Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A boost for the world’s poorest schools, Tina Rosenberg.


I believe that education is one of the most important things in our lives. I cannot see myself without knowing how to read or write. In my home country Sweden the government made a law for school duty, every child have to go to school for a certain amount of years. Homeschooling is also illegal because of a specific curriculum that each student has to be educated with. I think that every child should have a chance to an education, unfortunately this is not how it works in many parts of the world and in under-developed countries.

This is why I think that developed countries should support under-developed countries because we are in this world together. The best thing we can do is help and get inspired from each other. “The aim of having all children in school by 2015 is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals that will come closest to achievement” According to the article A Boost for the World’s Poorest Schools by Tina Rosenberg. United Nations are helping poor countries with their education to get more children into school and according to the article they are making a great progress, and the goal is to have all children in school by 2015. Countries have made progress by lowering school fees, building schools and switching the language of the instructions to the language the children speak.  I think this goal shows the importance
and involvement of education. I learned from the article that even though the under developed countries have more children in school the research organization save the children realized that children was not learning in school and that is why the started a program called  “literacy boost”. Save the children created this program to promote a better learning method for teachers so the children were actually learning. I think that we need strict laws and restrictions from government and organizations like save the children, so children actually go to school. The involvement has shown a progress and with the help under developed-countries gets from developed countries they can actually achieve the goal by having all children in school.



, Emelie Blomstrand




Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Ray


I watched the movie “Ray” directed by Taylor Hackford. The movie is generally about the musician Ray Charles, a blind man who is very ambitious and become famous through his performance as the blind country, jazz and gospel singer.

I find the movie very inspiring, but I am most impressed of the actor Jamie Foxx role as Ray Charles. I could not believe that it was him at first. He uses movements and sounds that must be very difficult and it must be very hard to "act" a blind person. He is doing an excellent job and I understand why he got an Oscar for the role as Ray. 

I got very touched by a Scene when Ray refuses to play for a closed audience (only white people) in Georgia. In the scene ray walks next to a demonstration, when a black man asks Ray if it’s right against the black population to support the racism. Ray changes his mind and walks back to his bus and refuses to play. This made Ray banned from the stated until 1971, however he gave them an official apologize that year.  This scene touched me because it made a big influence on the black population, and he showed that he is against discrimination. I believe that it was an important act since he was one of the best-known artists by that time.

I connect the movie to the theme: “Following your dream or passion in life.” In the movie we are fallowing Ray through his tough childhood, and how he becomes blind. Ray shows that he can be an independent and strong man even though he is blind. He travels a cross the whole country to become a musician. Ray is also doing his own thing, he makes gospel music to  something "evil" and he does not care if it is right or not. Ray shows that nothing is impossible by following his passion for music. 

Monday, February 11, 2013

Creative Solutions To Life’s Challenges


Creative Solutions To Life’s Challenges


I like this story because the writer describes how important creativity is. I like that he contrast his childhood and how he experienced creativity.
I have been working with a lot of childcare and I always like to do something creative with them like painting and craft, their smiles after finishing something is great.

I agree with him because it reminds me of my own childhood. I always wanted to create things and use my fantasy in a creative way. I never get bored of doing creative things and it is something I live for. I love taking a walk and bring my camera with me. When I come home I work with the pictures in Photoshop for hours, and when I feel pleased I post them at a blog or similar.

The best thing with doing a creative thing is the result. I am very self-critical, but I like to look at my pictures after I few months and compare what I have done today. I agree with the author that creativity could help you through life’s challenges. An example from the story; Sonny’s blues, the young man who was filled with suffering actually had something to live for, his passion for blues.

My favorite quote is “Celebrating the creativity around us helps maintain our sanity and keeps us happy.” 

The meaning of the quote is that we should use our creativity because it makes us happy. 
I agree with this quote, we should continue to use our creativity in life, regardess of age. Because It is a good excercise for our brain. 


Emelie.