Explore Dickens presentation of education in Hard Times Essay

Dickens’ presents The Victorian education system in ‘Hard Times’ in a fundamentally negative way, Dickens’ expresses the idea that having an imaginative aspect to our education is essential. He does this through satirising the education system and mocking the characters. Throughout the novel, it is a purpose of Dickens being satirical towards the education system. Dickens opens the novel with a satirical description of Thomas Gradgrind and his utilitarian educational methods as he teaches the room full of students â€Å"Facts alone are wanted in life† (9) Dickens satirises Gradgrind’s commitment to an education comprised only of facts as Gradgrind exaggerates that facts are the only essential thing in life. â€Å"Fancy† (14) symbolises imagination and wonder compared to facts. Dickens emphasise â€Å"Fact† more than he does with â€Å"Fancy† he does this by repeating â€Å"fact† itself, sounds more forceful. Gradgrind’s view on education is his children are to never imagine or wonder. Gradgrind rejects the concept of â€Å"fancy† or imagination; ‘fancy’ has nothing to contribute to understanding; only things that can be measured are important. Gradgrind’s disapproving rant on fancy â€Å"You don’t walk upon flowers in fact† (14) to the students underlines that fancy is bad and it should be â€Å"facts!† (14) In his satirical description of Gradgrind, Dickens’ aim is of what he experienced in the industrial England during his time when education varied vastly, according to location, gender, and class, meaning that Dickens view on Utilitarianism is shown in a satirical way, and his beliefs stood out throughout the novel, this indicates how the education system was controlled. Dickens uses characters’ names to continue his satire of the utilitarian education system prevalent in Victorian Britain. Mr Gradgrind breaks into the word â€Å"Grind† as a means to crush, signifying his method of grinding down the students’ individuality and any imagination they may have entered the school with. Mr M’Choakumchild, breaks into â€Å"me, choke, child† Dickens’ exaggerates with the name as we don’t think the new teacher is literally choking the children in his care, that this Fact-obsessed creature will only choke imagination and feelings out of them. â€Å"If he had only learnt a little less, how infinitely better be he might have taught much more!† (15) This highlights that the utilitarianism system would function much better, if it were not so strung on facts. If Mr. M’Choakumchild had learnt less and been practically involved with his students more and would have taught far better. This is criticizing the way the system works. Dickens is suggesting that in the utilitarianism system, suggesting that ramming facts into students might not be the most effective way of teaching them. Not everything can be reduced to facts alone. Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby are the main representations of utilitarianism and followers of the system. In Louisa’s proposed marriage to Bounderby, Dickens shows us a disastrous consequence of Gradgrind’s system that denied everything but facts. â€Å"You have been accustomed to consider every other question, simply as one of tangible Fact† (97) This illustrates that Gradgrind, who is incapable of expressing his emotions effectively toward Louisa, edges her into a marriage with Bounderby by stating various facts and statistics to her. Louisa is hesitant to communicate her feelings towards him â€Å"she returned, without any visible emotion† (96) David Lodge’s ‘How Successful Was Hard Times?’ (1981) argues that Gradgrind’s ideology in his system is questionable, Lodge explains that it is a â€Å"primary index of what is wrong with his system† Mr Bounderby is also a character with utilitarian beliefs, doubtlessly one of th e major characters that has a firm belief in the system, â€Å"you may force him to swallow boiling fat, but you shall never suppress force him to suppress the facts of his life† (23) He signifies the very essence of his ruthless principles that only has room for facts and statistics. ‘Hard Times’ outlines that a utilitarian approach to life is unsuccessful and costs those who follow their imaginations become robotic and inadequate to the system. Imagination and heart is found in the circus where Mr Bounderby and Mr Gradgrind despise â€Å"No young people have circus masters†¦ or attend circus lectures about circuses† (23) Gradgrind implies that circuses are not like a practical schoolroom. Dickens represents Sissy Jupe as an influential character of the novel who presents the value of a warm heart and embodies feelings and emotions. She is seen as a complete failure of Gradgrind’s system. However Dickens and the reader judge her as a success. The young innocent girl mocked by the teacher and presented as the â€Å"dumb† girl in the start of the novel, gradually turns out to be the most key character in the whole novel. Since the foundational significance of fact and the removal of fancy that Gradgrind’s education obli ges, Sissy Jupe will never succeed. Nevertheless, in spite of the education, Sissy becomes a young woman who is able to maintain her own principles and beliefs. The contrasting descriptions of Sissy and Bitzer are shown in their appearance. For example Sissy is described as radiant and warm â€Å"dark eyed and dark haired† (11) referring to her as someone who is the face of vitality. However Bitzer is portrayed as â€Å"what little colour he ever possessed† (11) and â€Å"His cold eyes would hardly have been eyes† (11)) Demonstrating that he is cold and emotionless with no heart and all calculation. Dickens uses Bitzer to demonstrate that other students are influenced by him, showing that he is a follower of Gradgrind’s system, whereas Sissy is the foreigner to the system. The Utilitarian education system relates to the industrial town ‘Coketown’ which consists of factories and â€Å"large streets †¦ like one another †¦ people equally like one another† (27) The town is linked to a â€Å"painted face of a savage† (27) that is described as barbaric and uncultured, the children are being deprived from the â€Å"ill-smelling dye† (27) Dickens suggests the society that the children/workers are living in is unsanitary â€Å"Jail† (28) indicating that they have no escape from their problems. The utilitarian system stamps out all imagination in the pupils and prepares them perfectly for the life of drudgery. Dickens describes as their lot as ‘hands’ in Coketown’s factories. Education presented in ‘Hard Times’ is shown as satirical in Dickensian vision of Utilitarianism. This is because Dickens is able to create a fool out of the system cunningly. Furthermore it is certain that what Dickens has presented is humorous and convincing with making the utilitarian ideology seem absurd through the novel. I find David Lodge’s argument towards Dickens opinion as liberal and potent.

UVA Acceptance Rate: What Does It Take To Get In?

The University of Virginia accepts 27% of students. What does it take to get in? One of the most prestigious public universities in the nation, the University of Virginia was founded in 1812 by Thomas Jefferson. The school prides itself on cultivating leadership and providing education at a reasonable cost. Located in beautiful and historic Charlottesville, UVA boasts distinguished faculty and alumni, numerous research opportunities (especially in medicine), and emphasizes the holistic student experience. If you are looking for one of the best educations you can get at an affordable price, UVA might be the school for you. Keep reading to learn more about the tips that have helped ’s students get into UVA. Apply using the Common Application or the Coalition Application. We recommend that students use the Common Application, because it is more established than the Coalition Application. Students must apply by November 1 for Early Action, or January 1 for Regular Decision. To apply, be sure to send in all of the following: Getting into UVA takes hard work—last year only 27% of applicants were admitted. UVA had 36,779 students apply last year, and only 10,058 were admitted. As of their Early Action deadline this year, they already had 24,950 applications, so it’s definitely a popular choice for many high-achieving students. UVA has a preference for in-state students, aiming for two-thirds of the student body to be from Virginia. Last year, 39% of Virginian applicants were admitted versus 22% non-Virginians. If you aspire to attend a school like the University of Virginia, it’s critical to surround yourself with people who have been through the process previously. offers mentorship for underclassmen and applications counseling for seniors to help you set yourself apart from the crowd. Even if you don’t choose to work one-on-one with one of ’s trained near-peer mentors, connecting with someone who has successfully gained admission to a school like UVA can make the difference between rejection and acceptance. UVA is interested in you as a person, not just your grades or your essays. Use your application to reflect your strengths in these areas. Academics. You’ll want to take challenging courses throughout high school, but you’ll also want to do well in them. Last year, 89.4% of the enrolled students ranked in the top tenth of their class. For standardized test scores, the middle 50% of admitted students earned SAT scores of 1320-1500 and ACT scores of 31-34. It’s important to note that UVA is a Top 40-50 college for in-state students in terms of profile competitiveness. UVA for out-of-state students, however, is about as competitive as a Top 20 college (more than USC/UCLA, slightly less than UC Berkeley). Students should keep this in mind when looking at overall admissions statistics like GPAs and test scores. Extracurricular activities. UVA admissions officers don’t care about what you love so much as that you pursued your passions meaningfully. This could mean founding new clubs, taking on leadership within existing school organizations, or creating opportunities within your school and community. But formal leadership isn’t the only way that you can show your passion—pursuing excellence through competitions or serving your community as a dedicated volunteer can demonstrate how you live your values. Character. UVA spends a lot of resources on their students, providing enriching research and study abroad opportunities so that students can develop as leaders and pioneers in their fields. Use your essays to showcase your strengths and values, and choose recommenders who know you well enough to write a compelling letter for you. Contributions to Community. UVA wants to bring together students with a wide array of talents and past achievements who will be a credit to their school. Whether you’re a leading medical researcher in the making or an aspiring entrepreneur, show how you will bring new ideas and energy to UVA’s community. Submit your application early if you’re out-of-state. Applying EA at UVA has some value for out-of-state students but holds little admissions value for in-state students. It offers less of an admissions boost overall, however, than other colleges with unrestricted EA. Also know that UVA tends to accept more students off the waitlist than peer colleges. So students who have lower chances should still consider applying to UVA, and waitlisted students should always follow the full follow-up process. Our Early Advising Program helps students in 9th and 10th grade discover their passions and build strong academic and extracurricular profiles to succeed in high school. Explain how your choice of school plays into your goals for college. When you apply to UVA, you’ll apply to one of 5 schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Nursing, or Kinesiology. You don’t choose a major until the end of your first or second year at UVA, so really hone in the reason behind your selected school and what your academic goals are. Tell your story. The only things that a UVA admissions officer knows about you is what is in your application, so make sure you highlight your strengths, your values, and your passion. To provide a little extra insight into who you are, consider including the arts supplement if you are talented and have earned awards at performances or showcases. Partner with recommenders. Most students choose a recommender and let the recommender do all the work. But because UVA doesn’t accept supplementary materials beyond the arts/architecture supplement, you need to make sure that every piece of your application is strong. Brainstorm ideas of what to include or emphasize in your letter with your recommender, and let them read drafts of your essays. Give them all the help they need to make their letters flow with the rest of your application. UVA receives more qualified applicants than it can admit each year, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re ultimately rejected. There are many other amazing schools where you can find success. Admissions appeals are not accepted due to the long list of qualified applicants on the waitlist. We do not recommend petitioning your decision. UVA does accept transfer students, but you need to have at least a 3.0 college GPA, and ideally a 3.5 GPA. The transfer acceptance rate is still selective, ranging from 35-40%. You may want to consider attending Virginia Community College to guarantee your ability to transfer. We think that the best option, however, is to commit to another equally great school. If you still want to transfer after a year or two, you can consider it then. If you’re looking

Seattle University Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Seattle University - Essay Example Even though this cannot be taken as the only criteria, it can provide a sound judgment on the character, behavior, creativity and capability of the student. A personal statement, in the words of the student mirrors his/her hopes, aptitudes, desires and ambitions. It will provide a clearer picture of the student's thought process and the university will be in a better position to understand and adjust the subject requirements. Seattle, being a university with a religious angle, has its own agenda and hopes to adjust its goals with student aspirations. Thus the student essay will act as a window to the diverse background, the educational path of the past, hopes of the future, individual preferences of the student. Essays tend to be very personal and will give a clearer picture of the student's chosen path. Course requirements and decisions on units depend on the background material and personal preferences supported by individualistic ambitions. Transcripts and their authenticity are important for all the universities, especially in the case of international students, who are required to provide certified transcripts of reports, marks cards, diplomas in addition to English language (TOEFL, IELTS, CLB etc.) proficiency certificates provided directly by the certifying agency. Financial deposits and bank proofs are additional for international students. In case of sponsored students, the government, through the Embassy has to confirm the sponsorship and additional declaration of finance is necessary if the funding is partial. Almost all the British qualifications are accepted in US universities, with Britain having an unassailable reputation in the field of education. Most of the variations in Indian educational system are accepted. All international students are expected to submit seale d recommendations from their Referees. "Seattle University thoroughly evaluates whether home schooled applicants have the necessary foundation of skills, background, and breadth to be successful students here" http://www.seattleu.edu/home/admission/undergraduate/apply_other.aspn and thus the Home School students are not ignored. Most universities have similar requirements. American University demands completed applications, essay of 500 words, statement of interest, academic records, two letters of recommendations, demonstrated leadership report or community service record, English proficiency, application fee and financial source. In recent years, American universities have become more and more inclusive in their outlook. "Ensure a university environment that is inclusive as well as diverse and that fosters a spirit of community among faculty, staff, and students by increasing the diversity of its faculty

Whirlpool Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Whirlpool Corporation - Essay Example This was compounded by other raw material costs as well leading to a larger end user price which immediately required the attention of the company. 3. In addition to these, Whirlpool also felt that the service support was an unique selling proposition since most of the Asian companies did not have an elaborate service network. In case of Whirlpool they had operations in 170 countries which made it easy and they wanted to make it more effective. It is important that these issues are addressed in their ERP solution. The ERP solution was expected to provide a solution to these key issues. Primarily, it was expected to reduce the cost of production: 2. Reducing the stock on hand and the inventory, both raw material, intermediate and finished goods. This was expected to bring down the holding cost of the product as well. This would also reduce the cost of production. 5. The company also tried to build relationships with various vendors across the globe which would result in outsourcing some of the products that these people can produce for much lesser. This will again bring down the price of the product further. 6. The transportation cost and the raw material cost though they have increased, optimizing the supply and by clubbing together supplies, moving them to the nearest point for fabrication work would all bring down the cost of production. All this would bring down the cost of the end product for the customer. This was what the customer expects. Also cutting down the cost of production would improve the profit margins that the company had. Implementing ERP would bring down the material movement; reduce the stock holding costs in terms of both raw materials and finished goods. There will also better production planning. All this would help in reducing the cost of production further and increasing the margins the company had. ERP

Mobile Development Languages Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mobile Development Languages - Research Paper Example But, nowadays, the main concerns are starting to move somewhat in a diverse way. In this regard, a mobile phone is a wide purpose device that facilitates not simply to converse however as well to earn, discover, communicate with friends or relatives and entertain themselves by using different utilities offered by the mobile manufacturers. All these features and facilities are accomplished particularly through the development of mobile applications (gfmstudio, 2011). This report presents a comprehensive analysis of some of the main aspects and areas of the mobile programming languages paradigm. The basic aim of this report is to analyze some of the prime areas regarding the evolution of mobile programming languages paradigm, discuss its main qualities, comparison with the traditional programming languages in addition to popular operation systems applications of the mobile programming languages. ... It is estimated that in January 2011 there were over two hundred mobile trademarks internationally as well as that is predictable to raise over the subsequent three years. In addition, at present most powerful mobile application is Google’s Android mobile operating system that executes over a huge variety of Android facilitated devices plus a rising variety of Tablets. Android application is offered by Google as an open source framework as well as is able to be integrated with Mac OS X, Windows plus Linux and an application developer is able to select his Integrated Development Environment, diverse plug-ins offered for Eclipse (WanaRUA, 2011) and (LMU, 2005). Mobile application development is the procedure through which mobile applications are designed and built for small low-power handheld systems like that enterprise digital assistants, PDAs or else personal digital assistants, otherwise mobile phones. In addition, these mobile applications are either already installed on co mmunication phones system in the course of downloaded or manufactured for clients from the application and other mobile applications system distribution platforms. In view of the fact that mobile devices have become pervasive items the moment people utilized mobile phones, PDAs and smart phones wherever and at anytime. On the other hand, the design and development of mobile applications is not a simple job since the development of mobile applications is completely different from the traditional software development processes. Additionally, the project managers are not able to without difficulty judge the risks and challenges of a mobile application development project because of the troubles to match up to a variety of

Scoping and Scanning an Organization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Scoping and Scanning an Organization - Assignment Example This can mainly be done through ceremonies and events which aim at bringing Christians together like the Easter Celebrations and Christmas Celebrations. The church is under obligation to perform its duties which go beyond preaching and praying and for this reason other tools like SWOT analysis and business logic will be necessary (Roger Kaufman, 2003). The church must establish a culture of supporting the community by nourishing them physically, spiritually, materially, and mentally. The cultural screen will also require a good organization culture to ensure that there is no conflict of interest and brushing of shoulders which can easily bring down Christian institutions. This will further ensure good communication processes which are necessary since a church also acts as a guidance and counseling center within the society. In addition to this, the leaders are supposed to serve as an example and lead in the core competencies by presenting spiritual ideas to the community and the loca l government as well. By engaging the political leaders, it is possible to influence government policies that will in turn favor Christian institutions and hence provide them with smooth running of their spiritual

Written Communication for Business Purposes Research Paper

Written Communication for Business Purposes - Research Paper Example It is necessary that accountability and responsibility chains of people working in the organization are fixed. The manager should communicate everything to his sub ordinates and people in the organization in a written way. Written messages can also be saved in the repository for future references. Business communication is a permanent mode of communication and is easier to follow through than oral communication mans. Good written communication is pivotal to the success of an organization. It helps in building its corporate image and good will. Written business communication comprises of various forms. These are letters, memoranda’s, emails, sales letters, agendas and business reports. Business letters should have an appealing and an appropriate lay out. The writer should be clear on the content of the letter and it must be divided into paragraphs. The subject of the letter should be written and should be enclosed within envelope. The letter must be saved for future reference a nd should be written carefully as it directly affects the good will of the organization. There are various types of business letters for instance sales letters, information letters and problem letters.