Legal brief »Ochampaugh v. Seattle free essay sample

Facts Ordinary pond owned by the city Popular with area residents for fishing and swimming The two boys were familiar with the pond and had gone there before. Neither boy could swim. There were no warning signs around the pond. The pond, while man-made, was In existence before the city purchased the land. Issue Was the pond a trap or extraordinarily dangerous enough to render it an attractive nuisance to children and thus create a negligent situation on the part of the land owner upon which the pond was placed?Rules It is conceded that the rule in this Jurisdiction Is that a natural body of water, or an artificial body of water having natural characteristics, Is not In and of Itself an attractive nuisance. No duty to trespassers except not to willfully cause the injury . However, in the case of infant trespassers, there is the attractive nuisance doctrine: 1 . The condition must be dangerous In and of Itself; 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Legal brief ? »?Ochampaugh v. Seattle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The conditions must be attractive and ensuing to young children; 3. The children, because of their youth, must be incapable of understanding the danger involved; 4.The condition must have been left unguarded ATA place where children go; or where they could be reasonably expected to go; 5. It must have been reasonably feasible either to prevent access or to render the condition innocuous without destroying Its utility. Analysis Drowning is a commonly-known danger of which six and eight-year olds are capable of understanding. Furthermore, there were many more instances of recreational use of the pond compared to the number of drowning. Therefore, the pond Is not dangerous. Because it fails to meet the first requirement of the attractive nuisance citrine, the pond is not an attractive nuisance.Since there is no attractive nuisance, there is no liability on the part of the city. Conclusion Lower-court ruling affirmed that the pond Is not an attractive nuisance under the doctrine. It does not meet the element of being dangerous in and of itself. Would the court apply the attractive nuisance doctrine given the following changes In fact: 1) The pond was 300 feet wide rather than 100? 1 OFF pond was surrounded by a concrete walkway built by the city? 4) The water was clear, rather than muddy? 5) The plaintiffs sons were 3 and 4 rather than 6 and 8?

Abortion since Row v. Wade essays

Abortion since Row v. Wade essays Abortion has quickly become the most powerful social issue in the United States since slavery . Abortion is a topic that is very controversial because it deals with the potential life of a human being. There have been many Supreme Court cases dealing with the abortion controversy, including the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that protected a womans constitutional right to have an abortion. This case was the turning point for women, and almost all of the Supreme Court cases that would follow would reaffirm the decision reached in Row v. Wade. In the year 1969, a woman named Norma McCorvy became pregnant after allegedly being raped. Norma, who would later adopt the pseudonym, "Jane Row" , wished to end her pregnancy by abortion; however, the Texas law outlawed abortions except for the instance when it would save the mothers life. In 1970, McCorvy filed a class action suit in the Federal District Court in Dallas. The district court ruled that the Texas law was unconstitutionally vague . The law infringed the womans right to choose whether or not to have a child. Justice Blackmun drafted a new set of guidelines which clearly detailed when an abortion would be legal. 1) For the first trimester, the decision to have an abortion is held totally up to the woman and her doctor. 2) During the second trimester, the state may regulate the abortion, depending on the doctors decision. 3) In the third trimester, the state may forbid the abortion in the interest of protecting potential life. The rulings in the case Roe v. Wade immediately affected abortion laws in all fifty states . The case had a huge impact on the abortion controversy in the United States. Aside from giving women new rights, it opened the doors for more change in legislation. Roe v. Wade was not the end of the abortion law battle. In 1976, two lawyers and two members of Planned Parenthood of central Missouri filed a suit...

Gender Behaviors in Battle of Algiers, Mother India and A Widows Voice Essay

Gender Behaviors in Battle of Algiers, Mother India and A Widows Voice - Essay Example This paper draws a comparison between the gender behaviors as depicted in Battle of Algiers, Mother India, and A Widow’s Voice. Battle of Algiers is a 1966 war film, which dwells on the situations of women in a warring country. Mother of India shows the struggles of women in harsh economies, taking care of their families. â€Å"A Widow’s Voice† is a very popular literary text, which has the theme of widowhood, including the problems widows face. One thing that is common between both movies and the literary text is that they all offer a comprehensive insight into the gender behaviors in their respective contexts. Battle of Algiers, Mother India, and A Widow’s Voice are similar in their depiction of women’s strength. Battle of Algiers and Mother India commonly undermine the power of men while highlighting that of women while Mother India and A Widow’s Voice commonly feature domestic women’s sacrifices and men’s selfishness. In con clusion, drawing a comparison between these three works was quite challenging, as these have different themes, and are of different genres. However, with the approach employed, a clear comparison of gender behaviors in these works has been achieved. Generally, women have been portrayed as very important people in the society. Women take care of their families, which are the basic unit of the society. However, the main issue is that despite all these, the society, especially men, do not appreciate women the way they should. These three works indirectly call for the need for women empowerment in society.

Compare and contrast the attitudes of the Scientific School of Essay

Compare and contrast the attitudes of the Scientific School of Management thought (Taylor et al) with those of the Human Relations Movement (Mayo et al) with regard to people at work - Essay Example uding the determination of the most effective way to coordinate tasks, careful selection of employees for different positions, proper training and development of the workforce, and the introduction of economic incentives in order to motivate employees. Taylor’s scientific management theory is widely used today and underlies many management techniques from work study to standard costing. In scientific management theory, Taylor believed that management’s objective should be to secure maximum prosperity for both employers and employees in both the short and long term. He was able to arrive at this principle by studying the causes of hostility and inefficiency in the workplace. In his investigation, Taylor believed that left to their own devices, workers toiled inefficiently, basing their work practices on custom and habit rather than on scientific principles. In addition, he attributed hostility to the belief among workers that increases in output would naturally result in unemployment and that the traditional practice created inefficient methods of work and that workers restricted their outputs in order to protect their interests. (Cascarion and Esch, p. 106) Taylor called this as workers’ engagement in â€Å"soldiering.† He outlined two types of soldiering: Systematic soldiering, on the other hand, is the concerted restriction of output and the more problematic of the two. This attitude was rooted in management’s failure to develop appropriate authority and legitimation for standard work. (Collins 1998, p. 11) Taylor addressed this challenge by studying each job in order to discover the best way in doing it. He was able to identify the best means of control. He developed four approaches to management designed to be able to recruit and maintain workers – whose needs and attitudes towards work are met: Through the previous principles Taylor was able to design a set of standards in regard to control and workers’ wages in terms of scientifically

Global Paper and Paper Products Industry Porter's Six Forces Analysis Research

Global and Products Industry Porter's Six Forces Analysis - Research Paper Example Porter’s six forces analysis of the global paper industry would involve certain factors such as threat of new entrants, rivalry among existing firms, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and relative power of other stakeholders. The explanations of the factors are given below: Threat of New Entrants Economies of scale The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the global paper industry has increased simultaneously with the growing usage of the paper by its consumers. In certain cases, the usage of papers remains intact where the GDP growth is witnessed to be almost stagnant. The global paper industry produces paper products of $750 billion each year comprising small enterprises globally (Scheihing, 2005). Product Differentiation Product differentiation is one of the most challenging measures of expanding or intensifying a business or industry. With the intense use of internet, the usage of paper is however decreasing day by day and as a result the global paper industry is trying to diversify or differentiate their products and trying to expand their product lines, especially based on the quality aspect (Scheihing, 2005). Capital Requirement A new entrant to the paper industry initially requires around $4.5 Million capital which may be recognized as a demanding level to position themselves in the industry (Scheihing, 2005). Switching Cost The switching cost for the paper industry is low. Therefore, the scope of new entrants is high, as new entrants can any time switch over to another industry if they do not feel competitive in the paper industry incurring minimum cost (Uronen, 2010). ... Capital Requirement A new entrant to the paper industry initially requires around $4.5 Million capital which may be recognized as a demanding level to position themselves in the industry (Scheihing, 2005). Switching Cost The switching cost for the paper industry is low. Therefore, the scope of new entrants is high, as new entrants can any time switch over to another industry if they do not feel competitive in the paper industry incurring minimum cost (Uronen, 2010). Accesses to Distribution Channels The distribution channel of the paper industry comprises of various, dealers, shareholders, retailors, and consumers to serve the ultimate customers in the corporate and educational sectors. Notably, these better facilities to an industry encourage the new entrants to enter the existing market (Uronen, 2010). Cost Disadvantages Independent of Size Due to the high installation cost, and high maintenance cost, the probability of new entrants reduces. However, due to the independence of dete rmining the size of the firms the scope of new entrants rises depicting a moderate level of threat to new entrants (Uronen, 2010). Government In relation to the global paper industry, the government has implemented certain rules and norms, laws, and regulations. In addition, there are many associations who are protesting against paper industry due to the usage of forest products and deforestations (Uronen, 2010). Rivalry among Existing Firms Number of Competitors There are too many paper mills or companies existing within the global paper industry, but the top five existing competitors are Paper Associates PTY.LTD, International Paper Company, Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, Georgia-Pacific LLC and Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA among others (SKC, 2012). Rate of Industry Growth

The Alma Ata Declaration

The Alma Ata Declaration The Alma Ata Declaration was formally adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma Ata (in present Kazakhstan) in September 1978 (WHO, 1978). It identifies and stresses the need for an immediate action by all governments, all health and development workers and the world community to promote and protect world health through Primary Health Care (PHC) (ibid). This has been identified by the Declaration as the key towards achieving a level of health that will allow for a socially and productive life by the year 2000. The principles of this declaration have been built on three (3) key aspects which include: Equity It acknowledges the fact that every individual has the right to health and the realisation of this requires action across the health sector as well as other social and economic sectors. Participation It also identifies and recognises the need for full participation of communities in the planning, organisation, implementation, operation and control of primary health care with the use of local or national available resource. Partnership It strongly supports the idea of Partnership and collaboration between government, World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, other international organisations, multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organisations, funding agencies, all health workers and the world community towards supporting the commitment to primary health care as well as increasing financial and technical support especially in developing countries. Other important principles identified by the Declaration include: health promotion and the appropriate use of resources. The declaration calls on all governments to formulate strategies, policies and actions to launch and sustain primary health care and incorporate it into the national health system. It was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 1978 hence enshrining it into the policy of the WHO (Horder, 1983). Background Back in the 1960s and 1970s, many developing countries of the world gained independence from their colonial leaders. In efforts to provide good quality healthcare service for the population, these new governments established teaching hospitals, medical and nursing schools most of which were located in urban areas (Hall Taylor, 2003) thus creating a problem of access to good quality health service especially for people that reside in rural communities. Successful programmes were initiated by Tanzania, Sudan, Venezuela and China in the 1960s and 1970s to provide primary care health services that was basic as well as comprehensive (Benyoussef Christian, 1977; Bennett, 1979). It is on the basis of these programmes that the term Primary Health Care was derived (Hall Taylor, 2003). In low income countries, the primary health care strategy as described by the Alma Ata was very influential in setting health policy during the 1980s however in high income countries such as the United Kingdom, it was considered irrelevant on the presumption that the level of primary care service was already well developed (Green et al., 2007). Primary health care has been defined in the Declaration of Alma Ata as; essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral part both of the countrys health system, of which it is the central function and main focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the community. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process. (WHO, 1978) The Alma Ata Declaration brought about a shift on emphasis towards preventive health, training of multipurpose paramedical workers and community based workers (Muldoon et al., 2006). In order to achieve the global target of health for all by the year 2000, goals were being set by the WHO (WHO, 1981) some of which include: At least 5% of gross national product is spent on health. A reasonable percentage of the national health expenditure is devoted to local health care. Equitably distribution of resources At least 90% of new-borne infants have a birth weight of at least 2500g. The infant mortality rate for all identifiable subgroups is below 50 per 1000 live-births. Life expectancy at birth is over 60 years. Adult literacy rate for both men and women exceeds 70%. Trained personnel for attending pregnancy and child birth and caring for children for at least 1 year of age. It has been over 30 years now that the Declaration of Alma Ata was adopted by the WHO. A look at the current health trend around the world especially in developing countries such Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Zimbabwe and so many others will reveal that the goal of achieving health for all by the year 2000 through primary health care has not been a reality. Although there have been reasonable improvement in immunisation, sanitation and access to safe water, there is still impediments in providing equitable access to essential care worldwide (WHO, 2010) What went wrong? Lawn et al. (2008) explain that the Cold War significantly impeded the desired impact expectation of the Alma Ata Declaration in the sense that global developmental policy at that time was dominated by neo-liberal macro economical and social policies. The effect of this on poorer countries of the world particularly in Africa was implementation of structural adjustment programmes in effort to reduce budget deficit through devaluations in local currency and cuts in public spending. This resulted in the removal of subsidies, cost recovery in the health sector and cut backs in the number of medical health practitioners that could be hired. The introduction of user charges and encouragement of privatisation of services during this period had an untoward effect on poor people who could not afford to pay for such services. The combination of these factors hence resulted in part to the crippling of the quality of service that can be provided at the primary care level. People who could afford such service resorted to health service offered at secondary or tertiary care which in most cases is difficult to access. The introduction of a new concept of Selective Primary Health Care as proposed within a year of the adoption of the Alma Ata Declaration by Walsh Warren (1979) changed the dimension of primary health care. This interim approach was proposed due to the difficulty experienced in initiating comprehensive primary health care services in countries with authoritarian leadership (Waterston, 2008). Walsh Warren (1979) argued that until comprehensive primary health care can be made available to all, services that are targeted to the most important diseases may be the most effective intervention for improving health of a population. The measures suggested include; immunisation, oral rehydration, breast feeding and the use of anti malarias. This selective approach was considered as being more feasible, measurable, rapid and less risky, taking away decision making and control away from the community and placing it upon consultants with technical expertise hence making it more attractive partic ularly to funding agencies (Lawn et al., 2008). An example of a selective primary care approach is the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Selective primary health care is concerned with providing solutions to particular diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis while comprehensive primary care as proposed the Alma Ata begins with providing a strong community infrastructure and involvement towards tackling health issues (Baum, 2007). The shift in maternal, new-borne and child health as a result of programmes that removes control from the community hinders the actualisation of the goals of primary health care as emphasized by the Alma Ata Declaration. The reversal of policy in the 1990s by the WHO and other UN agencies to discourage traditional birth attendants and promoting facility based birth with skilled personnel (Koblinsky et al., 2006) is an example of such. The World Banks report Investing in Health which was published in 1993 saw the World Bank become a great influence and major key player in international public health as such robbing the WHO of the prestigious position (Baum, 2007). It considers investments for interventions that only have the best impact on population health as such removing local control and advocating a vertical approach to health. This move counteracts the process of the social change described by the Alma Ata Declaration which is necessary for realisation of its goals. These go to show that consistency both in leadership (locally and globally), policy as well as good evidence (to drive policy making and actions), are important ingredients for global initiatives to succeed. What went right? Even with the several elements that prevailed against the achievement of the collective goals of the Alma Ata Declaration, several case studies show that when provided with a favourable environment, primary health care as prescribed by the Alma Ata is sufficient to bring about a significant improvement in the health status of any population or country. Case study 1: Primary Health Care in Gambia Using data obtained from a longitudinal study conducted by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council over a 15 year period for a population of about 17,000 people in 40 villages in Gambia, Hill et al. (2000) compared infant and child mortality between village with and without primary health care. The extra services that were provided in the villages with primary health care include: a village health worker, a paid community nurse for every 5 villages and a trained traditional birth attendant. Maternal and child health services with vaccination programme were accessible to residents of both primary health care and non primary health care villages. There was marked improvement in infant and under 5 mortality in both sets of villages. After primary health care system was established in 1983, infant mortality dropped from 134/1000 in 1982 83 to 69/1000 in 1992 94 in the primary health care villages and from 155/1000 to 91/1000 in non primary health care villages over the same period of time. Between 1982 and 83 and 1992-94, the death rates for children aged 1-4 fell from 42/1000 to 28/1000 in the primary health care villages and from 45/1000 to 38/1000 in the non primary health care villages. However, in 1994 when supervision of primary health care was weakened, infant mortality rate in primary health care villages rose to 89/1000 for primary health care village in 1994 96. The rate in non primary health care village fell to 78/1000 for this period. The implementation and supervision of primary health care is associated with a significant effect on infant mortality rates for these groups of villages that benefitted from the programme. Case study 2: Under 5 mortality and income of 30 countries To assess the progress for primary health care in countries since Alma Ata, Rohde et al. (2008) analysed life expectancy relative to national income and HIV prevalence in order to identify over achieving or under achieving countries. The study focused on 30 low income and middle income countries with the highest year reduction of mortality among children less than 5 years of age and it described coverage and equity of primary health care as well as other non health sector actions. The 30 countries in question have scaled up selective primary care (immunisation, family planning) and 14 of these countries have progressed to comprehensive primary care which has been marked with high coverage of skilled birth attendants. Equity with skilled birth attendance coverage across income groups was accessed as well as access to clean water and gender inequality in literacy. These 30 countries were grouped into countries with selective primary care; mixture of selective and comprehensive primary health care; and comprehensive primary health care alone. The major players among countries with comprehensive primary health care are Thailand, Brazil, Cuba, China and Vietnam. Overall, Thailand tops the list and it has comprehensive primary health care. Maternal, new-borne and child health in Thailand were prioritised even before Alma Ata and has been able to increase coverage for immunisation and family planning interventions. The Government investment in district health systems provided a foundation for comprehensive primary health care in maternal, new-borne and child health as well as other essential services. Community health volunteers also played a significant role towards Thailands medical advancement. They promoted the use of water sealed latrines to improve sanitation and were very instrumental towards the decline of protein calorie malnutrition in pr e-school children in the past 20 years (WHO, 2010). Participation of the community health volunteers is a major source of community involvement into health care of Thailand (ibid). The following factors were identified as important lessons from high achieving countries: accountable leadership and consistent national policy progress with time; building coverage of care and comprehensive health systems with time; community and family empowerment; district level focus which is supported by data to set priorities for funding, track results as well as identify and redress disparities; and prioritising equity, removing financial barriers for poorest families and protection against unavoidable health cost. Case study 3: Integration of cognitive behaviour based therapy into routine primary health care work in rural Pakistan Rahman et al. (2008) in a cluster-randomised control study in Pakistan shows the benefits derived when cognitive behaviour therapy in postnatal depression is integrated with community based primary health care. Training was provided to the primary health care workers in the intervention group to deliver psychological intervention. The health care workers also receive monthly supervision and monitoring. Significant benefit (lower depression and disability scores, overall functioning and perception of social support) was reported in the intervention group to suggest that this kind of measures as supported by the Alma Ata can drive the initiative towards Health for all. It is evident and clear that countries that practiced comprehensive primary health care as enshrined by the Alma Ata reaped great benefits in terms of population health improvement. Although it has been argued that comprehensive primary health care is too idealistic, expensive and unattainable (Hall Taylor, 2003), evidence suggest that it is more likely to deliver better health outcomes with greater public satisfaction (Macinko et al., 2003). This kind of care can deal with up to 90% of health demands in low income countries (World Bank, 1994). Relevance of Alma Ata in this present time Our present world that has been characterised by marked epidemiological transition in health. Low income countries as well as high income ones are faced with increasing prevalence of non communicable as well as chronic disabling disease (Gillam, 2008) hence, the existence of infectious diseases (malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis etc), and diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. For low income countries such as sub-Sahara African Countries, this constitutes a major health problem because their health systems are mainly oriented towards providing services inclined with maternal and child health, acute or episodic illnesses. As such current health systems need to have the capacity to provide effective management for the current disease trend. The Alma Ata provides a foundation for how such effective health service can be provided. Because, primary health care is the first line of contact an individual has to health care, it is thus very influential in determining community heal th especially when the community is fully empowered to participate. As societies modernise, as it is the case in our current world, the level of participation increases and people want to have a say in what affects their lives (Garland Oliver, 2004). Thus, the level participation in health care is better off and more powerful in this present time than it was when it was the Alma Ata was adopted. Evidence suggest that the values as enshrined by the Alma Ata are becoming the mainstream of modernising societies and it is a reflection of the way people look at health and what they expect from their health care system (WHO, 2008). Alma Ata failed in some countries because the Government of such countries refused to put strategies towards sustaining a strong and vibrant primary health care system that is appropriate to the health needs of the community such that access is improved, participation and partnership is encouraged and health is improved in general. There is no goal standard guideline or manual on Alma Ata but individual governments have to develop their own strategies which should be well suited towards meeting their own needs. The Alma Ata founding principles is still relevant towards achieving these goals especially as it brings health care to peoples door step as it encourages training of people to efficiently and effectively deliver health services. Evidence has shown that there is a greater range of cost effective interventions than was available 30 years ago (Jamison et al., 2006). It is for these reasons that primary health care is essential towards achieving the millennium development goals e specially as it concerns child survival, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases. The Alma Ata emphasises the importance of collaboration as an important tool towards introducing, developing and maintaining primary health care. This partnership as supported by the Alma Ata is essential to increase technical and financial support to primary health care especially in low income countries. It is a current trend to find an increasing mixture of private and public health systems as well as increasing private-public partnerships. Governments, donor and private organisations are now working together to promote and protect health unlike after Alma Ata (OECD, 2005). There is also increased funding and this is shifting from selective global funds to strengthening health systems through sector wide approaches (Salama et al., 2008). This kind of collaborations is a step in the right direction and when it is strengthened according to the principles of the Alma Ata, it will not only improve the buoyancy of the health care system but also improve participation and equity in the sense that health care is more qualitative and accessible to the people. The years that followed after adoption of the Alma Ata by WHO member states was characterised by unstable political leadership and military dictatorship especially among low income countries which lead to neglect of the health sector. This created unfriendly environments for the development and maintenance of stable primary health care systems. In this current times however, most countries have embraced the democratic system of leadership that promotes equity, participation and partnership. Health equity is continually enjoying prominence in the dialogue of political leaders and ministries of health (Dahlgren Whitehead, 2006). Thus, the environment being created is friendlier to the Alma Ata hence making it more relevant in this time. Thirty years ago, the values of equity, people centeredness, community participation and self determination embraced by the Alma Ata was considered as being radical but today these values have become widely share expectations for health (WHO, 2008). Our current time has been marked by gross technological advancement which was not available in the 1970s. There is also an increased wealth of knowledge and literature on health and on the growing health inequalities between and within countries all of which was not available 30 years ago. All these put together provides a relevant foundation to support the Alma Ata in the present time making it more relevant in delivering effective health care service. Conclusion The prevailing political and economic situation around the world make the Alma Ata more relevant than it was in 1978. However, there is still need for more to be done. There is need for the revitalisation of primary health care according to the tenets of the Alma Ata and progress made should be consistently monitored. There is also the need for an increased commitment to the virtues of health for all as well as increased commitment of resources towards primary health care which should be driven by good evidence base. It is important that emphasis be changed from single interventions that produce short term or immediate results to interventions that will create an integrated, long term and a sustainable health care system. Even with the challenges being faced so far with full implementation of the Alma Ata, the ideals are relevant still relevant now more than ever.

The Future Never Just Happened, It Was Created :: Teaching Philosophy Education Essays

The Future Never Just Happened, It Was Created My philosophy on education is that it is important to instill values and knowledge into our children at an early age to ensure a great future for them as well as enhancing their contributions to society. Will and Ariel Durant famous for several quotations on life and civilization summed up how important education is for the future of our children and society. "We have to help children take advantage of education so they can have the best future possible for themselves and the rest of society." I have a strong belief that education is the key to a prosperous happy future for our children and the future leaders of tomorrow's society. Being a teacher, what a wonderful way of ensuring a child has every opportunity to reach their dreams and create a wonderful future for themselves. The future can be ten minutes from now or thirteen years from kindergarten to a graduating senior. I hope I can make a difference in the children I am privileged to have in my classroom. I feel it is my moral responsibility to ensure each child entrusted to me a chance to create his or her future with the knowledge of education. I hope to be a motivator of creative thinking and good decision-making. I want the children I teach to be able to leave my classroom feeling confident and sure that they have acquired the skill to be independent thinkers. Knowing each child has a unique quality to contribute wonderful ideas and the confidence to share them with their classmates with a feeling of accomplishment. Starting with elementary students and instilling this quality will give them better opportunities as they grow. I want to be this t eacher, the teacher who inspires them to plant a seed to grow into success. Froebel referred to kindergarten as "a children's garden", this is exactly the way I feel. As a teacher, I hope to have a nurturing garden no matter of the grade level. Children deserve to feel safe, secure, and have confidence in the teacher. I would expect nothing less of myself. I have often imagined what type of classroom I will have. I envision a welcoming, warm atmosphere with bulletin boards decorated for the season at hand. Children making snowflakes, autumn leaves, colorful eggs or bright stars for a warm summer's night.