By Steadman Issenburg


Although the demand for many professional fields seem to be diminishing, the outlook for paralegals continues to be very bright. There is an ever increasing need for qualified individuals to help lawyers and corporations by indexing and filing the large amounts of paperwork that are involved in legal proceedings. Paralegals also may be used to interview witnesses and hold hearings as well. And a paralegal career is often a stepping stone to even greater involvement in the legal and governmental field.

So obviously, advanced training will be necessary in order to become a qualified paralegal. And here are some tips to help you choose the best paralegal school for your needs.

1. The very first and most important consideration regarding education in almost any field is to make sure that the school and the courses you will take are fully accredited by a recognized accreditation agency. This is important because in recent times there has been an increase in education scams, commonly referred to as diploma mills, that seem to offer quality training courses at bargain prices, whereas in reality the education received is of very little value in the workplace.

So when considering an online paralegal school, the first step is to make sure that their education program has been reviewed and accredited by educational peers who validate or verify that the education received is of high quality according to accepted educational standards. And you also will want to be sure that the program is approved by the American Bar Association.

2. Before choosing any online paralegal training program, it's good to ask a few questions of the school to determine how effective their training really is. For instance, you can ask them how many of the enrolled students actually finish or complete the courses provided? Also, how many other former students have gone on to find meaningful employment in the paralegal field? The more success that their former students have had, the more likelihood that you can enjoy the same kind of results yourself.

3. Next you should also consider the costs associated with any particular online paralegal training program. Bear in mind that you will be saving the cost of having to stay on campus or travel back and forth as you would normally do at an off line school. Also, many online colleges that offer paralegal training have financial aid programs to help students out who cannot afford to pay all of their class tuition. So whichever school seems to appeal to you, be sure to contact them and ask about aid and assistance for meeting the costs of paralegal courses to find out what is available to you.

Choosing a career in the paralegal field is very timely as there is a tremendous need and demand for qualified paralegals in the workplace. And there are several high quality online schools that specialize in paralegal training to help fill that need. So if you use the suggestions are provided above to find an online paralegal training school, most likely you will be able to enjoy an exciting career in the legal field for many years to come.

By Steadman Issenburg


Choosing a vocational school to focus on a particular career path is a very good choice for people who want to learn a specialized skill or trade that does not require an advanced college education. There are quality vocational schools available both online and off line that specialize in fields such as nursing, medical transcription, auto mechanics, paralegals and much more. And here are some tips on how to be able to choose a vocational school that will be best for you.

1. First make sure that you do plenty of comparison shopping for vocational school training in the particular career field that you want to pursue. Sometimes a local community college can offer you training for much less than a vocational school that is dedicated to a particular career. However, cost is not the only factor. You also have to determine the value on the education that you will receive as well. Remember that the training you receive will directly affect your income for many years to come, so make sure that you get a high quality education.

2. Many states have set up agencies that keep track of complaints about vocational schools to help the residents be able to make wiser choices. If your state happens to have such an agency be sure to check with them and find out about the reputation of any school that you are considering in that state.

3. Before signing up with any vocational school, it's wise to ask them a few questions to find out how successful their educational training has been in the past. For instance, how many of their past students have actually finished their courses? How many have also gone on to meaningful employment in that particular field?

If a vocational school is really worth it's salt, it should be able to have an impressive record of success stories regarding former students who have gone on to find gainful employment in their chosen field after graduation. If they cannot give you solid figures on the success rate of their past graduates, you may want to reconsider your own enrollment.

4. If you can possibly find some former graduates of the school, these can often provide you with the best overall information about the school and its curriculum that you can receive anywhere. Find out what their impressions were of the school and the education that they received. You may also want to ask some of the companies that have hired former students about their impressions regarding the education those students have received. All of this can help you formulate a good general opinion about the quality of the education you can receive at that particular vocational school should you decide to enroll.

5. If a vocational school seems to be trying to pressure you to sign up and start your courses, they may be more interested in your money than they are in actually educating you. So read all contracts that are presented to you very carefully before you sign them, and take your time to decide which school will work best for you.

Vocational schools are excellent educational tools for those that wish to specialize in a particular field, but you have to be careful in order to make the right decision on which school will work best for you. If you follow the suggestions given above, they can help you find a vocational school that will best fit your educational needs and be affordable as well.

By Erik R Johnson


In recent times, the career ground of elementary school education in the United States has become highly rewarding and the most favored occupation. In past few years, this career option has gained enough recognition and turned out to be one of the few career areas that offer better job prospects and salary that are complemented with solid benefits. In fact, this is one of the few professions that provide you with opportunities to handle important responsibilities like assisting children with educational and emotional development in the beginning of their academic years. These days many elementary school teachers primarily play the role of instructor for small children in several subjects. Adding to this, in some cases, two or more teachers also team up to cover a class.

Only possible if you as an elementary school teacher receive proper training and education. We can certainly say that elementary school teaching is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation that requires a high level of energy. Though the profession has its own rewards, but it also demands skills so that you can perform your role more efficiently.

Now if you are looking forward to making a career as an elementary school teacher, you must be at least a graduate from a well recognized university in a subject which you would like to educate. At a minimum, you must include the completion of a bachelor's degree. These days, many states of the United States require a specified number of education credits that needs to be earned over the course of study in order to teach in a public school. Though there are some states as well that look for teachers who have earned a master's degree within a certain amount of time after starting to teach. Nevertheless, in recent times enrolling in a professional development school after bachelor's degree is also increasingly more popular option.

Apart from all this, you even need to obtain a teaching certification. Today in many states of the United States the licensure is generally granted by the State Board of Education. Ultimately, this licensure can be granted to you by the State Board of Education, if you have passed all the educational requirements and completed a test based on proficiency in basic reading, writing and teaching skills. Though, it is also important to understand that the requirements may even vary by state.

There are many private schools also that do not look or require any certifications. In fact, many private schools are exempt from meeting state licensing standards, although they mostly favor candidates who have a bachelor's degree in childhood education for elementary school teachers. They generally look for the candidates among recent college graduates. Besides this, many private schools associated with religious institutions desire candidates who share the values that are important to the institution. In addition to this, many private schools even conduct live teaching tests where you as an aspiring teacher will be asked to teach a class of students and based on your teaching process and the quality of teaching grades are given.

At times, you may even have to appear for an interview with the senior school management before you are selected as a teacher. Though, you may keep yourself updated about the elementary school teacher jobs by joining associations like the American Federation of Teachers.

The future prospect for elementary teachers is surely very good. In next few years many job openings are going to boom. The ratio of additional jobs is expected to grow as the demand of teaching jobs in poor and urban schools after a couple of years is also going to increase.

By John Ess


There are a lot of beliefs and myths about getting an education at an online school. Some of them are well-founded, but others are just our old notions that just won't go away no matter how much the actual schools have changed. Modern technology has made it possible to have a complete educational experience online.

Previously, an online school was thought of as just another form of homeschooling. Many people believed that the only people who participated in these classes were somehow prohibited from attending "real" classes due to financial or physical conditions (or because of parents who thought they could do better than a public school system).

That is simply no longer the case. These days, most people will choose an online school because that is the only way to fit an education into a busy schedule. Now they can learn what they need anytime and anywhere. Whether it's a young student moving from place to place, or a working professional shooting for a post graduate degree, online coursework makes an education possible.

An online school also provides students with continual access to the necessary materials for the class. That means that a student won't have to lug around heavy textbooks just to get in a little extra study-time. All it takes is access to the Internet, and then the student can turn any spare time into a time for learning.

There are a lot of old ideas about online schools that just don't apply anymore. The old image of someone trying to get an education in a social vacuum couldn't be more wrong. Whether they are connecting through chat groups and forums, or just getting and receiving feedback on a project, online coursework is more social than ever before. Forget class reunions. Once people find their online classes they just keep their fellow students on their "friends list" and keep the communication channels open.

Many of the biases that exist in traditional classrooms and make it hard for some students to participate in a class don't exist in the online world. The anonymity of the Internet based classes mean that there is no longer the "cute one" or the "loud one" or even the "needy one." Students are graded on their level of participation, and only that.

An online school also makes it possible for students that simply want to supplement their traditional education. If they are looking for extra classes or need to fulfill a certain requirement but can't manage it at the time the normal class is offered, online classes are a good option.

Sometimes, students just aren't morning people. At an online school, though, they can take their classes when they are fully awake and alert, and it only has to last as long as their attention span. Online schools are convenient and affordable, and very different from what they once were.

By Gurg Sumit Kumar


Primary School Education

Schooling is available to children from age 5 and is compulsory from ages 6 to 16.

Primary education starts at Year 1 and continues until Year 8, with Years 7 and 8 mostly offered at either a primary or a separate intermediate school. Most schools teach in English medium, but some schools teach in the Maori medium.

Some schools in New Zealand are Kura Kaupapa Maori in which the principal language of instruction is Maori and education is based on Maori culture and values. Most Kura Kaupapa Maori caters for students from Years 1 to 8, and a few (Wharekura) cater for students up to Year 13.

Secondary School Education

Secondary education system in New Zealand covers Years 9 to 13, (during which students are generally aged 13 to 17). Most secondary students in New Zealand attend Government-funded schools, which are known variously as secondary schools, high schools, colleges or area schools.

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is the national senior secondary school qualification to study in New Zealand. Students are able to achieve the NCEA at three levels via a wide range of courses and subjects, both within and beyond the traditional school. The three levels of the NCEA correspond to the final three years of secondary schooling (Years 11-13). The student must achieve 80 credits on the National Qualifications Framework, 60 at the level of the certificate and 20 others to gain an NCEA.

Tertiary Education

The tertiary education to study in New Zealand is used to describe all aspects of post-school education and training. There are 36 public tertiary education institutions, including eight universities, twenty-one institutes of technology and polytechnics, four colleges of education, three wananga (Maori tertiary education institutions). There are also 46 industry training organizations, and approximately 895 private training establishments, which include private English language schools, registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Tertiary education in New Zealand offer courses at widely different levels, from transition programmes to postgraduate study and research.

Technical and Vocational Education

Technical and Vocational Education to study in New Zealand is mainly offered at institutes of technology, polytechnics, private training establishments. Some programmes are also available in secondary schools, wananga, government training establishments, one college of education and several universities.

Higher, or Degree-level Education

Universities usually offer higher, degree-level education, but institutes of technology, polytechnics, wananga and colleges of education, and at some private training establishments also offer higher degree programmes.

Summary: School Education in New Zealand is divided into Primary and secondary education. Post school education is covered by tertiary education. Technical and Vocational Education is offered by institutes of technology, polytechnics, private training establishments. Higher education to study in New Zealand is provided by Universities and other institutes.

By George Preston


A home school education is becoming an increasingly popular choice among a growing number of young children and their parents, and the reasons for this increased popularity are many. Among other things, the options that a child has are many, but there are mostly three reasons that stand out -- the public educational system is not providing the necessary answers, parents want to exercise greater control over the education their children receive, and lastly, an education from home schooling helps to ensure the safety of a child.

Providing a physical education while home schooling is also an essential part of the education of a child and it is actually one of the main challenges faced by parents and families that decide to use a home school program to educate their children. The good news is that it is quite simple to include a good physical education curriculum at home while adhering to an academic schedule and it can also be achieved without making use of any help from other places outside the house.

There are several myths about receiving a classical education through home school. A large part of these myths revolve around the idea that this kind of education is no longer relevant. That often comes from people who mistakenly believe that the world has advanced beyond the need for a classical education. The truth is that the foundation of a classical education is truly valuable no matter what year it is or how technologically advanced the world becomes.

While rewarding your teenagers all the time for the progress the make while schooling them at home may seem like a good strategy, an incentive program of some kind is usually a better idea. It doesn't have to be much of a big deal, but small and useful rewards for any work well done can go a long way towards motivating your children to stay focused. It is especially useful in a classroom situation in which there are no other students competing with one another.

By Laura Evans


You have made the decision to give your child a private school education. With so many options, how do find the right one to fit your child's needs? The first steps are to consider your priorities, arm yourself with a lengthy list of questions and start setting up appointments. Your child's education is too important not to take the time to choose the perfect fit.

Why Choose a Private School Education?

Those sending their children to private schools have a variety of motives behind their decision. For some the decision is based on moral values and religion. Others feel that a private education offers better academics and want their child in a smaller class that will offer the benefit of more personal attention.

It is important to have a list of education priorities before you start looking for a school. For example, if academics are more important to you than religion, but religion is more important to you than extracurricular activities, have academics be number one on your list, religion be number two on your list and extracurricular activities be number three on your list.

Private School Considerations

As part of choosing the right private school for your child, you will have to go through a process of elimination to get the number of schools you are considering down to a manageable number.

You might want to consider:

* Finances. What can you afford to pay for an education at a private school? Ask if there are any financial aid or scholarship programs available to you. In addition, some states, including Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, offer breaks on income taxes if you send your kids to a private school.
* Grade Levels. Do you want your child to have the option to stay through high school? Not all private schools offer grades kindergarten through 12.
* Location. You will have to decide how far you are willing to drive. As you get closer to selecting a school, you can also inquire if there are any other students at the school who live in your area. You may then be able to carpool.

Questions to Ask

Additional questions to ask include:

* Accreditation. Is the school accredited? If so, who is the accreditation body?
* Instruction Model. What is the school's education philosophy? Does it have a traditional or alternative approach to education? What is the school's policy on homework, grading and testing?
* Service Staff. What kind of staff does the school have? Is there a school nurse on location? Does the school have a psychologist or counselor? Is there a librarian on staff?
* Principal or Headmaster Turnover. If the school burns through principals, the school may have a problem.
* Teacher Turnover. What is the teacher turnover rate at the school? Typically speaking, private schools have higher teacher turnover rates than do public schools. In addition, smaller private schools have larger turnover than do larger private schools. However, a teacher turnover rate of 40% or more may be an indication of problems at the school.

Plan a Visit

As you get closer to choosing a private school, you should schedule an appointment with your candidate schools' headmaster or principal.

* Ask about student attrition. The longer that students stay at a school, the more likely the school is to be well-run.
* Ask for names of parents who have children at the school for references.
* Are the school's textbooks up to date?
* Does the school have enough computers? Does the school use the latest in technology in teaching?
* Does the school have programs for parent involvement?
* How does the school feel? Are children interacting, smiling and participating?
* How does the school qualify their teachers? Does the school offer teachers additional training?
* If your child has special needs, what types of programs does the school offer that will help?
* Look at the grounds and facilities. How new are the facilities? How well are the facilities and grounds maintained? Is the library well-stocked with books?
* What type of relationship does the school have with local businesses and the local community?
* When are applications accepted? Is there a waiting list? If so, how long is the waiting list?

Making the Choice

You will have to narrow down your choices to a select few and then visit each school before you make a final decision. Do not get discouraged if the process takes a little longer than you would like. It is important to get an education for your child that matches the your requirements as closely as possible.

By Craig McKellar


So you're considering going to college to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to ride these tough economic times?

Many people both young and old have chosen to go beyond a high school education in order to earn a Bachelor's or even Master's degree that can help them get financially ahead in their life.

However, deciding on the best college program can be difficult as there are many options.

Consider Your Educational and Career Goals

One of the things to look at when choosing a college program is your educational and career goals. Picture yourself ten years from this moment and try to envision yourself set in a career or working at a job that you absolutely love.

Is this job related to internet technology, is it counseling people, is it managing people or a business, or is it figuring out where people went wrong on their taxes? If you know what you'd like to be working on in 10 years then all you have to do is find a college that fits those future goals.

Navigating the sea of colleges, though, can be very difficult.

There are traditional colleges and universities as well as online college programs that offer you the convenience of earning your degree entirely online!

If getting accepted into a traditional state or private college is what you want to do then the first place you should look is a college department website. Often colleges will have lists of courses available so that you can match up your goals to see if you like what the college has to offer.

On the other hand, there are also online colleges and universities that offer everything from technical and hospitality programs all the way to teacher certification programs. These college programs can be found relatively quickly just by searching the web for online programs in the area you want.

After all is said and done, though, chances are that you should be able to find something that you'd like to do as far as your education is concerned. Today colleges and universities are diversifying more so anyone can have the chance to obtain an educational degree very quickly and efficiently!

By Hilda Cassandra


Home school education will give the extra advantage both for the parents and also the children. This education can provide the student an extra benefit by involving them into personal attention from the tutor that allows qualified and accelerated learning experience. Enjoyable atmosphere of home schooling can provide the helpful effect to the educational experience.

Possible Positives of a Home School Education

Providing your kids one-on-one teaching is very satisfying and rewarding way to provide them a quality of this education. For several parents, this action is nearly impossible because of the economic reasons because this will be very expensive as you have to call a qualified tutor. But, it doesn't mean that you are not having the chance of home schooling.

Home schooled youngsters are known to be much advance along in grade level curriculum than their regular schooled counterparts. It means that during the home schooling, your youngsters can finish the high school earlier, start the college earlier, and also take the level course while finishing the advanced high school requirements at the same time.

Possible Negatives Caused By Lack of Information

For parents who want to provide their kids a home school education, there is much to be studied. One time you take the wrong information, it can cause your youngsters to be unable to obtain the obligatory degrees to meet your state's requirements. This is important to make sure that your youngsters learn the subjects required to their education in the future at a selected profession.

Another problem that comes about with a defectively run home school education program is social. Generally, home schooled children may need to acquire together with kids at the same age from time to time. It is because they require enjoying attending social activities and also making friends besides learning school subjects.

By Dorit Sasson


Good sex education should allow the adolescent to talk freely about sex and its relationship to interpersonal relations, dynamics within a relationship, love, family and his/her future. Sex education should be open enough so that the atmosphere in the classroom is comfortable and the adolescent does not feel inhibited when asking questions.

Unfortunately, most parents' actions are less a result of planning in advance, and more often reactions to children's provocations. This necessitates the importance of exposing adolescents to as much information as possible. An educator's goal should provide them with information regarding different types of sex protection and to impart knowledge based on holistic attitudes.

Suggestions for how Sex Education could be presented in High School

On International AIDS day, High School students can visit people with AIDS in hospitals or in their homes so that these people feel they have somebody to comfort and nurture them, even if it is only for a day. The students can help AIDS patients' children (if they have children) with schoolwork and/or games just to reassure the sick ones with AIDS in a constructive way.

One powerful method of exposing students to subjects such as unwanted pregnancy and abortion is through films. Show a film about a teenage girl who is pregnant and decides to have an abortion discreetly without the knowledge of her parents. After the film, divide the class into two groups: one group being the teenage girl and the other group as the parents. Pose the question: "Would you tell your parents that you are pregnant?" and, if so, "How would you tell them?" In essence, conduct a role play where the challenge is to express themselves openly as if they were in that situation. Roles plays, if well constructed, can be very effective teaching devices.

Finally, ask the question, "Do you have an open relationship with your parents where you can talk about problems regarding sex, the dynamics of a relationship with a boy or girl or about sex prevention?" If some of the students' answers are negative, pose the question: "What can you do so that your relationship with your parents can be freer and more open?" Finally, raise the key question: "Does it bother you that you do not have an open relationship with your parents?"

Another method of teaching sex education is having the students fill out questionnaires about AIDS. In spite of the fact that many students may have heard about the AIDS disease, not many know its causes and what it is exactly. Questions such as: "Can you reduce chances of infection by taking birth control pills? Can you get AIDS by donating blood? And "Can you get AIDS from oral sex?" are some of the relevant questions to ask. Afterwards, hand out the same questionnaire and have them interview their friends, neighbors, relatives, family members and compare the results among the members of the class. The purpose of this questionnaire is to present several topics such as: "What can we say about the fact that people do not know the answers? Is it the fault of the school, family or society? Do you think it is good or bad that your parents do not expose or share their feelings/knowledge about AIDS, prevention of sexual diseases and contraceptives? Would you like your parents to talk to you about these things?" This activity focuses on the parent-adolescent relationships regarding talking about sex and what can be done in allaying the adolescents' doubts, fear and anxieties.

Perhaps this chunk of "something else" can be nurturingly provided by the school system or in parent-teacher meetings where these issues should be discussed openly. After such meetings, new or seasoned High School teachers of sex education will not be so inhibited in talking about it with their students, similar to parents talking with their children.