A Case Study Of Love Canal Environmental Sciences Essay

A Case Study Of Love Canal Environmental Sciences Essay Abstract- This paper is prepared to fulfill the requirement of subject Engineering Ethic (BENU 4583) which is included in Bachelor Degree of Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication). The case study is conducted on the Love Canal contamination issue which triggered the environmental alarm of United State at 1970s. The significant effect of Love Canal concern was the creation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Introduction Love Canal, located in Niagara Falls, New York. It had its attention on a national scale as well as international scale at 1970s for the matter of toxic waste been buried beneath the neighbourhood by Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation. In year 1953, Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation sold a land which was used for chemical waste dump to the Niagara Falls School Board for the use of building school on it. Figure 1 shows the location the 99th Street Elementary School in the centre of Love Canal. The agreement has been done with the full knowing of the risks. The Niagara Falls School District bought the land with the cost of one dollar and granted Hooker Chemical will release from all liability from the contamination. The nearby area was then built with residential neighbourhoods without declaring the hazardous of the place to the residents. With the disturbance by the building on the soil, the entire property was contaminated, causing an excessive of health problems occurre d. History William T. Love was an ambitious entrepreneur who conceived a canal which will link the two levels of Niagara River separated by Niagara Falls for the generation hydro electricity. Due to the barring of Congress and Panic of 1893, the plan was changed. The canal was dug for the purpose of shipping lane which will bypass Niagara Falls reaching to Lake Ontario. He managed to dig a canal for a length of 1.6 km, width of 15 m and the depth of 3 m to 12 m, stretching northward from the Niagara River before he went bankrupt. [2] The project went idle and the canal became a dump site for City of Niagara Falls. By 1940s, Elon Hooker who owns Hooker Electrochemical Company bought Love Canal with the granted permission by the Niagara Power and Development Company in 1942 for chemical wastes dumping. The canal was chosen due to the soil characteristic impermeable clay and the small population at the neighbourhood. Other than the wastes from Hooker, The U.S Army disposed the toxic chemical wastes there during and after World War II as well, also the unloading of the city of Niagara Falls municipal refuse into the Love Canal. Under pressure of Canal property been expropriated by the Niagara Falls School Board, Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation had to sell on the condition of the company will be fully freed from the future liability for the chemical dump. Figure 2 shows that approximately 21,800 tons of companys wastes been dumped into the pit before the property been legally transacted to the Niagara Falls School Board of Education in 1953. Before the agreement was done, Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation did cite the safety concerns of the property. The architect had risen up the issue of relocation of building location to the Board due to the dump sites which filled with 55-gallon drums of chemical wastes he discovered during the construction. The construction of 99th Street School was immediately started after relocation to further north from the top of the canal. By neglecting of the exposure of chemical wastes residues, the school was completed and been offered to students in year 1955, followed by the 93rd Street School in year 1958 which was built 6 blocks away. Incidentally, both sites had approval from the Niagara Falls Planning Board on December 30, 1952. [3] In year 1957, the remaining land was sold and rapid developments were held for homes. The Niagara Falls Authority also planned to build Griffon Manor housing project. C:UsersJaeDesktopLove Canallove_canal_modern_aerial_thumb.jpg Fig. 1: Location of 99th Street School on Love Canal. [1] C:UsersJaeDesktopLove CanalLove-Canal.jpg Fig. 2: Dumped Chemical Wastes in Love Canal [1] In year 1978, the State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation launched sampling and analysis of the homes adjacent to the Love Canal. The analysis had identified 82 different chemical compounds at the landfill, of one is known as human carcinogen and 11 are known or presumed anima carcinogens. [4] The Commissioners of Health and Environmental Conservation took every remedy available of the State to protect the publics health and safety. Dr Whalen, the Public Health Specialist in Health Department termed Love Canal is an extremely serious threat to the health and welfare. The Niagara Country Health Commissioner had been summoned to eliminate the visible chemicals and restrict access of the site. Extensive analyses showed that the chemicals seeped into the basement and contaminated the groundwater. The resident of Love Canal started to concern about the health issue and thereby Lois Gibbs, the head of the Love Canal Homeowners Association made complaints about the surfaced chemicals substances in their yards. However, it was in vain as the local politicians were not assisting the residents. The dumped site was declared as an unprecedented state emergency on August, 1978. The residents were urged to evacuate the neighbourhood for good sake. United State President Jimmy Carter called for allocation of federal funds to remedy Love Canal site. The toxic area has been reburied with a thick plastic linear clay and dirt. The area is restricted from the public today while the issue has become a catalyst for future environmental laws creation. C:UsersJaeDesktopLove Canalflipper.jpg Fig 3: Flipper [1] Most of the buildings on the east and west sides of the canal had been demolished. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the chemicals were responsible to the residents illness in year 1979. Some of the important chemicals and the human biological hazards are shown in Table 1. The health studies that done by the United States National Research Council (NRC) in 1991 showed that the exposed unborn babies were stunted growth, for e.g. flippers case as shown in Figure 3. Table 1: List of Important Chemicals identified at Love Canal Compound Acute Effects Chronic Effects benzene Narcosis Skin irritant Acute leukemia Aplastic anemia Pancytopenia Chronic lymphatic leukemia Lymphomas (probable) toluene Narcosis (more powerful than benzene) Anemia (possible) Leukopenia (possible) trichloroethylene Central nervous depression Skin irritant Liver damage Paralysis of fingers Respiratory and cardiac arrest Visual defects Deafness Views of Engineers Code of Ethics In this case study, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics has been used as reference. As a Professional Engineer, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation has violated NSPE Code of Ethics, Section II.1 which states that Engineers, in the fulfilment of their professional duties, shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. The corporation have to aware with the injury and danger that could lead to fatal in the future before they dispose of chemicals. Despite of it, the Niagara Falls School Board has to responsible to the construction of the schools and homes as stated in the agreement with Hooker. Hooker did acknowledge the hazardous of the land before they sold it. They should not build other than park on the Love Canal otherwise the property will revert to Hooker. The Niagara Power and Development Company and Niagara Falls Planning Board did not obey the statement in Section II.1.b where Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards. The disposal of wastes by Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation was approved by Niagara Power and Development Company where no health concerns were showed for the future. The construction of 99th and 93rd Street Schools by Niagara Falls Planning Board were approved without any investigations on the land. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required as stated in Section 1.II.e. The architect and contractors of the schools building did not report to the authorities other than the Board when they found out the truth that the superintendent covered from the view of public. In Section II.3.a, engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter. Hooker Chemical did not reveal everything to the public regarding on the chemical wastes beneath the land of Love Canal although pressure was laid on Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation. On the other hand, the Niagara Falls School Board hide the facts which has been cited by Hooker Chemical and just let the sleeping dogs lie. Implementation of Engineering Society Codes Tragedy Love Canal 1978 is a dangerous and the worst tragedy in U.S. history. Love Canal tragedy resulting from the pile of chemical waste has caused environmental degradation and diseases such as defects, fetal loss and cancer. Negligence of some of the parties was the main factor to the disaster. The tragedy can be prevented if the parties involved concerned about the environmental importance and apply the appropriate code of ethics in the particular case. The NSPE Code of Ethics is referred in this task. First of all, as to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in Section II.1, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation who uses the Love Canal as a chemical waste disposal site should not be sold for residential development purposes although under pressure of the Canal property will be confiscated by the government. The parties that involved such as Niagara Falls Planning Board in the project should be concern in approving the development projects as stated in Section II.1.b. They shall approve those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards and appropriate contents and details. Thus, the atmosphere of the area used for disposal of the chemicals specified in the document and might be aware of the threat when developing residential areas. In order to prevent the tragedy, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should also issue public statements in an objective and truthful manner. They should clarify earlier that the area was not suitable for settlements before being sold. Section II.3.a states that all relevant and pertinent information in their reports, statements or testimony, which should bear the date indicating when it was current should included in the public statements. Engineers who involved in the project should be concerned about the conditions of the soil and environment before approving the project to proceed. They may express publicly their technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the particular subject matter. Therefore, the development could be revoked, and prevent the tragedy. Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation sold Canal property with a token of dollar, hopping that the cooperation will be freed from the liability in the future contamination. It shows a deceptive act of Hooker and they concern more about own priority even though they knew the consequences that can be struck out of their actions which can be stated in Section II.5.b. They shall not put the consideration in order to secure themselves only but to concern the public in the future. In addition, the leakage of chemical waste disposal drums is one of the factors that caused the eruption. This leakage occurred due to chemical reaction after heavy rains. However, the parties involved in the construction of the disposal drums shall not approve plans or documents dealing with the construction without prior concern about the quality and endurance towards the chemical reaction. The Love Canal tragedy could be avoided if the authorities involved showing a reasonable ethical behaviour in the particular cases. Ethical Theories The case has been analyzed in different perspectives. There are no specific theories that can be chosen to solve the problem but the result will be the same as the ethical theories will lead to the same conclusion. Utilitarianism seeks to produce the most utility, defined balancing of good and bad. The theory holds the actions that maximizing the well-being of the society rather than individuals. The Niagara Falls School Board had to build schools and homes due to the economic boom of population in Niagara Falls after World War II. However, the hazardous of the land was not taking into account. The act utilitarianism is the main ideology in this case. The Love Canal was chosen by Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation for the chemicals disposal due the soil condition of the land and the plethora population at the nearby area. Plus, the dumping of chemical wastes was legal until year 1980. Right ethics and Duty ethics hold actions that respect the rights of the individual as well as the good consequences to the society. Love Canal residents have the right to know the past history of the Love Canal. John Locke (1623-1704) said that humans deserve the equal right to life, liberty and property with the others, although in this case, most of them are the  mixture of low-income and single family residences. The residents who live at Love Canal have the right to live without fear of harms due to hazardous wastes. Ironically, the whole nation will benefits from the safe disposal of these wastes. Hence, Duty Ethics indicates the overall advantages to the society compared to that of the right ethics of the residents at Love Canal. Other than the chemical wastes by Hooker, the disposal of wastes from the U.S Army during and after World War II and the municipal disposal from neighborhoods of Niagara Falls City are part of contribution of the hazards to the public. After the declaration of emergency, the Occidental Chemical Cooperation (OCC) and U.S. Army show their responsibility on the disposal of wastes. They reimburse the residents loses in terms medical checking and lodging. Later, they remediate the Love Canal and restricted the land to the public. Virtue Ethics says that discharging wastes is irresponsible and harmful to individuals and so it should not be done. The honesty in declaring the facts to the public should have carried out by the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Cooperation and the Niagara Falls School Board. They are responsible in acknowledging the residents on the hazard issue of the land. Hooker should hold public-spirited action in the consideration of the selling of Canal property to the Board. The health concerns of the public should come first compared to that of the freed of liability for the future contamination. Factual, Conceptual and Moral Issues A canal was created in year 1890 with hopes of generating the hydro electricity. It was meant to generate power inexpensively to fuel the areas industry and homes. However, the project failed due to limitations and in 1942 the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation bought it and buried 22,000 tons of toxic waste in the area. The proper sited, managed, and regulated landfills were approved by the Niagara Power and Development Company. Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation sold this site to the Niagara Falls School Board with a deed explicitly detailing the danger contained within the site, and including a liability limitation clause about the contamination. The schools were built on the Love Canal without concerning Hookers warnings. Wastes that buried beneath the Love Canal seeped out and polluted the air, water, or soil. The analytical tests were then carried out. The tested result on several sump-pumps near Love Canal and found toxic chemicals in them where potential effect to health such as cancer, blood diseases, epilepsy, miscarriages and others. The Superfund law was created to protect communities from heavily contaminated toxic waste sites that have been abandoned. Remedial works started after the order from the U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Clean-up by with the built of drainage trench and the clay was placed over land. Congressional acts developed to face toxics problem and EPA making grants for programs to specialize in safe handling and disposal of wastes. [5] Flow chart is used often by the engineering students. Flow chart is chosen as it can emphasize the different aspects of the same problem. For solving an ethical problem, all possible outcomes and scenarios has to be determined. Thus, flow chart is the best choice in solving the Love Canal case study problem. Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation wish to use Love Canal as the site of chemical wastes disposal. Are local laws strict for health safety? Choose another location to be dump site. Is health safety of the public taken into account? Provide remedies for future contamination. Dump the chemicals wastes into the canal with shielded drums. No No Yes Yes Fig. 4: Application of simple flow chart to the Love Canal case, emphasizing potential decisions made during consideration of dumping the wastes into the canal. Niagara Falls School Boards would like to build schools and homes at Love Canal. Is the land free from hazards of the wastes buried beneath? Relocate for the location of construction. Is the health safety of the residents been guaranteed? Acknowledge the risk of staying at that area to the residents. Continue the construction plan. No No Yes Yes Fig. 5: Application of simple flow chart to the Love Canal case, emphasizing potential decisions made during consideration of schools and homes building on the canal. As illustrated in Figure 4, it presents the decision making process of the Love Canal as the dump site of chemical wastes. The Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should ensure that there is no leakage of the chemicals to the ground. Remedies such as restriction of constructions on that area should be implemented if they have foreseen the effect of contamination in the future. The Niagara Falls School Board neglecting the issue of health safety on the contamination land speeds up the level of exposure of the chemicals to the public. While for Figure 5, it shows the decision making process that might have gone by the authorities involved, for instance, The Niagara Falls Planning Board and The Niagara Falls School Board. They decide on the construction of the schools. It is obviously shows that the Boards only relocate the constructions 6 blocks away from the original plan due to the statements of the architect, saying that concrete foundation might damage if constructing the building on top of the dump site. The tragedy happens because the removal of protection clay cap and holes punching into the impermeable clay walls to build water lines. Remedies The Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should plan the proper way to dispose the hazardous waste properly without effecting the environment. Besides, they should identify the hazardous waste and manage it differently. Since in this case, they put them together in the same place. Dioxin is the most hazardous substance together with benzene; carcinogen and other make the very worst impact to the society health. Furthermore, the government should survey and should expect the effect of build La Salle Expressway that crosses the canal. It makes the buried chemical beneath the land to migrate and seep from the canal. Effect of this construction, it restricted groundwater from flowing to Niagara River. It turns the breached canal into overflowing pool. Management of the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should alert their hazardous waste is very harmful to the human and environment event in long term. They should not sell the property to the government. Otherwise they should manage the waste properly until it may not affect to environment. In addition, the management of private developer, for example Niagara Falls Housing Authority builds the housing project without knowing the history of the canal and the agreement between the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation and the school board. The local authorities or especially local politicians were trying to deny the problem. The Mayor of Niagara Falls, Micheal C.OLaughlin state that there is nothing wrong in Love Canal. As the mayor or the local authority, he should take this problem as serious thing. He should study the history; survey the health report that obviously shows that there has something wrong with that area. Also, he should observe the area himself to prove it. Then take the precaution and final way to avoid the problem. In this disaster, the government has make a big mistake by wedged the Hooker Corporation to sell the properties even thought the Hooker has demonstrate that there have hazardous waste underground. The government should know the long term effect of this waste and not to build the school or any housing. Last but not least, the local government also went against all repeated warnings by the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation and tried to profit off of the contaminated land. The government knows the chemical contain but they removed part of the protective clay cap to use as fill dirt and punched holes in the impermeable clay walls to build water lines and the La Salle Expressway. At the beginning they should conscious about the environment and society. They cannot take in pawn of human life rather than for their sake. Conclusion There is a remaining question- who has the liability regarding accidents occurring from wastes disposed of previously? Although taking into the account of these aggressive strides to make sure that hazardous waste is safely managed, it becomes a questionable issue. Relating to the liability, if health safety is detected at dangerous level, what are the authorities that willing to correct the situation? Are they willing to accept the after risk? Whos going to pick up the tab? However, undoubtedly this question will be taken in hand effectively in the future. One of the main problems which against is that the shifting of the lands ownership. It is difficult to determine liability. It is within power of human to work out effective controls designed to significantly lower or even cut off the environmental risks. Justifications in decisions that made are crucial in solving the dilemma. The tragedy is not over and done that the residents of Love Canal have given more than others.

Free Essays: Nature in Dickinson’s Poetry :: Biography Biographies Essays

Nature in Dickinson’s Poetry The Imagery of Emily Dickinson, by Ruth Flanders McNaughton, in a chapter entitled "Imagery of Nature," examines the way the Emily Dickinson portrays nature in her poetry. Dickinson often identified nature with heaven or God (33), which could have been the result of her unique relationship with God and the universe. There are a lot of religious images and allusions used in her poetry, such as the rainbow as the sign of the covenant God made with Noah. Dickinson always held nature in reverence throughout her poetry, because she regarded nature as almost religious. There was almost always a mystical or religious undercurrent to her poetry, but she depicted the scenes from an artistic point of view rather than from a religious one (34). One of the most obvious things that Dickinson did in her poetry was paying minute attention to things nobody else noticed. She was obsessed with the minute detail of nature—paying attention to things such as hills, flies, bumble bees, and eclipses. In these details, Dickinson found "manifestations of the universal" and felt the harmony that bound everything together (33). The small details and particulars that caught her eye were like "small dramas of existence" (39). Each poem was like a tiny micro-chasm that testified to Dickinson’s life as a recluse. Dickinson’s created "dramas" were not static, but everything from the images she used to the words she chose for impact contributed to a "moving picture" (39). In the following poem, Dickinson writes how nature acts as a housewife sweeping through a sunset: She sweeps with many-colored brooms, And leaves the shreds behind; Oh, housewife in the evening west, Come back, and dust the pond! You dropped a purple ravelling in, You dropped an amber thread; And now you’ve littered all the East With duds of emerald! And still she plies her spotted brooms, And still the aprons fly, Till brooms fade softly into stars— And then I come away. Dickinson artistically shows the "sunset in terms of house cleaning" (36). The themes of domestic life and housewifery are displayed in the preceding poem. Only somebody with the observational powers and original creativity like Emily Dickinson could see something so unique and refreshing in a sunset.

Sterility Drug Progesterex Urban Legend :: Urban Legends

Sterility Drug Progesterex Urban Legend The source for this urban legend is a 19 year old male of Palestinian descent who is currently studying engineering at Montgomery College. His father owns a heating and air conditioning company and his mother is manager for a high school cafeteria. This source first heard the story on the Internet when he received the story on an online Web group. He then spread the warning to all of his contacts. You should tell all the girls you know to be careful because there have been cases in Boston where girls who have been slipped â€Å"roofies† [rohypnol, a common date rape drug used to incapacitate the victim] for date rape were also slipped a horse sterilizer. This new drug is becoming popular because when it is used the woman that is raped can’t have a child and later identify the suspect through DNA testing. Apparently one girl was slipped these two drugs and was found the next morning by police and was taken to the hospital. There the doctors say that at least five men had raped her. The girl had no knowledge of the events because of the roofy she was slipped. Doctors also informed the police and the patient that upon blood testing that a low grade horse sterilizer was used on the victim and that she would never be able to have children due to the effects of the drug. The horse sterilizer is readily available to veterinarians and farmers, so it is easy to find. This new drug will sterilize someone forever, so tell them to be careful. This harrowing story was told quite compellingly with strong body language. What was most effective about this performance was that the source never hesitated when he spoke and was very clear on details. During the entire course of this performance, it seemed that the performer was fully convinced of the validity of this story. During the entire performance the word which he emphasized the most was "forever," when mentioning the effects of the horse sterilizer on women. He was very insistent that the drug affects women permanently and that is why it is so dangerous. Upon further research of horse sterilizers and rape, the name that came up most often was Progesterex. A site search of Progesterex on www.webmd.com (a health service page) resulted in zero finds, with suggestions for progesterone, which is a naturally occurring hormone in women that prepares the uterus for pregnancy.

What is Art?

Art has no agreed upon definition. Art appears In many different forms, from paintings and sculptures to crafts and even tattoos. Art Is an expression of what one thinks is beautiful and captivating. Art could be a song that makes you remember cherished memories or one that allows you to imagine the future. A painting of a beautiful field that looks so peaceful and inviting a person could escape from their reality and picture themselves surrounded by the serenity the artist has portrayed. Most everyone has his or her opinion of what art Is.A sculpture like Michelangelo, David, depicts the beauty of the male form, although some people might find It offensive, It has been considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance period. The Nude Magma by Francisco Soya this portrait is controversial for obvious reasons, while some may see the beauty in the nude woman form; others may regard this painting distasteful. Leonardo dad Vine's, famous, Mona Lisa has long been a topic of discussion in regar ds to what the painting itself represents, is it a man or a woman?Is there really a mystery behind that smile or Is she attempting to hide the pain? Art Is open to Interpretation, and that Is one of the many great things about It. Buildings like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Bucking Palace, and the Pyramids of Gaza, as well as structures like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, are designed in ways that took an immense amount of skill and imagination. These masterpieces are not only works of art, but they are all famous landmarks.Music Is also a form of art that has been around for a very long time. In the early period, there were composers of medieval music and Renaissance music. The Common Practice period brought us Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music and the Modern and Contemporary period brought Modern, 20th Century, Contemporary, and 21 SST Century music. The commonality, no matter what period, is the feeling one gets when one listens to the music. You can feel the music deep within as If It is awakening every cell In your body.Music of all genres Is considered art, and when you pair It with dance, It brings the art to another level. There is no simple answer to the question, what is art? To me, art is something beautifully unique. A piece of the artist that was created to make people understand and experience what the artist was feeling at the time. Some of the best art I have ever seen and cherish the most are not the Mona Lisa or David. They are the photographs I have taken of my family and friends with huge smiles or goofy expressions.The macaroni necklaces and handmade Christmas ornaments my children have made me over the years. The pictures colored for me by my granddaughter. To me, they are priceless masterpieces. Therefore, in my opinion, art truly is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, I have not has a great deal of exposure to the works of any particular artist. When it comes to art in any form, for me, I will know if I like o r dislike any piece as soon as I see it. I have found that what draw me in are the various colors used, as well as the style. What is Art? Art has no agreed upon definition. Art appears In many different forms, from paintings and sculptures to crafts and even tattoos. Art Is an expression of what one thinks is beautiful and captivating. Art could be a song that makes you remember cherished memories or one that allows you to imagine the future. A painting of a beautiful field that looks so peaceful and inviting a person could escape from their reality and picture themselves surrounded by the serenity the artist has portrayed. Most everyone has his or her opinion of what art Is.A sculpture like Michelangelo, David, depicts the beauty of the male form, although some people might find It offensive, It has been considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance period. The Nude Magma by Francisco Soya this portrait is controversial for obvious reasons, while some may see the beauty in the nude woman form; others may regard this painting distasteful. Leonardo dad Vine's, famous, Mona Lisa has long been a topic of discussion in regar ds to what the painting itself represents, is it a man or a woman?Is there really a mystery behind that smile or Is she attempting to hide the pain? Art Is open to Interpretation, and that Is one of the many great things about It. Buildings like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Bucking Palace, and the Pyramids of Gaza, as well as structures like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, are designed in ways that took an immense amount of skill and imagination. These masterpieces are not only works of art, but they are all famous landmarks.Music Is also a form of art that has been around for a very long time. In the early period, there were composers of medieval music and Renaissance music. The Common Practice period brought us Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music and the Modern and Contemporary period brought Modern, 20th Century, Contemporary, and 21 SST Century music. The commonality, no matter what period, is the feeling one gets when one listens to the music. You can feel the music deep within as If It is awakening every cell In your body.Music of all genres Is considered art, and when you pair It with dance, It brings the art to another level. There is no simple answer to the question, what is art? To me, art is something beautifully unique. A piece of the artist that was created to make people understand and experience what the artist was feeling at the time. Some of the best art I have ever seen and cherish the most are not the Mona Lisa or David. They are the photographs I have taken of my family and friends with huge smiles or goofy expressions.The macaroni necklaces and handmade Christmas ornaments my children have made me over the years. The pictures colored for me by my granddaughter. To me, they are priceless masterpieces. Therefore, in my opinion, art truly is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, I have not has a great deal of exposure to the works of any particular artist. When it comes to art in any form, for me, I will know if I like o r dislike any piece as soon as I see it. I have found that what draw me in are the various colors used, as well as the style.

Private School vs Public School Essay

Many public school facilities are impressive others are mediocre. The same is true of private schools. In the public school system, the twin engines of political support and economic revenue base are critical. In private schools the ability to attract endowments and other forms of financial support are just as critical. Private school facilities reflect the success of the school’s development team and that of the school to continue to generate alumni support. Some private K-12 schools have facilities and amenities which surpass those found at many colleges and universities. Hotchkiss and Andover, for example, have libraries and athletic facilities on a par with those at Brown and Cornell. They also offer academic and sports programs which make full use of all those resources. It is hard to find comparable facilities in the public sector. They are few and far between. Public schools also reflect the economic realities of their location. Wealthy suburban schools will have more amenities than inner city schools as a rule. Think Greenwich, Connecticut versus Detroit, Michigan, for example. So, who has the edge? Let’s call it a draw, all things considered. Class Size: According to the NCES report Private Schools: A Brief Portrait private schools win out on this issue. Why? Most private schools have small class sizes. One of the key points of private education is individual attention. You need student to teacher ratios of 15:1 or better to achieve that goal of individual attention. On the other hand a public system has to take almost anyone who lives within its boundaries. In public schools you will generally find much larger class sizes, sometimes exceeding 35-40 students in some inner city schools. At that point teaching rapidly degenerates into babysitting. Teaching: Public sector teachers are generally better paid. Naturally compensation varies widely depending on the local economic situation. Put another way, it’s cheaper living in Duluth, Minnesota than it is in San Francisco. Unfortunately low starting salaries and small annual salary increases result in low teacher retention in many public school districts. Public sector benefits have historically been excellent; however, health and pension costs have risen so dramatically since 2000 that public educators will be forced to pay or pay more for their benefits. Private school compensation tends to be somewhat lower than public. Again, much depends on the school and its financial resources. One private school benefit found especially in boarding schools is housing and meals. Private school pension schemes vary widely. Many schools use major pension providers such as TIAA-CREF Both public and private schools require their teachers to be credentialed. This usually means a degree and a teaching certificate. Private schools tend to hire teachers with advanced degrees in their subject over teachers who have an education degree. Put another way, a private school hiring a Spanish teacher will want that teacher to have a degree in Spanish language and literature as opposed to an education degree with a minor in Spanish. Budgets: Since local property taxes support the bulk of public education, the annual school budget exercise is a serious fiscal and political business. In poor communities or communities which have many voters living on fixed incomes, there is precious little room to respond to budget requests within the framework of projected tax revenue. Grants from foundations and the business community are essential to creative funding. Private schools on the other hand can raise tuition, and they also can raise significant amounts of money from a variety of development activities, including annual appeals, cultivation of alumni and alumnae, and solicitation of grants from foundations and corporations. The strong allegiance to private schools by their alumni makes the chances of fund-raising success a real possibility in most cases. Administrative Support: The bigger the bureaucracy, the harder it is to get decisions made at all, much less get them made quickly. The public education system is notorious for having antiquated work rules and bloated bureaucracies. This is as a result of union contracts and host of political considerations. Private schools on the other hand generally have a lean management structure. Every dollar spent has to come from operating income and endowment income. Those resources are finite. The other difference is that private schools rarely have teacher unions to deal with. Advantages and disadvantages: There are many advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. As a parent, both options must be explored and the choice must be based on what is right for each particular child. Public schools often have a larger variety of subjects available, especially when it comes to electives. However, what is learned is somewhat decided by the state because public schools need to do well on standardized testing. Private schools, on the other hand, whether parochial or private have much more freedom of choice in curriculum and can choose to make their own assessments. Because of the individualized instruction, private schools tend to do generally better on standardized testing, that is, if they choose to use it. Private schools, many times, have more demanding curricula and have a higher rate of students who go on to attend college. Public schools are larger and also have larger class sizes. Public schools also have larger student-teacher ratios. According to a web site called Public School Review, â€Å"Private schools average 13 students per teacher, compared with an average of 16 students per teacher in public schools† (public school review). However, public schools have certified teachers. Private schools typically have teachers who are not state-certified and who may not have expertise in their subject matter. The biggest difference between public and private schools probably is that public schools are required to educate all students. They cannot deny any student admission. On the other hand, private schools have complete control about which they accept and can kick students out much more easily. Public schools are funded by tax revenue whereas private schools are funded privately. That means private schools cost money to attend called tuition. Taxpayers pay for public schools so the payment is included in what people pay. However in private schools, the payment is upfront for students to attend. Overall, there is no one right answer for which kind of school a student attends-public or private. The decision must be made for each individual student as there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Comparisons: Private school can be more beneficial than going to a public school. Private schools focus on preparing students for the next level of education; public schools are focused on test preparations sessions. Choosing the right school system for your child has a repercussion towards their future education. In the public school system the classrooms are overcrowded with students. Each class has an average of 27 to 30 students to it, which can limit the ability of one on one interaction with the teacher. A lot of the bullying issues come from the unstructured dress codes. This can create social divide to the less fortunate kids that can’t afford all the name brand items. In public school teachers are quick to say your child needs to be on medication if they are high strung, without knowing what other forms of issues might be occurring in the home. When parents try to discipline their child at home the school seems to always try to step in. Some things should be up to the parents to handle without haven to worry about the school stepping in. In the private school system when a child enters the school for the first time he or she will start out with a minimal class size with no more than 20 students. This allows more one on one time with the teacher, it also opens up more time for activities. The private school has a very strictly enforced dress code to eliminate animosity between the students. The schools are very family oriented with parents and students being involved with school activities. Teachers and parents are held to higher standards from the private schools. Teachers are expected to continue to grow and parents are obligated to maintain discipline of their children even in their absence. The testing that takes place at private schools is called Terra Nova, and kids are tested two or three times a year. Conclusion So, who comes out on top? Public schools or private schools As you can see, there are no clear-cut answers or conclusions. Public schools have their advantages and disadvantages. Private schools offer an alternative. Which works best for you? That’s the real question which you have to answer.

How Laughter Benefits Our Health

It is a known fact that laughter is advantageous and useful to our health. Many specialists agree that laughter brings to numerous positive effects of psychological nature, and also it improves our physical condition. For example, according to a recent study of medical researchers from the University of Maryland, laughter helps to keep our facial muscles in tonus, lowers the risks of heart attack, improves our immune system, etc. Besides, it was discovered that laughter can play the role of an analgesic, relieve pains, increase pain tolerance threshold, and this effect is a psychological one, because no prove of a related chemical reaction was found (Reader’s Digest, 2005). At the same time, there are other psychological outcomes of laughter. Elisabeth Scott, a stress management and family therapy specialist, points on various positive effects of laughter as one of the most effective tools to control and manage our stresses. Those include opportunities to distract and to divert one’s attention from anger, depression, tension, or other distressing emotions to funny and joyful things, and this way to avoid possible harmful aftereffects of stresses. In addition, â€Å"..laughter provides a physical and emotional release,† it helps to relax, feel more comfortable and hopeful (Scott, 2007). Finally, laughter can be a good exercise to improve own self-perception and abilities to interact, because it helps us establish good contact and socialize more effectively. Undoubtedly, laughter is very healthy for human psychology and mind, because it helps to develop positive and enthusiastic disposition, forms optimistic perspectives, as well as stimulates good and cheerful mood. Specialists found out that young children laugh about 400 times a day, however, adult people laugh only about 17 times a day (Scott, 2007). That is why it is vital to incorporate into our daily routine more and more of good but controlled laughter, which will help to take this life less seriously and focus on positive or encouraging ideas. References Laugh Your Way to Good Health. (2005, September). Reader’s Digest. The Reader's Digest Association Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2008 Scott, E. (2007, November 7). The Stress Management and Health Benefits of Laughter. About. About Inc., The New York Times Company. Retrieved January 19, 2008, from ;http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/laughter.htm;.

Women in the Family Roles

As Anthony Brandt said, â€Å"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family† . (Brandt) Family is very important to each of us on the earth. However, it does not mean we all love our family and we are happy with it, as some people could not find love at home. Therefore, they do not know how to love other people. Hence, family is the first place where people learn how to love others, and it can cause great impact on people's lives. Since men and women have different kinds of personality, they take on different family roles.In my opinion, women’s role in family is more important than men’s because women put more efforts to their family, women's way of loving their children is more easily understood by the children, hence, mothers play a more important role in raising a healthy child. First of all, most working mothers put more emphasis on their family than their career. Since around the 1970s, more women entered the workforce. Nevertheless, mothers a re usually the ones taking care of the home and the children while fathers being the main breadwinner in the family.For example, If the children are sick, most of the mother will stay home to take care for the sick children rather than go to work. So, it is more likely for family matters to affect women's work schedules than men's. Most women think of their husbands and their children while they are at work or are busy working on other tasks. Even if mothers have their own career , family is still their priority. Secondly, It is easier for children to sense love from their mothers than their fathers.There are many single-parent families nowadays. The children are often depressed when their parents separate. In single-parent families, children who live with their mothers generally feel happier than those who live with their fathers. This is because women are more sensitive to other people's feelings, and thus they can better take care of their children’s emotions. Moreover, a mother has to carry her offspring within her body for approximately ten months and to go through the painful experience of delivering a baby.Women love their children more than anything else because of these experiences. In contrast, fathers usually love their children by putting more efforts on their jobs to provide for their children a better material life. Finally, mothers have more influence on children’s development than fathers do. â€Å"Mothers are more likely than fathers to encourage the development of assimilative and communion-enhancing characters in their children. (Austin and Braeger, 181) Also, â€Å"mothers are more likely than fathers to acknowledge their children's contributions in conversation. † (Leaper, Anderson, Sanders, 34) As a result, the way mothers interact with their children has more positive impact on children’s social and emotional development. Through the way mothers love their children, the children know how to love people. To su m up, women have a very important role in the family. Women care about family than anything else while men’s priority is often their career.Also, mothers’ love is more easily felt by the children. In addition, mothers’ contribution to children’s development is usually greater than fathers’. As an old Mexican quote says, â€Å"The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman† . Mother is often the only person who makes children feel home although children need both parents to ensure a healthy development. A family without a mother may not be as happy and may no longer be a â€Å"family† to a child. Therefore, women have a more important family role than men do.Works CitedBrandt, Anthony. http://thinkexist.com/quotation/other_things_may_change_us-but_we_start_and_end/190848.html. ThinkExist.com Quotations Online.1 Mar 2011. 14 Apr 2011. Austin, Ann M. Berghout and Braeger, T.J. â€Å"Gendered differences in parents' encdourage ment of sibling interaction:implications for the construction of a personal premise system.† First Language. October 1990 vol. 10 no. 30 181-197. Leaper, C., Anderson, K., & Sanders, P. (1998). â€Å"Moderators of gender effects on parents' talk to their children: A meta-analysis.† Developmental Psychology, 34.