Building Better Communities: Escola Portuguesa de Luanda
← Parenting Styles | Social-Emotional Development → |
Social psychology is a special sphere of professional psychological activity studying the interaction between an individual and a group, communications, power relations and organizational psychology. The sphere of its application is based on performing the analysis of socio-psychological situations and phenomena in order to enable their forecasting and give general fundamental or instrumental recommendations. Difficult socio-political situation in Angola is manifested in different life dimensions, which is related to constant political conflict and historical issues of the development of the country. Therefore, in order to overcome these problems the ideas of social psychology can be used. My hometown is Luanda and that is the reason for narrowing the scope of this essay to the impact of social psychology on the enhancing of well-being in the community of Luanda school Escola Portuguesa de Luanda. Possible implementation of the proposed ideas can be limited by political and economic situation. Therefore, the proposed essay can be considered only as a proposal for the further development of the Escola Portuguesa de Luanda.
ESCOLA PORTUGUESA DE LUANDA
Escola Portuguesa de Luanda (EPL) is one of the Portuguese language schools for international students living in Luanda. It was founded in 1986 on the initiative of the Portuguese Ministry of Education and is now teaching students with the use of the 12 points score system. During the regiment of Decree, the Portuguese School of Luanda has developed into the international school, which was free from the government control. The school was originally designed for 1,500 students. providing training at pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary education levels, according to the Portuguese Educational system, which is different from Cubin education system accepted by the state (Stead et al. 86). Since its establishment, it has been constantly developing and now it is a school with more that ninety-two teachers and the number of students twice exceeding the designed limitation. However, despite such a great development, the situation in EPL is tense, which is related to great diversity of social strata and multicultural conflicts. Therefore, the main directions which can improve the situation, are conflict management, bullying prevention and increase of the cultural tolerance.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
The political situation in Angola is still unstable, which is related to the increasing diversity of society and impact of foreign cultures. Therefore, there is a constant danger of conflict, which can have harmful impact on the community. Such a tense situation is manifested in the EPL student diversity, which is based both on the social and cultural factors. Despite the fact that conflicts of ideas, life positions, and goals for individuals and collectives are normal, conflicts in school can be extremely destructive for the personality of the students. Therefore, the conflict in the social and labor sphere is perceived as a deviation, as a malfunction, an obstacle on the way of achievement of the goal (Kutas 56). Additionally, negative perception of conflict is fully justified, as it carries a tremendous destructive effect on the relations and system of interaction. However, on the other hand, the absence of conflicts indicates stagnation, lack of development, which in terms of the learning in EPL means the accumulation of the stress with its further explosion in an unpredictable way. Conflict management as a direction of social psychology deals with various conflict situations, seeks solutions to problems, ways out of these situations, proposes the development of this process in order to find out how to act in this or that faze of conflict, how to turn the situation in the right direction with the maximum benefit. Conflict management is a purposeful impact on its dynamics that is determined by objective laws in the interests of developing or destroying the social system to which this conflict relates. Therefore, in terms of EPL, the social psychology ideas and concepts should be applied to solving ethnic and social conflicts among students and their groups, their forecasting and preventing. Moreover, the conflict management should be used in the frame of the teacher-student relations, which is also extremely important for the formation of the healthy psychological environment.
BULLYING PREVENTION
Bulling is a common issue for the majority of schools. It is related to unstable psyche of teenagers and the restrained aggression. The changes in the personality of the teenager or the learned aggressive behavior can make students look for the satisfaction in the bullying of the other, weaker, students. The aggressive persecution of one child by another is a phenomenon with a long history, but today its scale is becoming more noticeable especially in relation to the EPL cultural and social factors of diversity. In primary school, violence begins with racketeering - when high school students take money and mobile phones from juniors perceiving this behavior as the effective one. Among children aged 11-15 years, the most popular ways of bullying are gossip, humiliating jokes and boycott (Swearer and Shelley 344-346). Pain, loneliness and a sense of despair that the victim of the persecution is experiencing can lead to extremely negative consequences among which there are suicide, chronic stress, psychosomatic disorders, etc. The bullying at school may be one of the main reasons why a child does not feel safe in school, which threatens his mental health. Therefore, it is important that in the internal routine of the school, among the dangerous situations for the child, the situation with bullying was considered . In the US, it is common that when choosing a school for a child, the parents are interested in whether there is a plan for anti-bullying activity at school or whether the school has joined a specific anti-bullying program. However, the situation in Angola is much more complex, which is connected with the difficulties in education of the poor strata. Moreover, not any family can let themselves choose to which school they can send their child. Despite the fact, that EPL is one of the best Luanda schools, there is not much choice. Schools should keep in mind that the anti-bullying program can be inconclusive, so it is important that a methodical and systematic impact of anti-bullying program was used, the effectiveness of which has already been proved or is based on evidence. Thus, in terms of bullying in EPL, the social psychology can be used for the development of prevention programs. Moreover, the constant interaction with the students in regarding to bullying prevention will be the factor of the community flourishing and will significantly increase the social support in coping with stress from aggression.
CULTURAL TOLERANCE
Tolerance is another way to resolve contradictions between representatives of different cultures and social groups, which is based on the acceptance that, despite of everything that does not satisfy one in the convictions and behavior of others, people should let this issue, since they can live together and create, not even belonging to one faith, one nation and without sharing the same moral and political convictions. Moreover, under such circumstances, opposing interests can be peacefully achieved, clashes can be resolved and democratic principles developed in mutual relations. Therefore, for the EPL, the increase of the tolerance is extremely important. Tolerance as one of the forms of expressing is a means of achieving a certain lofty goal (a certain ideal, value or virtue), which in regard to the EPL is the understanding of the students and acceptance the idea that all of them are different (Thijs and Maykel 17-19). It is not an ideal, a value or a virtue, it only helps to manifest it. And because tolerance serves a certain higher purpose or meaning, it is not a value in itself, but a virtue. As such, it should have only positive meaning, but this is not so: one can not be tolerant of everything. However, tolerance does not mean that everything has absolute support: you can think what you want, but you cannot do what you want. Tolerant people have the right to limit the freedom of intolerant if they threaten the foundations of freedom. In regarding to the situation with the EPL, cultural and social tolerance can be reached through the team-building training and teamwork of groups with representatives of different cultures in them. Moreover, the development of tolerance is needed for the formation of the healthy community with democratic attitude to each of the students. It can result in flourishing of such community as a place of the constant support and acceptance.
CONCLUSION
Concluding, it should be stated that the impact of social psychology on the situation in EPL can be directed on different spheres, increasing the well-being of teachers and students. Despite the fact that Luanda is one of the richest cities, the increased social and cultural diversity is one of the factors that are affecting the stress accumulation among the students and the possibility of the conflict. Moreover, in the sphere of conflict management, social psychology can be used for the development of the system of non-violent relations, forming the positive patterns of coping with conflict. In terms of the bullying prevention, social psychology is directed on the formation of the communication system along with the education, which can decrease the aggression of the students and to help them to overcome it. The cultural tolerance is also important sphere of the impact of social psychology, in which it is possible to form the proper coping strategies with ethnic and cultural diversity.
Your term paper ordered at our website will meet the highest academic standards!
Royce B.
Dallas, TX
|
|
|
It is so refreshing to work with a writing service as professional as EssaysEmpire.com. Everything from your website, to your customer service workers to the writing itself, is top rate. I recommend you highly to anyone who will listen. |
Grace T.
Purcell, OK
|
|
|
Thank you for assuring that only the best writers work for you. It doesn’t matter which writer has been assigned to my projects since I started using your services. Every time I get a paper written, it is perfect. |
Stephanie K.
Stowe, VT
|
|
|
Dear Sirs: Just a quick note to let you know that I appreciate your working on my paper so quickly. I did get it in time to turn it in for the deadline, even though I hadn’t given you much notice. I made a very good grade on it and was much relieved. Thanks again. You rock. |
Bruce B.
Purcell, OK
|
|
|
I had a hard time articulating what my professor wanted, so I was able to speak straight to my writer. After I had explained a little bit, I could tell he understood everything. He then took the ball and ran with it, so to speak. He wrote my paper in two days and it was the picture of perfection! I am very grateful that he knew what to do and how to do it so perfectly. |
Mark M.
Cambridge, MA
|
|
|
The paper I ordered from EssaysEmpire.com is incomparable! Thanks for doing such stellar work. I have recommended your services to a few other folks who plan to try you out soon. EssaysEmpire.com gets my vote for best writing service every time. |
Phil E.
South Hadley, MA
|
|
|
So often, when one deals with customer service, he or she is treated rudely. That was not the case with EssaysEmpire.com. The agents were helpful and friendly, knowledable and concerned. I, for one, was astounded with their competence. When it came down to the actual written material that I ordered, it was much better than I had anticipated. There are clearly some expert writers who work for EssaysEmpire.com. I would rate this writing service as exceptional, 5 stars out of 5 stars. I will happily return when I need help with another written work. |
Cleo P.
Oakland, CA
|
|
|
I submitted my order as a ‘rush order’. I only had 2 days to get my paper finished and I just felt like I was sinking. I didn’t understand the material I was writing about, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. My friend recommended EssaysEmpire.com. I had very little lost by attempting to use this writing service, so I did. It was an excellent move on my part, because, not only was my paper finished on time. It was also excellently written. I will always be grateful to my friend for recommending your service. It is wonderful. |
Joyce T.
New Orleans, LA
|
|
|
I was trying to choose between EssaysEmpire.com and another online writing service and I didn’t know which one to pick. Then, I began to read reviews. I didn’t read even one thing negative about EssaysEmpire.com, and the other site was fraught with complaints. I went with EssaysEmpire.com, and it turned out that all the good things I had read about the service were true. My paper was fully guaranteed, but it was A-1 quality. The customer service people were great. The prices were right. Now, I am a devoted fan. When I need help with my writing, I go straight to EssaysEmpire.com! |
Cleo C.
Wichita, KS
|
|
|
To the writers at EssaysEmpire.com: Next week, I will be graduating with a degree in clinical psychology. Over the course of my college years, I have had to turn to you for help many times. Each and every time, you produced some of the highest quality writing my professors had ever seen. Because of you, I was able to keep a high grade point average and get into an excellent grad school. There are simply no words adequate enough to fully express my appreciation, so I’ll simply say, “thank you” and let it go at that. Please know that you are appreciated. |
Jennifer C.
Sulphur, LA
|
|
|
Your writer did a great job on my history paper. I didn’t have to lift a finger, yet I received an A+. I read the paper and felt like I learned an entire semester’s worth of information. That’s how good it was! |
Celeste H.
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
EssaysEmpire.com always gives me a plagiarism report to prove that the work they wrote for me is authentic. I appreciate this. It helps eliminate worry. |
John G.
Erie, PA
|
|
|
Thanks goes out to the writers who presented me with the best paper I have ever turned in. My professor was so impressed with it that he took excerpts from it to put in his class handouts on how to write the perfect paper. EssaysEmpire.com, you made me one proud student today! |
Marcella M.
Lexington, KY
|
|
|
Dear EssaysEmpire.com, I am very happy with the work that your writers did for me. I was impressed by the plagiarism report, too. Thanks for everything! |
Anne A.
Cambridge, MA
|
|
|
You dudes are awesome! Wow! I can’t believe I got an A+ on my paper! At best, I expected a B or C! |
Trilly M.
Spokane, WA
|
|
|
I just had to let you know how much I appreciated receiving a paper back that was of quality that high. I will recommend your writing service to other people I know. You guys do great work. |
Ramona R.
Sparks, NV
|
|
|
Thank you for doing such stellar work on my paper. How anyone could write a paper this well on a subject this boring, is beyond me. When I tried to write it myself, I thought it would have put my professor to sleep! Your writers made it sound so interesting! I really appreciate that. Thanks a million! |
Glynnis H.
Ft. Smith, AR
|
|
|
Hello! I just had to stop what I was doing to let you know how grateful I am that I found your excellent writing service. I have had to use you three times now, and each time, I have been 100% satisfied with the work that you did. Your writers are absolutely outstanding. I am very, very happy with everything you have written for me. |
Lonnie K.
Falcon Crest, MA
|
|
|
I work very long hours. Therefore, I sometimes run behind in my school assignments. This is especially true for the long written assignments. It is so great to know that I can always count on EssaysEmpire.com to help me out. The papers that I buy from you are excellent, without fail. I really appreciate your help . Thanks for everything. |
Sylvia B.
Lakeview, MA
|
|
|
Your writers did an excellent job writing my four papers last semester. I don’t think I could have possibly made it through the semester without any help of EssaysEmpire.com. I deeply appreciate the help |
Stephanie M.
Bath, ME
|
|
|
This is the fourth A+ in a row from EssaysEmpire.com! Thanks! |