1.1s School Really Necessary?

There has been an ongoing debate as to why school is a waste of time, and how
much we actually really need formal schooling for so many years of our life. Many
people still strongly believe in the traditional view, that school is a vital part of
bec o mi ng suc c essful i n t he future and learning basic skills. At the same time,
however , ma ny yo ung st udent feel as though they take classes that they are
uninterested in, and have no benefit for them in the long run, as everyone has
different goals, passions and career paths. People are starting to focus more on
wanting to learn more concrete life skills, which for the most part, are not believed to
be taught in the classroom. It has been believed traditionally that the only way to
properly educate our children is through the standard classroom method. This
includes having a teacher speak in front of a group of students, covering a wide
variety of the most fundamental topics such as math, science and English. It also
means attending school five days a week for most of the day, similar to a full-time
job, with assignments and homework to complete outside of these designated
school hours as well. Here are the arguments both for and against the debate of
how necessary school truly is.

What are the Most Common Arguments as to Why School is a Waste of Time?

Many peo pl e bel i eve t ha t t he school system is flawed, and that it doesn't teach
children necessary life skills. They argue that school teaches children things that
aren't related to their futures, and does not prepare them for their career of choice.
Those who feel that school is a waste of time argue that there is a big difference
bet ween educ a t i o n a nd sc ho ol, that school is merely a formal system or process
that doesn't actually offer everything that education entails. They believe that
schools only expose students to certain select views and ideas, and fail to provide
the entire picture of all perspectives that are out there. Those against the traditional
school system often believe that parents should be teaching their children
themselves, and that everything that is taught in school could be done in much less
time, arguing that school days should be shorter.

Especially since each student learns at a different pace, being taught at home by
their parents could prevent them from being held back by other students. The same
goes the other way — some children require extra time and attention to learn, and
are often rushed to keep up with other students who are ahead of them. School days
are too long, and it can be very hard for children to actually focus for so many hours
straight. Children spend most of their childhood years in school, while it's not always
such a completely productive use of their time. Like most things in life, it's abokl
quality, not quantity, but traditional schooling generally focuses on getting as many
hours as possible into the school day. It is also argued that tests stress student out
for no good reason, and that it defeats the purpose of learning an really enjoying
the process. Testing students in school takes away from the genuine pleasure If
learning for ourselves, and makes it into one big race.

Another argument as to why school is a waste of time is that it measures success

on such a structured and rigid method. The fact that everything in school is based
on tests and grades gives this false belief that if you aren't a successful studert,
then you are a failure. This can be dangerous for children's self-esteem, causing
them to believe that they aren't good enough, and ignoring all of their many oiler
potential talents that haven't had the chance to be explored and released in a
classroom setting.

What are the Most Common Arguments that School is Necessary?

T ho se i n fa vo r o f t r a di t i o na l schooling believe that it's a place that teaches you

basic, necessary skills for life. They also believe that education provides opportunity
and better choices in the long run for people to decide what they want to do intheir
careers. Those who haven't finished school often close doors for themselves inthe
future. Those in favor of learning in a classroom setting also see it as a vital plcce for
soci a l devel o pment , ma ki ng friends, establishing connections and learning social
skills that are needed to be successful later on in life. Not only do they argue that
school provides training for social skills, but also for a variety of skills that are
important for our adult lives that can't be found elsewhere, such as critical thiricing,
working in a team, time management, and how to concentrate for several hours at a
time. Sc ho o l i s seen by ma ny as a chance for children to explore a variety of
subjects in order to understand what they are interested in, and what kind of path
they want to pursue in their futures.

Is School Really a Waste of Time?

If you're trying to find the answer as to whether or not school is truly necessary,
that's up to you to decide. Why school is a waste of time vs school being a vitd part
of growing up has been an ongoing debate that is completely based on your awn
individual beliefs. We have yet to come up with a solid conclusion as to what they
best way to go is — although society does put a big emphasis on traditional school
still. Perhaps it could be done better and more efficiently. Schools could, for example,
have more goal oriented programs that are less time consuming. School days are
too long for many students, but this doesn't necessarily mean that school should be
taken away completely. School hours could perhaps be shortened in order to be
more effective, and allow children to have more time to focus on what they are truly
interested in and learn in a variety of different ways. Students could be provided with
more opportunities within the school system to get more hands-on life experience
with different concrete programs implemented. Parents too can try to be more
involved in their children's schooling, making sure that they are getting the most
possible out of school.

If a c hi l d a l r ea dy kno ws t he direction they wish to take and what they are interested
in, parents can consider putting their child in a specialized school with a more
specific focus. Basic schooling is required for higher education, which provides more
career opportunities and opens more doors. But again, this is entirely dependent on
what you want to do later on in life, and what other kinds of educational
opportunities you have open to you. For those that may feel as though traditional
schoo l i ng i s a wa st e o f t i me, online schooling has become a new and increasingly
common way to achieve a degree. The University of the People is a tuition-free
online university that offers highly accredited degree programs, offering a great
alternative for those that either don't want, or are not capable of spending the
majo r i t y o f t hei r t i me i n t he c lassroom. A degree can now be achieved at your own
pace and without having to actually physically be in a class setting, allowing
students to study remotely and choose their own schedules.

9 Reasons Why Your Child Should Not Go to School

Do you have a trouble child, a child who just doesn't fit in, or a child that simply

doesn' t exc el i n t he c l a ssr o o m? Below are nine reasons why your kid shouldn't go

to school. In response to this concept, adults usually say, "I went to school, and I

turned out just fine."

This may be true, but your child is not you.

1.) Humiliation

Example 1

Teacher: "Abdusattor, will you start reading at the top of page 138?"

Abdusattor: "The... con.. cons... const... construction of the United States..."

Teacher: "Constitution."
Peer (speaking softly): "Sen so'taksan."

Example 2

Peer : T ha t shi r t i s hi deo us. You should be ashamed to go outsi de in that."

These are fairly mild examples, but they show a small sample of the humiliation

that your child can experience at school. The list of insults and self-esteem lowering
attacks that children and teachers lob at each other goes on ad infinitum.

2. Obesity

Studi es ha ve sho wn t ha t i f your closest friends are overweight, you will be

overweight. Pack the students together, feed them all the same highly processed
food for breakfast and lunch, and they will inevitably grow wider. One in three
children are tipping the scales, and no one at school is teaching them any
differently. If your child is lucky, they might get 20 minutes of recess a day and P.E.
once a week. Bad eating habits are one important reason kids should stay outof
school. Keeping your kid away from school keeps them away from drugs, too.

3. Street Drugs

Right now your child knows that if they want to find an illegal drug, they simply

have to contact the right person. This is something that all students (and even

teachers) are aware of, and the basic laws of supply and demand ensure that

drugs on campus aren't going away anytime soon. As much as we might wantto
say, That doesn't happen at my kid's school!" The fact is: it does. Prescriptions drugs
are also a danger on school campuses.

4. Prescription Drugs

Any yo ung ki d who do esn' t fi t the mold is usually referred to a counselor. T hat
counselor then refers the student to a doctor, where the student is often prescribed
some pretty heavy-duty, mind-altering drugs. You would be surprised how many
student s a r e o n so me fo r m o f behavioral medication. Bogus diagnoses get slcpped
on kids who don't conform, and teachers don't intervene because subdued chicken
make their job easier.

5. Socialization

The first question from everyone's lips when a parent says they homeschool their
kids is, "How are they socialized?" Most think kids who do not attend school are
bound to be abnormal, socially awkward individuals who are unable to work with
other people. The question is, though, have those people ever thought of the
socialization that is offered at school? Schools provide the same type of socialization
prisons pr o vi de. St udent s a r e taught to walk through desolate hallways, to sit quietly
for long periods of time, to listen to authority figures, and to be like everyone else. To
be fair, there is socialization at school, but do you really want your child to be
socialized in that way?

6. State- and Federally-Mandated Objectives

T here a r e no t eno ugh da ys i n a school year to incorporate all the objectives set forth
by the various governmental agencies. To try to keep up with impossible deadlines,
teachers shove information down students' throats without worrying about whether
or no t t hey a r e a c t ua l l y r et a i ning any of the information. What's worse, the subjects
are usually far from relevant. Does a fifth grader really need to know what a

dangling participle is? Another fantastic example is third graders being required to
know Roman numerals. Unless time machines are going to hit the market in the near
future, what are these kids supposed to do with that information? We are all good at
certa i n subj ec t s, yet we r equi r e school children to be great at all of them. T his is
completely out of whack with the skills people actually need in their day-to-day
lives.

7. Artificial Environment

Wher e el se ar e huma n bei ngs grouped together like they are in school, where their
entire da y i s c o nt r o l l ed by a n authority figure who dictates what they are allowed to
do and when they are allowed to do it? The only place that comes to mind is prison.

8. Testing

Student s a r e no l o nger l ea r ni ng subject matter, they are learning how to eliminate

choice B and D on a Scantron. That way, they have a 50/50 shot at getting the right
answer. Teachers call it "good test taking skills," and could care less whether the
student is actually retaining the material.

9. Learning

I shouldn't make such a blanket statement, but I will anyway: true learning has gone
by the wayside. The typical cycle is cram, memorize, regurgitate, and forget.
Students have material splattered at them at such an incredible pace that they
have no choice but to memorize the material, then make space for more. They've
been conditioned to perform when needed at the expense of having a true
understanding of what they are learning at school. We are shortchanging students
on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis. Is it any wonder that our students are so
unprepared when they graduate?

Conclusion

Demand better and take your kid(s) out of school to make a point. Most, but not all,
teachers work very hard, but one drawback is that many have never been out of the
school system. These teachers started school as kindergarteners, went to junior
high, high school, college, and at age 22 stepped right back into the school system
as a teacher. It is all they know. The world around us has progressed, but the school
system operates in the same manner it did in 1952. How many companies operate
on the sa me pl a t fo r m a s t hey did half a century ago, and are still around?

2. Steep rise in UK's consumption of organic food

Organi c fo o d c o nsumpt i o n ha s soared in the past year across the UK, as people
have ea t en i n mo r e a nd so ught higher quality food, driving the biggest year-on -
year increase in sales in 15 years.

The organic market, including food, clothing, cosmetics and other products,
increased to £2.79bn, a rise of 12.6% on 2019, according to the Soil Association in its
annual organic market report, released on Wednesday.

Food made up the biggest part of the market, with sales of fresh vegetables rising
by more than 15% and meat and fish by nearly 17%. Consumption of organic canned
and packaged items leapt by nearly a fifth, as people sought store cupboard food
amid fear of shortages, while revamped drinking habits drove up sales of organic
beer, wines and spirits by nearly a third.

Home del i ver i es, i nc l udi ng veg boxes, were particularly sought-after as successive
Iockdo wns bi t a c r o ss t he c o untry, surging by more than a third t o a value of nearly
£500m. A s peo pl e ha ve ma de more of their meals at home, many of those fortunate
enough to maintain their income have also had spare cash and time to consider
their food habits.

Many peo pl e ha ve r epo r t ed a r ise in their consciousness of environmental issues, as

the lockdowns and pandemic forced a reappraisal of health and wellbeing, and of
human influence on the planet. Organic food also soared in popularity in the early
2000s, but sales crashed following the financial crisis and recession of 2008,
plunging by more than a fifth from 2008 to 2011. Sales only recovered to top their
2008 level in 2017. Clare McDermott, business development director at the Soil
Association, believes this time it will be different, as it was not just staying in more
that had driven last year's rise.

"People are shopping locally, walking to the shops, becoming more aware of the
food they are eating and where it has come from," she said. She was confident that
the change in habits would persist after the pandemic finally eases. "People do not
want things to go back to the way they were, and they are more aware of their
impacts on the world around them and the environment," she said. "Nature has
become more important to people."

Brexit has also proved an opportunity as well as a headache for organic farmers.
While exporting to Europe is now more difficult, there is more emphasis on local
products, according to McDermott. "People have started to be more interested in
British food, and there is potential for more British organic produce," she said.

However, she warned that the government's shake-up of British farming, begun
under the agriculture bill, would be crucial. Organic farmers were eligible for special
payments under the old system, for their stewardship of the land and efforts to
foster wildlife and habitats. Under the replacement system, current subsidies will be
phased out by 2027 and a new system of payments brought in that will reward
farmer s fo r pr o vi di ng publ i c goods, such as clean air and water .

McDermott said organic farmers were worried that the improvements they had
made over years, for instance in nurturing soil health, would be disregarded under
the new system. "We need organic farmers to be fairly rewarded for the benefits
they bring," she said.

3.19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Zoos

Zoological gardens are a controversial component of human society. They
provide a safe refuge for endangered or injured animals, but these parks can be
abusi ve i n t hei r t r ea t ment o f creatures as well. Some zoos even put humans on
display involuntarily, keeping them in cages well into the 20th century. All animals
in a zoo or menagerie are kept in an enclosure, displayed to the public, andgiven
access t o vet er i na r y c a r e.

More than 180 million people visit the zoo in the United States each year. The first
gardens were startedin 1828 in London to help with scientific research, and then it
opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1857.

Some zoos are calling themselves a "biopark" or "conservation facility" as away

to remove themselvesfrom the negative connotations of the past or the
institutions that do not treat their animals correctly today.

The idea of keeping animals to display is not a new one, with excavations inEgypt
suggesting that a menagerie of elephants, wildcats, and hippopotami werekept in
Hierakonpolis. It was known that King Ashur-bel-kala built a botanical garden and
zoo in the 11th century BC, while Empress Tanki in China built a refuge for deer in the
2nd century BC. By the 4th century BC, almost all Greek city states had theirewn zoo
as well.

List of the Advantages of Zoos

There are multiple types of zoos to visit around the world.

We have moved away from the traditional zoological park to create habitats that
replicate nature to thebest of our ability while still maintaining the protective
quali t i es t ha t so me a ni ma l s need. T here are still the standard settings where an
animal lives in an enclosure or housed in buildings that protect them from humans
and vice-versa to create safe viewing experiences. These are the additional
options that are available today. Safari parks keep animals in larger outdocr
enclosures and use moats or fencing instead of cages to keep visitors safe. You
would then drive through the facility to come into close contact with the ani - nals.
Roadside zoos are small, for-profit facilities found in rural areas that bring yeti into
close contact with the animals. Petting zoos feature livestock, farm animals,and
other do mest i c c r ea t ur es t ha t offer low-risk settings for close encounters.

Most animals are not sourced from wild captures.

Before the year 2000, there were still zoos operating on the principle that they could
develop exhibits based on the types of animals they could capture. Except for a
handful of facilities in southeast Asia, that is no longer the case. Most of the animals
that are on display were either injured and could not return tothe wild or were born
in captivity. When zoos transfer animals, they take appropriate quarantine
measures to ensure that an illness does not come into the facility. This trading
process eliminates the idea of an open market, so profits are taken out of the
equation.

These facilities help us to conserve endangered species.

Zoos have brought several animal species back from the brink of extinction. The
Arabian oryx was hunted to extinction in the wild, but the Phoenix Zoo worked with
other conservationists to bring the species back. Przewalski's horses were also
extinct in the wild but are now coming back to a population in the thousands after
only a dozen were left. California condors were down to 27 before facilities in Los
Angeles and San Diego started breeding programs to protect them. Several other
animals can take creditfor their survival thanks to zoos as well. The Corroboree frog,
bongos, Regent Honeyeaters, and the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle have all
benefitted from the conservation process.

Zoos provide an economic boost to their community.

Zoos can be a local, national, or international attraction that people want to see.
T hese a t t r a c ti o ns a r e o ft en sa fe spaces for young families to come out and enjoy a
day together. School trips come out to these facilities as a way to help kids learn
more about the animals. The facilities create good-paying jobs,encourage
entrepreneurs to be active in their community, and provide indirect benefits to local
businesses as well.

Animals receive the veterinarian care they might need for their survival.
Most zoos in the United States (roadside zoos can be an exception) have on-site
medic a l fa c i l i t i es a nd c a r e o pt ions for every animal in the facility. If there are any
health concerns that come up, then the vets can provide the necessary
intervention almost immediately. When you are managing some of the rarest or
most endangered creatures in the world, this advantage makes it possible to halt
extinction events insome situations. Vets also design breeding programs that can
help the numbers of a specific animal species to begin recovering. There are
regular assessments for infectious disease, parasites, and other concerning health
danger s t ha t wo ul dn' t be a va i l able in the wild.

Zoos are typically required to provide specialist care to each animal species.
It requires a lot of in-depth knowledge to understand the exact needs of the
anima l s whi c h a r e c a r ed fo r by the modern zoo. Handlers must know about their

behaviors, their dietary requirements, and the health symptoms that necessitate a
call to the on-staff vet. It is a unique opportunity for students to study and train with
the animals they love so that they can help the species later in life. Many ZODS work
with local universities and colleges to provide internships, allowing the next
generation of caretakers to know how to protect the animals and their
environment.

An accreditation process exists for zoos.

For zoos to continue operating, they must go through a rigorous accreditation

process that verifies they follow the correct conservation and breeding program
procedur es. T her e must be evidence of security, proper daily care, and cleanliness
to ear n c er t i fi c a t i o n a s wel l . Inspections occur regularly to ensure compliante with
the program. If the facility fails to meet the expected standard, then they ccn lose
theirlicense to operate. Should that event occur, the animals will transfer toa
different zoo. The primary accreditation programs recognized in the United states
is the Zoological Association of America, the Global Federation of Animal
Sanct ua r i es, a nd t he A sso c i a t i on of Zoos and Aquariums.

Many of today's largest zoos help to create undergraduate programs for fature
caretakers.

One of the most notable zoos in the United States, the Smithsonian National, works
with local educational institutions to create undergraduate zoological degree
programs. They have also partnered with universities and colleges in the area for
graduate and doctoral studies. There is even a training program for veterinary
students where real-life practicums occur on the grounds. All of these options
would not be possible without the presence of a zoo. Although some critics might
argue that these positions would be unnecessary without the zoo being these in the
first pl a c e, t ha t i sn' t nec essa r i ly true.Zoos help animals in the wild too, and this
advant a ge ma kes i t po ssi bl e t o treat the injured.

List of the Disadvantages of Zoos:

When animals are born in captivity, they become dependent on humans.
The reason why most of the animals that are in zoos today are the offspring of

captured animals from the generation before is the fact that the descendarts are
unable to cope in the wild by themselves.
Having a successful breeding program can save a species, but it can also create
lucrative profit opportunities for the businesses involved. Unless there are specific,
protected areas for the animals, such as the Przewalski's horses being released
into t he Cher no byl exc l usi o n zone, most will fail to makethe transition. T hat means
the animal has no choice but to stay in the facility for the remainder of theirlife.

There is an ethical question that we must answer.

Most wild animals thrive when they can live in their natural habitat. When we
bring them into an enclosure of any type, then it can have a direct and
adver se i mpa c t o n t hei r hea l t h. Orcas are an excellent example of this issue.
Their lifespan sees a reduction of 70% when they live in captivity.

T he best ma nma de ha bi t a t s a re not a suitable substitution for the ones that animals
can fi nd i n t he wi l d.A l t ho ugh injured animals can rehabilitate successfully in many
situat i o ns wi t h t he hel p o f a zoo, keeping an animal enclosed for the rest of its life is
a cha l l engi ng et hi c a l quest i o n that all of us must answer.

Zoos can struggle to stay profitable.

Many zoos are failing to meet their annual financial targets. Even popular facilities
are seeing lower visitor numbers, which translates into less money going toward
the care of the creatures living at the facility. When expenses exceed incoming
revenues, then animals might need to go to other zoos. Staff shortages and limited
budgets can even mean euthanizing some of the animals if another appropriate
living space cannot be found. In January 2016, a lion ruled to be excessive was
euthanized in a small Danish zoo. Then staffers performed a public dissection on
the animal. In 2014, a facility in Copenhagen shot a young giraffe, dissected it in
public, and then fed the pieces to their lions. Then these actions arejustified by the
idea that if some money isn't raised, they'll need to do the same thing to all of the
otheranimals at the facility.

The enclosures at a zoo alter the natural behaviors of the animal.

There are some animals which are not built to withstand the conditions found at
your normal zoo. Hibernating animals and those who follow specific migratory
patterns struggle the most. Large animals can also see changes in their behaviors
because they don't have enough room to move around.

Elepha nt s a r e usua l l y t he subject of this disadvantage since their artificial habitats

are a l mo st a l wa ys t o o sma l l a nd the fences restrict their natural desire to migrate.
When an elephant is unable to accomplish instinctive tasks, it has an emotional
reaction that is similarto what humans would experience in that situation. The
only difference is that there are a couple thousand extra pounds of aggres§on to
mana ge wi t h t he a ni ma l .

Zoo animals can have health issues that wouldn't come up in the wild.
There are times when the efforts of a facility to mimic an animal's natural
environment just doesn't work. Polar bears are used to arctic temperatures,so
having o ne l i ve i n a n envi r o nment that is hot with high humidity can placedadded
stress to their health. Penguins typically endure frigid temperatures with
theirma t i ng pr o c esses, but t hen get stuck in tropical climates where the onk , place
to cool down might be a small blast freezer.

The natural environment is more than a few trees, a large rock, and a pod to use
that has a high enoughof a fence to keep humans away from them. The climate and
weather are part of their natural habitat as well. This disadvantage can create
significant health problems for some animals.

A zoo can be focused on the profits instead of the welfare of the animal.
Conservation facilities and breeding programs are a way to save endangered
animals, but they can also become a marketing gimmick. Customers need b
come t hr o ugh t he do o r s t o hel p a zoo stay financially sound. Because of theethics
of animal captivity, more people are staying away from these facilities today than
in the past, which emphasizes the need for survival. The behind-the-scenes
pract i c es c a n ma ke few effo r t s to live up to the morals and ethics of animalcare.
This disadvantage means that it is up to each of us to work with local fadlities
who have a mission toprotect animals and to do so in the right way. When we can
work together, we can save or conservemany species.

Zoos cause the life of an animal to become secondary to the life of a human.

In one fateful week in May 2016, one gorilla and two lions were killed after humans
entered their enclosures. Harambe was killed after a 4-year-old boy fell at the
Cincinnati Zoo into his enclosure, eventhough animal experts observed the
behavior and noted that there was an attempted to protect the
boy. Six days before this incident, a pair of lions in Chile were shot after a
suicidal man entered theirenclosure, became naked, and tried to get the
anima l s t o eat hi m.

When t he l i o ns dr a gged t he man to their den, the zoo intervened - and saved the
man's life. There was a 2012 incident when an African painted dog was shot after
a 2-year-old toddler fell over a wooden railing that his mother placed him on top
of in Pi t t sbur gh. T hen t her e was the horrific incident in 2007 in San Francisco when
a Siberian tiger leaped out of her enclosure after a group of people were throwing
rocks a t t he a ni ma l . She ma ul ed the entire group, killing one before a police

officer shot the animal.

Zoos may set the wrong standard for the next generation.
Our children will learn from our example when looking at the advantages and
disadvantages of zoos. Dowe go to these facilities to support the scientific and
conservation process? Or do we make it more about entertainment than
education?

If we go to a zoo to look at animals who are not free to roam about, then it is
impor t a nt t o r emember t ha t a very nice enclosure is still a cage. We may have
created dependencies that require some animals to stay in captivity, but that
doesn' t mea n we need t o c r ea te another generation that faces the same risks. If
we ar e wi l l i ng t o a c c ept t hese results with animals, some critics of zoos fear that
it woul dn' t t a ke l o ng t o t hi nk the same way about human beings.

Conservation programs do not guarantee the survival of a species.

Giant Pandas are in zoo conservation programs around the world, generating
money for China in the process. Until the 1990s, only 3 in 10 attempts at breeding
were successful in confinement. Even if thefirst stage of the process was
successful, only 40% of the cubs would make it through their first days of infancy.
Today's zoos have more than doubled the survival rate of these animals, but it
also creates a situation where there is yet another issue of dependency. The
cubs that are born in captivity cannot return to the wild. That means they will
rely on us for their survival for the rest of their life.
Our good intentions and expert care is not always enough to support animals
in a zoo.

Maggie the Elephant lived in Alaska, which is arguably the worst place on the
planet t o keep suc h a n a ni mal. Conservations cared for her since the age of 1 after
her ent i r e fa mi l y wa s c ul l ed. She shared thespace with an Asian elephant named
Annabelle from 1938 to 1997, but then Maggie lived alone. She had to endure long
winters on unheated concrete. It took several years for the facility to build a
custom treadmill, but she refused to use it. By 2007, she was found lying on her left
side a nd una bl e t o mo ve.

Now Ma ggi e l i ves i n a n a ni mal sanctuary in a better climate and her health is
much better. She's not theonly animal in this situation though. That's what the
challenge of zoos ultimately involves. We often think that our efforts are good
enough fo r t he a ni ma l s wi t ho ut taking their stories into consideration.

4. Top 10 Reasons why Education is Extremely

Important
1. For a happy and stable life

If you want to lead a happy life and enjoy the good things the world has to offer,
you certainly need to get educated. A great job, a good social reputation are few
of the many benefits of being an educated person. Education is a must for a
promi si ng a nd sec ur e fut ur e and a stable life.
2. Money

An educated person has more chances of landing up a good high paying job.
Everybody wants a good life but the good life!. It may be called as the "root of all
evil" but mo st peo pl e wi l l a gree that money is important for survival in today's
worl d. T he mo r e educ a t ed yo u are, the better career options you have!
 3. Equality
If we want to see the world as a just and fair place where everyone is given equal
opportunities, education is what we require. Education is a must if we want to do
away with the existing differences between different social classes and genders.
It opens a whole world of opportunities for the poor so that they may have an
equa l sho t a t wel l pa yi ng j o bs. Education also plays a major role in women
empowerment.

4. Makes you self -dependent

Education is very important if you want to be a self-dependent person. It helps
you bec o me fi na nc i a l l y i ndependent but that is not all. Education also makes you
wiser so t ha t yo u c a n ma ke your own decisions

5. Turns your dreams Into reality

Wha t i s yo ur dr ea m o r yo ur aim in life? Do you want to become rich? Do you want
to be popular? Do you want to, be an extremely successful person who is
respected by people? Well, the key to all this is education. Of course there are
exceptions, like sportsmen who don't really owe their success to their education.
However i n mo st c a ses, yo ur degree is what helps you realize all your dreams.

6. Makes the world a safer and more peaceful place

Education majorly affects our understanding of the difference between right and
wrong. An educated person is well aware of the consequences of wrong/illegal
acti o ns a nd he i s l ess l i kel y to get influenced and do something which is not
legally/morally right. Also, a number of uneducated people who live a poverty
stricken life owning to lack of opportunities often turn to illegal ways such as theft
and robbery to solve their problems. If you are educated, you are well aware of
your rights, the law and your responsibilities towards the society. Hence,
education is an important factor which contributes in social harmony and peace.

7. Makes you confident Your educational degree is considered as

a pr o o f o f yo ur kno wledge by many. If
you are educated you have more chances of being heard and taken seriously.
Generally, an uneducated man will find it harder to express his views and
opinions owning to lack of confidence. Even if he does so, people may not take
him seriously. Education gives you the confidence to express your views and
opinions.

8. Society
We all live in a society which has its own set spoken/unspoken rules and one of
them is education. The society expects you to go to school followed by college,
get a job, settle down etc. In fact education helps you become a useful member
of the society. An educated member certainly has a greater chance to contribute
to his community. Education helps you become an active member of the satiety
and participate in the ongoing changes and developments.

9. For economic growth of the nation

Australia, USA and Japan are few countries with very high literacy rates. The
countries are extremely prosperous and the citizens have a high per capita
income. On the other hand, in underdeveloped and developing nations, where
literacy rate is not as high, a number of people are still living below the poverty
line. Education is vital for the economic prosperity of a nation!

10. Saves you from being fooled/cheated

Education saves you from being exploited and fooled. We live in a country there
we enjoy a number of rights and freedom. It is easier to take advantage of
innocent and illiterate people. They may be trapped into signing false documents
or be deprived of some right which they have because unlike an educated
person they are not well aware of their rights and freedoms.
5. Disadvantages of Films
1. Movies Profess Violence:
There is no denying that movies today are more violent than ever before. And it is
very clear with the shootings at schools by kid and teenagers that they are being
heavily influenced by violence shown is movies. To shock, the audience's
filmmakers choose this theme. Surprisingly, these become cult movies with a fan
foll o wi ng o f t hei r o wn. Mo vi es like these show new ways of torture and physical
abuse which inspires the young mind to indulge in these acts. Movies like Hostel,
Saw, Friday the 13th and their kin are nothing but violent movies with unnecessary
blood and gore. As per reports from Researchers followed 329 subjects over 15
years. They found that those who as children were exposed to violent TV shows
wer e muc h mo r e l i kel y t o l a ter be convicted of the crime. Researchers said that
"Media violence can affect any child from any family," regardless of social class
or parenting.

Girl s who wa t c hed mo r e t ha n an average amount of violence tended to throw

things at their husbands. Boys who grew up watching violent TV shows were
more likely to be violent with their wives. Researchers concluded in

Developmental Psychology that, "Every violent TV show increases a little- bit the
likelihood of a child growing up to behave more aggressively." By the time the
average U.S. child starts elementary school, he or she will have seen 8,00 murders
and 100,00 acts of violence on TV." - New Scientist, 2007.

2. Movies are made for Profit

Ever heard of a movie made for charity, hard to say? In this cash striven lives who
cares for a charity, perhaps none. The entertainment industry is even more selfish
than any industry can be. Consider, people dropping their clothes for money just
for a mo vi e. T hen we c a n consider the underlying motive that 'Movies are solely
made for Profit. This profit influences the movie makers to showcase nudity and
expl i c i t sexua l a c t s; t her e i s a popular sub-industry of the latter one as well. T he
film i ndust ry peo pl e a r e no more worried about public morality; they will show
wha t a ppea r s i nst a nt l y t o t he senses. Even good filmmakers like Mahesh Brtitt,
Ekta Kapoor resort to 2' and 'Dirty Picture' which appeal to our lower
instincts. By making such movies they bend our mentality to accept them,
knowingly or unknowingly. Young people don't have the maturity to understand
these motives, they find these appealing and there becomes an audience to
which aforesaid cater to. Stars and makers of such lewd movies inspire the
upcoming generations to accept these and the chain goes on and on.

3. Establish False Notions

Some movies portray certain subjects or themes in a way which is far from leaf.
Such portrayals establish false notions amongst the people. Many of the Si14 - Is

are joked upon because of their turban and jolly nature. Their turban makesthem
Taliban and their jolly nature conjure mockery. Similarly, masala dosa becomes
the identity of south Indian people and most black people are shown as
gangsters. Every community has its individuality, tastes and flaws but that done
is not their true identity. Fools, ugly people are distributed across the
communities. Establishing an opinion based on certain aspects of a community
encourages racism and other anti-social sentiments which hinder the peace and
prosperity of the world.

4. Wastage of Money and Time

Majority of the movies are not really worth watching but still, we watch therm This
happens bec a use we a r e ent iced by appealing posters, teasing trailers, publicity
and other marketing strategies. This is done to ensure that the movie earnsat
least more than the cost involved. Take a look at the movies today, they are
sequels, there are aliens, vampires, werewolves and if not anything there art
special effects of all sorts. We have seen so much that there is very little leftto
amuse us. The actual movie may not be that good but it is the package whbh
lures us. We don't realise that we are wasting our money, our precious time,eyes
and effo r t s o n so met hi ng undeserving.
 5. Art Form of Personal Opinion
It has been truly said that 'Movie is an Art Form' but the art form is many times
based on one's personal imagination. This imagination is at times contradictor to
the truth. For a filmmaker, it is his personal take on a theme, which may not be in
tandem with the truth, maybe false, disturbing or distorted. An art form to
become meaningful should be honest and true towards its representation.
Certain modifications are acceptable but modifications need to be monitored
closely as to where they are being implemented. Giving biased opinions and
delving into half-baked truths leads to controversy and conflict. One's personal
opinion may hurt sentiments of the certain community, individual and or the
society. Such a biased art form only contradicts itself.

6. Means to Propaganda:
In a mo ve t o ea r n po pul a r i t y and money, some filmmakers take on controversial
topics. It is an old formula but an existent tried and tested one. Often such movies
become a national agenda out of nowhere. It is the acts of politicians and
pressure groups who need mileage or want to distract the public attention from

a certain issue. History can be searched when movies have become a scapegoat
of uproar, agitations and protests thereby making a mountain out of ant hill.
Taking care of such situations requires capital and man force which

unnecessarily puts a burden on the national expenditure.

7. Quick Downfall:
Movies without movie stars is unacceptable. While stars are born overnight, so is
their downfall. The fate of an actor rests on a hit movie. It can make or break a
person. Many ambitious people have strived for this fame but have tasted the
dust . So me bec o me desper a te and will do anything. For others, it is a matter of
death and honour for others it is a life of nightmare. There are more failures than
stars but those that are stars shine like anything. The pursue this elusive sheen is
sometimes compromising on your character. Casting couches are true; though
very few will come forward, it is also a downfall of the character of a person.
 8. The popularity of Unideal Role Models:
Films are remembered for their story, direction etc. but mostly they are
remembered by the actors. They become our role models, we want to became
like t hem. T hey a r e mo r e po pular than real life heroes and get more recogntion
than anyone else. Let's not forget that the heroes we applaud have become
heroes at our own expense and because of the marketing strategy. If real life
heroes were also marketed the same but then real-life heroes aren't glamorous
or perform stunts. We know more entertainment celebrities than those whoreally
make a difference in the world. How many of us know about an ordinary mcn
who did extraordinary to save others? The world is full of brave, strong,
handsome, innovative, intelligent, life-saving people who carry on with theirlives
without expecting any applaud. But their achievements are dwarfed by a gtint
post er o f mo vi es wi t h t hei r glamorous star cast publicised throughout the Mole
world.

9. Addiction to Movies:

Addictions come in many forms and one of them is that of movies. Many
amongst us suffer from complexities of life and instead of finding a real-life
solution we end up finding a solution which is harmful to us, health-wise or
otherwise. The addiction to movies can be expensive if we go to malls or theatres.
The addiction to movies can affect our mental and physical health if we watch
them at home. We start paying more attention to movies than any other thing.
We neglect exercise and become couch potatoes. Our main concern becomes
the r el ea se da t es, t he bo o ki ng, the downloading, the exchangi ng, the trailer],
wallpapers and so on. It becomes a futile pursuit but we keep indulging in itas it
is convenient, just turn on the TV and start watching or search the internet for it.
When we have seen the best ones, what's left? The ordinary or useless ones
amuse us bec a use o f t hei r stupidity or nonsensical approach. Even when wo may
have a sense that this film is not worth watching we watch it because others are
watching it and watching in a group is more exciting. Sometimes we forget that
we have seen a certain film, we have a hazy remembrance of it, we watch itto
actually prove ourselves wrong or right about the movie In this effort we don't
realise that we are getting addicted to movie watching.

10. Conflicting Personalities

If a c t o r s a r e uni dea l her o es they also happen to have unideal personas, i.e. that
what they portray on cinema, they aren't the same in real life. Sometimes even
adults have to come to terms with this reality. As humans we are judgemental,
we make opinions about someone even when we don't know them fully. The
actors are seen as role models and they have a certain responsibility towards
society. But more often than not, we witness that our favourite hero, heroine,
director etc. aren't the same as they appeared on-screen. Some of them are
drug addicts, some indulge in adultery, some are chain smokers, some are
cowards; mostly the opposite of what they have been portrayed. For them, it may
not ma t t er but fo r t he a r dent fans, it is a great setback. T hey saw an amazing
physique, a beautiful face and a strong character. But it turned out that it is all
fake. Their assets are fake, they are surgically or chemically enhanced and or
improved. It is a shock for them to know that the one they vouched for, is fake, it is
emotionally disturbing and creates conflict in mind. It becomes puzzling as to
what is real and what is not? It throws them off-balance of their and the views of
the world. Even adults are shocked when they come to know of a certain negative
aspect of an actor. Though, they are humans but not ordinary ones, at least for
the fans.

Conclusion

T her e a r e a l wa ys a nd t her e always be 'T wo Sides of a Coin', similarly, there are

merits and demerits of films. Many of you may not find advantages and
disadvantages suiting to your personal opinion but that doesn't lessen their
gravity. As pointed out in the above paragraphs, the scale tips in the favour of
disadvantages of movies. Films do more harm than good and the good here,
cannot negate the bad, unlike in the movies. It may sound strange and weird but
it is true. And it doesn't even mean that one should stop watching movies. Watch
only a few and forget the rest, there are much better things to do in life than
spending time on overhyped and low-quality movies. Some of the pros and cons
 of Fi l ms a r e evi dent ; we c a n see them all around us. But the negative points are
not ea si l y per c ei ved, r ema i n unpublicised and are therefore lesser known. T he
posi t i ve po i nt s o f mo vi es shine in front of us, they are easily perceived, can be
seen everywhere and the film industry itself publicises it. The underlining point is
that watch only quality movies, your decision in abstaining from cheap movies
will have a positive effect on filmmakers. Porn and violent films are popular
because there is a demand if the demand ceases so will the supply. The
government also needs to take steps to discourage and eventually stop the
production of movies which tend to corrupt. More importantly, a compulsory
sho r t fea t ur e sho ul d be sho wn to educate the people of all ages about the truth
and reality shown in the movies.

6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Movies.

Films or movies, we all have been watching them since the advent of cinema and
television in our lives. Earlier there was just a national channel which would show
movies on weekends saving you the effort of going to the hall. Then we had cable
television, a whole lot of movies to watch - English, Hindi, Punjabi etc. The Internet
made the scope of watching films even broader, download them and watch at
your o wn c o nveni enc e.

Advantages of Movies.

Films started becoming grander and technologically advanced. Careers in the

film industry were no longer a taboo and many relocated to greener pastures
and movie industry revenue ensured its propagation. Today, United States,
Niger i a , Ho ng K o ng a nd Indi a are the leaders in filmmaking In Europe, France and
the U ni t ed K i ngdo m a r e t he c ountries that lead in movie production. India is the
largest pr o duc er o f fi l ms i n t he world. T he USA has a whole district - Hollywood in
Los Angeles which caters exclusively to the movie industry. The actors, directors
producers, singers are big names and bankable too. In this grandeur and
showbi z, we di dn' t a c t ua l l y pay much attention or didn't bother to evaluate the
effect of movies on youth and more importantly the impact of films on society.
What is the role of movies in our lives, are movies harmful or beneficial or both?

To evaluate the worth of films, we need to weigh the pros and cons of movies. We
also need to come to an understanding; how much importance should we give
or not give to films?
Benefits or Advantages of Movies.
1. Entertainment.

Movi es a r e a so ur c e o f po pular entertainment. From the moment we indulge in

watching a movie, we are transformed into a new world where our mind is at
ease, it forgets everything and is concentrated at watching. Everybody wants to
relax and be amused. Every age of people, young and old, literate and illiterate
want r ec r ea t i o n. Rec r ea t i o n is an important part of life and movies provide that
avenue. W a t c hi ng a fi l m o n a theatre can be an exhilarating experience in itself.
This is because a large number of people are doing the same thing. The
audience laughs together, applauds and shares almost the same emotions. This
collective effort experienced by the viewers makes the experience more
ent er t a i ni ng a nd enj o ya bl e.

2. Socialising Activators.

Films a r e so c i a l a c t i va t o r s, t hey allow even unknown people to mingle with each

other. We all see movies and it is a common factor amongst us. This common
factor can initiate and or sustain a conversation with a stranger. We hav opinions
about movies and these also help in socialization through conversation and
deba t e. W hen we go t o a c i nema or a theatre to watch a movie we socialize with
our friends, relatives, peers etc. The movie is a social art form which brings
toget her a l l genr es o f peo pl e even if they have different views about the movie.

3. A Lesson of Teamwork

A movie is a collaborative work; it requires actors, cinematographers, directors,

make-up artists, writers, visual effects specialists, technicians, and others. When
this movie is applauded by all is shows the power of teamwork. It is also a lesson
for all; that teamwork pays. Some films themselves are based on the themeof
'teamwork'. This comes across strongly across the audience as they visually
experience the lesson as compare to a bookish lesson.

4. Movies Stir Our Imagination

The weirdest, the most extreme, the most unbelievable things are shown in
movies. Some films are based on comic bOok characters, adaptations of noJel or
drama. They bring to life the inanimate and it requires imagination. Today, we
have so many techniques and instruments which show us the unseen and
unimagined. Both the viewers and the movie directors conceive ideas towards
their own personal objectives. The audience witness's audio-video which
enhances their imagination and their feedback inspire more varied imagination.

5. Showcase of World's Art and Culture

Many of the customs and traditions of different parts of the world are shown in
movi es. W hi l e si t t i ng a t o ur homes we are able to travel virtually to places Mere
we cannot imagine, to be. Most of the movies show customs and arts of foreign
count r i es. T hey gi ve us i nsi ghts about human activities and a better

understanding of people of the world. Without movies, we wouldn't come to know

about 'Muay Thai' or 'Ninjas' or any of the things that we know today.

6. Films Educate Us:

Films are a platter of various disciplines, they show us history, culture, science,
technology, politics and lot more. These disciplines are not confined to one
particular region; these educate us on varying geographical regions across
various timelines. We come to know about the past, the present and the future. In
fact, the visual medium is a means of better education as we retain information
for a long time when we visually see it. The uneducated also benefit from tht
content of the movies as he needs only eyes and not the skill to read or write to
understand a literary classic or hi-fi flick. They haven't said it just like that 'A
Picture Speaks a Thousand Words'.
 7. Art Form:
Films are a Universal Art Form, a platform where you can express an
communicate your thoughts or emotions. Just like a painter paints his
imagination on a canvas, movie makers express their emotions, views, angst, joy
and so on. People have ideas and they use films to point out their opinions or
viewpoints through cinemascope. Some want to recreate some historical event
while some indulge in fantasies. In their objective, they create beautiful scenes,
thri l l i ng mo ment s, ha ppy environment etc. which become their own style and an
art form. These inspire others to create their own unique art of presentation.

8. Movies are Mirrors to Society:

Films are inspired from our daily lives whether partially or fully is another story.
Most of the films have a certain portion where we really get to see what we know
but don't think deeply about it. Various films depict historical, mythological
scient i fi c a nd so c i a l t hemes. T hese are reflections of society, both present, and
past. Movies show the aftermath of a war, social evils, political strategies, human
rights infringement and various other sensitive issues. A wide platform as films is
most effective in presenting these issues and sensitizing the public at large. They
create awareness, build civic sense, ensure public morality and their
pro pa ga t i o n.

9. Films Inspire Us:

Films inspire us in more than ways that we can imagine. Some profound
inspi r a t i o ns a r e gi ven t o us by inspirational movies. T he old age stories of the
victory of the good over evil and the 'never give up' one's are apt at towards their
objective. Films inspire us to be brave, clever, insightful, experimental, loyal,
determined and other virtues which make us positive minded. While not all
movies are inspirational but you never know what may inspire whom and
thro ugh whi c h fi l m? A pa r t fr om this, we get inspired by the film industry itself.
Most of the stars, directors etc. have a story of struggle, hard work and how they
reached the top? These examples themselves become a source of inspiration,
though in an indirect manner. Similarly, when movies win certain awards it
arouses within us an urge to shine in our respective field of work.
 10. Employment and Revenue:
It is not a hidden fact that movies generate a lot of employment and revenue to
the treasury, not only through the films but even through its peripheral forms like
merchandising, tourism, film training etc. As per one study, in 2009, the global box
office revenues were over US$30 billion. People go to movies, rent them download
them and they themselves publicise them through 'Word of Mouth'. The film
indust r y suppo r t s a va st a r r ay of professionals like - designers, dressmakers,
photographers, story writer, technicians, and others. Poets and authors have also
benefited from this medium as their works have been adapted to movies
fetching them royalty and other benefits.

11. Qui ck Fa me:

One movie can make you a star overnight and it happens with many of the
actors and directors. It is a matter of luck that a certain newcomer or a struggling
actor gets a movie which takes him to unscaled heights. Sometimes a small role
in a movie makes you highly popular and you adorn the magazine covers,
websi t es, t el evi si o n et c . Yo u become a household name in an instant; you are
wo r shi pped, c heer ed a nd a dored by the masses. T here is a saying that - 'T here is
no business like show business' and all the stars that you see will totally agree
with the adage.

7. Babies who use eye contact more likely to

build up vocabulary
Babies who frequently communicate with their caregivers using eye contact and
vocalisations at the age of one are more likely to develop greater language skills
by the time they reach two, according to new research. Scientists say the findings
should encourage parents to pay close attention to babies' attempts to
communi c a t e befo r e t hey c a n use words, and to respond to them. In the study,
researchers looked at 11- and 12-month-old babies' vocalisations, gestures and
gaze behaviours, and at how their caregivers responded to them. "These have
never been looked at together in the same analysis before," said Dr Ed Donnellan,
from the University of Sheffield, the lead author on the study.

To measure the interactions, the researchers videoed infants and caregivers at

home, and asked them to play as usual. "We took those recordings back to the
university and very meticulously coded what was happening. We looked out for
ever y t i me t he i nfa nt vo c a l i sed, or gestured, and we coded all the caregivers'

responses," said Prof Michelle McGillion of the University of Warwick, a co-author

of the work published in the journal Developmental Science and presented at the
British Science festival. The caregivers later filled out a questionnaire about
whether their children could say certain words referring to animals, daily routines
and food. The scientists then used statistical models to find that the best
predictor of vocabulary at 24 months was when infants were seen to use
voc a l i sa t i o ns whi l e l o o ki ng at their caregiver's face when they were about a year
old. The benefits were even greater when these interactions were followed by
respo nses fr o m t he c a r egi ver.

The statistics showed that at 19 months, children had an average of about 100
words. Those who exhibited the beneficial interactive behaviour earlier in life were
seen t o ha ve a n a ver a ge o f about 30 extra words.

"What this tells us is that babies are trying to communicate before they have
arrived at their first words. When they're doing this, they are giving caregivers an
oppo r t uni t y t o c o mmuni c a t e back, and when the caregivers do that, that's when
wor d l ea r ni ng seems t o be i mproved," said Donnellan.

"The message of this paper is that it's a joint effort; noticing what your child is
attending to and talking to them about it will support their language
development," said McGillion. "The joy of this message is that that can happen in
any context ... across any part of your day. It's not something that requires special
equipment or even lots of time. It can happen when you're doing the laundry, for
 example - when you're taking out the socks, you can talk about socks ... in the
park, in the car, at mealtimes, at bathtimes. This finding can be used in any
context."

McGillion hopes this work might lead to further studies across more age ranges:
"This is a developmental snapshot in the first year of life, but children are
constantly growing and changing and so are their behaviours. [It would be
interesting to] look at these sorts of behaviours again as children progress
through the second year of life to see what's happening there."

8. Why Do People Think Art is Boring?

The phrase "art is boring" might offend art lovers! Whether you like it or not, art
is constantly changing the world. It is an integral part of the collective human
conscience. It works to affect social change when activists show images of
children suffering, from poverty or oppression, in their campaigns.

When photographers publish photos of war-torn areas, it catches the attention

of the masses whose hearts reach out for those in need of an escape. Art can
also serve as a respite from the humdrum of our normal day-to-day routines
and c a n ser ve a s a fo r m o f entertainment. Why is it then, that some people find
art t o be bo r i ng? Is i t bec a use they are not exposed to the unbound nature of
different art forms. Or is it because human emotions are so subjective that what
fascinates the creator may not invoke the same emotions in the audience?
Does art have to be 'good' to be considered not boring, or does it have to be
provocative or shocking to induce reactions?

Let's look into some of the common narratives around - why art is boring?
Art is boring because I don't understand it

Very few peo pl e a r e bo r n wi t h an innate sense of understanding all the existing

art forms. Expecting to understand art instinctively is akin to thinking that one
might under st a nd t he vi ews of another individual without talking to them. Much
like the skill of holding a conversation, appreciating art is something that is
cultivated over time. If we are exposed to better 'conversations' with art as
children or young adults, it becomes much easier to understand. Also, it helps to
derive value from various forms such as modern art, contemporary movement
arts, etc. However, no one is too old to engage with art.

Art is boring because I can't relate to it

When you know why a work of art was created or research the story behind its
inspi r a t i o n, yo u ma ke i t ea sier for your mind to understand. Only then does art
cease to be boring. 2/3 So, the next time you see a piece of art that seems to
catc h yo ur i nt er est but yo u're not sure why to ask yourself how this work of art
came t o be. W ho wa s t he a rtist and what could their inspiration have been? How
did these works impact other people who saw this before me? Do I feel the same
way when I see it or does it hold a different meaning to me? Let see if you still art
is bo r i ng o r no t . Onc e yo u know the answers to these questions, you'll find that
the piece of art is no longer as boring as you thought it was. It is deeply personal
and subject to the interpretation of the viewer.

Art is irrelevant in modern times

The famous theater director Anne Bogart, in her essay titled How to Embody Time,
wrote that she experienced time in two different ways- horizontal and vertical.
T ime fl o ws ho r i zo nt a l l y when one is moving hurriedly from one task to another

in their day. However, there are moments of pause where there doesn't seem to
exist either a past or a future. These breaks can be from something as simple as
meditation, or something as sensorial as art. What she means is that art can
become the very means of experiencing time. She says:

"Art creates the experience of vertical time for the perceiver by plunging a stake
or dropping an anchor into the endless flow of time, thereby creating a sense of
eternity in the human body." When we talk about art, we often forget that most, if
not all works of art are bound by a fourth dimension- time. Art is usually a
reaction to the current trends and ethos of society. Artists can only react to things
in their past or present. Hence, when we look at realistic paintings from centuries
bygo ne, we must r emember that these were produced before the advent of the
camera. With the advent of industrialization and mass production in the 20th
cent ur y, new t ec hno l o gy ma de the emergence of new mediums much easer. Art
moved a wa y fr o m bei ng a r ealistic (or 'boring') representation of our world.

Artists went from using pastels and paints, into digital and 3D media, using
imaging software and innovative materials to create works of art. 3/3
Cont empo r a r y a r t i st s a r e usi ng insects, dirt, and even. It can't be denied- ait
is a sign of the times.

Maybe art does not impact me directly

Online, almost all kinds of subjects are depicted in art, be it in the form of
entertaining cartoons or culturally significant music and movies. What's mae
interesting, is that technology has democratized art that would otherwise be
subj ec t t o the whi ms o f a museum curator. Most kinds of visual arts - from alms
and photographs to paintings (and even memes!) - are now being presented
and c i r c ul a t ed o nl i ne. W hi l e classic galleries still exist in most cities, most artists
find t ha t i t ' s muc h ea si er fo r new creations to gain attention through the internet.
In t he r ec ent pa st , wo r ks o f art- either temporal or permanent- posted on social
media apps have become instrumental in leading social movements and
protests. The art world is no longer steeped in economic and racial discrimination
but has become a level playing field. This has led to a diverse range of voices
from all over the globe; anyone can now create and find an audience that relates
to their lived experiences. Too much money for something 'My Two-Year-Old
Could Have Made' As you read this, art continues to find ways to change ard
enha nc e t he huma n exper i ence. And yes, it can enhance your life as well.
Art is not just confined to white gallery walls or stuffy classical music and se'ious
plays. T her efo r e, we do n' t j ust showcase inspiration, we make it accessible.

We envision a world that is full of artists and patrons from all walks of life, who
can understand and purchase art that moves them, even if it is not somethhg
that is very expensive.
9. Humans are driving animals and plants to
the edge. But are we really heading into a mass
extinction?
It is now common to refer to the current biodiversity crisis as the sixth mass
extinction. But is this true? Are we in the middle of an event on the same scale as
the five ancient mass extinctions Earth has experienced?

Humans are indeed driving animals and plants to extinction. Land clearance,
habitat modification and, above all, climate change are all placing biodiversity
under stress. Many species have died out since the arrival of humans and many
more are threatened. But to answer this question fully, we have to look at the
rates at which species were going extinct before the appearance of humans and
compare it to today's rate. Get news that's free, independent and based on
evidence. Life on Earth has diversified from a single cell more than 3.7 billion
yea r s a go t o t he est i ma t ed 8.7 million species alive today.

But a s I desc r i be i n my bo o k Extinctions: living and dying in the margin of error,

this journey has been a roller coaster ride. There have been times when
biodiversity exploded with many new species evolving relatively quickly.
Conver sel y, t her e ha ve been extremely short intervals of time when biodiversity
crashed in a mass extinction. The scale of biodiversity loss in a mass extinction is
extraordinary. In the five mass extinctions on Earth, estimates of species loss
range from around 70% at the end of the Cretaceous up to 95% at the end of the
Permian, the largest of the mass extinctions. Each of these events resulted in a
wave of extinctions washing across all of the planet's ecosystems. Reefs were
wiped out, dinosaurs disappeared, insect species were decimated and plants
went through massive upheavals. It took-up to a million years for ecosystems to
reco ver fr o m a ma ss ext i nc t i on.

Ancient and modern extinction rates

Estimating prehuman extinction rates from the somewhat patchy fossil record is
fraught. Nevertheless, researchers have managed do it, albeit using only
vertebrate fossils. Their estimate suggests prior to the arrival of humans,
vertebrate species were going extinct at the rate of about two per million species
lost every year. In 2015, another research team took this estimate and compared
it with present day vertebrate extinction rates. They found vertebrates are going
exti nc t 5 3 t i mes fa st er t o da y than they were before humans ar rived. 2/2 If the
increase in extinction rates recorded in vertebrates is on a similar scale across
the pl a net ' s ent i r e bi o t a , humans have triggered a significant rise in the rate of
species going extinct. But is that enough to consider our current biotic crisisa
mass ext i nc t i o n?

To answer that question, we need to consult the Red List run by the Internatbnal
Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICON). This list is an attempt to assessthe
threat of extinction of all known species by assigning each to a category of
descending threat: extinct or extinct in the wild, severe threat of extinction,
threatened and so on. Are we there yet?

A glance across the Red List confirms that, as with the ancient mass extinctbns,
today's species loss affects the entire biosphere. However, the situation changes
when we compare the current level of extinction with those from the big five
mass extinctions. As noted above, the loss of species during the ancient moms
extinctions is massive. Data from the Red List suggest we haven't come close to
those. Fo r exa mpl e, t he Red List assigns only 1.46% of mammal species to tht
extinct or extinct in the wild categories. It considers less than 1% of amphibian
species are extinct or extinct in the wild. For insects, it's 0.65%, bivalves 4% and
corals 0%. This level of species loss isn't close to the losses recorded in the fossil
record. While the rate at which species are going extinct has risen and the entire
ecosystem is affected, we have, at the moment at least, only low levels of
extinction. Unfortunately, species extinction levels show only part of the problem.

T o see t he ful l ext ent o f t he crisis, we need to add the species the Red List
considers to be under threat of extinction to those already extinct. When wedo,
the picture changes. Taken together, the percentage of mammals
that are extinct or under threat of extinction rises from 1.46% to 23.48%,
amphi bi a n number s r i se t o 3 3.56%, insects to 19.23% and corals to 26.85%.
T hese number s demo nst r a t e the true scale of the threat facing the planet's
biosphere. I don't like referring to today's crisis as a mass extinction because it
allows us to focus entirely on extinction levels, and they are low. Others have
coined a new term to reflect the fact that although many species are extinct,

there are many more threatened with extinction: defaunation. Defaunation better
describes the crisis unfolding in the planet's biosphere. To avoid a slide into a
full-blown mass extinction, we must not allow defaunation to continue. We

know how to do this: reduce emissions, protect vulnerable ecosystems and

regenerate degraded ones.

10. why Play Is Important

From an evolutionary biology point of view, it's not immediately obvious why
humans spend so much time on recreation and play. In humans, as well as other
anima l s, t i me spent pl a yi ng i s time not spent looking for food. Play could be a
distraction from looking out for predators. Play could cause needless injuries—
even traumatic death. Viewed from the lens of species survival, the drive to play
seems like it would be a huge disadvantage. But yet, all humans in all cultures
like to play. Source: Steve Hillebrand , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The universality of play argues that it is an innate feature passed down from our
ancestors. Furthermore, playing is not exactly a minor part of our lives. It is a big
and important part of who we are. This behavior cannot simply be an
evolutionary side effect or a genetic accident. We're not talking about a tiny
appendix in our abdomen. Play is a huge part of the human experience
espec i a l l y a mo ng t he yo ung, and thus there must be value in it.

Just l i ke o r ga ns o r t i ssues, behaviors will be carefully honed over time by natural

selection. Behaviors that enhance survival and/or reproduction of individuds will
develop through the generations and become part of the innate "nature" of the
species. Such as the suckling of all infant mammals, many of our behaviord
urges are driven purely by instinct. So what is the purpose or benefit of play? To
understand our behaviors, it is often helpful to examining correlates in other
animals. (That's the whole thrust of my book!) But do animals even engagein
play?

Let's start with dogs. Undoubtedly, dogs are naturally given to wrestling withand
chasing each other. However, rather than purely for fun, these behaviors could be
attempts to establish dominance within a social context and a means to
establish trust and familiarity. This doesn't necessarily mean that these behaviors
aren't also fun for the dogs, but it does mean that we can't claim that they are,
per se, evidence that animals play just for the fun of it, like humans do. ThatS the
kind o f pl a y t ha t we a r e t a l king about—just plain old having fun. T hat's whatwe
humans do. We just have fun. For humans, play is for play's sake. Or is it? Mcybe
our definition of play is the problem. If we think of play as doing something
enj o ya bl e t ha t ha s no o t her purpose, then of course we won't find another p u r p o s e
— w e ' v e m a d e n o t h a v i n g a p u r p o s e p a r t o f t h e d e f i n i t i o n . I n s t e a d , w e need to
keep a n o pen mi nd a bo ut hi dden purposes of play. We play becauue it is fun, but
it ma y a l so be ser vi ng o t her purposes—that's what we're looking for

2/3 After all, if we discover biological benefits to playing, then it really isn't "just
for the fun of it." It only seems that way. Perhaps the example of dogs playing
together really is a clue to the function of play for other species, including uu.
Perhaps the secret to understanding the function of play is the realization that
playful a c t s c a n be fun a nd serve some other purpose for the species.

Defining Play
Defining play is a complicated business, but I find Gordon Burghardt's
painstaking work to be the authority on the subject. He has convincingly
established a five-point standard that well captures the essence of playful
behavior. (He focuses on non-human animals but it holds for us as well.) Far the
purpose of this discussion, we can use the simple, though unscientific shorthand,
That which is fun/enjoyable but not other things like sex, eating, hunting, etc."
When it comes to play and fun - we know it when we see it.

Its also important to remember that the "enjoyment" of fun is mostly secondary
to its purpose. Pleasure is a neurological phenomenon that drives us to seek
certain experiences that are good for our evolutionary future. Pleasure drives us
to eat, have sex, wield power, and, of course, to play. Pleasure drives individual to
do t hi ngs, but t ha t ' s j ust a trick. T he goals of each of those things are wildly
different. So the question is - why has evolution programmed us to enjoy
seemingly pointless activities like playing baseball, doing puzzles, and engaging
in make-believe?

The many benefits of different kinds of play

I spend most of the first chapter of my book summarizing many studies on the
benefits of play for humans and other animals. I then analyze each of these
"mo da l i t i es" o f pl a y a ga i nst the backdrop of our evolutionary history. Here are
the highlights:
1. Play for establishing social rank. Although the image of animals
fighting each other for dominance is common, all-out fights-to-death are rare
in most species. Instead, wrestling and other feats of physical strength are
used to establish the d o m i n a n c e h i e r a r c h y . I t i s s a f e r t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l s a n d
better for group cohesion (in social-cooperative species).
2. Play for learning social rules. Many animals learn social etiquette and
other important behaviors through playing. This involves correction, coercion,
and r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , b u t t h e b e n e f i t i s s o c i a l c o h e s i o n , o r d e r l y h i e r a r c h y ,
a n d cooperation for mutual aid. Animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff, a leading
expert on a n i m a l p l a y , h a s e x t e n s i v e l y s t u d i e d i t s i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n t h e
s o c i a l f a b r i c o f wolves.

3. Play as practice. This idea is that some forms of play serve as a

warm-up for d o i n g t h e r e a l t h i n g a s a d u l t s . C a t s p l a y - h u n t i n a n i m a t e
objects and some monkeys engage in playmothering as juveniles. The jury
i s o u t w h e t h e r p l a y - practice actually helps or is merely an outlet for the
instincts that will take shape