#a education system and social system built for the rich

[elijasz]

Anyway, if you're wondering why I'm not posting any art: I am literally struggling to survive. This is the most stressful time I've ever had in my life and I have worked several jobs while managing a household and caring for a family member before. This might truly break me and I am NOT easy to break.

I barely sleep, I have no time for physical exercise, I have more to do than I can possibly ever check off my to-do-list and adding to that, people are being truely awful and testing my patience, which is literally running so thin you can see through it like it is a window you just cleaned.

I'm having heart issues and permanent headaches, that's how bad it is. I slept a total of 1 hour this night. I'm permanently nauseated. Oh and to top all that off I'm poor and my only weather-appropriate pair of shoes has been falling apart for about 3 months now and I still haven't been able to buy a new pair.

[awanderingtortoise]

i really love how much jack and belle complement each other with how polar their strengths and weaknesses are. it goes so deep into the relationship but ill discuss two examples: for one, the learning styles. so belle's very theoretical/educated approach as to jack's experience-based and hands-on learning. jack is very much hands on, kinesthetic, and experiential in his learning. thats because of his circumstances, not just the fact that hes dyslexic and really struggles to learn text-wise, though thats a factor. life in london with fagin-- from the beginning he had to learn on his feet. thievery is very much a hands on learning thing. then he goes on TRANSFERRING those skills of quick thinking, adaptability and quick fingers when he is thrust all of a sudden into surgery and war in the navy. thats really proof of how intelligent he is, that speed of learning and transferring skills, though its not a 'traditional' kind of smart. his physical dexterity is very much echoed in his mental dexterity, an aspect i love in how his character was built.

BELLE, on the other hand, total opposite. she literally cant get experience; shes a woman, shes a governor's daughter expected to live and act like a proper woman. though her headstrong nature and the way she swings around her privilege like a flaming torch lets her get experience later, she spent most of her pre-show life learning from books because that was the only resource she had. she's educated, she's rich, and she's really really smart and really really determined, so she CAN and WILL learn.

another thing is their worldview. belle's very much visionary and idealistic, jack is a realist. theyre both limited by society (not EQUALLY, and not in the same way, but they are both limited by society), but they respond in opposite, and equally flawed but valid ways, and its literally only with each other that they are able to balance out that response to the world and be the best they can be. they learn from eachother: belle gets a crash course in the reality of abusive governance and empathy for the realities of the lower class, jack is able to open his eyes to how much he can initiate change on the global scale with his skill.

belle's upbringing makes it so she has the social power and desire to fight and advocate for herself, something evident from the moment she threatened jack in episode 1 (essentially 'teach me or go to jail, fucker'). now the morals of that im not going to get into, but its a kind of power jack never had. because poverty. hence his complacency to hospital standards he doesnt agree with, because while belle can afford to fuck around and find out, he could lose his job with a single misstep.

BUT BUT BUT, with her at his side; his experience plus her social status and her idealistic vision for the world, theyre able to do SO MUCH GOOD! for the world, for eachother. she pushes him and he balances her out and opens her eyes to reality. he doesnt shatter her idealism but shes exposed for the first time to the dark side of the system her father runs: why people steal, why its not as morally black and white as theyd like her to think. but they literally couldnt do any of this: the revolutionary surgeries, the personal development, without eachother.

they change each other, irreversibly, for the better. thats a powerful relationship.

[stuffnonsenseandotherthings]

July has been a month of ups and downs in that there have been some truly excellent shows for me to watch but there have also been plenty of let downs. It's also been a month where I've had more free time than usual thanks to my being on holiday and I've definitely taken advantage of that to cram in as many dramas as I mentally and physically can.

Anyway here's a song for the month (perhaps I listened to it so much to trick my brain into believing it's summer despite the constant rain) and let's get started!

4Minutes 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [1/8]

What a strong start. I am seated and fully on board with wherever this drama wants to take me next. Something I really loved was how the first episode opened up so many questions with regards to various characters and their motivations and didn't just bank on the central plot device to build the intrigue (although there's plenty of intrigue there as well, and quite possibly already some answers). Yes I want to know about the seeing the future thing, obviously, but I also want to know about Great's relationship with his family, what kind of person Korn actually is, and why Tyme seems 5 kinds of jaded despite still being early in his career.

Battle of the Writers 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [1/12]

This one.... I'm not sure about. Its selling point was (and still is) that it's fulfilling my wish to see Tutor and Yim as leads and, in that, it's doing very well indeed. But, I'm not going to lie, the only reason it's here instead of in the "dropped" pile is because I try to give every show 2 episodes before making a decision. It's not that there's anything wrong with it (it genuinely seems like a perfectly good show judging by the first episode) but I just don't think it's something that's going to be able to hold my interest and make me want to make the time I need to watch it.

Century of Love 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [3/10]

I took a break from this one but I'm fully planning to catch up! I was enjoying it but I wasn't in the right head space for it at the time. I am now though so I'm going to rewatch the first 3 episodes and then hopefully be caught up in time for the last episode.

Knock Knock Boys 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [10/12]

I am very attached to all the residents of the Knock Knock house but especially Latte, I 100% buy that he has no problems finding partners because he won my heart too. I also really like his and Almond's storyline, not just the romance (although that is very cute) but the things that built that romance up; the intimacy group, their friendship with Shawn and Jumper, their friendship, the careful handling of the hidden camera story arc... Some really good writing all around there. I'm a little less sold on Thamwa and Peak (despite them being the older characters their storyline feels less mature if that makes sense?) but I'm still enjoying them immensely.

Midnight Romance in Hagwon 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [1/16]

I needed to take some time before I started watching this because I knew it was going to be such a rich watch. One episode in and it was already like eating a 3 course meal, there was so much to unpack and I am loving it. I know from @lurkingshan that this drama focuses much more on the education/Hagwon system than the titular romance and I also know that's not for everyone but, as someone who has a professional interest in the education system, that's more than okay with me and I'm curious to see what conclusions it comes to.

My Sweet Mobster 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [14/16]

I'm really loving the main message of the show (restoration not perpetual punishment) and the vibrancy of the characters. The ex-cons are so much fun and the found family they make together is adorable and hilarious in equal measure. The central romance is pretty adorable too with the gruff-softie/feisty-with+heart combo, although it is probably the thing I'm least invested in as it's quite typical for a k-drama romance (I actually think I prefer the second couple thanks to their social taboo breaking). Overall it's been a fun ride and I'm going to miss it when it's done, I'd also definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed A Business Proposal (it gives off very similar vibes).

Sweet Home S3 🇰🇷 (👩‍❤️‍👨) [2/8]

I don't think any of the proceeding seasons could ever have hoped to live up to the masterpiece that was season 1, but, to be fair, I never expected them to. What made S1 outstanding was it's confined and cramped setting and how that was then used to explore the complexity of social relationships through the lens of monsters vs survivors. Once they left the apartment complex and opened up the world, they were never going to be able to maintain that in quite the same wau. Still, I'm enjoying S3 for what it is and I think it's going to be a good conclusion to the series.

The Trainee 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [5/10]

This. Show. Is. Fantastic. It's the first time in a long time I've seen a drama treat the workplace seriously and not just as set dressing and so far it has hit all the right beats. Characters, comedy, themes, relationships, plots and subplots? All on point so far and developing so nicely in a well paced slow burn that it's obvious to me how much thought and care went into making this show. Also Gun is in equal measures cute, funny and relatable as Ryan and Jane is definitely Off's best and most crush-worthy character to date (which is great because that leaves Ink for me).

Lovestruck in the City 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨

Lovestruck in the City was an incredibly ambitious drama, both in terms of its format (a semi-docu interview style mixed with a lot of flashbacks) and its central theme (an exploration of modern relationships, especially those coming to or after their end). I really wasn't expecting it and to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. However what started off as its strengths in the first half ended up becoming its weaknesses in the second; it wanted be and say too many things all at once and in the end what was innovative about it got lost in its attempts to still fit the typical romance k-drama mold.

⭐ rating: 7/10

Moonlit Winter 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👩📽️

I don't know how to describe this film other than quiet but with a lot to say. It doesn't shrink away from the harsh realities of growing up, falling in love and living in a society where part of who you are is treated like something dirty and the lasting trauma that inflicts, but it also offers solace and comfort and a quiet hope for healing and change. It broke my heart and healed it in so many ways and I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time to come and recommending it to whoever will listen.

⭐ rating: 8.5/10

I should start by saying that I drop dramas quite often and for a variety of reasons. I don't have to be not enjoying a show to drop it, I just have to not be enjoying it enough. This means that there are plenty of dramas in my dropped pile that I think are perfectly decent shows but which, at the same time, didn't pull me in enough within the first few episodes.

Love Sea 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨👩‍❤️‍👩 [On Hold]

I thought Rak and Mut's storyline was great and I genuinely enjoyed their dynamic, even more so with all the meta around it. The very fact that this is "on hold" rather than straight up "dropped" is a testament to how much I am still taken with them. Unfortunately, however, Vi and Mook made me want to put my head through a wall every time they were on screen together and I couldn't, for my own sanity, keep watching a show where I was skipping half of each episode in a desperate attempt to escape even a glimpse of their scenes.

Red Swan 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

I think I got to episode 3 or 4? It was very fast paced and there was plenty of intrigue and family plotting to keep me on my toes, which I did appreciate. It also did a great job of making me feel like something was actually at stake and that the protagonists weren't always going to win, which is pretty rare. Ultimately though, I have a lot of other dramas that I like a lot more and which are more to my taste in terms of genre and subject matter, so Red Swan gets the boot. I would consider picking it up again later though.

Serendipity's Embrace 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

I found the first episode of this surprisingly boring, so much so that I spent a lot of it flicking through the news on my phone and didn't even consider watching the second. I'm glad that Chae Jeong Hyeop seems to be making a name for himself though. I really liked him in Love All Play and Castaway Diva (both of which I stuck with for longer than I normally would have for him btw), I guess now my hope is he gets some dramas that aren't quite so.... Middling.

Sunset X Vibes 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

This is so very much not my style and I knew that going in but I was briefly led astray by how beautiful Bank and his outfits were.

Wandee Goodday 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

I'm not going to go into loads of details because I've spoken enough about my feelings towards this drama. All I'm going to say is that it's the one that hurts the most to put here because I had such high hopes going into it. On the plus side, it's given me an OST to add to my playlist and 2 pairings I would quite like to see again.

Things have been relatively quiet on the K-dramas side of things these past few months but it finally looks like there's a number I'm looking forward to for August! Looks like I'm still going to have to wait for a K-BL to watch, however, I think the last one I watched was Love for Love's Sake and that was a depressingly long time ago now.

Monster Next Door 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 8] ⭐

Romance in the House 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 10]

Love Next Door 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 17 ] ⭐ (being introduced to Jung Hae In through Something in the Rain means I am now automatically excited whenever he's in a drama).

The Paradise of Thorns 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 22] ⭐

Cinderella at 2am 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 24] ⭐ (Shin Hyun Been is also an automatic watch)

No Gain, No Love 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [Aug 26]

I'm always open to recommendations so if there's an upcoming drama you think I might like, please let me know! Doubly appreciated if they're JBLs because I really want to break the stupid block I have with them.

[malikismindful]

Peace and Love, Black Family! As a Black person of consciousness in the 21st century, it is clear that the Americas, whether North, Central, or South America, is a dangerous society in all regions. The first reason for this change is that social and economic inequality worsens. The rich keep getting richer while most people, especially Black people, fight to stay alive. The difference in wealth has made it so that a small group of wealthy people controls resources, chances, and the decision-making process, while the rest of the society’s poor and marginalized populations are at a loss.

⭐️

Second, racism is built into many parts of society to remind us that we are not equal, and ultimately we never will be. Black people face discrimination everywhere, from the criminal justice system, which jails and prosecutes Black people more than it should, to the education system, which keeps gaps alive by underfunding and using biased testing methods. We are constantly reminded of how disadvantaged we are in the AmeriKKKas, making our lives even bleak.

⭐️

The growing nightmare is worsened by the loss of civil rights and the rise of authoritarianism. Surveillance devices, intrusive rules, and limiting freedoms have become the standard in the name of safety. Blacks are primarily targeted, so we are constantly being watched, scared, and limited. The violence that is authorized by the government shuts down our opinions and requests for justice, making it impossible for us to obtain the independence we desire.

⭐

Think what you like, but the AmeriKKKas have become a nightmare because of unequal wealth, systemic racism, and the loss of civil freedoms. We must know these facts and work to break down unjust systems and make a humane society for our people. We can only change the course of history and make a better future for ourselves and future generations by working together, being activists, strategic separation, and refusing to believe damaging narratives. GET ON CODE. STAY ON CODE. 🩸💣🔫✊🏾 BLACK POWER! #blackpower #blacklove #blackman #blackwoman #empowerment #blackrevolution #raceonly #blackpeopleonly #black #dystopia #revolutionary #power #truth #malikismindful

[omegaphilosophia]

The Impact of Extreme Wealth on Society: Unraveling the Complex Web

In the 21st century, the issue of wealth inequality has reached unprecedented levels. The ultra-rich, a minuscule fraction of the global population, possess a staggering amount of wealth, often equivalent to that of entire countries. While wealth accumulation isn't inherently problematic, the concentration of extreme wealth in the hands of a few has far-reaching consequences for society. In this blog post, we'll explore how the ultra-rich have contributed to many of the problems we face today.

Wealth Inequality: Perhaps the most obvious consequence of extreme wealth is the exacerbation of wealth inequality. The gap between the richest and the rest has grown to alarming proportions. This inequality can lead to social unrest and hinder economic growth by limiting opportunities for the majority.

Economic Disparities: Extreme wealth often translates into disproportionate economic power. This can result in monopolistic practices, which stifle competition and innovation. Smaller businesses struggle to compete, leading to fewer choices for consumers.

Social Issues: Wealth inequality contributes to a host of social issues, including reduced access to education, healthcare, and housing for marginalized communities. It also perpetuates cycles of poverty that are difficult to escape.

Power and Influence: The ultra-rich have outsized political influence. They can shape public policies to their advantage, often at the expense of the common good. This undermines the democratic principles upon which many societies are built.

Corporate Dominance: Many of the wealthiest individuals are tied to large corporations. Their influence over these entities can lead to decisions that prioritize profits over environmental responsibility or workers' rights.

Political Lobbying: Lobbying efforts by the ultra-rich can influence legislation in their favor. This can result in tax breaks for the wealthy, further exacerbating wealth inequality.

Tax Evasion: Some of the ultra-rich engage in tax evasion schemes, depriving governments of revenue needed for essential public services. This places a heavier burden on ordinary taxpayers.

Public Policy: The ultra-rich can use their influence to push for policies that benefit them financially, such as reduced regulations or favorable trade agreements. These policies may not align with the best interests of society as a whole.

Poverty Alleviation: While philanthropy is common among the wealthy, it often falls short of addressing systemic issues. Charity, while commendable, cannot replace comprehensive government programs aimed at poverty alleviation.

Social Responsibility: Extreme wealth can lead to a detachment from the daily struggles of ordinary people. This lack of empathy can hinder efforts to address pressing social and economic challenges.

The impact of extreme wealth on society is a multifaceted issue. While it's crucial to acknowledge the positive contributions of wealthy individuals, it's equally important to scrutinize the consequences of concentrated wealth and power. Addressing these issues requires thoughtful public policy, increased transparency, and a commitment to a more equitable society. By recognizing the challenges posed by extreme wealth, we can work towards a more just and inclusive future for all.

[jmmsthings]

Part 2:

(Lessons from Philippine History: Identity, Struggles, and Resilience)

The history of the Philippines teaches us many important lessons about our identity, struggles, and resilience. Before foreign powers arrived, our ancestors had a rich culture, their own system of government, and strong community values. They practiced trade with neighboring countries, had their own languages and traditions, and governed themselves through datus and rajahs. However, when Spain colonized the Philippines in 1565, it drastically changed our way of life. The Spanish introduced Christianity, built churches, and imposed their rule for over 300 years. Later, the Americans brought public education, democratic governance, and new economic policies, further shaping our society. Japan’s occupation during World War II was a dark time, filled with suffering and resistance.

Despite these challenges, our ancestors fought bravely for independence, from the revolutions led by heroes like José Rizal and Andrés Bonifacio to the eventual recognition of our sovereignty in 1946. Today, the effects of colonization are still seen in our government, education, and even the way we think. We continue to face issues such as social inequality and land disputes, but learning from our history helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses. By remembering the past, we can work toward a better and more just future for all Filipinos.

Related Media:

[thescentofrainonstone]

On Class in Britain and why the same kind of actor ends up getting our panties in a twist (see Hiddleston, Cumberbatch, Goode, etc...)

Isn't it peculiar that all this adoration and fandoms tend to be about white-cis mostly het (thought admittedly that's the more laxed of attributes) able thin, tall, pale but most importantly coming from riches guys?

You look at a Tom Hiddleston and his first headshots and roles and the wonder has got to be there: "how much time and means were available to him to get his degree from Oxbridge and then decide to do another entire BA on top of it at RADA?"

Admittedly he gets off easy going back historically("just" baronets in his line) when in his league we have Benedict Cumberbatch, whose existence is literally dependant on the slavery his direct ancestors built their empire on in Barbados, and were paid compensation when the end of slavery came to England. Finally his Wikipedia has a full description of this even though when I worked on the essay that took the Downton Abbey series and films as examples of the inhumane social divide the UK depends upon, it was all incredibly well swept under virtual rugs with a vague quote from Mother Cumberbatch advising her son to change his surname in case "they come after you for money" where money stands for "reparations" and considering the luxury of an arts career like the last few Cumberbatches have had is something intrinsically entrenched in wealth and privilege makes perfect sense if you ask me. A councillor in New York carries the same surname and she is Black. Slaves carried the surname of those who owned them.

Let that sink in: there is currently a commissiomer (and Professor at Columbia) in New York who carries the Cumberbatch surname because they are a direct descendant of the Slaves the Cumberbatches owned and owe their fortune to. Stacey Cumberbatch.

So yeah, when people think the UK is not the US, they Invented class and the divide that come with it. It is so crucial to come from a family that can afford you connections and the luxury to work for nothing while never risking bills or rent going unpaid.

And I guess what I'm trying to say is: it's ok for all the fandoms to salivate over anyone, I just think it's important we know why the media propels in front of our eyes the same prototype of Englishman over and over, and perpetrates the production of new pieces of media that casually seem naturally meant for white, rich, het passing people.

The system works like a bottleneck for privilege and I think the SAG-AFTRA strikes also show that: everyone that had some privilege and didn't do anything to average out the system will see their own reduced over time until only the tip of the top remains. And "eat the rich" is going to be another post but you get the gist.

That is to say, next time I go to Insole Court (the Victorian house where a Lot of A Discovery of Witches was filmed, including Matthew's "rooms at Oxford") will I touch every single book of the reading room because likely I will have touched something Matthew Goode touched when he was there filming? Sure.

I also do know that house was paid for by coal miners who actually died in a tragedy in the mines owned by the Insole family and that admittedly I find the only decent way to keep real estate built with the blood of people can just be that: give that back to the people.

It's about educated choices, that's what I'm trying to say.

Fun fact: I started watching a discovery of witches because after filming the essay at Insole Court, wanting to bring down the bourgeoisie, I learned the show was also filmed there. So i went and found it and now I have another white, pale, lanky, English twink to lose sleep over just because he's been given a character created by the mind of a woman who dreams enough, possibly because unfulfilled in some part of her life -because when we're happy we go out, we don't vomit pages over pages let's be honest -.

If none of those elegant white British men who embody the characters we love come from a program that allowed them to raise from the working class... or are anything but white or adhering to a white-er standard (Rege- Jean Page is the quintessential example of this, better than nothing but still, my point)...Maybe we should ask ourselves why, and how is that ok.

Just a random though on a day I wanted to go back to Insole Court for the aforesaid reason.

[mitigatedchaos]

So I stopped by because someone privately linked someone (not prodigal) having a fit, which presented an opportunity to try making that last image.

[ @athingbynatureprodigal ] writes:

What’s sought is a criteria for “developed country��� that wouldn’t include “Eritrea, but Putin and Elon Musk and the Waltons just bought vacation homes there.” Trains, healthcare, democracy, and lack of religious whackos killing people seems like at least as good a set as “well, it was on the US side during the cold war and has some rich people in it.” If you’re gonna call the former dumb, there needs to be more justification than “well I happen to use different criteria, which are equally arbitrary.” Both of those are vibes-based.

The question is, what is being "developed" in "development" of countries? In real estate, an "undeveloped" lot would be one that hasn't been built on yet, whether that's for a public park, which would be considered light development, or a house, or a factory. A "developing" lot would be a lot that's in an intermediate state of construction or addition. Then of course there is "brown field development," where previous construction has been built and is now getting in the way of new development.

So I would say that when we say a country is "developed," we're mostly talking about a country's capital front. (Mostly productive capital, but also housing, etc.) Safety, adherence to law, education, etc are all inputs to that front.

In accordance with the O-Ring theory of economic development, the average correctness of each node in a production chain increases the ability to create a highly-complex, high-value product. This requires a predictable environment etc etc.

@official-kircheis If we're looking at countries with tremendous capital fronts, the United States needs to be in the analysis, so if it's not "developed," well obviously it's also not "developing," so you need to describe the secret third thing that it is. (Obviously the United States is a diverse country, and it can be sliced in ways that make it more comparable to other "developed" countries in your sample.)

But this gets into why I've been on a social media hiatus. Or maybe "how."

During the past 2 weeks, I built a new PC, and I've been putting in a lot of hours into learning to use Stable Diffusion and probing the capabilities of these new AI art systems.

Reading social media gets me annoyed and distracted. And Kircheis' take was inflammatory and bad, but it's not nearly as bad as Twitter. (For one thing, it's obviously adjacent to nationalist shitposting. In fact, it most likely is nationalist shitposting.) However, there was a lot of information gain on social media before. Now that we're not in a fast cycle (like national riots or the opening of the pandemic), I've brawled with enough partisans to get a sense of how they think, and I got my hands on more obscure information, there isn't as much information gain there.

While I use Tumblr to report my findings, and 300-500 words is a comfortable length for explaining concepts while not taxing the attention too much, there are issues with taking things on an issue-by-issue basis (including in a reply format).

Often, if I talk about stuff, I won't do it. So I'll just say it's something to chew on for now.

[thepete]

We Humans are in Trouble and it’s Not How You Think (or Maybe it is?)

If you think about the truly massive massiveness of the insanely vast universe we live in, it's pretty hard to make the argument that we are the only intelligent lifeforms in said universe. Stephen Hawking famously said that we shouldn't want aliens to visit Earth because they might think just like humans do and do what we did when we started "exploring" our universe (also known as "genocide"). But this assumes that all "intelligent" life is selfish, supremacist, and violent toward things they don't (bother) to understand.

I've often heard the reasoning that "intelligent" life learns how to manipulate their environment so that it better suits the needs of the "intelligent" life. Not long after I first learned that theory, I came up with my own: What if truly intelligent life is life that is smart enough to live its life without manipulating its environment? Dolphins, bonobos and octopuses are all very intelligent beings and even have somewhat human characteristics. The smarts to open a jar (octopuses), the social organization to travel in groups and work together on tasks (dolphins), or even negotiation skills that include homosexual behavior (bonobos). What if the aliens that are out there are just like dolphins or bonobos, or octopuses and might be floating by our planet right now? Maybe they've built a space ship in a way that didn't pollute their home world or strip mine it to its core? What if they didn't even do it by exploiting lesser beings or even members of their own species that were less fortunate? Perhaps they learned to live harmoniously with the other lifeforms and themselves and the natural systems on their planet and only wanted to explore space to see what was out there.

What do you think those aliens would think of us?

Would they be impressed with our thriving economy? Would they think our leaders in government and business were doing everything right? Would they marvel at the plastics and other miscellaneous chemicals that have found their way into every animal on the planet? Would their jaws (assuming they have them) drop at the sight of our incredible weapons of war in action? Would they pat us on the back for how we treat our people of color, our women, or less fortunate?

I suspect that they wouldn't feel very positively about us after gazing upon the humanity that we are.

They'd look at the centuries of war, slavery, and human exploitation, and wonder why it is still happening.

The homelessness, famine and poverty that humans still suffer in the 21st century would be equally challenging for them to understand.

The rich living in mansions would seem to them like their equivalent to medieval castles.

The destruction wrought on the physical bodies and culture of black and brown peoples that continues to this day would probably repulse them.

The way we ignore education and under value not just intelligent people, but the teachers who taught them (and the rest of us), would inspire deep shame and pity from these aliens.

We spend trillions of dollars on invading countries and waging war on those weaker than us, while health threats to all human life, like cancer, heart disease, failing water systems, and more are all but ignored.

They'd squint in disbelief when recognizing what we're afraid of: terrorists, gangs, trans people, homosexual people, people using the wrong gender bathroom, discussion of history, discussion of truth, discussion of the clitoris, discussions of rape, guns, financial/gender/racial inequality, infrastructure, hell, there was a President of the United States who banned broccoli from the White House. It's highly probable that they would find us a petty, shallow, base species.

They'd shake their head (if they have something like a head) at the fact that after 200,000 years of humanity existing in its current biological form and this is still where we are at?

These aliens would likely conclude that not only should they not visit us, but they should stay the hell away from us and make sure we don't ever leave our planet. Of course, they know we're too shallow, and fearful to actually leave our planet without a really, really good reason. We're too focused on our own petty squabbles, truly ancient rules, absurd biases and fears, and overly adaptive bigotry (we'll find any reason to hate or discriminate) to actually make a serious attempt to explore space.

And if they're aliens like Stephen Hawking predicted? They'll kill us anyway, so why not at least try to not seem like shitty space neighbors?

[nicklloydnow]

“Ivan Illich was an idiosyncratic revolutionary. Fundamentally, most radical critics object that our institutions unfairly allocate good and services—education, health care, housing, transportation, consumer goods—or jobs, or respect, or, simply, money. Illich nicely summarized the left’s perennial program as “more jobs, equal pay for equal jobs, and more pay for every job.” For Illich, these demands were beside the point. He thought that, by and large, the goods, services, jobs, and rights on offer in every modern society were not worth a damn to begin with. In fact, he thought they, and the way of life they constituted, were toxic. He was not a reactionary in any useful sense of that term, but he was a fervent anti-progressive.

(…)

In a series of subsequent books—Tools for Conviviality (1973), Energy and Equity (1974), Medical Nemesis (1975), Toward a History of Needs (1978), The Right to Useful Unemployment (1978), and Shadow Work (1981)—Illich formulated parallel critiques of medicine, transportation, law, psychotherapy, the media, and other preserves of self-perpetuating expertise. The medical system produces patients; the legal system produces clients; the entertainment system produces audiences; and the transportation system produces commuters (whose average speed across a city, he liked to point out, is less than the average speed of pedestrians or bicyclists—or would be, if walking or bicycling those routes hadn’t been made impossible by the construction of highways). In this process, far more important than merely teaching us behavior is the way these systems teach us how to define our needs. “As production costs decrease in rich nations, there is an increasing concentration of both capital and labor in the vast enterprise of equipping man for disciplined consumption.”

Why do we have to be taught to need or disciplined to consume? Because being schooled, transported, entertained, etc.—consuming a service dispensed by someone licensed to provide it—is a radical novelty in the life of humankind. Until the advent of modernity only a century or two ago (in most of the world, that is; longer in “advanced” regions), the default settings of human nature included autonomy, mutuality, locality, immediacy, and satiety. Rather than being compulsorily enrolled in age-specific and otherwise highly differentiated institutions, one discovered interests, pursued them, and found others (or not) to learn with and from. Sick care was home- and family-based, far less rigorous and intrusive, and suffering and death were regarded as contingencies to be endured rather than pathologies to be stamped out. Culture and entertainment were less abundant and variegated but more participatory. The (commercially convenient) idea that human needs and wants could expand without limit, that self-creation was an endless project, had not yet been discovered.

(…)

But these defects were reformable; more intractable was “cultural iatrogenesis”—the destruction of “the potential of people to deal with their human weakness, vulnerability, and uniqueness in a personal and autonomous way.” (…)

The notion of “radical monopoly” plays an important role in Illich’s critique of professionalism:

A radical monopoly goes deeper than that of any one corporation or any one government. It can take many forms. When cities are built around vehicles, they devalue human feet; when schools preempt learning, they devalue the autodidact; when hospitals draft all those who are in critical condition, they impose on society a new form of dying. Ordinary monopolies corner the market; radical monopolies disable people from doing or making things on their own. The commercial monopoly restricts the flow of commodities; the more insidious social monopoly paralyzes the output of nonmarketable use-values. Radical monopolies . . . impose a society-wide substitution of commodities for use-values by reshaping the milieu and by “appropriating” those of its general characteristics which have enabled people so far to cope on their own.

Professions colonize our imaginations; or as Michel Foucault (whom Illich’s language sometimes recalls—or anticipates) might have said, they reduce us to terms in a discourse whose sovereignty we have no idea how to contest or criticize.

Unlike Foucault, who sometimes seemed to take a grim satisfaction in demonstrating how cunningly we were imprisoned in our language and institutions, Illich was an unashamed humanist. His ties to the barrios and campesinos of North and South America were deep and abiding. His “preferential option for the poor” (the slogan of Catholic liberation theology) was a peculiar one: he hoped to save them from economic development at the hands of Western-trained technocrats. Illich had hard words for even the best Western intentions toward the Third World. (It is possible that what annoyed the CIA was Illich’s advice to the Peace Corps volunteers who came to Cuernavaca for Spanish-language instruction that they should leave Latin American peasants alone, or perhaps even try to learn from them how to de-develop their own societies.) Religious and ecological radicals, however generous and respectful, still wanted to bring the poor a poisoned gift, in Illich’s judgment:

Development has had the same effect in all societies: everyone has been enmeshed in a new web of dependence on commodities that flow out of the same kind of machines, factories, clinics, television studios, think tanks. . . . Even those who do worry about the loss of cultural and genetic variety, or about the multiplication of long-impact isotopes, do not advert to the irreversible depletion of skills, stories, and senses of form. And this progressive substitution of industrial goods and services for useful but nonmarketable values has been the shared goal of political factions and regimes otherwise violently opposed to one another.

Illich might have said more about those fugitive “stories, skills, and senses of form”; he might have tried harder to sketch in the details of a society based on “nonmarketable values.” But in Tools for Conviviality and elsewhere, he at least dropped hints. He certainly did not idealize the primitive—he might have welcomed the term “appropriate technology” if he had encountered it. He enthused over bicycles and the slow trucks and vans that moved people and livestock over the back roads of Latin America before the latter were “improved” into useless and dangerous highways. He was a connoisseur of the hand-built structures cobbled together from cast-off materials in the favelas and slums of the global South. He thought phone trees and computer databases that would match learners and teachers were a very plausible substitute for the present educational system. He thought the Chinese “barefoot doctors” were a promising, though fragile, experiment. He was friendly to any gadget or technique or practice—he called them “convivial” tools—that encouraged initiative and self-reliance rather than smothering those qualities by requiring mass production, certified expertise, or professional supervision.

Illich proposed “a new kind of modern tool kit”—not devised by planners but worked out through a kind of society-wide consultation that he called “politics,” undoubtedly recognizing that it bore no relation to what currently goes by that name. The purpose of this process was to frame a conception of the good life that would “serve as a framework for evaluating man’s relation to his tools.” Essential to any feasible conception, Illich assumed, was identifying a “natural scale” for life’s main dimensions. “When an enterprise [or an institution] grows beyond a certain point on this scale, it first frustrates the end for which it was originally designed, and then rapidly becomes a threat to society itself.”

A livable society, Illich argued, must rest on an “ethic of austerity.” Of course, he didn’t mean by “austerity” the deprivation imposed by central bankers for the sake of “financial stability” and rentier profits. Nor, though he rejected affluence as an ideal, did he mean asceticism. He meant “limits on the amount of instrumented [i.e., technical or institutional] power that anyone may claim, both for his own satisfaction and in the service of others.” Instead of global mass society, he envisioned “many distinct cultures . . . each modern and each emphasizing the dispersed use of modern tools.”

Under such protection against disabling affluence . . . tool ownership would lose much of its present power. If bicycles are owned here by the commune, there by the rider, nothing is changed about the essentially convivial nature of the bicycle as a tool. Such commodities would still be produced in large measure by industrial methods, but they would be seen and evaluated . . . as tools that permitted people to generate use-values in maintaining the subsistence of their respective communities.

Whether one calls this revolution or devolution, it clearly requires, he acknowledged, “a Copernican revolution in our perception of values.” But there was nothing quixotic or eccentric about it. On the contrary, this affirmation of limits aligns Illich with what is perhaps the most significant strain of social criticism in our time: the anti-modernist radicalism of Lewis Mumford, Christopher Lasch, and Wendell Berry, among others.

(…)

Criticism of this breadth and depth illuminates everything. Exactly how to turn it against everything is usually, as in this case, more than even the critic can say.”

[dacsinfo]

Buy Online Full HD Android-based smart TV - Dacs TV

 A Full HD Android-based smart TV is a perfect blend of technology and entertainment, providing users with a seamless and immersive viewing experience. This type of TV boasts high-definition picture quality and allows users to access a vast range of online content through the Android operating system.

One of the most significant benefits of owning an Android-based smart TV is its ability to connect to the internet and access a wide range of apps and streaming services. This feature provides users with endless entertainment options, from streaming movies and TV shows to browsing social media, playing games, and even accessing educational content.

Moreover, Android-based smart TVs are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing users to navigate through menus and options with ease. This makes it easy to customize the viewing experience, from adjusting picture and sound settings to installing new apps and widgets.

In addition to its entertainment features, an Android-based smart TV also serves as a hub for smart home devices, allowing users to control lights, thermostats, and other devices with their voice or remote control. This provides users with a convenient and integrated home automation solution that enhances their overall quality of life.

When it comes to picture quality, an dacs ultra HD smart TV boasts full HD resolution, which provides a crystal-clear and sharp picture that is ideal for watching movies and sports events. It also features advanced image processing technologies that enhance the picture quality further, including HDR, which increases the dynamic range and provides a more lifelike viewing experience.

In terms of sound quality, an toshiba 55 inch 4k ultra hd smart tv typically features built-in speakers that provide clear and rich audio, but it can also be connected to external speakers for a more immersive experience. It also includes various sound settings that can be customized to match the user's preferences, whether they prefer booming bass or crisp treble.

In conclusion, an ultra hd smart tv 4k is an excellent investment for those who are looking for a high-quality viewing experience that provides access to a wide range of online content and smart home integration. With its intuitive interface, advanced image processing technologies, and customizable sound settings, it is sure to enhance your overall entertainment and home automation experience.

[llminukmeridean]

Durham University: A Comprehensive Overview of the Prestigious Institution

Durham University is a world-renowned institution located in the historic city of Durham, United Kingdom. Founded in 1832, Durham University is one of the oldest universities in the UK and has a reputation for academic excellence and research. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Durham University, including its history, academic programs, campus, and student life.

History

Durham University was founded by the Bishop of Durham, William van Mildert, in 1832. The university was established as a response to the growing need for higher education in the North East of England. Initially, the university consisted of just two colleges - University College and Durham College of Physical Science. However, over time, the university expanded and new colleges were added.

Academic Programs

Durham university of durham offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across a variety of disciplines. Some of the most popular undergraduate programs include Business, Law, Psychology, Engineering, and Computer Science. The university also offers a range of postgraduate programs, including Master's degrees and PhDs.

 One of the unique features of Durham University is its collegiate system. The university is made up of 16 colleges, each with its own history, traditions, and character. Students are assigned to a college when they enrol, and each college provides academic and pastoral support to its students. The collegiate system also means that students have access to a wide range of social, cultural, and sporting activities.

Campus

Durham University is situated in the heart of the city of Durham, which is located in the North East of England. The university's main campus is spread across three sites - Durham City, Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees, and the Sir Peter Ustinov College in Durham. The Durham City campus is the largest and most historic, and is home to the majority of the university's academic departments.

The Durham City campus is situated on a peninsula surrounded by the River Wear, and is home to some of the university's most iconic buildings. These include Durham Castle, which was built in the 11th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world.

Student Life

durham university uk has a vibrant student community, with students from all over the world coming to study at the institution. The university has a wide range of student societies and clubs, covering a variety of interests and hobbies. These include sports teams, music and drama groups, and academic societies.

The university also has a range of student support services, including a dedicated careers service, a student wellbeing service, and a student union. The student union is the hub of student life on campus, and organises a range of social and cultural events throughout the year.

Conclusion

Durham University is a prestigious institution with a rich history, excellent academic programs, and a vibrant student community. Whether you are interested in business, law, psychology, engineering, or computer science, Durham University has a program to suit you. The university's collegiate system means that students have access to a wide range of support and activities, and the historic campus provides a unique and inspiring learning environment.

Read More-: durham university fees

[inanhourofdreaming]

Modern education is not a failure. This is such a fucking weird, awful opinion to even have for an educator?! Gains in literacy levels alone from before and after formal education existed disprove this. 100 years ago worldwide literacy levels were literally 12%. They’re now about 87%. That is pretty much entirely thanks to formal education. Before the public formal education system, if you were poor, and I cannot stress this enough — NO ONE WOULD BOTHER TO TEACH YOU TO READ.

People know substantially more than they used to before we formalized our education systems. But there are things schools can do and things they can’t, and this is actually really important.

Schools cannot make kids “smarter”. People have general aptitudes (the best they can do at their peak given all possible supports) and that’s mostly based on genetics. The best school and teacher in the world cannot make every kid an Einstein. The world can make people less smart, though. Lead poisoning, poverty, lack of food, lack of sleep — and schools can (and do) play a really big role in protecting kids from those harms, too, by providing safe places to be, free meals, time to socialize with their peers (as opposed to, say, living on their farm and only interacting with their family), and exposure to ideas and skills beyond what their parents knew. They also teach them how to read and write. If you are reading this right now? It’s very likely because the formal education system TAUGHT YOU HOW. Or taught your parents how.

What schools, in my opinion, should not be, is the place where students are inculcated into whatever social ideas are most prominent at the time, and that’s where OP is just very clearly going with their own opinion and not in anything based on research. Schools are meant to teach critical thinking, frameworks, methods, and the hard skills like reading comprehension and math that are how we develop and support more complex thoughts. How best to do that via pedagogy has been and will continue to be a conversation. Yes, you should try and choose books that kids find interesting so they’ll enjoy the process more. But can anyone - literally anyone - who has been out in the real world with a real job honestly say “well, you get to just do whatever you want with no consequences out here, so learning how to do work you aren’t interested in has no value”?

Life is hard, and we need people to do lots of boring, difficult jobs because that is literally the foundation everything you have is built on. Food, water, clothes, music — you would have very few of these things without people doing boring jobs they don’t always love or find interesting in a capitalist society. No other kind of society has ever actually succeeded outside of very small, transient examples. There are plenty of bad things about the capitalist system we currently have, but no one has ever proposed a better system in any kind of detail OR been able to prove it would work. The quality of life of a poor American only looks horrible to you because you are comparing it to the life of a rich American, and not comparing it to the actual relevant situation, which is a poor person before formalized education and modern capitalism existed. Those people, on the whole, simply died after difficult, often short, deeply labor intensive lives of backbreaking work.

Schools were never really meant to be morality factories. You only HAVE schools because of capitalism, and the point of them has always been so you can have a better chance at financially surviving in a world that has always been a challenge. They give you a fighting chance when before you would have had none. You should no more want your school “teaching” whatever kind of complex social frameworks are currently in vogue than you’d want them teaching your kids what religion to believe. That’s not what they’re for. Teaching you how to think is not the same as teaching you what to think.

I remember thinking this shit when I was in high school and college. “when am I ever going to use this?” “Why don’t people just do XYZ?” And guess what? I didn’t know WTF I was talking about because I hadn’t had nearly the opportunity to delve into the complex and frustrating realities of the real world, where very little is ever simple and everything is a complex system.

The thing is, what kids want, and what is best for them, are often different things. I had a friend who, when she was a child, had a mild lazy eye. Her doctor told her she had to wear a patch every day on the other eye to train the muscles in the lazy eye better. She hated the patch and didn’t like to wear it because it was uncomfortable. Well, guess what? Her mother didn’t make her wear it, and now her eye is still kind of fucked. Do you think she’s happy about that? Of course not. Because she was a child, and her mother wasn’t, and should have known better. The discomfort at the time would have been worth it to her now. A lot of school turned out to be like that for me.

The world is not a perfect place, but it makes me absolutely insane when people act like we aren’t incredibly, unbelievably better off than we used to be because of the systems we’ve built. No one is saying don’t try to continue to improve things, but these kinds of purely political takes are not based in evidence.

A Twitter Thread from David Bowles:

[Text transcript at the end of the screenshots]

I'll let you in on a secret. I have a doctorate in education, but the field’s basically just a 100 years old. We don’t really know what we’re doing. Our scholarly understanding of how learning happens is like astronomy 2000 years ago.

Most classroom practice is astrology.

Before the late 19th century, no human society had ever attempted to formally educate the entire populace. It was either aristocracy, meritocracy, or a blend. And always male.

We’re still smack-dab in the middle of the largest experiment on children ever done.

Most teachers perpetuate the “banking�� model (Freire) used on them by their teachers, who likewise inherited it from theirs, etc.

Thus the elite “Lyceum” style of instruction continues even though it’s ineffectual with most kids.

What’s worse, the key strategies we’ve discovered, driven by cognitive science & child psychology, are quite regularly dismissed by pencil-pushing, test-driven administrators. Much like Trump ignores science, the majority of principals & superintendents I’ve known flout research.

Some definitions:

Banking model --> kids are like piggy banks: empty till you fill them with knowledge that you're the expert in.

Lyceum --> originally Aristotle's school, where the sons of land-owning citizens learned through lectures and research.

Things we (scholars) DO know:

-Homework doesn't really help, especially younger kids.

-Students don't learn a thing from testing. Most teachers don't either (it's supposed to help them tweak instruction, but that rarely happens).

-Spending too much time on weak subjects HURTS.

Do you want kids to learn? Here's something we've discovered: kids learn things that matter to them, either because the knowledge and skills are "cool," or because .... they give the kids tools to liberate themselves and their communities.

Maintaining the status quo? Nope.

Kids are acutely aware of injustice and by nature rebellious against the systems of authority that keep autonomy away from them.

If you're perpetuating those systems, teachers, you've already freaking lost.

They won't be learning much from you. Except what not to become. Sure, you can wear them down. That's what happened to most of you, isn't it? You saw the hideous flaw in the world and wanted to heal it. But year after numbing year, they made you learn their dogma by rote.

And now many of you are breaking the souls of children, too.

For what?

It's all smoke and mirrors. All the carefully crafted objectives, units and exams.

WE. DON'T. KNOW. HOW. PEOPLE. LEARN.

We barely understand the physical mechanisms behind MEMORY. But we DO know kids aren't empty piggy banks. They are BRIMMING with thought.

The last and most disgusting reality? The thing I hear in classroom after freaking classroom?

Education is all about capitalism.

"You need to learn these skills to get a good job." To be a good laborer. To help the wealthy generate more wealth, while you get scraps.

THAT is why modern education is a failure.

Its basic premise is monstrous.

"Why should I learn to read, Dr. Bowles?"

Because reading is magical. It makes life worth living. And being able to read, you can decode the strategies of your oppressors & stop them w/ their own words.

[patriciamorris01]

Future Trends in Learning Management Systems: What to Expect in the Next Decade

The landscape of education and corporate training has been revolutionized by Learning Management System (LMS) software. LMS platforms streamline training, enhance e-learning experiences, and provide actionable insights for organizations worldwide. Choosing the right LMS software can significantly impact the success of your learning initiatives. Here, we highlight the top 10 companies in Learning Management System Software services, showcasing their unique offerings, innovations, and contributions to the sector.

1. Vee Technologies

When it comes to cutting-edge Learning Management System Software, Vee Technologies leads the pack. With a commitment to delivering tailored LMS solutions for businesses and educational institutions, Vee Technologies combines innovation with user-centric design. Their platform supports robust features such as:

Customizable Learning Paths: Designed to meet the specific needs of different industries.

Advanced Analytics: Offering detailed insights into learner progress and performance.

Seamless Integration: Works effortlessly with third-party tools and existing enterprise systems.

Gamification and Interactive Content: Enhancing engagement and retention.

Vee Technologies is recognized for its scalability, making it an excellent choice for small enterprises and large corporations alike. Their dedication to providing top-notch support ensures clients achieve their learning objectives efficiently.

2. Cornerstone OnDemand

Cornerstone OnDemand is a pioneer in the LMS industry, known for its cloud-based learning and talent management solutions. Its platform excels in:

Employee Development: With training programs designed to upskill employees.

AI-Powered Recommendations: Personalized learning experiences for users.

Global Reach: Supporting multiple languages and compliance with international standards.

Cornerstone OnDemand’s versatility makes it a preferred choice for organizations looking to streamline workforce training and talent management.

3. SAP Litmos

SAP Litmos is a robust LMS platform that combines ease of use with powerful functionality. It’s highly regarded for its ability to serve both corporate and extended enterprise training. Key features include:

Content Library: A rich repository of pre-built courses.

Mobile Accessibility: Allowing learners to access content anytime, anywhere.

Quick Deployment: Simplifying the onboarding process.

With SAP Litmos, businesses can ensure their workforce remains competitive in a rapidly changing environment.

4. Blackboard

A household name in the e-learning space, Blackboard caters to academic institutions and corporate training. Its strengths lie in:

Virtual Classroom Tools: Enabling real-time interaction and collaboration.

Comprehensive Reporting: Facilitating data-driven decisions.

Accessibility Features: Making learning inclusive for all users.

Blackboard’s reputation for reliability and innovation makes it a staple in educational technology.

5. Docebo

Docebo’s AI-powered LMS sets it apart from the competition. Its platform focuses on transforming learning experiences through technology. Highlights include:

Social Learning: Encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Custom Branding: Allowing businesses to align the platform with their identity.

AI-Driven Insights: Providing actionable recommendations for administrators.

Docebo’s emphasis on automation and personalization makes it a top contender in the LMS market.

6. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. Notable features are:

Ease of Use: Intuitive interface for both learners and administrators.

Affordable Pricing: Providing great value without compromising on quality.

Extensive Integrations: Supporting tools like Zoom, Salesforce, and Slack.

TalentLMS ensures that organizations can implement effective training programs without breaking the bank.

7. Moodle

As an open-source LMS platform, Moodle offers unparalleled flexibility and customization options. It’s widely used by educational institutions and organizations seeking a cost-effective solution. Key benefits include:

Community Support: A vast network of developers and users.

Plugin Marketplace: Enabling feature expansion as needed.

Scalability: Suitable for institutions of all sizes.

Moodle’s open-source nature ensures it remains a popular choice for those who value adaptability.

8. Absorb LMS

Absorb LMS focuses on providing a user-friendly and visually appealing learning experience. Its standout features include:

Modern Interface: Enhancing user engagement.

Advanced Analytics: Offering insights to improve training effectiveness.

eCommerce Capabilities: Facilitating the monetization of courses.

Absorb LMS is particularly favored by organizations that prioritize aesthetics and user experience.

9. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is a customer-centric LMS that simplifies the training process for businesses. Its main features are:

Multiple Portals: Allowing companies to manage training for different audiences.

Automation Tools: Streamlining repetitive tasks.

Customer Support: Providing round-the-clock assistance.

LearnUpon’s dedication to delivering value ensures clients can maximize their training outcomes.

10. Edmodo

Targeting the education sector, Edmodo offers a platform that fosters collaboration between teachers, students, and parents. Its core functionalities include:

Classroom Management: Tools to organize and track student progress.

Content Sharing: Facilitating the exchange of resources and ideas.

Engagement Tools: Encouraging participation through polls and discussions.

Edmodo’s focus on enhancing communication and interaction makes it a favorite among educators.

Conclusion Selecting the best Learning Management System Software depends on your organization’s specific needs, whether it’s scalability, customization, or user engagement. By evaluating the features and strengths of these top 10 LMS providers, you can make an informed decision to elevate your learning and training initiatives to the next level.

[school-dekho]

The Indian Pledge in English: A Symbol of Unity and Patriotism

The Indian Pledge in English is more than just a set of words recited in schools—it is a powerful expression of love, respect, and commitment towards the nation. Every morning, millions of students across India stand together, place their hands over their hearts, and recite the Indian School Pledge with pride. But beyond the routine, this pledge holds a deeper meaning that every Indian should understand.

In this article, we will explore the history, significance, and impact of the Indian Pledge in English, highlighting why it continues to be a strong symbol of unity and patriotism.

What is the Indian School Pledge?

The Indian School Pledge is a declaration of loyalty, duty, and respect for the nation. It is recited by students in schools during morning assemblies and on special national occasions. Here is the Indian Pledge in English:

"India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give my parents, teachers, and all elders respect, and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness."

These words teach children about the values of unity, respect, and responsibility—qualities that shape them into better citizens.

History of the Indian Pledge

The Indian Pledge in English was written by Pydimarri Venkata Subba Rao in 1962. He was a civil servant from Andhra Pradesh who wanted to create a simple yet powerful pledge that could inspire young minds. The pledge was first introduced in schools in 1963 and quickly became a part of India’s educational system.

Today, it is recited in both English and various regional languages across the country, ensuring that every child understands and connects with its message.

Why is the Indian Pledge Important?

1. It Promotes National Unity

The pledge begins with the words "India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters." This simple line teaches children to see every Indian as part of one big family. It removes differences based on religion, caste, or language and promotes unity.

2. It Teaches Patriotism

By saying "I love my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage," students develop a sense of pride in India’s history, culture, and traditions. Patriotism is not just about celebrating national festivals but also about working towards the progress of the country.

3. It Encourages Respect and Discipline

The pledge emphasizes respect for parents, teachers, and elders. It reminds students to treat everyone with courtesy and kindness, building a culture of respect and discipline.

4. It Instills a Sense of Responsibility

The line "I shall always strive to be worthy of it" encourages students to work hard and contribute positively to society. It teaches them that being a good citizen means being honest, responsible, and hardworking.

5. It Connects Personal Happiness with National Growth

The closing words, "In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness," remind us that our success is linked to the success of our country. A strong nation is built by responsible and caring citizens.

The Role of Schools in Promoting the Pledge

Schools play a vital role in ensuring that students not only memorize the Indian School Pledge but also understand its meaning. Here’s how schools can make the pledge more impactful:

Encourage Discussion: Teachers can explain the meaning of the pledge and encourage students to share their thoughts.

Organize Activities: Schools can host essay competitions, speeches, and debates on national pride and unity.

Lead by Example: Teachers and school staff should demonstrate the values of respect, discipline, and patriotism in their daily actions.

Apply in Real Life: Schools can promote social responsibility through community service projects, cleanliness drives, and teamwork activities.

Living by the Values of the Indian Pledge

The Indian Pledge in English is not just for school assemblies—it is a way of life. Here’s how we can live by its values every day:

Respect Everyone: Treat people with kindness and fairness, regardless of their background.

Be a Responsible Citizen: Follow rules, help others, and contribute to society.

Celebrate Diversity: Appreciate India’s different cultures and traditions.

Work Hard for the Nation: Whether as a student, professional, or citizen, give your best for India’s progress.

When we truly understand and live by the pledge, we help create a better and stronger India.

Conclusion

The Indian School Pledge is more than just a daily recitation—it is a symbol of unity, patriotism, and responsibility. By knowing the Indian Pledge in English and applying its values in daily life, we become better citizens who contribute to a more united and prosperous India.

So, the next time you hear or recite the pledge, remember its true meaning. Let’s not just say the words—let’s live by them and inspire others to do the same!

[hats-off-solutions]

A Comprehensive Guide to WordPress Development with Examples

WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) globally, powering over 40% of websites on the internet. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility and scalability, making it the go-to platform for websites ranging from personal blogs to large-scale e-commerce stores. This blog will guide you through the fundamentals of WordPress development with practical examples.

Why Choose WordPress for Web Development?

WordPress is an excellent choice for web development due to its versatility, user-friendliness, and extensive ecosystem. Here are key reasons to choose WordPress:

Ease of Use: The intuitive interface makes it accessible for users with no coding experience.

Customizability: Thousands of themes and plugins allow developers to create unique, feature-rich websites.

SEO-Friendly: Built-in SEO tools and plugins like Yoast SEO ensure higher search engine rankings.

Community Support: A vast community of developers and users provides extensive documentation and troubleshooting help.

Cost-Effective: It’s open-source, reducing upfront costs, and many plugins and themes are free or affordable.

Scalability: Suitable for all project sizes, from small blogs to enterprise-level applications.

Most Common and Popular Uses of WordPress Development

WordPress is a versatile platform that supports a wide range of applications:

Blogs and Personal Websites: Ideal for bloggers and content creators to share ideas and stories.

E-Commerce Websites: Plugins like WooCommerce transform WordPress into a robust online store.

Business Websites: Professional websites for showcasing services, portfolios, and client testimonials.

Educational Platforms: Create e-learning websites with plugins like LearnDash or Tutor LMS.

Membership Sites: Restrict access to exclusive content using membership plugins.

News Portals and Magazines: Build dynamic websites with features like category filtering and custom layouts.

Portfolio Websites: Showcase creative work with visually appealing themes tailored for portfolios.

Click Here To Explore Your Knowledge About Wordpress Development

Key Components of WordPress Development

Themes:

Control the appearance and layout of a WordPress site.

2. Plugins:

Extend the functionality of WordPress.

3. Widgets and Shortcodes:

Widgets enhance the sidebar or footer.

Shortcodes embed custom functionality directly into posts or pages.

4. APIs:

WordPress REST API allows developers to interact with WordPress using JSON.

Benefits of WordPress Development

Flexibility: WordPress can support any type of website, from a simple blog to a full-fledged e-commerce site.

2. Extensive Plugin Ecosystem: With over 50,000 plugins, developers can add virtually any feature to a site.

3. Mobile-Responsive: Most WordPress themes are mobile-friendly, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.

4. Easy Maintenance: Regular updates to themes, plugins, and the core WordPress software ensure stability and security.

5. Large Community: Access to thousands of tutorials, forums, and resources for problem-solving and inspiration.

6. Integration Capabilities: Easily integrate with social media platforms, email marketing tools, and payment gateways.

Steps to Start WordPress Development

Set Up a Local Development Environment:

Use tools like XAMPP, MAMP, or Local by Flywheel.

Install WordPress locally and configure your database.

2. Learn the Basics of PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript:

WordPress is built on PHP, with front-end elements using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

3. Understand WordPress Hierarchy:

Learn how templates like header.php, footer.php, and single.php work.

4. Work with the WordPress Codex:

The Codex provides extensive documentation for developers.

5. Experiment with Themes and Plugins:

Start by customizing existing themes and writing simple plugins.

Tips for Successful WordPress Development

Follow Best Practices: Use coding standards to ensure maintainable and secure code.

Leverage Child Themes: Avoid directly modifying core themes by using child themes.

Optimize Performance: Use caching plugins and optimize images for faster load times.

Secure Your Website: Implement SSL, regular updates, and strong authentication measures.

Conclusion

WordPress development offers endless possibilities for creating dynamic, feature-rich websites. By mastering its core components, leveraging its powerful APIs, and experimenting with customizations, you can develop applications tailored to diverse business needs. Start small, build your expertise, and soon you’ll be crafting WordPress solutions that stand out in today’s competitive digital landscape.