My Personal Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Teaching St

Philosophy of Education We are living in a moment of deep historical mutation in which traditional meanings are dissolving. This makes it necessary to re-think the certainties in which the Essentialist thinks. Bringing us back to the basics of life with core curriculum. My philosophy beliefs on education are based on Essentialism and Progressivism. Essentialism is grounded in a conservative philosophy that accepts the social, political, and economic structure of American society. While Progressivism has a respect for individuality, it is believed that people learn better through active interplay with others. Learning is increased when we engage in activities that have meaning in our lives. I have learned through the years that young children seem to be more vulnerable to learning through music, rhyming and dancing. I feel that it gives them a better grasp on the information, than just reading about the issues at hand. However, students still need to learn the essentials of academics. There are subsequently countless reasons to become an educator. Above all is to make a difference in at least one child’s life. Being an educator would allow me to go the extra mile so that I may shape, mold, and build character in the children. These are just a few of the reasons I would love to become an educator. The classroom will be filled with all the necessary items to make it an all- around great place of learning. The room will be filled with pastel colors to help the children stay focused and calm. It will include a weather board, days of the week and a sign language alphabet book. There will also be wall borders such as a number line, an alphabet line, a color line and the helpers of the day. There will be ... ...o do their best at all times, to stay on target and get help when needed so that they will not be left behind. As a teacher you must be a continuous learner. You can fulfill this by going to many lectures, night classes, in-service trainings, experience and from your mentor. Also, it is amazing how much you can learn from the students. They can assist the teacher with techniques, styles, discipline, and motivation in a classroom. The future professional developmental plans would be to improve individual skills, qualify for salary increases, and meet certification requirements. With completion of just these few things a teacher could get rewarded with personal and professional growth, job security, and career advancement. As an adult learner time needs to be set aside for learning. Adults need time to experience and digest new ideas and ways of working.

Cell Phone Advertisement

Cell phones nowadays have become symbol of independence – for our youth that mobile phone helps them to develop their own language and social groups away from the prying eyes of their parents. It has become Status Symbol or what people say Fashion statement – It is a way that people wear their phone in a style, color, cost and features and feel that a phone can enhance their looks. Although mobile phones have long been a part of the business community, they are quietly becoming entrenched in personal lives. Cell phones play a crucial role in relationships among a group of young people, Mobile phones also influence the trend toward relaxing the traditional amount of contact permitted before marriage. Cell phone is also in the use of people who are working 24/7 environment and always remain on the go. It is privacy and not mobility that matters. Most youth have cell phone conversations in their bedroom. Lets have a look on few needs of new breed (Youth) that have been forcing them to get addicted to this cell phone night packages, the need to make their identity and to build â€Å"social and emotional ties†. The shrinking size of present day families explain why the youth today feel the need to communicate with virtual brothers and sisters. Youngsters have been using cell phones to form friendships and social groups away from their families, feeling that these phones give them privacy that they would not otherwise have. As cell phone use becomes even more widespread, communication between parents and their kids may become even more impersonal. The saying â€Å"romance is in the air† appears to be true. In today’s world, it is mobile phones which are carrying the messages of love. Youngsters are using mobile phones to maintain personal and romantic relationships. Grabbing our new generation, these free night packages services provided by our Cellular Companies have become a great pleasure/encouragement to people like who aren’t responsible at all, it seems they are announced to spoil the future of our youth, just give it a thought which kind a people avail these services and what they do? Whole night they spent in useless, ungraceful conversation it’s all beyond morals. The immature generation has become addicted to avail these kind a packages. These kind portable platform providers are taking away our youth from family/Cultural/Traditional/Religious values, they don’t even care about their health though they know how these RF radiation would be harmful as for as continuous use is concerned. The Cellular Companies should make some standards so they can provide such services which can be of use to make the youths future bright and should consider the social impact before announcing any such service, they should offer some M-Learning (Mobile Learning) services they are behind the race of announcing free night packages, low rates for one special number. No doubt most of the parents are equally responsible for this attitude in our new generation, in previous era what kind of environment we have had at homes —-sitting together in TV-Lounges , One time/place to sit and eat together no friends/outings in late night, but this fast life where people are to avail luxurious lifestyle parents themselves arrange separate rooms equipped with individual TV, personal Computer with high speed Internet connection and a latest model of any famous brand of Mobile handset though its of no use to them at around certain age , yup parents are equally responsible they should be responsible they should keep eye on their children’s activities, what kind a friends they are making how they are progressing academically how they are spending time. The youth is less responsible than their parents is what I think, they are availing what they have in their access and they have no one over them to restrict or make them understand what is good to go for and what is wrong to avail. The generation gap between parents and children’s is not the main issue because its more than the gap, its about basics of raising good children. True that bad habits or friendships existed before this direct and private source of communication too but its all starts right from your basic education that our youth is getting at Home. So the message goes to parents: make your kids to avail good morals and talk to them on every matter to give them better understandings of what is right and what is wrong.

Sports Marketing and Mobile Technology Essay - 971 Words

Sports marketing has made its way directly to the fans. In the past, only the extremely devoted fans would check on their teams online but now, the norm has changed. Now the devoted fans learn new information before anyone else, and even get rewarded for it. In the article â€Å"The Passion of the Fan†, by Stewart Feil, fans are being rewarded for posting about their favorite teams on social media. The reason this is possible is because mobile apps have greatly contributed to the way fans follow their teams. In â€Å"Sports marketing and technology with the New England Patriots†, by Michael Krigsman, it reveals that fans have the capabilities of sending their favorite teams their input about the team. The most amazing part is their voice is being†¦show more content†¦This trend has become so popular that social media has exploded with sports news and is a popular way to find information on current sports. Feil describes the influence of social media on sports, â€Å"As sports marketing agency Catalyst found in its 2012 Fan Engagement Study, digital channels—league websites, fan sites, online sports news sources, sports-related Twitter feeds and other Internet and social media outlets—are now second only to TV as a primary and trusted source of information for sports fans.† People are now relying on social media to find their information, and they are even spreading the news when they find out. Teams have started to capitalize on this acquired information. Feil goes into detail to show how the Detroit Pistons have managed it, â€Å"A gamified app called SocialToaster that lets registered fans earn points for each item they repost to their social media feeds; those with the most points receive game tickets, team merchandise and other incentives.† Teams are capitalizing on this opportunity to spread the word about themselves using prizes as incentives for devoted fans. By using this method, they hope to expand to new, untapped, resources of fans and bring their current fan base even closer. It is truly a genius idea, theShow MoreRelatedEssay Strategies in the Sports Marketing Industry1103 Words   |  5 Pagesadvertisements on the jumbotron and the things the team wants you to buy. All these teams have one main goal, to sell you product and make a profit. The men and women behind the scenes making this all happen are sports marketers. According to Wake Forest University, the careers of sports marketers are fast paced, exciting and quite hectic. From NASCAR to baseball, these marketers use a multitude of strategies to market product in the real world. For example Mike Ozanian, member of the Forbes staffRead MoreThe Brand in the Hand: Mobile Marketing at Adidas1615 Words   |  7 Pages  In the athletic footwear market, Nike was the leader in the market with 40 percent market share, followed by Adidas and Reebok with 16 percent market share.   Ã‚  Adidas later expanded its performance f ootwear line, to incorporate fringe sports and most athletic sports in general, to pursue its goal in becoming the global leader in athletic footwear.   To support its positioning in the athletic shoe market and target market of 12-24 year old customers and athletes, Adidas used the motto â€Å"Impossible isRead MoreStrategies in the Sports Marketing Industry Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pagesadvertisements on the jumbotron and the things the team wants you to buy. All these teams have one main goal, to sell you product and make a profit. The men and women behind the scenes making this all happen are sports marketers. According to Wake Forest University, the careers of sports marketers are fast paced, exciting and quite hectic. From NASCAR to baseball, these marketers use a multitude of strategies to market product in the real world. For example Mike Ozanian, member of the Forbes staffRead MoreSamsung Product Promotion Strategy1163 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Product Strategy The product itself is the core of the brand equity, the design of a product able to fully meet the needs of the consumers, is a prerequisite for success in marketing. The design, manufacture, market, sales, transportation and services of product , contains a strong, powerful and unique brand associations.Be able to establish a positive brand image, especially the perceived quality of the product is extremely important brand association will often influence consumers purchasingRead MoreTechnology and Sports Marketing1043 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology and Sports Marketing Sports marketing is a comparatively new field and dimension within the broad concept of marketing. It is continuously evolving and changing today as society combats the free market to decide the legal and ethical limitations of business today. It is significant to note that this discipline within marketing is not clearly defined. Sports today use corporate sponsorships and television money in order to contend and pay for top quality athletes. Those companies useRead MoreThe Distribution Strategy of Samsung1073 Words   |  5 PagesSamsung marketing strategy in china Nowadays, China’s communication industry is developing rapidly, and China has become the biggest mobile phone market all over the world. There are many international renowned mobile phone manufactures and local producers in this market and these companies are competing fiercely in China’s mobile phone industry. It is known that, in 1999, when the domestic mobile phone brands entered the mobile phone market, few people had expected that the domestic mobile phoneRead MoreCustomer Relationship Management1204 Words   |  5 Pagesfive months they finished a sales force automated system and during 6 months 80 % of the sales and marketing staff ran the system well and then 95% succeeded in working on it a year after. The sales teams were able to access the date in five to ten minutes and they were able to close the deals in a week instead of months which was much cost saving to the company. Then they applied the CRM technology on the sales-lead management, business-partner channel manager and its web channels. Read MoreAdidas International Global Media Manager968 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Brand in the hand† is a new marketing strategy developed by Adidas International global media manager. This new campaign is based on the merging of cell phones and wireless internet. This campaign presents company background information, data on the penetration of mobile devices such as cell phones, the growth of global mobile marketing practices, and several mobile marketing communications campaigns that Adidas launched in 2004, such as a mobile news ticker for the 2004 European soccer championshipRead MoreAdidas International Global Media Manager Essay964 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Brand in the hand† is a new marketing strategy developed by Adidas International global media manager. This new campaign is based on the merging of cell phones and wireless internet. This campaign presents company background information, data on the penetration of mobile devices such as cell phones, the growth of global mobile marketing practices, and several mobile marketing communi cations campaigns that Adidas launched in 2004, such as a mobile news ticker for the 2004 European soccer championshipRead MoreThe Global Media Manager For Adidas International Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesInternational is responsible for developing and campaigning a new marketing strategy at Adidas called brand in the hand that is based on the merging of cell phones and wireless internet. Presents company background information, data on the penetration of mobile devices such as cell phones, the growth of global mobile marketing practices, and several mobile marketing communications campaigns that Adidas launched in 2004, such as a mobile news ticker for the 2004 European soccer championship. Introduces

What Is the Most Abundant Form of RNA

There are three main types of RNA: tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. The most abundant form of RNA is rRNA or ribosomal RNA because its responsible for coding and producing all of the proteins in cells. rRNA is found in the cytoplasm of cells and is associated with ribosomes. rRNA takes the coded information delivered from the nucleus by mRNA and translates it so that proteins can be produced and modified.   Learn More 10 RNA FactsTypes of RNA and Their FunctionsDNA Versus RNA

An Officers’ Job Is Not All Guns And Glory Like It Is...

An officers’ job is not all guns and glory like it is perceived in movies and high crime television shows. What typically happens in a life of an officer is not as action packed as people tend to believe it to be. There are plenty of roles that come into being an officer. In my senior year of high school, I took criminal justice and during the semester, my teacher asked officers to come in and tell their jobs description and what a typical day is like for them. One officer came in with a bunch of tech gear worth thousand of dollars. She explained to us that she spent most of her time in front of a computer catching criminals online. Even though the roles of an officer can be different it does not mean that being an officer is not a†¦show more content†¦When William C. Rainford became an officer at the age of 22 years old, he was not as educated as he now wished he could have been. His beat was in Central California â€Å"in a predominantly Hispanic community with de ep poverty and violent gangs† (Rainford). During Rainford’s time as an officer, he worked in community policing. Community policing is when an officer â€Å"[†¦]walks the streets on foot and forms relationships with citizens† (Why). As a young white man with a wealthy background Rainford was in the middle of a culture shock. A college education can aid officers with being socially and culturally aware of citizens from different groups of ethnicities and backgrounds (Why). Rainford was not able to understand or connect with the culture of the people he was ordered to protect and serve, which caused a sense of distrust and a lack of respect on both sides. Rainford admits that how he did his job was â€Å"[†¦] tainted by my negative perceptions of people who neither looked nor sounded like me† (Rainford). With a college education students are exposed to different backgrounds and a great amount of diversity that they can become accustomed to and lear n to understand something that is different from what they are used to. Officers with a college education â€Å"will see human diversity not as a threat, but as context to be understood, a strength to be celebrated, a difference that doesn’t mean a division† (Rainford).Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie Lila And Eve Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract – please remove this when submitting your paper In the movie Lila and Eve Lila suffers from a number of disorders. All combined is what makes her schizophrenic. What I would like to know is can or did her major depression trigger Lila s schizophrenia? If so, how does schizophrenia and major depression go hand and hand as well as how does one go about treating both? In the movie Lila and eve, Lila is a single mother of two. Lila is struggling to raise to raise twoRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Lila And Eve Essay1632 Words   |  7 PagesIn the movie Lila And Eve Lila suffers from a number of disorders. All combined is what makes her schizophrenic. What I would like to know is can or did her major depression trigger Lila s schizophrenia? If so how does schizophrenia and major depression go hand and hand as well as how does one go about treating both. In the movie Lila and eve, Lila is a single mother of two. Lila is struggling to raise to raise two boys, when her oldest son Stephen is killed in a driveRead MoreGirl Gangs and the Female Crime Wave in America Essay6758 Words   |  28 Pagesstreets. Statistics on female crime and gang involvement may leave the public with little reason to question claims of converging levels of delinquency between males and females. In the 1980s and 1990s, studies revealed that 20 to 46 percent of all gang members were female and that up to 20 percent of urban females were in a gang (Esbensen and Deschenes 799; Miller 2). Similarly, the American Bar Association was cited in the Tulsa World newspaper with claims that between 1990 and 1999, drug chargesRead MoreFactors Affecting the Cultural Beliefs of Tagakaulo Tribe in Southern Mindanao7929 Words   |  32 Pagesrespondents in terms of: 1.1 Age 1.2 Gender 1.3 Educational Attainment 1.4 Occupation 1.5 Socioeconomic status 1.6 Geographic location 2. What is the degree of the effect on the cultural beliefs of Tagakaulo tribe in Southern Mindanao as perceived by the respondents when these factors are considered. 2.1 Education 2.2 Religion 2.3 Urbanization 2.4 Media 4 Is there a significant difference on the perception of the effect of the factors affecting cultural beliefs of Tagakaulo tribeRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesCredits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on the appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in anyRead MoreFreedom Fighters of India11786 Words   |  48 Pageslegislation and executive measures, such as the imposition of a poll tax on them, or the declaration by the government that all non-Christian marriages w ere to be construed as invalid. In 1909, on a trip back to India, Gandhi authored a short treatise entitled ‘Hind Swaraj’ or Indian Home Rule, where he all but initiated the critique, not only of industrial civilization, but of modernity in all its aspects. Gandhi returned to India in early 1915, and was never to leave the country again except for a short tripRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pagesinteractive visual and audio resources, WileyPLUS gives you everything you need to personalize the teaching and learning experience.  » F i n d o u t h ow t o M A K E I T YO U R S  » www.wileyplus.com ALL THE HELP, RESOURCES, AND PERSONAL SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS NEED! 2-Minute Tutorials and all of the resources you your students need to get started www.wileyplus.com/firstday Student support from an experienced student user Ask your local representative for details! Collaborate withRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pagesabout how to go about a case analysis, but for now here is a brief account. Before we start, a word about attitude – make it a real exercise. You have a set of historical facts; use a rigorous system to work out what strategies should be followed. All the cases are about real companies, and one of the entertaining bits of the analysis process is to compare what you have said they should do with what they really have done. So, it is best not to check the Internet to see current strategies until youRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagessources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2011, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1998 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in anyRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 PagesStates. 2. Information services— United States—Management. I. Moran, Barbara B. II. Title. Z678.S799 2007 025.1—dc22 2007007922 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright  © 2007 by Robert D. Stueart and Barbara B. Moran All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007007922 ISBN: 978–1–59158–408–7 978†“1–59158–406–3 (pbk.) First

American History before the Revolution Free Essays

The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492 led to the colonial expansion of the nations of Western Europe. These colonies were created to push trade forwards in the form of new imports, primarily raw materials as a base for trade and creations of new products. This topic will focus on the history of North America before the American Revolution in 1776. We will write a custom essay sample on American History before the Revolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first successful English colony was established by the London Virginia Company in 1607 and was known as Jamestown. It was primarily created for the purpose of looking for gold. It was not successful in its venture but eventually found money in growing tobacco which eventually bloomed into plantations with settlers coming in with servants and slaves to create their own. The colony depended on the trade of these crops and most of them were shipped straight back to Britain. The formation of this colony was followed by the settlement of the Pilgrims, a protestant sect based in England and the Netherlands in Massachusetts. They were escaping religious persecution aboard the Mayflower and they drew themselves the Mayflower compact after landing which gave them power of self governance. This was followed by the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1629 by the Puritans. They wished to create a religious nation that would serve the true religion. The banishment of Roger Williams from the colony for preaching the separation of church and state led the creation of Rhode Island Colony. From an economic standpoint they were also self-sustaining. Their economy worked on every farmer sustaining himself and having to trade for any goods they could not provide for themselves. The three of these colonies formed the Cheapsake bay area. The middle colonies consisted of what are presently New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. These colonies were characterized by much diversity in their religious, economic, political and ethnic practices. Connecticut was also formed. The colonization of the lower south started in Carolina in 1670 by the English Lords Proprietors. It was mainly set up as a trading colony especially in South Carolina. They eventually cultivated rice in 1690 through the aid of the African slaves they brought with them. The political differences between the settlers in this colony created much conflict and eventually war which lead to the Proprietors selling it back to the British Crown. A member of parliament known as James Oglethorpe established Georgia Colony in 1733 as a way to form a base against Florida which was occupied by Spain at the time. It was established with strict moral laws which forbade slavery and alcohol along with other forms of immortal acts. Once these laws were rescinded the country went from poverty to prosperity. It consisted of people from varied religious backgrounds. Great Britain eventually won East and West Florida from the Spaniards in 1763 and returned it in 1783 when they left. By 1700 most of the regions were divided in two halves. Their origins brought about the creation of two very different societies. The colonies of New England were much more individualistic as compared to the Southern colonies. The northern colonies touted freedom of religion and of the political process. They formed their society around an orthodox method in order to set an example for all other societies. In contrast the southerners were developed around the bases of economics. Their society was more geared towards mercantilism. The vast quantities of cheap land available to them allowed them to pursue this interest. In order to facilitate their economy they also formed a government which was based according to the Virginia Charter. The increasing demand for English goods grew rapidly in the 1700s and with the possession of the cotton industry in the south the colonies soon outpace England in terms of exports. This was mainly due to the fact that the colonies made use of slaves for labor purposes which brought them great prosperity. In the 1600 the English passed a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts which restricted the use of foreign shipping to trade between England and its colonies. This was mainly done to limit Dutch merchants from trading with its colonies and allowed England to be the main hub for all colonial products. These acts though bringing Britain great wealth caused great resentment in the colonies. This was so because the laws restricted the ability of the colonies to trade with anyone but the English, with these in effect it decreased their power to be independent of the Royal Court. Thus these Mercantilist policies were refused by the colonies as they saw it as a control over their economies and their government. In order to avoid heavy taxes and regulations the colonies resorted to smuggling their goods. The loss of much wealth led the British to enact the writ of assistance which enabled officers to freely search citizens and homes which were suspected of smuggling. The colonists found this to be a violation of their civil rights as citizens of the crown. One of the main ways that smugglers from the colonies operated was the selling tea to the American colonies. Originally the tea came from England through the East India Company, however when Benjamin Franklin suggested that the company bypass England and deal with the colonists directly, the smugglers lost their source of income. In rebellion they tossed 342 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. This led to the Boston Port Act through which Britain closed down Boston harbor until the tea was paid for. The mercantilism system had a draconian effect on the colonies. Following the Seven years war in 1765 the British Parliament imposed a stamp tax on the American colonies requiring by law that all printed materials carry it. This was to pay for the military funds from the war of which the colonists were considered benefactors. This was also considered violations of their rights as colonial citizens to decide their own tax laws and led to many protests from New England to Georgia. Other British colonies also rebelled against the tax as they saw it as a threat to their economy and it was eventually repealed in 1766. This added further fuel to the colonist resentment and concerns of the British parliament. The last straw was that of the Boston Massacre where the deaths of five civilians in 1770 and sparked the fire which led to the American Revolution. In the end it was all of the reasons above along with the need of the colonies to establish their own government free from the religious, economic and governmental persecution of the English that led to the creation and subsequently fight for the freedom of the colonies and as we know in the end they succeeded. References Internet History Sourcebooks Project. (2007, June 4). Colonial North America. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from Internet Modern History Sourcebook : http://www. fordham. edu/halsall/mod/modsbook07. html How to cite American History before the Revolution, Papers

Arranged Marriage free essay sample

Do arranged marriages violate human rights as they are protected by international humanitarian law? Marriage is a vital part of the social and economic life of a person’s life. It forms the foundation for a continued family line, and the backdrop for raising children. In most societies, marriage is an important relation both between the two people and between the person and the society, and there are many rituals and traditions tied to the marriage. In many parts of the world, arranged marriages are still common, and are the expected and accepted way to find someone to share a lifetime with. Definition A definitive distinction between arranged marriages and forced marriages is difficult to define, as the division is fluid. One distinction is to say that arranged marriages are marriages planned by parents, guardians and brokers, based on what they believe is the best for the spouses, but in this case, the intended future spouses hold the final say in whether to go through with the union of marriage. Forced marriages, on the other hand, completely lack the element of free consent, either by lack of given consent or because consent is given under duress. The right to refuse an arranged marriage is perhaps not part of reality, since the spouses are brought up in a family environment where forced marriages are expected, and family bonds have powerful sway over individual decisions. â€Å"The question that arises, therefore, is essentially to establish whether one or both future spouses have consented, and if so, whether the consent was full and free with the aim of entering into married life† (Zapfl-Helbling, 2005). History Because marriage is such an important part of human life, it is discussed and described in religious writings. Arranged marriages have been instrumental in maintaining royal families and dynasties through history, and in some cultures, such as the Indian, arranged marriages are still common. Marriage in the Bible At the time of many of the stories in the Bible, arranged marriages were very common. The pair that was to be married often had little power in deciding who they would marry; they would have to do as their parents decided. In the same way as in royal families, marriage tied groups together in alliances, bringing different communities together. Several verses in the Bible refer to women being given by their fathers to men in order to create alliances, in a sign of good faith and friendship, or as a reward. The Bible does not directly set forth rules governing arranged or forced marriages. The same is true in other religions, such as Islam. Genesis 24 speaks of an arranged marriage, where a servant is sent to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. Rebekah is brought from her homeland to marry Isaac. She is given to Abraham’s servant by her father Bethuel and brother Laban, to marry a man she has never met. Isaac is in the same situation as Rebekah, since he also does not know the woman he will marry (The Holy Bible). Marriage in Islam While the Qur’an does not directly discuss arranged marriages, Islamic law and the writings about the Prophet’s teachings do mention the subject. In these writings, forced marriages are very clearly forbidden, but arranged marriages in the understanding that both potential partners have the opportunity to refuse the marriage, is not banned. The family helps find a suitable candidate for marriage, and arrange meetings between the prospective spouses. Dating in the Western sense is not allowed in Islam, since two people of the opposite sex who are not related or married are not allowed to be alone together. â€Å"Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Satan is the third among them† (Dodge, 2003). Dates are always chaperoned by family members to prevent anything inappropriate from happening between the courting couple. If, at the end of the courting process, the pair wishes to marry, they will. Arranged Marriages in India As in every other culture, marriage is a vital part of culture in India. In the same way as arranged marriages are an established and expected part of Islamic culture, arranged marriages are very common also in India, where Hinduism is the leading religion. Most marriages here are arranged, but importantly with† the consent of the bride and the bridegroom and the blessings of the elders† (http://www. hinduwebsite. com/hinduism/h_marriage. asp). Also here the question of consent is very important to provide a distinction between arranged and forced marriage. This focus on consent has been a modern development of this ancient tradition. In the past, consent from the spouses was not necessary for them to be married (http://www. culturalindia. net/weddings/arranged-marriage. html HHHHHjjlafdkdk. ) Arranged marriages are set up by friends and family, and sometimes by a matchmaker that sets up the marriage. But the bride’s father has the most responsibility in arranging marriage for his daughter, and is the one who approaches the father of a potential bridegroom. Important aspects when considering a possible match are financial status, caste, and the bride and bridegrooms horoscopes matching. The role of astrology is important, and if a Hindu priest finds that the horoscopes of the potential spouses do not match, they will not marry, and must begin the search all over again (Livermore, 2009). India’s view of marriage first and then love is very different from the Western view where love comes before marriage, seems to be successful. The divorce rate in India is at 1. %, compared to the divorce rate in America, which is at 50 % (http://www. divorcerate. org/divorce-rate-in-india. html. ) These statistics may, however, be skewed, since divorce is socially not acceptable in parts of India. The NY Times had an article a couple weeks ago that supported the idea that people from India who are have had an arranged marriage have built a stronger relationship. Though divorce in not acceptable the bonds seem to only grow stronger as the years pa ss (Joseph, 2011). It is more than a silly tradition to those who take part in arranged marriage. The philosophy of â€Å"if it’s not broke, don’t fix it† is very much alive for this culture. The traditions are what have kept this country strong and unified. Declaration of Human Rights The right to only marry with the free and full consent of both spouses is set forth in several of the international agreements concerning human rights. Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) concerns the right to marry. Part two of article 16 states that â€Å"Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses† (Reichert, 2006). Two other articles help in explain why arranged marriages can be ruled as against the human rights of the spouses. Article 24 of the International Bill of Human Rights covers the rights and requirements of marriage. â€Å"People of full age have the right to marry and to found a family. Men and women are entitled to equal rights at marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. † (Reichert, 2006) Article 27 declares a right to privacy, which provides that it is a human right to live without unnecessary interference by the government. â€Å"Everyone shall have the right to privacy in his or her home, hotel room, vehicle, or vessel and to have interpersonal relations as they choose. This right includes all communications between people, in public or private that they intend to keep confidential. Eavesdropping is forbidden without a court order as part of a criminal investigation. Such order shall only be issued upon evidence submitted in writing to the judge issuing the order. † (Reichert, 2006) Article 27 also provides that everyone has the right to â€Å"have interpersonal relations as they choose,† which could be interpreted to protect the right to participate in arranged marriage, particularly in those cultures where arranged marriages are common and viewed as a natural part of the union of marriage. For those raised with those values, being denied the right to find a spouse in the way that is common in their culture would be an invasion of privacy. Theories Systems theory seemed an appropriate choice for its use of key concepts such as boundaries, differentiation, homeostasis, roles, and subsystems (van Wormer Besthorn, 2011). In researching the custom of arranged marriages within the Indian culture, boundaries must be considered. There are many cultural as well as gender specific boundaries at play. Differentiation, separating from one system as you move toward a more mature system, takes place as these women leave their family of origin and enter into their new family. An attempt will be made to recognize the other systems in place to create the homeostasis to allow this custom of arranged marriage to continue. Homeostasis is the giving and taking of certain systems in order to keep a balance. Also, as immigrants are acculturated to western ideologies, systems must change in order to ensure the continuation of this custom. For example, will the arranged marriage disappear as the family becomes more â€Å"Americanized†? While the systems theory is applicable in this situation, it isn’t without its shortcomings. Because of the endless systems, subsystems, and roles which could be considered, applying this theory can be daunting and have little use in one interview. This theory may also neglect any past situations or biological issues the client may be dealing with. The other theory being applied for this research is the feminist theory. Perhaps for a topic such as this, feminist theory may be most appropriate for the way in which it is used to examine discrimination and oppression (van Wormer Besthorn, 2011). Ideas of feminist theory that must be examined are: considering where the knowledge came from, examining the patriarchal system of the group, and examining the gender roles ascribed to the women of this culture (van Wormer Besthorn, 2011). Examining the ways women have become more empowered since immigrating to western countries. This theory will be applied in order to see how the custom of arranged marriage dictates what is appropriate therefore perpetuating the inequality of the women, i. e. whom they can marry. Another hope is that the theory can raise awareness of the ability to demand equality and begin to see areas where progress needs to be made on a micro as well as macro level. As is with systems theory, there are concerns about feminist theory also. The major complaint is that the focus is mainly on women which may actually become oppressive in itself by singling out problems specific to women. In actuality, feminist theory can apply to any situation of inequality or oppression which many critics fail to realize. The feminist theory is also based on western ideologies which may prevent it from being appropriately applied due to cultural differences. Conclusion While I, as a Western European, do not properly understand the tradition of arranged marriages, many places in the world it is common. I do understand that arranged marriage is a part of many cultures, and it will probably never be possible to fully ban the practice. What can be done is to protect the rights of the intending spouses as much as possible, which is done through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The duty set forth for every marriage to have free and full consent from both of the intending spouses will always raise the question as to whether both of the intending spouses really have the right to protest and the right to say no. Both the culture people are raised with and the family environment they live in influence their views of arranged marriage.