality, and a stable economy, the minimum wage must be raised to a livable rate. Opponents of an increase argue that the economy would suffer, but the reality is quite the opposite. Economic conditions could be greatly improved with a rise in minimum wage, and that is exactly why this is an issue much larger than just the working class. Minimum wage affects all classes and has a large effect on the state of the economy. For these reasons, I propose that minimum wage should be increased to a rate that will adequately provide working families with the funds necessary to survive. Minimum wage was first enacted in 1938 to ensure that workers were maintaining a livable wage. This was mandated under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, which also made sure that workers were free from exploitation and unsatisfactory workplace conditions. At the time of this legislation, minimum wage was set at $0.25 per hour; this equates to approximately $4 in 2013. Congress monitored the economy and, through the 60s and 70s, made increases to keep minimum wage at an appropriate level. Minimum wage reached its highest value in 1968 when it was raised to $1.60, or about $10.50 per hour today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since then, the wor... ...† New Republic 244.17 (2013): 12-14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. Lowrey, Annie. â€Å"Raising Minimum Wage Would Ease Income Gap but Carries Political Risks.† The New York Times. 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. â€Å"Minimum Wage Workers: Characteristics of Those Employed at or Below the Minimum Wage.† Congressional Digest 92.5 (2013): 11-32. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. Plumer, Brad. â€Å"Here’s why 10.4 million American workers are still in poverty.† The Washington Post.12 April. 2013. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. Prince, Lew. â€Å"Should Congress Increase the Federal Minimum Wage and Index It To Inflation?† Congressional Digest 92.5 (2013): 22-26. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. Sebelius, Kathleen. â€Å"Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines.† Federal Register. 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. Sullivan, Sean. â€Å"White House official: Obama supports Harkin/Miller bid to increase minimum wage.† The Washington Post.7 Nov. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. Warren, John Robert, and Caitlin Hamrock. "The Effect of Minimum Wage Rates on High School Completion." Social Forces 88.3 (2010): 1379-1392. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.

The Peoples Republic of China :: China Essays

One country that has a rich cultural history, a large population and some of the grandest mountain ranges in the world is China. This country is the third largest one and contains the world's largest population. It is also home to one of the very first recorded civilizations. Thanks to its large mountains it is rich in natural resources that had come up from the earth. China produces a large variety of things from steel, to cameras and synthetic materials. Electricity generation is one of the largest in the world. It's government is one of the oldest on earth starting in 1726. All of these things make up China, so let’s go into more detail by starting with geography.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  China is officially the People's Republic of China and is located in eastern Asia. To it's north are several countries including Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It shares borders to the west with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and India. To the south is Bhutan, Myanmar, Veitnam, and Laos. Almost the entire east side of China is bordered by water. There are over 3,400 offshore islands, with Hainan in the South China Sea as being the largest of them all. China is about 3,696,100 square miles large not including the Republic of China. China is a very mountainous country with 43% of all land is classed as mountainous terrain. Also China has some of the largest mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest and K2. All the mountains have enclosed numerous plateaus and basins. Those areas are rich in water and mineral resources.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  China’s population is made up of mostly people under 30. The government wanted to try to control the population but was unable to. Thus China has the largest population in the world and is very crowded. Most of the people are distingueshed not by racial characteristics but by religion or language. The current population is 1,306,000,000 and increasing at an incredible rate. China speaks a language called Putongua and is known to most by Mandarin. China is trying to modify its written language to simplify it. China has two main religions: (1) Christianity (2) Buddhist. Both of these religions practice their religion openly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because of China’s land diversity, it is rich in mineral resources and has an ample amount of nearly any resource known to man. It has about 20 billion metric tons of petroleum and 11 trillion metric tons of Steel.

Comapring Sympathy For Characters in O. Henrys Furnished Room and Chek

Sympathy For Characters in O. Henry's Furnished Room and Chekov's Vanka  Ã‚   Two Works Cited   The narrators in both O. Henry's "The Furnished Room" and Anton Chekov's "Vanka" view their protagonists as desperate and helpless in a world of cold realism. With tones rich in sympathy, the narrators in both stories take pity on their characters. Both characters have yet to understand that realistically they have little control of the dismal life they lead; instead, their surroundings have more of an impact on their life. Trapped in a harshly ironic and deceitful world, the characters become pitiable symbols in a world numb to their presence. Transforming the protagonists into symbols that touch on everyday human norms (such as unending faith and one's lodgings), the narrators promote a sense of empathy. While the young man in "The Furnished Room" represents the personified room in which he lodges, Vanka resembles a sad angel in his purity and innocence. For instance, like the worn-down room in which the young man stays, his well-being depends on people and events that pass him by. The room's personified descriptions reflect all of the young man's emotions: the young man is emotionally "chipped and bruised," (41) and "desolat" (41) like the constantly abandoned room. Also, like the room the protagonist remains anonymous, as if he means little compared to his surroundings and his lost love (all of which are given names). Vanka, though also enduring a rough life, instead possesses a beam of hope in his innocence. Kneeling before his faithful letter to his Grandfather (as if to pray), Vanka resembles a sad angel. Inspite of his constant neglect and abuse, Vanka holds steadily to his faith and wishes his Grandfather "all the blessings... ...ness of mankind. The idea of diminshing hope for both characters is the narrator's final sympathy-balming attempt. The manner in which the narrators present human nature--the dark side of a merciless world in which the characters live--as well as the naive and pathetic nature of both characters, render two stories thirsty for empathy. The naivity that both characters have towards the deceit in their surroundings, as well as their lack of control in events which they endure, cause both characters to be helpless in a cruel world. Works Cited Chekov, Anton. "Vanka." Understanding Fiction. 3rd ed. Eds. Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren. Englewood Cliff, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979. 46-49. Henry, O. "The Furnished Room." Understanding Fiction. 3rd Edition. Eds. Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979. 39-43.   

Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment

8. Was this a true â€Å"experiment†? If so, what was being tested? In the short story â€Å"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment†, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, rather than observing the effect on people of the water from the Fountain of Youth, there is a true experiment behind. Though the narrator spends chunks of description on how the water changes people’s appearance and action, the inner human nature is what it really tests. As the doctor said before the experiment, â€Å"it would be well that, with the experience of a lifetime to direct you, you should draw up a few general rules for your guidance, in passing a second time through the perils of youth. Though not explicitly shown in the story, it is apparent that the experiment involves more than physical changes. Concerned with the behavior of people, Dr. Heidegger is not just interested in the physical effect of the water. Will anyone ever learn from previous experiences? Will people make the same mistakes if they have a chance to start over? What’s the relationship between age, appearance, and action? The experiment is true for it raises several questionable issues related to human nature and reveals certain answers through the behaviors of the four people in the story. a) Why did he select four people of such similar personality? Would it not have been a more productive and interesting experiment had differing personalities been included? By selecting four people of similar personality, Dr. Heidegger could have a better understanding on his experimental subjects and reached his purpose. One fact in common is that â€Å"they were all sad old creatures who had been unfortunate in life†. Namely, these four elders all squandered their money and reputation due to youthful foolishness.As the purpose was to explore the human nature (whether people would change), he knew that if given a choice to be young again, they would be the ones who wanted to change most. Yet, all of them proved the doctor wrong in the end, which clearly served the purpose of the experiment as well as made it more representative. If differing personalities were included, it would make the experiment harder to conclude, digress from its purpose, and lose its precision.Controlling variables was an important step to reach the result which was to examine whether youthful foolishness could be changed. Besides, it wouldn’t be any more productive since any successful experiment aiming to figure out a general phenomenon requires more than one subject. And in this case, four was a better choice. ? b) What did Dr. Heidegger expect to see? What might have been his initial hypothesis? Support your thinking with reference to the story. Dr. Heidegger expected to see a change in behaviors when the four guests were given a do-over chance.Before they drank the magical water, he reminded them that â€Å"it would be well that, with the experience of a lifetime to direct you, you should draw up a few gener al rules for your guidance, in passing a second time through the perils of youth. † In other words, he wished his four guests would change whatever caused their previous failure and stop making the same mistakes. He hoped to see a positive transformation which the elders used their lifetime wisdom to guide themselves in the right way. However, as high as his expectation appeared to be, his initial hypothesis wasn’t exactly ideal.When he asked the four friends to assist him, he claimed that â€Å"For my own part, having had much trouble in growing old, I am in no hurry to grow young again†. That is, the doctor himself had no intention to be young even though he once had some miserable time, just like his guests. Thus, we can conclude that the reason he just wanted to be an observer was that he believed people would make the same mistakes even granted a second chance. ? c) What, if anything, did he expect his â€Å"subjects† to learn from the experiment? Wha t might have been his purpose?As his guests suffered in their youth and lost their vigor, he might expect them to learn that since people couldn’t change, they might as well accept the reality. After the experiment, Dr. Heidegger said, â€Å"Well – I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it – no, though its delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the lesson ye have taught me! † As we can see, Dr. Heidegger knew this water did no good on people except creating illusions. And even in fake reality, people still remained who they used to be without single change despite of their senility. â€Å"Pressing the withered rose to his withered lips† Dr. Heidegger also said that â€Å"I love it as well thus as in its dewy freshness†. Compared with his subjects, Dr. Heidegger appeared to possess more wisdom and virtue, which was the two presents of age. He loved the way he was, fo r his age gave him wisdom. Therefore, all he did was to test his friends with the expectation that they would learn to change, or at least realize the inevitability of old age and death, and then embrace their presence after all these.The purpose of this experiment might be to discover the relationship between age, appearance, and behavior. Age, despite of physical senescence, depends more on the state of mind. Though the guests were seen to act differently due to their youthful appearances, the real reason was their inner self, who they thought they were. However, the experiment also proved that one was not likely to change who he or she really was even given another chance.

Making Sustainable Large-Scale Change Possible: The Ontario Experience Essay

Whoever said that the only constant thing in the world is change is indeed a sage. That person could have acknowledged the statement based on personal experiences. Everything in the world changes from time to time- persons, government and even the climate. Changes are staple events in the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Changes often come as surprises. On organizational level, change could come as a way of intervention which may bring forth negative or positive consequences. The world today is filled with movements of people clamouring for change. The daily news in the television flash with headlines on citizens calling on their governments for reform; students protesting on the streets to demand democracy; environmentalists and animal-rights advocates asking for ban on chemicals; and so on. Practically, people yearn for change in their personal lives, work, laws, and in the government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The education sector in some countries goes for change, too. In Ontario, Canada an overhaul in the public education system took place to address the problems plaguing the system.   Levin (2007) summarized the change as a strategy which serves as â€Å"an example of large-scale change in education that is respectful of educators, fair to students and communities and based on the best available knowledge† (p. 323).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The education system in Ontario, Canada suffered from setbacks since early 1990s due to government measures imposed (Levin, 2007).   There were reductions in staffing levels and increased in teachers’ workloads. Consequently, these yielded labour strikes, dissatisfaction and low-morale among the teachers. Levin reported that during the late 1990s, a change in the government system took place which adversely affected the education system. Local school districts were reduced to half, school principals were taken out of the teachers’ union and significant amount of funding was cut. Teachers took the brunt of these changes as the government then was deemed as critical of public teachers and schools.   Levin cited that the people were unhappy and dissatisfied with the public education system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Canada’s 2003 election changed the educational atmosphere as it became the rallying cry of the Liberal Party, which won the election. Levin pointed out that the new government crafted new strategies (dubbed as the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and the Student Success Strategy) in late 2003 to solve the problem of public education.   These have two main goals: to improve elementary school literacy and numeracy outcomes and increase high school graduation rates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now on its almost fifth year of implementation, the strategies proved effective. The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat of the of Ontario’s Ministry of Education reported the following accomplishments through its 2006 Project Report, Making It Happen:   improved overall provincial rate of 64% for reading, writing and mathematics in Grade; about 17,000 schools improved by five or more percent in their Grade 6 reading scores; over 2000 schools got better reading scores among Grade 3 students; while 900 schools did better on both the Grades 3 and 6 reading scores.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat reported in 2007 that the number of schools with very low performance dropped by three-fourths. Graduation rates rose by fiver percent, from 68% to 73% in school year 2005-2006. Levin wrote that there have been an obvious level of energy and enthusiasm and the number of teachers leaving the profession or opting for early retirement was reduced. Insight from Basic System Approach on the Ontario Case   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Ontario experience is one example of how a system works. From the previous lesson, Owens (2004) explained the interrelatedness of subsystems and the multiple causations. The problems of education in Ontario in the 1990s directly hit the teachers. These problems caused serious effects on the quality of education. In turn, the students were affected as they struggled with difficulties on subject areas such as reading and mathematics. Since Ontario is a highly-diversified province, students who are children of immigrants were also knocked down by the problems within the system.   One can see, as Owens emphasized, that the multiple causation of problems and solutions directly affect the whole system. My personal analysis is: as a system, the problem of one minute part ripples through the whole system, contributing to its downfall once left unguarded.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Ontario problem back then was caused by a change in the political leadership and system. Decisions imposed upon the teachers from the authorities led to successive breakdowns in the public educational system. Ultimately, Levin said that most parents lost their confidence in public education and resorted to private enrolment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reading through Levin’s article, I could say that the principles behind the continuing success of the Ontario public education system are consistent with our lessons and previous reading. Ontario is a success story; a model which is worth emulating.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nevertheless, one may wonder: is the Ontario experience transferable? Can it be duplicated to other provinces within Canada and to other countries as well?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I should say that the Ontario experience is unique; for every situation is different from the rest. Many factors contribute to its situation such as the political, economic, cultural, and social atmospheres.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But, despite of the given unique conditions, the strategies can be also applied to smaller systems on a case-to-case basis. Strategy such as reducing classroom size and student mentoring are very pragmatic. Likewise, the principles of participation, consultation and evaluation are quite universal which for me, makes the Ontario project can be reproduced or duplicated to other schools provided that the socio-political and the cultural aspects are integrated. I believe good practices are worth following and must be contextualized to ensure its effectiveness. It must also be sustained. Lessons Learned from the Ontario Experience   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Ontario example is a case which highlights the necessity of change. It demonstrates the power of change to generate positive results which impact the whole system.   There are significant lessons which we can pick from the article. Personally, I gained from reading Levin’s work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first lesson that struck me is the complexity of the educational system. Education is really indispensable to a country that it takes a government policy to influence the whole system. A government’s decision or ruling on the educational system either build or ruin a country. Countries count on their education department for productive, patriotic and loving citizens; good citizens are profitable to a country. I also realized that a government initiative is very powerful as it demands implementation and obedience from its constituents as compared with a grass-root level or city-level proposals. Political influence and leadership make the implementation of projects or programs more smoothly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I also appreciate the consultation aspect of the Ontario project. I learned that consultation has benefits. Consultation is a venue where the voices of the concerned parties are heard. By this, there is representation. The suggestions of the parents and teachers are heard. As I ponder through the case, it came to me that consultation is one factor which makes a school system successful.   After all, parents and students are the clients of a school. Their voices must also be tapped for the proper implementation of school projects. Consulting the parents on their children’s concerns and inquiring them on issues are part of our profession as teachers or educators.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another particular lesson is the relevance of partnership. Levin discussed that the Ministry of Education forged partnerships with different local school boards for the implementation of the two strategies. The educational system has many stakeholders and they must be acknowledged and won over.   Through partnership, relationships are formed, allowing for a better working environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reading taught me also that test and accountability matters. Like what the Ontario example demonstrated, tests are very important to measure the success of educational policy. Tests also work as gauges which measure the success of students. I was impressed by the fact the Ontario’s Ministry of Education directed its provincial and district offices to report on the public the progress indicators of the students.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is no such thing as a complete or perfect program, as what I have reflected from the article. The Ontario experience is not without flaws. Levin wrote that the teachers feel overwhelmed by the tasks. There are challenges for every change or new programs to be implemented. There are always detractors and encouragers within a system. A program can be accepted or scorned. Either way, it is an inescapable reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In relation to change, it does not happen in an instant. It is not an overnight function. A change in the system may mean years of implementation. Time can only aid and sharpen its implementation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, to recognize the skills and the capabilities of the teachers is one winning factor in education. The Ontario problem commenced because of the government’s bias against the public school teachers (Levin, 2007).   Teachers are major stakeholders in the educational system; thus, there’s a need for acknowledgment and incentives. Teachers are important assets; therefore, they must be treated as invaluable human resource to the system. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The strategies adopted by the Ontario Ministry of Education proved to be successful. Sustainable, large-scale projects can be a tough challenge but if all the systems are in agreement to it and proper delegation of work is done, it can become a pleasurable job and a welcomed change. Ontario has set an example; my conviction follows: impossible ideas can be realized if the stakeholders within the system are united. Bibliography Levin, B. (2007). Sustainable large-scale renewal. Journal of Educational Change, 8, 323-336. Owens, R. G. (2004). Organizational behavior in education: Adaptive leadership and School Reform. Boston MA: Allyn & Pearson, p. 19-21. Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. (2007). Making it happen. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/makeithappen.pdf. p. 14