Classroom Behavior Management Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Classroom Behavior Management Plan - Essay Example Disruptive behavior in this context refers to defiant behavior and disregard of the rules that have been put in place (Wang, Haertel, & Walberg, 2003). Examples of the Targeted Behavior Disruptive behavior is usually a violation of the rules that have been put in place to govern the behavior of the students in the classroom. It is important that, in addition to being subject to the rules, the students participate in their creation. An example of rules assisting in managing the classroom behavior is ensuring that the students do not speak without raising their hands. The student should also ensure that all materials necessary for the lesson are brought into the classroom. This is to ensure that movement during class session is minimized. The students must also seek the teacher’s permission to leave their desks or to address the others. In the classroom, both the students and the teacher should make sure that official school language is used. The student must do as asked by the teacher without the teacher having to repeat the instructions that have been given in the class. In instances when group discussions are required, the groups will be assigned to the students by the teacher to ensure that the students stick to the discussion that is expected of them as opposed to straying from the topic as is likely to happen if the students pick the groups themselves. When the rules are established, it is important for a teacher to explain why each of the rules is important. The students will be required to own the rules; it will be easier for the students to follow the rules if they participate in making them. Rationale Disruptive behavior has a very discouraging outcome in students and school performances. Disruptive behavior that is often observed in the classroom includes aggressive behavior, when a student pushes others around and engages them in physical altercations. A student who shows aggressive behavior may also damage property in the classroom. Disruptive behavior of the student can also be of a social nature when the student tries to divert the attention of the teacher and the classmates by engaging in topics that are not relevant to what is being discussed. The disruptive student may also pass notes or whisper to others while the teacher continues with the lesson. Method of Collecting Baseline Data The classroom management plan is important, as without it, learning is likely to be disrupted and the learning goals that have been established will not be achieved. The plan is important to the achievement of the learning goals and the maintenance of order in the classroom setting. The data will be collected through classroom observation. This is because most of the disruptive behaviors that have been identified can be observed in the classroom setting. For example, it is easy to observe a student who is passing notes or trying to divert the attention of the class as well as engaging in other forms of disruptive behavior. Hypothetical Baseline Data Behavioral level 250 200 150 100 50 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 days (Marzano & Marzano, 2009) With the help of the hypothetical baseline data above, it is verifiable that the identified classroom behaviors are deteriorating with time. This calls for instant measures to counter the over increasing unbearable classroom behaviors. Behavioral Goal The core aim of the plan is to ensure transformation of the

Key Principles of Corporate Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Key Principles of Corporate Governance - Essay Example The role of corporate governance has, therefore, become increasingly vital to the strategic management of the organization and projection of its aims and objectives in the eyes of the public and other stakeholders. Corporate governance can be broadly defined as the creation of business environment within and outside the organization that would effectively meet the challenges of the time and improve and improvise the productivity of the performance outcome. The lack of effective controls vis-Ã  -vis malpractices in accounts and auditing, security of confidential information, corrupt practices in the higher hierarchy of management, disparity in rules and regulation etc. have become crucial risks factors that have resulted in huge economic loss for its shareholders as well adversely affecting its credibility in the market. Hence, in the fast changing environment of globalization, business compulsions have become more stringent in their nature and factors like accountability, responsibility and reliability have become important pre-requisites for business to create a credible environment for their trade and investment. ‘Corporate governance framework should recognize the rights of stakeholders established by law or through mutual agreement..’ (Du Plessis, 2005, p.36). The key principles of corporate governance are described and ranked in order of importance as under: ‘Corporate disclosure to stakeholders is the principal means by which companies can become transparent’ (Solomon, 2007, p143). Thus, Corporate Governance promotes effective control measures to safeguard the interest of all its stakeholders, investors and business partners. Under the codes of corporate governance, the disclosure mainly relates to the policy of the company to disclose relevant information about its budgets, annual financial statements

Female Circumcision Essay Example for Free

Female Circumcision Essay Many women in different parts of the world have faced circumcision, commonly known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Africa is a continent that has extensively reported cases of FGM, and other parts of the world that practices some indigenous culture, especially the Muslim dominated Middle East countries. The age at which a woman undergoes FGM varies from one region to another, such that a child after being born could be subjected to FGM , while in other areas, a woman who gets her first born is made to undergo the practice. The communities that practice this custom hold high regards for the practice as it demonstrates transition period to womanhood. Therefore, this practice is made to ensure that a circumcised girl is taught the practices that would lead her to being a good wife and mother (IRIN, 2009a). One commonality among the different members of the community who practice FGM is that the major aim is to make a woman remain a virgin until her marriage time, since the removal of her genitalia reduces her sexual desires. In most of the communities carrying out this practice, men prefer to marry circumcised women, meaning the parents have to make their daughters marriageable by circumcising them. Therefore, it can be argued that it is the men who make this practice to prosper. On the other hand, it is the role of the elder women, (mothers and grandmothers) to organize for the circumcision of the young girl, and in some areas, midwives undertakes this role (IRIN, 2009a). This research paper will thus look at how FGM has been practiced in Kenya and the fight against the practice among some communities that hold high regards for the practice. FGM in Kenya Despite laws being put in place to fight FGM, especially the Child’s protection Act of 2001, this practice is still very common and continues to be practiced in various parts of Kenya (IRIN, 2009b). Even though there are many organizations in the country to educate the communities on the dangers of the practice, still the practice has not been stopped and to some extends being practiced underground. However, there have been increased campaigns by various bodies together with the law enforcement agents to see that the practice comes to an end. Kenyan women are circumcised as a rite to passage into womanhood. Many girls in Kenya who come from the communities that practice FGM do not continue with their education. This is because the moment a girl undergoes this practice, she is deemed to be fit and ready to get married. It is because of this that there are several communities that have as young as between twelve and fourteen years getting married to very old men so long as the men are able to pay bride price. It has turned out that men are using their daughters to get wealth through bride price paid; hence a girl circumcised is worth more price than uncircumcised girl. Because of this attachment, some girls are found to voluntarily undertake the practice since it is presumed to increase a woman’s respect (IRIN, 2009b). Maasai is one of the indigenous communities in Kenya that have strongly held to the FGM practice. There are many people from the community (both men and women) who are highly educated, but are afraid to talk openly against the vice in the community because of the fear of social repercussion, especially for leaders who want to get elective posts like in politics. Community members believe that one cannot be a true Maasai if they are not circumcised. Among the Maasai, FGM is considered to bring honor to the circumcised and her family. This is because such a girl is eligible for marriage, which raises her status and the family in general. There have been increased criticism from the international community against the Maasai practice, but the community hangs on the practice, despite the government of Kenya criminalizing FGM. The Maasai community does not hold any regards for uncircumcised woman in the society no matter her level of education or even the post she holds in the society. It is even amazing to find that some male candidates in Kenyan politics use the issue of FGM against women who are not circumcised claiming they are not fit to be in public offices. Such issues make fighting FGM to be a very difficult task (IRIN, 2009b). Even though there are many hardliners who have stood in the way of fighting FGM, the efforts of those fighting the practice has started to bear fruits in Kenya, and especially among the Maasai communities. There are some aspects that are associated with FGM that the community has slowly been changing. For instance, the practice involved the use of one knife for circumcising various girls. But because of the teachings concerning HIV/Aids, the circumcisers have been convinced that it is dangerous to be using a single knife for several people, and have thus started using a single knife for each girl. There are only a few circumcisers who still use one knife for different girls, according to a survey done by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO), a women organization that has been at the forefront campaigning against FGM in Kenya. Although this change appears, slight, it is a show in the right direction that the Maasai community can be convinced to change unnecessary and harmful cultural practices to the better course of the society at large (IRIN, 2009b). There are various measures that have been put in place by the organizations fighting the FGM practice in Kenya to see that this practice comes to an end. One mode has been the introduction of the alternative rites of passage. In this practice, all the activities, teachings and practices that the girls are undertaken during the circumcision period are taught to the girls who are of age to be circumcised, but excluding the practice of cutting their genitalia. MYWO has held these alternative rites passage practice yearly among different communities in Kenya. In these activities, girls are taught traditional methods of becoming a good woman, while other formal education programs are again incorporated into the teachings. There are many communities that have adopted this system of alternative rites of passage, but among the Maasai communities, it has been received with a lot of mixed reactions, thus only causing limited success. The concern and the major reason for the Maasai and other communities to practice FGM is basically to reduce sexual urge among the girls, so that they can remain pure until their marriage time , and once married, be faithful to their husbands. This concern does not seem to be raised in the case of using alternative rites of passage (IRIN, 2009b). Religious leaders have also of late been at the forefront in the fight against FGM practice. Muslim dominated region of North Eastern Kenya has been also known to have high percentage of female circumcision. However, of late, the Muslim religious leaders have taken up the initiative to teach their followers of the importance of doing away with FGM practices. The religious leaders campaigns mostly on Fridays when they offer the religious teachings. The leaders have played a major role in informing the women that FGM is not an Islamic requirement, hence has to be abandoned. The council of Imams and other Muslim religious leaders has chosen to be undertaking their campaigns on Fridays because it is the time many Muslims gather together as community for their prayers. This is also considered a cheap approach of reaching many people, than having to undertake expensive workshops in hotels (IRIN, 2007). Like the Maasai, the campaigns in the North Eastern Kenya have received mixed reactions among the community members. There are those who feel that the practice should be stopped, while others feel that the practice is aimed at protecting the girls, hence it has to be preserved at all costs. Many girls in the North Eastern region of Kenya lead miserable lives since they are forced to get married immediately they are circumcised, and they do also have poor lives to lead in their marriage, since they face problems like divorce, for not satisfying their husbands sexually and birth related problems associated with FGM practice (IRIN, 2007). Conclusion Kenyan government made FGM an illegal offence when it passed the child’s protection Act of 2001, but due lack of enforcement of the law by prosecuting the those who carry out the practice, FGM has continued among different communities like the Maasai who hold a lot of regards to their rituals, hence living according to the traditional rules and refuse to embrace modernization. Nevertheless, with the increased activities of the outside world within the communities practicing FGM, their influence is slowly changing the perspective of the community especially among the younger educated generation who do not want their daughters to undergo the practice like themselves or their wives. Therefore, this practice is bound to come to an end, but it will take time to change the minds of the indigenous people. Reference: IRIN (2007). KENYA: Religious leaders join anti-FGM fight, retrieved on 25th February 2009 from, http://www. globalexchange. org/countries/africa/kenya/4648. html. IRIN (2009a). In-Depth: Razors Edge The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation. AFRICA: When culture harms the girls the globalisation of female genital mutilation, retrieved on 25th February 2009 from http://www. irinnews. org/IndepthMain. aspx? IndepthId=15ReportId=62462. IRIN (2009b). In-Depth: Razors Edge The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation. KENYA: FGM among the Maasai community of Kenya, retrieved on 25th February 2009 from http://www. irinnews. org/InDepthMain. aspx? InDepthId=15ReportId=62470Country=Yes.

Kenya National Security Strategy

Kenya National Security Strategy From colonial times to present day   Ã‚   Executive Summary After Kenyas independence, Somalia was a big security threats. After the president of Somalia, Siad Barre, was overthrown, Somali citizens fled their unstable country and entered Kenya. This affected Kenyas national security. Jihadist militant group, Al Shabaab, ruled Somalia, and through the arrival of refugees, it made it easier for terrorism to cross the borders from Somalia to Kenya. Small arms and light weapons proliferation is currently one of the most crucial external as well as internal security threat Kenya faces today. The existence of ethnic groups and conflicts spilling over across the border to Somalia as well as the constant flow of refugees, makes proliferation of small arms easier. Health insecurity is a major challenge for Kenyan people as well as the economic development of the country. Health and the countrys economy are positively correlated thus one directly affects the other. Piracy incidents have become more frequent in todays world. Somali pirates affect commerce that is taking place in that region which indirectly affects the economy of Kenya. International intervention failed to bring peace to Somalia. Terrorism arises from such instability affecting Kenyas national security. Joining with international help Kenya wishes to attain political stability in the region. Introduction This briefing paper examines Kenyas security strategy in terms of external and internal threats. It will analyse why Kenya has taken specific measures to tackle threats and challenges from Kenyas colonial period to present day. In terms of geopolitical factors, the Nile was and is a very important river. Britain wanted to capture and control the Nile in the 1800s, in order to increase trade. Additionally, they wanted to have control over Egypt, by capturing the source of the Nile, which helped sustain the country and then move on to control the Suez Canal. By doing so, the British would have full control over trade in the Middle East with Europe. Kenya was colonized from 1885 until 1964, when it gained its independence. Post-Independence Regional Influence The first decade after Kenya gained its independence, Somalia posed one of the biggest security threats. In 1992, after the overthrow of Siad Barre, the president of Somalia at the time, Somali refugees found shelter in Kenya as their country was a very unstable state, and this quickly started impacting Kenyas national security. Somalia was then ruled by jihadist militant group, Al Shabaab, and through the influx of refugees, it allowed terrorism to cross borders to Kenya with kidnappings and hijackings increasing rapidly. Terrorism is still one the most challenging and serious threats Kenya faces today. Another neighbouring country that posed a threat to Kenya was Uganda, in terms of external security. The rise of Idi Amin caused tensions between the two states, as the Ugandan president claimed a part of Kenya. To respond to this threat, Kenya improved its air force and build a stronger army in terms of number of soldiers enrolled. The tension between these two nations was a great challenge for Kenya and a threat it faced and still is today with the proliferation of small arms and the instability of a bordering country. Adding to that, South Sudan poses a great threat to Kenyas national security. In 2011, South Sudan, gained its independence, attention was brought to the Elemi triangle and countries in that region. This challenge was dealt with through peace talks to come to a common resolution in a diplomatic and civil manner, however, it could still pose a threat to regional security and impacting Kenya in the future, as different nations have different interests. Furthermore, internal conflicts in South Sudan also threaten Kenyas national security, as they could spill over and start spreading in other nations which would destabilize the region and its security. Post-Independence Social and Political Security In terms of social security Kenya, since independence, has faced problems with ethnicity influencing internal politics thus affecting the nations national security. These ethnic groups which lead to a divided nation have existed since Kenyas colonial era to post-colonial and even today remain an imminent threat to the security of the country. Kenya understood this challenge, thus included in its constitution, that the government should have a legal requirement in appointing a leader that will reflect and support ethnic diversity and not favour certain ethnic groups. Distinction was made between ethnic groups based on the land they owned, however this lead to ethnic conflicts for land ownership between different groups. Another difference that divided these ethnic groups was language which encouraged strong ethnic identities trying to prevail and ending up in conflicts. Adding to that, the effect that ethnicity had on Kenya, is that it divided the country into 42 different tribes which intensified internal ethnic conflicts that posed a security threat to Kenya before and even after independence and affect Kenyas economic development agenda. In terms of political security, Kenya was influenced largely from its colonizers.   The structure that they adopted into their political system was created by the British who colonized Kenya. However, the diversity of ethnic groups was embedded into politics with culture violence being the only tool Kenyans used to achieve their aim. There was no trust between different ethnic groups and thus leading to a more polarized political system with the risk of increasing cultural violence to resolve issues. Ethnic groups formed their own political parties to establish power to their own people. This lead to election violence, which is still one of the most important internal security challenged the nation faces today. Kenyas political system was and is still is divided between these ethnic groups which could potentially lead Kenya into a civil war which could simply be used as a political statement. After Kenya gained its independence the government of Kenya tried uniting the nation into thinking as a unity instead of being segregated into the 42 ethnic groups and tribes, hoping to put an end to political rivalry and focus on issues such as poverty and health security as one nation. Policies were formulated to achieve regional stability as well as continental unity to depolarize the world from the two superpowers at the time (USA vs. USSR). Kenya was always a neutral country during the time period 1960-1970 as it had a vision of a united Africa. The second decade after Kenya gained its independence, Somalia still posed a threat to the nation, as it continued receiving support from the Soviet Union. The end of the Cold War had a negative impact on Kenya as the US tried promoting democracy which led to a negative response by some Kenyan ethnic groups.   These rallies that took place to promote democracy, often resulted in violence. Economic Development To obtain economic security Kenya has to ensure that it has financial stability, access to resources and that its citizens have sufficient income. However, Kenya still suffers from high levels of unemployment, poverty, and segregation of different income classes. In terms of economic dominance, Kenya has seen its industries grow and help finance some of the projects Kenya envisioned in the Vision 2030, an ambitious plan Kenya wanted to implement by the year of 2030. The division of people in terms of wealth is very visible in Kenya. Poverty is at high rates which leads to unstable settlements and the rise of criminal behaviour, as people have to compete with each other for basic resources such as food and water. Reasons why the nation has failed to implement policies to reduce poverty and the wealth gap is poor budgeting and overestimating the nations capabilities. There is a lack of appropriate policy frameworks and personnel to carry out these policies. Kenya in recent times, has discovered oil, gas and other mineral resources which could potentially lead to an growth in the countrys economic development. Kenya has responded to these opportunities in a diplomatic and business like manner, already singing contracts with international oil companies for the exploration of its oil as well as training its own people in handling and exploring these sources themselves. However this puts Kenya in a difficult spot as the instability of its region could lead to radicalized groups wanting control of Kenyas oil. The nation wishes to create strategic and business relationships with big international companies in order to avoid these sources falling in the wrong hands. Internal Security Today Political  security and regional stability In terms of political security, with 42 different ethnic groups present in Kenya, Kenya is a divided nation with a lack of a national identity. Ethnic violence has been present in Kenya even before its independence. Even after the nation gained its independence, ethnic groups still divide and pose a challenge to Kenyas national security. Kenyas attempt at resolving this challenge was not successful and therefore Kenyas idea of addressing with the issue is through educating younger generations on how to think like Kenyans instead of following their ethnic prejudices. Kenya has constantly failed at resolving ethnicity and ethnic conflicts is still is a corrupted government. With the segregation of different ethnic groups, presidency is also in favor of the ethnicity of the party elected. In 2008 was the biggest political conflict Kenya has witness with the violence used a s a tool to displace members who were in power of specific ethnic groups. Keya created a legislation and made it a legal requirement to found political parties based on the persons religion or ethnicity and this was also used to prevent gender discrimination. All parties were required to follow a code of conduct. The nation has failed repeatedly as it has not yet resolved the issues with ethnicity and corruption. Corruption in Kenya weakens its agenda on economic development. These ethnic groups are not only present in Kenya but also in other neighbouring countries which makes it very difficult for the country to respond to such an imminent and large threat that it is facing as it is surrounded by unstable nations.. Health and Food Insecurities   Ã‚   Kenya has been struggling with health security for a long time. Incidences of malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other diseases have affected, not only Kenyans but also national economic development. More of the nations funds are directed towards building a better health care system that would cater to everyone and could be afforded by everyone. This eventually leads to a slower economic growth for the country, which leads to lower incomes for certain groups of people and thus resulting in a higher percentage of poverty. Kenya focuses on education, health and poverty as key instruments in developing the country and creating this prosperous nation it has envisioned by 2030.

The Awakening - Movie :: essays research papers

Throughout the movie The Awakening, Robin Williams demonstrates his knowledge of the scientific method. The scientific method is a procedure of steps that is used to prove problems. In the movie it is used to show that patients suffering from an un-named disorder do have a slight opportunity to return to their normal state of being. The scientific method is a list of steps to prove something and make into a law or theory based on your final product and findings. It is composed of several steps, it starts with observations. Observations are where a person collects known data concerning what you are going to test on. Next they formulate a hypothesis based on their observations. After they have a hypothesis they perform several experiments to prove or disprove it. After this, they then form a theory and experiment based on their hypothesis. More observations and experiments follow this, until they finally come to a conclusion which is called a law. Throughout the movie The Awakening, Robin Williams uses the observation, hypotheses and experimenting steps in the scientific method. Observations included, noticing the lifeless behavior shown by the patients, their reflexes to moving objects, and the fact that they all had cases of encephalitis before. After he did all the research he formed several hypotheses and experimented to prove them. Robin Williams used strobe lights, talked to them, measured their brain patterns, and used games such as a Ouija board to prove some of his hypotheses. After he formed several hypotheses and experimented with them, he came across an article that explained how the use of a certain type of medicine which was used to treat a disease related to the one that he was investigating. He tried administrating the medicine to one of his patients, and observed the results. The patient demonstrated normal, human conditions and seemed to have no side effects. He then made a law that stated the medicine helped his patient, and gave it to all the patients in the ward. However, his observations were incorrect and the side effects were devastating. This is how Robin Williams demonstrated the steps of the scientific method

Homosexuality in the Film Latter Days and in Sexual Perversion by Nagel

From the assigned readings and film, I felt that I have gained a better understanding on one of the most controversial types of relationships, homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality isn’t easy to openly talk about but it is important as philosophy students, to have an open-mind about topics that we don’t partake in. Doing so allows us to promote new ways of thinking about the world around us and see them in a whole new light. In this personal response paper, I will discuss homosexuality in connection with the film Latter Days to determine why a homosexual relationship can meet Kant’s criteria for acceptable love as mentioned in Ruse’s essay, â€Å"Is Homosexuality Bad Sexuality?†, as well as why it qualifies as a complete and healthy relationship as described by Nagel in â€Å"Sexual Perversion.† Michael Ruse’s essay revolves around the central question if homosexuality is an acceptable form of relationship. In order to help answer this question, Ruse examines this argument from multiple philosophical perspectives, mainly the categorical imperative and utilitarianism. The first ethical framework is Kant’s categorical imperative. According to this theory, a person should not use another for their own benefit or the benefit of others because â€Å"people must be treated as subjective worthy beings in their own right† (Ruse, 1995, pg.113). This means that in a relationship, one must not treat the other as a means to the fulfillment of their sexual desires (e.g. as a sexual object). Instead, there must be respect for the dignity of the other. â€Å"By giving oneself reciprocally – by yielding oneself, body and soul – one shows respect for the other as an end and not just as a means† (Ruse, 1995, pg. 113). In doing so, according to Kant, there woul... ...ity was something that I never really took the time to think about but after reading the essays and watching the film, I have newfound respect for homosexuality. I know it’s only a matter of opinion, but I do genuinely feel that homosexuality is indeed an acceptable way for people to act and that there is nothing wrong with it. Works Cited Nagel, T. (1995). Sexual perversion. In R. Stewart (4th Ed.), Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love (pp. 105-112). New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. Ruse, M. (1995). Is homosexuality bad sexuality?. In R.Stewart (4th Ed.), Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love (pp. 113-123). New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. Schaefer, J. & Tibbles, K. (Producers), & Cox, C.J. (Director). (2003). Latter days [Motion picture]. United States: Funny Boy Films & Davis Entertainment Filmworks.

Art – Vincent Van Gogh

When she rejected him, van Gogh suffered a breakdown. He threw away all his books except for the Bible, and devoted his life to God. He became angry with people at work, telling customers not to buy the â€Å"worthless art. † He was eventually fired. Between the time of the heartbreak/ breakdown and the fall of 1880, van Gogh taught at a Methodist boys' school. He aspired to become a minister and after a year of diligently studying, he refused to take the exams in what he called Latin, the â€Å"dead language of poor people. † He was denied entrance. In the winter of 1878, the same thing happened again.Van Gogh volunteered to preach and minister to the sick in south of Belgium. The evangelical committees disagreed with van Sago's lifestyle, which begun to take a tone of martyrdom. They refused to renew van Sago's contract and he was forced to find another occupation (Vincent Van Gogh). In the fall of 1880, van Gogh decided to move to Brussels and become an artist. Altho ugh he had no formal training, his younger brother Thee offered to support van Gogh financially. At the academy, he met Nathan van Rapped, who was to be his most important artist friend during his Dutch period.The Climax of his life In April 1881, van Gogh moved in with his parent's where he set himself the task of earning how to draw. He experimented endlessly with all sorts of drawing materials and concentrated on mastering the technical aspects of his craft like perspective, anatomy and physiognomy. Most of his subjects were taken from peasant life. After a couple encounters with different women, he moved in again with his parent's, who were now living in Ennui. The Potato Eaters The paining consisted of 5 figures sitting around a square table eating potatoes.Four of them are females and one male. Although the piece is laced in darkness, the mixed emotions residing in the faces of the occupants shine out brightly. These fugues are so intense that one can nearly hear the conversat ion being spoken. Subtle aspects create the illusion that the building is an actual residence for the five figures. The portrayal of ordinary peasant life did not come in a burst of creativity. Van Gogh had this painting planned out in advance. Van Gogh had a sense of confidence that took him to advertising the painting before he even had it.Nevertheless, the Potato Eaters failed to become the painting he set his mind to. Today, however, the painting has reached great heights in the artistic community and is considered as one of his retreat masterpieces, as he had intended it to be (The van Gogh Gallery). In Ennui, van Gogh first began painting regularly, modeling himself chiefly on the French painter Jean-Franà §ois Millet, who was famous throughout Europe for his scenes of the harsh life of peasants. Van Gogh set to work with an iron will, depicting the lives of villagers and humble workers.In the end of 1884, he began painting and drawing a major series of heads and work-roughen ed peasant hands in preparation for a large and complex figure piece that he was planning. By April of 1885, this period of his life came to fruition in the masterpiece of his Dutch Period. In the summer of 1885, he made a large number of drawings of the peasants working in the fields. The supply of models dried up; however, when the local priest forbade his parishioners to pose for van Gogh. He thus turned to painting landscape, inspired in part by a visit to Risks museum in Amsterdam.This same year he enrolled at the academy in Antwerp. He found the lessons rather tedious but was impressed by the city and its museums. He fell under the spell of Rueben' palette and brushwork and also discovered Japanese prints. In early 1886, van Gogh went to live with his brother in Paris. There he was finally confronted with the full impact of modern art, especially with the recent work of the impressionists and vivisectionists. He discovered that the dark palette he had developed in Holland was out of date. In order to brighten up he began painting still lives of flowers.The search of his own idiom led him to experiment with impressionist and postmodernists techniques. He also studied the prints of Japanese master. During this time, he made friends with fellow artists such as Paul Gauguin, Emilee Bernard, Paul Signal, and Georges Serrate. Within two years van Gogh name to terms with his latest development and had forged his own highly personal style. In the early 1888, van Gogh was now a mature artist, who went south to Arles, in Provence. There was where he at last began to feel confident about his choice of career.He set out to make a personal contribution to modern art with his daring color combinations. He was swept away by the landscape around Arles. In the spring he painted numerous scenes of fruit trees in full blossom. In the summer he painted the yellow wheat fields. Although he had difficulty finding models, he did make portraits, among which were those in the Ro lling family. It was typical of van Sago's faith in his own abilities that he decided not to try to sell any work yet but to wait until he had thirty top-class pictures with which he could announce himself to the world.He enjoyed the thought that a number of other artists would come and Join him in Arles, where they could all live and work together. The idea seemed to get off to a promising star when Gauguin arrived in October of 1888 (Vincent Van Gogh [1853-1890]). The End Although towards the end of 1888, his optimism was rudely shattered by the first signs of his illness, a type of epilepsy that took the form of delusions and psychotic attacks. It was during one of those seizures that he cut off his left earlobe. Gauguin made hasty departure and van Sago's dreams of an artist's colony disappeared.In April of 1889 he entered himself in the Saint-Paul-De-Mausoleum asylum as a voluntary patient. Van Gogh was unable to work when he suffered episodes of his illness, if he felt well en ough, he went out to draw and paint in the garden or surroundings of the asylum. His use of color, which was once intense, became mute. He tried to make his brushwork more graphic. By the closing months of the year, he successfully had two f his paintings shown at the fifth exhibition of Society des artistes independents. Van Gogh made a large number of â€Å"transitions in color† of prints by some of his favorite artists, like Millet and Eugene Delicacies.He found them consoling. They helped him keep in practice (Van Gogh: His Life and Art). Starry Night One of van Sago's most well-known paintings is Starry Night. The features within the painting are responsible for its growing popularity. There are actually several main aspects that intrigue those that view the image. The sky is filled with swirling clouds, stars ablaze with their own luminescence and a bright crescent moon. Although the features are exaggerated, it is view most individuals are comfortable with. This painti ng was painted while in an Asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889 (The van Gogh Gallery).In January of 1890, although he now had a small but growing group of admirers, van Gogh had lost his original passion. He wrote to his brother: â€Å"l feel – a failure. That's it as far as I am concerned- I feel that this is the destiny that I accept, that will never change. † He nevertheless continued working hard during his two months in Avers-sure-Jose, producing dozens of paintings and drawings. Life had become an intolerable burden. At Eternity's Gate At Eternity's Gate also known as Sorrowing Old Man is an oil painting that he made in 1890 in Saint-Remy.The painting was completed in early May at a time when he was convalescing from a severe relapse in health and two or so months before his death. The work depicts an aged man seated with his head held in his hands, experiencing extreme sorrow and regret at the moment of his passing. Although this was Just once a drawing from 1882, it w as until he was at Saint- Remy that he painted this work. It reflects the emotions van Gogh must have been feeling as his mental state deteriorated (The van Gogh Gallery). On July 27, 1890, he hot himself in the chest. He died two days later.Thee, who had stored the bulk of Vincent work in Paris, died six months later. Theses widow, Johanna van Gogh- Bonged returned to Holland with the collection and dedicated herself to getting her brother in law the recognition he deserved. In 1914, with his fame assured, she published the correspondence between the two brothers. Today, van Gogh is considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt. Unfortunately, van Gogh was not around to witness the greatness his works became. He contributed so much to the artistic community with his use of nature and painting figures the way he arrayed them.