The Work Of Ruth Benedict

The Work Of Ruth Benedict Ruth Benedicts studies on moral relativism produced intriguing information regarding cultures, how they behave, and how customs are essential in determining an individuals perception of right and wrong. Among her most notable works is the book Patterns of Culture, which provides readers with a thorough explanation of the diversity put across by various cultures and of how it is wrong to judge one relating to principles that are not present in his or her culture. Speaking about Dobu Islanders and Kwakiutls Benedict proves that the people in these two groups should not be condemned because of the way they perceive life. The main point stressed by Benedict is that morals are not the same for every culture and that one cannot consider that all people have the same outlook on notions like right and wrong. Not only were Dobu Islanders considered by white people to be abnormally savage for the territories they inhabited, but they were also harshly criticized by the tribes neighboring them, which were to some extent equally unsophisticated. In point of fact, during the early twentieth century white people recognized Dobu Islanders primarily for their poverty and because they were willing to work for low wages. In contrast to white people, the communities neighboring the Dobuans feared them because of their extreme way of living, which sometimes involved performing acts of cannibalism (Benedict 131). The Dobuans amply deserve the character they are given by their neighbors. They are lawless and treacherous (Benedict 131). Surely, this is most people would think when seeing things from what they perceive as being a general point of view, one that strictly distinguishes between concepts like right and wrong. Benedict however goes on to relate to moral relativism and to how the general public is wrong in believing that they can be impartial in defining principles relating to right and wrong. These two concepts are actually very subjective, since almost every culture perceives them differently. Dobuans are different from the rest of the world because of a series of reason, most of them being rather normal for the general public. Curiously, the Dobu society functions unlike other communities, given that it does not respect an exact hierarchy and does not follow any rules other than those involving treachery and hostility. The general rule applied in the Dobu community is that referring to how every mans hand is against every other man (Bendict 131). Still, as Benedict describes, Dobuans manage to get through the day without producing chaos and anarchy is among the last concepts that should be related to this culture (Benedict 131). In spite of the fact that Dobuans respect little to no rules that are highly praised in the so-called civilized world, they are nonetheless certain that what they do is perfectly right. In addition to living in an apparent state of lawlessness, Dobuans have rules that are based on aggression and that thoroughly relate to what is and what is not permitted when concerning unfriendliness. The Dobu Islanders believe that it is perfectly natural if they perform acts of betrayal and violence as long as they do so in what they perceive as being an organized environment. The very union that unites most communities that of marriage between individual coming from two enemy groups is not considered by Dobuans to bring any change in their lives, as they continue to hate each-other as they did before. Witchcraft is an essential element in Dobuan culture, since it is the reason for which most individuals perform a particular mission. With the intervention of white individuals, more and more Dobuans have expressed their desire to escape their community in exchange of what the general public sees as being hard labor. This desire to work in inhumane conditions for low wages is the result of the work they would otherwise be forced to do in their own villages. The Dobuan community sees nothing wrong with the fact that a man who was caught overnight in the residence of a woman should be forced to work for the womans father and for his own family for a year, until he is considered free to join the community as a member with full rights. Eating together is yet a nother example that assists the couple uniting under the ceremony of marriage. Although most of the Western World would be inclined to believe that there is nothing abnormal about the fact that Dobuans organize marriages in accordance to the general way in which a wedding takes place, matters are actually different. Indeed, Dobuans allow husbands and wives to stay together under the same roof and to provide food for their children. However, because mothers and motherline in general are especially important for Dobuans, couples are required to reside alternately in the grooms tribe and in the brides tribe for one year at a time, resolving the predicament easily but beyond the understanding of most of the civilized world (Bendict 139). Dobuans typically believe that one can only achieve success through cheating others into giving him what is rightfully theirs. The Dobuan culture provides individuals with complex information relating to how they can perform acts of treachery. Dobuans thus consider morality to relate only to their conception of society and to concepts such as right and wrong. The general public already has an understanding of right and wrong and considers Dobuans to act immorally, even with the fact that Dobu Islanders are merely doing what they were taught to do and are respecting the values imposed on them by their community (Bendict 142). Bendicts view on moral relativism relates to cultural relativism, since it involves the theory that an individuals behavior and convictions should be analyzed from the standpoint of the respective individuals culture. Morality is essentially relative and even with the fact that Western philosophers have produced complex theories related to ethical behavior, the information they generated is mostly useful, since it can only be applied to a limited number of cultures and even in these cultures the concepts of right and wrong can be considered to be unbalanced. To some extent, the presently extinct Kwakiutl population that once resided on the northwest coast of the American continent is similar to the Dobu Islanders. They too praised the supernatural and went through great efforts to attain it, even resorting to committing acts of cannibalism. Violence was a foremost element in the lives of Kwakiutls, as they did not hesitate to use aggression every time they had the opportunity to do so. Acts of aggression were actually part of ceremonies related to the communitys economy and the fighting abilities it possessed. It was essential for one to demonstrate his or her superiority in front of their opponents through making use of violence. According to Benedict, the object of all Kwakiutl enterprise was to show oneself superior to ones rivals (Bendict 190). In spite of their anomalous behavior, Kwakiutls simply did what their society taught them. Performing mostly every act that was not in accordance to their instinct provided Kwakiutls with enlightenment and they were determined to use every means possible with the purpose of reaching this state (Benedict 79). The concepts promoted by the Kwakiutl society are extremely unclear and complex, given that Kwakiutls were extremely devoted to serving their purpose and did not hesitate to perform inexplicable acts that they saw as being right. Not only were the Kwakiutls certain that they had to perform abnormal acts in order to become one with the supernatural, but they believed that these nonstandard performances were by and large obligatory to be associated to pain and torment. The most explanatory paragraph in Benedicts book relating to how Kwakiutls were certain that violence was the answer to virtually everything is the one speaking about the fact that these individuals believed that all of their gods were evil, since they could not comprehend a god that performs good deeds. They did not suppose that supernatural beings were beneficent. They knew that hurricanes and avalanches were not, and they attributed to the Gods the characteristics of the natural world (Benedict 221). It would be unlik ely for a Kwakiutl to be influenced in believing that the divine can also put across kindness, given that one cannot explain how gods can be good and produce hurricanes and avalanches for no actual reason at the same time. As demonstrated by Benedict in her description of the Dobuan and Kwakiutl cultures, it is illogical to attempt to determine if a particular act is right or wrong, considering that it can be understood as good from the standpoint of a particular culture whereas another can perceive it as being totally immoral. Just as each individual from a community can express subjective convictions regarding a topic in particular, a community as a whole can put across subjective ideas regarding what qualifies as being acceptable and what can be identified as being intolerable.

Essay --

The Triangle of Death, The Limbo of the Lost, The Twilight Zone, The Port of Missing Ships, The Devil’s Triangle, The Hoodoo Sea, The Deadly Triangle. These and many more are names for the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle has been a huge mystery to many since the early 1900's. The Triangle is an area located in the western Atlantic Ocean, where supposedly many ships, people, planes, and other objects disappear unexplainably. The three points of location that connect the triangle are Miami, Florida, Bermuda, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The triangle covers about five hundred thousand square miles of ocean. However, there is no official boundaries or markers for the triangle, just recognized linings. Over the past five centuries, more than a thousand ships and planes have disappeared inside of the triangle boundaries, and still to this day continue to do so. There are many theories behind these happenings. However, no one has yet found the real truth behind it. One of the most famous, or well-known happenings of the Bermuda Triangle is the disappearance of Flight 19. This happened in December, 1945 during a US Navy training exercise. Fourteen crew members on a route mission disappeared after sending out many radio messages, and when two Martin Mariner rescue planes came to search for them, only one came back while the other strangely could not be found. It is still not fully known what went wrong here. Many wrecked parts from Flight 19 have never been recovered. More famous incidents of the Bermuda Triangle are: The USS Cyclops and three hundred and nine crew members went missing in 1918, the Douglas DC-3 plane with thirty-two people that went missing in 1958 (no trace of aircraft was ever found), and a yacht that was... ...iangle disappearance is no more logical than trying to find a common cause for every automobile accident in Arizona.† Neither maritime insurance leader Lloyd’s of London, or the U.S. Coast Guard, do not see the Bermuda Triangle as an especially dangerous place. They say, â€Å"In a review of many aircraft and vessel losses in the area over the years, there has been nothing discovered that would indicate that casualties were the result of anything other than physical causes. No extraordinary factors have ever been identified.† So it is ultimately up to you to decide what you believe in when it comes to the Bermuda triangle. While it has become very popular to link the Bermuda Triangle to paranormal activity, most investigations claim they happen from bad weather and human error. With all the hundreds of theories, still today, the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle remains.

Nothing Can Bring You Peace But Yourself. :: essays research papers

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." "Yourself,"†¦ I am thinking about the time when my best friend died, and when I stopped being myself and my life started going to hell. It happened maybe two or three years ago. The day is very clear in my memory. The weather was cold and nasty. The monotonous rain made everything outside look gray. I was at home, waiting for my girlfriend to arrive. I was sitting on the couch drinking hot tea and feeling warm and cozy. My cat was there too, I remember. We were watching a Mexican soap opera, and I think the cat was enjoying it, but I wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on. All I cared about was that my girlfriend was finally coming home and that we would be able to see each other again. She had left only four weeks earlier, but I missed her greatly. We had been friends since the first grade. In the beginning we were the worst enemies; we just hated each other. Oh, how we fought! One time she accused me of taking her marker, even though I did not know what marker she was talking about. I remember her mother came to school and everyone was mad at me and was convinced that I was guilty. Later she found her marker. It seems she had put it in a wrong box. This turned out to be the first, but not the last, accident that would occur. What didn’t we argue about? After a while, hmmm, five years, we became the best friends ever. We were perfectly compatible with each other. We began spending all of our time together. We were vital to each other. I came to know each and every detail about her as she did about me. My life was intertwined with her life and her life was intertwined with mine. It was the most enduring friendship of my life. I looked at the clock above my head. Four fifty. She was supposed to arrive at three o’clock. I felt uncomfortable; some weird feeling crawled around my heart. I did not understand it. I waited and waited. It was dark already and I was afraid of being in solitude. I couldn’t stand it anymore. Five o’clock. The phone rang and it startled me. Who might it be? I wasn’t expecting a phone call from anyone.

Ethical and Legal Issues Essay

Nurses make legal and ethical decisions when caring for patients; decisions that need to be made carefully because the decisions could possibly change a patients’ life. There are theories to explain how to problem solve ethically and the theories are not based on emotion (Guido, 2006). This paper will discuss the relationship between legal and ethical issues and ethical theories, examples will be provided. Ethics can be described as principles and standards that are a guide to conduct used to elevate the standard of compliance (Judson & Harrison, 2010). Ethics is derived from the Greek word â€Å"ethos† ethics explains actions as right or wrong in respect to cultural principles and values. Moral values are personal beliefs that are intertwined with ethical actions and behaviors (Guido, 2006). Ethics, similar to values, are individualistic and they come from our experiences, culture and actions. While one’s values or moral ethics may be different, the nurse’s ability to conform to a patient’s ethical behavior is important (The VA leads change toward Integrated Ethics approach, 2008). The legal system was created to establish policies to protect the public (Judson & Harrison, 2010). The laws that are set can be changed when evidence suggests amendments are necessary. The relationship between law and ethics is apparent when discussing a patient’s healthcare decision that goes against the norms or beliefs of the healthcare provider. An example would be the patient exercising his or her right to refuse treatment for a disease process that will result in imminent death, such as a patient in renal failure refusing dialysis (Guido, 2008). Shannon (2008) discussed the differences of legal and ethical decisions as â€Å"morally ordinary† and â€Å"extraordinary† treatment related to the provision of assisted nutrition and hydration, particularly for patients in a â€Å"permanent vegetative state† (p.894). Metaethics is a nonnormative ethic that attempts to describe the implication between moral concepts or statements and the justification of why something is regarded good or ethically correct. Normative ethics understand standards of behavior and application of these behaviors in life. Normative ethicsbranch out into two broad categories called deontological and teleogical theories (Guido, 2006). Deontological theories focus on the intended action not the consequences of one’s actions (Guido, 2006). The theory focuses on the dignity and sense of duty of the individuals and finds the relationship between the person and the action. Deontological theories are divided into two subcategories; act deontology and rule deontology. Guido (2006) states that â€Å"act deontology is based on the personal moral values of the person making the ethical decision, whereas rule deontology is based on the belief that certain standards for ethical decisions transcend the individual’s moral values† (p. 4). Teleological theories are based on the simple concept, right actions have good consequences and bad actions have bad consequences. This theory suggests the act of right or wrong is directly related to the consequence of the action. Utilitarianism stems off of teleogical theories, explains that consequences count and acts are determined by the consequence. Some utilitarian’s believe that the moral rightness of a consequence is determined by the greatest number of good or the least harm and suffering (Guido, 2006). Considering the moral rightness is based on greatest number to benefit from the greatest good, actions based on the utilitarianism theory can often be unethical and illegal. Nurses in acute care settings are faced daily with ethical issues and concerns. Shannon (2008) examines the terms â€Å"morally ordinary† and â€Å"extraordinary† in respect to patients in a â€Å"permanent vegetative state† (p. 894). It is thought if we can keep the body alive we should, â€Å"capacity generated obligation† but there is a compromise in human dignity, making this both a legal and ethical dilemma (Shannon, 2008, p. 894). Euthanasia and end of life care often cause a lot of animosity, as they have been distorted by general public. Shannon (2008) states, â€Å"Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expect outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal  of over-zealous treatment† (p. 898). This statement defines euthanasia in its most accepted form withdrawal of treatment. This makes the act legal, but is it ethical to withdraw treatment that was started to sustain life, knowing that the result ends in death?Another example of an ethical issue in an acute care setting is preserving organs for donation in a patient who is pronounced dead following a cardiac event. Organ donation is a personal choice that can be expressed though written consent by the donor. Although, if there is no documentation of the patients wishes, family members have to make the decision in the event of unexpected death. Is it legal and ethical to maintain the body of a patient who has died in order to keep the organs viable while waiting for the family’s decision (Bonnie, Wright, & Dineen, 2008)?When a patient has been declared dead according to neurological criteria hospitals will maintain organ viability while awaiting family decision about donation. Procedures are started post-mortem by a transplant team to determine candidacy for donation. Medications are started and additional lines are inserted. All of which are done after the patient is declared dead. This is legal in many states, in fact there is a statute called the â€Å"immunity clause† to protect the health care workers from any liability, but is it ethical (Bonnie, Wright, & Dineen, 2008)? According to Bonnie, Wright, and Dineen (2008), â€Å"Organ preservation in cases of uncontrolled cardiac death violates no legally protected interest of the family members. It does not constitute â€Å"mutilation of the body† and falls comfortably within the general principle that hospitals have no duty to deliver corpses to families in their exact condition of death† (p.744). Consider this statement and place an ethical emphasis on your thought process. Healthcare workers are not legally bound to deliver the bodies of their loved ones in the exact condition of their death. In conclusion, through cultural norms, behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes the ethical behaviors of healthcare workers are analyzed. The governing bodies of healthcare such as the American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association mandate healthcare workers to uphold ethical values in his or her practice. The legal system maintains the right to investigate and examine decisions made by healthcare practitioners when decisions appear unethical or perhaps unlawful. The various ethical theories provide  direction for healthcare practitioners and ethics review boards with decision-making processes. References Bonnie, R., Wright, S. & Dineen, K. (2008). Legal authority to preserve organs in cases of uncontrolled cardiac death: preserving family choice. Retrieved April 29, 2009, from EbscoHost Database. Guido, G. W. (2006). Legal and ethical issues in nursing (4 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Judson, K. & Harrison, C. (2010). Law and ethics for medical careers (5th ed). New York,NY: McGraw-Hill. Shannon, T. (2008). Unbind him and let him go: Ethical issues in the determination of proportionate and disproportionate treatment. Theological Studies, 69, 894-917. Retrieved April 29, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. The VA leads change toward Integrated Ethics approach. (Cover story). (2008, December). Medical Ethics Advisor, Retrieved May 1, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.

Night World : Soulmate Chapter 13

Don't fight,† he panted into her face. â€Å"It'll be easier if you just relax.† Hannah was frightened-and furious. â€Å"In your dreams!† she gasped and slammed a knee into his groin. She hadn't survived Maya and come thousands of miles to be killed by some weasel of a vampire. She could feel him trying to do something to her mind-it reminded her of the way Maya had captured Ha-nahkt's eyes. Some kind of hypnosis, she supposed. But she'd had enough of hypnosis in the last week. She fought it. And she fought with her body, unskillfully maybe, but with utter conviction. She head-butted him on the nose when he tried to get close to her neck. â€Å"Ow!† The Artful Dodger jerked back. Then he got a better grip on her arm. He pulled the wrist toward him and Hannah suddenly realized what he was doing. There were nice accessible veins there. He was going to draw blood from her wrist. â€Å"No, you don't,† she gasped. She had no idea what would happen if she lost any more blood to a vampire. Thierry had said she wasn't in danger as long as she kept away from them for the next week, so she presumed that if she didn't stay away, she was in danger. And she was already noticing little changes in herself: her ability to see better in the dark, for instance. She tried to wrench her arm out of the boy's grip- and then she heard a gasp. Suddenly she realized that he wasn't holding her as tightly, and he wasn't trying to pull her wrist to him. Instead he was just staring at her hand. At her ring. The expression on his face might have been funny if Hannah hadn't been shaking with adrenaline. He looked shocked, dismayed, scared, disbelieving, and embarrassed all at once. â€Å"Who-who-who are you?† he spluttered. Hannah looked at the ring, and then at him. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? She should have mentioned Thierry right away. If he was a Lord of the Night World, maybe everybody knew him. Maybe she could skip the witches altogether. â€Å"I told you I was looking for somebody. His name is Thierry Descouedres. He gave me this ring.† The Artful Dodger gave a kind of moan. Then he looked up at her from under his spiky bangs. â€Å"I didn't hurt you, did I?† he said. It wasn't a question, it was a demand for agreement. â€Å"I didn't do anything to you.† â€Å"You didn't get the chance,† Hannah said. But she was afraid the boy might just take off running, so she added, â€Å"I don't want to get you in trouble. I just want to find Thierry. Can you help me?† â€Å"I †¦ help you. Yeah, yeah. I can be a big help.-† He hesitated, then said, â€Å"It's kind of a long walk.† A walk? Thierry was here? Hannah's heart leaped so high that her whole body felt light. â€Å"I'm not tired,† she said, and it was true. â€Å"I can walk anywhere.† The house was enormous. Magnificent. Palatial, even. Awe-inspiring. The Artful Dodger abandoned Hannah at the beginning of the long palm-tree-lined drive, blurting, â€Å"That's it,† and then scampering off into the darkness. Hannah looked after him for a moment, then grimly started up the drive, sincerely hoping that it was it. She was so tired that she was weaving and her feet felt as if they'd been pounded with stones. As she walked up to the front door, though, her doubts disappeared. There were black roses everywhere. There was an arch-shaped stained-glass window above the double doors, showing a black rose that had the same intricately knotted stem as the one on Hannah's ring. The same design had been worked into the crowns over the windows. It was used like a family crest or seal. Just seeing all those roses made Hannah's heart beat faster. Okay, then. Ring the doorbell, she told herself. And stop feeling like some Cinderella who's come to see what's keeping the prince. She pushed the doorbell button, then held her breath as chimes echoed distantly. Please. Please answer†¦. She heard footsteps approaching and her heart really started to pound. I can't believe it's all been this easy†¦. But when the door opened, it wasn't Thierry. It was a college-age guy with a suit, brown hair pulled back into a short ponytail, and dark glasses. He looked vaguely like a young CIA agent, Hannah thought wildly. He and Hannah stared at each other. â€Å"Uh, I'm here to †¦ I'm looking for Thierry Des-couedres,† Hannah said finally, trying to sound confident. The CIA guy didn't change expression. When he spoke, it wasn't unkindly, but Hannah's heart plummeted. â€Å"He's not here. Try again in a few days. And it's better to call one of his secretaries before showing up.† He started to shut the door. A wave of desperation broke over Hannah. â€Å"Wait!† she said, and she actually stuck her foot in the doorway. She was amazed at herself. The CIA guy looked down at her foot, then up at her face. â€Å"Yes?† Oh, God, he thinks I'm a nuisance visitor. Hannah suddenly had a vision of swarms of petitioners lined up at Thierry's house, all wanting him to do something for them. Like supplicants waiting for an audience with the king. And I must look like riffraff, she thought. She was wearing Levis and a shirt that was sweaty and wrinkled after tramping around the Strip all day. Her boots were dusty. Her hair was limp and disheveled, straggling over her face. â€Å"Yes?† the CIA guy said again, politely urgent. . â€Å"I †¦ nothing.† Hannah felt tears spring to her eyes and was furious with herself. She hid them by bending down to pick up her duffel bag, which by now felt as if it were loaded with rocks. She had never been so tired. Her mouth was dry and cottony and her muscles were starting to cramp. She had no idea where to find a safe place to sleep. But it wasn't the CIA guy's problem. â€Å"Thank you,† Hannah said. She took a deep breath and started to turn away. It was the deep breath that did it. Someone was crossing the grand entrance hall behind the CIA guy and the breath delayed Hannah long enough that they saw each other. â€Å"Nilsson, wait!† the someone yelled and came bounding over to the door. It was a girl, thin and tanned, with odd silvery-brown hair and dark amber eyes. She had several yellowing bruises on her face. But it was her expression that startled Hannah. Her amber eyes were wide and sparkling in what looked like recognition, her mouth was open in astonishment and excitement. She was waving her arms. â€Å"That's her!† she yelled at the CIA guy, pointing to Hannah. â€Å"It's her! It's her.† When he stared at her, she hit him in the shoulder. â€Å"Her!† They both turned to stare at Hannah. The CIA guy had an expression now. He looked stunned. Hannah stared back at them, bewildered. Then, seeming dazed, the CIA guy very slowly opened the door. â€Å"My name is Nilsson, miss,† he said. â€Å"Please come inside.† Stupid me, Hannah thought. Almost as an afterthought, she pushed straggling hair off her left cheek, away from her birthmark. I should have told them who I was. But how could I know they would understand? Nilsson was talking again as he gently took her bag. â€Å"I'm very sorry, miss-I didn't realize †¦ I hope you won't hold this-â€Å" â€Å"Nobody knew you were coming,† the girl broke in with refreshing bluntness. â€Å"And the worst thing is that Thierry's gone off somewhere. I don't think anybody knows where or when he'll be back. But meanwhile you'd better stay put. I don't want to think about what he'd do to us if we lost you.† She smiled at Hannah and added, â€Å"I'm Lupe Acevedo.† â€Å"Hannah Snow.† â€Å"I know.† The girl winked. â€Å"We met before, but I couldn't exactly introduce myself. Don't you remember?† Hannah started to shake her head-and then she blinked. Blinked again. That silvery-brown coloring†¦ those amber eyes†¦ â€Å"Yeah,† Lupe said, looking hugely delighted. â€Å"That was me. That's how I got these bruises. The other wolf got it worse, though. I ripped him a new-â€Å" â€Å"Would you like something to drink?† Nilsson interrupted hastily. â€Å"Or to eat? Why don't you come in and sit down?† Hannah's mind was reeling. That girl is a werewolf, she thought. A werewolf. The last time I saw her she had big ears and a bushy tail. Werewolves are real. And this one protected me. She said dizzily, â€Å"I †¦ thank you. I mean, you saved my life, didn't you?† Lupe shrugged. â€Å"Part of the job. Want a Coke?† Hannah blinked, then laughed. â€Å"I'd kill for one.† â€Å"I'll take care of it,† Nilsson said. â€Å"I'll take care of everything. Lupe, why don't you show her upstairs?† He hurried off and opened a cellular phone. A moment later several other guys dressed like him came running. The strange thing was that they were all very young-all in their late teens. Hannah caught snatches of frantic-sounding conversation. â€Å"Well, try that number-â€Å" â€Å"What about leaving a message with-â€Å" â€Å"Come on,† Lupe said, interrupting Hannah's eavesdropping. With that same cheerful bluntness she added, â€Å"You look like you could use a bath.† She led Hannah past a giant white sculpture toward a wide curving staircase. Hannah glimpsed other rooms opening off the hallway. A living room that looked as big as a football field, decorated with white couches, geometric furniture, and abstract paintings. A dining room with a mile-long table. An alcove with a grand piano. Hannah felt more like Cinderella than ever. Nobody in Medicine Rock had a grand piano. I didn't know he was so rich. I don't know if I can deal with this. But when she was installed in a sort of Moorish fantasy bathroom, surrounded by jungly green plants and exotic tiles and brass globe lights with cut-out star shapes, she decided that she could probably adjust to living this way. If forced. It was heaven just to relax in the Jacuzzi tub, drinking a Coke and breathing in the delicious scent of bath salts. And it was even better to sit up in bed afterward, eating finger sandwiches sent up by â€Å"Chef† and telling Lupe how she came to be in Las Vegas. When she was done, Lupe said, â€Å"Nilsson and everybody are trying to find Thierry. It may take a little while, though. See, he just stopped off for a few minutes on Saturday, and then he disappeared again. But meanwhile, this house is pretty well protected. And all of us will fight for you-I mean, fight to the death, if we have to. So it's safer than most other places.† Hannah felt a roiling in her stomach. She didn't understand. Lupe made it sound as if they were in some castle getting ready for a siege. â€Å"Safe from†¦ ?† Lupe looked surprised. â€Å"From her-Maya,† she said, as if it should be obvious. Hannah had a sinking feeling. I should have known, she thought. But all she said was, â€Å"So you think I'm still in danger from her.† Lupe's eyebrows shot up. She said mildly, â€Å"Well, sure. She's going to try to kill you. And she's awfully good at killing.† Especially me, Hannah thought. But she was too tired to be much afraid. Trusting to Lupe and Nilsson and the rest of Thierry's household, she fell asleep â€Å"that night as soon as her head touched the pillow. She woke up to see sunshine. It was reflecting off the bedroom walls, which were painted a softly burnished gold. Weird but beautiful, Hannah thought, looking dreamily around at ebony furniture and decorative tribal masks. Then she remembered where she was and jumped out of bed. She found clean clothes-her size-lying on an elaborately carved chest. She had just finished pulling them on when Lupe knocked on the door. â€Å"Lupe, have they-â€Å" Lupe shook her silvery-brown head. â€Å"They haven't found him yet.† Hannah sighed, then smiled, trying not to look too disappointed. Lupe made a sympathetic face. â€Å"I know. While you wait, though, you might like to meet some people.† She grinned. â€Å"They're sort of special people, and it's a secret that they're even here. But I talked to them last night, and they all decided that it would be okay. They all want to meet you.† Hannah was curious. â€Å"Special people? Are they humans or†¦ uh†¦ ?† Lupe grinned even more widely. â€Å"They're both. That's why they're special.† As she talked, she was leading Hannah downstairs and through miles of hallway. â€Å"They did something for me,† she said, not smiling now, but serious. â€Å"They saved my life and my mom's life. See, I'm not a purebred werewolf. My dad was human.† Hannah looked at her, startled. â€Å"Yeah. And that's against the laws of the Night World. You can't fall in love with a human, much less marry them. The other werewolves came one night and killed my dad. They would have killed my mom and me, too, but Thierry got us out of the city and hid us. That's why I'd do anything for him. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him†¦ and Circle Daybreak.† She had paused by the door of a room located toward the back of the house. Now, she opened the door, gave Hannah a funny little nod and a wink, and said, â€Å"You go meet them. I think you'll like each other. You're their type.† Hannah wasn't sure what this meant. She felt shy as she stepped over the threshold and looked around the room. It was a den, smaller than the front living room, and more cozy, with furniture in warm ochers and burnt siennas. A breakfast buffet was set out on a long sideboard made of golden pine. It smelled good, but Hannah didn't have time to look at it. As soon as she came in the room, every head turned and she found a dozen people staring at her. Young people. All around her age. Normal-type teenagers, except that a surprising number of them were extremely good-looking. Behind her, the door closed firmly. Hannah felt more and more as if she'd just walked out on stage and forgotten her lines. Then one of the girls sitting on an ottoman jumped up and ran to her. â€Å"You're Hana, aren't you?† she said warmly. â€Å"Hannah. Yes.† â€Å"I can't believe I'm really meeting you! This is so exciting. Thierry's told us all about you.† She put a gentle hand on Hannah's arm. â€Å"Hannah, this is Circle Daybreak. And my name is Thea Harman.† She was almost as tall as Hannah was, and the yellow hair spilling over her shoulders was a few shades darker than Hannah's. Her eyes were brown and soft and somehow wise. â€Å"Hi, Thea.† Somehow Hannah felt instinctively at ease with this girl. â€Å"Lupe was telling me about Circle Daybreak, but I didn't exactly understand.† â€Å"It started as a sort of witch organization,† Thea said. â€Å"A witch circle. But it's not just for witches. It's for humans and vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters†¦ and, well, anybody who wants to help Night People and humans get along. Come and meet the others and we'll try to explain.† A few minutes later, Hannah was sitting on a couch with a plate of eggs Benedict, being introduced. â€Å"This is James and Poppy,† Thea said. â€Å"James is a Redfern on his mother's side-which makes him a descendant of Maya's.† She glanced at James with gentle mischief. â€Å"I didn't pick my parents. Believe me, I didn't,† James said to Hannah. He had light brown hair and thoughtful gray eyes. When he smiled it was impossible not to smile back. â€Å"Nobody would have picked your parents, Jamie,† Poppy said, elbowing him. She was very small, but there was a kind of impish wisdom in her face. Her head was a tangle of copper curls and her eyes were as green as emeralds. Hannah found her elfin beauty just a little scary†¦ just a little inhuman. â€Å"They're both vampires,† Thea said, answering Hannah's unspoken question. â€Å"I didn't used to be,† Poppy said. â€Å"James changed me because I was dying.† â€Å"What's a soulmate for?† James said, and Poppy poked him again and then grinned at him. They were obviously in love. â€Å"You're-soulmates?† Hannah spoke softly, wistfully. It was Thea who answered. â€Å"That's the thing, you see-something is causing Night People to find human soulmates. We witches think that it's some Power that's waking up again, making it happen. Some Power that's been asleep for a long time- maybe since the time when Thierry was born.† Now Hannah understood why Lupe had said she was Circle Daybreak's type of people. She was part of this. â€Å"But-that's wonderful,† she said, speaking slowly and trying to gather her thoughts. â€Å"I mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She couldn't exactly explain why it was so wonderful, but she had a sense of some immense turning point being reached in the world, of some cycle that was about to end. Thea was smiling at her. â€Å"I know what you mean. We think so, too.† She turned and held out a hand to a very tall boy with a sweet face, sandy hair, and hazel eyes. â€Å"And this is my soulmate, Eric. He's human.† â€Å"Just barely,† a boy from the other side of the room said. Eric ignored him and smiled at Hannah. â€Å"And this is Gillian and David,† Thea said, moving around the circle. â€Å"Gillian's a distant cousin of mine, a witch, and David's human. Soulmates, again.† Gillian was tiny, with white-blond hair that fit her head like a silky cap and deep violet eyes. David had dark hair, brown eyes, and a lean tanned face. They both smiled at Hannah. Thea was moving on. â€Å"And next comes Rashel and Quinn. Rashel is human-she used to be a vampire hunter.† â€Å"I still am. But now I just hunt bad vampires,† Rashel said coolly. Hannah had an instinctive feeling of respect for her. She was tall and seemed to have perfect control of her body. Her hair was black and her eyes were a fierce and blazing green. â€Å"And Quinn's a vampire,† Thea said. Quinn was the boy who'd made the barely-human remark. He was very good-looking, with clean features that were strongly chiseled but almost delicate. His hair was as black as Rashel's, and his eyes were black, too. He flashed Hannah a smile that, while beautiful, was slightly unnerving. â€Å"Quinn's the only one here who can compete with you as far as the past goes,† Thea added. â€Å"He was made into a vampire back in the sixteen hundreds, by Hunter Redfern.† Quinn flashed another smile. â€Å"Did you have a life in colonial America? Maybe we've met.† Hannah smiled in return, but she was also studying him with interest. He didn't look older than eighteen. â€Å"Is that why everybody here looks so young?† she asked. â€Å"All the staff, I mean-Nilsson and the other guys in suits. Are they all vampires?† Thea nodded. â€Å"All made vampires. Lamia, like James, can grow up if they want. But once you make a human into a vampire they stop aging-and you can't make somebody over nineteen into a vampire. Their bodies can't make the change. They just burn out.† Hannah felt an odd chill, almost of premonition. But before she could say anything, a new voice interrupted. â€Å"Speaking of the lamia, isn't anybody going to introduce me?† Thea turned toward the window. â€Å"Sorry, Ash-but if you're going to sleep over there, you can't blame us for forgetting you.† She looked at Hannah. â€Å"This is another Redfern, a cousin of James's. His name is Ash.† Ash was gorgeous, lanky and elegant, with ash-blond hair. But what startled Hannah as he got up and unhurriedly walked to meet her was his eyes. They were like Maya's eyes, shifting color from moment to moment. The resemblance was so striking that it was a moment before Hannah could take his hand. He's got Maya's genes, Hannah thought. He smiled at her, then sprawled on the loveseat. â€Å"We're not all of Circle Daybreak, of course,† Thea said. â€Å"In fact, we're some of the newest members. And we're from all over the country-North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, everywhere. But Thierry called us together specially, to talk about the soulmate principle and the old Powers awakening.† â€Å"That was last week, before he found out about you,† copper-haired Poppy said. â€Å"And before he ran off. But we've been talking without him, trying to figure out what to do next.† Hannah said, â€Å"Whatever it is, I'd like to help you.† They all looked pleased. But Thea said, â€Å"You should think about it first. We're dangerous people to know.† â€Å"We're on everybody's hit list,† Rashel, the black-haired vampire hunter, said dryly. â€Å"We've got the whole Night World against us,† Ash said, rolling his ever-changing eyes. â€Å"Against us. You just said ‘us.' † James turned on his cousin triumphantly, as if he'd just won a point in an argument. â€Å"You admit you're a part of us.† â€Å"I don't have any Ash looked at the ceiling, choice.† â€Å"But you do, Hannah,† Thea interrupted. She smiled at Hannah, but her soft brown eyes were serious. â€Å"You don't have to be in any more danger than you are now.† â€Å"I think-† Hannah began. But before she could finish, there was an explosion of noise from somewhere outside.

Meeting the learning needs of all the children Essay

Although these areas seem separate, they are not planned for individually. One activity may cover three or four areas of learning. In my opinion the Guidance Document is very repetitive. This can be due to the fact that one focused activity can cover many areas of the six areas of learning. Children are developing at different rates and in many different ways. Some children will be better in certain areas whereas some children may excel in other areas, and â€Å"the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage (DfEE/QCA, 2000) recognises this, and therefore identifies a number of developmental stepping stones which identify the relevant knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes needed to achieve each goal. † (ibid, pg. 5) In reference to my research, I have found that the Foundation Guidance document is inspired by the work of Jean Piaget and his four stages of child development. Piaget believed that children are born with the ability to think and must successfully pass through each stage of cognitive development before beginning the next stage. (Daly, M, etal, 2004, pg. 73-74) In my school and nursery experience, I found that all learning and planning begins at building from previous experiences/learning. I agree with Piaget’s theory that in order for children to develop their thinking they must be able to draw upon prior experiences first. Nursery settings allow children to explore and build upon a variety of different experiences through play and adult initiated activities, which provide a basis for learning when they reach school. My 3-5 placement was based in a nursery which allowed for children aged between 3-4. The nursery has two sessions, one in the morning from 9. 00am to 11. 30am, and one in the afternoon from 12. 30pm to 3. 00pm. Each session catered for a different group of children. The children are not grouped according to ability; they tend to follow friendship groups. The staff invites children to join in focused activities. The children are never forced to do anything they don’t want to. Continuous provision is the principle set up that the nursery follow and the children are free to explore all areas. These include the water area, sand, dough, home, book and construction areas. A painting area is also positioned in a child friendly location set up with primary and secondary colours. The mathematics table, writing table and work shop table is set with different activities on a daily basis. Children are learning through experimentation most of the time. I was surprised to observe just how much the children were learning without even realizing. Learning through play is a simple yet extremely effective way of learning for young children. Staff promotes learning by being well organized, each member of staff has a set responsibility and work on a rota system. All the equipment and resources are at child level and nearly everything has label or has a picture for where things belong. They follow a self tidy up rule which the parents are asked to implement at home also. The teacher ensures in her planning that all six areas of learning are covered throughout all activities which I will discuss in more depth; this includes outdoor play which is also specially planned for. â€Å"Well-planned play, both indoors and outdoors, is a key way in which young children learn with enjoyment and challenge. † (DfEE/QCA, 2000:25) Resources are brightly coloured and are in interesting, familiar shapes. The home corner is quite realistic and the children role play ‘families’ thus developing communication, sharing and turn-taking skills. I also observed that each area for learning e. g. the sand area, are set separately, with at least 100cm between them. I believe this is a good strategy as the children are less distracted when working/playing and finished what they were doing instead of leaving things half done.

EMT Task

My mother was in a gang and I have heard horror stories bout the gang activity in Pipelines years ago. Several blocks were claimed by a different gang. Lord for bid you were in the wrong block or wearing the wrong colors. You would get beat up or â€Å"jumped. † I still see some gang activity but I think it has decreased over the years. It seems like the old gang members are at war with community organizations. These gangs are desperately trying to recruit new members, while youth organizations are trying to keep children from joining the gang by providing better opportunities. 3. What are the schools like in Pipelines? The schools have improved a lot.The schools seem to care more about their students, not only when they are in school, but outside of the school as well. I feel like there is more cultural diversity in the schools, and because of this, students are learning more about other families and their differences. 4. What types of services are offered in schools and in y our community for families with children who have special needs? My brother has special needs. That is something my mom always complains about. My brother was diagnosed with a mental disorder a few years ago. His high school teachers labeled him as lazy and not wanting to participate.They had no idea he was going through something very personal and very emotional. My mother had to pull him out of school and homesick him because she said that the teachers were not doing their job. She visited his high school on numerous occasions trying to get the school to do an PEP for him. It never got done. Eventually, my brother lost all interest in returning to school when his condition worsen. Some of the teachers did not believe that he was actually sick. One teacher even made a comment saying why wasn't there anything done for him in his elementary school.Well, he wasn't diagnosed with special deeds until he reached high school and suffered a very traumatic experience. Wish that the school w as more sensitive about this issue. Maybe this way he would have been able to finish school. Now he just stays home and depends on us for help. It makes me sad that the community does not have many resources for children with special needs. 5. Are there enough places for children to attend go after school while their parents are at work? For example: Community centers, youth development programs, day care centers, etc†¦?Yes, schools offer after school programs, park districts offer after school activities, and other places, like the library, offer homework help. There are a few day care centers that offer financial assistance to low income families, if they can't afford to pay for day care. My little sister attends a program at the park district. My mother pays $5 for 3 months. That is nothing compared to other private day cares. My sister can walk there after school (it's only 3 blocks away) with a group of other students. She is there from 2:pm until pm when she gets picked u p by one of us.While she is there, she does a lot of fun stuff with the kids from the neighborhood. 6. Do these after school spots offer learning resources for families? If so, what types of resources are available? Yes, Gaza Sultan offers an after school program for children and SSL classes for parents. Bonito Curare High School has Parent-university, which offers GEED, SSL, Computer classes and parenting skills for parents and the park district which my sister attends offers programs like free meals, affordable summer camp, and they even have a holiday party where the kids get Christmas gifts.This is awesome because some families can't afford to buy their kids Christmas gifts. We are one of those families. 7. Is Pipelines an affordable place to live and raise a family? Pipelines is a lot cheaper than Lincoln park and Logan Square, that's for sure. This is why a lot of college students choose to live in Pipelines. Rent is more affordable. My mother talks about moving out of Pipelin es all the time, but when she sees how expensive rent is in other neighborhoods she quickly changes her mind. She also thinks that moving will make things more stressful for my brother.He knows this neighborhood well and she thinks that moving to a new neighborhood will confuse him and probably have a negative impact on him. The neighbors also know him, they know of his condition, and therefore, she eels he is safe here. 8. Are there free resources for low income families? There are plenty of free resources for low income families. The best place to look is the library. They always post community information on their bulletin boards and many organizations drop off fliers with their information and services. My mom knows a lot of places where they offer free services.She takes advantage of all of these. 9. What is the community doing in order to make positive changes in the neighborhood? There is a program for youth called After School Matters. I worked with them a few years ago. Aft er School Matters encourages managers to learn about art and the youth are encouraged to display their art work through murals around the neighborhood. Organizations like this, give children the power to feel proud of their work. I definitely felt a sense Of pride whenever I walked past a mural I know I helped paint. 10. What is lacking in the Pipelines neighborhood? Hind that we need more resources for families who can't afford medical insurance. Some community organizations offer health screenings for the elderly and some schools offer free dental and vision checks for their students but it doesn't go beyond a simple check -up. I fall into this category. I have a medical condition which requires me to take medication on a daily basis. My mother had Public Aid insurance which is insurance provided by the government for those who can't afford to pay for medical insurance. The bad part about this is that once turned 19, was taken off her insurance because I was no longer her dependen t. Ant get insurance through my job because I am not a full time employee and I do not qualify and can't afford to purchase my own medical insurance because I do not earn enough income. I would have to choose, either I pay for school and school supplies, or I pay for declined and medical care. I choose to pay for my educational expenses instead. Follow up question: How do you get by without medication, if this is something you need on a daily basis? I just do. When the pain is unbearable, I take as many over the counter drugs as I can safely take.I have tried calling different hospitals, clinics, and organizations to see if anyone can help me at least get the medicine I need, but I have had no luck. I do not know where else to look for help. My mother has called so many people, I think they all know who she is and purposely transfer her to different departments Stephanie laughs and finds humor in this) because they don't want to talk to her. Recently applied for the Obama Medical th ingy. I hope I get approved. 1 1. Do you know who your community leaders are and what they've done recently to help your neighborhood? Eave no idea who they are and what they do, but I know for a fact that the residents here are the ones who work the hardest to improve the community. I should know who they are though, maybe one of them can help me get medical insurance! (laughing). 12. Tell me one organization that helps families. Why did you choose this organization? Measures Latinist en Action. This organization empowers women so that women can take care of their families and be strong head of households. MALE helps families find different resources in the community.They also have a great early child hood intervention program which helps children get the help they need at a young age. I think it is so much better to get detected early with any special needs or any medical conditions, it seems like there is more help out there for younger kids, instead of us older ones. If I had to step aside so that a baby can get help before me, I would. I do not have a problem with that. 13. How long do you think you will live here and why? I hope to live in Pipelines for the rest of my life. I would love to raise a family here. I love Pipelines. Love the neighborhood and the art. M an artist. Belong here. B. Summary Stephanie Moline works in a child care center in the North side of Chicago. She has been working there for 3 years. The children she deals with at work come from a different class than the children in her neighborhood. Stephanie stated that she works mostly with high class families and sometimes baby-sits for them to make extra cash. Stephanie has been living in Pipelines for 21 years. She was born in Pipelines. â€Å"My mother has moved around a few times but I have always chosen to stay behind, with my grandmother. I will never leave Pipelines. † Stephanie stated this firmly.I chose Stephanie for my interview because she is an art student who has live d in Pipelines her entire life. I wanted to know why she has never left Pipelines and what makes Pipelines so special. Stephanie is well known in the neighborhood. She has lots of friends and has volunteered in many of the organizations which help children stay off the streets. Met Stephanie about 15 years ago when I volunteered in the elementary school which she attended. Stephanie was always running around and seemed pretty busy for a young girl. Often asked her where she was running off to and her response was, art class, photography class, or to the library.Stephanie was involved in so many of the youth programs available in Pipelines. Know because I volunteered in most and I saw her all the time. Literally watched her grow up. I coached the softball team in which she played and I worked with Stephanie on an art project which was dedicated to one of the youth who lost their life due to gang violence. He was a good friend of hers and I could see how much it hurt her to say good b ye to him. Stephanie seems to know a lot about the programs and different resources in Pipelines. During my interview with Stephanie, I learned some things about her personal life.Stephanie is the oldest of 5 siblings. Her mother was married for ten years and then divorced. Stephanie mother has been raising 5 children on her own, working as a bank teller and earning minimum pay. â€Å"We never had much growing up,† Says Stephanie. â€Å"l remember my mom would find out about all kinds of free events going on in the neighborhood, like where to go for free health checks, who handed out free school supplies, free school uniforms, and even free meals. My mom knew how and where to find stuff for free or for very cheap. She could not afford to do things on her own.Her favorite place to shop for our clothes was at the Salvation Army or at neighbors' sidewalk sales. I never complained. She did the best she could. † (Moline, 2014). I asked Stephanie why she liked to work with a ll of these organizations. She asked me, â€Å"Is there something else I should be doing? † I laughed and listened to her reasons. The reason that stood out the most was that she wanted teenagers to know that there are so many things to do in Pipelines besides joining a gang. She wants children to follow their dreams and not let their financial status get in the way.I know so many kids who think that they can't go to college because they can't afford it. I was one of them. It wasn't until started working with these organizations that I realized that there are so many opportunities out here for me. There are plenty of ways to make money for school and so many people willing to help. You just have to have an open mind and leave your fear of the unknown behind. I am now a student at the American Academy of Art, and I am majoring in Art Therapy for children. I want to give back to the community live in, and what better way than to help our youth through art, something which Pipel ines is well known for. Owe that if my mom had all these opportunities available to her when she was my age, she would have taken them. She tells me that the neighborhood is so different now, but different in a good way. † I noticed that Stephanie talks a lot about her mom during our interview. â€Å"You must be really proud of your mom, you mention her a lot,† I tell her. Stephanie responds, â€Å"My mom is my idol. She is a very strong woman who has done everything to help her family survive. It makes me sad that Pipelines was not such a great place for her to grow up because she was in a gang and she had to basically take care of resell most of the time.My grandparents were always working and my mom had nowhere to go after school. She would just hang out with her friends and get into trouble. Think it was the same for a lot of kids back then, that's why so many joined gangs. † I proceeded to ask, â€Å"So do you think Pipelines is a much better neighborhood n ow? † Stephanie response: â€Å"Heck yeah! † I thanked her for her time and let her know that the interview was over, but she continued to tell me some interesting things about Pipelines, so I stuck around and enjoyed our conversation for another hour or so (S. Moline, personal communication,April 2014). A. Interview with Chicago Public School teacher Esther Valediction 1 . Is Pipelines a good place to raise a family? Why or why not? I think that Pipelines is a good place to raise a family because there is so much diversity in this community and it is rich with art. There are many good schools, such as the one I work in. My biggest concern is the gang activity that goes on in Pipelines. It has diminished over the years but would like to see it completely gone. The gangs have taken many innocent lives and they have caused so much grief within the Hispanic community.We need to unite and show these gangs that hey do not run the streets of Pipelines. Our children need to kn ow that they are safe in the school and on the streets. We have a zero tolerance for gang activity in our school. The schools are amazing. I have been working for Walsh school for over 15 years, and I love my job. I have gotten to know so many families and I have seen many of my students grow up, graduate and become professionals. The community has accepted me as part of their own, even though I do not live here. I am here 5 days a week, sometimes 6.I love to work with the organizations in the neighborhood and come up with ideas that will help keep our children off the streets and interested in their education. I have visited other schools and they also have great programs for children and their families. 4. What types of services are offered in your school for families with children who have special needs? The principal of Walsh school, myself and other teachers, are part of a planning committee called the Pipelines Education Task Force. Our goal is to offer the best education poss ible to all of the children who reside in Pipelines, including those with special needs.Walsh school has excellent special education teachers. They work closely with the students and the families. They meet regularly with the school social worker to ensure that children with special needs and their families are receiving all the services they need. 5. Are there enough places where children can go after school while their programs, etc†¦? Yes, there are many places where a child can go after school. We have an after school tutoring program here at Walsh, where students from different universities volunteer to help students with homework.The park district has a great after school program which collaborates with Elevate (community Organization). Elevate offers art classes, photography classes and even has a youth circus. The kids love going to these places, I hear them talk about the events all the time. The children are very proud of the work they accomplish through these program s. Types of resources are available? Yes, the majority of these programs welcome children and their families. The park district has annual events for the entire family. They can exercise together, they can take art classes together, and some have family fun nights.Many of these places are open to the entire family, not just the children. Our school has movie nights, science night, a book fair, and health fairs for the entire family. 7. Is Pipelines an affordable place to live and raise a family? It depends where in Pipelines you choose to live. Some families have been in the same apartment/ home for many years. They do not leave for fear of not finding affordable housing elsewhere. There is a lot of new development in Pipelines as well. These include condos and single family homes which are on the higher price range.I think that if you do the research, you will find out that there is something in everyone's price range here. I like to do my grocery shopping in Pipelines. One of the things I really enjoy about Pipelines, are the street markets. Here, you can mind fresh fruit and vegetables, and also some household items at a very affordable price. I do not live here, but do like to shop here. Yes, in my years of working as a teacher, I have come to find out that there are many resources for families in Pipelines. There are so many organizations which assist families in need. These organizations can direct families to all the proper places.The residents of Pipelines are the best resource. I have seen families help each other and come together in the time of need. The residents of Pipelines truly support and help one another. Neighborhood? Think that the community is trying its best to get rid of the nag activity. The youth programs are doing what they can to keep children off the streets and involved in other activities. Pipelines is all about art. We have many local artists who work with the children of Pipelines. They offer art classes, mural painting, and scu lpture. The best part of this is that you can see the student's work displayed throughout Pipelines.Children are introduced to art at a very early age. Pipelines is all about art. You see families getting their babies ready for the festivities that happen in Pipelines. Many young children take part in and collaborate in making these festivities colorful and fun for everyone to 10. Do the local businesses contribute to the development of the neighborhood? Yes. Pipelines is a big tourist attraction now, with all the art galleries and the great restaurants. This brings in more money for the business and the neighborhood. Many of the businesses donate to good causes here in the neighborhood.Some of the bakeries donate bread and coffee to community gatherings, and some of the businesses donate toys during the holidays for children whose families can't afford to buy toys. Businesses have donated food for some of our school events. There is an organization called 18th street Development. K now for a fact that this organization works with all of the businesses in Pipelines to come up with ways to make it a better neighborhood for everyone who works and resides here. 11. What can the residents of Pipelines do, in order to make this a better neighborhood?The residents of Pipelines can continue to work together to improve their neighborhoods and keep them free from negative things. The families need to support each other and give each other security, this way everyone feels safe. The residents of Pipelines need to know who their government officials are and they need to approach them in time of need. That's what these government officials are here for, to help our spinsterhood. Parents and residents should be able to approach community leaders without being afraid. 12. Do you know who your community leaders are and what they've done recently to help your neighborhood?Yes, we work closely with the alderman Danny Solid, to see what can be done to better our schools and the community. The alderman just received funds to renovate the park. The children in the neighborhood are going to be very happy to get new playground equipment. 13. Tell me one organization that helps families. Why did you choose this organization? The Resurrection Project is my favorite organization in Pipelines cause it not only informs their residents about things that are going on in the community, it also helps its residents by educating them on home ownership, and it offers affordable housing to families who are struggling financially.The Resurrection Project has helped many families get out of foreclosures and they work close with government officials to protect the rights of the people living in Pipelines. 14. How long do you think you will work here and why? Think I will work here for as long as can because although do not live here, have grown to love Pipelines like it is my family. Love the school I work in. I love he students and their families. I enjoy taking walks with s tudents, and enjoy seeing the positive changes that are happening. Who knows, maybe one day I will also become a Pipelines resident. B.Summary Esther Valediction is a ad grade teacher for one of the Chicago public schools in Pipelines. She has been working for the same school for over 20 years. She started off as a teacher assistant in a pre-kindergarten classroom, which my oldest child was attending at the time. Esther came to Chicago with very little education, but a great desire to succeed. Esther says, â€Å"l have always known that wanted to be a teacher. When I came to the United States, I came with the desire to succeed and learn. Did research on many schools and found out about programs that would help me achieve my goal. As not gong to take no for an answer. † Esther is a very friendly and enthusiastic woman. I often see her talking and laughing with parents on school grounds or in social events. Yes, Esther attends many social events in our neighborhood. She is well known by parents and children in the community. She has seen my children grow up and she has been a great support for me. I chose to interview Esther because not only does she work with children, she encourages women to become the best that they can be so that they can provide for their families and become independent. This is what she did for me.She encouraged me to go back to school and get my degree in education. Often see Esther taking a stroll through our neighborhood on the weekends or at school events, sometimes bump into her at social gatherings. You can say that to many of the Pipelines residents, Esther is considered family. She has worked closely with many families and she has helped many single mothers find resources within the community. I recall the day met her, in front of me was a petite woman with a very strong accent. Often wondered how this tiny woman got a job as a teacher assistant and where she obtained her degree in education.She hardly spoke English. I was 1 6 years old at the time, a teen mom, and didn't really have an education myself. I just remember thinking, if this lady can get a job as a teacher, I can get a job as the school principal. I had no idea what challenges and how hard Esther had to work to earn her degree and the job she had. AAAS being judgmental, based on what I saw. I began volunteering in Ester's pre-k classroom, almost every day for many years. Since I had no education, I could not get a job, so spend most of my mime volunteering and helping In my child's classroom.When one of my children moved on to the next grade, the other once started school, and the cycle went on like this for about 6 years. This is where I learned most of my field experience working with preschool children. Here was, a teenage mom, spending all my time working for free in a Chicago public school. I was rewarded for my efforts and named top volunteer for months in a row. During this time, I had the privilege of getting to know more about Esth er. Soon found out how she moved to the United States with a degree in education from Mexico. Her degree was not valid in Illinois or any other state so she basically had to start from scratch.She could have chosen to work in something else, something that would not require a degree, but she chose to pursue her dreams of being a teacher. â€Å"One of my goals was to master the English language† says Esther with a smile on her face. Esther still has a strong accent, but when she speaks English, she does so very fluently. Better than, when first met her. When was comfortable enough to ask her about her personal background and education, she told me that there was a university in the neighborhood which offered the majority of college courses n Spanish and helped students of Spanish speaking background with SSL classes.I had no idea universities offered this type of help, and I had no clue that we had a university right in the neighborhood. This is when she started to encourage m e to go back to school. â€Å"l see how you work with children. You like this, and you are good at it. You are a natural and you need to go back to school,† she said to me one day. Laughed at her and said, â€Å"No way. I could never go back to school. I have kids to take care of and a husband to feed, and a home to keep clean†. Then she asked me, â€Å"But are you happy? My response: no. Was not happy.