If one considers all of the problems facing the environment and society in general, he or she knows that qualified, educated individuals are likely to be the ones who will find effective solutions. It is highly unlikely that the Baby Boomer Generation or Generation X will have resolved the issues of climate change, the economy, and international relations within the next twenty years. It is more likely that it will take humankind several generations to repair the damage done by the greediness of some big corporations and by the production of goods that are unfriendly to the environment. Furthermore, prevention will be necessary to ensure that disasters do not occur and that larger nations get along. For all of these reasons, young people deserve to receive free, quality education that meets both their personal needs and those of society. Their education would not only meet the needs of business, but it might meet a greater need to save the planet. Without such quality education at schools (both online and brick-and-mortar schools), future generations will have to suffer due to the unintentional--albeit careless--mistakes of their forefathers.
Young people need education in order to ensure that the infrastructure of their country is in excellent condition. Without it, they will be unprepared to maintain bridges, highways, and public property. For example, on the 14th of August 2018, the Morandi Bridge abruptly fell in Genova, Italy, just one day before the Italian summer vacation known as "Ferragosto". One cannot help but suspect that such a disaster could have been prevented if there had been knowledgeable experts to control the quality of the bridge. Therefore, well-educated individuals are needed to pick up the pieces of the bridge and to ensure that future structures will be safe and secure.
In the second place, many world citizens have forgotten that a few generations ago people died from contagious diseases. All one has to do is to look at genealogy records to discover that it was common to lose parents, children, and family members to diseases like the Spanish Flu in 1918 and Smallpox, which was eradicated by 1980. People have neglected to study the history of immunization. Educated scientists need to be cultivated so as to investigate the effectiveness of the various vaccines while developing superior cures that can be used in the future. More importantly, young experts will be armed to fight any diseases that might appear in the future.
In the meantime, most people have given some thought to global warming. Those who believe in its existence fear for the future of their children and grandchildren. Without having received a satisfactory science education, people of all ages feel like their hands are tied. Many do not know how little changes can improve the climate. Moreover, they would like to convince people who are in powerful positions to change production techniques to protect the earth. In the event change does not come about, young people desire to enhance their communication skills in order to bring about a radical shift. Unfortunately, many potential defenders of nature cannot even afford to pay for university degrees that would enable them to argue a convincing case in a court of law.
Notably, many occupations have disappeared as they have been taken over by robots, artificial intelligence, and other digital tools. This means that great minds are in demand to determine how the future economy will be structured in order to provide food, shelter, and comfort to those people who work fewer hours or who cannot find a position. Experts will be needed to help organize schedules that involve individuals in pleasurable, humanitarian causes as well as artistic and leisure activities. Perhaps lifelong learning will take on greater importance and people will become more altruistic.
Last but not least, there remains much to be done in space and in the ocean. Naturally, young people need opportunities to study fields such as oceanology, astronomy, and biology without having to become overburdened with debt. Sea life remains to be saved and protected from water pollution while space junk needs to be overseen carefully. Natural resources need to be protected while various species of animals must be cared for, even reintroduced into the environment.
Many people argue that students will not appreciate education if they do not have to pay a lot of money for it. Such individuals insist that students will waste precious resources. Fortunately, some universities and even nations like Germany have demonstrated that free education or very inexpensive education can and does produce effective results. Germany (2018) offers to educate anyone who is accepted in their universities, but it should not be necessary for everyone to move to Germany to receive this benefit when many need and want to continue working in their home countries while studying. Nonetheless, people tend to earn considerably less money today than they did back in the 1960s if one takes inflation in to account; therefore, families with two working parents cannot typically afford to pay for their children's college degrees, even when they would like to do so.
The unexplored, unread future remains a mystery to be revealed. Thus, it is possible that hard-working young people, well-equipped with quality education, will be the problem-solvers and geniuses of the future. Such great minds need not be wasted when young adults do sincerely wish to contribute to the greater good. They will turn the keys to the not-so-distant future once provided with the education they deserve, regardless of their religion, social status, creed, color, gender, or nationality. Students might communicate internationally in English given that they receive the necessary tools and ability to communicate their ideas. Moreover, students could enhance the universe with the creation of sleek electric cars that are eco-friendly, with the invention of useful tools, with the understanding that universal compassion defeats war, and with the possession of new scholarly insight. So much remains to be discovered by a well-educated society of young people who communicate freely and openly--optimistically desirous of learning. Making learning free for all benefits everyone no matter how young or old since it will generate new solutions to problems that haven't been solved in the past.
Laura Gail Sweeney is an English teacher and an English-language coach who communicates with people across the globe by means of Skype and other similar platforms. She has a wide variety of interests, one of which happens to be Hollywood English.
By Laura Gail Sweeney
The Danger of Losing Hope for Public Education
Currently, equitable education is not provided on a worldwide scale. Furthermore, the socioeconomic achievement gap is becoming wider apart than ever, leaving many bright minds undiscovered. This inequity in education is unacceptable, as it infringes not only on individual rights but also on society's morality and progression as a whole.
I find the issue of education especially personal, as public education was how I overcame my adversities, I grew up in a financially insecure, immigrant family in which I had many household responsibilities. I translated constantly for my parents, and I was expected to pay for my own financial expenses. However, as soon as I poured my energy into school work, I learned that knowledge was an equal playing field. It didn't matter who I was but only what I knew.
My free twelve years of schooling has allowed me to become a leader, serve others, and find my voice. I keep this constantly in mind, understanding I am beyond lucky to have had a public education. Without this education, I wouldn't be a Northwestern student. I would be a high school dropout, driving for Uber or working at a fast food restaurant like my parents who could not get a privilege to receive public education.
Because education is so important, students of all backgrounds should be able to attend school. Specifically, more focus should be on underprivileged school districts. Furthermore, it is essential to reinstate authority back to the teachers and students. This is to ensure that administrators spearhead education policy instead of uninformed government leaders. What is best for our students should no longer be overshadowed by politics. By listening to the people our legislation most affects, we can make better law.
According to The Atlantic, educators have criticized Trump administration's budget proposal detailing over $9 billion in education cuts, including slashes to funds for after-school programs that serve mostly low-income students. Moreover, these cuts came along with increased funding for school-privatization efforts such as school vouchers. United States Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos has repeatedly gestured her support for school choice and privatization, as well as her disdain for public schools, describing them as a "dead end".
Such cynicism suggests there is no hope for public education. However, this mindset is demonstrably false and even dangerous. Current discussion repeatedly ignores public schools' victories by trivializing their civic role. Our public-education system is about much more than personal achievement; it is about preparing people to work together to advance not just themselves but the whole society. Unfortunately, the current debate's focus on individual rights and choices has distracted many politicians and policy makers from a key stakeholder: our nation as a whole.
The Founding Fathers understood that a healthy democracy required education. Thomas Jefferson, among other historical titans, believed that a functioning democracy required an educated citizenry. Importantly, he viewed education as a public good to be included in the "Articles of public care," despite his personal preference for the private sector in most matters. John Adams, another advocate of public schooling, urged, "There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the expense of the people themselves."
In the centuries since, the courts have consistently affirmed the momentous status of public schools as a cornerstone of the American democratic project. In its vigorous defense of students' civil liberties, the Supreme Court has always held public schools to an particularly high standard precisely because they play a unique role in fostering citizens.
This role is not limited to civics instruction; public schools also provide students with crucial exposure to people of different backgrounds and perspectives. Americans have a closer relationship with the public-school system than with any other shared institution. But in the past few decades, we have allowed school system to grow more segregated, both racially and socioeconomically through privatization of such institutions.
Diane Ravich, an esteemed educational policy analyst, writes that "one of the greatest glories of the public school was its success in Americanizing immigrants." At their best, public schools did even more than that, integrating both immigrants and American-born students from a range of backgrounds into one citizenry. As an immigrant who moved to U.S without any prior exposure to its language or culture I can certainly affirm that my public education was a major factor that helped me to become a part of this society.
During times when our media preferences, political affiliations, and cultural tastes seem more disparate than ever, abandoning this amalgamating factor is a real threat to our future. And yet we seem to be headed in just that direction. The story of American public education has generally been one of continuing progress, as girls, children of color, and children with disabilities (among others) have redeemed their constitutional right to push through the schoolhouse gate.
Particularly, the courage that Ruby Nell Bridges displayed as the first black child to attend a white school continues to inspire people. During the process of racial desegregation in the 1960s, this six year-old activist became the first African-American student to integrate a white Southern elementary school, escorted to class by U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. It is noteworthy that the white school Ruby attended for her continued Civil Rights action was a public school. Out of all the school choices she had - charter school, magnet school, private school, or even homeschool - she chose a public school as a battleground to grant equitable education to everyone. This further emphasizes that public schools do not only foster youth to become responsible citizens or forge a common culture from a nation of immigrants; they also play a significant role at reducing inequalities in American society.
In conclusion, in this era of growing fragmentation, we urgently need a renewed commitment to the idea that public education is a worthy investment, one that pays dividends not only to individual families but to our society as a whole.
By Esther S Park
I find the issue of education especially personal, as public education was how I overcame my adversities, I grew up in a financially insecure, immigrant family in which I had many household responsibilities. I translated constantly for my parents, and I was expected to pay for my own financial expenses. However, as soon as I poured my energy into school work, I learned that knowledge was an equal playing field. It didn't matter who I was but only what I knew.
My free twelve years of schooling has allowed me to become a leader, serve others, and find my voice. I keep this constantly in mind, understanding I am beyond lucky to have had a public education. Without this education, I wouldn't be a Northwestern student. I would be a high school dropout, driving for Uber or working at a fast food restaurant like my parents who could not get a privilege to receive public education.
Because education is so important, students of all backgrounds should be able to attend school. Specifically, more focus should be on underprivileged school districts. Furthermore, it is essential to reinstate authority back to the teachers and students. This is to ensure that administrators spearhead education policy instead of uninformed government leaders. What is best for our students should no longer be overshadowed by politics. By listening to the people our legislation most affects, we can make better law.
According to The Atlantic, educators have criticized Trump administration's budget proposal detailing over $9 billion in education cuts, including slashes to funds for after-school programs that serve mostly low-income students. Moreover, these cuts came along with increased funding for school-privatization efforts such as school vouchers. United States Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos has repeatedly gestured her support for school choice and privatization, as well as her disdain for public schools, describing them as a "dead end".
Such cynicism suggests there is no hope for public education. However, this mindset is demonstrably false and even dangerous. Current discussion repeatedly ignores public schools' victories by trivializing their civic role. Our public-education system is about much more than personal achievement; it is about preparing people to work together to advance not just themselves but the whole society. Unfortunately, the current debate's focus on individual rights and choices has distracted many politicians and policy makers from a key stakeholder: our nation as a whole.
The Founding Fathers understood that a healthy democracy required education. Thomas Jefferson, among other historical titans, believed that a functioning democracy required an educated citizenry. Importantly, he viewed education as a public good to be included in the "Articles of public care," despite his personal preference for the private sector in most matters. John Adams, another advocate of public schooling, urged, "There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the expense of the people themselves."
In the centuries since, the courts have consistently affirmed the momentous status of public schools as a cornerstone of the American democratic project. In its vigorous defense of students' civil liberties, the Supreme Court has always held public schools to an particularly high standard precisely because they play a unique role in fostering citizens.
This role is not limited to civics instruction; public schools also provide students with crucial exposure to people of different backgrounds and perspectives. Americans have a closer relationship with the public-school system than with any other shared institution. But in the past few decades, we have allowed school system to grow more segregated, both racially and socioeconomically through privatization of such institutions.
Diane Ravich, an esteemed educational policy analyst, writes that "one of the greatest glories of the public school was its success in Americanizing immigrants." At their best, public schools did even more than that, integrating both immigrants and American-born students from a range of backgrounds into one citizenry. As an immigrant who moved to U.S without any prior exposure to its language or culture I can certainly affirm that my public education was a major factor that helped me to become a part of this society.
During times when our media preferences, political affiliations, and cultural tastes seem more disparate than ever, abandoning this amalgamating factor is a real threat to our future. And yet we seem to be headed in just that direction. The story of American public education has generally been one of continuing progress, as girls, children of color, and children with disabilities (among others) have redeemed their constitutional right to push through the schoolhouse gate.
Particularly, the courage that Ruby Nell Bridges displayed as the first black child to attend a white school continues to inspire people. During the process of racial desegregation in the 1960s, this six year-old activist became the first African-American student to integrate a white Southern elementary school, escorted to class by U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. It is noteworthy that the white school Ruby attended for her continued Civil Rights action was a public school. Out of all the school choices she had - charter school, magnet school, private school, or even homeschool - she chose a public school as a battleground to grant equitable education to everyone. This further emphasizes that public schools do not only foster youth to become responsible citizens or forge a common culture from a nation of immigrants; they also play a significant role at reducing inequalities in American society.
In conclusion, in this era of growing fragmentation, we urgently need a renewed commitment to the idea that public education is a worthy investment, one that pays dividends not only to individual families but to our society as a whole.
By Esther S Park
The Importance of Parent-Teacher Partnership and Collaboration
Nowadays, schools and home seem to be in a constant argument about whose responsibility the child's behavior is. In as much as values are first learned in the home; educators should not discount that the students spend more of their most active hours in school. Hence, the school values have great impact on the students too. It is a two-way street nurturing the student. The responsibility of children's behavior is a partnership and a collaboration between parents and school.
Parents have a unique contribution to make in their children's schooling. They have a different idea of the child than that of the teachers'. The parents know the child's history: physical, medical and social. They know the role the child plays in their home. The parents have knowledge of the significant person the child interacts with. They also have foremost idea on what makes the child happy or sad.
Teachers however, bring in a different perspective as a child development professional who aptly knows the norm-accepted milestones and appropriate behaviors of children. They see how these children interact and behave with peers. They are also able to see and observe the children in a more open and non-biased manner. Teachers may also be resource people to link the parents to services their children may need; psychologist, audiologist, therapists et.al.
It is time to shun the blame-game. A true parent-teacher partnership and collaboration begins with recognizing the strengths that each party may offer. By pooling and sharing this knowledge, they become more equip in helping the child develop into his utmost potential. Generally, parents today express their desire to learn best ways to raise their children. They want to learn how to improve their child-rearing skills.Creating a partnership allows the parents to ask the teacher (expert) and makes way for the teacher to mentor seeking and eager parents.
Through close teacher-parent partnership and collaboration, parents can find ways to become more efficient as parents and as teachers to their children. Parents are children's teachers too. They teach by word, by all they say and do, they teach by example. The close relationship helps parent see that their everyday experiences with their children give teachable moments, opportunity for learning and education. It helps parent realize their share of responsibility in rearing the school-aged children. Teachers can keep parents informed of the children's development; beyond the academic markings and scores. Teachers and schools should offer better feedback about the child's development; emphasizing that schooling is beyond academic markings. Parents learn to appreciate their children's abilities and social character which the child is unable to express inside the home.
Furthermore, parents who gain meaningful partnerships and collaboration with the teachers feel more important. It diminishes their isolation and anxiety in child-rearing.
When parents and teachers collaborate and create a partnership, the teachers and school gain and foster a deep trust with parents too. Parents become more willing to take part and share their time and resources. Often, the school as a community evolves as the teacher-parent partnership is fostered.
But most importantly, the children benefit from all this. The visibility and atmosphere of mutual partnership brings to the children a sense of belonging and hence shows more progress for the children. Children learn through example on how partnerships and collaborations can be maximized. Children learn to take responsibilities for themselves and shun the blaming others or pointing fingers for failures. They become accepting of their failures, in as much as they celebrate their successes. Through partnership and collaboration among parents and the school system; children envision a society of responsibility, initiative and action. We then, are able to rear our children to be synergistic parts of the community, our societies and our country as well.
Experienced Special Education Professional with a demonstrated history of working in the individual and family services industry. Skilled in Assessment of Special Children, Behavior Coaching, Family and Support Group Facilitation, Program Development for children with special needs, Teaching different age groups. Strong education professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Special Education and Teaching (30 units) from University of the Philippine, Diliman.. Also a former educator for the De La Salle Philippines, Inc. A woman enjoying the roller-coaster ride of motherhood.
That is a beautiful occupation. And since it is beautiful, it is truly useful. (The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
http://www.hermommyteacher.com
**Motherhood is beautiful, you are on a never ending pursuit learning to educate your children as their best first teachers.**
By Christine P. Garay, LPT
Parents have a unique contribution to make in their children's schooling. They have a different idea of the child than that of the teachers'. The parents know the child's history: physical, medical and social. They know the role the child plays in their home. The parents have knowledge of the significant person the child interacts with. They also have foremost idea on what makes the child happy or sad.
Teachers however, bring in a different perspective as a child development professional who aptly knows the norm-accepted milestones and appropriate behaviors of children. They see how these children interact and behave with peers. They are also able to see and observe the children in a more open and non-biased manner. Teachers may also be resource people to link the parents to services their children may need; psychologist, audiologist, therapists et.al.
It is time to shun the blame-game. A true parent-teacher partnership and collaboration begins with recognizing the strengths that each party may offer. By pooling and sharing this knowledge, they become more equip in helping the child develop into his utmost potential. Generally, parents today express their desire to learn best ways to raise their children. They want to learn how to improve their child-rearing skills.Creating a partnership allows the parents to ask the teacher (expert) and makes way for the teacher to mentor seeking and eager parents.
Through close teacher-parent partnership and collaboration, parents can find ways to become more efficient as parents and as teachers to their children. Parents are children's teachers too. They teach by word, by all they say and do, they teach by example. The close relationship helps parent see that their everyday experiences with their children give teachable moments, opportunity for learning and education. It helps parent realize their share of responsibility in rearing the school-aged children. Teachers can keep parents informed of the children's development; beyond the academic markings and scores. Teachers and schools should offer better feedback about the child's development; emphasizing that schooling is beyond academic markings. Parents learn to appreciate their children's abilities and social character which the child is unable to express inside the home.
Furthermore, parents who gain meaningful partnerships and collaboration with the teachers feel more important. It diminishes their isolation and anxiety in child-rearing.
When parents and teachers collaborate and create a partnership, the teachers and school gain and foster a deep trust with parents too. Parents become more willing to take part and share their time and resources. Often, the school as a community evolves as the teacher-parent partnership is fostered.
But most importantly, the children benefit from all this. The visibility and atmosphere of mutual partnership brings to the children a sense of belonging and hence shows more progress for the children. Children learn through example on how partnerships and collaborations can be maximized. Children learn to take responsibilities for themselves and shun the blaming others or pointing fingers for failures. They become accepting of their failures, in as much as they celebrate their successes. Through partnership and collaboration among parents and the school system; children envision a society of responsibility, initiative and action. We then, are able to rear our children to be synergistic parts of the community, our societies and our country as well.
Experienced Special Education Professional with a demonstrated history of working in the individual and family services industry. Skilled in Assessment of Special Children, Behavior Coaching, Family and Support Group Facilitation, Program Development for children with special needs, Teaching different age groups. Strong education professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Special Education and Teaching (30 units) from University of the Philippine, Diliman.. Also a former educator for the De La Salle Philippines, Inc. A woman enjoying the roller-coaster ride of motherhood.
That is a beautiful occupation. And since it is beautiful, it is truly useful. (The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
http://www.hermommyteacher.com
**Motherhood is beautiful, you are on a never ending pursuit learning to educate your children as their best first teachers.**
By Christine P. Garay, LPT
How to Improve Team Culture and Attitude
The three musts that coaches must do to improve a team culture. Those three things are getting the players to buy in to the system, creating an accepting environment, and establishing a hard-working expectation.
Getting players to buy into the coach's system can be a delicate process when it comes to college level athletics. This can be the case because players come from all around the country and have been coached by different coaches their entire life. We'll use baseball as example. Today, majority of baseball players are products of individual hitting coaches, infield coaches, or pitching coaches and these coaches believe their style is the best style. These players buy into these coach's philosophies because it got them to the college level. Now, college coaches want to change something about a player and the players are reluctant to change because their college coach's ideas are not the same as their hitting coach or pitching coach growing up. For coaches to get their players to buy in they must get the players to understand why the system runs the way it does. The coaches need to have a meeting with the players and explain to them that we do these drills because it aids in "X"and then that "X" will help us become better players. If players do not understand why they are doing what they are doing, then they have no chance of buying to what the coach believes. Another thing coaches need to do is to show their players successful results because of the system they run. They should show the current players successful stats and videos of old players that played for them. For a new coach, they should show them stats and videos of teams that run similar systems to what the new coach is trying to implement. My head coach at ISU has a meeting at the beginning of each year and tells us the new drills we will be doing and explains what each drill helps. This helps my teammates trust my coach and it creates a sense of trust between players knowing that everyone is on the same page working towards the same goal.
An accepting environment is important to a player's learning and development. A player that feels threatened and unimportant are far more likely to fail than they are to succeed. A player in a safe and accepting environment will be open to new ideas and will bounce back from failure quicker because they know if they fail for trying, they will not be punished, but praised for trying. One way to create an accepting environment is by being a supportive leader rather than an achievement oriented leader. A leader that emphasizes results rather than the process can created unneeded pressure on players. Baseball is a game where failure happens a lot more than success. A coach that preaches getting a hit every time will make a player press more and more each game. This will make a player tense up in in-game situations because the player knows that if he doesn't get a hit then he will be punished or yelled at. A coach that preaches hitting the ball hard no matter if it's a hit or an out will make players feel more comfortable in the batter's box, which will lead to more hard hit balls, which will eventually end up with more hits for the team. The process is much more valuable in baseball than the results.
Establishing a hardworking environment is vital to a high performing team and culture. Baseball is known not to be a power sport, but rather a finesse sport. This may have some truth to it, but it is very important to have strength to play at a very high level. The weight room is an important place for a baseball player to work hard, but it is also a very easy place for a player to be lazy and not take seriously. Making sure your players are going 100 percent in the weight room is a must to establishing a hardworking environment. The coach must find ways to motivate their players in one way or another. The coach can do this by setting goals for each player every couple of weeks. An example of this would be testing their squat max at the beginning of the season and then testing their squat max at the end of the season to make sure they have gained power. If their squat has not improved, then there will be a punishment for the player. If a hard-working environment is set in the weight room, it will also transfer over to the ball field. Players will feel too invested to the process to just go 50 percent at the field. Another thing to do to create a hard-working environment is to make sure the game is played the right way. This includes making players sprint in and off the field in-between innings. This includes making players run 100 percent on the base paths whether it's a for sure hit or a for sure out and when players don't obey these simple rules then they will be punished. This will create a hard-nosed mentality which will aid in the culture.
By Derek Parola
Getting players to buy into the coach's system can be a delicate process when it comes to college level athletics. This can be the case because players come from all around the country and have been coached by different coaches their entire life. We'll use baseball as example. Today, majority of baseball players are products of individual hitting coaches, infield coaches, or pitching coaches and these coaches believe their style is the best style. These players buy into these coach's philosophies because it got them to the college level. Now, college coaches want to change something about a player and the players are reluctant to change because their college coach's ideas are not the same as their hitting coach or pitching coach growing up. For coaches to get their players to buy in they must get the players to understand why the system runs the way it does. The coaches need to have a meeting with the players and explain to them that we do these drills because it aids in "X"and then that "X" will help us become better players. If players do not understand why they are doing what they are doing, then they have no chance of buying to what the coach believes. Another thing coaches need to do is to show their players successful results because of the system they run. They should show the current players successful stats and videos of old players that played for them. For a new coach, they should show them stats and videos of teams that run similar systems to what the new coach is trying to implement. My head coach at ISU has a meeting at the beginning of each year and tells us the new drills we will be doing and explains what each drill helps. This helps my teammates trust my coach and it creates a sense of trust between players knowing that everyone is on the same page working towards the same goal.
An accepting environment is important to a player's learning and development. A player that feels threatened and unimportant are far more likely to fail than they are to succeed. A player in a safe and accepting environment will be open to new ideas and will bounce back from failure quicker because they know if they fail for trying, they will not be punished, but praised for trying. One way to create an accepting environment is by being a supportive leader rather than an achievement oriented leader. A leader that emphasizes results rather than the process can created unneeded pressure on players. Baseball is a game where failure happens a lot more than success. A coach that preaches getting a hit every time will make a player press more and more each game. This will make a player tense up in in-game situations because the player knows that if he doesn't get a hit then he will be punished or yelled at. A coach that preaches hitting the ball hard no matter if it's a hit or an out will make players feel more comfortable in the batter's box, which will lead to more hard hit balls, which will eventually end up with more hits for the team. The process is much more valuable in baseball than the results.
Establishing a hardworking environment is vital to a high performing team and culture. Baseball is known not to be a power sport, but rather a finesse sport. This may have some truth to it, but it is very important to have strength to play at a very high level. The weight room is an important place for a baseball player to work hard, but it is also a very easy place for a player to be lazy and not take seriously. Making sure your players are going 100 percent in the weight room is a must to establishing a hardworking environment. The coach must find ways to motivate their players in one way or another. The coach can do this by setting goals for each player every couple of weeks. An example of this would be testing their squat max at the beginning of the season and then testing their squat max at the end of the season to make sure they have gained power. If their squat has not improved, then there will be a punishment for the player. If a hard-working environment is set in the weight room, it will also transfer over to the ball field. Players will feel too invested to the process to just go 50 percent at the field. Another thing to do to create a hard-working environment is to make sure the game is played the right way. This includes making players sprint in and off the field in-between innings. This includes making players run 100 percent on the base paths whether it's a for sure hit or a for sure out and when players don't obey these simple rules then they will be punished. This will create a hard-nosed mentality which will aid in the culture.
By Derek Parola
The Harsh Life of a Construction Worker
In a sudden or intermittent rush, I started to see the things the changing around me. His dusty hands cautiously swept across his sunburnt skin, pale and sweat banded that this last piece of food item which I had duly handed over to him and him who had taken it as graciously as I had given, saw it as the last attempt to fulfil his wishes something of what he couldn't be deprived of. Even after living his share of life as a construction worker and above all a fanatic blasphemer who wouldn't forget to cast his usual imprecations.
I saw him when he had slid the two piece of laddu carefully wrapped and deposited in his pockets just before when he was splashing the mortar with his trowel over the courses of brick joints.
Beneath him I could sense the hint of smile his face had started to reveal upon, but I had better not ask something I knew too much about through talks or his regular pleadings to let go off when he was aware that he had given the word and as a father had made it a rule to follow more as a moral duty than a physiological burden.
The next moment he had stacked the two soft grained sweets neatly stacking them one over the other and under the weight of the overlying inverted curvature sweet the two had crumbled to pieces falling over the piece of cemented earth.
When I looked at him, he didn't say a word against it not even mumbled or went on giving his imprecations that were so natural and habitual with his internal growth as a man who would follow him everywhere and anywhere. He just wiped off the remains and carried on laying the next course of the bricks.
There are millions like him who you can see working at factories rails roadways, mobile homes and trailer park, there are a few problems in this world which you can address and ask solutions for, but there are some for which you can only pass a big sigh, some may call it a physiological response from the others but for me it's the product of their bad the inability of a father to fulfil the promises given to his daughter of what they want.
These things have changed the way I have begun to look at these people; somehow I now look at then with a feeling of pity and kindness they are clearly the less fortunate men perhaps the dear God has made them in such a way that they are a million times stronger than us both mentally and physically and that is what I would like to say to the others about them they must be treated like humans.
By Swapnil Upadhyay
I saw him when he had slid the two piece of laddu carefully wrapped and deposited in his pockets just before when he was splashing the mortar with his trowel over the courses of brick joints.
Beneath him I could sense the hint of smile his face had started to reveal upon, but I had better not ask something I knew too much about through talks or his regular pleadings to let go off when he was aware that he had given the word and as a father had made it a rule to follow more as a moral duty than a physiological burden.
The next moment he had stacked the two soft grained sweets neatly stacking them one over the other and under the weight of the overlying inverted curvature sweet the two had crumbled to pieces falling over the piece of cemented earth.
When I looked at him, he didn't say a word against it not even mumbled or went on giving his imprecations that were so natural and habitual with his internal growth as a man who would follow him everywhere and anywhere. He just wiped off the remains and carried on laying the next course of the bricks.
There are millions like him who you can see working at factories rails roadways, mobile homes and trailer park, there are a few problems in this world which you can address and ask solutions for, but there are some for which you can only pass a big sigh, some may call it a physiological response from the others but for me it's the product of their bad the inability of a father to fulfil the promises given to his daughter of what they want.
These things have changed the way I have begun to look at these people; somehow I now look at then with a feeling of pity and kindness they are clearly the less fortunate men perhaps the dear God has made them in such a way that they are a million times stronger than us both mentally and physically and that is what I would like to say to the others about them they must be treated like humans.
By Swapnil Upadhyay
Why Stories of TCU Minority Students Should Invoke Change
I came to Texas Christian University from a relatively small town between San Antonio and Austin called Seguin, Texas. The majority of Seguin's population is Hispanic or Latino, as was the high school that I attended, and most of my friends back home are Hispanic. Now contrast that with our student body at TCU, which is approximately 75% Caucasian- it would be an understatement to say that was a bit of a culture shock to me. In fact, I clearly remember touring the campus for the first time and saying to my dad, "Man, this place is really white."
Now, I am by no means implying that there is anything inherently wrong with a student body that is primarily white, just as I had no problem living in a hometown that was mostly Hispanic/Latino. But think about it this way: I am white, and I went through a bit of a culture shock when I arrived at TCU. I am not part of any minority, but rather part of the overwhelming majority, and the transition was still strange for me. So if it was difficult for me, then for many of the students of color here on campus, dealing with this setting must be infinitely more difficult.
The recent email sent out by our chancellor and the subsequent articles posted by TCU360 discuss potential steps the administration is considering to make TCU a better place to live and work for students of color. These steps have garnered criticism from other students who think that they're unnecessary. Here's my problem with that- the implication in disagreeing with the steps specified by the chancellor is that you think everything is fine, and that we should just leave things the way they are. I've heard things like, "If they [they being students of color at TCU] aren't happy with the way things are, they should just leave." Hearing a quote like this should a blatantly obvious warning sign that everything is not, in fact, fine.
If you dig into the hashtag #BeingMinorityatTCU, which was trending the night after all this information came out, you will quickly realize that we have deep-rooted problems here on campus that need attention. The fact that students of color are being questioned by others who can't believe they got accepted here solely on their academics? That's a problem. The fact that students of color have cried or fallen into depression because they feel like they scare or intimidate those around them? That's a problem. The fact that any time students of color complain or protest against these injustices, they're told to stop acting like victims and appreciate their very presence here? That's a problem. All of the stories coming out as a result of this hashtag, and more, illustrate the need for action on our campus; yet there is serious pushback from students who either don't support making life better for students of color or don't believe doing so is necessary.
I think the negative reactions surrounding our chancellor's attempts to hear the opinions of students of color and to make life better for them goes back to a fundamental misunderstanding that has been illustrated on a broader scale by opponents of the Black Lives Matter movement. This is by no means implying that I am equating Black Lives Matter and their actions to what students of color at TCU are trying to accomplish, but there are some obvious parallels in the negative responses both groups have received. Opponents of BLM argue that all lives matter, and that we should focus on making life better for everyone. However, this argument is based on a fundamental untruth- that the lives of minorities are equally as good as the lives of the majority, or more specifically to Black Lives Matter, that African-Americans are already treated the same as Caucasians. But are they? If Terence Crutcher or Tamir Rice were still alive today, I feel confident that they would disagree. If Michael Brown or Keith Lamont Scott were still with us, I doubt they would think they received fair treatment. And on the TCU campus, I doubt any of the students of color being vocal about the injustices and judgement they've suffered feel they're given an equal footing.
And that's really all the students who met with the chancellor about these issues are trying to accomplish- fair and equal treatment for themselves and any other students of color that live, work or study on campus. I don't see anything that leads me to believe they want to vault themselves ahead of the majority of the campus, or use their status as a crutch to get what they want. They simply want to be treated the same as I am, and I think that's something that we should all strive to achieve. I support every effort aimed at promoting equality both at Texas Christian University and worldwide, and I think that is something that we all have a moral and ethical obligation to do.
Nicholas P. Stephens
TCU Class of 2019
Now, I am by no means implying that there is anything inherently wrong with a student body that is primarily white, just as I had no problem living in a hometown that was mostly Hispanic/Latino. But think about it this way: I am white, and I went through a bit of a culture shock when I arrived at TCU. I am not part of any minority, but rather part of the overwhelming majority, and the transition was still strange for me. So if it was difficult for me, then for many of the students of color here on campus, dealing with this setting must be infinitely more difficult.
The recent email sent out by our chancellor and the subsequent articles posted by TCU360 discuss potential steps the administration is considering to make TCU a better place to live and work for students of color. These steps have garnered criticism from other students who think that they're unnecessary. Here's my problem with that- the implication in disagreeing with the steps specified by the chancellor is that you think everything is fine, and that we should just leave things the way they are. I've heard things like, "If they [they being students of color at TCU] aren't happy with the way things are, they should just leave." Hearing a quote like this should a blatantly obvious warning sign that everything is not, in fact, fine.
If you dig into the hashtag #BeingMinorityatTCU, which was trending the night after all this information came out, you will quickly realize that we have deep-rooted problems here on campus that need attention. The fact that students of color are being questioned by others who can't believe they got accepted here solely on their academics? That's a problem. The fact that students of color have cried or fallen into depression because they feel like they scare or intimidate those around them? That's a problem. The fact that any time students of color complain or protest against these injustices, they're told to stop acting like victims and appreciate their very presence here? That's a problem. All of the stories coming out as a result of this hashtag, and more, illustrate the need for action on our campus; yet there is serious pushback from students who either don't support making life better for students of color or don't believe doing so is necessary.
I think the negative reactions surrounding our chancellor's attempts to hear the opinions of students of color and to make life better for them goes back to a fundamental misunderstanding that has been illustrated on a broader scale by opponents of the Black Lives Matter movement. This is by no means implying that I am equating Black Lives Matter and their actions to what students of color at TCU are trying to accomplish, but there are some obvious parallels in the negative responses both groups have received. Opponents of BLM argue that all lives matter, and that we should focus on making life better for everyone. However, this argument is based on a fundamental untruth- that the lives of minorities are equally as good as the lives of the majority, or more specifically to Black Lives Matter, that African-Americans are already treated the same as Caucasians. But are they? If Terence Crutcher or Tamir Rice were still alive today, I feel confident that they would disagree. If Michael Brown or Keith Lamont Scott were still with us, I doubt they would think they received fair treatment. And on the TCU campus, I doubt any of the students of color being vocal about the injustices and judgement they've suffered feel they're given an equal footing.
And that's really all the students who met with the chancellor about these issues are trying to accomplish- fair and equal treatment for themselves and any other students of color that live, work or study on campus. I don't see anything that leads me to believe they want to vault themselves ahead of the majority of the campus, or use their status as a crutch to get what they want. They simply want to be treated the same as I am, and I think that's something that we should all strive to achieve. I support every effort aimed at promoting equality both at Texas Christian University and worldwide, and I think that is something that we all have a moral and ethical obligation to do.
Nicholas P. Stephens
TCU Class of 2019
Food Awareness For A Healthy Life
As the old age goes' you are what you eat', eating healthy defines our health and wellness to a large extent. Unfortunately, for many of us eating healthy and maintaining body weight is a never ending struggle. Many people choose to follow crash diets that are potentially dangerous to our health. Others try to focus more on exercise routines than their diet. Both the approaches are not beneficial for losing weight or gaining muscle. What is needed is a healthy diet that can balance the nutritional needs of our body and support our exercise routines to provide optimum results.
Though people have an idea of what comprises a healthy diet the lure of junk food is hard to resist. As per a recent research results, approximately $190 billion is spent on fast food alone annually in the United States. Another survey conducted on trends of obesity in America by University of Oxford and University of Columbia reveals that by 2030 half of the America will be obese and by 2048 obesity could be the most common disease in the country.
We cannot follow diet plans that worked for others because what works for them may not help us. For weight loss or weight gain programs, diet plans must be individualized. For instance, for losing weight successfully, one can cut down on the calories with a balanced diet plan along with an effective exercise routine. Alternatively for weight gain one can resort to healthy carbs-diet with weight training routine.
The diet plans should be discussed with your physician, nutritionist and fitness trainer to tailor the diet plan for specific and individual needs.
Diet plans for weight loss
Diet plans for weight gain
Whether you are trying to lose weight or gain few pounds following healthy options for daily diet can be very beneficial for long-term results:
Food awareness is extremely essential to improve and safeguard our health. Though healthy diet is not easy to follow it is achievable and we need to know what we are consuming and how much we consume so that our weight loss or weight gain programs can be successful and we manage a healthy weight and thus a healthy lifestyle.
Though people have an idea of what comprises a healthy diet the lure of junk food is hard to resist. As per a recent research results, approximately $190 billion is spent on fast food alone annually in the United States. Another survey conducted on trends of obesity in America by University of Oxford and University of Columbia reveals that by 2030 half of the America will be obese and by 2048 obesity could be the most common disease in the country.
We cannot follow diet plans that worked for others because what works for them may not help us. For weight loss or weight gain programs, diet plans must be individualized. For instance, for losing weight successfully, one can cut down on the calories with a balanced diet plan along with an effective exercise routine. Alternatively for weight gain one can resort to healthy carbs-diet with weight training routine.
The diet plans should be discussed with your physician, nutritionist and fitness trainer to tailor the diet plan for specific and individual needs.
Diet plans for weight loss
- High-Protein Diet
- Crash-Diets
- Low-Carb Diet
- Fruit and Vegetable Diet
- Weight loss supplements
Diet plans for weight gain
- Healthy Carbs
- Protein rich diet
Whether you are trying to lose weight or gain few pounds following healthy options for daily diet can be very beneficial for long-term results:
- A healthy diet should have fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains.
- It is better to cut down on dairy and consume fat-free food.
- The intake of sodium and sugar should be restricted and for a healthy diet trans fats can be eliminated from the everyday diet.
- It is always good to eat at intervals in small portions to check appetite.
- Eat slowly and avoid binging
- Enjoy and relish the food
- Avoid watching TV or using your phone while eating
- Eat when you are hungry
Food awareness is extremely essential to improve and safeguard our health. Though healthy diet is not easy to follow it is achievable and we need to know what we are consuming and how much we consume so that our weight loss or weight gain programs can be successful and we manage a healthy weight and thus a healthy lifestyle.
Why Is Dairy Inflammatory?
If you've read about dairy at all on the internet, no doubt you will read in countless blogs and articles about how dairy is one of the top 10 inflammatory foods. It's ALWAYS on the list. But why is that? What is it inherently about dairy that makes it so inflammatory. The particular proteins? The processing? The cows themselves? I would imagine many of you have no definitive answer, and yet we believe the inflammatory food lists without even thinking. If you are curious, let's investigate.
Civilizations began drinking the milk of animals between 9000 and 3000 BC, once they were less nomadic and began to farm and raise animals in one location. Mainly it was given to children because, interestingly enough, during those times most adults lacked the enzyme, lactase, to break down milk lactose. Eventually people started making cheeses and curds which reduced the lactose sufficiently for adults to consume. In more recent times a mutation occurred which allows lactase production into adulthood, allowing many adults to consume milk on a regular basis.
Milk production and consumption was quite fortunate, actually, as for many civilizations milk (and fermented beverages like wine) was safer than the questionable water sources. At least this source was non-alcoholic! It also provided a ready source of calories if for any reason food should become scarce.
This milk was, of course, raw and fresh. I am sure there were occasionally issues with hygiene and foodborne illness as there is with any fresh animal product but for the most part, as mentioned previously, it was considered safer than the drinking water. Apart from the occasional illness, however, there does not seem to be the same links between dairy and inflammation that we see today. What changed?
Processing: Pasteurization and Homogenization
One of the first ways we treated milk in modern times for safety reasons was with pasteurization. This was meant as a way to prevent illness and death given the often unsanitary methods of collection, storage and distribution that started to occur in modern times. It wasn't until 1860's that pasteurization was first utilized and it became standard practice in the 1890's.
There are currently several approved methods of pasteurization. The original method was to heat milk to 145 degrees F for 30 minutes. Newer methods use much higher heats for a shorter duration of time. The high-temp, short time method (HTST) sees the milk heated to 161 F for 15 seconds, and the ultra high heat method gets the milk up to 280 F for just a couple of seconds. There are other variations of heat and time as well, but the main point is that the milk is heat treated to kill pathogens. Presumably this is a good thing as no doubt it has prevented deaths from contaminated milk, but we will see that this has some unfortunate consequences as well.
Just like breast milk from humans, the milk from animals is "alive." What do I mean by that? There are delicate proteins, enzymes, immunoglobulins, vitamins and minerals all present in fresh, raw milk. Heat can damage or denature these elements, rendering them inactive or potentially harmful. Every parent knows you cannot heat breast milk or you take away its nourishing properties. When we do this to animal milk, we dramatically reduce its ability to work with our body. It is not the intact fluid it once was. While it still can provide helpful nutrients and protein, it may also be harming our body at the same time.
In an article Dr. Mercola wrote on the very same topic, he noted that first of all heat kills the Vitamin C naturally present in raw milk. It also converts the lactose into another form, called beta lactose, which is more rapidly absorbed and may adversely raise blood glucose levels. Pasteurization also destroys some of the naturally occurring iodine as well as alters the Calcium (the very thing we typically drink it for) into a form that is hard to absorb. Many of the natural enzymes are denatured as well, potentially making it harder to digest. While pasteurization may help keep us from falling ill, it seems to produce a product that is nutritionally inferior. Pros and cons, I guess.
The next way we treat milk is with homogenization. This is not for safety concerns but merely for desired consistency. In its natural state, milk is composed of fat and water. When left to sit, this fat will rise to the top. Once milk became commercialized, this was undesirable, and so manufacturers sought a way to prevent this from occurring. Homogenization was born. There are various mechanical methods to do this, but the end goal is to break up the fat globules and prevent them from clumping together. This practice appears to be harmless, however some have noted that during this process some of the proteins (whey and casein) become reassembled with the fats. It believed that these now protein-heavy fat globules may decrease absorption and increase risk for allergies, however there are few studies to back this up. For now it seems homogenization may be the least of your worries when it comes to milk consumption.
Nutrient Profile
The nutrient profile of milk has also changed over the years. Obviously when humans first began consuming milk, all of the cows were grass fed and raised on open pastures. Nowadays, as we all know, most cows are kept in close confines and fed a varied diet, usually consisting of a mixture of grains, dried grass, and random leftovers such as canola meal, almond husks and citrus pulp. This has an effect on the fats, vitamins and minerals that can be found in the milk we end up consuming.
Grass-fed cows, for example, produce milk that is higher in anti-inflammatory Omega 3's, Vitamin E, beta carotene, phytochemicals/antioxidants and conjugated linoleic acid. Cows that are fed more varied diets produce milk with higher levels of inflammatory fats and lower levels of vitamins and antioxidants. Remember, we are what we eat, and this same saying applies to the cow as well. Now, while grass-fed milk might seem more healthy after saying all of that, remember if its pasteurized, many of these beneficial properties may be neutralized as we discussed previously. Just something to ponder given the plethora of organic and grass-fed milks on the store shelves these days.
Apart from diet, the type of cow can also have a significant impact on the nutrients in the milk. Most dairy cows in the US are of the Holstein variety. This variety in particular tends to produce larger amounts of milk than their cousins and hence has been the cow of choice. However, this brings up the A1 vs A2 debate. The A-what? Apparently all cows originally produced A2 protein in their milk, a type of beta-casein that makes up about 30% of the protein in milk. Several thousand years ago a mutation occurred that changed the beta-casein slightly, which we then dubbed A1. Most of the European dairy cows, including Holstein, predominantly produce A1 proteins. It has been purported by several researchers that A1 milk is harder to digest and has been linked to increases in heart disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and leaky gut syndrome. Whether this is indeed true or not is yet to be proved, but it may be another reason why some people have a harder time with milk products than others.
If you want to look for A2 milk, you are in luck. The Jersey, Guernsey and Normande cows produce mostly A2 milk. Some stores carry these varieties and some milks in other countries are even starting to be labeled as "A2." Personally I have Guernsey cow milk and yogurt in my fridge right now. For someone such as myself with a history of dairy issues, it seems to be, at least for now, more digestible.
Hormones
We likely have all heard about the issues with hormones in cow's milk. But where are those hormones coming from? First, there are natural hormones that pass into the milk from pregnant cows. The later in pregnancy the cow is, the more hormones she passes. One researcher noted that 60-80% of the natural estrogens we consume are from dairy. This can have implications when it comes to cancer. Also, the higher the fat content of the diary product, the higher the amount of estrogens.
In 1993, the FDA approved the use of genetically engineered recombinant growth hormone (rBST) to increase milk yield. Many studies and reviews have shown rBST to be safe, mainly in that it cannot be absorbed by humans via milk consumption. Despite those studies many countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all of the EU have banned it. The main reasons for this involve animal welfare, namely referring to increased illness and infections amongst animals injected with rBST. More antibiotics are then needed, increasing the risk for antibiotic resistance, and these antibiotics may pass into the milk as well. Yet one more thing to consider.
Conclusions? Maybe you, like me, are just as confused as before. The government tells me milk is healthy and beneficial, but health websites are telling me that milk is inflammatory and best avoided... What is one to do?
First, I think it's safe to say that raw milk from grass-fed Guernsey or Jersey cows would be the ideal choice. Of course, there are risks to unpasteurized milk that need to be taken into account. Also there is the problem of finding those types of milk on a regular basis, not to mention the cost. The presence of hormones would also still be a concern. Additionally, even if you find the most perfect milk on the planet, the proteins may still set off your immune system and cause inflammation. Any food can be inflammatory if your immune system chooses to react against it.
The next best choice would be pasteurized milk from organic, grass-fed cows, however again there is potentially an availability issue for some and also cost concerns. Also the allergy issue remains and may even be more of a problem as the milk has lost some of the elements that improves and supports digestion.
The least favored choice would be non-organic, ultra high heat pasteurized milk that is treated with rBST from very pregnant cows (but how would you know this!). Unfortunately, this is the most common milk on the shelf and therefore what most Americans are consuming. This IS inflammatory for all of the reasons described and I would highly recommend to avoid. If this is your calcium source, there are far better ways to get this mineral than milk. Do a quick Google search and you can easily find great lists of non-dairy foods rich in calcium. If you drink milk simply because you like it, try one of the better options discussed above. You may want to drink less of it due to cost, but at least you will be consuming a healthier beverage.
We all have been taught that milk does a body good, but now we know this might not be the case. Do what is right for YOUR body and make your choices regarding dairy accordingly.
Danielle VenHuizen, MS, RD, CLT is a Registered Dietitian who helps her clients achieve health and vitality through food, not pharmaceuticals. She specializes in working with food sensitivities, Diabetes, Cardiovascular health, Digestive Disorders, and healthy pregnancies. For more expert health advice visit her blog at http://www.FoodSense.net.
Civilizations began drinking the milk of animals between 9000 and 3000 BC, once they were less nomadic and began to farm and raise animals in one location. Mainly it was given to children because, interestingly enough, during those times most adults lacked the enzyme, lactase, to break down milk lactose. Eventually people started making cheeses and curds which reduced the lactose sufficiently for adults to consume. In more recent times a mutation occurred which allows lactase production into adulthood, allowing many adults to consume milk on a regular basis.
Milk production and consumption was quite fortunate, actually, as for many civilizations milk (and fermented beverages like wine) was safer than the questionable water sources. At least this source was non-alcoholic! It also provided a ready source of calories if for any reason food should become scarce.
This milk was, of course, raw and fresh. I am sure there were occasionally issues with hygiene and foodborne illness as there is with any fresh animal product but for the most part, as mentioned previously, it was considered safer than the drinking water. Apart from the occasional illness, however, there does not seem to be the same links between dairy and inflammation that we see today. What changed?
Processing: Pasteurization and Homogenization
One of the first ways we treated milk in modern times for safety reasons was with pasteurization. This was meant as a way to prevent illness and death given the often unsanitary methods of collection, storage and distribution that started to occur in modern times. It wasn't until 1860's that pasteurization was first utilized and it became standard practice in the 1890's.
There are currently several approved methods of pasteurization. The original method was to heat milk to 145 degrees F for 30 minutes. Newer methods use much higher heats for a shorter duration of time. The high-temp, short time method (HTST) sees the milk heated to 161 F for 15 seconds, and the ultra high heat method gets the milk up to 280 F for just a couple of seconds. There are other variations of heat and time as well, but the main point is that the milk is heat treated to kill pathogens. Presumably this is a good thing as no doubt it has prevented deaths from contaminated milk, but we will see that this has some unfortunate consequences as well.
Just like breast milk from humans, the milk from animals is "alive." What do I mean by that? There are delicate proteins, enzymes, immunoglobulins, vitamins and minerals all present in fresh, raw milk. Heat can damage or denature these elements, rendering them inactive or potentially harmful. Every parent knows you cannot heat breast milk or you take away its nourishing properties. When we do this to animal milk, we dramatically reduce its ability to work with our body. It is not the intact fluid it once was. While it still can provide helpful nutrients and protein, it may also be harming our body at the same time.
In an article Dr. Mercola wrote on the very same topic, he noted that first of all heat kills the Vitamin C naturally present in raw milk. It also converts the lactose into another form, called beta lactose, which is more rapidly absorbed and may adversely raise blood glucose levels. Pasteurization also destroys some of the naturally occurring iodine as well as alters the Calcium (the very thing we typically drink it for) into a form that is hard to absorb. Many of the natural enzymes are denatured as well, potentially making it harder to digest. While pasteurization may help keep us from falling ill, it seems to produce a product that is nutritionally inferior. Pros and cons, I guess.
The next way we treat milk is with homogenization. This is not for safety concerns but merely for desired consistency. In its natural state, milk is composed of fat and water. When left to sit, this fat will rise to the top. Once milk became commercialized, this was undesirable, and so manufacturers sought a way to prevent this from occurring. Homogenization was born. There are various mechanical methods to do this, but the end goal is to break up the fat globules and prevent them from clumping together. This practice appears to be harmless, however some have noted that during this process some of the proteins (whey and casein) become reassembled with the fats. It believed that these now protein-heavy fat globules may decrease absorption and increase risk for allergies, however there are few studies to back this up. For now it seems homogenization may be the least of your worries when it comes to milk consumption.
Nutrient Profile
The nutrient profile of milk has also changed over the years. Obviously when humans first began consuming milk, all of the cows were grass fed and raised on open pastures. Nowadays, as we all know, most cows are kept in close confines and fed a varied diet, usually consisting of a mixture of grains, dried grass, and random leftovers such as canola meal, almond husks and citrus pulp. This has an effect on the fats, vitamins and minerals that can be found in the milk we end up consuming.
Grass-fed cows, for example, produce milk that is higher in anti-inflammatory Omega 3's, Vitamin E, beta carotene, phytochemicals/antioxidants and conjugated linoleic acid. Cows that are fed more varied diets produce milk with higher levels of inflammatory fats and lower levels of vitamins and antioxidants. Remember, we are what we eat, and this same saying applies to the cow as well. Now, while grass-fed milk might seem more healthy after saying all of that, remember if its pasteurized, many of these beneficial properties may be neutralized as we discussed previously. Just something to ponder given the plethora of organic and grass-fed milks on the store shelves these days.
Apart from diet, the type of cow can also have a significant impact on the nutrients in the milk. Most dairy cows in the US are of the Holstein variety. This variety in particular tends to produce larger amounts of milk than their cousins and hence has been the cow of choice. However, this brings up the A1 vs A2 debate. The A-what? Apparently all cows originally produced A2 protein in their milk, a type of beta-casein that makes up about 30% of the protein in milk. Several thousand years ago a mutation occurred that changed the beta-casein slightly, which we then dubbed A1. Most of the European dairy cows, including Holstein, predominantly produce A1 proteins. It has been purported by several researchers that A1 milk is harder to digest and has been linked to increases in heart disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and leaky gut syndrome. Whether this is indeed true or not is yet to be proved, but it may be another reason why some people have a harder time with milk products than others.
If you want to look for A2 milk, you are in luck. The Jersey, Guernsey and Normande cows produce mostly A2 milk. Some stores carry these varieties and some milks in other countries are even starting to be labeled as "A2." Personally I have Guernsey cow milk and yogurt in my fridge right now. For someone such as myself with a history of dairy issues, it seems to be, at least for now, more digestible.
Hormones
We likely have all heard about the issues with hormones in cow's milk. But where are those hormones coming from? First, there are natural hormones that pass into the milk from pregnant cows. The later in pregnancy the cow is, the more hormones she passes. One researcher noted that 60-80% of the natural estrogens we consume are from dairy. This can have implications when it comes to cancer. Also, the higher the fat content of the diary product, the higher the amount of estrogens.
In 1993, the FDA approved the use of genetically engineered recombinant growth hormone (rBST) to increase milk yield. Many studies and reviews have shown rBST to be safe, mainly in that it cannot be absorbed by humans via milk consumption. Despite those studies many countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all of the EU have banned it. The main reasons for this involve animal welfare, namely referring to increased illness and infections amongst animals injected with rBST. More antibiotics are then needed, increasing the risk for antibiotic resistance, and these antibiotics may pass into the milk as well. Yet one more thing to consider.
Conclusions? Maybe you, like me, are just as confused as before. The government tells me milk is healthy and beneficial, but health websites are telling me that milk is inflammatory and best avoided... What is one to do?
First, I think it's safe to say that raw milk from grass-fed Guernsey or Jersey cows would be the ideal choice. Of course, there are risks to unpasteurized milk that need to be taken into account. Also there is the problem of finding those types of milk on a regular basis, not to mention the cost. The presence of hormones would also still be a concern. Additionally, even if you find the most perfect milk on the planet, the proteins may still set off your immune system and cause inflammation. Any food can be inflammatory if your immune system chooses to react against it.
The next best choice would be pasteurized milk from organic, grass-fed cows, however again there is potentially an availability issue for some and also cost concerns. Also the allergy issue remains and may even be more of a problem as the milk has lost some of the elements that improves and supports digestion.
The least favored choice would be non-organic, ultra high heat pasteurized milk that is treated with rBST from very pregnant cows (but how would you know this!). Unfortunately, this is the most common milk on the shelf and therefore what most Americans are consuming. This IS inflammatory for all of the reasons described and I would highly recommend to avoid. If this is your calcium source, there are far better ways to get this mineral than milk. Do a quick Google search and you can easily find great lists of non-dairy foods rich in calcium. If you drink milk simply because you like it, try one of the better options discussed above. You may want to drink less of it due to cost, but at least you will be consuming a healthier beverage.
We all have been taught that milk does a body good, but now we know this might not be the case. Do what is right for YOUR body and make your choices regarding dairy accordingly.
Danielle VenHuizen, MS, RD, CLT is a Registered Dietitian who helps her clients achieve health and vitality through food, not pharmaceuticals. She specializes in working with food sensitivities, Diabetes, Cardiovascular health, Digestive Disorders, and healthy pregnancies. For more expert health advice visit her blog at http://www.FoodSense.net.
The Role of Technology in Education
In the current age we live in, technology has become an important component. Every day there is some new gadget or software that makes lives easier and improves on the technology and software that already exists. Making lives easier is not, however, the only role technology plays in our lives.
Technology is playing an increasing role in education. As technology advances, it is used to benefit students of all ages in the learning process.
Technology used in the classroom helps students adsorb the material. For example, since some people are visual learners, projection screens linked to computers can allow students to see their notes instead of simply listening to a teacher deliver a lecture.
Software can be used to supplement class curriculum. The programs provide study questions, activities, and even tests and quizzes for a class that can help students continue learning outside the classroom.
Technology has also become part of many curriculums, even outside of computer and technology classes. Students use computers to create presentations and use the Internet to research topics for papers and essays.
Students also learn to use the technology available to them in computer and tech classes. This ensures that after graduation they will be able to use the technology in a work setting, which may put them ahead of someone who didn't have access to a particular technology or software in their own school setting.
As technology advances, students have better access to educational opportunities like these. When something new and "better" is revealed, the "older" technology becomes more affordable, allowing it to be used in educational settings, even when schools are on a tight budget.
Technology has also advanced to help children even before they've started school. Educational video games and systems for young children helps them prepare for school and in some cases get a head start on their education.
There are people who may say children are "spoiled" by technology. Instead of being able to add a long column of numbers in their heads, for example, they turn to a calculator. Regardless of these arguments, technology is an important part of today's society. By incorporating it into the classroom, students will be better equipped to transition from the classroom to the work place.
For more information about technology, software, and gadgets, be sure to visit www.techno-blogger.com [http://www.techno-blogger.com] for the latest products, videos, and information.
Technology is playing an increasing role in education. As technology advances, it is used to benefit students of all ages in the learning process.
Technology used in the classroom helps students adsorb the material. For example, since some people are visual learners, projection screens linked to computers can allow students to see their notes instead of simply listening to a teacher deliver a lecture.
Software can be used to supplement class curriculum. The programs provide study questions, activities, and even tests and quizzes for a class that can help students continue learning outside the classroom.
Technology has also become part of many curriculums, even outside of computer and technology classes. Students use computers to create presentations and use the Internet to research topics for papers and essays.
Students also learn to use the technology available to them in computer and tech classes. This ensures that after graduation they will be able to use the technology in a work setting, which may put them ahead of someone who didn't have access to a particular technology or software in their own school setting.
As technology advances, students have better access to educational opportunities like these. When something new and "better" is revealed, the "older" technology becomes more affordable, allowing it to be used in educational settings, even when schools are on a tight budget.
Technology has also advanced to help children even before they've started school. Educational video games and systems for young children helps them prepare for school and in some cases get a head start on their education.
There are people who may say children are "spoiled" by technology. Instead of being able to add a long column of numbers in their heads, for example, they turn to a calculator. Regardless of these arguments, technology is an important part of today's society. By incorporating it into the classroom, students will be better equipped to transition from the classroom to the work place.
For more information about technology, software, and gadgets, be sure to visit www.techno-blogger.com [http://www.techno-blogger.com] for the latest products, videos, and information.
Why is Education So Important in Today's Society?
Education is very important. It helps us gain knowledge, information and interpret things correctly. Education teaches us how to lead our lives by mingling in the society and turning out to be good citizens. It makes us capable of interpreting rightly the things perceived. Education teaches us right behavior and makes us civilized people. It forms as a support system to excel in life, to continuously learn and build confidence, to reason everything till every question meets its answer. The conversion of information to knowledge is possible because of education and we also gain intelligence. Higher education influences the economic development of a nation as per the economists.
A person is always judged by good manners he/she has. Education is important as it teaches us to differentiate between good and bad manners and choose the right behavior that cultivates good manners. Good manners are important for kids to develop at a very young age. Kids must learn to be polite, learn telephone etiquette, socialize with other kids and develop values. All this can be taught at home as well as school. Teaching your children good manners creates a foundation for them that will follow them through life.
Education is important because it equips us with all that is needed to make our dreams come true. When we opt for higher education or masters, we need to choose the specialization field of our interest and talents. Most leading courses allow you to study all areas for the first year and to choose a specialization in your second year when you have more exposure and knowledge about these fields. The technical and analytical skills can be well explored in the area of one's interest.
Economic Development and higher education influences the economic development of a nation or a state. Economists hypothesize that the higher education industry is an important part of economic growth and the well being of the nation. The notion that an investment in education and human capital promotes economic growth can be traced to Adam Smith (1776), the Scottish philosopher in his famous study of what constitutes the "wealth of nations", the modern history sourcebook.
A person is always judged by good manners he/she has. Education is important as it teaches us to differentiate between good and bad manners and choose the right behavior that cultivates good manners. Good manners are important for kids to develop at a very young age. Kids must learn to be polite, learn telephone etiquette, socialize with other kids and develop values. All this can be taught at home as well as school. Teaching your children good manners creates a foundation for them that will follow them through life.
Education is important because it equips us with all that is needed to make our dreams come true. When we opt for higher education or masters, we need to choose the specialization field of our interest and talents. Most leading courses allow you to study all areas for the first year and to choose a specialization in your second year when you have more exposure and knowledge about these fields. The technical and analytical skills can be well explored in the area of one's interest.
Economic Development and higher education influences the economic development of a nation or a state. Economists hypothesize that the higher education industry is an important part of economic growth and the well being of the nation. The notion that an investment in education and human capital promotes economic growth can be traced to Adam Smith (1776), the Scottish philosopher in his famous study of what constitutes the "wealth of nations", the modern history sourcebook.
Real Estate For the WIN!
The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article stating that a staggering 95% of Americans will face financial difficulties at retirement. 95% means that only 5% of the US population will retire with dignity and into a lifestyle that they can enjoy with financial freedom. How do you become a part of the exclusive 5%? It doesn't take an economics degree to know that it's not going to happen by saving change in a jar, or sticking money in the bank (nowadays, those 2 are pretty much the same thing except the jar isn't quite as annoying). The reality is that more people have become financially independent through real estate than by any other means. Real estate is without a doubt the most powerful way to build wealth.
Let's consider the options when it comes to building wealth. We can immediately dismiss any jobs or careers. It does not matter what job title you have or what career choice you make, nobody has EVER built true wealth through a job. A job is simply trading hours for dollars and the moment you stop giving your hours, you stop getting the dollars. The job is merely an asset that provides the initial capital to build the wealth.
The next option is the "safe route", things like savings accounts, CD's, bonds and money market accounts. Historically these options barely outpace inflation if they outpace at all. The end result is the equivalent of parking your money somewhere. There is absolutely a place for these engines in your portfolio, but building wealth is not what they are for. I am a fan of Dave Ramsey's analogy of these types of accounts as insurance. You need them and they have a function, but that function is to act as insurance during stormy times so you don't bottom out. They never have and never will build REAL wealth. I defy anyone to show me one millionaire who ever built their wealth from a money market account.
The stock market is always fun... and harrowing, stressful, confusing, etc. The truth is you have no control over the companies you invest in and when losses come, they come big and hard. There are virtually no tax advantages to owning stock either. I'm not saying you should never own any stock, I am merely saying that playing the stock market with your retirement fund is the epitome of risky and has a better than not chance of leaving you broke and sour in your golden years.
Historically, real estate provides reliable, consistent and stronger returns than any other investment. Using the median price for a single family home; a home bought in 1950 for $7,400 would value at $217,000 in 2007. Obviously there will always be fluctuations and dips here and there, but in the end real estate will show a steady appreciation in the long run.
If you ask 100 random people over the age of 50 what was the best investment they ever made, I would almost guarantee that the vast majority of them would say their home. I'll also be willing to bet that if they could do it all over they would try and buy a few more.
Here's a thought experiment. If you were to purchase a $125,000 home today with an investment of $15,000 and rent it out simply to break even on the mortgage, tax and insurance payment; at a conservative 4% appreciation on a 30 year note that home would be worth $405,000. That's a $280,000 profit on a $15,000 investment, not too shabby. Retirement wouldn't be too bad with that little $15,000 investment.
The concept of leverage allows you to take advantage of owning something worth of 15 times your initial investment and still be able to capitalize on 100% of the appreciation of that asset.
I can hear you now saying, "that's awesome... but 30 years is too long to wait to retire". Well, there are lots of solutions to that in real estate. Let' go with the simplest option which involves paying your loan off early by paying a little extra each month (again something you can build into the monthly rent while you are renting out your property).
Let's break down our $125,000 home from the example above and see what happens when we pay just a little more each year on the loan. Note that this is the extra payment per year.
If you were to make an additional $1,000 payment per year that same loan would be paid off in 22.5 years!
An extra $2,500 per year pays it off in just 17 years.
And finally, an extra $5,000 per year (scenario #1) pays it off in only 12.3 years.
Loan scenario 2 is barely over $100 a month in extra payment.
Of course there is nothing stopping you from repeating this scenario over and over until you quickly find yourself with the title of "real estate guru" and all of your friends wonder how you did it. It all started with 1 choice to invest in 1 property and then...
Mikel K Smith
Let's consider the options when it comes to building wealth. We can immediately dismiss any jobs or careers. It does not matter what job title you have or what career choice you make, nobody has EVER built true wealth through a job. A job is simply trading hours for dollars and the moment you stop giving your hours, you stop getting the dollars. The job is merely an asset that provides the initial capital to build the wealth.
The next option is the "safe route", things like savings accounts, CD's, bonds and money market accounts. Historically these options barely outpace inflation if they outpace at all. The end result is the equivalent of parking your money somewhere. There is absolutely a place for these engines in your portfolio, but building wealth is not what they are for. I am a fan of Dave Ramsey's analogy of these types of accounts as insurance. You need them and they have a function, but that function is to act as insurance during stormy times so you don't bottom out. They never have and never will build REAL wealth. I defy anyone to show me one millionaire who ever built their wealth from a money market account.
The stock market is always fun... and harrowing, stressful, confusing, etc. The truth is you have no control over the companies you invest in and when losses come, they come big and hard. There are virtually no tax advantages to owning stock either. I'm not saying you should never own any stock, I am merely saying that playing the stock market with your retirement fund is the epitome of risky and has a better than not chance of leaving you broke and sour in your golden years.
Historically, real estate provides reliable, consistent and stronger returns than any other investment. Using the median price for a single family home; a home bought in 1950 for $7,400 would value at $217,000 in 2007. Obviously there will always be fluctuations and dips here and there, but in the end real estate will show a steady appreciation in the long run.
If you ask 100 random people over the age of 50 what was the best investment they ever made, I would almost guarantee that the vast majority of them would say their home. I'll also be willing to bet that if they could do it all over they would try and buy a few more.
Here's a thought experiment. If you were to purchase a $125,000 home today with an investment of $15,000 and rent it out simply to break even on the mortgage, tax and insurance payment; at a conservative 4% appreciation on a 30 year note that home would be worth $405,000. That's a $280,000 profit on a $15,000 investment, not too shabby. Retirement wouldn't be too bad with that little $15,000 investment.
The concept of leverage allows you to take advantage of owning something worth of 15 times your initial investment and still be able to capitalize on 100% of the appreciation of that asset.
I can hear you now saying, "that's awesome... but 30 years is too long to wait to retire". Well, there are lots of solutions to that in real estate. Let' go with the simplest option which involves paying your loan off early by paying a little extra each month (again something you can build into the monthly rent while you are renting out your property).
Let's break down our $125,000 home from the example above and see what happens when we pay just a little more each year on the loan. Note that this is the extra payment per year.
If you were to make an additional $1,000 payment per year that same loan would be paid off in 22.5 years!
An extra $2,500 per year pays it off in just 17 years.
And finally, an extra $5,000 per year (scenario #1) pays it off in only 12.3 years.
Loan scenario 2 is barely over $100 a month in extra payment.
Of course there is nothing stopping you from repeating this scenario over and over until you quickly find yourself with the title of "real estate guru" and all of your friends wonder how you did it. It all started with 1 choice to invest in 1 property and then...
Mikel K Smith
Believing Without Seeing
December is an interesting month for people, the deluge of the Holiday's, the wrapping up of another year, the anticipation of the next and the lingering question of what all of it means. Will I spend another year at this job? What changes are on the horizon? Will it be the same office party next year? Will it ever get any better than this? December finds us looking out at our world to access what's working and what's not, when perhaps the answer to that question is closer than we think.
Each person possesses the power to transform their lives. We deny this power because it is easier to believe that we are in a world that is happening to us, rather than we are creating the world we are living in. Once we accept the premise that we are the creators of our world and that we have the power to build what we want-focus becomes the operative stance. Can we stay focused on what we want to create even while it is in the process of being created?
Life would be wonderfully magical if we could instantaneously make our wishes come true. A new house, a better job, the perfect mate-so amazing it would be to wake and create it on the spur of the moment. While we can have it, and often much more quickly than we imagine, the work, or the leadership, comes in being able to stay focused on the vision while the rest of the world is shifting to support it. Yes, the rest of the world must shift to support it, because every thought, every action, we put out in the world is what makes the realization of our dreams possible and in creating them must come after shifts take place in the physical environment. These shifts can happen easily and will always take time to manifest; so seeing may be believing, but without believing we may never see it.
The challenge is believing in our worthiness and desire in the face of what appears to be stagnation or inaction-especially in the areas or places that mean the most to us. Consider this: have you ever flippantly yearned for something, perhaps tickets to a big game or new pair of shoes-something that you wanted but it didn't mean the world to you, so you put the desire "out there" and didn't think much about it? Often, what we want appears because we weren't constantly checking to see if it was happening, we allowed what we wanted to come because we weren't focused on if it happened or not. Other times, what we want may come to us although it may not look the way we thought it would look. Did you get tickets to the game in your boss's box where you may have to talk business while watching? Were the shoes you wanted on sale but in a different color? Recognize how often you really get what you want, even if it doesn't always look like you thought it would.
So why is this so hard? Because the belief that it really isn't going to happen is often so much easier that trusting that it will. Using love as the basis for our actions, words and deeds puts us on the right path to staying in the place of possibilities. Love is expansive, love doesn't have bounds, love doesn't create walls or blocks, it flows, it is easy and it feels good--and leadership is love in action. One thing that you can do this Holiday Season (and beyond) is to be our best and anchor every action we take in love. If we do nothing else our world will change in profound and amazing ways.
This December when the nostalgia for the magic of bygone days or the yearning for a shift in your circumstance occur: stop, breathe and visualize what you want your life to look next year and know it will be so. If you can believe without seeing, next year you will see a very different picture. Lead your life as you want it to be and that means being a leader every day and every step of the way.
By Kathleen Schafer
Each person possesses the power to transform their lives. We deny this power because it is easier to believe that we are in a world that is happening to us, rather than we are creating the world we are living in. Once we accept the premise that we are the creators of our world and that we have the power to build what we want-focus becomes the operative stance. Can we stay focused on what we want to create even while it is in the process of being created?
Life would be wonderfully magical if we could instantaneously make our wishes come true. A new house, a better job, the perfect mate-so amazing it would be to wake and create it on the spur of the moment. While we can have it, and often much more quickly than we imagine, the work, or the leadership, comes in being able to stay focused on the vision while the rest of the world is shifting to support it. Yes, the rest of the world must shift to support it, because every thought, every action, we put out in the world is what makes the realization of our dreams possible and in creating them must come after shifts take place in the physical environment. These shifts can happen easily and will always take time to manifest; so seeing may be believing, but without believing we may never see it.
The challenge is believing in our worthiness and desire in the face of what appears to be stagnation or inaction-especially in the areas or places that mean the most to us. Consider this: have you ever flippantly yearned for something, perhaps tickets to a big game or new pair of shoes-something that you wanted but it didn't mean the world to you, so you put the desire "out there" and didn't think much about it? Often, what we want appears because we weren't constantly checking to see if it was happening, we allowed what we wanted to come because we weren't focused on if it happened or not. Other times, what we want may come to us although it may not look the way we thought it would look. Did you get tickets to the game in your boss's box where you may have to talk business while watching? Were the shoes you wanted on sale but in a different color? Recognize how often you really get what you want, even if it doesn't always look like you thought it would.
So why is this so hard? Because the belief that it really isn't going to happen is often so much easier that trusting that it will. Using love as the basis for our actions, words and deeds puts us on the right path to staying in the place of possibilities. Love is expansive, love doesn't have bounds, love doesn't create walls or blocks, it flows, it is easy and it feels good--and leadership is love in action. One thing that you can do this Holiday Season (and beyond) is to be our best and anchor every action we take in love. If we do nothing else our world will change in profound and amazing ways.
This December when the nostalgia for the magic of bygone days or the yearning for a shift in your circumstance occur: stop, breathe and visualize what you want your life to look next year and know it will be so. If you can believe without seeing, next year you will see a very different picture. Lead your life as you want it to be and that means being a leader every day and every step of the way.
By Kathleen Schafer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)