Spanish Armada essays

Spanish Armada essays In the Elizabethan age the Spanish Armada controlled the seas with an iron fist. The Armada was extremely rich and incredibly powerful. Throughout all of the years Spains Armada won countless battles, most of the battles were with the country of France (Easton 221). But France wasnt the Armadas biggest threat; their primary threat was with England, ruled by Queen Elizabeth (Villiers 216). Englands Navy was led by the mighty Sir Francis Drake, Elizabeths most favorite sea dog (Villiers 235). Even with Drake in the way of the Armada would still be the most dominant Navy in the whole world. The Armada was under the control and leadership of two of the most admirable leaders of the Elizabethan age. The leaders were Duke of Medina Sidonia and Philip II. The Naval Commander after the death of previous senior officer Don Alvaro de Bazan. The selection of Medina Sidonia was made by King Philip II (www.newadvent.org/cathen/01727c.html). The only person above the Duke was Philip II who reigned as King from 1556-1598 (History of the World 187). Philip IIs father was Emperor Charles V (Easton 221). According to passages written about him, Philip II was an extremely religious man, whose top priority was the well being of Spain (History of the World 195). The second most significant man in Spain was Duke of Medina Sidonia; he led the Armada with dignity and discipline. Country was always first in the mind of Medina Sidonia. Two characteristics of the Duke was a man of excellent nobility and a gentleman (Stenuit 757). The Duke of Medina Sidonia was also extremely stubbo rn, so stubborn in fact that while planning the attack on England he refused help from anyone. In his mind, the Duke had all the answers and ideas that were needed to overtake England as the most dominant country and abolish Protestantism (Cutler 132). With both the Duke and Philip leading and preparing the attack Spai...

A Guide for Teachers Handling Challenging Parents

A Guide for Teachers Handling Challenging Parents Dealing with difficult parents is virtually impossible for any educator to escape. As a school administrator or teacher, you arent always going to make everybody happy. You are in a position where it is sometimes necessary to make difficult decisions, and parents will sometimes challenge those decisions, especially when it comes to  student discipline  and  grade retention.  It is your job to be diplomatic in the decision-making process and to think through every decision without being rash. The following steps can be very helpful when  dealing with a difficult parent. Be Proactive It is easier to deal with a parent if you can build a relationship with them before a difficult situation arises.  As a school administrator or teacher, it is essential for a number of reasons to build relationships with the parents of your students. If the parents are on your side, then you typically will be able to do your job more effectively. You can be especially proactive by going out of your way to talk to those parents who have a reputation for being difficult. Your goal should always be to be friendly and personable. Show these parents that you make your decisions with your students best interests at heart. This is not the be-all and end-all solution to dealing with difficult parents, but its a good start. Building relationships takes time, and its not always easy, but it can certainly help you in the long run. Be Open-Minded Most parents who complain genuinely feel like their child has been slighted in some way. Although it is easy to be defensive, it is important to have an open mind and to listen to what the parents have to say. Try to see things from their perspective. Often when a parent comes to you with a concern, they are frustrated, and they need someone to listen to them. Be the best listener you can and respond in a diplomatic manner. Be honest and explain the thoughts behind your decision-making. Understand that you are not always going to make them happy, but you can try by showing them that you will take everything they have to say into consideration. Be Prepared It is critical that you be prepared for the worst possible situation when an angry parent comes into your office. You may have parents who storm into your office cursing and screaming, and you will have to handle them without losing control of your own emotions. If a parent is extremely agitated, you can politely ask them to leave and return once they have calmed down. Though a situation like this is rare, you should nevertheless be prepared for a student-teacher meeting that turns combative.  Always have some way to communicate with an administrator, teacher, secretary, or other  school personnel  just in case a meeting gets out of control.  You do not want to be locked in your office or classroom without a plan to get help should this kind of situation arise. Another important aspect of preparation is  teacher training. There are a handful of parents who will bypass a school administrator and go straight to the teacher with whom they have a problem. These situations can turn quite ugly if the parent is in a combative state.  Teachers should be trained to direct the parent to a  school administrator,  walk away from the situation, and immediately call the office to inform them of the situation. If students are present, the teacher should immediately take measures to secure the classroom as quickly as possible.