Henry David Thoreau, Walden, and Transcendental Values for...

Henry David Thoreau was testing transcendental values when he took up residence at Walden Pond in 1845. During his time of simple living at the pond, he studied nature and applied those observations to humans and everyday life. He was always learning from the woods, pond, meadows and animals in the natural world around him. Nature was his classroom and everything was an opportunity to learn. In Thoreau’s book, Walden , written at the pond, he theorized that education could come through an intimacy with nature and the end of education would come with death. Even while Thoreau was young he never agreed with a traditional classroom setting. Attending Harvard corrupted his belief of the current education system. In his eyes, school,†¦show more content†¦Dewey believes that in today’s education system, â€Å"the teacher’s business is to hold the pupils up to requirements and to punish the inevitable deviations which occur,† (Democracy and Educati on). Thoreau sought to reform the educational system through outdoor observations. Working outside the classroom, taking lessons from nature is very important to Thoreau. Throughout Walden his transcendental educational values are shown. In the second chapter, Where I Lived and what I Lived For he begins an education theme. His goal for living in the wood is to learn and strive for enlightenment. He went so far as to say, â€Å"see if I could not learn what [nature] had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived†(Walden). Thoreau wanted to find the truths of life and the only way that could happen is to become close to nature. He takes every opportunity to observe nature. While observing a war between two races of ants on his wood pile and an ignorant ant couple nearby, he takes note on the behavioral similarity to the human race. This alludes to the thought that Thoreau held regarding the Mexican- American War which is that that atrocities occurred while others remained unaffected. Thoreau may be expressing that there is a lo t more to these seemingly simple observations than is immediately apparent. He is demonstrating that nature, if studied and reflected upon, can teachShow MoreRelatedThoreau And Transcendentalism1518 Words   |  7 Pages Henry David Thoreau’s words that â€Å"disobedience is the true foundation of liberty† and that â€Å"the obedient must be slaves† is a political statement that never lost its topicality during the Romantic era. Thoreau served as an important contributor to the philosophical and American literary movement known as New England Transcendentalism. Nature and the conduct of life are two central themes that are often weaved together in his essays and books that were published in the Romantic era of literatureRead MoreTaking a Look at the Transcendental Movement1455 Words   |  6 PagesThe transcendental movement arose in the early nineteenth century. This literary, political, and philosophical movement was, and still continues to be, closely asso ciated with both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Emerson and Thoreau were both extremely intellectual men of their time and are now the figureheads of transcendentalism. In the simplest terms, to â€Å"transcend† means to rise above and beyond the norms of society ¾ not physically, but mentally. Transcendentalists, such as EmersonRead MoreHenry David Thoreau : The Transcendentalist Movement1934 Words   |  8 PagesHenry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was one of the greatest leaders of the Transcendentalist movement. He guided this movement through his writings, personal tragedy, beliefs and friendship with Ralph Waldo Emerson. Essentially, Transcendentalism revolves around the ideas of being one with nature and the right to protest peacefully when laws went against one’s own beliefs. Henry David Thoreau was able to lead this movement due to his education, experiences, and family influences. ThoreauRead MoreMisunderstood Visionary : Ralph Waldo Emerson1509 Words   |  7 Pagescaused no one any good. Transcendentalist wanted to break away from the norm and approach a new way of thinking. This group was supported by other famous Transcendentalist like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Walt Whitman. The one who stood out from the rest was Henry David Thoreau which challenged himself to learn more about the fundamental facts about life. If looked closely many can realize what th ey stood for was unique. These Transcendentalist encouraged others to be themselvesRead MoreEnlightenment, Transcendentalism, and Puritan Theology Essay1840 Words   |  8 Pageshuman history, current events, and natural phenomena, as well as Scripture. In order to be saved one must know how to read and be well educated, so in a sense they emphasized education just as the Enlightenment followers did, just for a different reason. During the Transcendental period people also emphasized the need for education. However, the Transcendentalists were more focused on learning about thy self and not specifically about history or nature. They believed that through learning about thy selfRead MoreThe Mountains Are Calling By John Muir Essay2619 Words   |  11 Pagessalve for the harsh and strict fundamentalism espoused by his father’s Puritanical ideology. Subsequently, Muir would delve more deeply into Transcendentalism than any other adherent. John Muir’s experiential, naturalistic practices elevated transcendental ideals which are depicted throughout his conservational ventures and prose. The backbone of transcendentalism promotes the notion that all works of creation are only a fragment of a larger reality, or in the words of Emerson, Over-soul. ThisRead MoreTranscendentalism : The American Scholar1658 Words   |  7 Pagesassociate it with the writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and his friend Henry David Thoreau. Asked to name things about the group they remember, most mention Emerson’s ringing declaration of cultural independence in his â€Å"American Scholar† address at Harvard’s commencement in 1837 and his famous lecture â€Å"Self-Reliance,† in which he declared that â€Å"to be great is to be misunderstood†; Thoreau’s two-year experiment in self-sufficiency at Walden Pond and his advice to â€Å"Simplify! Simplify!†; and the minister TheodoreRead MoreSelf Reliance Essay1678 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophy of life. This new philosophy drew upon old ideas of Romanticism, Unitarianism, and German Idealism. Some of the se ideas pertained closely to the values of America at the time. These values included nature, individualism, and reform, and can be noted in the essay â€Å"Self Reliance,† by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In this essay, Emerson states his values and incorporates them into his philosophy of self-reliance. In the past 170 years, some of the ideas stated by Emerson in his literary work â€Å"Self-Reliance†

Drug Abuse And The United States - 3359 Words

America has been at war for a lot years dealing with drugs in the United States. Law enforcement has been fighting to decrease this drug abuse for almost centuries. Presidents have personally have been trying to find different methods on how to stop this drug war. Unfortunately law enforcement has not been able to win this battle. You could see how they are losing because there been so many cases that involve drug abusers that had to go to get treatment or some even go to prison. This is causing so many problems especially with the drug trade business which sometimes involves violent crimes in different neighborhoods which is only benefiting the organized crime members and the drug dealers. The United States has put so much effort on stopping this Drug epidemic by spending billions of dollars to stop this war. In order to see how has law enforcement and the United States been trying to stop this war we have to go back to the history when drugs were introduced to the United States. Ac cording to Elaine Casey â€Å"One of the first exotic, non-indigenous substances to become a part of the nineteenth century culture was opium. Immigrant Chinese laborers building the trans-continental railroad migrated across the United States, bringing their opium smoking habit with them to the west. In the early to mid-1800s the practice was open and opium and its preparations were easily obtainable, subject to no controls or regulations. Also, the use of opium became fashionable amongShow MoreRelatedDrug Abuse And The United States1645 Words   |  7 PagesNixon launched the war on drugs stating, â€Å"America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all out offensive† (Sharp, 1994). Since this war was declared 45 years ago the prison population has risen dramatically and has cost tax payers a substantial amount of money, with no end in sight. Nearly sixty five percent of the 2.3 million U.S . prisoners meet the criteria for substance abuse or addiction, yet only elevenRead MoreDrug Abuse And The United States1374 Words   |  6 PagesDrug abuse is happening in many countries. Millions of dollars are exhausted universally to prevent drug use, to treat addicts, and to fight drug-related misdemeanors. While drugs menace many civilizations, their result can also be combated triumphantly. This essay topic glances at some of the consequences of drug use on the world, and proposes some resolution to the complication. Drug addiction and drug abuse sinfully changes your state of body and mind with chemical substances. (What is the scopeRead MoreDrug Abuse And The United States879 Words   |  4 PagesThe issue of drug abuse and addiction in the United States has become much more relevant in the past few years. Drugs and the drug crisis were for the longest time something which was limited geographically, socially and racially. Which is to say that drugs were only a â€Å"pr oblem† in the inner city. In the 1980s, this was symbolized by the so-called crack epidemic which ravaged the poorer and most fragile communities in the country. The issue of drug abuse in the United States is important becauseRead MoreDrug Abuse On The United States Essay1344 Words   |  6 PagesDrug Abuse on the Rise in the Community â€Å"In 2014, nearly two million Americans either abused or were dependent on prescription opioid pain relievers (â€Å"Injury Prevention and Control: Opioid Overdose,† 2016.)† The CDC is now saying that the United States is in an epidemic. The purpose of this paper is to explore the increasing drug use in the United States over the last decade. The primary focus is on the administration of opioid analgesics and the addicting mechanisms of these medications, and whatRead MoreDrug Abuse And The United States1549 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: Drug abuse has always been a very delicate question as it always it deals with the health, well-being and even lives of human beings belonging to any country. The position of the United States of America towards drugs has always been very clear and distinctively negative. Throughout the history of the country there were numerous cases against drug dealers, buyers and many more. These cases did always catch the attention of ci vil people who by showing interest in such cases revealedRead MoreDrug Abuse in the United States546 Words   |  2 PagesA major social problem that is in the United States is the usage of drugs among students. Drugs have had a very large growth rate within the past years. Drugs are a major issue that is affecting students and going to school and getting an education. There are a numerous number of reasons of why the young are partaking in drugs. Mostly because they don’t have a very stable and healthy home environment meaning their parents don’t really care for them or discipline them by any means. A big transitionRead More Drug Abuse in the United States Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesDrug Abuse in the United States of America In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which are freedom, expanding and taking care of our families and our financial security. We, the people, take such things for granted. We also discourage some behavior, such as crime, laziness and use of illegal drugs. Drug abuse is one of the most discouraged behaviors in our country. Use of illegal drugs is harmful to the userand all those with whom the userRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Abuse On The United States1717 Words   |  7 Pagesdemonstrate the absurdity of the drug abuse problems in the United States, it should be brought to light that the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use Health estimated that â€Å"27 million people aged 12 or older have used an illicit drug in the past 30 days† (Hedden, Kennet, Lipari, Medley, Tice, 2015). As gun violence has become a popular topic in America over the past few years due to its’ related deaths, many Americans’ fail to realize that more people are dying from drug overdose than by weapon. In today’sRead MoreDrug Abuse And Its Effects On The United States Essay879 Words   |  4 PagesDrug abuse is worldwide problem and one that has plagued the United States for decades. Drug abuse negatively impacts not only the individual user, but also our society as a whole. The fight to prevent the manufacturing and trafficking of illegal drugs into the country h as made very little impact on its accessibility to those that wish to partake. According to the National Drug Control Budget Report for 2015, the President of the United States request $25.4 Billion in Fiscal Year 2015 in orderRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Abuse On The United States947 Words   |  4 PagesNgoc Do Drug Abuse Drug abuse is a problem that has been increasing immensely in the United States. The amount of people using drugs is increasing drastically with people starting or trying illegal substances as a younger age. Drug abuse is the over use of legal and illegal substances. The abuse of drugs is the number one health related problem. Types of drugs commonly abused include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, painkillers, depressants, cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, heroin, and methamphetamine

Belonging- Memoirs of a Geisha free essay sample

The 2005 film ‘Memoirs of Geisha’, directed by Rob Marshall, is a film which follows the life of a young Japanese girl who is taken from the life of which she was accustomed to and is forced to live in and become part of a world which is exceedingly isolating, restricting and where conformity is highly valued. Sayuri, the protagonist in the film, finds that the only way for her to overcome her feelings of disconnectedness and isolation is to actually intentionally isolate and disconnect herself from her desires, love, emotions, and ultimately herself. The film introduces the idea of acceptance as being a key feature of achieving happiness. Those who are desperately searching for recognition from others are willing to give up control of their own lives in order for them to personally achieve happiness. This is evident in a particular scene in the film when Sayuri meets her purpose in life, General Tanaka. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging- Memoirs of a Geisha or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After showing her kindness and understanding, Sayuri felt she could possibly find a connection with this new world and potentially find happiness for herself, â€Å"in that moment, I changed from a girl facing nothing but emptiness to someone with purpose†. In this scene, and throughout the entire film, Sayuri’s voice is heard as a voice over as she is retelling her story, effectively narration. It implies that the story is a personal experience and so it allows the audience to feel a sense of empathy towards the character as the narration makes it easier for the audience to relate her experiences and emotions to their own personal lives. Sayuri is seen running through, what seems to be, an endless tunnel of large wooden posts. A follow shot is used, when the character is seemingly pursued by the camera, which assists in making the tunnel feel as though the character is running away. Metaphorically, she could be running away from her past feelings of disconnectedness, isolation and unhappiness. A panning shot is also used to the roof of the tunnel. This causes a claustrophobic affect and makes Sayuri look as though she is trapped from the outside world. The colours used are incredibly confronting, bright red and black, and draws attention from Sayuri running through them. They could possibly represent the challenges that Sayuri must confront in order to achieve her desires, the most significant was to become a geisha, â€Å"to be a geisha could be stepping stone to something else, a place in his world†. This is ironic because being a geisha is incredible isolating as it is dangerous to form a close connection with anyone, yet it is her way to become a part of something. Individuals can find and feel acceptance and connectedness through gaining recognition from someone whom they desire it from. In order for Sayuri to feel a sense of security and comfort, she must seek recognition from General Tanaka; however, in the society she lives in, she must be accepted by others in the community to achieve this recognition. One scene in particular which presents this is when Sayuri performs a traditional Geisha dance in front of a highly regarded audience. This dance signifies her official Geisha status which is one step further towards achieving her goal. The dance is extremely overpowering, intriguing and is full of emotion and passion. At the conclusion of the scene, the camera pans over the audience to show their reactions of joy and pleasure. This shows that those within her community have accepted her and are welcoming. General Tanaka reacts along with the crowd, â€Å"you were wonderful tonight†, which encourages Sayuri to continue to pursuit her goal. Blue lighting is used to create a magical and mysterious tone and this draws attention to Sayuri as it highlights her figure. Diegetic sound is used as traditional Japanese music is being played by the orchestra. This contributes to the feelings of mystery and also adds culture as traditional instruments are used. A close up is used to show the emotion that Sayuri is portraying. This gives the audience an idea of the emotions that she is feeling and how immersed she is in what she is doing, showing her determination to succeed. The colours used are mostly colours of purity and innocence such as white and pale blue. This is contrasted with Sayuri’s pitch black hair and the strips of red on her gown could represent strength and power.

Teaching in a Diverse Classroom free essay sample

As a teacher teaching in such a diverse school district, I would be sensitive to my students’ cultural, academic and economic differences. In my classroom I strive to create culturally sensitive learning communities and develop a positive teacher-student-parent relationship. Lesson plans are designed to motivate all students to learn, at their own level of learning, and allow me to use differentiated instructional strategies with hope of maximizing student learning. I would hope that after taking my course my students would be able to see the importance of being a productive citizen and how they can use the tools and skills learned to reach that goal. I do believe that with the right tools and skills, they all can be productive citizens whether they choose to take a job right out of high school, attend college or learn a trade at a career technical school. One of the most challenging situations that I have had to handle with another adult occurred my first year of teaching. We will write a custom essay sample on Teaching in a Diverse Classroom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Our local DECA chapter was wrapping up a fundraiser and needed to get rid of our leftover stock of suckers. Several of my students asked if they could come back later in the day and sell. I told them that they had to complete their classroom work and get permission from their teacher to come back and sell at the end of the block period. So after a successful day, I was approached during my 4th block planning period by a teacher. She came into my classroom, without knocking, waving the note I had written, and pretty much told me to never request for â€Å"her† students to be removed from class again. I was taken by surprise; she didn’t even introduce herself when she came into my classroom. I only knew who she was from the faculty meetings. So in order to save face, I took the high road and I apologized and told her it would never happen again. How could I have handled it differently? I could have been just as rude as she was and pointed out that the note said it was up to her to allow the student out of class or not. From that moment on, only other CTE teachers were asked!