Character Education is Everywhere
Character education isn't anything new. It's recently received a formal label. However, adults have been teaching character for years. Maybe it wasn't in a formal class setting, but that doesn't matter. Parents and grandparents, teachers, coaches and anyone who interacts with kids is a teacher of character.
Anyone who helps shape a child's personality and view of life is a character educator. Do you disagree with that statement? Well, consider this. You influence the children you interact with in a number of ways, including:
1. The way you talk. Do you use a lot of foul language? If so, the children around you may pick up the same habit. You're basically showing them that it's fine to use bad language. Unless someone else shows them otherwise, they will probably start speaking the same way.
You can also influence their manner of speech. Do you use slang all the time? Do you speak proper English, Spanish or whatever language you speak? Using slang and improper forms of speech can influence children as well. Have you ever heard an older child speak who sounds like they don't understand the language? It's probably because they've picked up negative speech patterns from an adult.
2. Your behavior. Do you allow children to see you blatantly lying? Do you treat people unfairly? Any such behaviors can influence what children do. Children are heavily influenced by how adults behave. They pay more attention to what you do as opposed to what you tell them to do. If your actions contradict your words, children will pay closer attention to your actions.
3. The behavior you allow. How do you allow children to behave? Do you let them litter without telling them to clean it up? Do you allow them to run in the house? Children will think anything is fine unless you tell them otherwise.
Character education occurs all the time. Not only does it occur at home, but in schools, churches and other settings. Pay close attention to how you speak and act around children. You could possibly change a life.
"There's no reason you should be embarrassed about not know about character education programs. <=Click here to get the information you need to effectively educate them about character. If you're ready to read more about how our character education program can help you with your kid's character education, visit our character education page and download our free Ebook The Ultimate Guides to Kid's Happiness. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now."
Character Education and the Accidental Teacher - Chapter 3
Character education duties often hurtle downward from administrators to crash painfully into unwilling hands. Educators who contracted to teach other courses suddenly become accidental teachers of this subject, forced to make unsought trips into character education country. In Chapters 1 and 2 of this guidebook, we gave such accidental teachers travel tips on what to pack, where to stay, and where to eat when required to take such "business trips." In this final chapter, we prepare a proactive presentation on character education - a character education lesson plan that will be both captivating and effective.
Character education presentations should be viewed as priorities - especially by the accidental teacher who has been sent to deliver them. It is important to remember that trips into the lands of mathematics, science, history, and other subjects will be unsuccessful if character education presentations fail.
Prepare your proactive presentation weeks before you must give it, working to make it so excellent that even the king of character education land will applaud. The following points should always be included. Others may be added if time and your expense account allow.
Parts of a Proactive Presentation
1. Proactive Approach. Too often, accidental teachers engage in reactive character education lesson plans. Reactive presentations look at the past instead of anticipating the future. Focusing only on weeding out undesirable bad behavior, they encourage reactivity. That is, they encourage students to change their performance or behavior just because they have become aware that they are being observed. The accidental teacher must work to avoid reactivity.
This can best be done by consciously adopting a proactive approach. Anticipate the moral needs of your listeners in character education country. For example, give a presentation on responsibility before, not after, listeners prove themselves irresponsible. The control you exercise with such a presentation will cause listeners to build and exercise responsibility immediately. Irresponsibility is avoided or greatly reduced through proactive presentation of the trait.
Be enthusiastically proactive in your speaking. If you aren't interested in what you have to say, your listeners will not be interested either.
2. Story Power. Have you noticed how often dynamic public speakers use stories in their presentations? Storytelling is considered by many to be the key to business communications. It is the key to character education communications, too. Even the great teachers of ancient Greek and Rome recognized that fact. They used story power to teach high moral values - and the accidental teacher will want to do the same.
Listeners get caught up in story-powered presentations. They identify with the central figures of stories, their attention riveted on your presentation to learn what happens to those figures. Stories are non-threatening. Stories don't point the finger, or shake it in listeners' faces. Stories in character education presentations link powerful emotions with information - a key way to drive knowledge deep into your listeners. Stories, and the understanding they impart, are retained long after lecture have disappeared in a memory dump.
So base your presentations on books, but not just any books. Choose books that are purpose-written for inhabitants of character education land. For young listeners, select books that provide clear definitions of moral traits, and weave explanations of those qualities into exciting fiction. For more mature listeners, choose how-to books written specifically for character education country.
3. Professional Input. Proactive presentations link professional input to story power. Give your presentation maximum clout by using character education lesson plans prepared by the author of the book on which you base it. An author who is a professional in both the educational and literary worlds will deliver the kind of input that keeps listeners captivated while conveying accurate knowledge.
The materials you carry with you should speak to every type of learner in character education land. Auditory learners will benefit from listening to the story and your discussion of it. Visual learners will benefit from visual aids you use as well as the images supplied by their own imaginations during your presentation. Kinesthetic learners will need the interaction described below to get full benefit out of your meetings in character education land. Professional input should include materials that appeal to these and other learning styles.
Professional input should also include evaluation for use at the end of your presentation. It would never do to leave a presentation without evaluating whether or not you were effective - whether or not you attained the end for which you were sent on your journey. You want results, and should test for them in a variety of ways.
4. Interactive Time. Get listeners involved in your presentation. Have them sing along with you, tying the music to your presentation theme. Get some up on stage to perform a skit that will help them remember. Many speakers use tactics such as these to be sure listeners are alert, and so should the accidental teacher. Add a workshop to your presentation, introduce a craft or other project, and you will push your information into sometimes recalcitrant minds.
5. Take-Away Bags. You may have attended a seminar at which every participant received a bag of "goodies" to take away at the end of the meeting. The bag held items that served as incentives, motivators to make you eager to do what the speaker urged. It held reminders, too, that helped you recall what you learned for months after the speaker left town.
Make sure your presentation has provision for the distribution of take-away bags. You don't need an actual bag or even a bagful for each attendee, but be sure everyone has at least one or two items. You could even use your interactive time to create take-away bag items with participants.
6. Closing Awards. Yes, seminars do give awards to participants, and the inhabitants of character education land will be happy to receive awards for their exercise of the qualities you urge on them. You won't need awards for your first trip to the country, but be sure you work them into your presentation for succeeding journeys.
Remember, a proactive presentation must anticipate the moral needs of your listeners in character education country. It must help them build high moral values before anyone observes a damaging lack of those values. It must plant good trees instead of trying to knock bad fruit off of sick trees.
Conclusion
Character education teachers are often forced to leave their comfort zones and travel where they don't want to go, becoming accidental teachers of the subject. Such a teacher may enter character education land "with his eyes shut and holding his breath and hanging on for dear life," but he can, if he invests the time and effort, become an accidental teacher of character education who enjoys high esteem and success!
Character Education is Personal Growth For Kids
From Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill and Samuel Clement Stone to Zig Zigler, Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer, the message about how to live a life without excuses, doubts, fears and to its absolute fullest has been blasted loud and clear for all of us to hear for a very long time. The global hit movie The Secret, the onslaught of Personal Life Coaches, Wealth Building Warrior intensive weekend retreats and self-help books, videos, web-casts and live seminars generate around $15 billion per years in revenue, just in America alone.
What would our world look like today if we all knew this stuff when we were young?
If the $15 Billion American adults spend on person growth isn't evidence enough that this message needs to be delivered to young people, perhaps a few statistics might make the message clearer.
o Clinical childhood depression diagnosis are at epidemic levels
o America has the highest high school drop out rate of any developed nation
o Most limiting beliefs and self-doubts develop prior to the age of six
o Pessimism is directly linked to clinical depression and anxiety and is highly heritable
o Pharmaceutical companies target pre-school for anti-depressants and mood stabilizing drugs
o Increases in severity and types bullying are on the rise
The WHO (World Health Organization) warns that depression will become the world's second biggest killer and cause of disability by the year 2020. It seems to me quite obvious that the $15 Billion spent each year in America on self-help and personal growth needs to be re-directed toward getting these messages to the young people of America, and obviously around the world for that matter.
Plenty of "how to" parenting information is available to teach us how we can model the behavior we want to see in our kids. But for the most part this too is self-help for the grown-up and requires the parent to confront and release their own limiting beliefs, doubts and social programming and develop habits that promote happiness and emotional well-being, before they can effectively use this information to help their kids.
I believe our future is dependent upon the Happiness of our young people, for without them we have no future and we should feel obligated to help them find it. Our schools are devoid of character education and our children are missing a window of opportunity to instill the type of intelligence that has nothing to do with academics. Emotional Intelligence has been proven to be far more important to overall happiness and life satisfaction than analytic intelligence or IQ.
However, all the books of information, seminars and videos turn out to be ineffective when most of the information rarely or if ever gets acted upon. Lack of action is the biggest issue most people have when it comes to using this information in changing their lives. To master anything in life requires more than just knowing what to do; it requires one to actually DO IT! and to recognize and acknowledge the effort put forth. When we experience the feeling of mastering anything, especially our happiness, we just want it more and more. We start to embrace challenges when we wholeheartedly know that our mistakes and failures are stepping stones to success and part of the learning and growing process.
Children are in the midst of absorbing information and developing beliefs about themselves and the big world around them and the life that lay ahead of them. When it comes to learning, children are at the pinnacle of their ability to learn and can absorb far more than I believe we give them credit for. Given the daily pursuit of a child is to experience happiness, and as parents we wish for them a life filled with happiness, giving them the opportunity to learn about and experience all the elements of happiness and to acknowledge unhappiness for what it is provides them an "emotional tool kit" for life. With a little help in the right direction our children can have an abundantly pleasurable, meaningful and engaging life. We can and should give them the tools and teach them how to create for themselves a "good life."
Certainly the lack of a stable level of self-esteem is a major reason people find it difficult if not impossible to step outside of what is most comfortable, to face their fears head on and live life to its fullest and happiest. Many children succumb to low and unstable self-esteem every day in school and at home because they are not aware it is the expectations they have of themselves, not the expectations their parents and teachers have of them, that set the stage for an amazing and fulfilling life.
A child needs to see and feel their effort pays off and be praised for those efforts rather than praised merely for their successes. Kids start to see how capable they are when they are praised for their effort and dedication, and then they can praise themselves too. They begin to feel good about who they are when they meet the expectations they have set for themselves. This is how a stable level self-esteem is achieved.
It's not about "Self-Help" for kids because only after we have grown and we find ourselves in need of help that we actually seek it. By providing our children with the information that we as adults find ourselves seeking, to the tune of $15 Billion per year, our kids will not need "Self-Help" because they will already have the information and turned it into wisdom. So much personal growth material purchased each year goes unused because as adults we have been negatively programmed for so long. Skepticism, pessimism, reinforced self-limiting beliefs, fears and doubts have become so deeply ingrained in our minds over the years that to change becomes more and more difficult.
We can protect our world's children from this same emotional fate by giving them the information and tools that have been studied and shared for thousands of years, and now validated by science. Your kids will likely "get it" faster than most of grown-ups you know!
Character Education That Teens Love!
Character education, when listed on high school curricula, is not likely to generate excitement in teenagers. Having taught high school for years, I know whereof I speak. Teenagers seek independence from parents and are in hot pursuit of adult freedoms. Many rebel against lectures on right and wrong, so how can you find character education they love?
Character education is abhorrent to teenagers when they think it is being pushed on them. Just as with many other topics, teens shove back when we drive them toward high moral values. They think they can sort out their own values, and they want no help doing it!
The trouble is that teens are incapable of sorting out high moral values for themselves. Those who try to do so will always allow room for their own interests and desires. This is true of people at any age. We all try to fashion standards that make our individual lives as easy as possible. We would like to establish two sets of rules: one for self and one for others.
Look at these examples of what can happen when you replace strong character education with personal sorting out of values.
· People weaken the definition of honesty to allow wiggle room when they don't want to tell the whole truth. They assign a value that finds no wrong in "white lies," "small fibs," "tact," or a "polite facade" in certain situations. They fully expect, however, that others will be totally honest in dealings with them.
· Many decide that it is right to respect some people, wrong to respect those they don't like. They decide that respect must be earned before they are obliged to give it. If someone in authority fails in their eyes to "earn" it, they give no respect. Place the shoe on the other foot, and they demand respect.
· Some who sort out their own moral values in place of learning through character education settle for a measure of compassion that falls far short of identifying with people in need, unwilling to sacrifice personal interests to meet the need. If they themselves have a need, of course, they expect others to care - to give help.
Character education must not be left to teenagers' own sorting if we expect them to develop into mature adults who live uprightly. Character education must not take teenagers' personal preferences into consideration.
"Then where can we find character education programs that teenagers love?" you ask.
Character education that teens love comes in under their radar, surprising them with clear, hard-hitting information woven subtly into captivating fiction. It takes from the ancient philosophers the wisdom of conveying high moral values through stories. It uses the same approach that wise men have used for centuries and centuries. It uses stories.
Character education that teens love is based on moral stories.
Ancient Moral Stories
Most of us have learned moral values from ancient stories. For example:
1. Have you ever heard the story of "King Midas and the Golden Touch?" That story was used to teach high moral values to young people in ancient Greece. It taught them in a memorable way that greed is wrong. Period. Full stop. It was an ancient character education story.
2. You probably have read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," haven't you? That was one of the fables of Aesop, a Greek who lived between 620 and 560 BC. Aesop used a lot of stories to teach young people about high moral values. This one taught, of course, that honesty is vital at all times. It, too, was a character education story that made the lesson easy to learn and memorable.
3. Perhaps you have read the story of "The Good Samaritan." Jesus told it to teach adults and young people alike the importance of exercising compassion and love toward everyone, regardless of who it is. This, too, was a character education story; easy to hear and easy to remember.
Modern Moral Stories
You will say that modern teens don't want fables. I know. Remember, I taught high school for years. Teens today want stories that portray believable teens with whom they can identify. They want hot teen topics. They want excitement, adventure, romance, and all that the world of entertainment has taught them is important.
Character education books are the answer. They must be books that are written explicitly for the purpose of teaching high moral values. Such purpose-written books provide what teens need in a format that teens love - entertainment.
Purpose written character education books should never stoop to the low standards of the entertainment world lest they lose their own integrity. They can, however, captivate teenagers and help them learn high moral values in a way that they will remember.
Conclusion
Character education books such as those described have actually become bestsellers in the past years, showing that teens love to learn about high moral values when the topic is presented in the right way. The ancient teachers have shown us the way.
Bring About a Change in Your Kids With Character Education
"Try not to be a person of success, but rather a person of virtue." - Albert Einstein
Who doesn't want their kids to inculcate positive character traits? But often in a fit to inculcate all possible character traits in our kids we end up in a mess. This is not done and that too when it comes to the future of your kids. Instead why not take a different approach or rather why not start slow with character education. By starting off slow, your kids will be able to grasp the virtues more comfortably and a greater speed. You can initially start off with the following virtues:
Self discipline is possibly the backbone of character education. Hence, make sure to teach your kid to be self disciplined.
Being compassionate would be a plus point. Make your kid understand the suffering or pain that an individual undergoes. All understanding wont do, ask him/her never to back off when it comes to helping those in need.
Teach your kids the benefits of being responsible. Cite examples if needed. For instance, if he/she has promised somebody to accomplish a task within a stipulated time frame then make sure that they complete it within the deadline rather than delaying.
Is your kid friendly? Being friendly is the greatest virtue. A good friend is one who stands for his peer no matter what the situations are or you can say that a good friend is one who protect his/her friend from getting bullied. So, make sure your kid turns out to be a good friend.
Teach your kid to maintain a positive attitude and gives his/her very best. Even if your kid finds any task daunting ask him/her not to back off. With sheer perseverance on their part they are sure to reap the benefits of success.
Even if your kid is scared of taking the plunge, you need to be there beside his side so that he doesn't feel scared or feels lonely. Instead teach him to stand up for a thing if he thinks that it's right.
It would be foolish on anybody's part to believe that success can be attained in one night. This is certainly not the truth. Instead one needs to put in his her best efforts to achieve the desired. Be sure that your kids are aware of this fact as well.
Teach your kid to be honest and loyal to his own self as well as to others.
Ask your kid to have faith in the Almighty as He is there to take care of everybody's need.
Violence, profanity, to a name a few are a couple of negative traits that your kids should avoid.
Be sure that your kids maintain a safe distance from tobacco, alcohol and drugs. In a nutshell, ensure that they maintain a safe distance from illegal substances or abusive language.
These are only a couple of values and virtues that you need to inculcate in your kids. Once they develop these positive traits to the fullest, you can begin with the next phase of character education.
What is Character Education?
Have you ever asked the question "what is character education" and wondered whether it is something that is important, or relevant to you? It can be described this way: "a deliberate and conscious effort to learn and develop virtues, and values, that are good for you and good for society." So yes, it is important. And, it's something to be aware of as you raise your children.
Most people agree that academic achievement is important. But character development is equally important, if not more so. Even if a child doesn't do well academically, their character will still determine how well they do in life.
Throughout the world there are many values that are common to all cultures. These virtues include:
Upholding human dignity.
Helping to promote the well-being of an individual, as well as society.
Being clear to ourselves about our rights and obligations.
Treating people in the way you would wish to be treated.
Behaving in a way, in a given situation, in which you would wish all people to behave given the same set of circumstances.
In other words, character education is about learning and building any or all of the following traits:
Honesty
Initiative
Integrity
Optimism
Perseverance
Respect
Responsibility
When someone describes another person, they do so by describing their character. That person's character is defined by a certain set of qualities, habits or attributes which they possess, and by which they are judged.
Children naturally want their days to be filled with happiness, fun, and playfulness. Unfortunately, not all children achieve these wants and grow up having negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves and the world.
The good news is that with the right training, these negative thoughts and beliefs can be changed and children can learn to develop positive beliefs about themselves. They can also start to experience feelings of optimism about their future and their life.
This type of education gives kids a chance to grow up into happy, well-adjusted, well-rounded adults. They will be able to deal with everyday situations in a positive manner which is beneficial to themselves and those around them.
There's no reason you should be embarrassed about character education. <=Click here to get the information you need to effectively teach your kids character. If you're ready to read more about how our book An Exercise in Happiness can help you with character education teachings, visit our character education page and download our free eBook The Ultimate Guide to Kid's Happiness. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now.
How Can Character Education Help Kids Learn?
For years, the common belief was that success stems from academic achievement and rote memorization. Kids were put through rigorous programs of memorization and fact-specific testing, all the while ignoring one of the most important parts of development and emotional intelligence. Character education, one of the most important parts of development, has been left out of many kids' lives, and using some simple tools, you can add it to your child's learning curriculum and create self confidence, drive and ambition, and accelerated emotional intelligence in your child.
The major influences in any child's life aren't the faceless academics and rigorous examples that have been pushed through the school system. Coaches, parents and teachers all form massively important connections in any child's mind, and in many ways shape their future much more than the content of their education possibly can. There are thousands of parallels that can be drawn between life and sports, and they only prove to demonstrate that the ties between coaching and achievement, and children's development are so incredibly close.
Think about it this way -- what do we look for in stories? It's rarely the characters themselves, but the themes that they're driven by and the decisions that they make. Coaches and teachers are such an important influence in the lives of our children not because they teach them specifics and minutiae, but because the information that they share builds the power of character, and creates the driving forces required for both academic and ultra-practical success. Narrative stories are such a common historical reference point because they put people in touch with the actions and decisions of real characters, leaving the message much more clear. People learn through observing actions, which is why forming a character education program for your child is so essential.
As more and more adults struggle with personal fulfillment and happiness, the need to instill good character in children is growing more and more crucial. From early childhood all the way through to late adolescence, the influence of direct character education to children is remarkably powerful. While it's hard to remember early childhood, it's not difficult to relate to how some children process information. When influences aren't clear, it's easy for them to run into dilemmas in thinking. If you want your child to have clear emotional intelligence, start with solid character education programs.
There's no reason you should be embarrassed about character education. <=Click here to get the information you need to effectively teach your kids character. If you're ready to read more about how our book An Exercise in Happiness can help you with character education teachings, visit our character education page and download our free ebook The Ultimate Guide to Kid's Happiness. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now.
American character
American society seems to be much more informal than the British and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room. One does not always address a person by his title, such as "Major" or "General" or "Doctor" in the case of a holder of a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The respectful "Sir" is not always used in the northern and western parts of the country.
However, it is best to use a person's title when first meeting him/her, and then allow the person to tell you how he/she wishes to be called.
They use first names when calling each other, slap on the back, joke and are much freer in their speech, which is more slangy than the conventional British English. You will often hear the word "Hi" (a form of greeting among friends) used instead of the usual "Hello," and "Howdy" instead of "How do you do?"
Those who don't easily show these signs of friendship are called "snooty" or "snobbish." In contrast, people who show such simple signs of friendship, particularly to their own economic and social inferiors, are praised as "regular guys," or as "truly democratic." As a description of character, democratic is generally used to signify that a person of high social or economic status acts in such a way that his or her inferiors are not reminded of their inferiority.
Yet, in spite of all the informality, Americans, even in the way they address each other, show consciousness of social distinction.
For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal "Hello" is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say "Hello, Mr. Ferguson," while the employer may reply "Hello, Jim." Southerners make a point of saying "Yes, sir," or "Yes, Ma'am," or "No, sir," or "No, Ma'am," when talking to an older person or a person in a position of authority. While this is good form all over the United Stales, "Yes. Mr. Weston" or "No, Mrs. Baker" is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West.Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Women may wear hats in church. in restaurants, and often when attending luncheons in public places and other public social functions except those that take place in the evening. Men who do wear hats ordinarily remove them in elevators, churches, restaurants, private homes, business offices — in fad, in most public situations when they wish to show respect.
The Fundamental Importance of Listening to Develop your Character in Today's Scenario
Many people assume that listening and hearing mean the same but they are quite different. To be precise there is a semantic difference in the meaning and usage of these words. In the great zestfulness of life, we forget the great gifts we have – eyes, ears, mouth. This exuberant mix of gifts not only boosts one's character but also the career. Yeah! That is right. The combination of these three gifts makes us realize the splendor of sight, wonders of sound and epicurean delight of taste. Sadly among these three gifts, the ears are the least important and forgotten. Why?
It is quite simple. The primary usage of ears is for hearing and listening. Both of these are of less importance to us. Well, most of us get wrong in this part, at least in the case of listening. Now the question that comes to our mind is the basic difference between the words listening and hearing.
One thing that stands out in case of listening is that a good listener does not only keep the conversation going, but pauses to think, respond and ask questions. Seriously, by listening you provoke your mind to think deep. This is one of the most important qualities that is very much essential for a successful career and corporate life. A good listener sometimes develops the character of a good convergent thinker. This helps in getting a better understanding of the situations and problems and providing feasible solutions. How? Well, it is simple.By being a good listener you develop the feeling of intimacy. This intimacy helps you to connect to the speaker at a greater and better level. For example, when parents listen to their teenagers, they get and develop a better understanding of what a teenager's life would be at this age. The same is the case with a technician who listens and handles a grumbling customer and solves the problem. Having a good listening skill can also help an employer to understand the problems and complaints of the employees. This will make the employer know what has been hindering the growth and development of the company.
Honestly, listening is a kind of a magical thing. It develops a person's character, boosts his confidence, adds knowledge, helps to solve problem and most importantly gets up close with a person. If you are a good listener you could make the person open up his thoughts and feelings. This is quite advantageous in terms of business as you can build instant rapport with the customer. Naturally it will boost your business by building networks and further expanding your domain.
Now wait one second, a question may arise in your mind that humans have a fickle mind. By having a fickle mind they cannot possibly listen raptly to everything around them. That is very much true, however you have the choice to listen or not. You can immediately judge whether a conversation is worthwhile or not. Invest your precious time in listening to worthy conversation and avoid useless ones. In short to have a prosperous career and a dynamic personality, harness your listening skills. Watch a lot of talk shows and news reports on your TV connected to Verizon FiOS TV or other service providers. Try to analyze the information and come up with a feasible solution in your mind. The problem right now is that we are not listening as intently as we should in important situations.
Medieval costumes Relate with the Character you want to be
Do you get excited when you think of the people belonging to medieval era? What they ate? How they dressed? How was their living standard? Everything about that era was magnificent and the influential figures had larger than life size image. To tribute the life style of medieval era festivals like renaissance fairs are held all year around. The major attractions of these festivals are medieval renaissance costumes and the surroundings which are filled with feel of Middle Ages. The view of this fair is heartwarming to see - people dressed in colorful renaissance outfits, cuisine of that period, jugglers and acrobats showing their skills and educative medieval theme based plays. It seems like the whole scenario has taken you back to the era of romance and etiquette.
People take decision what they want to wear to obtain a particular look, long before appearing in the fest.
Kings and queens wore the elaborated expensive and extravagant medieval costume. Queen’s medieval dresses and gowns were adorned with beautiful long laces, cult embroidery and precious stones and gems. Kings also didn’t have any qualm about the clothing lines; doublets and tunics, coats and vests of expensive fabrics and other accessories are especially designed for them. The dresses of royals and nobles were made of silk, satin, brocade, velvet and damask fabrics.
On the other hand, lower strata of society wore medieval outfits made from the fabrics of linen, wool, shipskin and cotton. There dresses were not as vibrant as upper class society. Cloths were not for showing off but mare a need for them. Most of the male peasant’s dresses were sleeveless such as peasant tunic and doublet which was the demand of work. Peasant women wore the slightly dull full length gowns.
Considering the above conditions mentioned for upper class and lower class people of medieval period, you can make better choice of attire for upcoming fests but to match up with the character’s look you will have to give the importance to accessories also. Head wears, foot wears and other accessories do have the impact on the look without them you could have completely altered look of historical or fantasy character.
Medieval renaissance costumes are not only meant for renaissance festivals, they can also be worn on Halloween party, pirate theme party and wedding ceremonies based on medieval theme. Some of these dresses could be used in daily life.
Character of Tess Durbeyfield
Intelligent, strikingly attractive, and distinguished by her deep moral sensitivity and passionate intensity, Tess is indisputably the central character of the novel that bears her name. But she is also more than a distinctive individual: Hardy makes her into somewhat of a mythic heroine. Her name, formally Theresa, recalls St. Teresa of Avila, another martyr whose vision of a higher reality cost her her life. Other characters often refer to Tess in mythical terms, as when Angel calls her a “Daughter of Nature” in Chapter XVIII, or refers to her by the Greek mythological names “Artemis” and “Demeter” in Chapter XX. The narrator himself sometimes describes Tess as more than an individual woman, but as something closer to a mythical incarnation of womanhood. In Chapter XIV, he says that her eyes are “neither black nor blue nor grey nor violet; rather all these shades together,” like “an almost standard woman.” Tess’s story may thus be a “standard” story, representing a deeper and larger experience than that of a single individual.
In part, Tess represents the changing role of the agricultural workers in England in the late nineteenth century.
Possessing an education that her unschooled parents lack, since she has passed the Sixth Standard of the National Schools, Tess does not quite fit into the folk culture of her predecessors, but financial constraints keep her from rising to a higher station in life. She belongs in that higher world, however, as we discover on the first page of the novel with the news that the Durbeyfields are the surviving members of the noble and ancient family of the d’Urbervilles. There is aristocracy in Tess’s blood, visible in her graceful beauty—yet she is forced to work as a farmhand and milkmaid. When she tries to express her joy by singing lower-class folk ballads at the beginning of the third part of the novel, they do not satisfy her—she seems not quite comfortable with those popular songs. But, on the other hand, her diction, while more polished than her mother’s, is not quite up to the level of Alec’s or Angel’s. She is in between, both socially and culturally. Thus, Tess is a symbol of unclear and unstable notions of class in nineteenth-century Britain, where old family lines retained their earlier glamour, but where cold economic realities made sheer wealth more important than inner nobility.Beyond her social symbolism, Tess represents fallen humanity in a religious sense, as the frequent biblical allusions in the novel remind us. Just as Tess’s clan was once glorious and powerful but is now sadly diminished, so too did the early glory of the first humans, Adam and Eve, fade with their expulsion from Eden.
Educational Toys on Children Character Development
Psychologists tell us that the form of intellectual activity of children reflects on the performance of physical activity first, while the external body movements accelerate the interior mental development. Main body movements of children reflect in the process of playing, during which they learn to observe, think and manage, meanwhile, their feeling, behavior, emotion, language and intelligence have been developed.
The neonatal baby with 12 months is in the rapid development period of various sensory abilities. Parents should select toys which can promote the visual, auditory and tactile development of babies, and use mobile toys to practice their movement perception. Early childhood between 3 to 6 years old is in an egocentric period, care about self ability, like to question, good at imitation and establish a preliminary concept in varieties of specific operating activities, which is a critical period of psychological development.
Static toys correct ADHD. Some children are naughty and restless, selecting building blocks, inserted plates, and assembly puzzle toys for them, which can draw their attention, help to overcome bad habits of impatience and restless, benefit to healthy development of their physical and mental.
Dynamic toys correct eccentric character. Some children are silent and unsocial by nature. Dynamic clockwork, inertial electric toys having fresh color, music and light are good choice for them. Running after moving car, tank or flying plane, shouting in the sound and music of toys, playing with partners in team work, consciously leading him to speak and communicate, all above will gradually change a lonely child to a lively one.
Hands-on toys correct hasty temper. Some children has a hasty temper and careless in doing things. Handmade paper, wood or cloth toys could practice hands-on ability and develop a good patient and meticulous character.
The Content of One's Character
When we look back over the course of history there are several speeches that still ring with passion and spirit to invoke modern emotion. Kennedy's "Ask Not" challenge, Lincoln's Gettysburg address, and Martin Luther King's "Content of Character" speeches have stood the test of time.
When we recall the words of Dr. King we tend to gloss over the specific meaning of what he had to say. Most think that content of character simply means we should judge people for who they are beneath the pigmentation of their skin. Although this is true, if we are really to appreciate the content of character we must understand what creates one's character in the first place.
Character is nothing more than a group of cultures. It is what we have learned from our experiences based on our experiences in whatever religious, economic, geographical, recreational, vocational, physical inventory, gender, sexual orientation, and racial cultures.
Character is the cultures taught to us by her parents, witnessed in our friends, impressed upon us by the media, and demonstrated by our heroes.King's words prompt us to look into the soul of a person instead of pre-judging outward appearances.
Pre-judging is easy. It is often wrong and can cost us friendships, business opportunities, and growth experiences.
I remember a Franchise Expo we held in the early days of MBC Global. An older unshaven man in ragged clothes toured the display floor feeling no need to impress. The exhibitors ignored him, preferring to talk to the crisp, well pressed suits. When he did speak, he did so in what appeared to be uneducated English. Without being introduced to a single franchise opportunity he decided to exit. As he was leaving I spoke to him briefly. He said he wanted to come even though it was a weekend day normally dedicated to sleeping in and spending time with his family. The following Monday he sat behind his desk managing his empire of 84 gas stations.
Just as these franchise salespeople missed an opportunity, we all miss opportunities when we jump to erroneous conclusions simply because we don't get to know the contents of one's character.
Before passing judgment take the time to understand the cultures contained within a person's character. Only then will you be able to get beyond your prejudices.
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Magness Creek Elementary School Character Education
A review of the "Just Do The Right Thing" Character Education Program at Magness Creek Elementary School.
Classroom Use
Teachers go over the 10 questions with the students daily. All students, kindergarten – fourth grade, earned their bracelet within 4 weeks time. When teachers see students making bad choices, teachers redirect students throughout the day by asking the questions that are appropriate to the situation.
Schoolwide Use
At the end of the morning announcements, I always have a Question of the Day. This question is one of the 10 questions of Just Do the Right Thing. I give students a couple of seconds to respond and then I state the answer to the question. I end the announcements by telling the students to have a great day and Just Do the Right Thing.
The counselor, assistant principal, and I also utilize the questions throughout the day as needed.
Common Language
The use of this program has given us all a common language to use with students to try to instill good decision making in terms of their behavior and actions. There have been several times when I have been able to specifically tie a question to some special event. Some specific examples are:
1. We had a Go Green environmental awareness week where some students gave suggestions of what we all could do to help the environment. Our question that tied in with this week was - Respect? When I stated the answer – Yourself and the world around you, I told students that they could respect the world around them by taking care of the environment.
2. During testing week, I used the question – Life is? When I responded – Performance based, I explained to the students that this testing was an example of being performance based.
3. When we talk to students about peer pressure, we use the question – Show me? When we answer – Your friends and I'll show you your future, we explain that friends can have a real impact on what they eventually become.
Summary
We really feel this program has had a positive influence on our students. Our fourth grade students have experienced these questions only for one year. However, our kindergarten students who will have been with us for five years will have heard and answered these questions over 900 times during their early elementary years. As they are asked and state the answer to the questions every day, we hope we are instilling values in them that will take them through life.
-Kelly Whiddon
Principal
Magness Creek Elementary School
By: Francis David
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Character Education Exercise Power with Gratitude
You should have encountered thousands of people in the worst situations that you can ever imagine who might have changed their lives completely through gratitude. I know of miracles that have taken place in health where there seemed to be of no hope: failed kidneys regenerate, disease hearts get cured, eyesight is restored, tumors disappear, and bones grow and rebuild themselves. I know of shattered relationships that have transformed into magnificent ones through gratitude: failed marriages completely restored, estranged family members reunited, parents transforming relationships with children and teenagers, and teachers transforming students through educating character. I have seen people who were in total poverty become rich through gratitude: people turned around failing businesses, and people who had struggled with money all their lives created abundance.
I know of people who were in despair who propelled into joyful and fulfilling lives through gratitude. Character education teaches your kids exactly how to show gratitude towards others.Every single savior of the world used gratitude, because they all knew that gratitude was one of the highest expressions of love. They knew that when they were grateful, they were living in exact accordance with the law. Why do you think Jesus Christ said thank you before he performed every miracle?
Every time you feel grateful you are giving love, and whatever you give, you receive. Whether you're giving thanks to a person or feeling grateful for a car, a vacation, a sunset, a gift, a new house, or an exciting event, you are giving love for those things, and you will receive back more joy, more health, more money, more amazing experiences, more incredible relationships, more opportunities.
Try it now. Think of something you're grateful for. You could choose the person you love more than anyone else in the world. Focus on that person and think about all the things you love and are grateful for about that person. Then, in your mind or out loud, tell that person all those things you love and are grateful for about them, as though they were there with you. Tell them all the reasons you love them. You can recall particular instances or moments by saying, "remember the time when …" As you're doing it, feel the gratitude begin to fill your heart and body.
The love you gave in that simple exercise must and will return to you in the relationship, and in your whole life. That is how easy it is to give love through gratitude.
Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. His discoveries completely changed the way we see the universe. And when asked about his monumental achievements, Einstein spoke only of giving thanks to others. One of the most brilliant minds that have ever lived thanked others for what they had given to him – a hundred times a day! That means at least a hundred times a day, Einstein gave love. Is it any wonder that life revealed so many of its mysteries to Albert Einstein? Teach your kids to show gratitude as it will keep them connected with power, through character education.
Academic instruction isn't the only responsibility teachers have in today's classrooms. More and more, teachers are being called on to teach students about values ... things like making good decisions, the showing of respect, taking responsibility, choosing friends, and having a positive attitude. It's a responsibility that could be overwhelming, considering the limited hours available in a school day, the number of kids in the classroom, and the diversity of backgrounds and personalities each child represents.
Character Education by Just Do The Right Thing" is a practical and powerful tool that equips educators to tackle values training with confidence.
By: Francis David
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Architectural Salvage Project to Add Character and Excitement to Your Home
Hello to all you "archeologists" (of the salvage variety) here is a great idea to bring the "outside" into the "inside" of your home before the weather hits and you are "confined to quarters"!
The idea is a outdoor inspired mirror made at very low cost from a old architectural window and a pair of shutters in complimentary size and scale to the window. Generally the window can have as many panes as inspire you or be one solid piece of plate glass. A really interesting window and our "design idea" is created from diamond pattern windows. Put your "creativity hats on" here goes the idea:
Step 1. Find a very inspiring window that has the "patina" or old character that inspires you. Your local salvage store, demolition yard, antique or thrift store, flea market or a really inspiring garage or estate sale should provide a treasure for you to "recreate"!
Step 2.
Add a pair of shutters from the same source of supply that are complimentary in scale if you want a "cottage front style" or leave it window only if your inspiration dictates.Step 3. Cut the window caulking away from the glass with a razor blade knife and remove the glass. Take the glass to your closest mirror store and have them cut inexpensive mirror pieces in the same size as the glass. (many times they have "mis-cuts" that they will offer to you at very low prices). Home Depot will also cut mirror for you at low prices. If you are handy get a piece of plate glass mirror and a glass cutter and do it yourself.
Step 4. Place the new mirrored panels into the window frame and re caulk the mirror around the edge of the window frame. "PRESTO / CHANGO" you have a wonderful architectural design element for your home.
You will be surprised how dramatic this element is creating a feeling of depth to your room.Step 5. Add picture hangers to the back to mount this to the wall or screw in your new mirror to the wall.
Here are some other variations to inspire you:
Variation #1- Add a pair of shutters. Mount the shutters on either side or your "window mirror". This will create a "cottage wall" type of effect to your mirror creation.
Variation #2- Add a flower box. A really cool idea to either find or build a proportionally sized flower box below your mirrored window. You can purchase one inexpensively from your local home improvement store or build one from some new wood (with a paint job of your choice). 1x6 redwood or cedar fence boards (under per 6' board) work great plus their rough surfaces are better with the old patina of your window mirror. Mount your window box under the window mirror (with or without) the shutters and add silk flowers or green plants and you will have a bit of the outside to cheer your soul (for those of you who deal with inclement winters).
I hope you enjoy this inexpensive architectural adventure to add rustic character to your home. I will be sending you more architectural information and ideas in the future! Stop by any time and get architecturally inspired and educated. There is great satisfaction and fun in "doing your own thing and finding new and wonderful uses for salvaged items. You also are doing a "ecologically solid" thing by rescuing salvaged materials from the landfill!
If you live in Southern California, please stop by and visit our two acre primitive and architectural store, Silverado Warehouse in Rainbow, California (4 mi. so. of Temecula). We will work with you personally to find new uses for great old things! Visit us online at http://www.silveradowarehouse.com.
Animated or Cartoon Characters Could Help You Make a Successful Career
Superman, Batman, and many other super heroes, Tom & Jerry and the famous Popeye! Do you wonder where all they come from or how they were created? Ever imagined what purpose they are meant to serve? Probably they all are a part of intelligent and creative thinking of people and have been able to amuse all from the time they were introduced to the world. A cartoonist in the year 1971 created Chacha Chaudhary which was later adapted into a television version and it became a favorite of almost all. Most of the cartoon characters have comics' editions too but definitely people love to watch the animated version or moving clips of such characters in action. The appeal of animation or cartoons is not limited to kids but adults too like watching them. Ask any person who would not have any idea about Tom & Jerry series. If only comics were produced on the same, probably the attraction to read or know about them would have been meager.
It is animation or the moving concept, added with audio content is what has been able to lend a shine and edge to such cartoon clips of Tom & Jerry series.There is art involved in every way when it is about creating a full-fledged character. If you desire pursuing a career in the animation industry it becomes vital to undergo a well-designed training program for which also a reputed training center is important. With time the technique has gained popularity and subsequently more number of students desire making a career in the sector. There are many animation institutes which offer the best of the trainings that one can get. They have highly planned programs for students and classrooms equipped with the needed facilities to be given to the pupils. It is very important when you opt to get admission in any of these institutes if they as well would offer placements with reputed names and firms in the industry or not. A lot of institutes as well offer in-house or practical trainings so that students get a needed level of exposure.
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Making Character Education Real
First and foremost, every educational system of every society should be successful in teaching the basic skills need for survival in that society, be they physical, emotional or financial. If we were to ascertain only one educational goal, it emphatically should be that, particularly through Character education. Above all, every student should come through the system knowing the most basic of all skills: how to learn, how to respond to what needs to be done right now. Anything else we might teach would be frosting on the cake, but if our character education system is failing at teaching the basic skills for living, we can barely claim that it is serving us well.
If we are to be successful, not only in our own lives but as a society that our children and their children can enjoy, we must face the fact that most of the skills we really need for living successful lives have been pretty well trained out of us by the time we've graduated.
1. Mental learning: Memorized facts, consisting of storing certain chosen data in our brains, much as we'd file away data in a computer.
2. Physical learning: Hands-on experience, involving all the senses, engaging most of the nervous system.
3. Emotional and subliminal learning: Involving the student through feelings of joy, fear, sorrow, love, compassion, euphoria, and exultation.
For learning to occur, all three kinds must be employed in the character education curriculum; one must not be emphasized to the exclusion of the others.
Academic instruction isn't the only responsibility teachers have in today's classrooms. More and more, teachers are being called on to teach students about values ... things like making good decisions, the showing of respect, taking responsibility, choosing friends, and having a positive attitude. It's a responsibility that could be overwhelming, considering the limited hours available in a school day, the number of kids in the classroom, and the diversity of backgrounds and personalities each child represents.
Character Education by Just Do The Right Thing" is a practical and powerful tool that equips educators to tackle values training with confidence.
By: Francis David
Character Education An Extended Arm of Education
How do you define the term ‘Education'? Education is a lifelong activity or the process of teaching, which begins at one's birth and continues till he dies. Education plays a very important role in the development of any individual and the society itself. Education can be of various forms. It can be formal or informal, traditional or modern and it can be indigenous or imported.
Character education, an extended arm of education is intended to educate one's character and behavior. Character education programs conducted in schools cultivate positive personal attributes and civility among all students. It is a deliberate effort to create a community of harmony in which positive personal attitudes and values are fostered. Character education promotes these qualities and requires to be continuously and constantly practiced in every student's day to day actions.
Some people believe that reading Bible stories to your child or behaving in front of you kid in a way you expect him to behave is a part of character education. But this is not the real truth, even though doing these things may be important. In fact, character education is something that should be instilled in your child whether you are around him or not. It should be a whole-school effort to create a broader and better community in which positive personal attributes and values are fostered.
Many of the issues that today's world encounters like, gang activity, crime, drug abuse, vandalism, juvenile delinquency or racial tensions are all caused due to the lack of good character qualities. Or it may even be the misapplication of good behavioral qualities. If we have to find a long term solution to these issues then we need to treat them from the roots. We must do that by working to improve our own character first and then should also help others around us to improve theirs too!
We need to develop character and good behavior through teaching a set of core ethics and values. We then need to help and assist the rest of the world by teaching and demonstrating these values to all children, youth and adults.
Even business leaders are now emphasizing more on the need of Character education programs to achieve more profit. Employees who are more diligent, responsible, alert or attentive will certainly become an asset to any business establishment and thereby helping the business to be more successful. Hence, we should and we must think in terms of character development in every walk of our life. Character education and training will definitely ensure you lasting success!
Academic instruction isn't the only responsibility teachers have in today's classrooms. More and more, teachers are being called on to teach students about values ... things like making good decisions, the showing of respect, taking responsibility, choosing friends, and having a positive attitude. It's a responsibility that could be overwhelming, considering the limited hours available in a school day, the number of kids in the classroom, and the diversity of backgrounds and personalities each child represents.
Character Education by Just Do The Right Thing" is a practical and powerful tool that equips educators to tackle values training with confidence.
By: Francis David
Why My Father Was a Mets Fan Character Education, Educating Both Body and Mind
If you think that sports are only a bit, look at how much of people's lives are taken up by them. Every human society has provided its citizens a range of diverse sports to play and watch. If a time machine were to transport you to another era of history, regardless of where you end up you would still be able to find a sports team or star athlete to follow. There must be something sensitively fundamental about sports.
Sports have dimensional appeal because they offer people with inherently valued experiences that please their basic desires. Even though many people think that sports are above all motivated by the need for physical activity, sports in fact can satisfy nearly all basic desires. The various emotional characteristics of sports like excellence, teamwork, survival, winning, temperament, character and leadership does comply with different basic requirements or desires.
Sports vary in how much effort and endurance are required.
By and large, we choose to participate in those sports that require an amount of physical exertion just right for our nature. We actively avoid participating in sports that require what we feel is too much physical exertion. The physical exertion required to participate in a sport, and the level of violence or aggression, are two overarching factors influencing whether or not we will play that sport.
Physical activity is more than exercise—it is also a value that parents and teachers should instill in their children and students. Since Aristotle thought that education should be designed to teach young people how to satisfy their needs, he favored including physical education as part of the school curriculum. In recent times, the Character education curriculum at many schools has been based on the philosophy of educating the "whole" person, which means both body and mind. This philosophy which is included in many character education programs and activities does recognize physical development as an essential and fundamental value.
By: Francis David
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MUHAMMAD'S CHARACTER AND HIGH MORALITY PROVE HIS PROPHETHOOD
Muhammad was the humblest at the zenith of his achievements
If a man's world-admired accomplishments or the wealth and fame he has gained do not change him, if he can remain as humble as he was at the beginning of his career, this shows that person's strength of character, morality and virtue. Despite his unparalleled achievements, which force even his enemies to place him at the top of the greatest men of human history, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was poorer and more humble when he entered Makka victoriously than he was at the beginning of his mission.
Those who saw the Messenger would say: ‘One with such a face cannot lie.'
One's face reveals one's inner world and character. Those who saw the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, could not help but admire his appearance and, if they were unprejudiced, acknowledge his truthfulness.
If a fire-fly claimed that it is the sun, its lie could last only until the sun rises. Turkish people say that a liar's candle only burns till bedtime, meaning that a lie has only a very short life. So, a deceitful one pretending Prophethood will soon be discovered and no one will accept him as a true Prophet.
Muhammad's utmost conviction of his cause, together with his sincerity and solemnity prove his Prophethood
Even an insignificant man of small standing, in a small group in a disputed matter of little importance, cannot tell a small but shameful lie openly and comfortably without displaying such anxiety and uneasiness as will make his enemies aware of his deception. Since the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, challenged everybody to come until the Last Day and uttered many important speeches in a large community concerning a great cause, with great ease and freedom, without hesitation or anxiety, with pure sincerity and great solemnity, and in an intense and elevated manner that provoked his enemies, it means that he was certainly a Prophet speaking whatever God revealed to him.
Despite being unlettered, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, spoke on every issue and has not been contradicted ever since.
It is impossible for an unlettered one to speak on a matter requiring expert knowledge, especially before those with specialized knowledge of that matter. However, despite being unlettered, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, spoke on every issue from theology and metaphysics to medicine, history, physics and biology and has not been contradicted ever since. Besides, when he was raised up as a Prophet, the arts of literature, eloquence and oratory were at their peak and the Qur'an he received from God challenged all of its opponents to bring the like of a single chapter of its but no one has ever been able to do that. This, again, clearly shows that Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, is a Prophet of God.
Muhammad had to confront all kinds of hardships and persecutions after Prophethood and spent for his cause whatever he had.
For the sake of a deception no one risks his life, wealth and reputation and bears great hardships and persecutions unless he has great aspirations to more wealth and great worldly positions. Before claiming Prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was well off and had a respected place among his community. However, he had to confront all kinds of hardships and persecutions after Prophethood and spent for his cause whatever he had. His enemies slandered him, mocked him, beat him, expelled him from his homeland and waged war on him. He bore all such cruel treatments and hostilities without complaint and asked God Almighty for the forgiveness of even his enemies. The only cause he pursued was to see everybody believing in and worshipping the One God exclusively and thereby prosperous in both worlds and saved from the torments of Hell.
Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, practiced with utmost sincerity and honesty what he communicated to others.
History has witnessed many leading persons who, since they themselves did not practice what they preached or propagated, did not have a large devoted following. Their ideas did not have an enduring effect on people and the systems they established did not last long. However, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, practiced with utmost sincerity and honesty what he communicated to others and was always the first and foremost in obedience to the religion he brought, in worship to the Creator and in avoidance of the religious prohibitions. This shows his full conviction of his cause and that he is a Messenger of God, Who sent him to humanity to guide them to the True Path.
For what reason other than conveying God's Message to people must he have endured all kinds of hardships and persecutions, such as sleeping on earth, suffering hunger for several consecutive days, spending a considerable part of his life on battlefields and military campaigns, being expelled from his homeland, becoming subject to mockeries and insults, etc?
Man acquires an established character until he is thirty and especially after thirty a man's character does not change. Particularly, it is very difficult for one to change his temper and disposition after he is forty. If-God forbid such a thought!- there had been any imperfection and blemish in the character of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, it would certainly have appeared before his Prophethood. Therefore, no one with a bit of intelligence and fairness, unless he is prejudiced, can accept that one who was never heard tell a lie and witnessed deceive until one was forty, would appear as the worst, meanest trickster of human history after forty.
A lying, deceitful one cannot have a large, dedicated following who are ready to sacrifice themselves for him. Despite being among the five greatest Prophets, Moses and Jesus did not have followers as devoted as Muhammad's Companions.
A lying, deceitful one cannot have a large, dedicated following who are ready to sacrifice themselves for him. Despite being among the five greatest Prophets, Moses and Jesus did not have followers as devoted as Muhammad's Companions. The followers of Moses, upon him be peace, betrayed him when he left them for forty days to receive the Torah on Mount Sinai, and began to worship a golden calf which Samiri made for them. Even after so many years of intellectual and spiritual training in the desert, except for two God-fearing men, they did not obey his order to fight against the Amalekites, the people of Goliath. As for Jesus, upon him be peace, one of his most devoted twelve followers betrayed him and attempted to submit him to his enemies. But the followers of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, known as the Companions, were so devoted to him that they sacrificed for him their lives and properties and their families and tribes. Although brought up among a primitive people and in a climate of ignorance, devoid of any positive notions of social life and administration, without a Scripture and immersed in the darkness of the uncivilized era after the Prophets, in a very short period, they became in the footsteps of their exalted leader, the Prophet Muhammad, the masters, guides and just rulers of the most civilized and socially and politically advanced peoples and states, and ruled the world from east to west in a world-admired fashion.
Also, innumerable exacting and profound scholars and world-famous scientists and pure, spiritual masters were brought up among the succeeding generations following the Companions. The civilization they established was the most magnificent one history has ever known. Is it conceivable, then, that all those most shining stars of human history followed a lying, deceitful one? God forbid such a thought!
The Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was the most famous of humanity for high moral conduct and virtue.
The Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was the most famous of humanity for high moral conduct and virtue. He appeared in the heart of a desert which was almost the most uncivilized part of the then inhabited world and where people were immersed in the worst kinds of immorality. Then, who do you think brought him up as the most virtuous one with the highest morality and best conduct? He had lost his father while he was yet in the womb of his mother. When his mother died, he was only six years old. It was impossible for his grandfather and uncle to bring him up as the most virtuous of all times, as they themselves did not have all of the good moral qualities Muhammad had and in the same degree as he had. His teacher was God, as he himself said: My Lord educated me and taught me good manners, and how well he educated me and how beautifully He taught me good manners!
No one in human history has ever been able to combine in himself all of the virtues and good qualities as perfectly as the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings.
Human history has seen many virtuous persons. However, no one has ever been able to combine in himself all of the virtues and good qualities as perfectly as the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings. There have been many generous people but they have not been able to show enough courage when and where necessary. Likewise, there have been many courageous people, who have not been able to be lenient and generous at the same degree. But the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, combined in his person all the virtues and laudable qualities at the highest level.
Virtue and good morality also require balance. For example, if generosity exceeds its limits, it changes into extravagance. Similarly, if thrift cannot be kept within moderate limits, it changes into miserliness. Courage is usually confused with rashness and dialectics or demagogy is sometimes taken for being intelligent. In addition, virtue also requires knowing how to act in certain conditions. For instance, the self-respect which a weak man should wear before a powerful one becomes, if the powerful one assumes it, self-conceit. The humility which a powerful man should wear before a weak one becomes, if assumed by a weak man, self-abasement. Forbearance and sacrifice (of one's rights) on one's own account is good and a virtue; but when done on behalf of others, it is bad and a treason. An individual may bear patiently with whatever is done to him personally; but it is impermissible for him to, on behalf of the nation, bear patiently what is being done to the nation. Whereas pride and indignation on behalf of the nation are commendable, on one's own behalf they are not.
The Prophet Muhammad was perfectly balanced in his virtues and good moral qualities.
The Prophet Muhammad was perfectly balanced in his virtues and good moral qualities. He was perfectly courageous where to show courage was necessary, while he was perfectly mild, forgiving and humble among people. He was perfectly dignified but also very gracious. There was no one more generous than him but he was also thrifty and condemned extravagance. In short, all virtues and good qualities existed in him in a well-balanced combination.
Prophet Muhammad had all of the essential attributes pertaining to Prophets
According to theologians, there are six essentials of Prophethood common to all of the Prophets. They are truthfulness, trustworthiness, communication of God's commands, intelligence, infallibility and being free from all kinds of bodily and mental defects. History is a witness that the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, had all of these six essential attributes in a most perfect fashion.
Muhammad's achievements are unparalleled in history
A man encounters in his life many situations where he must make decisions with no delay and hesitation. Many decisions made in such situations may cause him great difficulties. The Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, made so great achievements in so short a time as 23 years that they are unparalleled in human history. He never faltered and all of his decisions proved to be true.
More than that, whatever he did and whatever he said did not concern only his own time but he addressed all times and places and all peoples and levels throughout the world to come until the Last Day. As none of his sayings have not been contradicted so far, no one has ever been able to criticize him for any of his actions, sayings and decisions. Is it possible for one who is not a Prophet taught by God, the All-Knowing, to have such intelligence, foresight, sagacity, insight, sound reasoning and prudence?
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Character Verses Reputation
Abraham Lincoln was very concerned with the nature of character, but he was also aware of the importance of having a good reputation. He explained the difference this way: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
In today's world that is overly preoccupied with image, it is easy to worry too much about our reputation and too little about our character. Building a reputation is largely a public-relations project, but building character requires us to truly focus on our values, actions, and always following through with what we commit ourselves to on a continual daily basis. Noble rhetoric and good intentions just are not enough to build true character.
I truly feel that your reputation is what people think of you and your character is what you actually are! Reputations will change with our circumstances and can be made or destroyed in a brief moment, but character is built through a person's lifetime.
What we should be concentrating on is moral strength based on ethical principles.
Character is revealed by our deeds and actions and not just words, especially when there is a gap between what we want to do, and what we should do, especially when doing the right thing costs more than we want to pay. Character is also not whether we accomplish our ambitions or goals in life, but how we truly live life through a lifetime.Some think that the way we treat certain people cannot help or hurt us, like coworkers who we are in charge of, and people that are in a service positions like housekeepers, waiters, secretaries, and nurses, etc. How we treat these people truly displays more about our personal character than how we treat other's that we think are important.
Those who are honest, kind, and fair only when there is something to gain should never be confused with people of (real character) who demonstrate these qualities habitually, and under all circumstances and situations throughout their life.
Character is also revealed by how we deal with situations, pressures and temptations.
It is also disclosed by our everyday actions, (including) what we say and do when we think no one is looking and fell that will not get caught. Reputations come and go, but character will hold you through the storms of life. If you spend your time and energy in constantly building strong character, you will never have to fear or be concerned about what others think of you.As a Christian I know that God sees all, and that He remembers all, and is ultimately the final judge of our actions in a lifetime spent on earth. Reputation is what people say you are; character is what God knows you are. Character is not a fancy coat we put on for public show only. Character is who we truly are, and will be judged by accordingly, on earth as well as in heaven. If you always concentrate on building character, your reputation will build itself. Develop your character, and you will never have regrets.
Why Globes Can Bring Character And Inspire So Effectively
Office work requires a certain amount of comfort, with a desk organised in just the way that the worker wants. It is no different with a home office or a study, where the occupant needs to be surrounded by what inspires, what focuses and, most of all, what maintains that secure, comfortable feeling. For this reason, the items in a study are all very special, and amongst the most popular items are globes.
Exactly why a globe should be so favoured is not that hard to understand. As a representation of the world, it takes a person away from the humdrum of personal life and encourages one to take a wider view of things. The resulting effect is to inspire thought and generate ideas, both of which are useful traits to the academic, business person or student. However, personal taste is also important, which explains why there is such an array of options, from the armillary globe to the globe drinks cabinet.
Other items that are popular are ceremonial face masks from far flung places, sculpture and art work that, more often than not, are of a different culture rather than a familiar one, and nautical implements such as the brass compass or chart magnifier.
When it comes to the globe, there is no shortage of options to choose from, not only in terms of design but also in topic.
For example, the terrestrial globe with which we are all so familiar can be presented with different effects. The relief can be raised, meaning that the mountain ranges can be felt under thumb, while the colouring of the seas can be blue or antique, which is a light brown, aged tone.Obviously, a desk globe is small enough to sit discreetly on a desk, though there are larger versions that can measure around 12 inches in diameter.
The particular colours and raised relief options mean it is certain that the precise globe to complement the particular desk and room decor is available. Of course, the desk globe is small enough to be placed on window sills, on book shelves and on small tables.With regards to the floor standing globe range, there is an even greater array of choices. Typically, a floor standing version stands at around a meter high, and can have either a pedestal or cradle body. The pedestal is simply on long pole, holding a meridian or semi meridian frame into which the globe is set. The pedestal is often made of wood, with finishes such as walnut and dark cherry amongst the most popular, but it can be of metal also, with brass and gold and silver plating highly prized.
A cradle is called such because the globe sits inside the leg frame itself, appearing as though it has broken through a table top. This design is much sturdier, with three or four legs holding up the meridian in which the globe itself is set. This design means the globe and body is generally looked upon as an item of decorative furniture, though it provides a far greater impression than simple furniture.
Of course, a globe does not have to depict a map of the world. Besides the fact that world maps through the ages are available in globe form, from modern day to the 17th and 18th centuries, it is also possible to find those depicting the ocean floors, the moon, one of the other planets or even the sun. This means that the specific interests of the occupant can be served.
So, if the occupant has a love for the sea, then along with a model sailing ship, ship bell and brass compass, one can place a maritime globe depicting the oceans, seas and the terrain below them. Or, if he or she has an interest in the stars, a constellation globe can depict the stars, to complement what other items of intrigue are placed in the room.
Most of us prefer to use globes to map out our route when we decide to travel, be it around the world or just on holiday to the next continent, especially when children want to know where we are going.
Its use as an educational tool can never be underestimated, though its range of alternative uses should not be forgotten either, with the globe drinks cabinet a favourite feature among globe owners.
Presidential Election 2008 - Candidates and Character
I guess in a perfect world, all of our political, civic, and religious leaders would be perfect models of moral decency, and perform with nothing but the utmost of efficiency and effectiveness in the jobs they are elected to. That world, of course, does not exist. The question I am going to raise is whether or not there is a direct coorelation between the moral and ethical values of a leader and his ability to lead effectively. The reason I throw this question out there is because I feel at times that we get so wrapped up the character of an individual, we fail to also honestly ask ourselves if the person is really the best man or woman for the job.
In our current election devout followers of both Barack Obama and John McCain would like to look at their candidate through rose colored glasses and try to paint him as someone who can do no wrong.
Or at least somehow morally superior and of higher character than the other person . The only thing that has saved this particular campaign from turning into a "my guy is more honest and trustworthy than your guy" slugfest, is the fact that the economy tanked.I am going to go on record by saying that while character is important to me, it is a very fluid measuring stick that I use in my decision making process come election day. I don't expect Obama and McCain to be models of human decency and behavior, who I get to set on a pedestal and admire. I don't like putting our leaders up there, because they really do not belong there. They are there to do an important job - and to do it well - that is it. The way I look at it, I am basically casting my vote as to whether or not I want to hire one of these gentlemen as President of the United States. I want someone in there, who I feel is going to be effective in leading this country through all the challenges that lie ahead of it. In other words, ......"will this person get the job done?" .....at least according to my standards.
Ultimately of course, we don't know how good the person is until he or she is on the job. But we do our best - we weigh the issues, trust our gut and hope we have elected the right individual. As my past voting record will indicate, I don't really care if the candidate is a Republican or a Democrat. I also don't care if he has had a model marriage or not. I don't care if he goes to church on Sunday. I don't care if he is an atheist, Muslim, Christian, or Jew. While I am very liberal on social issues, I would not vote against a candidate solely on the issues of abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage, or gun control. The reason I wouldn't is because these are not the pressing issues that I believe are critical to health and well being of this nation. I want to know how willing our President is to wage war and put our men and women in harms way. I want to know his approach and philosophy of interacting with our neighbors in the world. I want to know if he is going to do all he can to see that people in this country get decent medical care. Is he going try to support and improve education in this country? Is he going to have enough vision to keep this country's nose to the grindstone in terms of developing alternative forms of energy? And probably, most importantly to me, is this person going to be willing to listen to others and make decisions based on careful thought and analysis?
I think as citizens, we get too caught up in issues that, while important on one level, are not critical on another. Typcially, they are the moral and social issues that I have already mentioned. But right now, we need to focus on the big issues, the issues that truly will determine how we move forward as a nation. So when the candidates and their respective campaigns start ripping into each other about William Ayers, Charles Keating and any other "character" issues they can inject into the mix - try to keep these issues in perspective and remember what our real goal is here. We aren't just trying to elect "our guy"......we are trying to elect the best leader for the times.
One final point I would make about the moral absolutism that many throw into the political arena. History has far to many examples of effective presidents and world leaders who had moral shortcomings of one nature or another. That list would include Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and not to mention a number of others. I would hate to think where the world might be today without the guiding hand of some of these people. History is also littered with good and decent men - men of the utmost integrity and almost without reproach in terms of their moral standards - who were not particularly great leaders and in fact at times were downright incompetent in their performance.
Character is an issue in any election. I would be the first to admit I wouldn't vote for someone who had a long history of devious behavior in their public and private lives. I do feel, however, that it is a wiser approach to temper the character issue with a broader, practical and more realistic assessment of whether the person is right for the job or not. Sometimes that candidate, who we believe is the best reflection of our particular, individual moral values, ends up not being the best man for the White House...sometimes, it's that other, less than stellar character, who ends up being the best choice.
Do You Know Kids Characters from Toys They Like to Play
As is known to all, playing is the children nature and from the playing process, children begin to feel the outside world, understand the world and increase intelligence. Under such circumstance, kids toys play important role of developing children ability. Children at different psychological development states always choose the different toys. For example, babies' eyes are always attracted by the bright and colorful things around them and at the same time, they are more likely to choose the ones which can make melodious music. When children are one year old, they not only see the toys bought by their parents for them, but also want to touch the toys by their hands, they want to feel the toys' texture and temperature. When children are two or three years old, they begin to have interest in toys which can be moved and always want to touch them.
After three years old, they like to play with toys by hands with their own ways, what's more, sometimes they even damage toys because of strong curiosity.In addition, do you know that children's psychology condition can be reflected from the favorite toys they choose, and what's more, it has a certain relationship with the children's personality development. Two examples are showed below.
Children who loves stuffed animals such as lovely stuffed snoopy dogs would be the one with abundant and delicate emotion. Stuffed toys are often all kinds of cute, soft and little animals, which can not only be treated as toys, but also the partners for children. Children can play with stuffed animals, and at the same time, they can use plush toys to vent their emotions so as to meet the emotional needs of children at different times. In addition, because of soft texture, stuffed animals play the role of comforting and stabilizing children's mood who always feel lonely, timid, and the desire to be concerned.
Children who like to play with assembling toys usually have strong curiosity and be easily attracted by things around them. At the same time, their attention on things should be longer and be more patient on things they do. When playing with assembling toys, their brain, hands and eyes should be coordinated at the same time, which can practice their operating ability and coordination skills. As usual, assembling toys are with colorful outward appearance and what's more it is safe to children to play. Therefore it is the essential kids toys for kids to develop their intelligence.
Education: The Culture Of India
“Education not only molds the new generation, but reflects a society’s fundamental assumptions about itself and the individuals which compose it”- Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian education culture exemplifies well this statement of the great Indian thinker and futurist Mahatma Gandhi. The ideal of education has been very grand, noble and high in ancient India. The aim of ancient Indian education is to impart training for the completeness of life and the molding of character of human beings for the battle of life. In ancient times, the country was known to have been home to the oldest formal universities in the world. The world's first University was established in Takshila. Takshila University was an important Vedic and Buddhist center of learning; but it was not a well organized university like Nalanda. Nalanda University has been called one of the first great institutes in the recorded history.
It was founded in the 5th century AD by the Gupta rulers. Nalanda is one of the ancient centres of higher learning in Bihar and the term Nalanda means, Nalam which means lotus and Da means to give. When both are combined together, Nalanda means the Giver of the Lotus. Since the Lotus is supposed to represent knowledge, Nalanda means the “Giver of Knowledge”.During the medieval period the Mughals came to India and introduced Madrasah system to the Indian educational system. In addition to that the Persian influence was quite visible in the Indian education system. Another noticeable modification took place during the British period. In this period, stress had been given to impart education to the women section of the country. The British rule during the 19th century did not take adequate measures to help develop science and technology in India, and instead focused more on arts and humanities. One of the prominent characteristics of Indian education system is its simple approach of learning. Open air classes and close relation with nature enriched Indian education and made it livelier. Visva-Bharati University, founded by the great Indian laureate Rabindranath Tagore brought another revolutionary approach to the Indian education system. Offering courses in a diverse number of subjects, this university has become an ideal centre for music, art and cultural studies in the country.
In the post colonial period, the government also has taken grave initiatives from time to time to sustain the high standard of education in the country. Globalization has also made its impact on the present day education system of India. The country is coming up with world class universities, colleges and schools that have set their own standards in the world spectrum. Apart from imparting formal education in the schools, emphasis is also given to the all round development of the children- physical, mental, spiritual and aesthetic. The Indian schools are giving ample prominence on developing a child oriented learning process in close relation with nature. So it can be said that India is imparting education that teach children to share with others, to respect other people and their culture, to preserve and not to give up, to have courage and to stand for the right.
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