Effects Of The Millenium Dome On Tourism Tourism Essay Example

Effects Of The Millenium Dome On Tourism Tourism Essay 1 Introduction: Many undertakings all round the universe has built and designed through schemes and for different aims. For illustration, the Eiffel tower in Paris was built for the universe exhibition of 1889. The aim of this construction was to demo the universe how France has improved in engineering and beauty. Another illustration is the Sydney Opera House, after the Second World War the Australians realized that the state needs a world-class opera house to increase their repute ( A position on citation ) . The same thing happened in London, when British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed the program to work the new millenary to construct an building for the state in this juncture. Therefore, they call it The Millennium Dome. Project Management stages were used in those undertakings. The Millennium Dome besides passed through the Project Management phases which all undertakings should go through through it to make their ends. These stages are concept, feasibleness, undertaking definition, development, production, operation and expiration. This called The Project Life Cycle. The Millennium Dome faced different environmental issues, besides jobs which slowed the attack of making the aims which will be discussed in this study. This study will exemplify how to get the better of these jobs and get by with several sorts of undertakings environment. However, to find these troubles, really elaborate information demand to be mentioned within the study. This information will be collected from different resources such as cyberspace, picture, media, diaries and books. 2 Concept: Although, the thought of the Millennium Dome saw the visible radiation when John Major s authorities considered constructing a construction to tag the new millenary, It had non existed before the election of the British President Tony Blair took topographic point. After that the authorities agreed the execution and made it in his precedences. They started be aftering the undertaking in 1997. Therefore, they had four old ages for the undertaking to be done ( Carling A ; Seely, 1998 ) . The purpose was really clear as it mentioned before to construct a construction which tantrum with the millenary juncture. Besides, breathe life and activity to an country of London, located in the south-east of the capital called Greenwich. 3 Feasibility: We will write a custom essay sample on Effects Of The Millenium Dome On Tourism Tourism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Effects Of The Millenium Dome On Tourism Tourism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Effects Of The Millenium Dome On Tourism Tourism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To get down large undertakings there are some issues need to be thought about and taken into consideration like the location, where to construct this construction. Furthermore, the most of import thing before get downing a undertaking is to see the feasibleness of the undertaking and whether it can be done in the current fortunes. Who are the stakeholders? What are the critical success factors? When it should be finished? Besides, when it should be ready to host visitants? The fiscal issues should be discussed and from where it will be provided? Who is traveling to put to death this undertaking? Does he hold sufficient experience and the necessary factors for success to set about this undertaking? Are his old undertakings and their successes show how expert is he? What are the preliminary hazards? Is at that place adequate clip and budget to near the coveted public presentation? Besides, believing about a preliminary rating of option in instance something happened before, during or a fter the executing. The so Prim Minister Tony Blair said the dome would be a symbol of British assurance and escapade. By giving the green visible radiation for get downing the Millennium Dome in 1997, the deadline clip for the undertaking was known at the terminal of the twelvemonth 1999. Then looking for the optimum location has been started. It will be on the Greenwich peninsula in the south E of London. The support for this undertaking has been ensured by the authorities and from three committees. First, the Millennium Commission which funded the Millennium Dome Project of ?649 1000000s in entire. Second, sponsorship estimated income ?175 1000000s for 14 zones. Last, the 12 1000000s paying visitants was the estimated figure of visitants which faced resistances and described as ambitious expected figure. ( GENERAL, 2000 ) 4 Definition: The Millennium Dome Project was implemented by a major attempt from the undertaking organisation which was being supervised by the British Government. This organisation was composed of The New Millennium Experience Company ( NMEC ) this organisation was given the duty to run the millenary experience. This company was established by the authorities in February 1997, therefore it is owned by the authorities. Besides, edifice and runing the Millennium Dome. English Partnerships, the responsibility of this company was to pull off the competition for the hereafter usage of the Millennium Dome. In add-on, to give advises to the curates on competition s issues and information that they need to do determinations on the hereafter of the Dome. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions ( DETR ) was responsible to command and ease the issues related to these facets. The Millennium Commission, it was established in 1994 under the national lottery to fund and back up the communities to observe the 3rd millenary. The responsible for museums, galleries, libraries, the heritage, the humanistic disciplines, athleticss, instruction, broadcast medium, the media and touristry for the Millennium was The Department for Culture, Media and Sport ( DCMS ) . Finally, The National Audit Office ( NAO ) who have to present a study to the parliament about the authorities money, how and where it is spent ( who s who? ) . The authorities and these sections formed The Millennium Dome Project Organization. This type of organisations called Matrix Organizations which allow the undertaking director to concentrate on the undertaking and the undertaking work merely every bit in a undertaking organisation. The undertaking squad is free to concentrate on the undertaking objectives with minimum distractions from the functional section ( Heldman, Baca, A ; Jansen, 2007 ) . This undertaking focused on three chief stakeholders. Tourism, were the most of import manner for acquiring benefits from the undertaking by the paying visitants whether from inside or outside the state. The authorities which was oversing the undertaking. Besides, they were besides interested in how the undertaking attracts tourers and how it reflects the image of the state. In add-on, the patrons were of import for the Undertaking and the advertizement. The Millennium Experience was wanted to be attractive, inspirational, entertaining, educational and involved visitants and participants. Besides, seeks to consolidate the state s location between the peoples of the universe. Besides there were more aims for the company to be done such as, to present the undertaking in specific clip and within an estimated budget to construct and run the Dome. The Government ensured to fund the undertaking if any jobs appeared. This measure came after they failed to pull private backup for the proposed undertaking. It was funded by private sponsorship such as British Airways, National Lottery grants were provided by the Millennium Commission, a non-departmental public organic structure chaired by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and admission tickets. 12 million of visits should be achieved by the terminal of the twelvemonth 2000, which is the estimated figure of visitants. Value for money should be delivered to the Millennium Commi ssion, patrons and paying visitants. Best utilizing of British and international originative endowment and the latest art of engineering should be made in this juncture ( The Dome: Who runs it? ) . 5 Execution: The undertaking started in 1997, the involved committees were runing harmonizing to the program, budget and schemes which developed by the implemented company NMEC. Finally, The Millennium Dome Project has finished and opened his Gatess on clip. It is the largest single-roofed construction in the universe. It besides has become one of the United Kingdom s most recognizable landmarks. However, positions differed on whether the undertaking is successful or non. However, to cognize that, analyzing whether the undertaking has succeeded in carry throughing the demands and aims for which it was conducted within the clip agreed upon and the estimated costs and the quality of public presentation which pleased the undertaking s stakeholders. The reply seems varies depending on which stakeholder was asked ( Ammar, 2007 ) . Content has been showed by people who visited the Millennium celebrations, whilst it did non pleased the imperativeness and termed it a failure. However, as a undertaking di rector looking to the three chief facets Time, Cost and Quality is the right manner to knock a undertaking. 6 Success: The Millennium Dome as edifice is impressive as it is considered the largest individual roof construction in the universe. Despite its size, the air contained within the edifice is heavier than the roof itself. The Dome is subdivided into 14 zones. Each zone contains different life facets such as instruction, finance, journey, amusement and religion. ( Ammar, 2007 ) There is no uncertainty about naming The Millennium Dome Project a successful in footings of clip. Opening on clip was a major accomplishment it self. Very big figure of paying visitants was attracted to the Dome, by June the record for 1999 ( 2.65 million ) for a UK pay-to-visit attractive force has been beaten. A recent study showed that the satisfaction was shown on 87 % of the visitants with their visit and 86 % were satisfied with the provided services by the Dome s hosts ( GENERAL, 2000 ) . Construction of the undertaking in the Greenwich peninsula country has breathed life and activity back to the country after being for a period of clip one of the most contaminated country in Europe because of a gasworks had contaminated the dirt up to a deepness of 14 metres ( Millennium Dome Construction ) . 7 Failure: 7.1 Fiscal Failure: The Millennium Dome undertaking was one of the most controversial public works undertakings of all time undertaken. The authorities has been accused of blowing money on the undertaking for a big figure of grounds in footings of fiscal issues and different facets of quality. The undertaking started confronting problems when it was refused to be funded by the private companies motivating the authorities to make up ones mind to set about it through the lottery money.The estimated budget from lottery of the Millennium Dome Project was ?399 1000000s in 1997, and the existent budget was ?630 1000000s by the terminal of September 2000 which is about twice the estimated budget ( Over budget? The Dome s non entirely , 2000 ) . A 2000 National Audit Office study declared that The Millennium Commission made four extra grants to the NMEC during the twelvemonth 2000. ?60 1000000s in February, ?29 in May, ?43 in August and ?47 in September. This monolithic addition caused by the incorrect estimated figure of visitants and their gross. 12 1000000s paying visitants was the estimated figure while the existent figure of visitants was 6.5 1000000s. It is clear that the NMEC was depending on the visitants gross for the Dome operating processes. Another ground for the dramatic grant addition was the sponsorship gross. In fact the company expected to pull ?175 1000000s in sponsorship for 14 zones. However, the company decreased its prognosis to ?122 1000000s for 12 zones due to the lake of patrons. For these ground they asked for more grants from the Millennium Commission. ( GENERAL, 2000 ) During the operating of the Dome and subsequently there were care procedures, and because of the monolithic size of the edifice and the really latest engineering used there besides the sort of visitants and equipments, the care cost was ?28.4 1000000s after it was closed in the twelvemonth 2001. Therefore, and after this add-on on the old entire cost of 2000, the entire cost of 2001 become ?786 1000000s. Furthermore, the existent income for the company in 2000 was ?189 1000000s about half the estimated income with ? 359 1000000s ( Dome cost continues to gyrate, 2002 ) . Thus, after all this grounds the right people to depict the Millennium Dome as a waste of money. 7.2 Quality: 7.2.1 Quality of planning: The rules of hazard direction to inquire yourself some inquiries What If? if something unsteadily happened. Then the other inquiry should be Then What? . These inquiries should hold been asked by the Millennium Dome Organization but it seems to be ignored. What if the estimated figure of visitants was excessively optimistic? which has happened. Then what shall we make if this happened? .Millennium Dome operating ended with the terminal of the twelvemonth 2000, once more the inquiry Once the Millennium jubilations ended, so what? ( Ammar, 2007 ) . Furthermore, The inquiry that the imperativeness has asked it and the organisation should hold asked is After the twelvemonth 2000 and the Millennium Dome has become history, What it may make for London . If these inquiries were asked at the definition stage of the Millennium Dome Project, it would be emerged better than it appeared, and avoided many of the fiscal disablement, which make it in the eyes of the people a failure. These inquiries which seem non to be discussed lead us to a point. Are the staff of the Millennium Dome Organization have adequate experiences? In the early yearss of the gap, there was a clear lake of direction when 1000s of visitants were made to stand outside in the cold queuing for tickets or failed to have their tickets through the station. In position of the direction troubles that appeared in the early yearss of the gap, a Vice- President of Euro Disney with short experience was appointed to replace the so main executive ( GENERAL, 2000 ) . There were besides transits jobs making the Dome. The Jubilee Line has an extension to ease the entree to the north Greenwich peninsula, the execution of the Jubilee Line cost ?1.2 billion over the budget and it was delayed for 14 months. In add-on, after the opining of the station in May 1999 some installations were still uncomplete, including handicapped entree ( Millennium Dome ) . 7.2.2 Quality of direction: The disadvantages of the Matrix organisation affected the Millennium Dome managing procedure. It was clear that the complex organisational agreements complicated the undertaking of pull offing the undertaking. Harmonizing to the National Audit Office that during the scrutiny it has become clear that the parties were non agree among themselves on the portion of decision-making and treatments. These caused by varies issues from each committee. For illustration, the authorities made the five cardinal committednesss for the Dome in 1997 that covered cost, content, effectual direction, national impact and what should be done to the Dome after the terminal of the Millennium jubilation. All these committednesss were the duty of the stockholder, the proprietor of the company. From the company s 22 meetings since August 1999, the stakeholder has attended 16 of the meetings and been represented at two of those which he did non go to personally. ( GENERAL, 2000 ) The Millennium Commission was lacked of power to implement the Dome. For this ground, the authorities has established the MNEC and the Commission s duties were to O.K. the company s programs and budget, supervise the advancement in edifice and runing the Dom, and do lottery grants for the company. After that, the company s finance has been reviewed by advisers appointed by the committee due to the addition of the cost. The advisers suggested to the Commission 8 1000000s as a figure of visitants and reported that the estimated figure of the visitants made by the company was exaggerated. However, the company ignored the suggestion and went with its appraisal. ( GENERAL, 2000 ) The lake of direction experiences and the hapless construction of the organisation affected the organisation itself. Get downing from February 2000 the company had to do major alterations at senior degrees. The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer left the Company and was replaced. In May, the so non-executive Chairman resigned. In September, the replacement stepped down, of his petition, to the place of Vice-Chairman, and an Executive Chairman was appointed. Besides, A new Finance Director was besides appointed. These alterations have raised the entire cost by telling extra grants from the Commission ( GENERAL, 2000 ) . This sort of Instability did non do alterations merely on the degree of persons. Whilst in 2001, the company was liquidated and the authorities bureau English Partnerships took the ownership of the edifice. In 2004, the Meridian Delta Ltd bought the Dome and 170 estates on the Greenwich peninsula to make a 26,000 capacity sphere and develop the environing country, including constructing 10,000 new places and making 24,000 occupations ( Millennium Dome ) . 8 Monitoring and Controlling: The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn said the New Millennium Experience Company has experienced terrible fiscal troubles this twelvemonth and has required considerable extra lottery support. The chief cause of these troubles is the failure to accomplish the visitant Numberss and income required. The marks were extremely ambitious and inherently hazardous taking to a important grade of fiscal exposure on the undertaking . ( Press Release The Millennium Dome, 2000 ) The incorrect appraisal of the budget and the visitants figure supports the thought that the leaders of the Millennium organisation were inexperienced. The determination to be after on the footing of 12 million visitants meant that the Dome had to pull four times as many visitants as the following most popular UK pay-to-visit attractive force achieved in 1999 by Alton Towers. It is clear that is impossible to accomplish this difference in one twelvemonth. From the early months of the gap of the Dome, it was clear from the figures that the estimated figure of visitants will non be achieved. For illustration, in January 344.620 people visited the dome which is tantamount to 3 % of the original one-year mark. In add-on, the attractive force of the visitants made ?189m while the company forecasted income was ?359m and the ticket monetary values were reduced by up to 50 % in a concluding effort to change by reversal the go oning slack in visitant Numberss ( Dome cost continues to gyrate, 2002 ) . All the figures were demoing that there is an administrational job at the organisation in several degrees which should be easy realized. The experts of the undertakings that the Millennium Commission has funded said that as is the instance with the Millennium Dome there are besides undertakings carried out by the Commission failed. Such as The Portsmouth Spinnaker and the many other undertakings funded by the UK lottery. From this information it can be concluded that the monitoring and commanding section in the Millennium Commission was really weak. 9 Pull offing uncertainness: In February 1999 the Company s Board agreed to let free entree to the Dome for up to one million schoolchildren. The Company claimed that this determination will increase the Losingss by ?7 million. In 1998 it was known in progress that the Millennium Dome will be presented for sale after the terminal of the jubilation for the hereafter usage. In July 2000 Ministers selected Dome Europe plc as the preferable bidder. However, in September Dome Europe withdrew. Then dialogues with other parties started once more. At the terminal of 2001, a development company was selected to turn the millenary dome into an indoor athleticss sphere and to develop its environing country into a complex that includes residential, shopping, and concern facilities.A The edifice itself has been renamed into O2 as portion of its renovation ( GENERAL, 2000 ) .A By looking at these unsure jobs and how the company and the organisation acted with it. The ground for the failure of this undertaking will be known. Sing to the schoolchildren, being runing a museum or a national topographic points such visits or these sorts of people should be expected. Besides, understanding with more than one company or at least their files and offers after the first dialogue should be existed to do the resolution procedure easier. 10 Decision: The English authorities has experienced The Millennium Dome and they seem to be learned from it. The BBC political letter writer says the authorities has taken a large hazard and many of its protagonists believe the money would be better spent on instruction and the wellness service ( Blair defends Millenium Dome, 1998 ) . On the other manus, the so dainty curate Tony Blair eventually admits that it had failed to run into public outlooks. Michael Heseltine, the politician who commissioned the Dome admits that it should non hold been built.A This experience will take into consideration in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Steve Brodie and the Brooklyn Bridge

Steve Brodie and the Brooklyn Bridge One of the enduring legends about the early years of the Brooklyn Bridge was a wildly famous  incident which may never have happened. Steve Brodie, a character from  the Manhattan neighborhood adjacent to the bridge, claimed to have jumped from its roadway, splashed into the East River from a height of 135 feet, and survived. Whether Brodie actually jumped on July 23, 1886, has been disputed for years. Yet the story was widely believed at the time, and the sensationalist newspapers of the day put the stunt  on their front pages. Reporters provided extensive details about Brodie’s preparations, his rescue in the river, and his time spent in a police station following the jump. It all seemed quite credible. Brodies leap came a year after another jumper from the bridge, Robert Odlum, died after hitting the water. So the feat had been assumed to be impossible. Yet a month after Brodie claimed to have jumped, another neighborhood character, Larry Donovan, jumped from the bridge while thousands of spectators watched. Donovan survived, which at least proved that what Brodie claimed to have done was possible. Brodie and Donovan became locked in a peculiar competition to see who could jump off other bridges. The rivalry ended two years later when Donovan was killed jumping from a bridge in England. Brodie lived for another 20 years and became something of a tourist attraction himself. He ran a bar in lower Manhattan and visitors to New York City would visit to shake the hand of the man who had jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge. Brodies Famous Jump The news accounts of Brodies jump detailed how he had been planning the jump. He said his motivation was to make money. And stories on  the front pages of both the   New York Sun and New York Tribune provided extensive details of Brodies activities before and after the jump. After arranging with friends to pick him up in the river in a rowboat, he hitched a ride onto the bridge in a horse-drawn wagon.   While in the middle of the bridge Brodie got out of the wagon. With some makeshift padding under his clothes, he stepped off from a point about 135 feet above the East River. The only people expecting Brodie to jump were his friends in the boat, and no impartial witnesses claimed to have seen what happened. The popular version of the story was that he landed feet first, sustaining only minor bruises. After his friends pulled him into the  boat and returned him to shore there was a celebration. A policeman came along and arrested Brodie, who appeared to be intoxicated.  When the newspaper reporters caught up with him, he was relaxing in a jail cell. Brodie appeared in court on a few occasions but no serious legal problems resulted from his stunt. And he did cash in on his sudden fame. He began appearing in dime museums, telling his story to gawking visitors. Donovans Leap A month after Brodies famous jump, a worker in a lower Manhattan print shop showed up at the office of the New York Sun on a Friday afternoon. He said he was Larry Donovan (though the Sun claimed his last name was actually Degnan)  and he was going to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge the next morning. Donovan claimed he had been offered money by the Police Gazette, a popular publication, and was going to ride onto the bridge in one of their delivery wagons. And he would jump with plenty of witnesses to the feat. Good to his word, Donovan did jump from the bridge on Saturday morning, August 28, 1886. Word had been passed around his neighborhood, the Fourth Ward, and rooftops were crowded with spectators. The New York Sun described the event on the front page of Sundays paper: He was steady and cool, and with his feet close together he leaped straight out into the great space before him. For about 100 feet he shot straight downward as he had leaped, his body erect and his legs tight together. Then he bent slightly forward, his legs spread a little apart and bent at the knees. In this position he struck the water with a splash that sent the spray high in the air and was heard from the bridge and on both sides of the river. After his friends picked him up in a boat, and he was rowed to shore, he was, like Brodie, arrested. He was also soon free.  But,  unlike Brodie, he did not want to display himself in the dime museums of the Bowery. A few months later, Donovan traveled to Niagara Falls. He jumped off the suspension bridge there on November 7, 1886. He broke a rib, but survived. Less than a year after his leap from the Brooklyn Bridge, Donovan died after jumping from the Southeastern Railway bridge in London, England. The New York Sun reported his demise on the front page, noting that while the bridge in England was not as high as the Brooklyn Bridge, Donovan had actually drowned in the Thames. Later Life of Steve Brodie Steve Brodie claimed to have jumped from the suspension bridge at Niagara Falls three years after his purported Brooklyn Bridge leap. But his story was immediately doubted. Whether or not Brodie had jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge, or any bridge, didnt seem to matter. He was a New York celebrity, and people wanted to meet him. After years of running a saloon, he became ill and went to live with a daughter in Texas. He died there in 1901.

Religion and philosophy of Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religion and philosophy of Asia - Essay Example The beliefs are known to create a significant link between the way in which politics form as well as the traditions and rituals that become a part of a specific country. The concept of building a social identity is one which is based on the belief system, which begins with the individual and familial concepts of what it means to belong to a specific culture.This is followed by the cultural identity that is accepted in the mainstream and which creates a specific response when different events occur. The belief system then begins to reflect how society should respond as well as what is expected with the main functions of the government, all which change the main functions of each region. The main belief system which began to change Asia was the growth of Buddhism that spread throughout China, Korea and other parts of Asia. The knowledge which was received about Buddhism created specific types of understanding and belief related to superhuman achievements and being able to overcome specific situations through the practice. This also dictated different laws. The trend which grew from this emerged with different intellectual groups as well as monks that began to practice the different belief systems and which developed into the political mainstream to offer guidance about overcoming and achieving different parts of life with the belief system in place. The beliefs of the culture could then be focused on the virtue and main application of laws that were a part of Buddhism and the political powers.

Preservationist and liberationist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Preservationist and liberationist - Essay Example Looking at this solution with regards to the sedan issue, making moral decisions using the preservationist mode seems to be both plausible and reasonable. As stated by Unger, majority of persons would aid the birdwatcher in spite of any loss financially in order for him not to lose his limb. There is further proof for this sentiment from the class discussion as the majority of the class agrees that, helping the man would be the best solution in spite of the damage that would befall the sedan. Most people would not think twice with regards to aiding the man who is admitted to the hospital; if the man is bleeding in front of them in utter agony. However, when considering the UNICEF envelope, the preservationist solution will not fare so well and the liberationist view is the best. As stated by Unger, many people are likely to throw the envelope away sans any second thoughts. This would be their initial instinctive response, and they would not have any second thoughts (Nadelhoffer et al 42). However, majority would agree that, through the use of moral standards, it is imperative to help those who are hungry in the same way as one would help the man who is about to lose a limb. Human nature pushes people to respond to problems that are right in front of them, whereas duties that are more abstract in their responsibility, especially moral are shunned and fall by the wayside. People are not bothered by the images of children dying from starvation when they make a decision, which looks seemingly easy not to help the starving children. While the first reaction and intuition has the ability to influence one’s decision, they do not count as wholly responsible for the manner in which people are able to make their moral decisions (Nadelhoffer et al 42). Peter Unger has liberationist tendencies, and it is clear to see his point that everyone has moral obligations to aid other people (Nadelhoffer et al 45). However, I tend to agree with the liberationist model more. I n my opinion, people are not wholly able to ascribe to a single uniform code of morality. Morality is a subjective issue and different individuals possess various reasons for behaving in the manner in a manner that they deem to be morally responsible. When considering what being moral really entails, as well as the specific reason that human beings need to a ct in a way that is moral. Every person has a philosophy of his or her own (Nadelhoffer et al 45). While the liberationist model specifically addresses a particular manner of behavior, the preservationist model addresses the differing opinions regarding morality. The preservationist view refers to the idea that ideas that differ are the morals of the individual, whereas the liberationist view states that there is a certain way of behavior that is the same in all situations (Nadelhoffer et al 46). In reality, it is my opinion that humans all react in a preservationist manner because they are a species that is selfish. Therefore, in making an analysis of the puzzles that Unger presents, the liberationist view is the best and most moral way of responding, although most people do not choose to respond in this manner. While looking at the two scenarios, it is best to explain why a person using the liberationist view is the one who is most moral and respectful of basic and fundamental human rights. Without any hesitation, the immediate reaction was to

Hildegard's Spirit-Filled, Visionary Music Term Paper

Hildegard's Spirit-Filled, Visionary Music - Term Paper Example Some people live such extraordinary lives that their death doesn’t particularly slow the spread of their influence at all. Hildegard Von Bingen was such a person, and music was central to her experience and to her identity. In fact, she referred to herself as a tone from the tuba of God (Phillips 59). This paper aims to provide some insight into her life, and to discuss the impact her music has had on both secular and sacred music that followed. She was born in Bermersheim, near Alzey, in the summer of 1098, to a noble family. She had her first visionary experience before the age of five, and furthermore was not a healthy child. Her parents dedicated her to the religious life at age eight (Flanagan 2) She was enclosed in the cell of a pious, recluse noble woman, Jutta, where she spent most of her days in prayer. (3). More girls were also enclosed there, and by the time Hildegard was age 13 or 14, the cell had grown into a Benedictine convent, attached to a monastery (3). Jutta died when Hildegard was 38, and Hildegard subsequently was chosen to take over the leadership of the convent. Up to that time, Hildegard had continued to see visions, but had learned at an early age not to speak of them to anyone, to avoid embarrassment. She told only Jutta and later her teacher (3). At age 42, Hildegard had a mystical vision in which she suddenly accessed the meanings of all scripture and was told to write and publicize what she heard and understood. She resisted at first, out of low self esteem and humility, but her resistance caused her to become very ill. Her illness only left her when she was finally able to write (4). She spent 10 years writing her first visionary work. During this time, Hildegard announced that God had instructed her to move her convent away from the monastery. The monks resisted, for reasons of finance and reputation, wanting to retain control over Hildegard, as an asset (5). She received papal permission and authority, once the church esta blished that her visions were authentic and that the Holy Spirit was revealing truths to her. She took her nuns to the place indicated in her vision, and she wrote three major volumes of revealed visionary information, left correspondence and other writings and art, and innumerable musical compositions, which are appreciated today (5). Although she suffered from health problems throughout her life, still she was a successful author, composer, artist, mystic, religious leader, visionary-prophetess, correspondent, abbess, teacher, rebel, scholar and healer, and she died at a ripe old age. One theory about her illness, a feminist explanation, is that it was a result of her struggle to find her own voice (Grant and Bingen). After all, she had been given away by her parents and grew up in a restrictive locked cell with a woman who spent her days in prayer and chanting. She had visions, some rather frightening, with dark and monstrous beings and explosions of blinding light, which she had to mostly keep to herself, to avoid embarrassment, Her health was delicate, a fact not conducive to claiming her own power, and consequently her own voice. She was creative and talented, artistically and intellectually gifted, but she was under the authority of monks and male church leaders who upheld the most stringent male-dominated values and norms of an extremely patriarchal society. Her most personal self-expression required papal permission. An alternative interpretation of the meaning of her illness and visions is offered by Dr. Charles Singer a founder of modern scholarship in the history of medicine and science, from a century ago. He thoroughly analyzed Hildegard’s writings and offered the opinion that they were likely her interpretations of the auras and visual distortions that can come with migraine headaches (Singer 78) and that her illness would likely be considered to be

Reading for Pleasure Importance

Reading for Pleasure Importance It is important to read as it can improve childrens language use and by reading for pleasure they can adapt to the language easily. According to Reyhene (1998) children who read for pleasure could somehow improve their language skills unconsciously and automatically. Besides that, Bignold (2003) pointed out that the reading habit could enhance or improve childrens reading skills. Therefore, the main issue of reading is that it helps to expand young peoples experiences and knowledge (Green, 2002). Children not only can expand their knowledge but they can also cultivate reading habits for lifelong learning (Pandian Ibrahim, 1997). It is usually being recommended that reading behavior should start at an early age and conducive reading environment plays an important role in order to stimulate lifelong reading (Pandian, 1997; Anderson, 1982; Winebrenner, 1971; Sanacore, 1990; Krashen, 1996). The exposure to reading for pleasure could help the children in many ways and it can increase or improve their reading achievement. Reading materials appear important for the development of reading comprehension such as reading fluency, or the ability to read text quickly and accurately (Chall, 1996; LaBerge Samuels, 1974; Stanovich, 1986), and learning many vocabulary because children are more likely to encounter new words by reading rather than from their daily conversation (Hayes Ahrens, 1988). Reading could increase childrens background knowledge that could help to assist future growth in reading comprehension (Stanovich, 2000). 2.2 TEACHERS ROLE Teachers play an important role where they could be described as the one who can instill intrinsic motivation to read among the students. Cole (1999) recommended that in order to motivate students to do pleasure reading, a teacher must be motivated to discover their students literacy personalities. Cole (1999) also talks about the role of librarian teachers who could offer the students with an enormous variety of books on various topics, levels and genre to capture the interest of students in reading. Students will have the interest to read if the librarian teachers could provide books according to the four stages of reading development such as building fluency, reading for pleasure, reading to learn and mature reading (Gillet Temple, 1994; Fong, 1997). According to Abeyrathna Zainab (2004), teachers could help inculcate the reading habit by giving students the experience of reading under guidance such as helping students to select materials based on their interests. Students are usually motivated to read by adults and take the adults as their reading model. Parents would be in the first rank, teachers would be in the second rank and librarians would be the third choice in being the students reading model (Hughes-Hassell and Lutz 2006). Most of the students are motivated to read usually because of the parental and home influences. Teachers should never take for granted that reading potential of students can happen anywhere although they come from an environment where reading is not valued (Duncan, 2010). Teachers can have strong and lasting effects on students reading attitudes and practices (Pitcher et al. 2007). Teachers must adopt an enthusiastic attitude toward reading and openly discuss their personal reading lives with students. In the class, teachers can have sharing book recommendation or just mention a recent enjoyable reading experience that could help change the perceptions and beliefs of nonreaders. The main problem is that most teach ers do not do reading for pleasure. Nathanson, Pruslow, and Levitt (2008) found that most graduate education students viewed reading as important, yet many were disinterested and did not engage in regular personal reading. Teachers cant expect students to be excited about reading if they themselves are not personally engaged in reading for pleasure (Duncan, 2010). 2.3 ROLES OF LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS This is the part where the roles of the library are being stressed and the environment of the library plays an important role. Every classroom should have a classroom library collection that can be filled from the main library collection. It is easy to access and at the same time could encourage and motivate students to read (Gniewek, 1998). The school librarians are the ones who should provide a richer collection by having latest books and knowing the students reading preferences. According to Abeyrathna Zainab (2004), students are not happy with the library collection when it comes to reading for pleasure. There were a vast differences on the books that the students need and the books that was available for them to read. It is suggested that to solve the problem, the school library should have borrowed some books from the public library for teaching and reading needs. This could help financially for the school and obtaining reading materials that students are interested in. In Thailand, a study was carried out about the roles of libraries. According to Somsong (1999), the roles of libraries, librarians and library programs play an important role in helping to stimulate and develop reading interests among students. There are lots of studies that indicated that children who are in schools that have libraries and librarians read a lot often compared to children who attended schools that have libraries but no librarians to guide them (Lance, 1994; Lance, Rodney and Hamilton-Pennell, 2000). It is important to have librarians in the library as they can help provide resources for the students regarding their reading preferences. They can help children search for the books that students prefer easily by organizing the books according to its genre which will trigger the students interest (Whelan, 2004). Reading can also be integrated with electronics such as reading e-mails and journals from the internet (Pandian, 1997). Libraries should have equipped with electronics such as computers and internet connection to provide the latest issue or information (Whelan, 2004). Librarians should renew their effort in guiding and tutoring the children for the usage of the libraries to stimulate and to promote positive attitude towards using the library for leisure reading (Chai, 1996). A warmth feeling of librarians who welcome readers to read in the library could help in stimulating students to read more. In Sri Lanka, the National Library and Documentation Service Board (NLDB) carried out a survey in 2002 and found the following situations; reading habits of students was poor due to the condition of the school libraries that was not encouraging as the book collections were old and most students read light materials such as magazines, novels, comic books and newspapers (Abeyrathna Zainab, 2004). 2.4 PARENTS ROLE Parents play an important role in order to reinforce the childs reading habit and interest (Cole, 1999). The first teacher for reading are the parents as they are the role models for their children and this apply to the interest in reading either to gain knowledge or for pleasure. According to De Medina (1976), who studied 50 families in Brazil, reading only occurred when there is a place to read at home, if the adults bought books and also if there is someone who guides the children to read often at home. There is another study which supports that home does influence reading among children. According to Kathers (1996), the study is on the children who were active in participating in extracurricular activities or have children that perform well on their reading test and have parents who were actively involved in school activities (Goldenberg, 1992). Home environment did influence ninth grade students attitude towards reading. Home environment can be included when a child is used to being read to, having a public library use, receive books as gifts, large personal and parental book collection and have subscriptions to magazines (Abeyrathna Zainab, 2004). Parents who are readers can encourage reading for pleasure among their children but it will be reduced once the child grew older (Demise, 2001). College students do not need parental encouragement as they usually read for pleasure. Besides that, they also do not need their educational status to make it as a leisure reading habits (Blackwood, 1991). Parents who create a pleasant atmosphere that fosters reading by providing space, reading materials, encouragement and example will endorse their children the love for reading (Pandian, 1997; Greaney, 1996). 2.5 ATTITUDES ABOUT READING There are two motivations that could encourage students to read for pleasure. The first one would be individuals feelings about reading. Alexander and Filler (1976) stated that the feelings of the reader can be influenced by involving themselves in reading, thus attitudes about reading should relate to individuals. The theory of information pickup suggests that perception depends completely upon information in the stimulus array rather than atmosphere that are influenced by cognition. According to Gibson, perception is an express outcome of the properties of the environment and does not engage in any form of sensory processing. Information pickup theory stresses that perception requires a lively organism. The act of perception depends upon an interaction involving the organism and the environment. All perceptions are made in reference to body position and functions (proprioception). Awareness of the environment derives from how it reacts to our movements (Gibson, 1977). The second motivation is childrens interest in reading. Researchers have looked into the interest that affects comprehension. Schiefele (1996) found that college students who were interested in the text materials used in the study understood those materials more deeply than did students who were less interested in the materials, even when the students prior knowledge of the materials and general intelligence were controlled. In studies of fifth and sixth graders, Renninger (1992) found that interest in the materials enhanced comprehension, even of materials that were quite difficult for the children (although there were some gender differences in these patterns). Thus interest in reading appears to be an important motivational variable influencing different aspects of reading performance. 2.6 REASONS STUDENTS DO NOT READ FOR PLEASURE One of the main reasons students do not read for pleasure is because of the technologies. According to Gunasekara (2002), there are three major hindrances to the promotion of reading habits. It includes preference to chat using the computer, listening to the radio and preference for television viewing. There are also some students who liked to read and considered themselves readers but did not take the time to read regularly or update their knowledge. This does not mean that they are reluctant to read but they gave priority to other activities such as sports, social life and school work (Abeyrathna Zainab, 2004). 2.7 ACADEMIC READING PURPOSE Most reading was done mainly for examination purposes (Abeyrathna Zainab, 2004). Students usually read to prepare for examination. A recent Malaysian survey on the reading behavior of 22,400 individuals and 6,050 households by the Ministry of Education revealed that only 20 per cent of Malaysians read regularly (Pandian, 2001). This review (New Straits Times, 29 August, 1996) further stressed that the small figure includes students who read just to pass exams. In Malaysia, the students associate reading with academic tasks and not for knowledge or pleasure most of the time (Sunday Star, May 26, 1991). By doing this, it does not enable students who can read to use the activity in a significant way for self or social development (Pandian, 1997). The main hindrance on reading for pleasure is the excessive concern of students with reading textbook for examination purposes. Students will regard reading to pursuit knowledge in preparing for the examination as the main purpose of reading and they will never realize the importance of reading for pleasure or enjoyment (Abeyrathna Zainab, 2004). 2.8 TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMUNICATION Public awareness has been haggard to the rising crisis of non-reading among Malaysians especially among the Malaysian students. Readership behavior here refers to reading skills and enthusiasm to read for information and leisure as well as reading practices that appoint different prints and audio-visual contents, such as newspapers, magazines, non-textbooks and informative material of various multimedia (Pandian, 2001). The cultivation of reading habits is also inclined by a series of other factors like exposure to media and computers. We live in an era where technologies are the center of everything and we tend to be occupied by it. One study investigating the media exposure among young people in the Klang Valley has observed that in a week these young people spend about 14.6 hours on television, 3.4 hours on video, 4.1 hours on computer, 16.3 hours on radio, 7.11 hours on newspapers and 4.7 hours on books and comics (The Star, May 8, 1997). The above findings advocate that the visu al representation is becoming arguably more significant than the printed word (Pandian Ibrahim, 1997). This proves that Malaysians spend more time on technologies rather than having the printed materials to read. Reading reluctance happens when a generation who can read chooses not to read. This situation can lead to generating more reluctant readers. The term reluctant readers refer to the people who can read but do not read. The focus on reading is critical given the growth of communications technology and the adjustment of reality we tackle in modern societies. In order to make reading more meaningful, it is important for young people to learn not only to read but nurture reading behavior for lifelong learning. There are many new forms of reading texts such as mass and multimedia but it does not ensure if communication technology will be used to sustain students reading for pleasure and lifelong learning (Pandian, 2001). 2.9 READING MATERIALS PREFERRED BY STUDENTS Easy access to books could promote or encourage students to read more. In an article of a magazine by Duncan (2010), it is suggested that every classroom should have a library where the books are filled with high-interest reading materials that students would love to read. Books that are easily accessible are most likely to be read by students when they do not have anything to do. Lots of researches have been done on the most important role which is the home environment itself that could promote and create lifelong readers but for students who could not afford to buy any reading materials, the classroom library must provide many reading materials that could be easily accessed. It can also help to promote positive reading attitudes and help the students to improve their reading performance (Young Moss 2006). Teachers are the ones who will be in charge of picking the texts that are popular among students. Teachers should not limit the students reading by only providing books they feel students should be reading. Teachers need to widen the concept of reading materials and also supply books with a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books (Duncan, 2010). Comics, series books, magazines and other materials not traditionally read in school should be considered (Lesesne, 2003). Students who are intimidated by books, magazines and comics might be interested in reading as it offers a comfortable and risk-free reading experience (Duncan, 2010).

High Stakes Testing Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Education Essays

High Stakes Testing In 1997, President Bill Clinton stated that the United States needed, â€Å" a national crusade for education standards - not federal government standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the twenty-first century†(http://books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html). The way to succeed in this journey is through standardized testing that results in consequences for teachers and students. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing how important high stakes testing is to our country. First, I will show how these tests prevent students from moving on to the next grade level or graduate without the skills necessary. Secondly, I will discuss how they improve students’ achievement. And lastly, I will describe how these tests keep teachers and schools accountable. High stakes testing prevents students from being promoted or given a diploma without the necessary knowledge. The National Academies Press states, â€Å"unless we test student’s knowledge, how will we know if they have met the standards? And the idea of accountability, which is also central to this theory of school reform, requires that the test results have direct and immediate consequences: a student who does not meet the standard should not be promoted, or awarded a high school diploma†(books.nap.edu). Social promotion is allowing a student to move up a grade just because of their age. Standardized testing is helping students by keeping them back a grade or having them attend summer school in order for them to learn the skills they need in order to succeed in school and life. Recent facts have shown how often children have been promoted without the necessary knowledge. ... ... National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/164.html 3. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html 4. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/115.html 5. Aims Performance Standards (High School). Arizona Department of Education. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/aims/PerformanceStandards/hsperformancestan.asp 6. What’s Wrong With High Stakes Testing in General and AIMS in Particular? AZ Standards. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.azstandards.org/protestmaterials.htm High Stakes Testing Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Education Essays High Stakes Testing In 1997, President Bill Clinton stated that the United States needed, â€Å" a national crusade for education standards - not federal government standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the twenty-first century†(http://books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html). The way to succeed in this journey is through standardized testing that results in consequences for teachers and students. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing how important high stakes testing is to our country. First, I will show how these tests prevent students from moving on to the next grade level or graduate without the skills necessary. Secondly, I will discuss how they improve students’ achievement. And lastly, I will describe how these tests keep teachers and schools accountable. High stakes testing prevents students from being promoted or given a diploma without the necessary knowledge. The National Academies Press states, â€Å"unless we test student’s knowledge, how will we know if they have met the standards? And the idea of accountability, which is also central to this theory of school reform, requires that the test results have direct and immediate consequences: a student who does not meet the standard should not be promoted, or awarded a high school diploma†(books.nap.edu). Social promotion is allowing a student to move up a grade just because of their age. Standardized testing is helping students by keeping them back a grade or having them attend summer school in order for them to learn the skills they need in order to succeed in school and life. Recent facts have shown how often children have been promoted without the necessary knowledge. ... ... National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/164.html 3. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html 4. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/115.html 5. Aims Performance Standards (High School). Arizona Department of Education. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/aims/PerformanceStandards/hsperformancestan.asp 6. What’s Wrong With High Stakes Testing in General and AIMS in Particular? AZ Standards. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.azstandards.org/protestmaterials.htm