October 9, 2006
“Chat Rooms: Hope for the Shy Child?”
Shy children can overcome their shyness by being exposed to other children in a chat room. For someone who is shy from the moment they are born, daily interactions with strangers can be a source of anxiety, sometimes extreme and debilitating. They can be at a disadvantage as a child in school. Shy children are more likely to be teased. This can lead to problems later on with the shy child’s behavior.
In this study, the dependent variable will be the child’s reaction to being exposed to other children in a chat room. Hopefully the reaction will be positive and shyness will decrease. The independent variable is the application of a controlled chat room. One that is safe and monitored and free from any sexual predators or other potentially damaging individuals.
Children need to be exposed in a non-threatening setting, to children their own age. Chat rooms, under adult guidance, offer just that. The child does not have to be face to face with someone they will see on a daily basis. Many times a shy child is afraid of rejection from their peers. Shy children sometimes feel as though they are inferior to their peers and have nothing in common with them. If a child is given the opportunity to get comfortable talking to other children in a non-direct setting, they will find out that they aren’t so different and will find they have a lot in common with other children. After mastering their social skills in a chat room, they can feel freer to talk to children at school with confidence.
My subject sample will be 60 children ages 10 – 15. These children have already been exposed to computers and are able to operate a chat program. Their school counselors will recruit them. The school counselors are able to identify children who are considered to be “shy” and will already have weekly meetings with the counselor. Permission is given by the parents for their child to participate in this study.
There will be 10 children chosen from each of the 6 ages. 5 of them will be allowed to have 2 - 30 minute chat sessions per week. This is the experimental group. The other 5 will not be given the opportunity to use chat sessions and will simply continue their counseling sessions as usual.
The 30 children selected at random to use chat sessions as part of their counseling will use computers set up at the school. The children will not know why they are allowed to chat and what is being done in the study, just that they are allowed to chat online with other kids. The children will go in the next day for their regular counseling session with the school counselor and, hopefully, they will talk about their experience. The school counselor will compare those children with those from the non-chat group and grade their progress on set criteria, including:
• The number of times that week the child felt “more anxious than normal” around kids at school.
• The number of times that week the child approached a new child and initiated a conversation.
• The number of times that week the child felt they were being bullied.
After 12 weeks the evaluations taken by the guidance counselors will be assessed. It should show that the control group showed none, or very little, improvement in their social anxieties. However, the experimental group will find that the number of “more anxious than normal” incidents decreased, the child was able to approach kids they felt intimidated by more easily, and the number of bullying incidents decreased as the child became more secure in who they are.
The parents of the children will be aware of every detail of this experiment. The children will not be put in an emotionally damaging environment. The experiment could be done using a set bully in the chat room to measure how well the children respond to the bully, but the purpose of the experiment is purely to help a child overcome shyness, not to fight a bully. The guidance counselors on computers in a separate room will monitor the chat rooms and anything inappropriate will be stopped.
The only problems I could foresee would be a child’s inexperience with computers and/or a chat program. Also, parents may feel reserved about their child using a chat room to socialize with other children. But hopefully, they will find that this is a new approach to an age-old problem plaguing millions of kids.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Sunday, September 3, 2006
Week 2
Today is my mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know she reads my blog so....
This is an email I sent this morning about school yesterday. It was my second week or class on campus. Up until now all of my classes have been online, which is good when you have a full time job and a family to take care of. I'm posting this because I think it will be amusing to go back and read it later in the semester or even a few years from now when I'm graduating.
Just wanted to give you an update on how my second week of A & P went. I wasn't in as much of a rush to get to Atlanta yesterday. Last week I got out of Covington at 8:30 and got there with about 5-10 minutes to spare. Almost too close for me. Yesterday I left Covington around 8:15. So I was more relaxed for one thing. But who cares about my driving time? Let's get to the school part.
I'm actually all into the lecture. See, I enjoy learning about anything biology. It interests me more than "In 1492, Columbus sailed..." We covered 3 chapters in 2 1/2 hours. Impressive. Even more so that I kept up! LOL By the last 15 minutes of class I had to pee so bad. That just happened to be the part when he talked about cells in the bladder and how the bladder stretches to accommodate extra urine when, for example, you're taking a test and can't go right away. I about raised my hand and asked him to speed it up because my bladder had reached full capacity. But I made it ok. (The bathrooms, for the record, were NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I lined the entire stall with toilet seat covers and still hovered)
We learned about the chemistry of the body (we've all taken Chemistry, so he didn't focus a whole lot on it). Then we learned about the cells in the body. It was very interesting. It's extremely detailed. It's difficult and there's ALOT to learn but I'm so interested in it that it might be to my advantage.
At lunch I had a pleasant, quiet lunch in the student center. Noone else was around, except for the occassional vending machine visitor. I had one of those soup at hands (Vegetable Beef) and that sucker filled me up!! I could barely walk. But then again, I'm back on Byetta and it does that to me.
Lab was SOOOO much better than last week. A couple of us were talking about it and agreed it went better today than it did last week. We looked at cells under the microscope. We looked at cheek cells, sperm cells, muscle tissue cells, and red blood cells.
We took a quiz on body parts/names, the microscope, and directional names (anterior/posterior/distal/proximal...) I got a 92%, which I consider good. I missed two. I forgot the name for the hip (I put iliac) and the forearm (I put appendicular, which somewhat technically is true LOL). I think the correct answers were coxial and antebrachial (or something).
We got out of class early, at 2:00. That was nice. Last week I didn't get home until almost 4:00. People in traffic really bother me. I hate being stuck in the fast lane, when there's real slow people going the speed limit in the other two lanes and I'm stuck behind some nasty chick and her junked out car going only 1 mph faster than the cars in the other two or three lanes. You can't pass her and you want to go 20 mph faster! Finally there's a break in the other two lanes, does she get over? Oh no. She owns that lane. So it's a race between me and 8 other cars to command the middle lane and to pass her. I encountered that 3 times between Atlanta and Covington. Ohhh made me mad!
But I made it home without seriously injuring or killing anyone, which is good, I suppose. I'll be there next weekend. I'm actually excited! Althought it's hard work and it's eating up my precious Saturday it's like recess for my mind. I LOVE A & P! Save this email. Maybe I'll update you each week. Compare this email to the one I send you in 8 weeks LOL (PREVIEW WEEK 8: "I hate that freaken class! I hate it! I hate the people, the teacher, the school, my desk! I hate the freaken cat I dissected! I cut through it's liver and then I threw it out the window!)
This is an email I sent this morning about school yesterday. It was my second week or class on campus. Up until now all of my classes have been online, which is good when you have a full time job and a family to take care of. I'm posting this because I think it will be amusing to go back and read it later in the semester or even a few years from now when I'm graduating.
Just wanted to give you an update on how my second week of A & P went. I wasn't in as much of a rush to get to Atlanta yesterday. Last week I got out of Covington at 8:30 and got there with about 5-10 minutes to spare. Almost too close for me. Yesterday I left Covington around 8:15. So I was more relaxed for one thing. But who cares about my driving time? Let's get to the school part.
I'm actually all into the lecture. See, I enjoy learning about anything biology. It interests me more than "In 1492, Columbus sailed..." We covered 3 chapters in 2 1/2 hours. Impressive. Even more so that I kept up! LOL By the last 15 minutes of class I had to pee so bad. That just happened to be the part when he talked about cells in the bladder and how the bladder stretches to accommodate extra urine when, for example, you're taking a test and can't go right away. I about raised my hand and asked him to speed it up because my bladder had reached full capacity. But I made it ok. (The bathrooms, for the record, were NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I lined the entire stall with toilet seat covers and still hovered)
We learned about the chemistry of the body (we've all taken Chemistry, so he didn't focus a whole lot on it). Then we learned about the cells in the body. It was very interesting. It's extremely detailed. It's difficult and there's ALOT to learn but I'm so interested in it that it might be to my advantage.
At lunch I had a pleasant, quiet lunch in the student center. Noone else was around, except for the occassional vending machine visitor. I had one of those soup at hands (Vegetable Beef) and that sucker filled me up!! I could barely walk. But then again, I'm back on Byetta and it does that to me.
Lab was SOOOO much better than last week. A couple of us were talking about it and agreed it went better today than it did last week. We looked at cells under the microscope. We looked at cheek cells, sperm cells, muscle tissue cells, and red blood cells.
We took a quiz on body parts/names, the microscope, and directional names (anterior/posterior/distal/proximal...) I got a 92%, which I consider good. I missed two. I forgot the name for the hip (I put iliac) and the forearm (I put appendicular, which somewhat technically is true LOL). I think the correct answers were coxial and antebrachial (or something).
We got out of class early, at 2:00. That was nice. Last week I didn't get home until almost 4:00. People in traffic really bother me. I hate being stuck in the fast lane, when there's real slow people going the speed limit in the other two lanes and I'm stuck behind some nasty chick and her junked out car going only 1 mph faster than the cars in the other two or three lanes. You can't pass her and you want to go 20 mph faster! Finally there's a break in the other two lanes, does she get over? Oh no. She owns that lane. So it's a race between me and 8 other cars to command the middle lane and to pass her. I encountered that 3 times between Atlanta and Covington. Ohhh made me mad!
But I made it home without seriously injuring or killing anyone, which is good, I suppose. I'll be there next weekend. I'm actually excited! Althought it's hard work and it's eating up my precious Saturday it's like recess for my mind. I LOVE A & P! Save this email. Maybe I'll update you each week. Compare this email to the one I send you in 8 weeks LOL (PREVIEW WEEK 8: "I hate that freaken class! I hate it! I hate the people, the teacher, the school, my desk! I hate the freaken cat I dissected! I cut through it's liver and then I threw it out the window!)
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Preeclampsia - Writing Assignment
Preeclampsia
Approaching the final months of my pregnancy, my midwife asked if I had any symptoms, such as headaches, unusual swelling, or changes in my vision. My blood pressure was reading alarmingly high and routine urine tests were detecting large amounts of protein. I was noticing more headaches over the last couple of weeks, during which I would see spots that seemed to float around the room. And the swelling that first seemed normal in my pregnancy had become unbearable. I wasn’t able to wear my shoes or my rings anymore and it was even difficult to move my legs. On top of the normal discomforts of pregnancy, I felt strange, like an overstuffed pillow throughout my entire body. My skin burned from the stretching and swelling.
These were all signs of a condition known as Preeclampsia, a very serious complication during pregnancy characterized by the sudden onset of high blood pressure, protein in the urine, swelling, headaches, and vision changes. Because this condition can cause serious problems in both the mother and baby, it is important to be aware of what preeclampsia is and what to be on the lookout for.
So much is still unknown about this condition that affects about 5-8% of all pregnancies. Untreated, it can progress to Eclampsia, which can lead to seizures, coma, or death of both the mother and baby. Another potentially fatal progression is a condition known as HELLP Syndrome, characterized by liver failure, lack of blood clotting, and kidney failure. Preeclampsia and Eclampsia, once referred to as Toxemia, are so serious that worldwide, 76,000 deaths occur each year. (“About Preeclampsia” par 3). Physicians inform every pregnant patient to look out for the warning signs, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Generally, the condition will develop during a woman’s first pregnancy. Women who are more at risk for preeclampsia are those over the age of 40 or under the age of 20, those who have had multiple birth pregnancies, those with a history of high blood pressure, and those whose previous pregnancies were affected by preeclampsia, diabetes, and obesity (“Risk Factors for Preeclampsia” par 1).
The only known treatment for preeclampsia, once it becomes severe, is delivery of the baby. This can pose a serious problem if the baby is extremely premature. That’s why it is absolutely imperative for every pregnant woman to recognize early symptoms. Routine weight, blood pressure, and urine checks are done for all pregnant women during their prenatal checkups. Early in the pregnancy the doctor will get a baseline blood pressure to compare against any future blood pressure reading. The standard normal blood pressure is regarded to be anything less than 120/80. But if a woman’s normal blood pressure is in the 100/70 range, and during a subsequent office visit her blood pressure reads 130/85, the doctor would be more concerned than a woman who’s baseline blood pressure was 125/80, which doesn’t show as dramatic of an increase.
Once a woman begins to show signs of preeclampsia, depending on the severity of her symptoms, a doctor will usually order the woman to cut back on work hours and spend more time in bed. She will also be ordered to lie on her left side. If a pregnant woman lies flat on her back or more to the right side, the weight from the uterus will compress vital blood vessels, reducing valuable blood flow to the baby. If this doesn’t relieve the symptoms, the woman will almost always be confined to bed rest, either at home or in the hospital. For a lot of women this can be a problem. Like me, some women work full-time outside of the home and have commitments to the house and other family members. If caught early in the pregnancy a woman must spend months in bed. This is a very difficult situation to deal with. Boredom can set in very quickly.
But when none of these measures work and the condition gets worse, more drastic measures are taken. In my case, I was 35 weeks pregnant, 5 weeks from my due date. I had a few of the risk factors being diabetic and having mild hypertension (high blood pressure). At the same time, I also had a few things that weren’t as typical. I was 26 and this was my fourth pregnancy after two miscarriages. With the immense swelling and blood pressure reading over 200/110, my midwife became alarmed. One way a physician can test how severe preeclampsia is by checking a woman’s reflexes with the standard bump to the knee. In a woman with preeclampsia, her reaction to this tap on the knee is exaggerated. This was the case with me. I felt as though I would have knocked the air out of the midwife if she were standing in front of me! The amount of protein in my urine was also high. Normally there should be none.
I was sent to Rockdale Hospital where I was monitored closely for two days. My urine was collected over a 24-hour period for a more accurate check on my kidney function. Finally, it was determined that the preeclampsia was affecting my kidneys and the bed rest wasn’t lowering my blood pressure any. My baby would have to be delivered by cesarean section. Like in the case of a lot of babies born early, my son’s lungs weren’t mature enough for him to breathe normally on his own. He spent a week in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on a ventilator until he was able to breathe on his own. Many babies spend several weeks, or even months, on machines used to keep the baby alive.
Normally, once the baby is delivered, the symptoms of preeclampsia go away. Once again, this isn’t always the case. Some women continue with high blood pressure for some time afterwards. I was one of them. Eventually, I was placed on blood pressure medication that brought my blood pressure down and I got rid of the immense amount of excess fluid that had accumulated in my body.
Considering the seriousness of preeclampsia to both the mother and the baby, it is important for every pregnant woman to be aware of what it is and what its symptoms are. Husbands and other family members could benefit from this knowledge, as well. Early intervention can prevent serious problems in the mother and prematurity in the baby. One day, more will be known about this condition and how to treat it better. Until then, knowledge and early intervention are the best weapons we have against this serious condition.
Works Cited
“About Preeclampsia.” Preeclampsia Foundation. 2006.
“Rick Factors for Preeclampsia.” Wrong Diagnosis. 15 March 2006
Approaching the final months of my pregnancy, my midwife asked if I had any symptoms, such as headaches, unusual swelling, or changes in my vision. My blood pressure was reading alarmingly high and routine urine tests were detecting large amounts of protein. I was noticing more headaches over the last couple of weeks, during which I would see spots that seemed to float around the room. And the swelling that first seemed normal in my pregnancy had become unbearable. I wasn’t able to wear my shoes or my rings anymore and it was even difficult to move my legs. On top of the normal discomforts of pregnancy, I felt strange, like an overstuffed pillow throughout my entire body. My skin burned from the stretching and swelling.
These were all signs of a condition known as Preeclampsia, a very serious complication during pregnancy characterized by the sudden onset of high blood pressure, protein in the urine, swelling, headaches, and vision changes. Because this condition can cause serious problems in both the mother and baby, it is important to be aware of what preeclampsia is and what to be on the lookout for.
So much is still unknown about this condition that affects about 5-8% of all pregnancies. Untreated, it can progress to Eclampsia, which can lead to seizures, coma, or death of both the mother and baby. Another potentially fatal progression is a condition known as HELLP Syndrome, characterized by liver failure, lack of blood clotting, and kidney failure. Preeclampsia and Eclampsia, once referred to as Toxemia, are so serious that worldwide, 76,000 deaths occur each year. (“About Preeclampsia” par 3). Physicians inform every pregnant patient to look out for the warning signs, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Generally, the condition will develop during a woman’s first pregnancy. Women who are more at risk for preeclampsia are those over the age of 40 or under the age of 20, those who have had multiple birth pregnancies, those with a history of high blood pressure, and those whose previous pregnancies were affected by preeclampsia, diabetes, and obesity (“Risk Factors for Preeclampsia” par 1).
The only known treatment for preeclampsia, once it becomes severe, is delivery of the baby. This can pose a serious problem if the baby is extremely premature. That’s why it is absolutely imperative for every pregnant woman to recognize early symptoms. Routine weight, blood pressure, and urine checks are done for all pregnant women during their prenatal checkups. Early in the pregnancy the doctor will get a baseline blood pressure to compare against any future blood pressure reading. The standard normal blood pressure is regarded to be anything less than 120/80. But if a woman’s normal blood pressure is in the 100/70 range, and during a subsequent office visit her blood pressure reads 130/85, the doctor would be more concerned than a woman who’s baseline blood pressure was 125/80, which doesn’t show as dramatic of an increase.
Once a woman begins to show signs of preeclampsia, depending on the severity of her symptoms, a doctor will usually order the woman to cut back on work hours and spend more time in bed. She will also be ordered to lie on her left side. If a pregnant woman lies flat on her back or more to the right side, the weight from the uterus will compress vital blood vessels, reducing valuable blood flow to the baby. If this doesn’t relieve the symptoms, the woman will almost always be confined to bed rest, either at home or in the hospital. For a lot of women this can be a problem. Like me, some women work full-time outside of the home and have commitments to the house and other family members. If caught early in the pregnancy a woman must spend months in bed. This is a very difficult situation to deal with. Boredom can set in very quickly.
But when none of these measures work and the condition gets worse, more drastic measures are taken. In my case, I was 35 weeks pregnant, 5 weeks from my due date. I had a few of the risk factors being diabetic and having mild hypertension (high blood pressure). At the same time, I also had a few things that weren’t as typical. I was 26 and this was my fourth pregnancy after two miscarriages. With the immense swelling and blood pressure reading over 200/110, my midwife became alarmed. One way a physician can test how severe preeclampsia is by checking a woman’s reflexes with the standard bump to the knee. In a woman with preeclampsia, her reaction to this tap on the knee is exaggerated. This was the case with me. I felt as though I would have knocked the air out of the midwife if she were standing in front of me! The amount of protein in my urine was also high. Normally there should be none.
I was sent to Rockdale Hospital where I was monitored closely for two days. My urine was collected over a 24-hour period for a more accurate check on my kidney function. Finally, it was determined that the preeclampsia was affecting my kidneys and the bed rest wasn’t lowering my blood pressure any. My baby would have to be delivered by cesarean section. Like in the case of a lot of babies born early, my son’s lungs weren’t mature enough for him to breathe normally on his own. He spent a week in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on a ventilator until he was able to breathe on his own. Many babies spend several weeks, or even months, on machines used to keep the baby alive.
Normally, once the baby is delivered, the symptoms of preeclampsia go away. Once again, this isn’t always the case. Some women continue with high blood pressure for some time afterwards. I was one of them. Eventually, I was placed on blood pressure medication that brought my blood pressure down and I got rid of the immense amount of excess fluid that had accumulated in my body.
Considering the seriousness of preeclampsia to both the mother and the baby, it is important for every pregnant woman to be aware of what it is and what its symptoms are. Husbands and other family members could benefit from this knowledge, as well. Early intervention can prevent serious problems in the mother and prematurity in the baby. One day, more will be known about this condition and how to treat it better. Until then, knowledge and early intervention are the best weapons we have against this serious condition.
Works Cited
“About Preeclampsia.” Preeclampsia Foundation. 2006.
“Rick Factors for Preeclampsia.” Wrong Diagnosis. 15 March 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Wow...where have I been?
It's been awhile! Well, I'm hope today with strep throat. It's really knocked the heck out of me. Working full-time, going to school full-time, taking care of two kids and a husband...yeah I'm busy
Totalled the Camry. Damn I loved that car. Some woman in an SUV hit me full speed on my way to work. Boy was I sore for a few days. The doctor thought I cracked some ribs and broke my arm, but fortunately I didn't. Just really bruised up from head to toe.
Ok, I'm going back to bed... get some sleep while I still can...
Totalled the Camry. Damn I loved that car. Some woman in an SUV hit me full speed on my way to work. Boy was I sore for a few days. The doctor thought I cracked some ribs and broke my arm, but fortunately I didn't. Just really bruised up from head to toe.
Ok, I'm going back to bed... get some sleep while I still can...
Monday, April 10, 2006
Condoleezza Rice & Hilary Clinton - Writing Essay
Condoleezza Rice & Hilary Clinton
An unprecedented Presidential election will take place in 2008 if Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senator Hillary Clinton, or both, battle it out for the title of the first female Commander-In-Chief. Just who are these two incredibly strong and powerful women? Where do they stand on today’s important issues?
Dr. Condoleezza Rice, often affectionately nicknamed “Condi,” entered humble beginnings on November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father was a minister and her mother a music teacher. In fact, her name comes from a musical expression “Con dolcezza”, meaning “with sweetness”. Her father was a peaceful man, who taught the same to his daughter.
Condi's father…told her that, in America, all things were possible, in spite of racism. When faced with racism, Condi's father took control, organized armed patrols of his neighborhood…and saw to it that his daughter received an education and excelled. Young Condi, in return, told her father that one day she would be in the White House. (“Americans for Dr. Rice” par 2)
As an adult, she went on to pursue an intensive education, beginning with a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Denver in 1974, when she was only 19 years old. She went on to obtain her master’s from the University of Notre Dame a year later and received a doctorate from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. In addition, she has received honorary doctorates from seven different universities including the University of Alabama, the University of Notre Dame, and the National Defense University. (“Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State” par. 8)
In December 2000, she was the National Security Advisor, under George W. Bush. In this role she offers advice to the president on national security issues, especially during a time of crisis. In January 2005, she was sworn in as the 66th Secretary of State. In early years, the position of Secretary of State was viewed as a stepping-stone to the presidency. Many Secretaries of State have gone on to become president, including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and others. In fact, today, the Secretary of State is fourth in line to the presidency, after the Vice-President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President pro tempore of the senate.
Secretary Rice is a Republican and believes in the concept of transformational diplomacy when it comes to foreign nations. In essence, she believes that the United States has a place in the world to help the people of other countries make the most of themselves and to become self-sufficient, productive, contributors to the world as a whole. She also believes, with regard to the war in Iraq, this is a time where the United States takes a country, once terrorized by its own dictator, and makes it an independent democracy. This is unprecedented in a historic sense. A lot of criticism arises because people do not know what the outcome will be and do not know what it takes to create a democracy. Secretary Rice believes that the United States will succeed and that credit needs to be given to the Iraqi people for their victories, as well. For the most part, she is very strong in national security issues. To her, that is one of the most important issues to be dealt with today.
Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, was born Hillary Diane Rodham in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1947. She is the oldest of three children. Her father was a textile worker, and her mother was a homemaker. Like Condoleezza, her beginnings were very humble. As a child, she was active in sports, church, school, and Girl Scouts. In high school she served as class president and won many awards.
After completing high school she enrolled at Wellesley College in Massachusetts majoring in political science. She served, at one time, as the President of the Wellesley College Chapter of the College Republicans, but as time went on her views changed and she joined the Democratic Party (Wikipedia. Par 4). In 1969, Hillary enrolled at Yale Law School to work for her Juris Doctor degree. She spent most of her time doing work with various children and migrant worker causes.
In 1975, she married fellow Yale Law School student, Bill Clinton, and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. A year later, in 1976, she joined the Rose Law Firm and became a full partner in 1979. She became the First Lady of Arkansas when her husband, Bill, was elected as governor in 1978.
When Bill Clinton was elected as President of the United States in 1992, Hillary became the first First Lady to hold a post-graduate degree. Her husband appointed her in 1993 to head up the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. She unsuccessfully worked to pass a national health care system, known as “Hillarycare.” (Wikipedia par 13) There was much controversy at the time over the First Lady having such a central role in public policy matters. In fact, many people referred to the Clinton Presidency as “Billary”, since it appeared that there were actually two presidents at that time. Also well known at the time was her husband’s infidelity, which caused quite the controversy, and led to his impeachment.
The White House changed political hands in 2000 with Republican George W. Bush elected as President. At the same time, Hillary moved to New York State, ran for a seat in the Senate, and won. She was commonly referred to as a carpetbagger, or a politician who moves someplace to exploit the natives and enrich themselves at the natives’ expense (Carpetbagger par. 9)
With regards to the military action after September 11th, Hillary expressed support for action in Afghanistan, but felt different about the United States’ involvement in Iraq. She felt that Iraq, in February 2005, was functioning well, elections had succeeded, and that the insurgency was failing. (Wikipedia par. 29) She felt as though pulling out of Iraq would be a big mistake, but felt as though the Bush administration was misguided in its commitment to stay in Iraq. This two-sided stance on Iraq has caused some war activists much frustration.
Senator Clinton’s political views are an almost opposite parallel to President Bush’s. She is against the Administration’s tax cuts, Supreme Court Judicial nominations, and the Federal Government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. She has also expressed interest in running for the Presidency in the 2008 elections.
Although Condoleezza Rice has not officially expressed interest in the 2008 Presidential elections, will her position change if Hillary Clinton is formally in the running? With the possibility of some voters in the United States intrigued by the idea of the first female president, regardless of political affiliation, will this become an advantage for the Democratic Party? Or will Secretary Rice commit to running to balance the scales? This is something that will be left to be seen in the next few years. Regardless of where you stand in your own personal political views, you have to admit that both are intelligent, well-educated, powerful women. But their political views and aspirations would make for two completely different outcomes for the United States. What it will come down to is what are the most important concerns for American’s at that time, and who stands the strongest on those issues.
Works Cited
“Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State.” The White House..
“News and Commentary Archive for December, 2005.” Americans for Dr. Rice.
“Hillary Rodham Clinton.” Wikipedia 9 April 2006
“Carpetbagger.” Wikipedia 6 April 2006
An unprecedented Presidential election will take place in 2008 if Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senator Hillary Clinton, or both, battle it out for the title of the first female Commander-In-Chief. Just who are these two incredibly strong and powerful women? Where do they stand on today’s important issues?
Dr. Condoleezza Rice, often affectionately nicknamed “Condi,” entered humble beginnings on November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father was a minister and her mother a music teacher. In fact, her name comes from a musical expression “Con dolcezza”, meaning “with sweetness”. Her father was a peaceful man, who taught the same to his daughter.
Condi's father…told her that, in America, all things were possible, in spite of racism. When faced with racism, Condi's father took control, organized armed patrols of his neighborhood…and saw to it that his daughter received an education and excelled. Young Condi, in return, told her father that one day she would be in the White House. (“Americans for Dr. Rice” par 2)
As an adult, she went on to pursue an intensive education, beginning with a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Denver in 1974, when she was only 19 years old. She went on to obtain her master’s from the University of Notre Dame a year later and received a doctorate from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. In addition, she has received honorary doctorates from seven different universities including the University of Alabama, the University of Notre Dame, and the National Defense University. (“Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State” par. 8)
In December 2000, she was the National Security Advisor, under George W. Bush. In this role she offers advice to the president on national security issues, especially during a time of crisis. In January 2005, she was sworn in as the 66th Secretary of State. In early years, the position of Secretary of State was viewed as a stepping-stone to the presidency. Many Secretaries of State have gone on to become president, including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and others. In fact, today, the Secretary of State is fourth in line to the presidency, after the Vice-President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President pro tempore of the senate.
Secretary Rice is a Republican and believes in the concept of transformational diplomacy when it comes to foreign nations. In essence, she believes that the United States has a place in the world to help the people of other countries make the most of themselves and to become self-sufficient, productive, contributors to the world as a whole. She also believes, with regard to the war in Iraq, this is a time where the United States takes a country, once terrorized by its own dictator, and makes it an independent democracy. This is unprecedented in a historic sense. A lot of criticism arises because people do not know what the outcome will be and do not know what it takes to create a democracy. Secretary Rice believes that the United States will succeed and that credit needs to be given to the Iraqi people for their victories, as well. For the most part, she is very strong in national security issues. To her, that is one of the most important issues to be dealt with today.
Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, was born Hillary Diane Rodham in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1947. She is the oldest of three children. Her father was a textile worker, and her mother was a homemaker. Like Condoleezza, her beginnings were very humble. As a child, she was active in sports, church, school, and Girl Scouts. In high school she served as class president and won many awards.
After completing high school she enrolled at Wellesley College in Massachusetts majoring in political science. She served, at one time, as the President of the Wellesley College Chapter of the College Republicans, but as time went on her views changed and she joined the Democratic Party (Wikipedia. Par 4). In 1969, Hillary enrolled at Yale Law School to work for her Juris Doctor degree. She spent most of her time doing work with various children and migrant worker causes.
In 1975, she married fellow Yale Law School student, Bill Clinton, and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. A year later, in 1976, she joined the Rose Law Firm and became a full partner in 1979. She became the First Lady of Arkansas when her husband, Bill, was elected as governor in 1978.
When Bill Clinton was elected as President of the United States in 1992, Hillary became the first First Lady to hold a post-graduate degree. Her husband appointed her in 1993 to head up the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. She unsuccessfully worked to pass a national health care system, known as “Hillarycare.” (Wikipedia par 13) There was much controversy at the time over the First Lady having such a central role in public policy matters. In fact, many people referred to the Clinton Presidency as “Billary”, since it appeared that there were actually two presidents at that time. Also well known at the time was her husband’s infidelity, which caused quite the controversy, and led to his impeachment.
The White House changed political hands in 2000 with Republican George W. Bush elected as President. At the same time, Hillary moved to New York State, ran for a seat in the Senate, and won. She was commonly referred to as a carpetbagger, or a politician who moves someplace to exploit the natives and enrich themselves at the natives’ expense (Carpetbagger par. 9)
With regards to the military action after September 11th, Hillary expressed support for action in Afghanistan, but felt different about the United States’ involvement in Iraq. She felt that Iraq, in February 2005, was functioning well, elections had succeeded, and that the insurgency was failing. (Wikipedia par. 29) She felt as though pulling out of Iraq would be a big mistake, but felt as though the Bush administration was misguided in its commitment to stay in Iraq. This two-sided stance on Iraq has caused some war activists much frustration.
Senator Clinton’s political views are an almost opposite parallel to President Bush’s. She is against the Administration’s tax cuts, Supreme Court Judicial nominations, and the Federal Government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. She has also expressed interest in running for the Presidency in the 2008 elections.
Although Condoleezza Rice has not officially expressed interest in the 2008 Presidential elections, will her position change if Hillary Clinton is formally in the running? With the possibility of some voters in the United States intrigued by the idea of the first female president, regardless of political affiliation, will this become an advantage for the Democratic Party? Or will Secretary Rice commit to running to balance the scales? This is something that will be left to be seen in the next few years. Regardless of where you stand in your own personal political views, you have to admit that both are intelligent, well-educated, powerful women. But their political views and aspirations would make for two completely different outcomes for the United States. What it will come down to is what are the most important concerns for American’s at that time, and who stands the strongest on those issues.
Works Cited
“Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State.” The White House.
“News and Commentary Archive for December, 2005.” Americans for Dr. Rice.
“Hillary Rodham Clinton.” Wikipedia 9 April 2006
“Carpetbagger.” Wikipedia 6 April 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
School Vouchers should be used in Georgia’s Schools - Writing Essay
School Vouchers should be used in Georgia’s Schools
As the parent of an elementary school age child, I find myself with a wealth of concerns regarding my child’s education. Will he receive an education competitive with other schools in the area? Is his school safe? The deplorable spread of drug-use, crime, and promiscuity in public schools means that my child is exposed to an environment that is anything but conductive to his education. Does the school share the same concerns that I do, as a parent? If the answer is no, then my only other options are sending him to a private school, which I cannot afford; or to have him home schooled, which isn’t feasible given the fact that my husband and I both work full-time and I also attend college. So what am I left with? Nothing. But if school vouchers were used in the State of Georgia, there would be one more option available to me that could more realistically be utilized that would benefit our whole family, and many other Georgians.
There is a large degree of controversy surrounding school vouchers. Much of the controversy arises from individuals worried that it will force atheist children, for example, to be exposed to a religious education. Or that it would put more favoritism on religious private schools. This is not the case however. Although, attending a religious school would still be an option, it is not the only one. Traditional schools still exist. School vouchers would create a competitive environment, much like the retail market in the United States.
Take for example Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and a Christian bookstore. You can find a book at all three of these stores. You have the right to choose where you want to purchase your book. You can purchase a book from a limited, but lower priced selection at Wal-Mart. But you might not get exactly what you are looking for, therefore the money you spent on a lower priced novel was a waste. The Christian bookstore is still an option, but for the sake of argument let’s say that what you are looking for isn’t a book with a religious theme. Because you are free to choose you do not have to purchase your book there. Based on what you know about Barnes & Noble you decide to purchase a book there. It offers the wide selection that you are looking for, and doesn’t subject you to anything you do not believe in. This is similar to how the educational system would work under the school voucher system. You can take your money and apply it to the school that is most fit for your child’s education.
Competition is another parallel between the school voucher system and the retail market. Great customer service and products that are safe and reliable tend to be successful in the United States. Why should a child’s education be any different? If schools had to compete with every other school in any given area for higher enrollment, and subsequently higher revenue, the result would be a better education available to all children. Not just minorities, not just Christians, not just the upper class. All children. I don’t see the prejudice in that. What I see is a more successful educational system across Georgia, and the United States, producing higher-achieving, more intelligent individuals entering adulthood.
With the freedom to choose which school your child attends, also comes the freedom to live where you see fit. How many times, during a new home search, do people inquire about the school system? What if the perfect home in a perfect neighborhood comes along with the perfect price? Do you turn away from this dream because the school system is substandard? With school voucher system, you are free to live wherever you want, without the concerns of whether or not the closest school is right for your child. From my own personal experience, this makes purchasing a new home much easier. During my own new home search, I was appalled at the limited area I had to work with to keep my child in a particular school district. But just a mile away was the “perfect house” in a worse school district.
Vouchers are not about handouts for the poor, or even for the rich. It is about opening the doors to more educational opportunities. Some private schools may find that they have to raise tuition costs to offset any possible spike in enrollment, but they have that right. With the increase in competition with private schools, public schools will need to increase the quality of the education being given to children. For families on the lower end of the income spectrum it means a decent education, once only offered from private schools. Under the current system, public schools do not have much incentive to raise test scores or to provide a better learning environment. They only do enough to pass, as an entire school, the minimum guidelines set forth by the state. But given competition and an incentive to higher enrollment, higher revenue, and possibly even higher pay, you will find a surge in their efforts. Very similar to the way that states across the United States work to move to the top of the list when it comes to standardized test scores. Private schools will not be the only option parents have for their children’s higher education. It can be provided by public schools whom step up their efforts. As opposed to the system today, where your child often receives a substandard education and there isn’t much say you have in the matter.
They say that children are our future. If we, as a country, expect to move to the front of the line in a world full of ever increasingly more intelligent individuals, we need to make a change with our own educational system. Funneling more and more dollars to failing schools is not the answer for all American children. I believe that a more competitive educational environment is the first, and most productive step, in the right direction. All families should have the right to select which school their child attends, based on their own educational goals, personal values, and beliefs. School vouchers provide just that. A step in the right direction.
As the parent of an elementary school age child, I find myself with a wealth of concerns regarding my child’s education. Will he receive an education competitive with other schools in the area? Is his school safe? The deplorable spread of drug-use, crime, and promiscuity in public schools means that my child is exposed to an environment that is anything but conductive to his education. Does the school share the same concerns that I do, as a parent? If the answer is no, then my only other options are sending him to a private school, which I cannot afford; or to have him home schooled, which isn’t feasible given the fact that my husband and I both work full-time and I also attend college. So what am I left with? Nothing. But if school vouchers were used in the State of Georgia, there would be one more option available to me that could more realistically be utilized that would benefit our whole family, and many other Georgians.
There is a large degree of controversy surrounding school vouchers. Much of the controversy arises from individuals worried that it will force atheist children, for example, to be exposed to a religious education. Or that it would put more favoritism on religious private schools. This is not the case however. Although, attending a religious school would still be an option, it is not the only one. Traditional schools still exist. School vouchers would create a competitive environment, much like the retail market in the United States.
Take for example Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and a Christian bookstore. You can find a book at all three of these stores. You have the right to choose where you want to purchase your book. You can purchase a book from a limited, but lower priced selection at Wal-Mart. But you might not get exactly what you are looking for, therefore the money you spent on a lower priced novel was a waste. The Christian bookstore is still an option, but for the sake of argument let’s say that what you are looking for isn’t a book with a religious theme. Because you are free to choose you do not have to purchase your book there. Based on what you know about Barnes & Noble you decide to purchase a book there. It offers the wide selection that you are looking for, and doesn’t subject you to anything you do not believe in. This is similar to how the educational system would work under the school voucher system. You can take your money and apply it to the school that is most fit for your child’s education.
Competition is another parallel between the school voucher system and the retail market. Great customer service and products that are safe and reliable tend to be successful in the United States. Why should a child’s education be any different? If schools had to compete with every other school in any given area for higher enrollment, and subsequently higher revenue, the result would be a better education available to all children. Not just minorities, not just Christians, not just the upper class. All children. I don’t see the prejudice in that. What I see is a more successful educational system across Georgia, and the United States, producing higher-achieving, more intelligent individuals entering adulthood.
With the freedom to choose which school your child attends, also comes the freedom to live where you see fit. How many times, during a new home search, do people inquire about the school system? What if the perfect home in a perfect neighborhood comes along with the perfect price? Do you turn away from this dream because the school system is substandard? With school voucher system, you are free to live wherever you want, without the concerns of whether or not the closest school is right for your child. From my own personal experience, this makes purchasing a new home much easier. During my own new home search, I was appalled at the limited area I had to work with to keep my child in a particular school district. But just a mile away was the “perfect house” in a worse school district.
Vouchers are not about handouts for the poor, or even for the rich. It is about opening the doors to more educational opportunities. Some private schools may find that they have to raise tuition costs to offset any possible spike in enrollment, but they have that right. With the increase in competition with private schools, public schools will need to increase the quality of the education being given to children. For families on the lower end of the income spectrum it means a decent education, once only offered from private schools. Under the current system, public schools do not have much incentive to raise test scores or to provide a better learning environment. They only do enough to pass, as an entire school, the minimum guidelines set forth by the state. But given competition and an incentive to higher enrollment, higher revenue, and possibly even higher pay, you will find a surge in their efforts. Very similar to the way that states across the United States work to move to the top of the list when it comes to standardized test scores. Private schools will not be the only option parents have for their children’s higher education. It can be provided by public schools whom step up their efforts. As opposed to the system today, where your child often receives a substandard education and there isn’t much say you have in the matter.
They say that children are our future. If we, as a country, expect to move to the front of the line in a world full of ever increasingly more intelligent individuals, we need to make a change with our own educational system. Funneling more and more dollars to failing schools is not the answer for all American children. I believe that a more competitive educational environment is the first, and most productive step, in the right direction. All families should have the right to select which school their child attends, based on their own educational goals, personal values, and beliefs. School vouchers provide just that. A step in the right direction.
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