The Sovereignty and Goodness of God Essay -- American History

The Sovereignty and Goodness of God The Sovereignty and Goodness of God is a primary source document written in the 17th century, by a well-respected, Puritan woman. This book, written in cahoots with Cotton and Increase Mather, puritan ministers, tells the story of her capture by Indians during King Phillip’s War (1675-1676). For three months, Mary Rowlandson, daughter of a rich landowner, mother of three children, wife of a minister, and a pillar of her community lived among â€Å"savage† Indians. This document is important for several reasons. First, it gives us insight into the attitudes, extremes, personalities and â€Å"norms† of the Puritan people we learn about in terms of their beliefs, and John Calvin’s â€Å"house on a hill†. Beyond that, despite the inevitable exaggerations, this book gives us insight into Indian communities, and how they were run and operated during this time. Mary Rowlandson was a pretentious, bold and pious character. Her narrative did not make me feel sorry for her at all, which is strange since she really did go through a lot. During the war, the Narragansett Indians attacked Lancaster Massachusetts, and burned and pillaged the whole village. During the siege Mary and her six year old child were shot, she watched her sister and most of her village either burn or get shot. She was kept as a captive, along with her three children and taken with the Narragansett’s on their long retreat. The exposition of the story is set immediately. The reader is perfectly aware of Missus Rowlandson’s status and religious beliefs. She constantly refers to the Narragansetts in an incredibly condescending way, to the point that you know that she does not even consider them human. She paints them as purely evil pe... ...e child were given boiled horse feet, and after she ate hers she ate the child’s because he/she could not bite it and was only gnawing on it. I think that this narrative is important for us to read in order to understand the mind-sets of the colonists and the Indians at the time of King Philip’s War. I believe that it is an excellent source, and really allows the reader to get a peak at what life was like during the 17th century. I also think that it is amazing that she is the second â€Å"American† woman to write and publish a book, and it is interesting to see how strong she was to preserve her own life in such an unfamiliar and â€Å"uncivilized† situation. Work Cited Rowlandson, Mary. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. 1682. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. by Mary Rowlandson with Related Documents. Ed. and intro. Neal Salisbury. Boston: Bedford, 1997.

Nature of childhood Essay

There are many aspects of early years practice which have their origins in the past and which reflect particular ideas about the nature of childhood. It can be argued that it is important to identify these aspects so as to understand current interpretations of early years practice. Discuss with reference to the philosophies of two key historical figures. Current early years practices such as play, a stimulating environment, the role of the practitioner, and recognising the child’s parents as playing a key role in their education originate from theories that were made in the past. The following pages will outline the influential ideas of Friedrich Froebel and Dr. Maria Montessori and discuss them in relation to the current ideas relating to the above topics. Before the nineteenth century, childhood was not seen as a stage of life separate from adulthood. Instead, the concept of childhood was regarded as an immature form of adulthood (Wood, E. 1996) children were regarded as being naturally evil and so education was not prioritised. Most children learnt the values of life through labouring alongside adults. Into the nineteenth century, and with the concept of original sin dropped, three different views of childhood and education arose. The nativist view is the view that children are born with a pre-programmed development pathway. The empiricist view believes that each child is an empty vessel waiting to be filled, and the interactionist view recognises that children do have pre-programmed ideas whilst understanding the influence that the child’s socio-cultural surrounding has on his education. (Bruce, T. 1997) At the moment, the interactionist view is the most popular method of educating children (Ibid) and professionals regard both Friedrich Froebel and Maria Montessori as interactionists. However, both approached the development of childhood from a very different angle. Friedrich Froebel believed that The human being is born for research; and he is to practice it even as a child (Anonymous, 2000,p1) He assumed that children have to investigate the inner properties of things in order to discover hidden influences and causes. Froebel also considered children as being naturally good suggesting that this goodness could be harnessed and fostered through nurture care and education. (ibid) and so developed a special environment where children could grow and learn. This he called his Kindergarten or garden for the children. Froebel also considered the spiritual, physical, feeling and intellectual aspects of a child as a whole and believed that within his special environment (which will be discussed further on) allowing children free playful, conversational experiences would build and shape all of a child’s senses. Like Froebel, Dr. Montessori believe that the best way to educate a child was to design a method that would track the natural physiological and physical development of the child and allow touch, movement and freedom to aid the child to learn. (Montessori, 1964). Maria Montessori however did not regard her method of education as instigating play claiming; If I were persuaded that children need to play, I would provide a proper apparatus, but I am not so persuaded. (Ibid) The Dr. claimed that a child’s mind was most absorbent between the ages of 0-6 years, and that children learn best through movement and senses although this should not be regarded as play. She also viewed the child as a whole however, in contrast to Froebel’s theories, she believed that each sense should be isolated and developed separately. To achieve this Montessori developed thematic activities based on real life experiences, and allowed her children to work individually or as part of a group. Again, a special environment was set up where children could move about freely and pick and plan there own method of self education using apparatus that could only be utilised one way.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - 1096 Words

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Huey P. Newton stood up and fought for justice, equality and freedom for our people in this country. Huey Percy Newton was born February 17, 1942 and died August 22, 1989. He was an African-American political and urban activist who, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929 and died April 4, 1968. He was an African-American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. There have been several questions about the methods and strategies of each of these protesters. Some questioned whether or not MLK worked for the government in an attempt to keep minorities at bay by preaching peaceful protests and boycotts. Some questioned whether or not Newton was radical and promoted violence instead of self-defense or if he was a terrorist who wanted black supremacy. This study will compare and contrast the methods of Dr. Martin Luther King J r. and Huey P. Newton. In his autobiography, Revolutionary Suicide Newton stated that, â€Å"Growing up in Oakland, he was made to feel ashamed of being black. This type of upbringing led Newton to an early life of crime. As an adolescent, Newton was arrested several times for minor offenses including gun possession and vandalism. All these charges occurred early at age 14. Also in his book Newton wrote that he began his law studies to become a better criminal. Huey P. Newton got involved inShow MoreRelatedDr. Martin Luther King Jr.658 Words   |  3 PagesIndividual Project Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired myself along with many other nationalities all over the world in so many ways. He was a very courageous and intelligent man who fought so hard for the blacks or African-Americans like myself to have equal rights like the whites or Caucasian people. Just as other civil rights leaders such as Rosa Parks, Dr. King felt that it just wasn’t fair that the black people was segregatedRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay871 Words   |  4 Pages Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta Georgia on January 15, 1929. His parents were Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his siblings were guided by the spiritual teachings from their father and attended public schools in Atlanta during their childhood. King and his nine siblings grew up in a financially secure middle class family. They received a better education than the average child of their race, King noticed this and it influencedRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is unarguably the most famous civil rights900 Words   |  4 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is unarguably the most famous civil rights activist in American history. His story and legacy is taught in classrooms across the country. From birth to death, Dr. King impacted the lives of many people and changed the roles of society forever. Dr. King had one big dream and what shaped his dream begins in Atlanta,, Georgia, and ends in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born into a loving and caring family on January 15, 1929 inRead More Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay2605 Words   |  11 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968), American clergyman and Nobel Prize winner, one of the principal leaders of the American civil rights movement and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. Kingamp;#8217;s challenges to segregation and racial discrimination in the 1950s and 1960s helped convince many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States. After his assassination in 1968, King became a symbol of protest in the struggle for racialRead MoreEssay on Leadership Skills of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.823 Words   |  4 PagesDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Abstract This paper will analyze and study the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and how leadership skills helped him in accomplishing his goals. The characteristics that made Dr. King a great leader will also be addressed. By studying great leaders, insight can be gained into what qualities they possess. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern era. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked theRead MoreMy Hero: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay542 Words   |  3 Pagesall portray some kind of heroic abilities. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one the most heroic figures of our time. According to Joseph Campbells characteristics Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has a characteristic of a hero such as, a hero is usually someone from whom something has been taken or who feels theres something lacking in the normal experience available, or permitted, to members of his society. (The Power of Myth, 1998) Dr. Martin Luther King was a man who yearned for dignity and respectRead More The Rhetoric of Pathos in the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.1141 Words   |  5 PagesThe Rhetoric of Pathos in the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I have a dream, says Dr. Samuel Proctor, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Rutgers University. All the little children--you hear everywhere you go: I have a dream. All the little children repeating that speech. Its become like the Star Spangled Banner or the Pledge of Allegiance. Its entered our culture. And so it has: I have a dream has become one of the most memorable phrases of the twentieth centuryRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Fight Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Fight Throughout history there have been times when citizens have had the need, as well as the responsibility, to violate certain societal rules/laws in order to protest against unjust treatment and bring about social or political change. It began as early as Socrates, who disobeyed an unjust decree against teaching his ideas, which led to his being condemned to death; Mahatma Gandhi’s fight against British rule over India; and Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seatRead MoreEssay about Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.4067 Words   |  17 PagesBiography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968 Nationality: American Occupation: civil rights leader Occupation: minister (religion) Michael King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in the Atlanta home of his maternal grandfather, Adam Daniel Williams (1863 — 1931). He was the second child and the first son of Michael King Sr. (1897 — 1984) and Alberta Christine Williams King (1903 — 1974). Michael Jr. had an older sister, Willie Christine (b. 1927), and a youngerRead MoreEssay on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and The Civil Rights Movement2125 Words   |  9 PagesMartin Luther King jr. was one of the most influential persons of the 20th Century. He is the father of the modern civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom as well as peace. King practiced everything that he preached, he did not preach or speak values that he himself did not follow. He established himself as a pastor that was not afraid of hard work, guiding the middle-class congregation to public service. For example, Peake, Thomas