Abstract This paper examines how both Jerome Bruner and E.D. Hirsch, Jr. have made significant contributions to the public discourse surrounding education. It looks at how Bruner's "The Process of Education", first published in the 1960s has greatly influenced the development of today's curriculum, and how, in his book, "Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know". Hirsch argues that the current curriculum fails to provide today's students with the cultural literacy that they need to communicate effectively. It summarizes and analyzes the contribution of both of these authors and their respective works in relation to the field of educational curriculum development.
From the Paper "Bruner notes that when students understand the structure of a subject, they can then relate this information to a large number of other things that may seem unrelated. He uses the structural concept of tropism in biology to make this point. Tropism is simply the involuntary tendency of an organism to orient toward or away from external stimuli. He notes that tropism occurs when the swarm density of locusts is related to temperature, and the movement of insects to different altitudes is related to their preferred oxygen content (thus preventing cross breeding). As such, he notes that understanding the fundamental concept of tropism allows students to understand a large number of phenomena within the biological realm."
Abstract E.D. Hirsch asserts that there are basic cultural concepts and ideas that must be known in order to communicate and thrive in ones community. This paper gives a brief history of the author and analyzes his idea that modern education is a failure since it does not leave students culturally literate. The paper concludes that education should be modified to allow for intergenerational knowledge.
From the Paper "In his book Cultural Literacy, subtitled "What Every American Needs to Know," E.D. Hirsch Jr. begins with the fact that there are certain ideas and certain facts which we all assume that other people know. When we talk to people and make certain cultural references, we expect to be understood (assuming we are speaking to someone also from this same culture, of course). In the course of his book, though, Hirsch shifts from what we expect people know to his subtitle, detailing what he believes every American should know in order to be an American citizen."
Abstract This paper uses Foster Hirsch's book "The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir", which characterizes and identifies film noir by certain stylistic conventions, to review the film "The Naked City". The author looks at Hirsch's key elements of film noir in order to examine whether "The Naked City" fits the criteria. The writer concludes that "The Naked City", although not specifically a film noir, it does have many elements of film noir.
From the Paper "Hirsch notes that the film noir often uses "a jumbled time sequence" to "support the characterizations, which are also, and often spectacularly, crooked rather than straight, devious rather than forthright" (74). This usually applies to the protagonist, but in The Naked City, the protagonists are police officers and honest ones at that. They have no reason to be devious, but those they are investigating do. Significantly, it is the character of Frank Niles, the seemingly honest man who is anything but, who is depicted in a flashback as he tells his story. This time shift has the effect of emphasizing his deviousness and his basic dishonesty."
This paper discusses that, while modern day discoveries of new carbon allotropes are reported, the characterization of allotropy remains ambiguous as the definition of what constitutes an allotrope is under debate.
Abstract This paper explains that the linear sp carbon of Lagow's proposed length and structure is contradicted by the unlikelihood of such a stable, long chain allotrope, granting more validity to Hirsch's argument against the existence of Lagow's carbon allotrope. The author points out that controversy arises because, while they do not directly fit the definition of allotropes, non-molecular allotropes like diamond and graphite will terminate with other elements (so no longer a pure element) to become stable. The paper concludes that future scientific work in this area is required to determine a true carbon sp allotrope of usable stability, if one exists, but at this time, Hirsch's position remains the more plausible basis of allotropic characterization.
From the Paper "The IUPAC Red Book defines allotropes as ?different structural modifications of [an] element,? with allotropic transition considered the "transition of a pure element, at a defined temperature and pressure, from one crystal structure to another which contains the same atoms but which has different properties". This definition excludes ozone and oxygen, and does not discuss the classification of carbon allotropes, which can be examined on the basis of the hybridization of their valence orbitals. More modern definitions include the classification of tin where one allotrope is a covalently bonded solid and the other a metal, and differentiate between allotropic molecules, such as dioxygen, infinite covalent solids, like diamond, and infinite, covalently bonded layers with weak intermolecular forces, as seen with graphite. There are also materials that crystallize where the covalent bonding between the elements is unchanged, which are termed polymorphs rather than true allotropes."
Abstract In the book, "Doing Justice", by Andrew Von Hirsch, the theory of retribution is re-addressed. The writer points out how it is Von Hirsch's belief that the purpose of the penal system is to provide punishment proportionate to the crime. The paper explains how the book takes retributivism one step further, arguing that the criminal who breaks the law is taking advantage of the law-abiding citizen and that a proportionate punishment restores the balance to society. It proposes that both benefits and burdens of the system would be limited if the time spent incarcerated was limited.
From the Paper "Justice is an ambiguous term that refers to a sense of equality and 'fairness'. Social justice refers to the way in which this ideological term is put into practice. At its most basic level, social justice is the way in which a community is governed: the laws, norms and sanctions that are put into place according to the form of government. With criminal behavior, the issues of safety and moral decision-making become an important component of the debate. If crime is considered an environmentally caused event, as opposed to a personal characteristic and, or, choice, then the type of system is needs to be re-evaluated and reconstructed. The importance of commitment in conventional social control is well established, however, there has recently been an increase in interest and a 'reframing' of many of the core concepts associated with "the need to settle a score" or punishment. Commitment has come to mean the same thing as incarcerated when viewed from certain philosophical tenets."
Abstract This paper discusses Sutherland's Social Process theories and Hirsch's Social Control theory. It explains why people commit crime according to these theories, discusses the notions behind these theories, discusses their policy implications, and notes how the theories have been modified over the years.
From the Paper "Sutherland's Differential Association Theory suggests that people commit crime by learning in a social context through their interactions with others and communication with them. He believed criminal behavior is learned by interaction with others and this includes learning the techniques of committing the crime and the motives, drives, rationalizations and attitudes for committing it. This is due to their definition of legal codes as being favorable or unfavorable and so if someone believes the legal codes are unfavorable they will be more likely to commit a crime..."
A review of a book on the language of infants and toddlers by Roberta Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, entitled "How Babies Talk: The Magic and Mystery of Language in the First Three Years of Life".
Abstract This paper discusses the book "How Babies Talk: The Magic and Mystery of Language in the First Three Years of Life" by Roberta Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsch-Pasek." It explains that the book is geared toward parents with infants who are interested in tracking how their children learn language. The paper looks at a portion of this book which is devoted to "experiments" that parents can do with their children. This also paper examines the style in which the book is written, the language used and the use of humour. Overall the writer was not impressed with this book and feels that it adds very little to the study of language development.
Outline:
Overview
In Utero
Tactile Learning
Babbling and Other Things
Toddlers
Conclusion
From the Paper "The authors of this book, Roberta Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, claim that the fetus is being prepared to hear "the contours of our voice and the cadences of speech without ever hearing words the way that we do" (13). The words that the fetus hears, the authors state, is like the swimming pool game of guessing words spoken underwater.It is possible to hear the syllables and pitch of those words, but in most cases the words are indistinct at best. Using an experiment that monitored fetal heart rate, which declines initially before rising again when the fetus is exposed to a new experience, researchers found that babies can even differentiate between new sounds even in the uterus (14-15). Other experiments revealed that the fetus could determine differences in music and in poetry as well."
Tags: childern, speaking, sounds, music, development
Abstract This paper explores the legal, political, and personal effects and challenges of public charter schools. While taking an advocacy position, the paper examines opposition points of view and case history in detail.
From the Paper "Philosophically, charter schools employ a wide variety of educational theories and instructional approaches. While some apply an open or experiential learning philosophy, emphasizing experiences rather than knowledge, (Toch, 1996), others use academically oriented curricula and a highly structured learning environment, while still others blend these philosophies. Besides the freedom to experiment with a variety of materials, approaches and theories, charter schools also have several other key differences from their more traditional public school counterparts."
An in-depth look at the Protestant influence in post World War I Germany, and its involvement in the demise of the Wiemar Republic and the resulting rise to power of Adolph Hitler.
2,150 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 8 sources, 2001, $ 67.95
Abstract In this paper the author examines the role of Protestantism, in particular the Lutherans, in post WWI Germany and how they helped lead to the downfall of the Wiemar Republic and the raise of Hitler's Germany. The author pays particular attention to the groundwork laid by Martin Luther, the influence of the theological leaders of the 1920?s, the role of other major Protestant religions of Germany, and the factors affecting the Protestant German citizens of the time.
From the paper:
?The groundwork for the Protestant role in these historical events began with the writings of Martin Luther. German Protestants of the 1920?s, even those who were not Lutheran, felt a special bond with him. This tendency was reinforced by theological beliefs of the average Lutheran of the day and the feeling that German people had an especially strong bond with their homeland, a bond stronger than many other people of the world.?
Abstract An examination of two methods of teaching, backed up by ideas of leaders in the education field, showing the different ways that a student can be taught, with the pros and cons of each. The paper discusses the views of Prof. E.D. Hirsch who believes in a stronger emphasis on phonics, memorization, and the use of standardized tests to reach a more equal education for rich and poor students alike, versus the opinion of Prof. Howard Gardner who disagrees with this approach and believes that students should be taught how to answer tough critical thinking questions.
From the Paper "Hirsch has an uncompromising style of writing. He uses many different methods to explain his view. First, he uses many different outside sources, such as a Coleman report and makes a reference to Antonio Gramsci a communist opponent of Mussolini (Hirsch 475). Secondly, he blames the current failures of the schools on the Democrats. He does this by referring to some current education trends. This helps support his view, but it comes across as mudslinging."
Tags: education, learning, methods, The, New, York, Times
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the work of Samson Raphael Hirsch and Nachman Krochmal with reference to the political realities of the State of Israel. The plan of the research will be to set forth the context in which the views of Hirsch and Krochmal emerged vis-a-vis the concept of a Jewish state, and then to discuss nationhood, culture, and human experience that mark that concept and provide relevance for their views in the modern period.
To discuss Hirsch and Krochmal with regard to a modern Israel is to note that their intellectual work must be regarded as foundational. Much that is now presumed to be philosophically sound and generally accepted by Jewish tradition regarding the rationale for a Jewish homeland was by and large unthinkable in the early 19th century, when they were elaborating their views of...:"
Abstract This paper presents a discussion of narrative and depictions of the 'other' as viewed in John Edgar Wideman's "Our Time," a section of his book that lends a voice to his brother Robert.
From the Paper "The past and its memories are often textualized in written works whose authors are not detached observers primarily due to human limitations. These limitations pertain to subjective interpretation accuracy of memory ..."
