These days, when psychological insights present an integral part of our reality and define our worldview, everybody knows the importance of happy childhood. Each psychologist starts the therapy from an analysis of traumas, which were received when we were children. Some people share how poverty, lack of attention and care, and other traumatic experience affected them in adulthood. Dye (2018) researched this regard, clarifying the connection between such events and living as an adult. He marks: “Early childhood trauma, especially complex trauma, can cause neurobiological changes that impact human development and cause significant changes in brain function” (Dye, 2018, para. 1). Such people, who encountered the aforementioned problems, claim that they will do their best to provide their children with the best childhood for minimizing traumas.
Therefore, as we understand the impact of living conditions in childhood on future life, we should consciously contribute to the improvement of these aspects for modern children. In this context, we should use opportunities for overcoming poverty in needy families, unintended pregnancy, and the absence of one of the parents. These factors lead to appearing of traumas in children, which affect their mental health, which is proved by the study conducted by Dye (2018). In the modern world, personally, everybody has an opportunity to make a change for supplying our children and grandchildren with a better environment. Helping families to cope with significant financial hardships and promoting a conscious approach to pregnancy implies the participation of as great as possible number of people. In case everybody does even minor activity, which may be useful in this context, the common efforts will be considerable enough to make a change.
One of the approaches is assisting charity organizations to realize their goals. For instance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is intended to deliver essential help for families with children, who are incapable of providing basic needs. The organization makes a significant contribution to improving the lives of this category of the population. According to Falk (2016), “In July 2013, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three ranged from $923 in Alaska to $170 in Mississippi” (para. 5). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of unhappy, lonely, and starving children by donating to this organization and volunteering. In the long run, it will make a considerable change, providing all the people in the world with decent living standards and a healthy mentality.
References
Dye, H. (2018). The impact and long-term effects of childhood trauma. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 28(3), 2018. Web.
Falk, G. (2016). The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant: Responses to frequently asked questions. Congressional Research Service. Web.
The New Deal Programs: Formulation, Funding, Advantages, And Disadvantages
The New Deal
The New Deal was a collection of programs, infrastructure projects, economic changes, and legislation initiated by the then President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1939. It was established to provide timely financial support from the Great Recession and to resolve critical changes in manufacturing, agri-business, income, water, employment, and housing (Lucas, 2018). The New Deal was introduced to aid citizens in the aftermath of the crisis. Importantly, most of those measures were implemented during Roosevelt’s initial 3 months in office (Lucas, 2018). These strategies greatly aided and encouraged American citizens, and as a result, the economy and the whole nation did flourish.
The Deal’s Formulation
After Roosevelt realized that the unemployment rate had increased, he started considering new opportunities for people. For instance, short-term state aid and provisional work, such as in construction projects and conservation areas, contributed to boosting the economy and allowed individuals to have resources again (Lucas, 2018). The New Deal enabled the country to move forward and avoid a repeat of the recession’s financial problems and insolvencies. Moreover, corporations, agencies, and scholarships were established after the depression. The Securities and Exchange Commission protected citizens from deceptive monetary practices. Simultaneously, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provided the government with security for financial institutions in the Federal Reserve System part banks (Lucas, 2018). For instance, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration regulated staple harvests by providing money to ranchers to increase prices. furthermore, the Tennessee Valley Authority acquired seven states to provide moderate electricity, prevent flooding, upgrade the highway, and generate nitrates (Lucas, 2018). The above initiatives centered on the corporate and the farming communities. Thus, they provided significant help to the involved populations, but then in 1935, the focus moved to the industrial and metropolitan classes instead.
The Deal’s Funding and Operations
During the crisis, new projects were subsidized by tripling national income levies. Incidentally, sales, individual, inheritances, corporate, and holding corporation taxes, and “excess revenue” duties all increased (Lucas, 2018). The New Deal established the National Labor Relations Board to give trade organizations more leverage. Additionally, the Industrial Recovery Act was implemented to improve the American public’s purchases by raising salaries and shortening working hours, leading to an increment in job creation (Marx, 2021). As a result, employees were offered the opportunity to seek work associations that they could join (Marx, 2021). In the run-up to this presentation, the judiciary had upheld administrators’ rights to prevent such unions’ establishment.
Before the New Deal, companies could terminate staff for becoming members of unions and directing them to sign a declaration not to join any workers’ groups. They also expected their workforce to take a specific position with the associations so they could keep an eye on them and be able to stop organized labor before it began (Marx, 2021). Even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that specific regulations were unlawful, Roosevelt nevertheless helped to change the American people’s lives economically and socially. Additionally, Social Security was launched for the welfare of the aged and widows, unemployment benefits, and insurance for the disabled (Marx, 2021). The body was created to assist individuals when they retire, get disabled, or even die, while minimum wage and a limit on working hours were also established (Marx, 2021). Moreover, employees were often covered by insurance against risks at their workplaces. Therefore, the New Deal brought the nation back together, boosting the economy, and community interactions, and giving people a better living standard.
The Importance of the New Deal
In the short term, the initiatives did aid in improving people’s lives during the depression period. In the long term, the reforms established a standard for the national government to play a central role in the country’s socio-economic welfare (Lucas, 2018). For instance, the new state agencies tried to regulate farm production, control wage rates, and prices, and set up a large economic stimulus package for the jobless (Lucas, 2018). The programs tried to deal with the recession by offering work for those willing to do so to assist the old and the disabled and offering employment. The initiatives also strived to reduce the burden mostly on the age, providing support to farmers and giving employees new and better rights (Lucas, 2018). Thus, after 3 years of persistent economic adversity, the citizens had to deal with the harsh situation. Therefore, while these programs could not stop the recession, they successfully rebuilt public trust and introduced new services that helped millions of people.
The Disadvantages of the New Deal
Although the New Deal was a positive initiative and had its advantages, it was also associated with some disadvantages. For example, the unemployment rate increased significantly as the President did not adequately address job problems. The nation also failed to recover from depression as Roosevelt could not persuade his followers of the need to improve the Supreme Court’s organization to prevent it from resisting his proposals (Lucas, 2018). Finally, African Americans got relatively little benefit from the whole process.
Conclusion
The New Deal was a progression of policies and projects launched during the Great Economic Crisis, and it was aimed at restoring American prosperity. When Roosevelt assumed power in 1933, he moved quickly to stimulate economic growth and provide employment and compensation to those struggling. To some degree, the plan appeared to address some of the citizens’ social and economic issues. Besides, the arrangement was not entirely effective in controlling inflation, as there was some opposition from other sides and the President’s party itself.
References
Lucas, S. (2018). The New Deal: A global history. International Affairs, 94(3), 660-661. doi:10.1093/ia/iiy062
Marx, J. (2021). Great Depression: American social policy.
““Remote Learning” Is Often An Oxymoron”: Article Analysis
Introduction and Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the institution of extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the disease. Key among them is the closure of schools to protect children and teachers from infection. The United States has instructed its learning institutions to suspend in-person learning as it responds to the unfolding humanitarian crisis. One of the options likely to ensure that students continue with their academic development is remote learning.
Teachers are able to give assignments and maintain contact with learners through the Internet. It is an effective way of ensuring that education continues in the face of adversity. However, there is a debate over the validity of reopening schools while infection rates continue to rise. Some people believe that getting children back in class will worsen the pandemic’s effect, while others believe that online learning is unfair to underserved populations without access to high-speed Internet.
In the article “Remote Learning” Is Often an Oxymoron, Nicolas Kristof (2020) defends the need for reopening schools by explaining how remote learning disenfranchises low-income families in addition to increasing the school drop-out rate. The affected individuals are likely to suffer massive lifetime losses in income that will impact their ability to meet basic needs in the future. His goal is to persuade an audience of policymakers and individuals in the general public who have the capacity to influence governmental decisions in the education sector. Kristof’s strengths include the presentation of credible peer-reviewed evidence, logos, and the ability to connect with the audience, whereas his tone could be more candid.
Analysis and Evaluation of Credibility
Kristof is a distinguished author in view of the fact that his article was published in a renowned publication. This highlights the authenticity of the ideas he presents and allows the audience of policymakers to consider the merits of reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicolas Kristof is an accomplished journalist who has worked with the New York Times, which has been applauded for authentic and factual reporting over the years.
A review of the Media/Bias Fact Check database reveals that the publication is rarely biased, avoids the use of loaded words, and takes pride in maintaining accuracy. The credibility of the author’s views is a strength in the sense that interested parties can refer to his writing when supporting the reopening of learning institutions across the country. Even though Kristof is not an expert in infectious diseases or education, he presents a convincing argument on the impact of remote learning on poor populations within the United States.
Analysis and Evaluation of Tone
While Kristof’s position is factual and evidence-based, his tone lacks the candidness required to drive across the severity of the issue at hand. Even though the introduction points out that the President’s son stands to benefit from online learning as opposed to other poor children, the words lack the openness and honesty required to emphasize the harshness of the evident inequality. His statement that children from affluent backgrounds will be “fine even without in-person learning” lacks the straightforwardness required to stress the pandemic’s impact on education (Krsitof, 2020, para. 3). There are some positive points to note regarding Kristof’s tone.
For instance, his word choice and organizational pattern make the article easy to read. He outlines the reasons why children should return to class during the crisis using a clear and precise format. For instance, he asks his audience to “sort through the evidence” and makes a note of their irrefutable inconsistencies (Kristof, 2020, para. 6). The audience can effortlessly grasp the intricacies of the logical presentation of ideas. Kristof’s lack of frankness is a weak point because it takes away from the seriousness of the challenges presented by remote learning.
Analysis and Evaluation of Evidence
For the most part, Kristof applies credible evidence to highlight how remote learning negatively impacts the lives of poor children. He uses research data from a Swedish epidemiologist and the American Academy of Pediatrics to support his argument. For instance, he points out how Jonas Ludvigsson’s study concluded that opening up learning institutions is unlikely to impact COVID-19 mortality in older individuals (Kristof, 2020, para. 10). He also presents an opposing view from JAMA Pediatrics, which highlights how children could potentially facilitate the spread of the virus (Kristof, 202, para. 11). Kristof’s use of peer-reviewed studies to support his ideas is a strength because his audience can verify the authenticity of the presented claims.
Kristof’s most substantial evidence is the reference to research on the impact of the pandemic on low-income children. For example, to demonstrate the negative impact on poor children’s lives, he highlights McKinsey’s findings which indicate that prolonged school closures would lead to the loss of several months of education. In addition, he states that the resultant increase in school drop-outs could reduce each of the affected individuals’ lifetime earnings by 80,000 dollars (Kristof, 2020, para. 12). He ends the article by proposing a viable solution to the looming education crisis. He assumes that the adoption of a “Bandwidth for all” program and the implementation of strict infection prevention measures should facilitate access to education for all (Kristof, 2020, para. 15). The use of research evidence helps Kristof connect to policymakers who often rely on factual data to make crucial decisions.
Flaws in Evidence
However, supporters of remote learning can easily oppose his views because he categorically fails to consider the benefits of home-based education. Kristof’s argument would be stronger if he pointed out that psychologists note how campus closures have “exacted harm on students,” especially in situations where families are forced to contend with the pandemic’s adverse effects (Campa, 2020, para. 6). Emphasizing that the benefits of remote learning do not outweigh its negative impacts on low-income students would help bolster Kristof’s viewpoint. For instance, online learning allows students to benefit from more sleep and a less rigid schedule (Campa, 2020, para. 11). However, the economically disenfranchised children will miss school lunches and lose out on learning due to the lack of access to computers and high-speed internet. Highlighting the severity of the effects associated with limited access to education opportunities would make a stronger argument for in-class learning.
Conclusion
Overall, Kristof’s credibility as an accomplished writer and the use of research-based evidence facilitate his connection with the target audience. For the most part, his argument is presented logically, and the main ideas flow seamlessly. However, the article’s tone lacks the candidness required to emphasize the severe consequences of remote learning on low-income children. Despite this shortfall, he manages to present his support for in-class learning in a convincing and professional manner.
References
Campa, A. J. (2020). Learning, and thriving, at home. Los Angeles Times. Web.
Kristof, N. (2020). ‘Remote Learning’ Is Often an Oxymoron. The New York Times. Web.