The United Kingdom Essays -- England Economy Politics History Essays

The United Kingdom   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It ranks as one of the world?s most historic cities, tracing its roots back nearly 2000 years. London has long been a great world port and trading center. The port of London consists of two huge docks and 43 miles of wharves along the Thames River. London also has a remarkable transportation system. Expressways, and underground and surface railways carry more than one million commuters between the outlying areas and central London each workday. More than 350,000 commuters travel by subway, about 400,000 take surface trains and more than 100,000 go by bus. About 100,000 people drive their cars to work. The London subway system (the ?tube?), is the largest subway system in the world. It includes over 100 miles of underground rail lines. London?s famous double decker busses are an excellent source of transportation within the central section of the city.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United Kingdom has an area of 244,111 square km and a population of 57,591,677. It?s population density is 241 people per square kilometer. 89% of the United Kingdom?s population is urban. The United Kingdom has a large portion of flat rolling relief, making it ideal for the 11% of the population that is involved in farming. The UK has about 240,000 farms, which average about 175 acres in size. 25% of the UK?s land is arable and the chief agricultural products are wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, livestock and dairy products. The United Kingdom?s currency is the British pound, which is equivalent to 2.45 Canadian dollars.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United Kingdom is a member of the European Community. All members of this community are engaged in forming a single market for their economic resources. Forming one market, without artificial barriers to trade and investment, the member nations are able to increase their economic efficiency and raise their citizens? standards of living. The members of the community are Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. In 1993, the member nations of the European Community formed the European Union. The union consists of three components. One is the European Community. The others are a common Foreign and security policy and Justice and Home Affairs (this involves cooperation on such issues as crime and imm... ...on, more than the combined shares of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. ?All that we expect as a major company is here in the UK.?- Michael Morgan, President and CEO, Starpak inc. When analyzing the various aspects of the United Kingdom, it becomes evident that the UK has many significant advantages over other countries and holds the traits necessary for future expansion. A politically stable and extremely well organized system of government, great relationships and trading arrangements with other nations, tax breaks awarded to new companies and an abundance of skilled workers, are all among the UK?s benefits. The UK is also self-sufficient energy-wise and has a remarkable transportation system. Investing in the UK may be one of the smartest things you have ever done. It is one of the most sound and secure investments available. The best combination of benefits that offer pro-business conditions, work-force cost efficiency and flexibility, minimum risk, and maximum botto m line return are readily available in the UK. ?Britain draws more foreign investment in new factories, research centers and other business operations than any other country in Europe.? The New York Times

The Issue of Student Preparedness

The article titled â€Å"Teaching Responsibility† deals with the issue of student preparedness after high school. The article brings up the recent case of Jonathan Govias who is suing his private high school stating that the school did not prepare him for university. The article goes on to give two examples, one in Virginia and one in Ontario of how these types of problems are being dealt with. The editor agrees s that the school system should be held more responsible for its graduates, but makes it clear that lawyers only complicate matters. I believe that Jonathan Govias† case should be heard in a court of law due to the fact that schools have a certain responsibility and if it is not met then something needs to be done about it. I am in total disagreement with the Ontario†s school plan to get rid of this problem and am a total fan of the Virginia pilot project, because unlike the Ontario plan they are actually looking to help the students and not their own pockets. After dropping out of his first year engineering program at the university of Alberta, Jonathan Govias decided to sue his alma mater for a total of $140,000 claiming that the school failed to fully prepare him for what university had in store for him. Jonathan attended a private school, and as we all know private schools charge a large amount of money in order to provide a better education for its students. That is why parents enroll their children in private schools. Jonathan after graduating got accepted in the engineering program, which is a hard program to get into since a high average is necessary. Private education costs money, therefore making it a business that provides services and like any other business should be held responsible if their services fail, or does not meet the standard that the school promises to meet. I believe that the school is very much responsible for Jonathan†s post secondary education. Private schools take pride in the fact that they can provide a better education than public schools and that they prepare their students with the tools they need to survive in the university world. It is also important to note that this case has not yet been decided in favor of Jonathan and that Jonathan should be given a chance to prove himself. The fact that this action against the private school is taking place shows that Jonathan has just cause for his decision to take his case before the judge. The next area the editor deals with is what Ontario is doing to solve the problem of student preparedness. A key performance indicator review will soon be in effect. This review will look at the employment rate of the former students as well as a survey of what employers think of the quality of the graduates. In the end it is said that up to six percent of a college†s provincial government funding will be affected by these results. This way the schools with successful students will get more funding, where as the schools who do not do well will be faced with cutbacks. Cutbacks in any way shape or form are a bad thing. We are already facing cutbacks in the elementary, junior high and high school levels. These cutbacks are the direct reason for the lack of student preparedness, and now community colleges are in for it. It is interesting that Ontario is going to enforce these rules to community colleges and not to universities. I would like to know why. I do not see how cutbacks are going to help a college that already is not doing well. You might as well shut the school down because with these cutbacks that Ontario has in store for the colleges, the school might as well close its doors. On the other hand Virginia has come up with an idea that will help its students. In order for the schools to be held accountable they have come up with a pilot project that provides its students with educational warranties. This way if a student requires remedial education within two years, the school board will cover the costs. This is how Virginia is dealing with the graduate†s lack of basic skills. This plan by Virginia seems to me to be a better way to make a difference, and shows that they are putting their students first. First thing I would like to point out is that the plan by Virginia is a pilot project, meaning that it is currently at its test phase, therefore we must wait for the results to see if it is a plan to be adopted by all school board districts. With that in mind the pilot project is still a great idea. For one it holds the schools responsible for their actions and keeps a close eye on the schools performance but does not have cut backs in mind. Students are now given a second chance to make things right. It is known that the high school years are hard on adolescence and that many find it hard to cope with the changes that are constantly taking place. Unlike the Ontario plan this projects does not close any doors on its students. The pilot project undertaken in Virginia gets the thumbs; up because it puts the students first by providing them with a chance at a good education, which in the end is the soul purpose of an educational institution. â€Å"Study hard† parents tell you. All your life you hear that in order to succeed in life you must study hard, get a good education and make something of yourself. One must not forget that the school is also responsible for its actions and responsible for providing a usable education. Unfortunately these days the high school diploma does not matter much to people, it is the post-secondary piece of paper that counts. Well obviously one needs a proper high school education in order to be able to survive in the post-secondary world. We as a society need to be concerned with the lack of student preparedness. These students lacking basic skills are going to run the future world. We need to nip this problem through the use of projects such as the one introduced in Virginia. As we enter the millenium, we need to understand that investments in our future are crucial. By providing a better education we prepare our children for all the advancements that we are headed for.

Quotations to Inspire Teachers

Inspired teachers are exceptional teachers, and they change lives. When you need a little inspiration, or if you know a teacher who does, an uplifting quotation can do the job. Make a poster for the teachers lounge, send a text or card, find one that speaks to you as a mantra, be creative. Quotes for Teachers These will get you started: The job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in themselves.—Joseph CampbellI am not a teacher, but an awakener. —Robert FrostWhere there is an open mind there will always be a frontier. —Charles F. KetteringTeachers open the door. You enter by yourself. —Chinese ProverbAwaken peoples curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark.—Anatole FranceLife is amazing: and the teacher had better prepare himself to be a medium for that amazement.—Edward BlishenIt is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.—Albert EinsteinAn understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of t he child.—Carl JungI cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think. —SocratesThe art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. —Mark Van DorenAnyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.—Henry FordThe mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.—William Arthur WardWhat the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.—Soren KierkegaardGood teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers.—Josef Albers​We think of the effective teachers we have had over the years with a sense of recognition, but those who have touched our humanity we remember with a deep sense of gratitude. —Anonymous StudentWhatever you teach, be brief; what is quickly said the mind readily receives and faithfully retains, while everything superfluous runs over as from a full conta iner. Who knows much says least.—Author UnknownBe not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.—Thomas A. KempisWho dares to teach must never cease to learn.—John C. DanaIf a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didnt want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teachers job.—Donald D. QuinnTeachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.—Author UnknownTeachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.—Aut hor UnknownOne must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty, until you try.—SophoclesThe aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.—Bill BeattieHe who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes. But he who never asks a question remains a fool forever.—Tom J. Connelly