...An essay that critically examines the role of practitioners in recognising the socio-cultural influences on the development of children In the development of provision for children, traditional developmental theory has been highly influential: Over the years I have become frustrated by the strident emphasis on developmental theory in early childhood education (Walsh 2005:40) Particular relevance has been held concerning constructivist theory and the work of Piaget (1977) and Vygotsky (1978): The academic understanding of learning that underpins current trends in early childhood education are most significantly based upon principles of social constructivism that are drawn from both Vygotsky and Piaget (Anning et al 2008:153) Typically, traditional child development theory is thought to give order and meaning to a child’s progression in terms of physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development and provides practitioners with a set of normative descriptors from which a child’s development can be measured. However, more recently these notions have been questioned and there has been a growth of theory from a socio-cultural perspective: recent challenges to ways of understanding and living in the world have included issues of difference, identity, culture, intellect, and economy…Early Childhood Educators have responded in various ways to such diversity. Many continue to support the developmentalist notion of the universal child…still others merge a variety...
Words: 3068 - Pages: 13
...The Cultural Developments of the Aztec Empire: Throughout their existence and even now the Aztecs are remembered for only a few things: Their amazing and unique architecture, their agricultural prowess, and their ability to create beautiful and ornate golden ornaments and jewelry, as well as sculpture. The Aztecs were excellent architects, producing beautiful stone temples and step pyramids not dissimilar to those found in early Egypt. The Aztecs built most of their building to be similar to mountains. This is because they believed that the mountains protected their building from being hit by the rain. Aztec temples soar above most of the other structures in their cities. In Cortes's letters to King Charles he describes the grandeur of the...
Words: 307 - Pages: 2
...we are for it or against it; it is nearly impossible to find someone who doesn’t have an opinion about abortion. Since 1973 abortion has been an important issue within the United States. 1973 marks the year that the famous Rowe versus Wade case was decided before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that abortion be legal and available to all women. Legal abortions can be performed up to 24 weeks according to prochoice.org after twenty-four weeks most doctors or clinics will not perform the procedure unless keeping the baby presents a medical risk to the mother. I believe that every person is entitled to his or her own opinions, beliefs, thoughts, and rights. Denying women the right to choose abortion in the early stages of fetal development is denying her rights as a U.S. citizen and is also discrimination against her person. The moral question has always been whether or not it should be a woman’s decision to get an abortion. The other side of that question is whether the government should have control over a woman’s body and forbid her to get an abortion. Pro-life supporters believe that abortion is wrong because it involves the death of a human being on the other hand Pro-choice believes in woman’s right to choose. I am certain that abortion is a personal choice, and this freedom should be protected for all individuals. If the right to self determination is taken away, this country we saw call “land of the free” will be no more! In fact, doing so will be unconstitutional...
Words: 663 - Pages: 3
...DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL VALUES AND CULTURAL PRACTICES Certain needs such as to make a living, the need for social organization, knowledge as well as learning, normative and metaphysical expression are common to all the people. As a result, the culture of a society not only acts as an instrument of cooperate development, but also as a basis of social values and cultural practice development. In addition, culture is not considered as being in the opposition to development, but rather as an idea that is continually changing as well as being created in relation to the changing social processes and it constitutes a common point of reference within the global development. The study examines how social values and cultural practices are shaped by age, class, ethnicity and gender. Social values and cultural practices shaped by age A study on the vast potential expansion of HIV epidemic as well as cultural impact in the sub-Saharan Africa reflects how ages shapes social values and cultural practices. Cultural practices that include large differences within the ages of men and women at marriage as well as along the period of postpartum abstinence have resulted into frequent extra-marital relations. However, such relationships have contributed to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In order to respond to the spread of HIV/AIDS, the social adaptations have to include some profound changes within the sexual behaviours, child bearing and marriage customs. On the other hand, social...
Words: 2898 - Pages: 12
...American cultural development has not always been on the side of promoting diversity, freedom and equality for all. During the era between 1880 and 1920 there were extremist groups that took bold steps to enforce their unique agendas. America allowed 25 million immigrants into this country permanently transforming generations for decades and even the identity of this country today. The many different origins of the men, women and children created a lot of societal challenges and cultural tension. Most that came into the US were Germans, Britain’s, Jews, Chinese and Italians. This courageous move for many paid off in many ways, but mostly through financial means when compared to the countries in which they left. But as in all good things that transpire through freedom and opportunity, so does evil, greed and prejudice. The mafia was born out of the poor Italian ghettos. It spread across vast cities and eventually across states. It got a lot of its momentum and growth because of prohibition. In addition to the mafia networks of crime and evil, the Klu Klux Klan continued to drive it’s hatred of African Americans promoting racism and anger and was able...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...With the cultural development during the Paleolithic to Neolithic era, cave art was a writing expression, but in the form of pictures and symbols. Discovered over two hundred thousand years ago, the earliest cave markings described the past, present and the continuation of civilizations identity. With continued cultural growth, caves such as Altamira, discovered in 1879 and Lascaux, discovered in 1940 contain some of the most extravagant drawings. Even though these illustrations are footprints to the pass, archaeologists have not found the definite meaning. Nonetheless, creating many speculations and explanations for the roles that cave drawings play in the lives of those who created them. One theory, is that some caves may have been used...
Words: 321 - Pages: 2
...Does the Cultural Environment influence Lifespan Development more than our Genes? This debate has been ongoing for a long period of time where some believe that cultural environment influence lifespan development while others are against the claim. The argument that cultural environment influence the lifespan development of an individual more than genes is true as it is argued that culture is an evolution which is a process that is very different from genetic evolution by natural selection, and it is playing the central role in the production of people’s behavior (Guest, A.M 2011). Genes does not dictate how development will go what they do is that they participate together with the environmental influences in making some of the developmental outcomes to happen. It is also true that genes are involved in human behavior as for every aspect of a person’s phenomenon it is due to the interaction between the environment and the genome. An example that shows how gene is involved in our behavior is in the degree in which we use vision to adjust ourselves, like hitting a baseball and selection of new clothes for kids. The reason behind this is because we have genetically evolved to be sight animals whereby our perception system that is dominant is vision and the next one is hearing. The information that is in our DNA that is supposed to produce morphology and physiology which makes sight very important to us has been molded by natural selection (Guest, A.M 2011). According to evolutionary...
Words: 1415 - Pages: 6
...industries in the world. The impacts of tourism development growth can produce both benefits and costs to the host nation. In order to eliminate the negativities caused by tourism, and provide a more sustainable future for the ever-expanding industry, Government’s need to be actively involved throughout. However, the extent of their involvement is disputed. The Government’s of such nations must try to develop initiatives that will not only carry on boosting their economy through the maturity of tourism, but sufficiently limit the damage to the environment, all whilst protecting their own nation’s cultures, and in doing so; creating a more sustainable future. The WTO (1993) defines sustainable tourism as ‘meeting the needs of the present tourists and host regions whilst protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future.’ It also illustrates that sustainable development strategies must stress the need for due regard to be given to the ‘long-term appropriate use of natural and human resources’. Essentially, in order to achieve sustainability in tourism, the long term effects and impacts need to be assessed over the mass market. By developing sustainable forms of tourism in some areas, other areas that may be affected as a result of this are simply ignored. As Klemm (1992) suggests, ‘the real challenge for the future it to provide sustainable tourism for the mass market’. As the mass market is not given enough consideration in the early development stages of a countries tourism industry...
Words: 3356 - Pages: 14
...Culture & religion for a sustainable future Introduction Culture shapes the way we see the world. It therefore has the capacity to bring about the change of attitudes needed to ensure peace and sustainable development which, we know, form the only possible way forward for life on planet Earth. Today, that goal is still a long way off. A global crisis faces humanity at the dawn of the 21st century, marked by increasing poverty in our asymmetrical world, environmental degradation and short-sightedness in policy-making. Culture is a crucial key to solving this crisis. Source: Preface, World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1999. Our cultural values, which often include particular religious beliefs, shape our way of living and acting in the world. Module 11 on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability explores the importance of indigenous values and spirituality in providing guidance for sustainable living. Such principles and values encourage a spirit of harmony between people, their natural environments and their spiritual identities. The principles for living sustainably that flow from these and other cultural and religious beliefs vary between groups and countries. They have also changed over time as circumstances demand. Despite this diversity, many principles for living sustainably are shared, not only among indigenous peoples, but also between different religious traditions. This module explores the role of culture and religion in providing guidance on ways...
Words: 3397 - Pages: 14
...States (OAS) provides that integral development encompasses the economic, social, educational, cultural, scientific, and technological fields through which the goals that each country sets for accomplishing it should be achieved; TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the Inter-American Democratic Charter recognizes that democracy and social and economic development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that promotion and observance of economic, social, and cultural rights are inherently linked to integral development, equitable economic growth, and the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law in the states of the Hemisphere; RECOGNIZING that social justice and equity are essential for democracy; CONSIDERING that the Charter of the OAS establishes among its essential purposes to eradicate extreme poverty; CONSIDERING AS WELL that extreme poverty constitutes an obstacle to development and, in particular, to the full democratic development of the peoples of the Hemisphere; and that its elimination is essential and constitutes a common and shared responsibility of the American states; REAFFIRMING the determination and commitment of member states to urgently combat the serious problems of poverty, social exclusion, and inequity that affect, in varying degrees, the countries of the Hemisphere; to confront their causes and consequences; and to create more favorable conditions for economic and social development with equity to promote more...
Words: 3537 - Pages: 15
...Brittany Benton Paper #2 Cultural Diversity Individuals acquire their sense of identity, their self-esteem and their core values and worldviews from the community in which they grow up and live. These aspects of an individual’s character and knowledge are acquired through the expression of their community’s culture, including: language, religion, music, visual arts, artisanal and traditional practices, theatre, poetry and song. “Culture is thus integral to individual and community stability, their sense of worth and their capacity to make sense of the world” (Melé & Sánchez-Runde, 2013). In the knowledge economy culture has emerged as an important (if not primary) site of the local, national and global struggle for leadership with respect to the ideas, beliefs, worldviews and values that shape our world. Like culture, there is no one definition of development. Generally, though, development is a complex process that seeks to overcome the adverse social, economic and human conditions “left particularly by colonialism and discriminated in countries or communities affected by these” (Liam & O'Neal, 2003). Development aims to prep such countries or communities with the needed skills, technology, access to information, cash and other resources, “to enable them to be relatively self-sustaining now that they are self-governing entities” (Liam & O'Neal, 2003). Development impacts directly and indirectly on the way of life of a community. Education, technology, new...
Words: 1316 - Pages: 6
...Cultural Blueprint A public-private partnership for securing the future vitality of the arts and culture of Metro Louisville and Southern Indiana September 20, 2004 • [pic] ▪ Preamble 1 ▪ Cultural Blueprint Goals ← Goal 1 6 ← Goal 2 8 ← Goal 3 10 ← Goal 4 12 ← Goal 5 14 [pic] Imagine if you will: • Walking in downtown Louisville and having every weekend evening feel like the First Friday Gallery Hop, with people popping in and out of galleries, retail stores and restaurants, getting on the trolley for a next stop and meeting and greeting neighbors and friends… • Experiencing the excitement of going to your church, where four gospel groups have come together in celebration of vocal music… • Attending a school theater performance where the audience is made up of your neighbors, other parents, and arts patrons who don’t have children in that production but have come to experience that night’s show… • Our region will be considered a premier destination by cultural tourists… • Attending an arts or cultural event, knowing that all of our arts and cultural institutions are financially healthy and will continue to grow and thrive… • Being proud of the arts and cultural programs that you, your family and children attend together right in your neighborhood, produced by an arts group...
Words: 5182 - Pages: 21
...Scott / CULTURAL-PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES REVIEW / March 2004 10.1177/1078087403261256 URBAN AFFAIRS ARTICLE CULTURAL-PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES AND URBAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Prospects for Growth and Market Contestation in Global Context University of California, Los Angeles ALLEN J. SCOTT The article begins with a brief definition of the cultural economy. A first generation of local economic development policy approaches based on place marketing and associated initiatives is described. The possibilities of a more powerful second-generation approach are then sketched out with special emphasis on localized complexes of cultural-products industries. An extensive review and classification of these complexes is laid out, and their inward and outward relations to global markets are considered. On this basis, a critical discussion of local economic policy options focused on cultural-products industries is offered. Contrasting examples of development initiatives in major global cities, in selected old manufacturing towns, and in the Multimedia Super Corridor of Malaysia are briefly presented. It is suggested that the growth and spread of localized production agglomerations based on cultural-products industries are leading not to cultural uniformity but to greatly increased diversity at the global level. Keywords: agglomeration; cultural economy; globalization; industrial districts; local economic development; place marketing Over the past decade or so, the industrial profile...
Words: 12496 - Pages: 50
...area of about 174 square kilometer with population of 750,000. • It is one of Taiwan's cultural capitals, for its rich folk cultures including the famous local snack food, extensively preserved Taoist rites and other living local traditions. Country Taiwan Map Tainan city Map Overview of Fort Zeelandia in Tainan, Taiwan, painted around 1635 HISTORY Tainan gateway to the sea during Qing Dynasty • Tainan is the island’s oldest city which was settled in 1590, which was once under Dutch colonial rule from 1624 to 1661. • It became an ancient capital of Taiwan after Cheng Cheng-kung took over the island from Dutch. • In 1684, the Qing Empire conquered Taiwan • After 100 years, the Qing dynasty was defeated by Japan and Tainan was ceded to Japan Heritage Conservation in Tainan Tainan has a long historical development and thus there is a range of heritage found in the city including temples, forts, government office building and court. Fort Provintia By the end of 2004, there were over 100 places of designated historical relics in Tainan under to the Cultural Property Preservation Law Tainan District Court including 7 Grade I, 8 Grade II, 38 Grade III and 2 National relics, 50 County (City) relics and 1 Historic relic Beside the statutory designated built heritage, there are some historic buildings of historic, social and cultural significance,...
Words: 2610 - Pages: 11
...Introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology Paper Aspectsof Culture in PsychologyCultural context is a major element in understanding human behavior and psychology. Berger (2011) explains, “Culture affects every action—indeed, every thought” (p. 13). The culture that an individual lives in along with the similarities and differences between cultures provide vital information in understanding psychological processes. Cultural Psychology Cultural context is not separable from the person; it is a vital part of individual psychopathology. Shiraev and Levy (2010) explain that cultural psychology studies the individual within a specific culture. The cultural psychologist seeks out meaningful links between a specific culture and the individual in that culture. The cultural psychologist examines the individual in a cultural norm. Cultural Influences on the Individual According to Shiraev and Levy (2010), “Before reaching adulthood, most of us do not choose a place to live or a language to speak” (p. 2). These cultural elements influence many aspects of human developmental processes. From the moment of birth, cultural elements play an important role in human development, development of personality, and individual psychological aspects. It is impossible to separate human behavior from cultural experiences because cultural exposure forms individual value systems,belief systems, and knowledge bases for each individual within any specific culture. The goal of cultural psychologists is...
Words: 1077 - Pages: 5
