Eugenics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Eugenics - Essay Example As quoted in "Regulating Eugenics," Francis Galton—who was actually a cousin of Charles Darwin—first used the term "eugenics" in 1883. Galton described it as: But who is to say which "race" or "strain of blood" is more "suitable" than another? This paper will look at several topics concerning eugenics and what the practice might mean in the present day and future. There is a type of eugenics that is practiced in nature. If a zebra is born with a genetic defect that affects its legs, it will very soon be culled from the herd by predators. It is a fact of nature that the weakest and sickest are, in general, the first to die; it is survival of the fittest. Humans are one predator that flip this equation on its ear. How many hunters hope to bag the smallest, sickliest of deer? No, human hunters tend to go for the "prize," thus removing from the gene pool an animal that has some sort of genetic disposition—a better immune system; greater intelligence to protect it from predators, automobiles, or starvation; stronger bones and muscle and greater strength—that has allowed it to reach an enviable size and age. To protect from overpopulation, at least in deer, hunting is a necessity; however, by culling these "trophies" from the population, hunters are weakening the stock that otherwise would have been strengthened by natural selection. But perhaps humans make up for this toying with the nature of things by taking care of our own. In Greek literature, there is mention of blind prophet. Left on his own, this man would likely die; instead, he is cared for and tended by his peers. Whether or not this person is fictional or historical does not matter, for if this behavior exists in literature, it can be reasoned that it existed in real life as well. Throughout literature and history, there is mention of a person disabled

Graduate reflection paper 1a Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Graduate reflection paper 1a - Essay Example In this way, they can enhance their own learning as well as enhance the development of their students. Different environments also help teachers learn about the needs of the adult learner and how they learn best. Another area that is important to understand is that of assessment, evaluation and the adaptation of materials for adult learners. Sometimes a teacher may run across some pertinent material in preparing for a class, that one wants to incorporate into the class. Sometimes the material can be adapted "as is," but most of the time, it must be adapted to fit the needs of the students and the teacher. The teacher must have developed the skills to easily integrate the information in order to be most effective. When students enter any type of training or educational pursuit, they bring with them a wealth of professional and personal experience. Some students are used to being in educational environments while others are the first from their families to enter college. There are many learning theories that assist in learning about teaching styles. Beginning theorists like B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov through their behaviorism gave an understanding of how to help adult learners learn when they are struggling. As an example, many students may struggle with a concept at work that needs to be done efficiently. Using the behavior theories, this concept can be broken down into smaller parts. This is one way that a lesson could be adapted for more than one type of learner. The cognitive theories are important to teaching and learning because they rely on an individuals internal stimuli to measure performance. For the adult learner who is attempting to move forward with their lives, the concepts of motivation, self-direction, decision making, problem solving, and learning to think in positive frameworks, are very important. These theories encourage teachers to understand how students learn. A central group of