Equality and Diversity - 2575 Words

In this assignment I will demonstrate my understanding of equality and diversity as a key approach to policy and practice within my setting. I will make reference to current legislation such as equal pay act, disability discrimination act, sex discrimination act and equality act. Other areas of discriminatory practice I will discuss are language and terminology, stereotyping and attitudes in relation to children and young people. I will explore anti discriminatory practice and diversity that is within the everyday role of the early years practitioners. I will also explore an area of my practice using my understanding of equality and diversity through an audit of provision to develop practice and outline any issues. The audit I will carry†¦show more content†¦Judgments can also cause discrimination as people can make poor judgements of people and discriminate against their good qualities just because they are in a wheelchair or have ADHD doesn’t mean they can’t play the same games as the other children they just may need more support than the others. In early years setting we use policies and procedures to outline the government legislation, we do not simply publish the legislation because of the way they are presented and the terminology they are written in. The policies and procedures are designed around the legislation in a way that are easily understandable for the staff and parents/carers using the setting. We make sure that the policies and procedures are accessible for all parents/ carers and staff. It is no longer acceptable to base an education programme on the stereotype of emotional behaviour being feminine, artistic and marginalised and rationale behaviour as masculine, logical and mainstream (Yelland, N 1998). It is important to give all children equal opportunities and allow boys and girls access to all resources and activities whether that be the girls playing with the cars and the boys playing with the dolls or both genders playing outside on the slides and bikes, this is all available in the work setting. Stereotyping can be offensive and cause biased thinking and actions, the tasks set in education programmes could favour groups depending on their culture and previous educationShow MoreRelatedEquality and Diversity2900 Words   |  12 Pagesand is made up of 5 Parts. Name: Part 1: Understanding equality This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 1: Know the meaning of equality |Learning objective |Place in Assessment | |1.1 Define the following terms: |Question 1 Page 1 | |Equality Read MoreEquality and Diversity2238 Words   |  9 Pages1. What is meant by diversity? Diversity means differences and variations, within in people for example different races, beliefs, physical appearances, age, capabilities, customs and gender and class. 2. Describe the community you live in. Highlight some of the variations you may observe in terms of: †¢ Interests †¢ Beliefs †¢ Ages †¢ Lifestyles †¢ Personal, social and cultural identities. The community I live in is very diverse, I live among various different cultures and lifestylesRead MoreEquality and Diversity2601 Words   |  11 PagesRunning Head: EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY 1 Equality and Diversity: A New Approach to Gender Equality  Policy in the UK Gender Studies 30th April 2011 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY 2 Abstract The United Kingdom is a country that claims to be intolerant towards gender discrimination and at ease with diversity of all kinds. It believesRead MoreDiversity And Equality And Diversity1852 Words   |  8 PagesDiversity tends to be established by people from different spheres of life including different ethnicities, cultures, and social settings. It allows individuals to appreciate and understand the interdependence of culture, the environment in which people are living, and humanity. Diversity also helps individuals to build alliances and unity despite having a difference regarding their beliefs, religion, and culture. It helps one to recognize and appreciate that people are born different regardingRead MoreEquality, Diversity, and Democracy1348 Words   |  6 PagesJustice and Equality Cannot Coexist, For When One is Achieved the Other is Infringed Upon: Equality, diversity, and democracy are the three components that America claims to revolve around, but unfortunately lacks. America is a nation filled with envy, rage, and such preposterous behaviors and actions. Since the founding of the nation, to the present of America, and according to the predicament of the future, this territorial notion that America abides by is slowly corrupting the nation. SinceRead MoreManagement Of Equality And Diversity1117 Words   |  5 Pagesmanagement of equality and diversity in own area of responsibility. The table below highlights the observations and evaluation that I have conducted for the implementation of the University’s launch of the Equality Diversity Framework. The observation includes suggested actions and a timeframe on areas where I could influence or have responsibility and authority to change. The University implementation plan was to deliver the strategy through the development of a strategic equality and diversity frameworkRead MoreEquality Diversity Inclusion1538 Words   |  7 Pages1.1 Explain what is meant by. Equality Equality is treating people fairly and making sure that everyone is given a fair chance and that their individual needs are met. It’s about giving all sections of the community equal access to employment, education and other services that are provided whilst valuing and respecting them. Recognising that different sections of the community require specific measures to make sure they receive equality. Recognising how and why some groups are underrepresentedRead MoreEquality and Diversity Essay3406 Words   |  14 Pagesstratification (Parsons, 1970). Whilst complete societal equality may be unattainable, Equal Opportunities (EO) policies aim to ‘reduce the gap. Inequality takes different forms and there is much theoretical debate regarding which grouping variables, such as gender or age, are important. There exist three key notions of ‘equality of opportunity’: formal, liberal and radical. The former two are minimalist concepts, concerned principally with e quality of opportunity - the ‘beginning’ of the process. ConverselyRead MoreEquality and Diversity in Childcare9428 Words   |  38 PagesEducation course. One of the modules is Equality and Diversity in Childcare. For this exercise I will explore equality and diversity concepts as relevant to Irish Society. Analyse approaches to diversity education including, assimilation, multicultural, intercultural and anti-bias. Explore equality and diversity terminology; including prejudice, discrimination, racism, sexism and abelism etc. Examine current legislation on Equality and Diversity, to include Equality Legislation, the UN Convention on theRead MoreEquality and Diversity Essay1577 Words   |  7 PagesNCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity Unit 1: Exploring Equality and Diversity Assessment You should use this file to complete your Assessment. The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via

The Electoral College System For Electing The United...

With the Electoral College system for electing the United States president winning the most popular votes is not a guarantee a candidate will become president. They must also get 270 Electoral College votes to win. A candidate can become president if he gets at least 270 Electoral College votes and does not have the most popular votes. Many people do not like the Electoral college system for this reason. They feel the person with the most popular votes should win. Unfortunately for them, the Founding Fathers did not have much faith in the American people selecting the President. They believed the American people s political knowledge was limited so they were not qualified to elect their President. At a meeting of the Constitution Convention held on July 17, 1787, Delegate Mason stated â€Å"A popular election, in this case, is radically vicious. The ignorance of the people would put it in the power of some one set of men dispersed the candidates.† At the same convention on July 19, 1787, Delegate Gerry stated that â€Å"The people are uninformed and would be misled by a few designing men.† The Founding Fathers were afraid if they gave unlimited power to elect the president to some politically uninformed people it could lead to a tyranny of the majority. To keep this from happening, they formed the Electoral College system that would be used to elect the president. They felt the Electoral College system would keep the election of the president from the politicallyShow MoreRelatedMain Arguments For Proponents Of The United States Electoral College1624 Words   |  7 Pagesproponents of the United States Electoral College are based on four ideals. The Electoral College is a beneficial way in which the United States elects the President because it contributes to the unification of the country by requiring a distribution of popular support in order to be elected, enhances the status of the interests for the minority, contributes to the political stability of the nation by encouraging the two-party majority system, and the Electoral College maintains a federal system of g overnmentRead More Electoral College Essay1075 Words   |  5 PagesElectoral College A major conflict concerning the electoral college lingers in America. The Constitutional Convention created the college in 1789 in hopes that it would be an adequate system (MacBride 29). The electoral college consists of senators and representatives who cast their votes for the state they represent. Those who feel that the college should remain as it is believe that the American people are too uninformed about election issues to vote. The argument for the modificationRead MoreThe President Of The United States Essay1682 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout United States history, the American people voted for the President of the U.S. and for members of both chambers of Congress, and the 2016 election is not an exception. On November 9th, Donald J. Trump was declared to become the 45th President of the United States by attaining 306 electoral votes, which is clearly past the threshold of the required 270 electoral votes. However, after winning the popular vote in states Trump had won, some electors from those states have expressed their disappointmentRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Electoral College1416 Words   |  6 PagesElectoral College Despite the Electoral College system being founded by the founding fathers in America and being there as long as the Constitution exists, many people still do not have sufficient knowledge on how it works. The Electoral College does not provide honest presidential elections rather it has the potential to undo the will of people at any point from the selection of electors to the vote tallying in Congress (Shaw, 3). Electoral College in the United States has played a major role inRead MoreThe Electoral College Of The United States1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe Electoral College in the United States is not a place but a process. It was a process our founding fathers established in the Constitution. It is a complicated voting system that most citizens today do not understand. The Electoral College has been in place for well over two hundred years and is unfortunately showing its age. Most people believe that when they vote in a general election for the President, they truly believe t hey are voting for the president. This has shown to be the caseRead MoreIs The Presidential Election Process Fair?1640 Words   |  7 Pagesthe United States, we elect our President using an Electoral College. This process is long and complicated, and many believe that it is inequitable and that we should elect our President based off the popular vote. On the contrary, an election based off the popular vote creates a democracy, and goes away with federalism. Our current election process is archaic, and an election by popular vote obviates smaller states from being heard and goes against the foundation of America, however, a system derivedRead MoreThe Electoral College System Should Be Kept984 Words   |  4 Pagesquote greatly summarizes what the Electoral College system means; every person in the United States is guaranteed one vote. Everyone should have an equal opportunity to elect who serves in the government, and we are given that opportunity through this system. This is wha t the Founding Fathers came up with in order to solve the problems they faced over 200 years ago. However, some have opposed this system is not fit for this democracy, and argue that other systems would work more fairly. On the contraryRead MoreThe Electoral College Is A Privilege Of A Democratic Society1729 Words   |  7 PagesHowever, these millions of cast votes elect a small group of state representatives known as the Electoral College, not the president of the United States. Under the current voting system the power to elect the president is solely the responsibility of the Electoral College not the people. Although the Electoral College has a rich history, it is an outdated voting system and should be replaced by National Popular Vote. This method electing the American president has been in practice since the eighteenthRead MoreThe Electoral College Of The United States1681 Words   |  7 PagesThe Electoral College The Electoral College in the United States is not a place but a process. It was a process our founding fathers established in the Constitution. It is a complicated voting system that most citizens today do not understand. The Electoral College has been in place for well over two hundred years and is unfortunately showing its age. Most people believe that when they vote in a general election for the President, they truly believe they are voting for the president. ThisRead MoreWho Is Really Voting? The System Of The Electoral College?1220 Words   |  5 PagesWho is really voting? The system of the Electoral College has been around for over two centuries. This system provides a means for the president and vice presidential elections by way of state electors. According to the United States Constitution Article II Section One , â€Å"Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors , equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator

OECD Recommendations For Economic Growth of Australia

Question: 1. Understand and comprehend the principles, concepts and theories underpinning economics as a discipline and the role of economics in contributing to organisational and business thinking.2. Comprehend the role of economics within the wider contexts of economies and understand the relationship between macro and micro economic theories and practices and their impact upon businesses and organisations.3. Apply the theory and practice of economics to a variety of business contexts, problems, and managerial decision making models, and evaluate and propose solutions to business problems based on economic practice and theory. Answer: Introduction Australia is the largest country in the Australasia and Oceania continent. Due to its vast territorial ground, it easily has the largest economy in the region and ranks among the worlds biggest economies. Globally, it ranks high in terms of its diversified economy with mining one of its core industries. An understanding of this countrys economic structure, factors in an in-depth evaluation of its documented reports. Such reports provide a path in which meaningful progress can be launched. This essay, digs into Australias economic reports as projected by the Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). From these reports, it looks into the actions that OECD recommends in a bid to improve the countrys economy (Glynn, 2012). Improvement in the tax system efficiency and effectiveness Australia prides in being a capital- importing country. However this does not bode well with its low consumption tax rates coupled with heavy taxes on income. As a result, it makes little benefits from its exports. Furthermore, it will have a higher corresponding company taxes. Notwithstanding, there was an encouraging move made by the government in its 2014/15 budgetary allocations (The Economist, 2016). There was a substantial reduction in the corporate tax to as high as 1.5%. In order to effectively control its taxation, the government also reintroduced indexing of excise on vehicle fuels. Further control should be realized through further reduction of the corporate tax while having a closer eye at the low tax rate on the goods and services as per now. By doing this, it will also widen its base, eventually. According to OECD, the Australian government (2016) will further this cause by acting on the international agreement in a bid to prevent erosion of its base and subsequent shif ting of the profits within its reach. Ensuring better equity and performance in education Sound economic growth is forged by sound policies in its grassroots. With regard to this, the educational institutions need to be streamlined to stay in tune with this foundation. Australia has low levels of pre-primary school enrolment. Mostly, children coming from disadvantaged households face many challenges that contribute a shortfall in the skills later needed in the economy. In response to this, the national government in collaboration with the state governments advanced the universal early child education in 2013 dubbed the Gronski reforms. The adoption of this measure factored in the allocation formula whereby socio-economic factors played a key role. Children from all backgrounds could be reached through this mechanism. The OECD in line with this move, recommended that the government should focus more on provision of affordable healthcare that conforms to family life. Fostering innovation for green growth Green growth alludes to fostering sustainable economic growth while making sure that natural assets continually provide resources and subsequent environmental services on which a countrys well-being is founded (OECD, 2015) With regard to this, innovation is essential in integrating growth from natural capital depletion and eventually contribute to economic growth and creation of employment opportunities. While business is the driving factor, there is need for the Australian government to provide clear and stable market through carbon pricing (Glynn, 2016). This will be realized through:-private-public partnership; private sector investment in research is key in driving long term green innovation through its in-depth market research that identifies gaps. Incentives such as reduced taxation on the private sector furthering this course. Secondly, developing a green revolution into an ICT revolution. The government should introduce subsidies in the green technologies in order to drive jo b creation in its application. This will encourage private investments in the ICT which has not quite achieved its objectives with regard to job creation when compared to other OECD countries (BBC, 2015) Youth investment The unemployment witnessed in the Australian economy is largely represented by the 15-29 year olds. They are majorly short of education beyond secondary level. This has made them vulnerable to any economic realignment. Consequently, they are at risk of being left behind in the competitive labor market. Initiatives that are wired to help young people need to be developed to close the labor market gap that could result from this neglect. Increasing government expenditure on the youth departments will enable a larger round to be covered in a bid to bring the disillusioned youth on board. More so, the existing youth platforms such as Australian Youth Affairs Coalition will ensure that the government policies are connected to the youth and hence forging inclusiveness which has been lacking for a long time. Inclusiveness with the indigenous communities The Australian economy is consistently filled with huge gaps. These gaps separate the indigenous communities with the rest of the countrys population. Consequently, there has been regional imbalance in its quest for economic progress. In this case, economic growth has continued to be stifled by those who feel they have been left behind. Such unfortunate circumstances have been revealed in employment, life expectancy, consumer goods and services among other macroeconomic variables. To tackle this problem, the OECD proposes a strict rationalization of the indigenous community support. Small programs should be developed with a specific objective of targeting such communities. Labor-market involvement should be emphasized while health outcomes should also be improved to keep in pace with the rest of the country. General improvement of these aspects will be reflected in the whole economy. Improvement of the re-employment chances of displaced workers Expansion of training for displaced workers with enhanced skills evaluation. Australia suffers from consistent job displacements whereby economic difficulties compel firms to downsize (Australian Department of Employment, 2013). Such instances hurt the health of an economy and it often spreads disastrous effects to other sectors. In the long run, the economy plummets. While this is a common phenomenon, conducting skills assessment tests and subsequently training the displaced workers will equip them effectively. Through this, a smooth transition is established whereby these former workers will be best placed to get sustainable jobs (Syvret 2012). The labor market gains their expertise. A number of the OECD countries have adopted this mechanism. For instance, Sweden has made better use of it. A huge bit of an explanation to its economic expansion is based on this policy. Capacity enhancement coupled with infrastructural regulations; Infrastructure adds value to production activities through movement of goods and services from one place to another. Australias production capacity has fallen behind because of its inefficient transport and communications systems. Better infrastructure improves productivity scales while forging sustainable growth. The government recently expedited wider plans to better infrastructure. These plans included federal government incentives targeting the sale of assets and use the returns to further the course of infrastructure. The OECD advises development of new infrastructure that integrates environmental issues that ensure congestion charges are factored in. furthermore, infrastructural development fuses public-private partnership in creating a value for money model (Colebatch, 2012). Mental health reforms Building on the mental health reforms targeting the employment outcomes of workers with mental issues; according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2012) the Australian government spends an equivalent 28.6 billion dollars each year on mental health concerns. This equates to about 2.2% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product. Such expenditure shrinks the economys capacity to diversify. Mental health problems directly affect the economys productivity either through death, frequent absence. In the long run, the output decreases and firms may be forced to adopt retrenchment schemes so as to operate within their capacity to produce. Handling this menace will be key in converting such huge expenditure into other productive economic ventures. OECD report indicates Australia has absolutely no collaboration involving health care and employment (Gaynor 2007). In that medical practitioners lack knowledge to handle mental problems. OECD recommends that Australia should put in place coherent support structure across the country. It should ensure that cases of early school leaving due to mental illness receive support that enables their transition to work. Furthermore, policies should be developed to put a bit of responsibility in the employers court. Employers should thus be offered occupational mental health services. Tackling the high levels of obesity; Australias impressive growth of the health sector has been overshadowed by its huge rate of obesity. It ranks third in obesity among the OECD countries with 8.6% which is way above the average 5.0%. According to the Public Health England (2016), obesity leads to development of a wide range of complications. Cancer, diabetes, stroke and worst of them reduction of life expectancy. The economy losses its workforce as a result. Lost workforce implies cut-backs on output leading to unemployment. Unfortunate events such as increased demand for the few goods leading to inflation which hurts the economy both in the short and long run. Overweight is often coupled with obesity and both contribute disastrously to the economy. Governments are compelled to increase their benefit payments as well as social care costs. Conclusion Australia is one of the worlds thriving economies. There is a remarkable progress among its key sectors. However, there is absolute need to spur the economy into better growth according to the Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). Based on their reports, Australia is primed to realize more economic prosperity if it adopts particular measures they recommend. Inclusiveness of the youth and indigenous communities will create strong background in which deployment of new technologies can be launched. This approach is also in line with enhancement of equity and performance in the education that is relied on to provide skilled labor for better management of the economy. Health issues such as obesity and mental illness are a recurring menace that needs action once and for all. Integrating these components into an economy assures progress eventually. References Alexander, S, 2016. A forgotten pioneer of Health Economics in Australia? Australia Economic Review Journal, Vol. 49, issue 2 pages 169-173 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012, household income and income Distribution, Australia, 2007-2008 Journal of economics Vol. 22 No. 16 Pg. (342-348). Australian Government, 2016. Trade and economic statistics: Department of foreign Affairs and Trade. [Online].Available atwww.gov.au/trade/resources/trade-statistics/Pages/trade-statistics.aspx [Accessed August 5, 2016] Colebatch, T. 2012. State close to recession, Sydney morning herald. [Online] 8 March. Available at https://www.smh.com.au/business/state-close-to-recession-20120307-1ukme.html [Accessed August 5, 2016] Department of Employment 2013. Labor force region. [Online] 15 November. Available at https://lmip.gov.au/default.aspx%3FLMIP/LFR [Accessed August 5, 2016]. Gaynor, L. et al. (2007), The future nursing workforce in Australia: baseline date for a prospective study of the profule, attrition rates and graduate outcomes in a contemporary cohort of undergraduates, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(2), 11-20. Glynn, J. 2016. Australias economic growth hits three and a half year high on strong exports. [Online] 1 June. Available at www.wsj.com/articles/australias-economic-growth-accelerates-on-strong-exports-1464764224 [Accessed August 5, 2016]. Health Workforce Australia (2014). Australias Future Health Workforce - Nurses Overview Report. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Organization of Economic Co-Operation Development, 2015. In it together: Why less inequality is a benefit to us all, [online] 21 May. Available at www.oecd.org/social/inequality-and-poverty.htm [Accessed August 5, 2016]. Public health England 2016. Economic impact, [online]. Available at: https://www.noo.org.uk/LA/impact/economic [Accessed August 5, 2016] Syvret, P. 2012. Mining punches through recession, courier [online] 7 April. Available at www.couriermail.com.au/business/mining-punches-through-recession/story-fn7kjcme1226320756339 Mobile De [Accessed August 5, 2016]. The BBC, 2016. Australias economy growth stronger than expected. [Online] 1 June. Available at www.bbc.com/news/business-36423205 [Accessed August 5, 2016]. The Economist, 2016. Coming back down under: Australia is the first large, rich country to raise interest rates in more than a year, [online] 6 October. Available at www.economist.com/node/14582762?zid=295ah=0bca374e65f2354d553956ea65f756e0 [Accessed August 5, 2016] The Wall Street Journal, 2016. Risks to Australias Economic Miracle: Leading the pack fueled by resources, [online] 29 June. Available at www.wsj.com/risks-to-australias-economic-miracle/ [Accessed August 5, 2016]

Similarities and Differences Between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period Essay Example

Similarities and Differences Between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period Paper Similarities and differences between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period. Similarities and Differences between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period What were the similarities and differences between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period? The Romantic Age and Victorian Period had many similarities, but they had far more differences. They first differed in rule: the Romantic Age didn’t have a king or queen, but the Victorian Period did. They were similar and different in writing styles, and beliefs. The Industrial Revolution also had an effect on both time periods. The Romantic Period was from 1784 until 1832. The Romantics brought amore brave, individual, and imaginative approach to both literature and life. During the Romantic Age the individual became more important than society. Individualism became the center of the Romantic vision. The Romantic Age in England was a movement that affected all the countries of Western Europe. Romanticism represents an attempt to rediscover the mystery and wonder of the world. The French Revolution, 1793-1815, gave life and breath to the dreams of some Romantic writers. They wanted liberty and equality for all individuals. The Industrial Revolution was changing England from a rural society to a nation of factories (Fuller, 280). England changed from an agricultural society to an industrial society and from home manufacturing to factory production. When Napoleon came into power, people became as violent and corrupt as their former rulers. This was known as the Reign of Terror. â€Å"England emerged from the eighteenth century a parliamentary state in which the Almeida 2 monarchy was largely a figurehead,† according to Pfordresher. We will write a custom essay sample on Similarities and Differences Between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Similarities and Differences Between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Similarities and Differences Between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Victorian Period was from 1832 until 1901. It marked the climax of England’s rise to economic and military dominance. The Romantic spirit didn’t disappear, but it wasn’t the leading influence. â€Å"The Romantic Period shaded gradually into the Victorian Age, which gets its name from Queen Victoria,† said by Fuller in The New Book of Knowledge. Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, 1837-1901, the longest in English history. Victorian England was mighty, and its empire circled the globe (Fuller, 284). During her reign, Britain emerged as the world’s foremost industrial nation. Many people were critical of the society in which they lived (Fuller, 284). Nineteenth century England became the first modern and industrial nation. During Victoria’s reign great economic, social, and political changes occurred in Britain (Merritt, 320). Pfordresher said that â€Å"It ruled the most widespread empire in world history, embracing all of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and many smaller countries in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. †. England then started to become unstable and survival seemed doubtful. An English version of the French Revolution seemed dangerously close. The number of people doubled in England between 1801 and 1850. Like the Romantic Age, the population shifted from rural areas to the newly industrialized cities. â€Å"The Victorian years did bring increasing efforts to achieve political, social, and economic reforms to meet the changes created by industrialization,† said by Pfordresher. Almeida 3 the 1840? s were the worst of the century for employment, hunger, and disease. Another difference between the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period is the way that the writers wrote and in what they believed. Romantic writers were optimists, they believed in the possibility of progress, social and human reform. They saw mankind as generally good, but were corrupted by society. Romantic writers broke with the eighteenth century belief in the power of reason, instead they believed in imagination and emotion (Fuller, 280). The preromantics were a group of poets who represented a bridge between classicism and romanticism. They signaled the awareness of social problems and the love of nature that became typical of English romanticism. William Blake was the leading preromantic poet. Merritt, 319). Romantic poets believed that nature was the principle source of inspiration, spiritual truth, and enlightenment. â€Å"Poets of the Romantic Age focused on the ordinary person and common life in order to affirm the worth and dignity of all human beings, and to repudiate to evils of a class system that artificially designated a few select people as more important than others because of wealth, positio n, or name,† said Pfordresher. From 1786 to 1830 a few major poets emerged who permanently affects the nature of English language and literature. Robert Burns was a Scottish writer who wrote about characters, sometimes with a Scottish dialect another writer of the Romantic Age was Percy Bysshe Shelley, and idealist and social reformer. John Keats wrote intense and vivid poems. Many deal with beauty and it’s inevitable passing. William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were the first important English romantic poets (Merritt, 320). In 1798 Almeida 4 Wordsworth and Coleridge wrote a volume of poems called Lyrical Ballads. It has sometimes been called romantic poetry’s declaration of independence (Fuller, 281). Victorian poets thought and wrote differently that the Romantic poets. Victorian poets dealt with the contrast between the prosperity of the middle and upper classes and the miserable conditions of the poor (Merritt, 320). In the later years of the period there were modern kinds of realistic writing. Some authors showed a new, deeper understanding of character. Lord Tennyson has been called the voice of Victorian England. Lord Tennyson reflects the Victorian concern with moral codes in the retelling of King Author’s legends, â€Å"The Idylls of the King. PeterBrowning was another good writer, but she was more admired than understood (Merritt, 284). The Industrial Revolution took place in England from 1750 until 1850. During the Romantic Age, towns became cities and more and more villagers, forced by economic necessity to seek work in the growing factories, huddled together in filthy slums. Men, women and children worked from sunrise to sunset. For children of the poor, religi ous training, medical care, and education were practically nonexistent. Through the efforts of reformers, the church and government assumed responsibilities. Sunday schools were organized; hospitals were built; movements were begun to reform the prisons and regulate the conditions of child labor. Gradually English society began to awake to its obligations to the helpless. In the Victorian Period the Industrial Revolution had started in the 18th century with the invention of the steam engine and machines for spinning and weaving. In northern England the â€Å"newly mechanized† textile industry expanded Almeida 5 rapidly. Industrialization destroyed old jobs as it provided new ones. During the population shifting there was bad water, no sanitation and little food. Men, women and children worked up to 16 hours a day, 6 days a week, in factories without safety regulations. Industry became a major influence on English life. In Europe it produced revolutionary unrest (Fuller, 284). Industry and trade expanded rapidly, and railroads and canals crisscrossed the country (Merritt, 320). The Romantic Age and the Victorian Period had many similarities in the effect of industry on society and poetry. They had a lot more differences in the background and the writing styles and beliefs of the poets of both times. So in conclusion, the Romantic Age and the Victorian Period had many similarities and differences. Fuller, Edmond. â€Å"English Literature. † The New Book of Knowledge. volume 5. Danbury, Connecticut: 1995. Merritt, James Douglas. â€Å"English Literature. † World Book Encyclopedia. volume 6. Chicago: 1996. Pfordresher, John. England in Literature. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company; 1991.