Unique Qualities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unique Qualities - Essay Example Other than the desirable qualities mentioned, I was also able to work as a management intern at a footwear manufacturing plant when I was in college, proving that I am a dedicated and hardworking individual. Furthermore, my extensive experience with a multitude of professional companies and personal business ventures likewise establish my potential as an effective support system to my peers and as an overall asset to the Tsinghua MBA program. While I worked as a Sales Representative for the above-mentioned companies, I performed beyond the realm of my responsibilities and made substantial contributions to these companies. At PSDI, I learned the importance of teamwork and management skills when I spearheaded an ambitious project that not only overhauled the efficiency of production but also increased revenue by 30%. Working within the capacity of a team, and furthermore, as a leader, provided me with the coordination and leadership skills that I look forward to enhancing during my education in the Tsinghua MBA program. Apart from my employment experience, I have had first hand entrepreneurial practice that has broadened my mind with regards to necessary business planning. These numerous personal ventures include starting a trading card business in elementary school, helping a friend set up a retail footwear store in high school, and initiating an apparel importing business in college. Currently, I am working on the initial phases of my own web-based venture, while also working with an LED manufacturer in partnership for the expansion of its business in the United States. Because of my multi-cultural perspective, I have found it easier to adapt to different environments, personalities and situations and I believe that these qualities will serve me well as I enter the Tsinghua MBA program. As such, I have no doubt that the prestigious faculty, extensive network, and

Arts Marketing (Communications for the Arts) Essay

Arts Marketing (Communications for the Arts) - Essay Example creation being a key aspect of the organization, it seeks to bridge the gap created between education and industry by capturing those left on the wayside. This allows people to cultivate their skills and create products that are marketable and at the same time creates employment and promotes trade. A business model may be defined as the way in which an organization creates, delivers and captures value, (Ostewalder and Pigneur, 2010). It should reflect how the organization works and how they seek to deliver their mission, while incorporating the needs of their members and clients. Art is created by individuals and hence when organizations managing artists have weak business models, then they cannot achieve market stability. The use of proper business models, promotes longevity of the business, encouraging consumer confidence and creating markets based on needs. The most important factor for any business and marketing strategy is promoting sustainability of the artists business. Sustainable businesses are successful and able to maintain their businesses beyond a short term period to enjoy longevity and success. Art has a big influence on society and it also changes the way people relate and view things. The business models adopted by organizations must in addition to being able to market the artist’s products; it must also be able to deal with the artist’s creativity. This has been widely ignored based on the fact that consumers have now become number one and hence artists have to ensure that they meet their demands. This is not viable as most artists create based on feelings, inspiration and ideas and hence not having the freedom to create will make artists feel curtailed. The most appropriate business models must therefore cater to the needs of both the consumer and most of all the artists’ creativity to create better and more inspired creations. Artists around the world exist based on their creative elements and their ability to create things which are

The Crucible have lasting appeal Essay Example for Free

The Crucible have lasting appeal Essay The play The Crucible was written in 1953 by Arthur Miller. It was set in a 1692 in a small Quaker town called Salem, Massachusetts, North America. Arthur Millar based the play on the Salem witch trials, so elements of this piece of literature are based on historical fact. The play acts as an analogy for the communism which took place post World War II in the American Government System. Miller himself said of the setting The place devotes a lethal brew of illicit sexuality, fear of the supernatural and political manipulation. The Play explores human relationships in a deeply religious, insular society. It explores many common themes that we can identify with the 21st century, the predominant themes are the strict Quaker religious regime, jealousy, revenge, adultery, compulsive obsessive behaviour, the art of manipulation, power obsessed, love and hate, violence, racism and finally prejudice. These themes are timeless as we still have them in todays society. They are skilfully presented in the play in the use of stage craft techniques, where Miller creates tension and suspense throughout the thorax. In his analogy Miller compares communism in the American Senate to the witchcraft that took place. This play highlights the hypocrisy of the American government and it is a satire on the American legal system. The title of this play, The Crucible has a specific meaning because a crucible is used as a melting pot for metal alloys and in Millers play he draws parallels between the different social and cultural fusion in a 17th century community and the mixing of different metals to strengthen a structure. As the principle characters in the play enter into conflicts, struggle to understand one another and beguile with their lies and lack of fidelity, we could see the similarity between a red hot crucible as all tensions come to the surface. There is a link between the crucible and the witches cauldron and witchcraft is a significant theme in the play. The title also relates to the death of John Proctor at the end of the play and his betrayal of conscious, suggesting to us that he too needed purifying like the metals heated in the crucible to purify it. This immediately appeals to our inquisitive nature and we are naturally intrigued by superstitious acts. Miller communicates to us through the play how a group of girls manipulate a theocratic society into believing that friends, family or neighbours were practising the art of witchcraft. A character called Abigail and some friends were discovered dancing in the forest. In order to divert attention form themselves the girls seized the opportunity to make their own accusations of witchcraft leading to the death of several characters. Millers inspiration came from his personal experience in the McCarthy Era in which he was accused of being a communist. Miller uses the theme of jealousy and presents it through Abigail Williams as she is clearly very jealous of Elizabeth Proctor. She wants to get rid of her so that she can have John Proctor to herself. Abigail is obsessed with him and will do anything in her power to get him, even if it means that Goody Proctor is killed. When the girls were dancing in the forest, Abigail drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor, this shows how much she will try in order to kill her. The main theme of this play is witchcraft, this engages the audience and adds curiousity. Mr Putnam is curious why seven of his children dies at birth and if it may be linked to witchcraft. Abigail uses the art of manipulation to force the other girls into following her. She blackmails them into doing as she say by saying: Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. She wants to be the leader and relishes the power that comes with it. She and the other girls create lies so that people in the town are accused of witchcraft so they will be arrested and hanged. It is as if the girls are deciding who will live and who will die. The people being accused of being witches are getting arrested for it; this is making the people lie in order to avoid death. If people confessed to witchcraft, even if they didnt practice it, their life would be spared. Corruption and discrimination is shown in the play and also the misuse of power and influence. Parris uses his power as the Reverend if Salem to his advantage. He is a widower with no interest in children, this means he doesnt really know or care about children and is a firm believer that children should be seen but not heard. The true nature of Parris is that he is more worried about himself not his daughter and this is shown when he says: Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it He was paranoid and controlling, this was shown by the fact he felt insulted if someone rose to shut the door with out first asking for his permission. Also he thought that he was being persecuted wherever he went. As Reverend he was suppose to teach the word of God and make sure the rules of a Quaker town were kept, however, he spent the church money on gold statues and candlesticks instead of spending it on things that would be worthwhile. This makes him a hypocrite as he is telling the villagers to do one thing while he is doing the other. We also see racial discrimination against Tituba, I know not she spoke Barbados This is a theme that can still be seen in the world today and because she has a different appearance and she speaks differently then she is made a target for Abigails accusations. Abigail shows that she is racist throughout the play. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Essay --

Introduction: Sustainable Development is becoming the new â€Å"it† word in today’s society. Companies, governments, organizations, NGO’s and individuals all around the world today boast about how they are part of the global Sustainable development movement. That is why it is necessary to understand what Sustainable Development really represents, its definitions and key concepts, real life examples and its future. For the purpose of this paper the most widely acknowledged and used theory of Sustainable Development published in the Brundtland Report shall be used: â€Å"†¦development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† (WCED 1987, p. 43). This definition of Sustainable Development contains within it the two key concepts that are present in our society: the concept of needs and the concept of limitations. The concept of needs involves providing strong priority to the poor and providing them with essential needs like clean water, medicine, shelter and food (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. The concept of limitations encompasses the idea that there are certain limitations imposed by technology and social organizations on the ability of the environment to meet the current and future needs of society as has been described in the (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). This concept described in the Brundtland report aims to define the fact that the world must be seen as a system and not as a whole. As upon understanding individual parts of the system it becomes much easier to identify the problems and find solutions. The concept of needs has vastly been distorted in today’s society as for the more economically developed... ...the whole process would fall apart and be inefficient. As for 2013 Sustainable Development on a global scale is still in its infant stage. The lack of international agreements on measures and disinterest of the Northern society in true Sustainable Development measures have resulted in only small fraction of the original vision to be implemented. Change is happening, just not at the desired pace, but the time has come to make some of the harsh decisions, such as strict cuts in emissions around the world. Several decades after the Brundtland report was published it seems more than viable for there to be a Brundtland Report 2.0. This report would be restructured according to current trends and demands of society and focus more on solving the problems of the current generation. Sustainable Development has a bright future as long as there is an adequate catalyst nearby.

Benefits of eating organic foods Essay

There are many benefits of eating organic foods and the main reasoning for this is because of the way these foods are grown. They are all grown on smaller farms and are cared more for. The farmers use natural soils, get rid of the weeds naturally without using sprays, and they use beneficially insects and birds to get rid of pests and diseases. Using natural resources to grow foods prevents us from eating chemical and in some cases added hormones. Organic foods have more zinc, iron and other vitamins than non-organic foods. They can help reduces your risk for cancer because weed, insect, and mold killers have been linked to the cause of some cancers. The ways these foods are grown also help our environment by creating less pollution. The prices for organic foods are more expensive than non-organic. Non-organic foods are generally more affordable and there are more varieties as well. Non-organic foods do not contain E coli because most organic soil that is animal manure and it can cause E coil in organic foods. Between organic and non-organic foods there are benefits to eating each of them. There are certain foods that you should buy organic over non-organic. These foods are the ones that are more nutritious and contain fewer pesticides. Apples are generally more contaminated with pesticides so buying them organically will reduce the risk of them. Celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, kale, and lettuce are all other foods that you should buy organically due to pesticides. There are some foods that are safe to buy non-organically and they will save you money. These foods are onions, corn, pineapple, avocado, asparagus, sweet peas, mangos, eggplant, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, sweet potatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, and mushrooms. Some sources think that organic foods are healthier than non-organic foods and others believe there is no significant difference between the two. Organic foods are grown on smaller private farm and they do not release or consume any pesticides. Organic foods are also more nutritious because they do not contain any pesticides either. The sources I chose were all from the Internet and they were from either a print or web source. I found these sources to be helpful because they were all able to provide me with enough information that I needed. More than half my sources described what foods you should buy organically and what foods you shouldn’t buy organically. I found this information to helpful because the list of foods that you should buy organically is shorter than the ones you shouldn’t. Fruits are typically the ones that have to worry about having pesticides and that are why more fruits are recommended to buy organically. The pesticides that are used on foods kill the nutrients in foods but it still is able to hold some nutrients but not as much as organic fruits. Composting at the World’s Largest Natural Foods Supermarket Chain. (2004). Biocycle. 45(11). p27. Retrieved on 3-3-05 from Ebscohost. Federal or Government Sources Organic Foods 101: Basic Information about organic foods, national labeling standards and online organic foodsellers. (2002). Retrieved on 3-3-05 from http://www. nrdc. org. The National Organic Program . (USDA). (2002). Retrieved on 3-3-05 from http://ams. usda. gov. Trade Publications Organic Food Facts. (2003). Organic Trade Association. Retrieved on 3-3-05 from http://www. ota. com/organic/mt/food. html Industry Statistics and Projected Growth. (2003). Organic Trade Association. Retrieved on 3-3-05 from http://www.ota. com/organic/mt/business. html Organic foods are getting more popular among the world compare to the bigger consumption of conventional foods. There certain true organic foods may cost a bit more, but most of the people agree, taste and quality are well worth compare to conventional. In today`s supermarket, organic foods are everywhere. There are clearly many benefits to organic foods, but there are specific like: it is healthier, protect the environment, different taste. The organic farming and produce of organic foods has been prevalent from the time agriculture was first conceived. The natural way of growing crops started becoming unpopular and economically less feasible. More crop yields meant higher profits to the farmer and better utilization of the land. The farmers who used fertilizers started growing two crops during the same time-period. That was the begging of fast growing industry of conventional foods. Organic foods are healthier than conventional in many aspects. The nutrients present in organic foods that are not in commercial foods. â€Å"Organic food for mineral levels, the researchers also looked for the amount of the heavy metals aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury. Aluminum has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods. Lead toxicity, which has been in the new a lot lately, can adversely affect our children’s’ IQ. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods. Mercury, which can cause neurologic damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods† (Crinnion, Walter). The organic meat is healthier compare the conventional gown, full with antibiotics and many other chemicals for fast growing, which goes to us. The healthier means saver way of leaving. People consume more conventional food which evokes more farmers to use pesticides and to double their crops. The pesticides are dangerous for environment and wild life. People should buy more organic foods and lower the production of the conventional. That`s one of the ways to protect and safe the environment and wildlife of the world. Used chemicals kill different insects which are part of our ecosystem. Chemicals go from soil to the water reservoir and again back to us. The organic foods are proven to taste better and different than conventional grown foods. The organic food not only taste better, but doesn`t contains preservatives. The conventional milk, has inspiration date around 2 months compare to the organic one it`s not more than two weeks. The smell and the taste of organically grown tomatoes are totally different. The organic farms will continue to grow and produce more quality foods around the world. The healthier and long lasting life is connected with the consumption of more organic foods, which taste better and than the conventional. The organic farms help to reduce chemicals that are used for produce their crops. That’s the way to save the environment and the wild life of the world. A disadvantage of organic food is the life of the product. Without the preservatives found in inorganic foods nearly all of these products must be refrigerated. Organic farming also yields fewer crops because insects, weeds, and fungi often damage a larger portion of organic crops than conventionally grown crops. Finally, only about half of the states regulate organic foods and little exists to stop organic farmers from labeling any food they wish as â€Å"organic†. There are numerous benefits of organic farming[->0] for the environment, as well. Without pesticide or chemical use, the water contamination and health risks that occur elsewhere are eliminated. Crops on organic farms are rotated constantly, which keeps the land fresher, healthier, and less worn out. They also help to avoid pest problems, erosion of the soil, and nutrient deprivation in the soil. Cover crops are planted prior to the main crop and bring helpful things to the land such as nitrogen and helpful insects (Roth, 2) [->0] – .. /essay_search/organic_farming. html.

The Non Commissioned Officer ( Nco ) Corps - 1193 Words

The Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps needs help in the promotion process or the future of the NCO Corps will be in danger of having well educated NCO’s without job-related experience. It has automatic promotions for lower enlisted soldiers, letting them get promoted without knowing military or job-related items. NCOs’ can get promoted in the current process without even doing their job as long as they know how to get by a promotion board. NCO’s only had to memorize some regulations, field manuals, and a few Creeds to pass a promotion board. The promotion boards do not even ask job-related questions to see if the NCO knows anything about his current position. The current promotion process uses a points system and holds soldiers back from getting promoted. The point system is broken down but puts too much emphasis on certain areas which have nothing to do with their current position. This current promotion system has to change just like the way the mili tary is asking NCO’s to change and become more civilian-educated. The new promotion process I am recommending is written testing/hands on testing job permitting. The tests are Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Knowledge Test (MKT) and Military Promotion Examination (MPE). The results of these tests would give the soldier a skill identifier of 1-12 and would be annotated on their Enlisted Records Brief (ERB). The skill identifier would give the soldiers a graded scale on military and job knowledge. The skillShow MoreRelatedThe Non Commissioned Officer (NCO); the backbone of the Marine Corps. The driving force behind1000 Words   |  4 PagesThe Non Commissioned Officer (NCO); the backbone of the Marine Corps. The driving force behind the battle of Belleau Wood, the battle of Hue City, the fight for Fallujiah, the taking of Marjah and, most recently, the battle against suicide and sexual harassment. No other group of men and women in the world have been called to fight across such a broad area of operation. As we look at the ever-adapting r ole of the NCO, we must first look to the past. One of the foremost examples that comes toRead MoreHistory of the Marine Nco840 Words   |  4 PagesRole of the Marine Non Commissioned Officer After the Vietnam War ended, the Marine Corps’ main focus changed from broad scale operations, to being an Expeditionary Force in Readiness. Although this was no new role for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), there have been many changes in society, technology and tactics that affect how the Corps operates. However, over the last 36 years one thing has remained the same, and that is the role of the Marine Non Commissioned Officer (NCO). With the worldRead MoreRoles And Responsibilities Of A Non Commissioned Officer1595 Words   |  7 PagesResponsibilities of a Non-Commissioned Officer within the U.S. Army J. Davisson ji// ? 1-1 ) ,, 21l)ecember2014 .,.._Q_ .,If f_ 1  ·; f ~ff. D ~~ ~ ~ I ~ 5 l J~ ~ r A f LI t~_ ,r,. et ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER WITHIN THE U.S. ARMY ,., ., _.-,[_::.... - -- . - -- The Corps of Non-Commissioned Officers (NC Os) date back to the 15th century, therefore its significance and legacy is older than our nation itself. Since that time, the roles of the NCO and the responsibilitiesRead MoreNco Respect Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many reasons why lower enlisted soldiers should respect non-commissioned officers in the military. It is important to respect an non-commissioned officer in order to keep the balance in the work place. Even if respect is not deserved or given back to you, the military still expects you to give them respect because they are appointed above you. Not showing them respect will result in getting yourself in trouble that will make yourself look bad to your other superiors. Punishments willRead MoreThe Army Corps Of Non Commissioned Officers Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesIn recent years, the Army Corps of Non-Commissioned Officers has exhibited signs of decline in both effectiveness and professionalism. The Corps of Non-Commissioned Officers has faced many challenges that are unprecedented in the history of military service including a core shift in the societal values toward a confused and submissive populous creating a pool of potential Soldiers entering service without the mental or physical toughness to make the transition to military life and be successfulRead MoreCdawg3338 Words   |  14 PagesOfficer and Noncommissioned Officer Relationship MSG Terwan Crawley United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 63 SGM Johnny Williams March 29, 2013 Abstract The disparity between officers and non-commissioned officers (NCO) in the military still prevails on the social and professional levels. The major issue of the relationship between these groups of men is considered an issue of class structure which is attributed to the differences in the educational levels between them. NCOsRead MoreMilitary Respect and Disrespect1438 Words   |  6 Pagesmilitary it is used to train people so that they are good at their job/career as they have improved due to discipline. Disrespect to a Non-Commissioned Officer; which is where if told by an NCO to do a task a soldier blatantly tells the NCO a story as to why he or she cannot or has not yet performed the task that was assigned. Respect to a Non-Commissioned Officer; which is where the soldier that was told to complete the task at hand no matter how ridiculous as long as it is not immoral replies withRead MoreOrganizational Behavior Of The United States Marine Corps1602 Words   |  7 Pagesthan t he United States Marine Corps. Rich in its tradition and history, the United States Marine Corps has a robust structure, very unique culture, and a fervent passion that is almost indescribable as words will only fail to articulate what it means to be a Marine. This inevitable failure of an attempt will begin anyways, but in the hopes that some learning will occur, as we study what is the organizational behavior of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is not just an organization butRead MoreIncreasing the Empowerment of the American NCO over Time1694 Words   |  7 PagesThe Increasing Empowerment of the American NCO Over Time Introduction Over the course of time, the non-commissioned officer (or NCO) in America has been given more and more power. There are three important factors that have caused this, including (a) increased responsibility, (b) discipline issues, and (c) an increased number of conflicts (Dupuy, 1992; Spade, 2011). In other words, NCOs have simply needed to take on more work, especially as more conflicts throughout the world have resulted inRead MoreFicer Corps And The Noncommissioned Officer2199 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract The officer corps and the noncommissioned officer corps in the Army go all the back to before the founding fathers formed the country. Both of these corps have adapted and changed according to wars and conflicts the nation has participated. The success of the Army is dependent on the ability of officers and noncommissioned officers to work together. Training, education and mentorship lead to officers and noncommissioned officer serving as the cornerstone of the Army. â€Æ' Establishing roles

A Guide to Understanding Homeschool Laws

Homeschooling has been legal in all 50 U.S. states since 1993. According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, home education was illegal in most states as recently as the early 1980’s. By 1989, only three states, Michigan, North Dakota, and Iowa, still considered homeschooling a crime. Interestingly, of those three states, two of them, Michigan and Iowa, are today listed among the states with the least restrictive homeschooling laws. Although homeschooling is now legal across the United States, each state is responsible for drafting its own homeschool laws, which means that what must be done to legally homeschool varies depending on where a family lives. Some states are highly regulated, while others place few restrictions on homeschooling families. Homeschool Legal Defense Association maintains an up-to-date database on the homeschooling laws in all fifty states. Terms to Know When Considering Homeschool Laws To those who are new to homeschooling, the terminology used in homeschool  laws may be unfamiliar. Some of the basic terms you need to know include: Compulsory attendance: This refers to the ages children are required to be in some type of school setting. In most states that define a compulsory attendance age for homeschoolers, the minimum is usually between the ages of 5 and 7. The maximum is generally between the ages of 16 and 18. Declaration (or Notice) of Intent: Many states require that homeschooling families submit an annual notice of intent to homeschool to either the state or county school superintendent. The content of this notice can vary by state, but usually includes the names and ages of the homeschooled children, the home address, and the parent’s signature. Hours of instruction: Most states specify the number of hours and/or days per year during which children should be receiving instruction. Some, like Ohio, state 900 hours of instruction per year. Others, such as Georgia, specify four and one-half hours per day for 180 days each school year. Portfolio:  Some states offer a portfolio option in place of standardized testing or professional evaluation. A portfolio is a collection of documents outlining your student’s progress each school year. It may include records such as attendance, grades, courses completed, work samples, photos of projects, and test scores. Scope and sequence: A scope and sequence is a list of topics and concepts that a student will learn throughout the school year. These concepts are usually broken down by subject and grade level. Standardized test:  Many states require that homeschool students take nationally standardized tests at regular intervals. The tests that meet each state’s requirements may vary. Umbrella schools/cover schools: Some states give the option for homeschooled students to enroll in an umbrella or cover school. This may be an actual private school or simply an organization established to help homeschooling families comply with the laws  in their state. Students are taught at home by their parents, but the cover school maintains records for their enrolled students. The records required by cover schools vary based on the laws of the state in which they are located. These documents are submitted by parents and may include attendance, test scores, and grades. Some umbrella schools help parents choose curriculum and offer transcripts, diplomas, and graduation ceremonies. States with the Most Restrictive Homeschool Laws States that are generally considered to be highly regulated for homeschooling families include: MassachusettsNew YorkPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVermont Often regarded as one of the most regulated states,  New York’s homeschooling laws require that parents turn in an annual instruction plan for each student. This plan must include information such as the name, age, and grade level of the student; the curriculum or textbooks you intend to use; and the name of the teaching parent. The state requires annual standardized testing in which students should be at or above the 33rd percentile or show a full grade level improvement from the previous year.  New York also lists specific subjects that parents must teach their children at various grade levels. Pennsylvania, another highly-regulated state,  offers three options for homeschooling. Under the homeschool statute, all parents must submit a notarized affidavit to homeschool. This form includes information about immunizations and medical records, along with criminal background checks. Homeschooling parent Malena H., who lives in Pennsylvania, says that although the state is â€Å"†¦considered one of the states with the highest regulations†¦it really isnt that bad. It sounds overwhelming when you hear about all the requirements, but once you have done it once it is pretty easy.† She says, â€Å"In third, fifth and eighth grades the student has to take a standardized test. There is a variety to choose from, and they can even do some of them at home or online. You must keep a portfolio for each child that has a few samples for each subject taught and the results of the standardized test if the child is in one of the testing years. At the end of the year, you find an evaluator to review the portfolio and sign off on it. You then send the evaluator’s report to the school district.† States with Moderately Restrictive Homeschool Laws While most states require that the teaching parent have at least a high school diploma or GED, some, such as North Dakota,  require that the teaching parent have a teaching degree or be monitored for at least two years by a certified teacher. That fact puts North Dakota  on the list of those  considered to be moderately restrictive with regards to their homeschool laws. Those states include: ColoradoFloridaHawaiiLouisianaMaineMarylandMinnesotaNew HampshireNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeVirginiaWashingtonWest Virginia North Carolina is often considered a difficult state in which to homeschool. It requires maintaining attendance and immunization records for each child. North Carolina also requires that children complete nationally standardized tests each year. Other moderately regulated states that require yearly standardized testing include  Maine, Florida, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. (Some of these states do offer alternative homeschooling options that may not require annual testing.) Many states offer more than one option to legally homeschool. Tennessee, for example, currently has five options, including three umbrella schools options and one for distance learning (online classes). Heather S., a homeschooling parent from Ohio, says that Ohio homeschoolers must  submit an annual letter of intent and a  summary of their intended curriculum, and  agree to complete 900 hours  of education each year. Then, at  the end of each year, families â€Å"†¦.can do state-approved testing or have a portfolio reviewed and submit the results... Children must test above the 25th percentile on standardized tests or show progression in their portfolio. Virginia homeschooling mom, Joesette, considers her state homeschooling laws reasonably easy to follow. She says parents must â€Å"†¦file a Notice of Intent each year by August 15, then supply something to show progress at the end of the year (by August 1). This can be a standardized test, scoring at least in the 4th stanine, a  [student] portfolio†¦.or an evaluation letter by an approved evaluator.† Alternately, Virginia parents can file a  Religious Exemption. States with Minimally Restrictive Homeschool Laws Sixteen U.S.  states are considered minimally restrictive. These include:   AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDelawareGeorgiaKansasKentuckyMississippiMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew MexicoUtahWisconsinWyoming Georgia requires an annual Declaration of Intent to be filed by September 1, annually, or within 30 days of the date you initially begin homeschooling. Children must take a nationally standardized test every three years starting in 3rd grade. Parents are required to write an annual progress report for each student. Both the test  scores and progress reports  are to be kept on file but are not required to be submitted to anyone. Although Nevada is on the minimally restrictive list, Magdalena A., who homeschools her children in the state says that it is, â€Å"†¦homeschooling paradise. The law states only  one regulation: when a child turns seven...a notice of intent to homeschool should be filed. That is it, for the rest of that childs life. No portfolios. No check-ups. No testing.† California homeschooling mom, Amelia H. outlines her state’s homeschooling options. â€Å"(1) Home study option through the  school district. Material is provided and weekly or monthly check-ins are required. Some districts provide classes for home study kids and/or allow kids to take some classes on campus. (2) Charter schools. Each one is set up differently but they all cater to homeschoolers and provide funding for secular curriculum and extracurricular activities through vendor programs†¦Some require that kids meet state standards; others simply ask for signs of ‘value-added growth. Most require state testing but a handful will allow parents to generate a portfolio as a year-end assessment. (3) File as an independent school. [Parents must]  state the curriculum goals at the start of the school year†¦Getting a high school diploma through this route is tricky and many parents choose to pay someone to help with the paperwork. States with the Least Restrictive Homeschool Laws Finally,  eleven states are considered very homeschool-friendly with few restrictions on homeschooling families. These states are: AlaskaConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaMichiganMissouriNew JerseyOklahomaTexas Texas is notoriously homeschool-friendly with a strong homeschool voice at the legislative level. Iowa homeschooling parent, Nichole D. says that her home state is just as easy. â€Å"[In Iowa], we have no regulations. No state testing, no lesson plans submitted, no attendance records, nothing. We dont even have to inform the district that were homeschooling.† Parent Bethany W.  says, â€Å"Missouri is very homeschool-friendly. No notifying districts or anyone unless your child has previously been public schooled, no testing or evaluations ever. Parents keep a log of hours (1,000 hours, 180 days), a written report of progress, and a few samples of [their students’] work.† With a few exceptions, the difficulty or ease of complying with each state’s homeschooling laws is subjective. Even in states that are considered highly regulated, homeschooling parents often state that compliance isn’t as difficult as it may appear on paper. Whether you consider your state’s homeschooling laws restrictive or lenient, it is essential to make sure you understand what is required of you to remain compliant. This article should be considered a guideline only. For specific, detailed laws for your state, please check your statewide homeschool support group’s website or Homeschool Legal Defense Association.