Free MBA Program †No-Cost Online Business Courses

A free MBA program may sound too good to be true, but the fact is that nowadays you can get a well-rounded business education free. The internet has provided a way for everyone around the world to learn more about any topic theyre interested in. Some of the best colleges, universities, and business institutions in the world offer free business courses that can be completed at your convenience. These courses are self-guided, which means that you study independently and at your own pace. Will the Free MBA Program Result in a Degree? You will not receive college credit or a degree when you complete the free courses detailed below, but you may get a certificate of completion after finishing some of the courses, and you will definitely get started on the education you need to start or manage a business. The skills you pick up could also be of value in your current position or in a more advanced position within your field. The idea of completing an MBA program without earning a degree may seem disappointing, but remember, the essential point of an education is to gain knowledge, not a piece of paper. The courses shown below have been chosen to create an MBA program that provides a general business education. Youll find courses in general business, accounting, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and management. Accounting Understanding basic accounting procedures is important for every business student, whether you plan to enter the accounting field or not. Every individual and business uses accounting in day-to-day operations. Take all three courses to get a well-rounded view of this topic. Introduction to Accounting:  This introductory course from the U.S. Small Business Administration provides an overview of accounting. The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Choose from a text-based or video-based option.Bookkeeping Course: This free online bookkeeping course is a text-based course that covers basic bookkeeping topics, such as balance sheets, cash flow statements, and debits and credits. You should participate in all course activities to cement knowledge and then test yourself with post-lesson quizzes.Principles of Financial Accounting: This University of Alaska course delves deeper into financial accounting. Lectures are delivered via slides. The course also includes homework assignments and a final exam. Advertising and Marketing Marketing is important for any business that sells a product or service. If you plan to start your own business, work in management, or pursue a career in marketing or advertising, it is essential to learn the psychology of advertising and marketing processes. Complete all three courses to gain a thorough understanding of both topics. Marketing 101:  This free business course from the U.S. Small Business Administration offers an overview of marketing with an emphasis on reaching a wider customer base. The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.Principles of Marketing:  Provided through Study.com, this free online course includes a series of nearly 100 short video lessons. Each video covers a specific topic and includes a post-lesson quiz.Advanced Marketing: This free MBA course from NetMBA provides detailed text-based lessons on a variety of marketing topics. Entrepreneurship Whether you plan to start your own business or not, entrepreneurship training is an important part of a general business education. This knowledge can be useful for everything from branding to product launches to project management. Explore both courses to learn about the different aspects of entrepreneurship. Introduction to Franchising: This U.S. Small Business Administration course introduces students to franchising and provides tips on choosing a franchise. The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.Starting a Business: This free entrepreneurship course from MyOwnBusiness.org covers key start-up topics including writing a business plan, building a business, and operation management. The course includes instruction, quizzes, and other learning materials. Leadership and Management Leadership skills are extraordinarily important in the business world,  even if you dont work in a supervisory capacity. Taking courses in leadership and management will teach you how to manage both people and the day-to-day operations of a business, department, or project. Take all three courses to gain a full understanding of management and leadership principles. Principles of Management: Study.com provides an extensive video-based course focused on business management. The course is divided into short easy-to-digest lessons, each with a post-lesson quiz.Leadership Lab: This free leadership lab from MITs Sloan School of Management consists of videos, lecture notes, assignments, and other learning materials.Business Management and Leadership: This free MBA course from Master Class Management is a mini MBA program that results in a certificate of completion. MBA Program Electives Business electives are a great way to further specialize in a topic that interests you. Here are a couple of electives to consider. You can also search out your own to focus your studies on something that interests you. Business Law: This introductory business law course from Education-Portal.com consists of short video lessons. You can test your knowledge at the end of each portion with post-lesson quizzes.Strategic Human Resources Management: MITs Sloan School of Management  offers text-based lecture notes, assignments, and a final exam focused on  human resource management strategies.   Get Real Course Credit If you would rather take courses that result in some sort of certificate or even a university recognized degree without enrolling in business school and paying a sizable tuition bill, you may want to consider looking at sites like Coursera or EdX, both of which offer courses from some of the top universities in the world. Coursera offers certificate courses and degree programs that start as low as $15. Admission is required for degree programs. EdX offers university credits for a small fee per credit hour.

Freedom Riders The United States - 2497 Words

Freedom Riders were activists who rode interstate transports into segregated southern states. The Freedom riders started their rides in 1961. They additionally rode into the southern states to backing up the decisions of the United States Supreme Court in many court cases ruling segregation unconstitutional. The Southern states disregarded the decisions and the federal government did nothing to help in the implementation of the laws. The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C., on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans at some point on May 17. The Boynton case, which ruled that segregation on public transportation such as buses was unconstitutional, outlawed segregation in the restaurants and waiting areas in terminals that served buses that drove across state borders. About five years before the ruling, the Interstate Commerce Commission had issued a ruling in another court case that had denounced the Plessy v. Ferguson doctrine of separate but equal in interstate bus travel. The Interstate Commerce Commissioin failed to enforce its ruling, and Jim Crow laws remained enforced throughout the South. The Freedom Riders tested this decision and poor implementation of the law by riding the buses in the South in blended racial groups to test neighborhood laws or traditions that upheld seating segregation on buses. The Freedom Rides, and the brutal responses: stirred outrage, and supported the Civil Rights Movement. They called national attention to theShow MoreRelatedThe Freedom Riders For African Americans1491 Words   |  6 PagesWho are the Freedom Riders you may ask? They were a courageous and daring group, which originally consisted of seven African Americans and six Whites.They fought for the equality and justice for their race. They fought against the racist South during the early 1960’s. Their goal was to make a safer and more fair world for current and future African Americans in the United States. They went through hardship and violence from things such as, angry mobs and racist law enforcement through a period ofRead MoreFreedom Riders, By John Lewis, A Former Fre edom Rider1087 Words   |  5 PagesThis quote from John Lewis, a former Freedom Rider I believe with those words perfectly describes why these Freedom Riders began their journey. After reading the textbook, Visions of America and watching the video clip from American Experience of Freedom Riders I was able to make myself knowledgeable about Freedom Riders. Both the textbook and the video I thought engaged me into the information I was either reading or listening. So, what exactly are Freedom Riders, what were the impacts of this eventRead MoreEssay on Freedom Riders1426 Words   |  6 PagesThe Freedom Riders were a group of college students and leaders of various racial equality organizations, both blacks and whites, which tested the law of integration for public transportation. The law was instated, but Alabama especially didn’t follow it. The Freedom Riders rode buses into the cities to see if the townspeople accepted or declined the new law. They in turn ended up beat ing, pummeling, and chasing the riders out of town with the white mobs. The Freedom Riders violently fought the segregationRead MoreFreedom Riders: Rebels with a Cause1400 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom Riders: Rebels with a Cause â€Å"If not us, then who? If not now, then when? Will there be a better day for it tomorrow or next year? Will it be less dangerous then? Will someone else’s children have to risk their lives instead of us risking ours?† -- John Lewis May 16, 1961, to other Nashville students considering joining the Freedom Rides John Lewis, a young black man who was born in the South, participated in the Freedom Rides. His statement rang true when Nashville students were facedRead MoreFreedom Riders By Rosa Parks Actions And Advised By Martin Luther King Jr.1275 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom riders fought for racial equality among African Americans in America in the 1960’s. Their purpose was to first stop segregation of transportation, and then later expand to racial equality everywhere. They were inspired by Rosa parks actions and advised by Martin Luther King Jr. The freedom riders protests lasted 7 months with about 400 members participating in them. Riders were supported by the Congress for Racial Inequality or CORE. Throughout history the southern states has been a placeRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement: Freedom Rides Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans sought to have their Constitutional Rights permitted. One form of protesting came forth in the f orm of the Freedom Rides. After slavery ended, many amendments and laws were created to ensure the rights of African Americans, but because of prejudices and racism, most of these were ignored. The Supreme Courts decision in Plessy v. Fergunson established separate but equal on interstate transportation in 1896, but in 1947 the Supreme Court foundRead MoreThe Freedom Riders Essay1090 Words   |  5 PagesThe Freedom Riders were a group of around 13 people. Most of them were African Americans but there were always a few white skinned people in the group as well. There was no set leader for the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders rode interstate buses into the Southern United States. The south was referred to as the most segregated part of the U.S. The main goal of the Freedom Riders was to desegregate and become â€Å"separate but equal.† They had also set out to defy the Jim Crow Laws. The Freedom RidersRead MoreFreedom Riders Speech788 Words   |  4 Pagesled to violence. In 1960, a group of brave people of a variety races came up with the idea of â€Å"Freedom Rides†. They knew the consequences of their cause, a 13 person group, protesting against something that most of the world stood for, and yet they still did everything they could do , to help end it. The Freedom Riders’ goals were to â€Å"challenge the non-enforcement of the united states supreme court decisions Morgan vs. virginia† (quizlet.com). The reason why they fought with Read MoreThe Freedom Riders Essay1553 Words   |  7 Pagesthis time, segregation was legal. In 1892, the Supreme Court had ruled that a state could separate whites and blacks as long as the services were equal. On May 4, 1961, a diverse group of thirteen courageous individuals known as the Freedom Riders embarked on a bus journey into the South in order to challenge segregation in bus terminals. Although many individuals believed that segregation was wrong, many southern states continued to practice racial segregation. Racial segregation is the separationRead MoreFreedom Riders By Rosa Parks Actions And Advised By Martin Luther King Jr.1275 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom riders fought for racial equality among African Americans in America in the 1960’s. Their purpose was to first stop segregation of transportation, and then later expand to racial equality everywhere. They were inspired by Rosa parks actions and advised by Martin Luther King Jr. The freedom riders protests lasted 7 months with about 400 members participating in them. Riders were supported by the Congress for Racial Inequality or CORE. Throughout history the southern states has been a place

The Origins Of Micro And Macro Social Work Practice

History serves to educate us about our past and guide the future. As social workers it is important to understand the history of our profession in order to appreciate how the current practices came into being and in turn how our history affects our current practice. To adequately serve the various populations, we must understand the historical oppression and discrimination they faced so we can provide culturally competent service delivery. This essay will compare and contrast the origins of micro and macro social work practice and how they are reflected in modern practice. In looking at the historical development of social work, I think it is fair to say that the profession started with a focus on micro-level practice. For some time a variety of different people groups such as women and African-Americans were oppressed and discriminated against. â€Å"The effects of discrimination, ideological shifts, and economic and technological changes created social pressures, and the first organized efforts to respond to these pressures formed the basis for the creation of social work† (Netting, Kettner, McMurtry, Thomas, 2012, p. 39). Early social work focused on individuals and casting blame on them for their circumstances. Social workers had good intentions, but believed poor people were poor because of some failing on their part and often held a moralistic view that they were better than those they were helping. Social work has always had some type of organization behind theShow MoreRelatedThe Obesity Epidemic Remains A Public Health Concern Worldwide1115 Words   |  5 PagesFamily) study; and VI) the rationale and need for this research. Throughout, these topics will particularly highlight evidence in Latino populations. . The Latino population in the United States is diverse. In this dissertation, the term Mexican-Origin is used to identify our study subjects who self-report as Mexican-American, Chicano or Mexican. The original terms (e.g. Latino, Hispanic, Mexican-American) used in other studies cited below will be retained to preserve integrity of the literatureRead MoreField Learning Experience : Professional Social Worker805 Words   |  4 Pagesplacement experience has permitted me to develop and evolve as a professional social worker. This was a time that I implemented my social work practice theories with the client system from a micro, mezzo and macro environment. This knowledge enables me to understand how changes in one individual influences changes in the family and community environments. As a social worker, I was able to combine the ecological and social systems theory, focusing on the individual and his or her environment. I wasRead MoreSocial Order (Foucault and Goffman)1463 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Social order derives from an interpretation of a net of relations, symbols and social codes. It creates a sense of how individuals all fit together in shared spaces (Silva, 2009, p. 308), and thus relies on encoding of human behaviour in physical spaces as well as among various individuals. In any society, people must acquire knowledge of how to relate to one another and their environment. Order is then established by a normalisation and standardisation of this knowledge. This essayRead MoreA Critique of Todays Process of Ijtihad814 Words   |  3 Pagesin contemporary social sciences. Its province is destined by God, may he be exalted, in a way to be determined and re-determined in the course of time by drawing insights from different branches of human science. The subject of riba, and other divine codes in Qur’an regarding dealings and transactions is such that no cohesive delineation of the scope can be regarded as final. Some of needless difficulties that have arisen in a proper interpretation of riba are of linguistic origin. The jurist’sRead MoreThere Are Different Theories, Perspectives, Practices,1704 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent theories, perspectives, practices, and models that guide the social worker’s profession. A theory is a framework that is used to analyze and explain the unknown or certain aspects of the world. A perspective is a point of view, an explanation for something that is uncertain or unknown. The transcultural perspective embraces five interrelated but distinct dimensions of diversity: 1) recognizing the importance of culture in social work at all levels of practice; 2) applying principles of culturalRead MoreHuman Behavior And Social Systems Development : Case Management, Direct Practice And Advocacy For Policy Development1610 Words   |  7 PagesSocial workers are professionals who promote social change through problem solving in human relationships. To ensure the wellbeing of clients they promote empowerment strategies and liberation tools. Social workers apply theories of human behavior and social systems development to support people’s positive interactions with the environment. Social workers play three major roles in working with children and their families. These three roles are key in the following practice arenas: case managementRead MoreSocial Justice is Vital in Relationship to Social Policy705 Words   |  3 PagesSocial justice is extremely import ant particularly in relation to social policy, social work practice and community development as it seeks to alleviate oppression and relates to the suitable distribution of resources and services (Cheyne, OBrien, Belgrave, 2008). This form of justice is recognized as distributive justice as it is concerned with the fair distribution of all resources that are required for well-being and it seeks to ensure all people have equal opportunity and enjoyment of allRead MoreCompare and Contrast Two Social Science Views about the Odering of Social Life1279 Words   |  6 Pages Without knowing it, social order is very important in everyday life. As Elizabeth Silva says ‘social order is a key principle of living together’ (Reflections on Ordered Lives, 2009, Audio). The ordering of social life can be looked at in many ways. However, two theories stand out when looking at the making of social order, that of Erving Goffman and Michel Foucault. Both of these theories are concerned with how society is produced and, more specifically, how social order is made and remade. WhileRead MoreThe Plight Of Modernity And The Social Conditions Associated With Modern Forms Of Capitalism1421 Words   |  6 PagesThe plight of modernity and the social conditions associated with modern forms of capitalism are issues of deep interest in the works of Marx and Weber. For these theorists, religious institutions serve important roles in understandings of how societal changes emerge. However, their understandings of how religion relates to social change are vastly diff erent. This is the result of fundamentally different assumptions underlying their particular theories. Within Marx’ understanding of religion, ideologiesRead MoreMy Vision Of The Social Work Field906 Words   |  4 PagesMy vision of the social work field is being able to help people in need and being the person that people can look back on and remember as a huge help in time of need. I think my core values and beliefs will help me be an effective social worker and help me succeed in this field. It is in my belief that a person should never be knocked down when they are going through hardships, and rather empowering them. I also believe that not everyone could be a social worker because it takes a certain kind of

World War Entry Essay - 1042 Words

January 1917- This war has been going on now for almost three years now, between countries all around the world, but mainly Europe. It has been both devastating so far to the lives of many uninvolved individuals, and has used all the countries’ resources and destroyed land. America has not entered the war yet, but I can see it coming in the near future as our president Woodrow Wilson becomes more and more upset with innocent Americans being killed and no fight back. April 1917- The bold letters of, â€Å"America Officially at War† cover the headlines of every newspaper I see. Just as I expected, there was no way our country would sit and watch for any longer. Propaganda signs cover walls persuading people to â€Å"Join the War† and â€Å"Do their†¦show more content†¦After the many near to death experiences I went through, it is a miracle that I am still here. I now return to my hometown, Columbus, Ohio to reunite with my family, after not being with them for several years. Returning back is exciting, seeing the family I’ve missed for so long, and coming back to my house and my town where I have lived all my life. December 1918- I returned home a changed person. Wherever I went, people flocked to see me, calling me â€Å"An American Hero.† It is different from the occasional recognition I was receiving from being a somewhat famous racecar driver. Now, directors ask me to act in movies, to endorse products and to be featured in commercials. However, I decline all requests. The most important for me is to be with my family. I missed them tremendously while I was overseas, and know that they need me as the country recovers from aftermath of the Great War. One thing I notice almost immediately upon arrival is the increasing amount of women working in places I would never see them in before the war. Seeing women as factory workers and other jobs would have been unheard of before the Great War because these jobs were usually taken on by men. It is understandable why this is happening, with so many men leaving to fight it there is no other alternative than to have women take their place. The next few years are going to be crucialShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Anne Frank971 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis Essay In 1942 war broke out in Germany, Hitler, the leader of the Nazi’s, sent out Nazi troops to rid the world of Jewish people and make Germans rule completely. Many Jews fled the country and went into hiding living under strict rules, in fear of being found. A young girl named Anne Frank lived during this time. While in hiding, Anne wrote down all her experiences in a diary and her story went down in history. Three different genres of information help describe Annes life during the war. AnneRead MoreRichard Frankland s Digger J. Jones1650 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 1967 Referendum and to a lesser extent, the Vietnam War. The passage, situated in the first few pages of the novel, immediately after the implied readers discover the origin of the name Digger, but prior to the first mention of Aboriginal people not being considered â€Å"proper citizens† (Frankland, 2007, pp 12) In the passage, Digger’s family learn of oldest son and big brother, Paul’s death. Thro ugh a close reading of the passage, this essay will explore the narrative and language features and howRead MoreThe Disregard Of Life During War1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe Disregard for Human Life during War Times The quality of life for soldiers of war has decreased and basic necessities are lost. The value of civilian lives is also lost in the disputes between two countries. An example of this is, â€Å"Something was being burned there. A truck drew close and unloaded its hold: small children. Babies! Yes, I did see this, with my own eyes†¦ children thrown into the flames† (Wiesel 33). The above quote from Night by Elie Wiesel represents the disregard of life andRead MoreHenry David Thoreau s Life And Legacy1528 Words   |  7 Pagesmany readers around the world. By immersing himself into nature he hoped to gain more of a keen understanding of society through his own personal inspection. Living in simplicity and self sufficiency were other goals of Thoreau. This lifestyle was inspired by the transcendentalist philosophy, a popular custom during the American Romantic period. Proven in his literary works Thoreau was not an author that wrote stories, he wrote some poetry but most of his writings were essays. His work consisted ofRead MoreThe Life of Jean-Paul Sartre847 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested in philosophy after reading the essay â€Å"Time and Free Will† by Henri Bergson. In 1929, Sartre met Simone de Beauvoir. Beauvoir, who later on became a celebrated philosopher, stayed friends with Sartre throughout his entire life and would be the closest thing to a wife Sartre would ever have. In 1939, Sartre was drafted into the French army as a meteorologist. He was captured by German troops in 1940 and spent nine months as a prisoner of war. After World War II, Sartre emerged as a politicallyRead MoreWriting and Compare-and-contrast Essays1384 Words   |  5 Pagescompare-and-contrast essays. There are ways to organize your thoughts about compare-and-contrast topics, which will help you write thoughtful and balanced essays. Compare-and-Contrast Essays First, you will learn how to write a compare-and-contrast essay When you compare, you show how two or more things are alike. On the other hand, when you contrast, you show how two or more things are different. Click the buttons to see the difference between comparing two things and contrasting two things. An essay exploringRead MoreArab Spring and the French Revolution1272 Words   |  6 PagesFrench Revolution and the Arab Spring Essay Essay Prompt: To what extent does the French Revolution reflect the recent conflicts seen within the Arab Spring? Note: Consider the following themes: * Short-term and long-term causes * Popular Revolts * Voice of the People – leaders, writings, media and symbols * Shifts in Power * International Interventions * Religious Repercussions Research links/News Articles: Middle East Region - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0Read MoreThe Causes of the First World War1166 Words   |  5 PagesThis question has formed part of the historiography of the causes of the First World War, a historical debate that has endured ever since the conflict ended. It periodically resurfaces with new theories being advanced such as the Fischer thesis, usually on account of the release of previously unseen documents or because of a shift in the political climate. It has emerged to the fore once again because this year is the centennial of the war’s outbreak and there are plans to commemorate it nationallyRead MoreThe United States Recent Wars Against Iraq Essay examples1138 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States of America fought within the last two decades two major wars against Iraq, which were totally different in their character. On the one hand, in 1990 America conducted Operation Desert Storm to defeat Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait, mainly wi th traditional also called conventional warfare. On the other hand, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003, which was after the declared defeat of Saddam Hussein’s military forces a brutal conflict of U.S. forces together with the new governmentRead MoreThe Notion of What It Means to Be British767 Words   |  3 Pages20 years from now. There is no consistent definition of what is a constantly evolving system, it is extremely challenging to characterize the profile of a common Briton. This essay will examine what it means to be a Briton in three distinct time periods.; beginning with pre-World War Britain, then shooting to Post World War II, and finishing with what it means to be a British citizen today. In examining these specific times, a glimpse can be given into the whole of the meaningfulness of the nation

Gonzales V. Raich Free Essays

Pace University Michael Khoo LAW 101 Gonzales v. Raich(545 U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on Gonzales V. Raich or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 (U. S. Sup. Ct. 2005)) I. FACTS Angel Raich and Diane Monson (plaintiffs) suffered from serious medical conditions and the only effective treatment was the use of Marijuana which was recommended by the doctors. In 1996, a California statue, under the name of The Compassionate Use Act, was established to legally allow marijuana to be used only for medicinal purposes. Monson cultivated her own Marijuana for her own usage as she relied on it heavily for daily functions. The Drug Enforcement Administration (defendant) came to Monson’s house, discovered the cannabis plants and destroyed all six of them. Raich and Monson sued the DEA to obtain an injunction that would inhibit the enforcement of the federal Control Substance Act (CSA) on Monson. The CSA classifies marijuana as a controlled substance. Raich and Monson claimed that enforcing the CSA would violate the Commerce Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. II. JUDGEMENT Angel Raich and Diane Monson (plaintiffs) won the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration (defendant) lost the case. III. LEGAL PRINCIPAL A. ISSUE Whether Congress’ power to regulate interstate markets for medical substances encompasses the portions of those markets that are supplied with drugs produced and consumed locally. B. HOLDING No. IV. REASONING A. GENERAL ANALYSIS In this Constitutional Case, the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) gives Congress and the Federal government the right to confiscate and/ or destroy any discovered controlled substances. Marijuana is considered a schedule 1 controlled substance due to hazards, high potential for abuse and lack of medicinal benefits. The Compassionate Use Act was created in 1996 in California as a statue that legally allows Marijuana to be used only for medicinal and medical purposes. The argument used against the DEA for enforcing the CSA on the plaintiffs is that it would be a violation of the Commerce Clause which is a major component of the Fifth Amendment. The Commerce Clause establishes that the congress has the authority to oversee, regulate and intervene in interstate commercial activity. B. APPLIED ANALYSIS The Controlled Substance Act’s jurisdiction was used by the DEA to destroy Marijuana in Monson’s house because of the simple fact that Marijuana is categorized as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. However the plaintiffs argue that such action would take away the power of the Commerce Clause of the Fifth Amendment which states that the federal government body has the authority to overlook and regulate interstate activity. Nowhere in that clause does it give the federal body the power to regulate intrastate activity which is the case of the cultivation of marijuana in Monson’s house. In addition to that, the Compassionate Use Act supports the cultivation of marijuana in Monson’s house because Monson is a patient who was severely ill and whose life was dependent on the usage of Marijuana for recovery. According to the circumstances of this case in which the possession of marijuana was due to health, medical and medicinal reason, and for abuse purposes, the Supreme Court has overruled the DEA to execute the CSA on Monson. How to cite Gonzales V. Raich, Papers

Journal of Ministerial Deveopment

Question: Discuss about the Journal of Ministerial Deveopment? Answer: Experience: Special Education Project I am a pastor of a Catholic Church in west of London, and in the year 2015 on the month of November, one of my friend invited me to his ministry. I visited his ministry, and saw that he is working on a very unique project. His project is mainly associated with different schools and the education that is being provided to the students in schools. The students in the schools are not being provided with teachings like fire drills, and things like that but they are being provided with different kinds of education; they are being taught to deal with critical incidents that may arise at any point of time. There are times when the students face critical situations like violence, abuse, injuries because of any kind of accident or something, which could create a trauma inside the students and the trauma is not only devastating for the school but also for the community as well. My friend, provide emotional support to these students or to the children so that they could easily come out of the t rauma and could live a better life. He asked me to accompany in him in his project, at first I was skeptical about accompanying him because I was busy studying the Bible at that time; then I thought that if I have to develop myself as a pastor then I should be aware of the critical conditions that the sons of God face almost every day, so I changed my mind and accompanied him in his project. It is true that being a pastor I have lots of work to do and I have commitments towards my family as well, so I hesitated at first, but then I accompanied him in his project. Exploration: There are so many schools around the district where my friends work as a pastor. The schools are all good but at times there are some unexpected incidents that could take place in the life of the students that could change the life of the students studying in the schools. The different kinds of incidents that could take place in the life of the students include incidents like accidents and abuses as well as violence. Incidents like, fire, flood and other natural and man-made threats could affect the life of the student, in more than one ways, and it could emotionally affect the students as well. Therefore, fighting fires and floods and other disaster physically, should not be the main aim of the schools, they should make sure that the students who are going through the trauma of any kind of disaster should come out of it easily. Moreover at times there are students in the schools, who commit suicide, and things such as these; these acts too have a devastating effect on the students s tudying in the school. In short the incidents that hamper the daily activity of the schools, and that which are not welcoming in are categorized as the critical incidents. The critical incidents not only have a negative effect on the students but at the same time the critical incidents also have a negative impact or an effect on the people working in the organization. The symptoms and the way the students and the staff will react vary with the cultural background of the students and the staff. Therefore, the critical incidents should be dealt carefully, because it could gave rise to harmful conflicts among the school personnel and at times the school authorities are also pressurize to take decision under stress. The schools always prepare themselves for things like earthquake, floods, and fires but along with preparing themselves for these kinds of incident it is also important to prepare the students as well as the staffs for critical incidents as well. The critical incidents not only include those traumatic incidents that are taking place within the school hour and in the school premises but at the same time those incident that took place after the school hours and even away from the school premises should also be taken into consideration. The incident that could take outside the school premises and after school hours include incidents that are occurring in a sports activity or in a sports event. The activities like a murder in the school premise, or a sudden death in the school premise, or the sudden death inside the school, through incidents like suicide could have a negative effect on the people who are there in the school. Things like, child abuse and violence, or any kind of serious injury occurring due to any cause like the use of the weapon in the school premise could also have a bad effect not only the students who are studying there but also on the other people as well (Ortoleva and Btrancourt 2016). Things like the bomb threat too, are not at all very good for the mental health of the people who are there in the school and therefore, the school should always be ready to provide support to these people. The schools should chalk out a plan so that even if any such situation takes place inside the school premise then that could be easily avoided through the proper plans and the measures that are being taken by the school authority. The school management and the authori ty should also be ready to provide mental support to both the staff and the students so that they could easily overcome the trauma through which they are going and live a better and a healthy life. The school should have their plans ready for handling any kind of dangerous or critical situation, so that if it takes place the school authority and the management have enough knowledge and learning to handle the situation; the most important part is that the school authority should be ready to handle the emotional trauma through which the staffs, the teachers and most importantly the teachers and the students go through. The schools should have a team ready so that in case there is any critical situation or if there is an occurrence of the critical incident inside the school, they can act immediately without much problem or hesitation. The team should include the principal of the school, the counselor who is there in the school and at the same time the schools should also have the head of every department and the other staffs as well; which include the clerical staff, the child care worker, the assistant teachers and the other staffs of the school. My friend told me that the people who are included in these teams must possess certain qualities and it include qualities like compassion, friendliness, the leadership quality and the qualities such as these. Moreover the members should also have the decision making quality and at the same time the members should also have the listening quality as well. They should be able to listen to all the instruction and decision carefully and should follow the decision accordingly. Most importantly they should always be available and they should feel comfortable in working in flexible times, only then they should be there in the team. Theological Reflection The project really intrigued me a lot and I wanted to find out if theology could really help me to find an answer to the problems that are being faced by those who have experienced the critical incidents. I wanted to find out that if theology could provide solace to those people who had faced the critical situation? Do theology and its texts provide any kind of support, especially emotional support to those who have face the critical situation? Therefore, I looked into few texts, like the Bible, Genesis, and the gospels and into few other texts to have answers of the questions that are raised within me. Child abuse or any kind of abuse is something that should be prohibited, at least, according to me. I wonder if Bible has anything to say about abuse or not, so I took the Bible and went through the Bible. I found out that Bible has not use the word abuse anywhere, although it has prohibited abuse, especially emotional abuse is being prohibited by the Bible. According to gospel of James, in chapter 3 and in line 9, anyone who is being created in the image of God should not be cursed in any way. In the gospel of Matthew in chapter 22 lines 35 to 40, I found out that emotional abuse actually violates two of the greatest commandments of God; among those two greatest commandments one is the love towards the God and love for all the others who are made in the image of the God. Mark in chapter 8 and in line 34 has stated that if the Man spoke the wholesome words then he denies the Christian way of living a life in a roundabout way. Therefore, in the gospel of Mark also the same prohibition , against using abuses is being found (Higton 2015). The Ephesian chapter 4 line 29 states that if a person uses abusive words then he (she) lacks the fear of God and at the same time it also means that the persons action could lead to destruction. Therefore, the use of the abusive words actually means denying the fact that there is a presence or the existence of any kind of God. After I have found out these facts about abuses I wanted to found out what Bible has to say about all the different kinds of violence and destruction and how the Bible or any other theological texts condemned any kind of violence (Lim 2015). Before I found out the words that are against violence or any kind of destruction I found out these lines that could provide solace to any person who has gone through any critical situation or who could actually be the medium through which violence can occur at any point of time: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2Timothy 2:24-26) Violence and overcoming violence is a difficult thing and at times the trauma of violence is such that overcoming that violence becomes a challenge for the human beings. I thought if during a critical situation someone is gone through that deep trauma of violence and could not overcome it and is thinking about the ultimate sin, ending the life that is being build in the image of the God; then is there any way to bring that person out of that trauma? I thought the Bible should have something for that person and therefore, I searched for it and I found that according to the evangelist, the life that is being provided by the God is a divine life. The fact that the Earth is not the ultimate rather it is the penultimate, is a truth but at the same it is also a truth that the duties and the works that are being carried out on this Earth are sacred duties and should be carried out properly, and this penultimate reality should have a perfection of the love if there is a love towards the brot hers and the sisters who are surviving on this Earth and is living an Earthly life (Hick 2015). It is true that the Old Testament has many stories, where the examples of violence and violent acts being carried out by the order of the God are being stated. For example there is the story of Abraham, to whom God commands to sacrifice his son Isaac by binding him, although he was later saved by one of the angels. The New Testament although have reference to those facts where things like kindness, gentility, love is being given more importance than any other things. For example in case of the New Testament, these lines are being found: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you". (Ephesians 4:32) But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you". (Luke 6:27) You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?". (Matthew 5:43-48) The act of violence is always being condemned in the Bible and the New Testament, especially condemns any act of violence to a great extend. The project of my friends is about those children and those people who faces critical situation in the school and thus it can be said that the project is directly related to the human sufferings, or rather to the sufferings of life. The sufferings are not only physical sufferings but at the same time it is also related to mental or to the emotional sufferings as well. I know Jesus had suffered a lot and had died for the human kind sacrificing his life, none of the human sufferings could match his sufferings but then if I had to things about human sufferings I have to know more about what the Christian theology and its texts had to say about human pain and human sufferings (Moltmann 2015). In the Christian Theology one of the most important part is the theology of Cross. According to the theology of cross, one could only recognize the self revelation of God, through, shame, humility and through sufferings. Therefore, sufferings are an important part of the human life because without sufferings one could not think of a life because God identify with human compassion and human love through human sufferings. Therefore, sufferings of the human life are a must needed thing and one should accept the sufferings that he/she experiences. According to Pope John Paul II, "Suffering is something which is still wider than sickness", and he states the following things because he believe that there is a kind of "distinction between physical suffering and moral suffering" (Boxall et.al 2015) The theology and the texts therefore, helped me to know what the Bible has to say about pain, sufferings, abuse and violence. I felt that the project with which my friend is dealing is really very good and the theology and the texts of theology could be very helpful in this case (Holligan and Wilson 2015). The texts in theology could not only guide the people who are planning or rather getting prepared with a plan but at the same time, it will also help those people who are going through the trauma and they need counseling and other kinds of emotional and psychological support to get out from that trauma. The Bible and other texts such as the New Testament and the Gospels and the other texts, even the words of the Pope John Paul II are helpful and at times supportive for the students and the staff who has gone through any kind of critical experience. I also think that the team which should be prepared for combating the critical incidents whenever it occurs should also include people who have the good knowledge of the theology and the words of these theological texts would be very useful in providing the right and the correct support to those, who has gone through an emotional trauma. Action/Response The project of my friend really overwhelmed me and I thought that the people or rather the students in my ministry is also going through a same kind of experience and if I too could help in promoting such a special education system then nothing will be better than it. Therefore, I had talk with the senior pastor of my ministry and he too felt that the idea is really a very good idea and he provided me with all his support so that I could carry on with my project. I therefore, decided to arrange a meeting in my church where I addressed all the other people and let them know about my project. My project include not only providing the best support to the students and the staffs in the school, so that they could combat the critical situations whenever it takes place but at the same time I also aim at providing theological education to the students and the staff as well. The education will not be provided for any religious purpose, rather the purpose of providing this education will be to make sure that people during the time of crisis have enough mental or psychological strength, to help the others, to show kindness and love towards the others. I believe that the education will also help the students as well as the staffs to come out of any kind of trauma through which they are going and thus the theological texts will really help me to carry on with my project in my ministry Moreover, people who are being induce with the thought of suicide and other things for them the lesson of learning and the importance of having human life should be explained properly and therefore, in my project these texts will definitely play a very important role and this is the conclusion to which I have reached after the theological reflection I had. References Boxall, I. and Matthew, D., 2015. Allen, Michael, and Scott R. Swain. 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