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10 Tips to Selecting a Thesis or Dissertation Topic

Welcome to TA-DA! FinishLine Newsletter. This newsletter was
designed to help you accomplish your educational goals — to get
started, to keep going, and to finish your degree. Because
writing a thesis or dissertation is a lonely process, you should
use this newsletter as a tool to keep connected to others like
yourself and to keep on task.

TA-DA! Thesis and Dissertation Accomplished™ CD is based on a
step-by-step process to help you complete your masters thesis or
dissertation. If you read the first newsletter, How to Start and
Finish Your Thesis or Dissertation This Year, you already know
the importance of setting a deadline and posting your goals for
others to see. If you haven’t set a start date yet, you can get
started by going to our website, filling out a commitment
certificate, printing it out and posting it on your wall. To
those of you who have already filled out the commitment
certificate, I want to say congratulations on taking the first
step to completing your degree!

The next step involves selecting a topic. Although selecting a
topic might seem to be simple and easy, the prevailing research
on this issue finds that some graduate students take over two
years to complete this task — this does not have to be you.
Understand that the longer you take to complete this task — the
more money the university makes on your continuous registration.
Hence, educational institutions are not encouraged to help you
figure the thesis and dissertation process out.

Don’t wait until you are finished with your
qualifying/comprehensive exams to start thinking about a thesis
or dissertation topic. Use your graduate courses to pursue a
possible topic. Procrastination in selecting a topic can
sometimes cause gridlock in your graduate career. Without a
topic, you cannot proceed to writing or defending the proposal
phase; and more importantly, you cannot begin researching or
writing the thesis or dissertation

I have provided 10 tips to help you get moving toward your goal
of completing your degree:

1. Don’t Panic — Keep Things in Perspective Let’s face it, not
too many people will read a masters thesis or doctoral
dissertation. A thesis or dissertation is not the type of
document that piques the general public’s interest mainly
because of its academic rigor and writing style. The topic is
generally of interest only to the student, experts in the field
and the student’s advisor and committee members.

2. Be Organized — Maximize Your Research Efforts In order to
maximize your research efforts, you must be organized and
efficient in your search efforts. The more organized you are in
the beginning, the more time you will have to write your thesis.
Be diligent about keeping track of your files in the early
phases of your research to reduce your stress levels later on
when your enthusiasm begins to wane. If you have to back track
on your research efforts, being organized from the beginning
will help make the process less painful.

3. Choose a Subject Area First — Then a Topic The more
information you consume in your broad subject area, the more
patterns will emerge. In your coursework readings, you may
notice repeated results and conclusions by more than one source,
or facts that favor one view more than another. Paying attention
to these patterns should help you become more conversant with
the relevant literature as well as help you to narrow your
focus. Narrowing your topic should be done with help from your
advisor and committee members.

4. Consider Expanding a Masters Thesis Into a Dissertation If
you’re working towards a PhD and you wrote a Masters thesis,
consider expanding on that topic for your dissertation. You
already are familiar with the topic and much of the research is
done. This approach can accelerate your progress towards your
goal: Completion!

5. Make Sure The Topic Is Interesting It is imperative that both
you and your advisor are interested in your thesis/dissertation
topic. Some advisors are reluctant to suggest topics because of
the implicit responsibilities associated with guiding a student
through the process from start to completion. Your advisor’s
enthusiasm for your topic will determine his or her willingness
to read, support, fund, and provide timely feedback and
direction to your work.

6. Choose a Solvable And Manageable Research Problem It is
important to select a problem that is narrow enough that you can
address it or solve it in a reasonable period of time. You
should select a topic that can be completed within a two-year
time frame.

A longer time frame could allow many unexpected and competing
events to occur. If you find yourself spending an exorbitant
amount of time pursuing and identifying a research problem, it
is possible that the problem is not solvable. With a longer time
frame, you also run the risk of someone else identifying and
solving the problem before you do. Hence, the concept of
“original” contribution to the field is lost and you might have
to start over. Moreover, you run the risk of your enthusiasm
diminishing.

7. The Research Problem Must Be Worthy Of Your Time Choosing a
topic that is compelling enough to sustain further research is
critical. Employers evaluate potential employees based on the
student’s ability to not only finish the dissertation but also
make future contributions to the field.

8. Make Your Research Topic Original- Has It Been Done Before?
The prerequisite for finding a new research topic is to be
informed because most things have been studied before. Staying
on top of the current debates in your academic field puts you in
a position to identify the gaps in knowledge. After identifying
the gaps, all you need to figure out is what kinds of
information will fill these gaps.

9. Hone Your Research Skills One way to evaluate your research
skills and make sure they are up to par is to pursue a potential
topic in your Research Methods or Statistics courses where you
can get immediate feedback from an instructor. You can use these
courses to work out potential problems in your methodology or
your review of the literature; thus allowing you to work out any
kinks earlier in your academic career rather than later.

10. As You Read — Ask the Following Questions.

* What is the Research Question in the Study? * Did the
Researcher Focus on the Wrong Group/subjects? * Did the Research
Leave Some Group/Something Out? * Is the Methodology Faulty? *
Were the Findings Faulty? * Can I Pursue the Author’s
Recommendation for Future Research? * What Are the Limitations
of the Study? Reprinted from TADA! www.tadafinallyfinished
.com Dr. Carter’s motto is a Good Thesis/Dissertation is
a Done Thesis/Dissertation. Contact her at:
drcarter@tadafinallyfinished.com

Certainly sometimes you are assigned with the term paper
topic, but sometimes you have the possibility to choose one.
It seems so easy yet so many students either have failed their
assignments or did not write the paper they wanted to because no
interesting, exciting and challenging topic had been chosen.
Many students follow some simple and mistaken route- they choose
the topics according to its popularity-if it is popular nowadays
to evaluate this event or research this subject, than it might
be worth my while to write the term paper on this subject as
well. However, your interest, the topic that attracts your
attention is what matters.Once famous Chinese philosopher
Confucius said: “Choose a job you like and you will never have
to work a day in your life.” What pertains to the life in
general, pertains to the process of writing and designing of
your term paper. Your aptitude to the term paper as well as your
enthusiasm and your eagerness with which you will research,
depends on that.

Your term paper will be more interesting to read and will gain
consequently more points if you choose the topic that really
concerns you rather than pick up the topic that will leave you
indifferent. Once you have chosen the topic, you can start
organizing it. Your topic, whatever subject you research should
not be too broad. At this stage it might be advisable to consult
with your tutor. He will be able to advise you on this point;
however most of the tutors require making of the topic more
specific. For example one should not choose the topic “History
of American continent in the 20th century”. Unless you write
some 100 pages book, you will not be able to research and write
a detailed story of American continent of the 20th century. It
might be advisable in this case to narrow your topic to the
following: “The collapse of France and its influence on
political life of American continent in 1940″.

However, one should not try to choose the topic that are highly
specialized or too technician or on which there is not enough
material. Once the topic of your term paper has been chosen, you
can start investigating and researching available material to
gain a term
paper idea on the subject. Start with one of the most
popular and one of the most convenient sources of the
information- online network. However, you should be very
cautious in using of different sites. Remember, that some of the
sites contain outdated or not credible information, and some of
them just advertise the product and do not provide any
information. You can use many online libraries or databases that
contain useful and credible sources. Domains that have such
endings as gov, edu, and org. should be considered more credible
ones; however you should treat information on other websites
cautiously. Do not forget that many tutors and some of the
educational institutions might not recognize web sites as the
credible and trustworthy source, so it you can turn to more
traditional ones -books and printed journals.Finally, whatever
sources you use, read guides on plagiarism before you start
using other sources for your term paper.

Online college degree programs are rapidly becoming the mode of learning education of choice among teens and young adults. Empirical evidence would suggest that there are five principal reasons why this may be the case:

Convenience
The Number 1 reason why teens and young adults are choosing to do online college degree programs is convenience. Here, in nearly all cases, respondents claim juggling their already busy lives with college means that an online college degree is their mode of choice when it comes to higher learning.

Flexible
Aside from being extremely convenient, and in conjunction with the convenience factor, an online college degree permits teens and young adults the chance to take the online college degree at their own pace, and also more options when it comes to available courses to chose from.

No on-campus presence
Combining convenience with flexibility for teens and young adults is the fact that many online college degree programs do not require on-campus presence, or minimal on-campus presence. To many online students, this is the best of both world’s - home study with a recognized higher education certificate.

Availability
Teens and young adults argue their claim to preferring to study for online college degree programs due to the fact that doing their studies online means they can study at a prestigious institution, without actually having to be physically present. Consequently, living on the East Coast no longer has mean that you have to study your college degree program on the east coast or else move to elsewhere. Now we live in the virtual world, you really can be in two places at once!

Financial
Although tuition fees for an online college degree can be competitive when compared with traditional education fees, the fact that the online degree is both flexible and off-campus means teens and young adults (and their families) can arrange for the financing more easily and effectively - without having to make major sacrifices to their every day living.

All of the above make for good reasons to study for an online college degree. However, don’t confuse the above as meaning an online college degree is easy. As with all forms of higher learning, it’s not - it just provides you with an easier means of learning, not an easier learning program!

Joyce Jackson writes extensively on online education for anyone wanting to further their education, Her knowledge and invaluable resources fill her comprehensive website with information, resources links and advice. www.onlinedegreeguru.com

Domus Academy has teamed up with Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti to create a
Quality Design Education Group providing the complete picture
for art, design and fashion education in the world’s capital of
design and applied arts.

With a combined 45 years of experience, the two sister schools
complement each other perfectly in representing the full range
of Art and Design Education from 3 year undergraduate studies,
recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, to 1 year
postgraduate master degrees, validated and awarded by the
University of Wales (UK), plus a range of certificate programs
that last a semester or a year and short courses on specific
themes. The city of Milan is synonymous of cutting edge fashion,
interior, industrial and product design. It is the hearth of
contemporary Italy. Located in an interesting historical and
cultural context (e.g. La Scala theatre and Leonardo da Vinci’s
Last Supper), it also provides an outstanding opportunity to
explore the possibilities of tomorrow within the context of an
evolving global culture. Milan offers also easy trains and coach
access to major Italian cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice.

SUMMER COURSES

Domus Academy and NABA feature a wide choice of Summer Courses.
NABA offers Introduction Courses, open to students with a high
school diploma and from first and second year of university.
Domus Academy offers Advanced Courses, open to students from
third and fourth year of university, to graduates and to
professionals. The Summer Courses offer a wide and updated
synthesis of Domus Academy’s and NABA’s know-hows giving a view
of the most significant trends of the market, of industrial
creation processes, of artistic and social expression, of
Design, Fashion, Jewellery and Management cultures, together
with the opportunity to experiment a topical project theme,
under the guidance of important professionals and in
co-operation with big companies.

MASTER COURSES

Domus Academy features also a wide choice of Design Master
Courses in Business Design,
Fashion &
Accessories Design, Transportation
Design and Urban
Design.

Various companies online are offering equity loans to
homeowners. It depends on the lender, but some offer equity
loans at rates as low as 1% rates. These rates may seem
appealing, but homeowners are encouraged to read on to find out
how much the 1% will cost them over time. If you are considering
home equity loans, you might want to go online and use the
various calculators to determine your goal in home equity loan.

Some calculators are for first time buyers and will help them
determine cost of rentals versus the cost of buying a home,
while other calculators will help the homeowner decide if his
choice of home equity loan is valid. In other words, the
calculators can help you review your decision to take out a
second loan on your home-whether or not you have already done
so.

Homeowners considering second equity mortgage loans are advised
to review their first loan terms and conditions, searching for
clauses or penalties. If the first loan has clauses and
penalties, you want to make sure you understand the agreement to
avoid financial burden. Few lenders offer loans that stipulate
that if the borrower opts for another loan during the term of
the mortgage that he/she must repay the first mortgage in full
before the second loan is optional. Thus, this means that you
will apply for an equity loan that will repay the first mortgage
in full at the same time covering the cost of the second
mortgage.

Thus, various companies online offer generous loan amounts,
including lower repayments on mortgage and interest; therefore,
learn all you can about mortgages and equity loans and use that
equity loan education to make the best possible decision. Being
careful and picky when selecting a equity loan can only help you
in the long run, as you will have to commit to long term payment
fees and interest rates.

Talbert Williams offers debt consolidation referrals and advice.
For more information, articles, news, tools and valuable
resources on debt solutions, visit this site:
http://www.1debtfreedom.com

I am always amused when people become fascinated with simple
demonstrations of the power of even basic mathematics. We have
become mostly a jaded society depending on the technological
progress of corporations to give us more and more electronic
gadgetry and the like. We have forgotten how all this
technological stuff originates: via the harnessing of the
knowledge of mathematics and science and their applications in
practical ways.

Thus as educator and mathematician, I always enjoy a big smile
when I can demonstrate the practicality of knowing even
rudimentary mathematics. A good and solid understanding of basic
geometry, arithmetic, and algebra can go a long way toward
understanding many fundamental laws of nature and even
permitting a high degree of general problem solving abilities.
People are always amazed when I explain to them how I can tell
time at the beach using the sun, or use probability to make
general predictions, or to do seemingly amazing human calculator
multiplications in my head. Yet all these feats are quite
achievable even for the ordinary person.

Having said this, I can move toward the interesting sounding
title of this article and explain how basic mathematics can be
used for even such an odd sounding thing as finding a parking
spot in a busy mall. We all know how frustrating this can be
particularly around the holiday shopping season. Now man is a
clever animal and if you ask people their method many will
quickly volunteer that they have a great system. These systems
range from stalking people who leave the mall to circling like
hungry sharks waiting to feed on the next open spot.

Personally, I had always had a problem with the methods
mentioned above and for this reason, I suppose, one day I
thought about the problem and asked myself whether mathematics
could solve this problem–or at least come up with a more
practical method. Being a mall rat largely because of my wife’s
intense love of such locale, I had many opportunities to drop
her off in front and then begin the process of “search and
destroy,” or more simply put, to wait for parking spots. Being a
fan of the two mathematical disciplines of probability and
statistics, I decided to see whether using some basic facts
within these two areas could help me solve the problem. Thus
sitting by the mall waiting for an open spot (mind you the times
we would go to the mall were usually on Saturdays when choice
spots were rare, and I would always want to park in a particular
area near Macy’s where spots were even more limited because of
the smaller parking area), I began to make some basic
assumptions and to cogitate deeply.

Almost as by happenstance, I pieced together a rudimentary
method, did some quick calculations and tested the underlying
hypotheses. I surveyed the fully occupied parking area, targeted
my preferred area to park, and predicted that within an interval
of no more than five minutes one of those preferred spots would
become available. Lo and behold within five minutes, a spot
opened up. I was amused. Over the next ten or fifteen visits to
the mall I tried and tested this method. Success after success
after success. I analyzed both the basic assumptions and
mathematics used and tested again and again. Always worked. I
even demonstrated the method with people in the car. The
reaction was always one of amazement when I could tell them
within how long a spot would open up. To them, this always
seemed like magic; however, a little thoughtful contemplation
joined to some basic mathematics was the glue holding the mix
together. In a follow-up article, I will reveal the method and
the basic underlying assumptions, as well as the mathematical
principles involved (for those who are squeamish about
mathematics, fear not; for the explanations will not involve
anything beyond the scope of layman mathematics, and my
particular strength is the ability to boil down the esoteric and
make it understandable). For those who have read this far, I
think you realize the broader implications of this: if
mathematics can help you find a parking spot in a busy mall,
what else can it do? See you in Part II.

Introduction

Do you know what “silk embroidery is? Do you know what it looks like? Many people I come across in the U.S. are either unaware or unfamiliar with what silk embroidery is. Moreover, for the few who are familiar with this specialized Chinese skill, I have discovered that they do not have a true knowledge and appreciation for this fine Chinese art form. Thus, the implication can be made that “silk embroidery” is truly a “Hidden Oriental Jewel” that has been under appreciated in the West due mainly to the fact that the common person is ignorant of the time, effort, and skill required to create high-quality “silk embroidery” works. Hence, the purpose of this article will be to inform and educate you (whether the art lover or the common person) on: What is silk embroidery?, How it is made?, How to appreciate it?, etc. My hope is that you will acquire an appreciation for the uniqueness and value of this oft-overlooked Chinese art. Whether an art lover or not, I think you will come to appreciate the value of this “Hidden Oriental Jewel.“

What is Silk Embroidery?

Silk embroidery is a type of Oriental wall art that results from the traditional Chinese skill of pulling fine strands of colored silk through a canvas to create a beautiful work of art. The most common way to enjoy silk embroidery is as a framed, wall-hanging object. Hence, it is ideal as a gift, collectible, home decoration, souvenir, or office piece. The art of skill embroidery originated in China and has been practiced there for over 3,800 years. It reached a high level early in the Qing and Han dynasties, with silk and silk embroidery being the main products transported along the ancient Chinese Silk Road.

China was one of the first countries to transform embroidery into an advanced art form. The use of special embroidery techniques and styles sets apart Chinese embroidery from embroidery created in other parts of the world. In the past, embroidery skills were considered to be an essential skill every woman was to possess. A woman who could create a high-quality embroidery piece was admired and well-respected. Women from rich families took on embroidery as a hobby while those from poor families did it for a living. Today, high-quality embroidery works are treated on the same level as the best Chinese paintings and Tang/Song Dynasty poems

How To Appreciate Silk Embroidery?

Whether you’re an “art lover” or the “common person,” you’ll come to appreciate the value of silk embroidery once you learn of the skill and effort that goes into creating each piece. To create a high quality piece, an artist must split a single silk thread into several thinner threads. It can be split into 12 to 48 thinner strands - depending on how fine the artist wants to be with his/her piece. The embroiderer then stitches layer after layer using threads of a variety of colors to reach the final wonderful effect. Embroiderers are known to take frequent breaks - every 10 to 15 minutes - to rest their eyes due to the strenuous nature of their work.

Due to the labor-intensiveness of the work, some larger and more intricate pieces of embroidery may require a year to a year and a half to complete by an artist or group of artists. Those works sell for thousands of dollars, - which is reasonable - considering the skill and time involved in creating the work. Of course, smaller pieces are available that are of high quality yet sell for much less.

Four Types of Silk Embroidery
The adoption of different needling methods through the years has resulted in four distinctive embroidery styles in China:

1) “Su” embroidery of Jiangsu Province - known for its delicacy and elegance, this style is usually very simple, highlighting a main theme. Its stitching is smooth, dense, thin, neat, even, delicate and harmonious. The thin thread is divided into up to 48 strands that are barely visible to the naked eye. Su embroidery is where double-sided embroidery originated. Su embroidery products were sent to participate in the Panama World Fair in 1915.

2) “Xiang” embroidery of Hunan Province - became the main craft in places around Changsha, capital city of Hunan Province, in the Qing Dynasty. Xiang embroidery was developed from Hunan folk embroidery methods, but it also drew on the skills of Su embroidery and Yue embroidery. This method uses loose colorful threads to embroider the pattern with the stitches being not as neat as those of other embroidery styles. The various colored threads are mixed together, showing a gradual change in color with a rich and harmonious tone. Designs on Xiang embroidery mostly derive from traditional Chinese paintings of landscapes, human figures, flowers, birds and animals. The most common designs on Xiang embroidery are lions and tigers. The tigers appear strong and bold, revealing their power and menace as a king of animals. Xiang embroidery won the best award in the Torino World Fair in Italy in 1912 and the First Award in the Panama World Fair in 1933.

3) “Yue” embroidery of Guangdong Province - is rich and complicated in content with bright colors and strong decorative effects. The embroidery is smooth and even. One type, gold and silver cushion embroidery, creates a magnificent three-dimensional effect. Yue embroidery has a wide range of designs, the most common ones being birds worshipping the sun, dragons and phoenixes.

4) “Shu” embroidery of Sichuan Province - are mostly found in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. They are made with soft satins and colored threads as the raw materials are embroidered by hand. The varied stitching methods form their unique local style. Designs on Shu embroidery include flowers, birds, landscapes, fish, worms and human figures. The products themselves include quilt covers, pillow covers, back cushions, table cloths, scarves and handkerchiefs.

Western-Style Silk Embroidery

Western-style silk embroidery occurs as the result of an
artist using fine silk strands and needles to accurately
reproduce famous Western-style oil paintings (see figure 2)
- like Van Gogh and Da Vinci. It is truly amazing how an
embroidery artist can literally take silk strands and create
a silk reproduction of a well-known artist’s oil painting.

Essentially, the artist paints with fine silk strands instead
of painting with oil. Think about it . . . does this not perhaps
require more skill than painting with oil itself? Despite the
difference in materials and technique, one thing about a
silk embroidery work is that - from a distance - it can very
much resemble a work of oil painting .

From up close, however, one can notice the colorful
patterns and detailed stitching in a silk embroidery work.
In fact, the colors will appear more bright and lively than
the usually duller colors of an oil painting.

Double-Sided Silk Embroidery

Double-sided silk embroidery is the result of an advanced embroidery technique in which the artist stitches on both sides of a single transparent silk canvas. The embroidered design displays on both the front and back sides of the fabric and does not show the joints in the stitching. Such a work is normally mounted as a screen on a wooden frame. A special feature about double-sided silk embroidery is that you can enjoy the artist’s handiwork from either side of the picture.

How To Mount & Store Silk Embroidery

Mounting a piece of silk embroidery can be an art in and of itself.

Hard Mounting - is most suitable for small to medium-sized embroidery pieces. It involves mounting the piece on a wooden board or frame with a front protective glass. The mounting technique is relatively easy to master.

Soft Mounting - is most suitable for larger pieces. It involves mounting the embroidery piece on a large sheet of paper with a silk border. The mounting technique is very difficult to master. As a result, due to the nature of the mounting technique, a piece with soft mounting is more valuable.

Storing - be sure to wrap embroidery pieces in a container that protects it from moths. Also, embroidery should not be exposed to strong light - especially sunshine - for an extended period of time. Moreover, the environment should be neither too wet nor too dry.

Recommended Reading

1) Art of Oriental Embroidery: History, Aesthetics, &… by Young Yang Chung.

2) Painting with a Needle: Learning the Art of Silk Embroidery… by Young Yang Chung

This article was written by Raymond Yuen of Eternal Imports (EI). EI specializes in the provision of unique, hand-made, quality products from around the world. You may check them out at http://www.rejoiceinarts.com

Civil War Uniforms: 13 Lucky Tips on Choosing Your Leathers By
Paula and Coach McCoach http://www.civilwaruniforms.net

Believe it or not, Union and Confederate soldiers used the same
leathers.

You can too!

1. If you are going to do a Federal soldier, buy all U.S.
leathers.

2. For Confederates, you can also buy US leathers. Confederates
can also buy black leather goods.

3. I don’t like the brown or natural leather goods. I just feel
that the black was more common. But, this is a personal
preference.

4. You can also get the roller buckle, cut your own straps make
your own belt. Call me for a consult and I will help you with
that.

5. Belt buckle can be a U.S. Georgia Frame- that is a nice
buckle that keeps your leathers from wobbling around, and it is
highly adjustable.

6. Fork Tong, Snake Buckle British army type buckles - I have
found that they wobble. I would stay away from those. Even
though they go on and off real fast, and you only need a couple
of holes, they still wobble.

7. I use a roller buckle. Don’t get that modern stainless steel
that they use for weight lifting belts that you see.

8. Don’t use the double roller buckle. - I never saw one that
looked like it. As I always recommend keep it generic - nice and
plain. You can get the tarred stuff.

9. Don’t spend money on things you don’t need. Maryland or other
state oval buckles are not recommended by me because it limits
the impression and the buckle and keeper is difficult to get on
and off.

10.All other buckles are generic. My recommendation would be the
Georgia Frame.

11. I was lucky enough to find some good old buckles one time in
Amish Country from a shop that had been in existence for 80
years before it was bought and the current owner was about 80
years old.

12. He was rooting around under stuff and I bet I got every good
roller buckle there. Some were “Japanned” - that just means they
are painted black with enamel paint. They are so nice, but I
couldn’t part with them.

13. As I have recommended before, root around in antique stores
and flea markets. They are gold mines for Civil War uniforms
items at bargain prices!

Coach McCoach invites you to subscribe to the Civil War Uniform
News where you will receive information weekly on every possible
Civil War Uniform item! These tips will help you have an
accurate impression and save tons of time and money in the
process! You do not have to spend a lot of money to have a good
impression, and Civil War Uniforms will show you how!

You will also receive a free uniforms course for subscribing.
Click on this link to subscribe - http://www.civilwaruniforms.net

If you need the information about Civil War Uniforms NOW, go to
http://www.civilwaruniforms.net and purchase a Civil War
Uniforms Course.

6 October was another black mark in Thai politics. After 14
October 1973, a new PM, new constitution and fresh elections
gave hope for a change for the better. But from 1973 – 1976, a
series of weak coalition governments floundered in a chain of
musical chairs.

By 1976 the political mood was somber. A unified Vietnam
after the Communist victory and the killing fields in Cambodia
under the Khmer Rouge hung like a haunting specter over the
region. With the withdrawal of US forces from Asia, South
East Asian countries were living in apprehension.

This was also a period of newfound freedom for the students
and intellectuals. Still heady from their moral victory three
years earlier, they engaged in open expression, organized
demonstrations, strikes and demands for reform.

But by 6 October 1976, the winds of political change have
shifted. The very people who backed the students three years
ago were skeptical of them now in the light of the communist
threat.

The conservative middle class found the strident left wing
radicalism unsettling. There was a strong anti-communist
sentiment in Thailand with an insurgency in the south. The
proximity of communist neighbors in Vietnam and Cambodia
compounded the fears.

There was a rise of right wing groups at the village level and
among technical and vocational students to counter the left-
wing groups, with frequent clashes between the two. The weak
government torn by factional strife was unable to rein in the
two extremes.

In the midst of all this, Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn,
the deposed dictator in 1973, returned to Thailand and was
ordained as a monk. With the bitter memories of 14 October
1973 still fresh in their minds, the students were incensed. They
massed for a huge protest in Thammasat University.

By now, the students, with their left wing liberal attitudes, were
treated with suspicion. As in some other South East Asian
countries it was easy to be tarred a communist just by
opposing the establishment.

The spark that fired the pogrom was the burning by students
of an effigy that allegedly resembled a member of royal family.
In the eyes of the common people and the right wing groups
the students had gone too far.

On evening of the 6 October 1976, right-wing groups, police
and the military stormed the campus in an orgy of killings and
unspeakable atrocities to the living and the dead. Hopes for a
dawn of a new democracy were quickly crushed. Many
intellectuals fled to the hills.

Relatives of the dead and missing bemoan the lack of public
concern for the victims of the 6 October 1976 who were not
held in the same regard as the martyrs of 14 October 1973.
6 October was like a nightmare society preferred to forget.

Every year on 6 October, relatives, sympathetic academics and
politicians gather at the 6 October 1976 memorial in Thammasat University to honor the
memory of the unfortunate victims in the hope that they won’t
be completely forgotten.

This article first appeared in Tour Bangkok
Legacies a historical travel site on people, places and
events that shaped the landscape of Bangkok. The author Eric
Lim, a free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok Thailand.

Home schooling is a very important option to consider for
schooling your child. The bottom line for any school choice
should be how well it serves the needs of the child. There are
many cases in which home schooling is the right choice to make,
but only you, as a parent can decide.

Beyond the aspect of the child’s needs, there are other things
that you’ll need to consider as well. The decision is completely
up to you, but having all the facts can help you to make the
right one overall.

One thing that you will need to decide if you can or cannot
provide is teaching. Not everyone is a teacher. While you will
have a wide range of resources to help you, you will need to
provide your child with the ability to learn through your words,
actions and the products you provide for them. You’ll need to
establish a routine, stick with it and then you’ll need to go
back and make sure the learning objectives are covered.

There are many resources that you can tap into to help you to
provide a home schooling environment for your child. There are
resources online including curriculums, guide books, lesson
plans, websites for learning, CD ROMs and a wide range of home
schooling websites that will provide you with the foundation
that you need. Of course, much of these will be costly. So,
you’ll need to carefully consider if you can afford to home
school a child.

Lastly, the hardest part of home schooling is the work involved.
Yes, you will need to make a commitment to do it. While the many
rewards of schooling your child out of your home are well worth
it, the fact is that there is a lot of work to be done. The good
news is that you’ll have the back up and support of others in
your area that home school as well as the many friends online
that you are likely to meet.

The decision to do home schooling is one to make carefully. If
you can not find it in yourself to do all the hard work and
teaching or you can not afford it, you can still incorporate
many aspects of it throughout their day. The goal is to provide
your child with the atmosphere and learning objectives that they
need to succeed.