Anglo-Saxon Boast Video

Problem-Solution Essay: Should Homeschooling Be Banned?

The practice of homeschooling has been around for ages; parents and guardians have taken it upon themselves to teach the younger generation the knowledge that they have received through many years of experience. However, governments have recognized the massive need for an educated youth, providing public school systems to insure that vital knowledge is attained by all students. Everyone is awarded an education by their government, making the practice of homeschooling unnecessary. Students under the practice of homeschooling are suffering from a loss of opportunity, unschooling, and prevention of a better education and even health; to prevent future damage to children’s education, homeschooling should be marked as illegal or parents should be fined for keeping their children at home for schooling.

During the school years, children discover their talents, nurturing them in an attempt to best reach self-actualization.  These children become aware of their own limitations because their talents have been nurtured from a young age, with their mentors providing for their development. Under the homeschooling system, parents become more exclusive mentors to their children, leading to problematic issues. Parents are generally aware of what their child is capable of; however, their assessments may not always be accurate. Since the children are mostly seen in the home environment, their chances to show off their potential are very limiting. Moreover, parents may assume that their children attain the same talents they do. The capability for parents to see all the talents and skills their child attains is an unreasonable assumption. Very often, a schoolteacher, or a coach, gives their students an opportunity to excel: an opportunity that may not be attainable in the home. It is believed that a full development is especially based on familial support rather than school encounters, but this mentoring can transform a student with potential to a student becoming self-actualized. Banning homeschooling will allow more students to reach that goal. These non-consenting individuals are suffering from a severe loss in psychological advancement due to their parent’s decision to keep them away from public or private schooling.

Homeschooling can be a guise for unschooling. Parents are putting their children under homeschooling statutes and refuse or are incapable to carry on the education. It is estimated that in the United States alone, there are 100,000 unschooled children in the 1.5 million homeschooled population (Manino 2010). At least 100,000 adults will enter society without any formal education (Manino 2010). Their chances of unemployment and financial and fiscal success will be dramatically affected. Employment standards are based upon public education standards, hence the importance for formal education.

The interaction amongst students is a crucial part of an education outside of the home; the interactions the students have with each other serves as preparatory for constructive engagements with fellow citizens when their schooling is over. Students who attend regular schooling are taught the rights of equality; children are provided the potential to interact with other children of different backgrounds at such crucial times of their development as active citizens. Children must be prepared for the society that they will soon inherent; homeschooling attempts to construct a world for children that do not often math reality. Organizations, such as joining sports teams and youth clubs, are offered to students at public and private schools. These organizations are centered on similarity; children who enjoy the same activity or believe in the same values congregate. Regular schooling provides inherent social values, unlike homeschooling.

Studies show that parents are home-schooling their children to prevent them from vaccination. These networks of parents decide to home school their children due to their belief that mandated vaccines for public and private schoolchildren are a dangerous overreach by state governments. Although mainstream scientific communities maintain that childhood vaccines are safe, adults are still believe that the vaccinations are entrusted. Public health officials are concerned that the growing popularity of home schooling has created gaps in the vaccination safety net, leading to outbreaks of rare childhood diseases. “In August, the Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention reported measles cases had spiked; 131 cases were reported nationwide for the first seven months of the year, compared with an average of 63 cases per year since 2000” (Joyner 2008). Home-schooled children accounted for 25 out of 30 cases in an outbreak of measles in suburban Chicago in May (Joyner 2008).

Parents are often rightly concerned about the state of public education; their concern is likely to revolve mostly around their own children. Given the option of homeschooling, those who have sufficient leisure time to actively participate in the civic life will be able to home school their child. Many children live in households where both parents work, not having the time to well-educate their children. Even if one parent has the time to educate them, they, themselves, have not been well-educated enough to qualify as a home-teacher. Concerned parents could use their political influence to improve the public school system through democratic reform, producing a better school system.

Homeschooling is unnecessary and is causing problematic issues in children’s education due to the loss of opportunity, unschooling, and prevention of better health and education. Education plays a very large role in children’s lives; homeschooling should be marked as illegal or parents should be fined for keeping their children at home for schooling. Being educated at a regular school helps the children best reach self-actualization. Students are also adapted to others who are from different backgrounds and are able to participate in sports and activities with other children with the same interests. Moreover, students who are homeschooled are less likely to get vaccinated, which has led to an outbreak on rare childhood diseases. Public schooling is offered and eligible for all children making homeschooling irrelevant. A child’s need for education is very important and necessary for a successful future and regular schooling helps students meet these needs more effectively than homeschooling.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle

Trapped in fragile glass with a lock and no key;

 No food, no water, no air to breathe.

No warmth from sky-candle, but warm indeed.

Broken but broken- free,

Battle-sweat is not apparent, but shocking indeed.

Now a golden treasure one can finally see.

Anglo-Saxon Boast

Everyone gather around and listen to me preach—

I am Fantastic Fatmeh and I leave people wanting to be me.

Born in Louisiana, New Orleans is where I resign.

Daughter of a businessman and of a hard working mother,

The sister of a high school-er, trying hard to finish strong.

Helpful and caring, a wonder psychologist I shall become.

Everyone will come to me, for I’ll leave them with super smiles.

All-star cheerleader, I cannot be defeated.

My advanced stunts and tumbling leave me unbeatable.

Crowd-craving, I chose to never be alone.

A rhythm giver, I dance to different beats.

A heart renderer, I help others in need.

Achieving honor roll at the scholar-house,

a grade-grubber is what they call me. 

Don’t let foes control my emotions. I defeat them; I always win.

Shopaholic, no one can put together outfits as grand.

My style is unique with a touch of couture.

Everyone has recognized my fabulous nature,

It is not a surprise my boast is leaving you all gawking. 

Journal 6: Themes of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Culture

            Motifs in The Seafarer and The Wanderer reoccur in many works of the Anglo-Saxons. In Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer, exile and destiny motives occur in each of the works, symbolizing the beliefs of Anglo-Saxons. These three Anglo-Saxon literature pieces portray exile and journey, revealing the beliefs of Anglo-Saxons during that time period.

An exile motive is portrayed in all three Anglo-Saxon works. In the poem Beowulf, in order to heroically fight evil, Beowulf exiled himself from the Thanes. This represents a belief of the Anglo-Saxons; Anglo Saxons believed heroes are the highest honor and should be flattered and praised. Beowulf believed that if he independently won the battle, he would be the greatest warrior and in turn be praised and highly respected;  It was Beowulf’s duty to protect and demolish evil stating “this fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me” (Raffal 43). The isolation from the world is represented in The Seafarer. The Seafarer’s main goal was to live in heaven and he felt as if life on land did not help him attain the compulsory characteristics essential for the gateway to heaven; he feels as if life on land is inferior to Heaven. Wanting to achieve “eternal joy” (120), he exiled himself from the world in hopes to reach Heaven. The Seafarer states, “paths of exile stretch endlessly on land yet my heart wanders away/ my soul roams with the sea” (57-59), explaining that the characteristics and offerings of life on land are far less attractive and pleasing than the adventures and new awakenings the sea presents.  In The Wanderer, the Anglo-Saxons value of loyalty is portrayed as a man wanders in search of a new lord. The wanderer is forced to leave his home to the war at his time. He states “who bears, it knows what a bitter companion/shoulder to shoulder sorrow can be, / when friends are no more./ His fortune is exile” ( 26-28), explaining how depressed and empty he was forced to leave his home.

            A journey motif is portrayed in all three of the Anglo-Saxon literary works. Beowulf goes on an expedition to defeat evil and gain glory by battling Grendel. “[His] purpose was this: to win the good will of your people or die in battle, press in Grendel’s fierce grip” (Raffal 30). Defeating Grendel would leave Beowulf with a feeling of superiority; protecting his society from evil made him very honorable and highly respected, which is a main reason Beowulf, enjoyed playing the hero role in his community. The Seafarer goes on a journey to escape the seemingly treacherous land on Earth to a place attaining more respect to Heaven where he could maintain the essential characteristics and actions to enter Heaven. A journey in search of a new lord is described in The Wanderer. When the Wanderer suffers from a devastating loss of home, it “surges his sorrow upon him; / and grimly he spurs his weary soul/ once more to the toil of the tossing sea” (56- 59). His journey is to find a new home and a new start of life he unfortunately has to lose. As symbolized in each of the three works, the journey motif represents the Anglo-Saxon values of heroism and service.

Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer contain motifs of exile and journey that are related to Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf, the Seafarer, and The Wanderer exile themselves in order find purpose in their lives. Beowulf exiled himself from the Thanes in order to fight evil, The Seafarer exiled himself from the land on Earth in order to gain the qualities needed to go to Heaven, and The Wanderer is exiled from his home and forced to go to war. Journey motives were portrayed in each of the three characters as well. Beowulf goes on an expedition to defeat evil and gain glory by battling Grendel, The Seafarer goes on a quest to find a new home, and The Wanderer goes on a journey to find a new lord.

Journal 5:Grendel’s Attitude towards Language

Language is an aspect of Grendel’s life that he both admires and hates for the reason being that he has no one to freely speak with, unlike humans who freely converse with each other. Grendel’s use of language evolves throughout the novel. From simple thoughts to elaborate soliloquies with symbolism, Grendel learns how to articulate his language poetically, expressing his inner-most feelings.

In the beginning of the novel, Grendel has difficulty comprehending a familiar sound spoken by the humans. Grendel’s curiosities of that familiar sound lead him to explore and observe humans conversing. He begins to understand and speak the human language after years of observations. However, his speech is not far from perfect. He begins alternate the language to suit his needs and to figure out the difficulties held in the language.

Grendel mastered a form of Old English towards the end of the novel that is pleasing and is similar to the way the noble may have spoken. Grendel can speak fluently and has become advanced in his communication. Although he can speak very well, he cannot speak freely with humans for the fact that they fear his existence. Grendel’s mother refuses to speak to him do to their lineage to Cain causing God to banish them. When Grendel goes to attack the Hrothgar’s meadhall, Grendel is stunned to hear Unferth speak and respond to him openly. For this reason, Grendel spares his life and does not kill him.

Grendel’s attitude towards language changes in a variety of ways throughout the novel. From a disciple of language to a language master, Grendel becomes advances in language, altering it to fit his own needs. Although language played an important role in his life, the major con is that he does not always have someone to freely communicate or express his feelings with. Towards the end of the novel, Grendel became fluent in language and learned to speak in poetic verse. Although it is unlikely for a monster to speak in such terms, Grendel’s ability to do so gives a kinship with language. 

Beowulf Journal #4

      In the anonymously written Beowulf, many values of the Anglo-Saxon society are revealed. These values are strength and courage, generosity, and loyalty. Beowulf’s super strength leaves him unbeatable. He fights Grendel unarmed, when everyone else is petrified of him. This is why Beowulf is highly respected and valued in the epic. His bravery to fight Grendel and his ability to win the fight represents the Anglo-Saxon society’s value of bravery and strength. The value of generosity is portrayed in many scenes of Beowulf. After Beowulf killed Grendel, he received an abundance of gifts from Hrothgar. Beowulf also gives Hrothgar the head of Grendel, along with giving his men, who accompanied him, parts of treasure and many other gifts.  The value of loyalty is also seen in the epic. During the battle with the dragon, Beowulf was the only loyal man to stay and fight, while the other eleven men, cowardly scurried. In result, Wiglaf exiled them for their disloyalty.

         These values portrayed in Beowulf create the universal theme of glory. Characters in Beowulf wanted glory, the immortality of good fame, and to remain alive in human memory across time and space. Glory in Beowulf is usually connected with heroism in battle or with generosity. Treasure was also symbolized as glory. Men were anxious to receive gifts of fine weapons, armor, and jewelry. Beowulf was showered in glory due to his super-strength and his bravery to fight Grendel. After he defeated the dragon and Grendel, society idolized him and he was known as "the gentlest of men, the kindest and gentlest to his people, the most eager for glory” (3180-82).