Scholarship / What is the biggest obstacle that have had to overcome in Life? [2]

What is the biggest obstacle that you have had to overcome in Life, and what specific steps did you take to overcome it?

My life has been filled with many obstacles to overcome. However, I always thought of them as challenges. So as I sort out the biggest obstacle I think of my biggest challenge. In addition, even while I selected my divorce as my biggest challenge, I am not sure if I would call it that. I remember people telling me that divorce was like death. Death, I do not think so because I had five children to raise on my own and with a song by Gloria Gaynor, "I will survive" I started my journey.

As one of fourteen children, I was introduced to hard times all my life. I had two loving parents who kept a roof over our head and food on the table. One of the most important things my family stressed was education. We all completed high school and some of us were afforded the opportunity to attend college.

I attended a business school instead and receive certificate of completion six months later. The training came in handy because jobs were plentiful for data entry operators and I was always able to get a job. In addition, within the same year, I was married and eighteen years later I was walking out the door. I remember the song "I Will Survive", loaded my five children in my car, and headed for Florida. I explained to the children what was going on, why and how. I had no promised of a job, no place to stay and about two thousand dollars.

Equipped with the knowledge and the experience of hard times and doing without, I was ready to be all that I needed to be for my children. I came across the book "Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do" by Robert H. Schuller, after reading this book it help me put things into perspective. I got rid of the notion that I was a failure and became optimistic about everything.

In late August when I arrived in Jacksonville Florida, an old family friend owned a house that needed a lot of work. However, the children and I saw potential, it had a roof, windows, and doors. Each of the children had a pillow and a blanket and the floor was comfortable. We now had a place to call home, and I had high hope that I would find a job before my money ran low. I enrolled all the children into their various schools, two in high school, and two in Junior High and the youngest in day care.

I eventually found a job, all five children completed high school and college with two degrees each. I am thankful for the challenge I had and was determined to stay positive throughout those years. There were many days we had no electricity, no phone, or running water. However, staying positive was always the flavor of the day. It was hard but painting a picture of a brighter day was more beneficial for my children to thrive. The biggest obstacle was getting pass self and focusing on the challenge at hand and that was to provide a safe, stable, productive, and optimistic environment for my children.

Essays / Industrial Revolution: Business and Politics in the New Urban Order. [3]

I have several essays to write for History, the first one is due May 3oth.
Below are the instructions for the instructor.

The Industrial Revolution: Business and Politics in the New Urban Order. (1) 19-4 Labor Contractors and Italian Immigrants, pp. 72-75; (2) 19-5 George Washington Plunkitt Explains Politics, pp. 76-79. Read the attached articles and compose a one- to two-page analytical essay on the topic by comparing the arguments on both sides of the issue. To help focus your analysis, refer to those questions listed under 'Questions for Reading and Discussion' following each selection.

I have read both articles and I am not sure how to start....this is what I have so far...

The Industrial Revolution was an important period in The United States' history. Industrial Revolution refers to the usage of factories and machines leaving behind home and hand production. It was a period when people was treated based on their politics, culture and social class.

Essays / Comparing two writers / literary works: How to start a Comparison and Contrast Essay? [4]

I will be writing an essay comparing two writers. 5 to 6 pages.
How should I start out? I never wrote this type of paper.
Thanks

Writing Feedback / Spanking or No Spanking (argumentative essay) [3]

I am tasked with writing an Argumentive essay 3 pages, doubled spaced ect..
Below is my first draft and would like to know if I am on the right track..thanks in advance

The heated argument to use force to encourage a child to behave has been ongoing for centuries. Western society today is more modern displaying rights of all humans and the freedom to speak and express under the Constitution. However, many of the rights of children are still being denied due to parents still using parenting skills from the Dark Ages. Parents I have spoken with will tell me children have no rights. And because they were spanked, slapped and beat for any or all occurrence then it is alright for them to treat their children the same way. I was sitting at a restaurant with family eating dinner one day and one particular family member said, "Grammy thinks children has right but they don't", I was speak less for once. My granddaughter who was two years old at the time was sitting next to me and she was apparently ready to go to sleep. The parents didn't recognized that a child of this age gets tired and can't sit in a restaurant setting around 7'O'clock in the evening while adults drink and enjoy the conversation. She was restless and cranky and the parents thought she should sit and not complain. I eventually took her outside to calm her down. Many parents today believe that the only way to get their child to obey is to threaten them with harse words and physical action. As a parent professional I have witness some punishment against children that caused me many nights of not sleeping. In a store recently two children were playing with each other. The younger one hit the older child and vice versus. The mother was looking on the shelves and had her back to the children. When she turned around she saw the older child playfully hit the younger child again and slap the older child in the face. I stood and watched in awed. No, I didn't interfere with the mother, but so many times children are helpless victims and slowly can develop an aggressive behavior and withdrawn disposition.

Two very different views on this subject of whether you should hit, spank or use any form of corporal punishment that the parent deem necessary.

American Academy of Pediatrics an agency dedicated to the health of all children provides informative article regarding corporal punishment. One article in particular that caught my attention entitled "The Pediatrician and Corporal Punishment", by Morris A. Wessel. Wessel states, "The "spare the rod and spoil the child" philosophy is deeply ingrained in American child rearing. This allows-indeed encourages-many parents and other adults caring for children to spank or hit with the hand, belt, or paddle, or to force a child to stand for long periods of time or to institute other immoderate measures when disciplining seems to be necessary." "Spare the rod and spoil the child" has been taken to an all new level; child abuse has increased to an all high, many children dying at the hands of their caregiver or adult in charge of them.

Parents feel as though if spanking or beating of their child is taking from them they will have no control over their children. Parents and supporters of corporal punishments view an infringement on their right to discipline their children. In order, for parents or caregivers to ensure a healthy child rearing environment then they must be willing to give up the old ways and employed new and productive methods in disciplining children.