Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies Essay Lord of the flies has been called â€Å"a fable in which the characters are symbols for abstract ideas,† and there are many ways in which the characters can be viewed. One way, for instance, is comparing them to Sigmund Freud’s theory of id, ego, and superego: the boys being like a metaphorical person, where Jack is the id, Ralph the ego, and Piggy the superego. It is an appropriate allegation because of the fact that id, ego, and superego all have specific traits that match those of these three characters. The id wants, with no consideration for the reality of the situation. In the beginning of the novel we are shown Jack marching his choirboys across the beach in the way a militia leader would, making them halt and stand to. Already we are shown the image of a boy who loves, and wants, power. We see it in the way he demands and commands. Jack is the type of person who throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get exactly what he wants. He is always sticking his knife into a tree in a fit of rage, or trying to prove himself in some way. When he see’s he can’t be leader he tries to make up for his own feelings of inadequacy by proving that he can hunt and kill a pig. He does this to try and show the rest of the tribe his talents and qualities. Most all human beings have a basic desire to rise up, prove themselves and win praise and happiness, which is apart of their id. In Jacks case he craves power and attention and he will, by all means necessary, achieve it. Unlike Jack, we see Ralph: the ego. The ego is a persons own morals and standards that hold the id in check. In a way it is one’s personal Jiminy Cricket. Ralph knows right from wrong very well and we can see he has been raised to have virtuous morals by the way he acts towards the others on the island. When he left piggy to go explore with the two other boys, you could tell immediately that he had a moral conflict by the way that he quickly ran back to piggy to apologize. This shows that Ralph has a deep sense of principle, which is one of his best leadership qualities. When Piggy’s glasses were stolen, Ralph was upset that Jack no longer had morals and standards, like he did. He was also upset that Jack’s id had taken over most of the group and that they gave into their most basic, savage instincts. As the id, Ralph keeps Jack in check, and stands between him and Piggy, who happens to be the superego. The superego is considered society’s morals and standards that one must conform to. The superego goes hand-in-hand with the ego to try and keep the id in check. Here Piggy is like Ralph â€Å"right hand man†. Piggy is constantly reminding everyone that they should behave like mature adults act properly even though the grownups aren’t around. The little ones are always running about and messing around leaving the older children to build the shelter and the fire and gather wood and water. Piggy talks about what the grownups would do and how they should do everything like that. Lord of the Flies proves to be a novel of many abstract ideas. Though Golding may not have meant to allude to Freud’s id, ego, and superego theory in his novel, there certainly were many suggestions and many ways to interoperate the characters and their actions.

Impact of Latest Little Ice Age on Human Population

Impact of Latest Little Ice Age on Human Population William Lee Nowadays, the presence of Ice Ages which refer to the periodic long-term reduction in temperature of Earth’s surface and atmosphere, is well-known among people. However, most of them never heard of how another kind of geographical phenomenon, Little Ice Age (LIA), occurring from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries, influenced our culture, technology and our world today. Can you imagine how our lifestyle would be influenced? Can you imagine how the world would be totally different if it had never suffered from the LIA? This essay will discuss about what the LIA brought to our ancient ancestors and how it affected the world today. Let’s see what is meant by LIA. Distinct from the ice age, which refers to the long-term alternations between glacial periods and interglacial periods lasting for millions of years, the little ice age is another geographical terminology used to describe a pre-modern time period starting roughly from the 14th century, lasting until 19th century. During the LIA, the Earth was chilled by a sudden cooling and the average temperature of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere decreased by 2 degree centigrade than before. This enormous change was usually considered as the effect of solar activity variation (Lesley M. Smith,1997) and the relative position of Earth while rotating around the sun (John A. Eddy,1976). Some new researches also suggest other causes for the LIA, such as increased volcanic activity (Jonathan Cowie, 2007), or altered ocean current flows (Broecker WS, 2000). Due to the relatively higher latitude of land in the north hemisphere, the LIA had a predominant influence on the Eurasia continent rather than others. Meanwhile, most of human civilizations were gathering on the Old Continent. Reasonably the unexpected visit of this drastic change on climate affected human activities in such a complex way that is not easy to tell. However, we do can find some clues and records remained in the history, which can help us figure out the complicated process of change gradually. In order to analysis the impact of the LIA easily, we can try to make a clear image of human cultures by summarizing the status of every civilizations including empires, realms, kingdoms and independent regions existing during this period. At the beginning of 14th century, the Mongol Horde just invaded European countries and at the same time, China in the eastern world had been, for the first time, under foreign rule of Mongolian for already several decades. The Hundred Year’s War was just about to start and Italy was leading Europe to step into the period of Renaissance. A new dynasty called Ming arose after Chinese people stood up to fight against the cruel foreign rulers and in the next three hundred years, the prolonged war fire on the land of China finally came into a short time of peace. In fact, a storm was approaching silently, like the volcano hidden under the sea, it would erupt at any moment†¦Black Death killed a third of population in Europe. Russian and Norse begun to explore new lands†¦ In the fifteenth century, as Constantinople, the pivot on the way to the East, fell to the emerging Ottoman Turks, Western Europeans had to find a new trade route. The forthcoming Age of Sail allows Spanish and Portuguese explorers led to the first European sightings of the New Land (America and other virgin islands) and the sea passage along Cape of Good Hope to India. Then in the sixteenth century, thanks to the Queen Victoria, Britain became a super power on which† the sun never set†, and began to expand its territory all over the world. The Era of Colonization came with spread of culture, disease, thoughts, technology†¦ A peak of chilling little ice age came in the beginning of seventeenth century. The production of crops kept in a low level due to the persistent low temperature. Ming Dynasty collapsed under a series of peasants uprisings. Revolutions for independence or freedom of thought dominated the eighteenth century. And then Industrial Revolution accelerated the world into thrive. Now we have already got a rough image about the corresponding history. But still, how is these historical events linked with the LIA? Here is an example illustrating the LIA’s impact on agricultures. Since the beginning of fourteenth century, the cold weather and heavy storms swept Europe. Crops and livestock were enormously destroyed. Crises arose as political struggles and class warfare weakened those previously prosperous countries. Millions of people starved to death. Cannibalism was even recorded during the Great Famine, which lasted for at least a decade. According to Lamb (1966)’s report, the growing season varied by 15% to 20% between the warmest and coldest times of the millennium. This is fairly enough to adversely influence any type of food production. Without modern technology, such as protection of warm house, seeds especially those highly adapted to warm conditions, could hardly survive this change. In order to adapt increasingly unpredictable climates, farmers begun to experiment with new agricultural techniques and equipment (J. Cohen, 2012). This led to the Agriculture Revolution in Europe. In addition, the LIA also caused significant effect on economy, especially in Europe. Because of the Great Famine, heavy storms and growing glaciers, a large area of farmland was destroyed, which led to decreased tax revenue collected (Lamb,1995). Maritime activities were also limited by expanding glaciers, which caused a huge impact to the fishery and oversea trading (Lamb,1995).Miners lost their jobs due to the advancing glaciers as well. (Bryson, 1977.) However, not all of those influences were bad. One of the four greatest fisheries in the world, the fishery along the Newfoundland coast, was founded by fishermen who were looking for new fish stocks in result of the movement of colder water (Lamb, 1995). The LIA also brought great politic change to both western and oriental world. In China, the LIA made most of the participation shift towards south. This caused frequent droughts all over the provinces of China. The most severe one of them lasted for at least seventy years. Along with several massive earthquakes happening at the same time, this huge but declining agricultural country was finally defeated by corrupted bureaucracy and the Manchurian invaders from the northeast, who took advantage of the power vacuum and crossed the Great Wall, later on established the Qing Dynasty (Kezhen Zhu, 1972) In west Europe, â€Å"as the 18th century drew to a close, two decades of poor cereal harvests, drought, cattle disease and skyrocketing bread prices had kindled unrest among peasants and the urban poor in France.† (J. Cohen, 2012) Many people who managed to express their disaffection yet failed eventually decided to rise up and fight the government which imposed heavy taxes. Therefore, the brewing storm broke in 1789, while the French Revolution incurred. Many historians believe that that was somehow connected to the LIA. Although a large amount of evidences indicate that the LIA actually influenced ancient civilizations in various ways, there are still arguments disapproving this opinion. The theory which explains human history as an outcome of effects from geographical factors, or â€Å"human habits and characteristics of a particular culture are shaped by geographical conditions† as the dictionary explains, is called geographical determinism. Criticisms point out that the theory exaggerates the effect of natural environment on the development of human society. It is obviously incorrect to substitute natural law for social law. The geographical environment is one of necessary external conditions for human society to develop, admittedly, it affects considerably society as well. Nevertheless, it is absolutely not the determinant of development of human society. In fact, its effect may decrease as the human society goes forward. Other criticisms focus on the explanation that historical events are considered as inevitable trend or irresistible outcome of some natural factors. For example, they think that it’s unreasonable to impute the collapse of Ming Dynasty of China to the little ice age alone. The corrosion of government and bureaucracy along with the policy of seclusion which caused the stagnation of technology development, are also critical reasons for the declination of China (Calebjael, 2014). In conclusion, history is a long and complicated story written by every person, every movement, everything which has ever existed in the past time. Geographical factors, such as the presence of little ice age, will inevitably play an essential role in the history, especially in the ancient time. Today, our developments on technology allow us to do whatever we want to do, in spite of the nature. However, it takes price. Our achievement today mostly depends on what the nature gave to our ancestors. We should learn with respect what our ancestors encountered and how they dealt with them, what lesson they did take and what we should do in the future. The little ice age influenced human beings’ society from aspects including agriculture, economics, politics and cultures, etc. and therefore determined the life today to some extent. Our thoughts should be never limited in the little ice age. There are so many other geographical factors and historical events awaiting for us to explore . The attempt of discovering our history never ends. Reference List: Albion C. 2014. Impact of The Little Ice Age in Europe. Accessed on 28 June, 2015. Available from http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?36426-Impact-of-The-Little-Ice-Age-in-Europe Brian M. Fagan 2000. The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850. Publisher: Basic Books Imbrie J.; Imbrie K.P (1979). Ice ages: solving the mystery. Short Hills NJ: Enslow Publishers. ISBN 978-0-89490-015-0. Accessed on 20 April 2015. Jennie Cohen 2012. Little Ice Age, Big Consequences. Accessed on 15 March, 2015. Available from http://www.history.com/news/little-ice-age-big-consequences Jonathan Cowie 2007.Climate change: biological and human aspects. Publisher: Cambridge University Press Kelly Morgan, 2010 The economic impact of the little ice age. Accessed on 20 April 2015. Available from http://researchrepository.ucd.ie/handle/10197/2649 K. Kris Hirst,2010 The Little Ice Age and Polynyas. Accessed on 20 April 2015. Available from http://archaeology.about.com/od/arctic/fl/The-Little-Ice-Age-How-Human-Cultures-Respond-to-Climate-Change_2.htm Peter J. Robinson 2005. The Little Ice Age, Ca. 1300 – 1870. Accessed on 16 March, 2015. Available from http://www.eh-resources.org/timeline/timeline_lia.html Scott A. Mandia, 2010 The Little Ice Age in Europe. Accessed on 20 April, 2015. Available from http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/lia/little_ice_age.html

Research Paper -- essays papers

Research Paper In a child’s life there are many things that can effect school achievement. One of the most common talked about things is parental involvement. However, something that might be just as important is the income of a child’s family. There are several reasons why income is important. Higher income families usually live in better neighborhoods which means better schools. An higher income can also mean more educational programs available to a child, and the ability to choice a school. These are some factors on why family income is important in school achievement. A family that has a high-income will usually live in a better neighborhood then a family with a low-income. A lot of times the better the neighborhood the better the school. High-income neighborhoods are usually more successful in school then low-income neighborhoods. This usually occurs because there are usually more resources available to the wealthier students, and better teachers tend to teach at wealthier schools. Studies have shown that a family’s economic does play a role in school achievement. The more money a family has, the more sources open to a child, which enhances achievement. Reynolds and Temple (1998) looked at low-income, inner city, African American children from Chicago. These are some of the most disadvantaged children in the Chicago school system. The study looked at the programs that were available to the students in this area. By doing so they were able to see how effective public service programs were, and whether or not they actually produce better performance in school. The emphasis of the program was placed on parent invovlment and having smaller classes that lead too more personalized teaching. These two ideas... ... Entwisle, D., & Alexander, K. (1995). A Parent’s Economic Shadow: Family Structure Versus Family Resources as Influenced on Early School Achievement. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 399-409. Pong, Suet-Ling; Ju, Dong-Beom. (2000). The Effects of Change in Family Structure and Income on Dropping Out of Middle and High School. Journal of Family Issues, 21, 147. Reynolds, A., & Temple, J. (1998). Extended Early Childhood Intervention and School Acheivement: Age Thirteen Findings from the Chicago Longitudinal Study. Child Development, 69, 231 246. Shumow, L., Kang K. & Vandell, D. (1996). School Choice, Family Characteristics, and Home-School Relations: Contributers to school Achievement? Journal of Educationl Psychology, 88, 451-460. Research Paper -- essays papers Research Paper In a child’s life there are many things that can effect school achievement. One of the most common talked about things is parental involvement. However, something that might be just as important is the income of a child’s family. There are several reasons why income is important. Higher income families usually live in better neighborhoods which means better schools. An higher income can also mean more educational programs available to a child, and the ability to choice a school. These are some factors on why family income is important in school achievement. A family that has a high-income will usually live in a better neighborhood then a family with a low-income. A lot of times the better the neighborhood the better the school. High-income neighborhoods are usually more successful in school then low-income neighborhoods. This usually occurs because there are usually more resources available to the wealthier students, and better teachers tend to teach at wealthier schools. Studies have shown that a family’s economic does play a role in school achievement. The more money a family has, the more sources open to a child, which enhances achievement. Reynolds and Temple (1998) looked at low-income, inner city, African American children from Chicago. These are some of the most disadvantaged children in the Chicago school system. The study looked at the programs that were available to the students in this area. By doing so they were able to see how effective public service programs were, and whether or not they actually produce better performance in school. The emphasis of the program was placed on parent invovlment and having smaller classes that lead too more personalized teaching. These two ideas... ... Entwisle, D., & Alexander, K. (1995). A Parent’s Economic Shadow: Family Structure Versus Family Resources as Influenced on Early School Achievement. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 399-409. Pong, Suet-Ling; Ju, Dong-Beom. (2000). The Effects of Change in Family Structure and Income on Dropping Out of Middle and High School. Journal of Family Issues, 21, 147. Reynolds, A., & Temple, J. (1998). Extended Early Childhood Intervention and School Acheivement: Age Thirteen Findings from the Chicago Longitudinal Study. Child Development, 69, 231 246. Shumow, L., Kang K. & Vandell, D. (1996). School Choice, Family Characteristics, and Home-School Relations: Contributers to school Achievement? Journal of Educationl Psychology, 88, 451-460.

Slavery And Its Effect On The Uprising Of A New World Essay -- Slavery

â€Å"Slavery and Its Effect On The Uprising Of A New World† In the 17th century, Africans were taken from their homeland and forced into slavery in the New World. Once there, they were exploited for profit by European settlers. Despite mainstream historical accounts, it was African-Americans who built the foundation of the American economy, which eventually made it a super power. This essay will illustrate how Blacks survived in a hostile, racist environment by specifically looking at the psychological and physical brutality of slavery. The Portuguese were the first to embark upon the slave trade. Africans were snatched from their homeland and sold as slaves to the islands of the Caribbean and the Americas in the early 1500s. A prime area for slaves was on the west coast of African. People inhabiting this land were well known for their skills in agriculture, farming, and mining. Slave traders knew that by capitalizing on the mastery talents of these Africans they could become wealthy in other parts of the world. The Spaniards, the French, and the Dutch soon became part of the slave trade, and because of this, slavery grew to exponential proportions. The typical voyage for slaves taken by European traders started down the south coast of Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. They traded African slaves—human beings—for goods such as cloth, rum, brandy and guns. Then they would start on the second leg of this inhumane excursion. When the desired number of Africans was met, they shipped out to what is now known as the â€Å"Middle Passage†. These ships sailed from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean to one of several ports in the Caribbean and West Indies and slaves were bought and sold to work in sugar plantations. The English sla... ...ere often times forced to stop nursing their own infants at the breast and serve as a wet nurse to the master’s newborn. Regardless of age, picking cotton, more than any other activity, engaged all slaves – from the youngest to the elderly. House servants, too, were not excluded and would be drafted into the picking fields, probably to serve as a reminder of their position and equal status to the other slaves. In summary, the labor of African slaves built the foundation of the thriving economy the people of America, and across the world, reap the benefits of today. The label in our t-shirts and the soft, comfortable sheets we tuck our children in at night should read, â€Å"Made in the USA by AFRICANS†! The blood, sweat, and tears of our ancestors built this country and made it what it is today – one of the largest, if not â€Å"the† largest, super-power in the world.

a piece of her mind :: essays research papers

Often our choices are based upon our basic needs and what makes us feel safe. Yet, there is always that minute doubt tangled within our gut, wondering what would have happened if we took the dangerous, the hesitant, and the more thrilling path. One of the most universal experiences human beings face as we begin to age is we start to look back upon our lives and wonder if we made the right choices. For some people, they experience a â€Å"mid life crisis† and choose to start all over again, desperately yearning for a different result. Others dwell in a sense of melancholy, saddened by their fantasies of what life could have been had they chosen â€Å"the other path.† What if I had married differently? What if I had chosen a different career? These â€Å"what ifs† begin to pile on top on one another, creating a disappointing mountain of uncertainty and speculation. Within Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf portrays Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway as a woman who is exploring the se questions in a single afternoon of her life. If Mrs. Dalloway were to have kept a diary during this one day in her life, the following is an excerpt of what I think she would have written in it. Dear Diary,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"As a cloud crossed the sun, silence falls on London: and falls on the mind. Effort ceases. Time flaps on the mast. There we stop; there we stand. Rigid, the skeleton of habit upholds the human frames.†(49) Earlier today, he just stood there in front of me, his failure figure seeming more daunting than ever before. As my eyes met his, drapes of memory began to unravel within my mind, uncovering the ancient sheds of abandoned feelings. It was too difficult to ignore the pulsating pain I felt when my eyes met hit. My eyes frantically searched for an escape outlet. As I passed through the gigantic wooden doors towards the small room, I was forced to confront the amber-stillness of a surprisingly placeless place. I scanned the room I had just finished cleaning nearly an hour earlier. While it all appeared to be in order and cleansed of any dust or untidiness, any slight disorder popped out at me. The tired shelves leaned to one side under the weight of abs ent books, now pushed to the floor perhaps by the wind. Faces were covering the wall, trapped in black and white cruelty of photographs and the muted murmur of faded laughter.

Brave New World Essay

BNW Rough Draft Morally, the novel: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is not acceptable to me. The plot, suggestive actions, and even the overall standards in the book do not appeal to me as a reader. One example that demonstrates my dislike for the book, Brave New World, is on (pg 19-20): â€Å"’Bokanovsky’s Process,’ †¦ One egg, one embryo, one adult – normality. †¦ A Bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. † This instance from chapter one, personally as a reader, makes me dislike the book. I personally don’t like reading about scientific facts; and/or uncanny extraterrestrial-like customs.I think it is just, very plainly, odd. A second reason that shows my dislike for Brave New World is on (pg 88): â€Å"Swallowing †¦ that second dose of soma had raised a quite impenetrable wall between the actual universe and their minds. † This case from Chapter 5 [part 1] is a huge reason why I do not like this p articular novel. Soma is a reference to a perfect drug. Supposedly, there is nothing wrong with it at all, and it makes you completely happy; leaving behind no negative effects whatsoever. I think this is a very bad idea to put into a book due to today’s society of teenagers.Due to the already very enormous number of kids who use drugs, they might become influenced and argue that the characters in BNW can take Soma and not be affected. So then this leaves them to rationalizing that maybe everything will be perfectly satisfactory after consuming a certain drug in the real world. My last instance that shows my disapproval for BNW is how the word ‘Pneumatic’ is used especially by Henry Foster and Benito Hoover to describe what it’s like to have sex with Lenina. She herself remarks that her lovers usually find her â€Å"pneumatic,† patting her legs as she does so.In reference to Lenina it means well-rounded, balloon-like, or bouncy, in reference to her flesh, and in particular her bosom. And the use of this odd word to describe the physical characteristics of both a woman and a piece of furniture underscores the novel’s theme that human sexuality has been degraded to the level of a commodity. Personally, I dislike the very thought that the novel basically revolves around drugs and sex, and being a Junior in High School currently, I don’t really appreciate reading such material.Weird material as such often revolts the attention of the youth. In deduction, the overall content, plot, characters, and drug references make me, as a reader, ill-fated. I personally don’t like the overall message/theme in which it presents either which is that human sexuality has been degraded to the level of a commodity. I just don’t think this is suitable reading material for people like me who are in High School. Let alone, I’m just not that interested in a book with topics like so. Brave New World Essay Brave New World Essay In Aldous Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, the citizens of the World State are bred into specific caste systems. These consist of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. The different caste systems differ from each other in many ways, and have multiple purposes. There are many differences between the different groups in the caste system. Alphas are the most intelligent of them all. They wear the color grey, and are the tallest and most good looking. While developing inside the faux womb, they were given the most oxygen.They usually work as wardens, psychologists (Bernard), Director of hatcheries, and all World Controllers are Alphas. Betas are a little less intelligent then Alphas, but still higher in the caste system. They wear mulberry colored clothing and there jobs consist of mechanics and nurses. Alphas and Betas usually associate with each other. Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons are in the lower half of the cast system. Gammas wear the color green. They are usually butlers and other jobs that do not consist of much thinking.Deltas wear khaki, and usually are helicopter attendants. The are mass produced and have no individuality. â€Å"Bokanovsky’s Process is one of the major instruments of social stability! † (Huxley, 7). This being said means the the World State does not think individuality is important. Epsilons are on the verge of being morons. They wear black, and received the least amount of oxygen in the womb. They are very stupid and usually press elevator buttons. The purpose of this cast system is that people will be happy with their jobs.An example is that an Alpha would have a job in the medical field, and an Epsilon would have a job pressing buttons. â€Å"Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn't do without Epsilons. â€Å"(Huxley, 60). You need every caste system to maintain ‘the perfect World State’. I personally do not th ink that they reflect an aspect of our society today. I think it is just a consequence of the society of the World State. In the end, everyone needs everyone. The Alphas and Betas could not survive with out the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons, and vice versa.

Teachers’ Knowledge of Legal Issues Surrounding Students’ Rights

Even though lawsuits against teachers have multiplied over the last decade, teacher preparation institutions and educational leaders across our nation have yet to recognize teachers' knowledge of school law as an area that should be at the top of the priority list for improvement in teacher training. Although this new, legally influenced educational environment has not developed overnight, it has quickly become an area that demands attention among teachers, administrators, and other constituencies. The overabundance of litigation in the United States of America illustrates the legal complexity of the nation and the litigious nature of its citizenry. Accordingly, individuals entering the teaching profession should be equipped with the legal knowledge necessary to protect themselves and the students with whom they have contact. The purpose of this study is to explore some of the underlying legislation and literature that depicts the legal issues surrounding students' rights and how these issues are interrelated to teachers’ knowledge of school law. Through the information provided in this paper, it is evident that insight into knowledge of school law among teachers is an issue that is increasingly important to educators and educational leaders in United States. Introduction In 1989, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) surveyed principals and school attorneys to determine the impact of legal issues on the educational setting. The study revealed that 58% of the participants noted changes in school-related programs due to liability concerns and nine percent of respondents reported having been involved in lawsuits or settlements (Sherman, 2000). Only a decade later, the ATRA conducted a similar investigation in which 64% of the respondents reported a difference in school-related programs as a result of liability concerns and 31% of participants reported being involved in lawsuits or settlements (Sherman, 2000). In 1999 ATRA reported that nearly one-third of all high school principals have been involved in a lawsuit in the last two years, compared to only nine percent, 10 years ago. (Sherman, 2000). Further, Affinity Insurance Services (2003) reported that, â€Å"the number of lawsuits filed against teachers and other education professionals has increased at an alarming rate -over 270% in the last ten years† (p. 2). These findings clearly illustrate the severity of the issue under investigation and highlight the need for corrective and preventative measures aimed at reducing the regularity of litigation within the educational environment. Although this research speaks for itself, public sentiment toward filing suits against educators is at the crux of the issue. Stern (2001) reported that for some students and parents, a good lawyer is as important as good grades. Furthermore, Sorokin (2002) stated that society has become increasingly litigious and the law is used only for personal benefit, especially in the educational setting. Recently, the National Center for Policy Analysis (2003) reported that the rising tide of lawsuits against educators over the last decade has made school discipline difficult, reduced opportunities for students, and consumed many educational resources. Fischer, Schimmel, and Kelly (2003) state that â€Å"today's schools function in a complex legal environment, and a wide range of legal issues influence the lives of teachers, students, parents, and administrators† (p. vii). Currently, the No Child Left Behind legislation asserts that teachers are protected from most lawsuits if they act within their responsibilities. However, the problem arises in the issue of whether teachers have adequate legal knowledge upon which to define their responsibilities, and subsequently base their decisions for action or behavior. Additionally, educators operate in environments that are open-systems that are subject to the influence of countless extraneous variables. This makes educational policy and daily procedures more difficult to define; thus, complicating teachers' responsibilities (McCarthy et al. , 2004). For these reasons, it would seem that knowledge of legal responsibilities and legal rights would be at the forefront of professional preparation for preservice educators or professional development for inservice educators. Legal issues surrounding students' rights Knowledge of students' rights is at the forefront of lawfulness as an educator. Although rights of students are very important to educators, maintaining orderliness and authority by teachers and other school officials is also a top priority for educational systems. Thus, educators are granted broad powers to establish rules and regulations governing student conduct in the educational setting (Essex, 1999). This power of authority is not absolute; rather it must be exercised with reasonableness and the focus must stay on maintaining order and peace. However, because students continue to test the limits of their personal freedoms in public schools, frequent collisions arise as educators strive to maintain educational environments that are highly conducive to learning (McCarthy et al. , 2004). In dealing with these issues, the courts have generally considered the reasonableness clause as a basis for case decisions. In 1969, the United States Supreme Court handed down a historic decision that challenged the reasonableness consideration, in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), the court ruled that neither teachers nor students lose their constitutional rights to freedom of expression when they enter the public schools. The First Amendment guarantees that the federal government cannot abridge personal freedoms. Thus, the Supreme Court ruled that through the Fourteenth Amendment state governments, including Boards of Education, cannot abridge citizens of such freedoms. Consequently, educators have been faced with the increased challenge of maintaining effective educational environments while ensuring personal freedoms (Essex, 1999). Freedom of speech and expression is granted by the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution that states, in part, that â€Å"Congress shall make no law †¦ abridging the freedom of speech, or of press or of the rights of peoples to peacefully assemble. † The court has stated that First Amendment rights must receive protection in the educational setting â€Å"if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principals of our government as mere platitudes† (West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 1943). A multitude of additional court cases has set precedence in the area of students' rights. However, the court has recognized that â€Å"the constitutional rights of students in public school are not automatically coextensive with the rights of adults in other settings† (Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, 1986). Thus, freedom of speech and expression is open to limitation by policies that are reasonabl y designed based on the conditions of the educational setting (Fischer, Schimmel, and Kelly, 2003). Taking this legislation into consideration, educators should be knowledgeable of situations in which constitutional freedoms do not prevail. â€Å"Defamatory, obscene, vulgar, and inflammatory expression are not protected in the public school context† (McCarthy et al. 2004, p. 115). As a result of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988), school authorities can limit students' freedom of expression in school publications and other school-related activities as long as the limits are based on legitimate educational concerns. In commenting on the utilization of this judicial decision, Rosen (2002) states that â€Å"administrators with a militaristic bent have no better weapon in their arsenal†¦ † In general, however, courts have endorsed the notion that educators should limit students' freedoms of expression and press only when their actions cause disruption to the educational environment (Essex, 1999). Student-initiated clubs have become very common in the educational setting. Lee (2002) asserts that joining a group that is unified in vision and in action can soothe the difficulties that many alienated students may experience. But, because the nature of some clubs has caused controversy, litigation has ensued. Although freedom of association is not specifically protected under the First Amendment, the Supreme Court has ruled that freedom of association is â€Å"implicit in the freedoms of speech, assembly, and petition† (Healy v. James, 1972). The issue, however, arises in the nature of the association that is taken by the students. Public school students have sought legal espousal for secret societies or closed-membership clubs through the assertion that these associations are supported by First Amendment freedoms. However, the courts have upheld rulings by school officials prohibiting student membership in secret societies (Burkitt v. School District No. 1 Multnomah County, 1952). Conversely, student-initiated organizations with open membership are receptive to support under the First Amendment. Accordingly, courts have held that if a public high school allows student associations to meet during noninstructional time, the access policy for such meetings by other groups must be neutral in relation to association content (Dixon v. Beresh, 1973). Due to the legislation resulting from such issues, Congress enacted the Equal Access Act (EAA) in 1984, that confirmed that if a federally assisted secondary school creates an open forum for noncurricular student groups to meet during noninstractional time, it must not deny access to specific groups based on religious, political, or other content of the groups' meeting (Fischer, Schimmel, and Kelly, 2003). School officials may only limit meetings that th reaten to disrupt the educational environment. As mentioned earlier in this literature review, the establishment of an open forum has been challenged by the Establishment clause when association is of a religious nature (Board of Education of the Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, 1990). Reflection on this legislation raises the issue of whether or not the creation of an open forum is in the best interest of the school. Fortunately, under the EAA, school districts do retain the option of restricting access to only curriculum related association, rather than creating a limited open forum for student-initiated association. Regardless of the choice, teachers must be aware of the school district's decision and the underlying obligations of this decision in order to avoid instances of controversy when dealing with student-initiated clubs (Imber & Van Geel, 2000). Freedom of appearance on behalf of students has led to regular litigation in the past. Appearance is of great importance to most students. However, when fads and fashion lead to disruptions in the learning environment, controversy usually follows. Although freedom of appearance has been considered an extension of symbolic expression, which is protected under the First Amendment, the courts have reached contradictory conclusions over this issue (Essex, 1999). In 1982, the court determined that restrictions on student appearance constitute â€Å"a reasonable means of furthering the school board's undeniable interest in teaching hygiene, instilling discipline, asserting authority, and compelling uniformity† (Domico v. Rapides Parish School Board, 1982). Although students have asserted that attire is a means of expression protected under the First Amendment, courts have held that attire can be regulated if it is deemed â€Å"immodest, disruptive, or unsanitary† (Richards v. Thurston, 1970). More stringent restrictions on attire, in the form of uniform policies, have been established in some school systems in order to eliminate gang-related attire, reduce violence, and improve school climate by removing the emphasis placed on attire, thereby enhancing the emphasis on academics (Del Stover, 1996). However, courts have reached contradictory conclusions concerning the constitutionality of mandated school uniform policies. Thus, in order to avoid potential litigation, educators must ensure that a legitimate educational justification is underlying any regulation related to students' appearance and teachers must enforce uniform policies based solely upon these established justifications in order to avoid litigation (McCarthy et al. , 2004). Extracurricular activities are integral components of the majority of public school across the nation. In 1975, Goss v. Lopez established that once a state provides public education, students cannot be denied access to this education without due process of law. Although courts have historically held that extracurricular activities are fundamental in the educational system, the current view stipulates that conditions may be attached to participation in such activities. However, litigation has been contradictory because, â€Å"courts have not agreed regarding procedural protections that must be provided when students face suspension or expulsion from extracurricular activities† (McCarthy et al. 2004, p. 135). Due to these insubstantial rulings, school authorities may not be required to provide formal due process procedures prior to the suspension of a student from extracurricular activities. Nevertheless, if the school district has a policy for suspending students from extracurricular activities, school authorities must abide by this policy, in such instances, an informal hearing and documentation of the underlying rationale for the action is advisable. Suspension based on academic standing, age, conduct, extracurricular participation fees, individual skill, school attendance, residence, and a number of other conditions have been left to the discretion of school district authorities (Imber & Van Geel, 2000). Policies concerning these considerations should be clearly written, they should be communicated to students, teachers, and parents, they should be based on sound educational rationale, and they should be enforced in an indiscriminating manner. Educators should ensure that suspension or denial of participation in extracurricular activities is based on established policy in order to avoid litigation in this area. Conclusion In this litigious society, to protect themselves and the students they teach, teachers should have ample knowledge of school law. Determining the level of knowledge of school law and the importance that teachers place on this knowledge is important so that college officials, school administrators, and teachers can make decisions focused on improving knowledge in deficient areas, such as legal issues pertaining to students' rights. Educating particular groups to increase law knowledge will remain a great challenge for universities officials, school administrators, and teachers because no one person or group of people is like that of another and because no one person or group shares the same educational or practical experiences. Knowledge of the law pertaining to students' rights is of extreme importance to educators because â€Å"by their very nature schools are places where students often wish to express their ideas through speech and other means† (Imber & Van Geel, 2000, p. 37). Thus, teachers should be prepared to lawfully allow students to exercise their constitutional rights while maintaining the structure and integrity of the educational system. In doing so, students will experience an enriched educational environment based upon diversity of ideals, respect for self and others, and, most importantly, the liberties granted by the U. S. Constitution that have defined our nation and its citizenry.