Agnostic

Agnostic Agnostic Agnostic By Maeve Maddox I thought I knew the meaning of the word agnostic until I read this in an article about the Common Core State Standards: Some teachers were angered, not by his pedagogical vision per se but by the fact that the author of the standards seemed to be telling them how to teach, even when the standards themselves are agnostic about pedagogy. Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) coined the word agnostic to describe his attitude towards God and religion. He felt he lacked sufficient knowledge to determine if God existed or not. He formed the word by adding the prefix a- to the word gnostic. The prefix added the sense of â€Å"without, not, -less.† Gnostic means â€Å"knowledge.† Agnostic means â€Å"lack of knowledge.† The word agnostic can be a noun or an adjective. An agnostic is a person who withholds an opinion as to whether or not God exists. As an adjective, agnostic means â€Å"relating to the belief that the existence of anything beyond and behind material phenomena is unknown and (as far as can be judged) unknowable.† The use of agnostic in a nonreligious context led me to uses I’d been unaware of. Here are some examples: Progressive adherents defend the Common Core State Standards Initiative as culturally and morally agnostic.   I had to [think of] a recipe that would be apple agnostic- it had to work no matter if they were sweet or tart, red or green, tender or crisp. Political agnostics are people who ignore politics and current events. The rescues I knew that did foster homes were mostly purebred rescues, like for collies or Persian [cats], says Wootton,I didnt know of any that just took dogs, or just took catsWe are breed-agnostic we dont discriminate. I am coming round to a sugar-agnostic position. The burgeoning use of the word agnostic in nonreligious contexts may derive from its use in the world of technology. A software program that will run on any computer operating system is said to be â€Å"platform agnostic. In extended use, agnostic can mean â€Å"not committed to a particular point of view, â€Å"non-partisan,† or â€Å"equivocal.† To me, the use of agnostic to refer to apples, sugar, and dogs seems more than a little inapt. And a word that can mean â€Å"equivocal† doesn’t seem the best choice to describe educational standards. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Use a Dash for Number RangesDouble Possessive

God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US

God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US God Bless America! The 8 Weirdest College Majors in the US America has a long tradition as the land of the free and home of the brave. Does this include the freedom to study whatever you darn well like? And the bravery to dedicate yourself to a college course that will confuse your friends and family? You bet it does! To prove it, we’ve found seven of the weirdest college majors currently available in the USA, as well as another that (sadly) is even more unique. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Booze Studies! If you want to make your own beer, you could always study for a degree in Fermentation Sciences from the Appalachian State University. More into wine than beer? Try Cornell University’s Viticulture and Enology degree instead! 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Masters of Packaging For more than sixty years, Michigan State University has â€Å"been a leader in teaching, research and outreach focused on packaging containers, materials, their functionality and improvement.† We never knew so much thought went into packaging, but we’ll definitely remember next time we can’t get a pickle jar open. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Decision Sciences Unable to pick your major? Why not try a course in Decision Sciences? It’s not actually designed to help you make decisions, but it does cover statistics, information systems and operation management, so it sounds quite useful. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Become a Professional Adventurer! Ok, so a degree in Adventure Education won’t make you an adventurer in the same way Indiana Jones is an adventurer, but it’s definitely a start. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Truth is Out There†¦ Meet my PhD project Do people look at you funny when you say you’ve dedicated your life to discovering aliens? They might take you more seriously if you introduce yourself as a qualified astrobiologist! 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shoeing Horses Horses across the country are glad that farriers are trained professionals, as no one would want to have strips of metal nailed to their feet by an amateur. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mortuary Science If you find busy office environments a little stressful, you might enjoy the peace and solitude of the mortuary instead (as long as you don’t mind all the dead bodies). 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enigmatology According to its inventor, enigmatology is the study of puzzles. Why haven’t you heard of it until now? Because only one person has ever earned a degree in enigmatology: Will Shortz, who designed his own major program at Indiana University in 1974. This makes Will Shortz the world’s only college-accredited â€Å"puzzle master,† which sounds a bit like the name of a crossword-based superhero. For this reason alone, we salute him.

Interview of three business people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interview of three business people - Essay Example It has now taken him twenty-three years to build his career in this profession. Among the many organizations he has worked for is Vine Board Education where he held the position of Purchase order Director. His education background started with him joining BMCC where he attained his AAS degree in Business Management. Later on, he joined Glassboro State College for his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing in the year 1978. His profession requires him to be very responsible in his duties and provide quality service to all students in the college. To be a good accountant, Mr. R emphasizes that good writing skills, coupled with basic bachelor’s level education is necessary. One also has to be very good at math and must possess good communication and computer skills (Kimmel, et al, pg. 302) In order to succeed, patience is one of the key elements in this profession. Accounting requires you to be very keen and this means spending long hours in verifying data and numbers, while contac ting customers and suppliers of various goods and services. Moreover, you should also have very strong convictions in your undertakings. The main advantage in working in an accounting field is that the profession can be applied across different fields of professions. For instance, an accountant can be employed in schools or a business organization where he or she gets to handle work in those respective fields. In order to be valuable to your employers, an accountant should be able to portray skills that no other staff in the organization has. This will make his or her special, therefore, will be treasured. The downside of being an accounting payable department manager is that you can find it very difficult to perform your duties if one does not seek professional skills or stay on top of his game. The profession, however, is very rewarding. An average accountant gets a monthly salary of seven-thousand dollars ($ 7,000) which translates to approximately eighty-thousand dollars a years ($ 80,000). Given the chance to do everything all over again, Mr. R would still go back to accounting since the profession provides him with the satisfaction that he needs and also guarantees his security in leading a comfortable life. His future plan currently, is to retire in the next five years, since he has achieved most of his goals in life right now. His advice to those planning to join this career path is to get a higher degree in this field. Afterwards, he or she should gain some experience by working in the public sector and other government organizations. His advice for the interviewer was that he should prepare his degree, gain more experience in that field, then take the CPA examinations. Miss Y. Miss Y preference for choosing her career path was because she is very good with numbers and a very responsible person. She also hopes that she could assist customers by responding to their questions and solving their problems. Her first job was in a bank where she managed to s ecure the job through an interview. Currently, she has experience in her career spanning close to twenty years. As she earlier mentioned, she started her career in a bank, there after joined a certain high school where she taught accounting. Presently, she is employed in one of the branches of BMCC as a budget director. Miss Y education background is impressive. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in New York University. Later on, she earned her master’

Humanistic View Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Humanistic View - Essay Example He also put forward that a person could not reach to a next higher need in the hierarchy until her or his current needs were significantly or completely satisfied. Many enterprises have been influenced by these theories and changes brought about in the structure of the organization have yielded excellent results (Maslow, 1943). According to Abraham Maslow, 'needs' can be classified in a hierarchal format where the needs are ranked according to their importance. The basic needs have to be fulfilled before a higher need takes priority. The first level is the basic existence needs which include the physiological needs such as food, water, shelter and clothing. These are the most common needs that most people have except for those who live below the poverty line. Once an individual gets these, the person requires social security needs. These include the security in terms of a person feeling secure from robbery, theft as well as the feeling of insecurity in terms of having a job or having a house. As a person moves upwards to the next level, lower level needs are no longer prioritized. However if lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritize those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs. Next, come the need for love and belonging with friends, families, co lleagues, communities and the society. When they are satisfied, a person requires esteem needs with self-respect. When these four levels are met, a person reaches the self-actualisation level where a person needs to realize one's own potential. Self-perfection is required to fulfil this need which may never come. (Srensen, 2006) Example When the needs of a social care user are matched against Maslow's need theory, the two lowest levels of need seem to be supported by the social care providers. Food, shelter, security and clothing are provided by the social care company satisfying the basic two levels of Maslow's hierarchy. It is at this second level where most users of the social care find themselves after being through with the social care. However, love and belonging is not at all the manifesto of social care providers hence a person is stuck at this level as a lower need has to be largely satisfied before the next can come into play. Esteem and self-actualisation needs may never be reached by the users of social care service and is impossible until they stop depending on the service and stand on their own feet. Where the social care providers are providing the basic two needs, they should also focus on creating such a strong base for their users that the users can progress from there on their own and not fall bac k to attain a lower need. (Srensen, 2006) Conclusion So from the point of Abraham Maslow about the humanistic view, it can be said that humans are ungrateful creatures who always want more no matter what. As one need gets fulfilled, another need comes up and this cycle continues onwards until a person attains self-actualization and this is the nature of all humans. Works Cited 1. H. Maslow (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation.

Accepting Disabilities in On His Blindness by John Milton Essay example

The narrative poem â€Å"On his Blindness,† written by John Milton, is an Italian sonnet which reflects upon a religious man’s perspective of how to accept ones disabilities. The poet is effective in doing so, as he uses both figurative imagery and religious references to convey the struggle and challenges that the disabled endure. "On his Blindness," is a poem that reveals a religious man’s acceptance of his lack of vision through a conversation with â€Å"Patience†. Milton often refers to his inability to see by using figurative imagery to contrast light and dark images throughout the poem. This type of imagery helps in portraying his reflection on his past life, when he was not blind, to the different life he leads now. The positive and negative images allow for various interpretations of light and dark. Milton first professes his blindness by making a reference to his lack of light in stating that his, â€Å"†¦light is spent,† (1) establishing a connection between â€Å"light† and â€Å"talent†. In reference to his sight, using the word â€Å"spent† means that his eyesight has diminished and his days of...

Creative Title: Critical Analogist

In The Yellow Wallpaper, various factors fostered a sense of isolation in the protagonist's psyche, which eventually drove her into insanity. The Narrator experiences isolation in numerous ways that include intellectual isolation, physical isolation, and emotional isolation, and each brings The Narrator closer the deterioration of her sanity. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s character John, and his behavior, explain why the corrosion of The Narrator’s health took place. John’s insistence on remaining at the isolated home, his inability to accept the opinion of The Narrator and his belief in his knowledge as a physician leaves the Narrator feeling shut out from society, triggering her insanity. The Yellow Wallpaper portrayed life in the ____, where men had complete authority over the opposite sex deeming the opinions and emotions felt by females insignificant. This allowed men complete control over the social and personal aspects of life, including matters such as women’s health, friendships, and sex life. †¦but John would not hear of it†(75), is implied throughout the entire story. All her opinions about her own health, what she concluded would assist her to overcome her sickness, all discarded without a second thought. This intellectual isolation rapidly deteriorates the emotional connection to her husband and quickly causes tension between the couple. â€Å"‘Better in body perhaps-’ I began, and stopped short , for he sat up straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I could not say another word†(82). John cannot comprehend that The Narrator would understand her body more so than a scholar with a degree in medicine. Nancy Woloclh explained in her document Women and the American Experience, the likelihood of a proficient physician at that time period, â€Å"The professionalization of medicine did not ensure its competence†¦not only were well-trained doctors unlikely to be very effective, but few were well trained,†(Woloclh 1996:77). Although we do not have knowledge if John was such a doctor, we can only suspect from what The Narrator expressed in her ournals; journals filled with comments like, â€Å"John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious† (76) and â€Å"John is kept in town ever often by serious cases†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (79) suggests that John was having an affair and not actually staying out late like a professional of medicine would. The intellectual isolation experienced by the Narrator, as her thoughts and feelings about her healt h are ignored, the emotional intimacy and connection felt between husband and wife is diluted. John, being a male, is able to seek intimacy through other women, while The Narrator cannot seek out any because of her isolation from society. The Narrator’s physical isolation is additional factor that allows insanity to enter her mind. Living miles away from society, she is denied the social interaction needed for females. Her bed â€Å" is nailed down,†(79), her windows are â€Å"barred for little children†(76). Several times she tried to get John to permit her to visit

Essay about Public School vs Private School - 700 Words

There are different types of education that a student may receive in today’s society. The choices are narrowed down into two main categories, public and private school. Many people in today’s society believe it’s better to send their children to private schools rather than public schools. To most parents deciding which school system will be better is based on curriculum, class size, and most of all cost. It’s not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many parents feel their child is worth receiving the best education offered. The quality of teaching and the expectations of the students differ from the two schools. Advocates of private school argue that the education received in one of these facilities is more valuable and†¦show more content†¦One of the most important distinctions between public and private schools is the cost. The question regularly asked is, â€Å"Can I afford to send my child to private school?† Public schools are funded by tax dollars, whereas private schools demand tuition from their students. With private schools able to charge for tuition, and many charge for textbooks and materials, some offer scholarships for students to help with what is commonly a great final cost. Public schools are prohibited from charging for tuition, or other fees that could incur, such as: transportation, materials, and textbooks. Most of the time if public schools need more money for education, taxes are raised. Uniforms are no longer just a private school requirement as many public sc hools have started to enforce this as well. Whichever education system a parent chooses there will always be a cost, it is just the difference in price that has parents wondering is it worth it. The school chosen is an investment in your child’s future and not a decision to be made lightly. Education is vital in today’s society. Parents will always want what is best for their child especially when it comes to education. The better the education the farther you will go in life. Deciding what and where to receive the best education is always going to be a question for the masses. Thesis: Many people in today’s society believe it’s betterShow MoreRelatedPrivate Schools Vs. Public Schools1406 Words   |  6 Pagesthat private school is more expensive than public school, but has it ever occurred to you why it is like this? Private schools are not just trying to take your money, they are just trying to provide a quality education, without the government funding that public schools get. The tuition money goes to very important things; high quality teachers, better resources and the overall quality and stability of the institution. It is true that private school tuition is expensive, but private schools haveRead MorePrivate Schools Vs Public Schools1723 Words   |  7 Pagesthink of private schools they often think of a quality of education that cannot be found in a public school. Private school education is thought of to be so thorough and innovative that public vouchers are given to individuals just to attend. Many parents could rest easier at ni ght if their kids could attend private school because for generations it has been drilled into the psyche of many that going to private school is a sure way to have a good future. In actuality however, private schools are notRead MorePrivate Schools Vs Public Schools1428 Words   |  6 Pagesstudy in private schools, which almost represents the fifth of students in Saudi Arabia. Although a lot of families prefer to make their children study in private school, that does not mean they are completely satisfied about the schools’ quality and their children’ achievement (Al-Hagbani, 2013). Nevertheless, they still enroll their children in private schools, believing they will benefit more from studying in private schools than public schools. In addition, some parents believe that private schoolsRead MorePrivate Schools Vs Public Schools1207 Words   |  5 PagesAn Introduction of the Topic Private schools differ from public schools for many different reasons. The major difference is that the government, unlike private schools that are privately funded, funds public schools. Another difference would be that the private schools have more flexibility on what they can teach because the government does not fund them. One other difference that is very prevalent is the social goals of schooling. This topic is a very important issue that many parents struggle withRead MorePrivate Schools Vs. Public Schools998 Words   |  4 Pagesnation. People today might say that private schools are superior to public schools, saying that they are safer and a better environment to learn in. Some might say that a private school is a way of sheltering your child and not letting them experience opportunities and face many problems to learn from. There are many positives and negatives to both sides; it mainly depends on whom you are talking to. Some parents might want their child to go to a pri vate school because the class size is smaller andRead MorePublic Schools vs. Private Schools1027 Words   |  4 Pagesare things to consider before choosing to send your child to a public school or private school. Perhaps doing so would be much easier if you would take the time to research the differences between the two. Public schools are better than private schools because of the diversity, funding and extracurricular activities available. Eileen Gale Kugler, a national advocate for diverse schools, wrote an article about how the diversity in schools makes academic and social improvements. She recalls a memoryRead More Private Schools vs. Public Schools870 Words   |  4 PagesChoosing between a public or a private school for one’s education is as important as deciding where to invest one’s hard-earned money—the consequences influence one’s life forever. In the United States, it is the law for every child to be educated. However, the decision as to where to go for one’s education is up to each individual. There is a great deal of debate as to which is the better option: for-profit private schools or one’s local public school. Ultimately, the decision is made regardingRead MorePrivate Schools vs. Public Schools 1081 Words   |  5 PagesHave you ever attended a private institution? What was your experience like? Think back and compare it to your ideal public school, which on e happens to pale in comparison? Public schools, which are controlled by the government, and heavily influenced, by politicians and privateers, hurt your children, not allowing them to reap the full benefits of their growing mind. â€Å"Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] contentRead MorePrivate School Vs. Public School1254 Words   |  6 PagesThesis: Private school students are more likely to have a better viewpoint in learning, a firm stance in education, and will be more successful in colleges than of public school students. I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: According to NCES data, 88 percent of private high school students apply to college, compared to 57 percent of public high school students. Every day parents contemplate whether to send their children to private or public school. There are many dangers that come with public schoolRead MorePrivate Schools Vs Public Schools921 Words   |  4 Pageschild’s education, parents want the best the school has to offer their children. Parents want a prosperous future for their child which is not only health, but a well-educated one. Education is of the utmost importance especially because it will impact the child the most in the long run. Private schools offer ample education opportunities. There are some factors to consider when choose a private school education over a public one. Many times, the private schools are religious are having certain beliefs