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Advantages and Disadvantages of Restaurants
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Restaurants
According to the article History of Restaurants the restaurant as we know it today is necessary which would make one think it has been here for a long time. However, the restaurant as is known today is something that has recently developed. This is not t say that there were no restaurants several decades ago. Commercial eating places were available, but the choice of menu was not was not offered. Most commercial eating places prepared only one type of dish. The food was served but was not eaten at the restaurant and there were specific times at which the food was served. The commercial eating places were meant for travellers who bought the food as they proceeded with their journey. The first restaurant was in France that belonged to Boulanger a soup vendor who opened a shop where he served his customers a variety of dishes. The term “restaurant” first originated from France which meant “restorative” which referred to soup and hot broth available inside. This term was then adopted by many other countries to refer to an eating place offering a variety of foods and drinks. Restaurants have become a part of any community in the world, but these restaurants have some advantages and disadvantages.
The Enzine Article Experience the Joy of Eating at a Restaurant shows that many restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisines providing well cooked meals as well as an ambient environment. Restaurants are a great place for people who are unable to cook at home to come and enjoy a cooked meal. Most restaurants take pride in their level of cleanliness and one can either choose to eat the meal at the restaurant or take the food and it at your convenience in another location. Most people who prefer to eat out do not just do so because of the food; it is because this way, they can get to interact with different people. Restaurants are also a great place to have events reducing he burden of cooking at home.
The development of tourism in an area is coupled to the number of restaurants and the services provided by the restaurants in a certain area. According to Satish countries like India are using this strategy to promote tourism (61). Most restaurants in India not only offer the tourists great food, but they also offer accommodation facilities, transport facilities, entertainment, shopping facilities and consultancy services. By provision of these services, the restaurant business has played a key role in the promotion of tourism in India and other countries.
The greatest advantage about eating in a restaurant is that one gets to eat a wide range of international dishes. There are many restaurant offering cuisines from different places like Chinese restaurants serving Chinese cuisines, Italian restaurants and Indian restaurants serving cuisines from those regions (Experience the Joy of Eating at a Restaurant). Depending on ones mood, you can go to a restaurant serving your meal of choice without necessarily making the dish or visiting another country to try the dish. Eating in a restaurant serving international cuisines gives the people an opportunity to exchange the customs and traditions of international foods as well as learning more about international foods. The locals are also given an opportunity to develop a local dish that can be enjoyed by people in that region as well as people from other parts of the world.
Different restaurants serve different types of foods. Some serve organic foods and foods for diabetics while other serves fast foods that are easy to prepare and can be eaten in the restaurant or can be eaten when one is on the move. Depending on ones mood one can enjoy different foods that one is unable to prepare at home. Eating at home has always been termed as healthy by many who are against eating in a restaurant.
Fast food restaurants are found in many countries in the world. The fact that people are always in a rush has changed the eating habits of many people making them results to fast foods that are cheap and easy to prepare (Schlosser 6). The food can also be eaten at the restaurant or on the move making it convenient for many. This has led to the growth of fast foods selling fast foods with McDonald restaurants dominating the market in the United States and other parts of the world.
The main advantages of eating fast foods are that customers are served in time and are a preference for many busy businessmen and students. Customers are quickly served so that they can have time to do other things instead of waiting for food to be prepared in a restaurant or cooking at home. In addition, preparing food at home means that one will take time to buy the food in a supermarket cook the food the later wash the dishes. The process takes a longer time and is not convenient for those wishing to save as much time as possible.
The disadvantage of eating fast foods is that it can badly affect ones health. It is important to eat fast foods in moderation because most of them contain a lot of alt, calories and fat. Obesity is a health problem in many children and adults and can be linked to a frequent eating of fast foods. A research done in the United States showed that those who lived close to a fast food restaurant were at a risk of suffering from diseases like stroke that are cause by fats and other ingredients in fast foods that have a high percentage of calories. The tradition of eating fast foods is affecting family’s mealtimes because teenagers and other young people prefer having fast foods with their peers. Family mealtime that is considered the time when the family talks about their daily activities is slowly becoming a thing of the past (Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast Foods).
Restaurants charge a lot of money for their meals and drink especially those serving international cuisines. Eating healthy food in a restaurant is also very expensive and the value goes up for a larger number of people. Cooking at home for a large number of people is cheaper than eating at a restaurant.
According to the article New York Crisis’ Affects on NYC Restaurants and Bankruptcy Options restaurants face a significant drop in business following a financial crisis. They pay high rent and are also faced with expenses of insurance and salaries for a large number of employees. Most restaurants file fro bankruptcy when faced with a financial crisis and are unable to redeem themselves. With the economic recession, most people opt to cook at home which is much cheaper than eating at a restaurant, this way, many restaurants have been put out of business and are unable to survive in the harsh economic melt down.
In conclusion, the restaurant industry has developed and restaurants can be found all over the world. They are convenient because they provide a variety of foods and food is served fast. Restaurants are a good place to have a function and they provide an ambience that is attracting to many people. International cuisines are also served at restaurants making it possible for one to learn the culture and foods of a particular region.
The disadvantage is that most foods served in a restaurant are expensive and are not healthy especially those served at fast food restaurants. Restaurants are also at a risk of going bankrupt when faced with a financial crisis.
Works Cited
Stephen, Starr. New York Financial Crisis’ Affect on NYC Restaurants and Bankruptcy Options. New York Bankruptcy Lawyer Blog. October 11, 2008.
History of Restaurants. Big Site of Amazing Facts. Retrieved February 19, 2011 from HYPERLINK “http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-restaurants” http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-restaurants
Miecevole, Sintilia. Experience the Joy of Eating at a Restaurant. Ezine Articles. June 29, 2006.
Satish, Babu. Tourism Development in India: A Case Study. New Delhi: APH Publishing, 2008.
Schlosser, Erick. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.
Brown, Jim. Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast Food. Artipot. March 24, 2009.
Advantages and disadvantages of Home Schooling
Homeschooling
(Author’s name)
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Abstract
Homeschooling is becoming a popular trend among many families today. Essentially, the idea of homeschooling has generated numerous debates regarding the benefits and detriments of this form of education to students. Providentially, neither the advantages nor the disadvantages surpass one another, and for that reason, individuals have the ability to choose this form of education based on their needs and requirements. However, parents and instructors should use a cautious approach to this form of education to promote proper growth and development in students.
Key Words: Homeschooling, Advantages, Disadvantages
Introduction
Also referred to as home based learning, homeschooling refers to the education offered to students in their own homes. In essence, this form of education can be carried out under the administration of correspondence schools, which provide the curriculum to be followed by tutors when educating the student (Lines, 2000). However, instructors can opt to design their own curriculum for the students, which is in most cases, illegal and detrimental to the student. Accordingly, successful homeschooling occurs through the use of a set instructional curriculum, but with additional themes fashioned for the student (Stevens, 2001). As a form of education, homeschooling is offered as an alternative to public and private schooling. Evidently, homeschooling is also the preferred option for families who live in rural areas or families with children with an active career outside the school setting. Normally, it is the best option for young entertainers and athletes. In the home based school setting, the parent may opt to be their child’s tutor, or he or she can choose to hire a professional tutor to provide the necessary education for the child. Unknown to many, homeschooling is permissible in most states, with research studies indicating that over 1million children in America at present receive home based education (Bauman, 2002). There are various motivations towards homeschooling, ranging from increased performance by children, to evading the diminishing public education system. Homeschooling is both about guidance and novice. This means that, the tutor is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the child receive the relevant education necessary for their growth and development. With homeschooling, the tutor gives undivided attention to the child, thus, increasing knowledge of the child’s strengths and weaknesses.
This paper explores the subject of homeschooling, explaining the different motivations for homeschooling. Fundamentally, the paper draws attention to the advantages and disadvantages of this type of educational system.
Homeschooling
Often distinguished as the highest level of education privatization, homeschooling is increasingly becoming common for most families in society today. In 2003, The National Household Education Survey program (NHES) presented a report illustrating that over 1,508,050 students in America were receiving home based education (Ray, 2003). This was a 0.7% increase from 2001, illustrating the rate at which this form of education is accepted in the society. Initially, homeschooling began as an option for early childhood education, and was focused on providing education that is physically and mentally relevant for the growth and development of the students. Before this form of education became popular, most critics believed that this form of education was harmful to students both socially, mentally, and physically. However, the improved performance of homeschooled students compelled more parents, as well as, educators into using this method of education for students. In essence, parents and students have several inspirations towards this form of education.
Researchers identify five main reasons why parents are drawn to homeschooling, including reduced costs of private education, personality development, poor public school systems, and personal preferences (Bauman, 2002). Most parents feel that homeschooling presents a more individualized form of education, which is necessary to understand the level of understanding by the student. Understanding the level of understanding by a student is essential for the comprehension of the student, mental development. Not all students are fast learners and homeschooling helps theses students to learn at their own pace without feeling rushed. Individualized education also allows for improved character development, which is essential for the growth, and development of the student. This is especially so since the current society is characterized by corruption of morals that does more harm than good for society. Research also illustrates that the current education system has been severely damaged as it fosters an array of vices ranging from student bullying to crime and substance abuse. Parents fear that instead of providing the necessary education for their children, the public system of education may destroy their children in terms of psychological development (Bauman, 2002). Lastly, since parents have shunned the option of public education, some are tempted to enroll their children in private schools, which will cost them an insurmountable amount of money. Most parents cannot afford to pay for private education for their children, making homeschooling, the better option for their children.
Advantages of Homeschooling
Supporters of home based education have identified various advantages of homeschooling over other forms of education. Though most of the advantages presented are conceptual, the data collected from the actual practice of this form of education prove what is otherwise theoretical. Put simply, the advantages of homeschooling are both theoretical and observable, thus, explaining why most parents opt for this form of education for their children (Belfield & Henry, 2005). Research studies on the subject matter agree to five advantages of homeschooling including better tutor-student relationships, enhanced curriculum flexibility, reduced negative exposure, and the promotion of family relations.
Better Tutor-Student Relationships
When one thinks of the school as a centralized institution of learning, one cannot go without associating the school setting with large numbers of students who are interested in attaining an education (Belfield & Henry, 2005). Education is meant for all individuals irrespective of their age, culture, or gender. For that reason, everyone is entitled to receiving an education to enhance individual participation in society. The archetypal classroom environment is characterized by large numbers of students with one tutor for each subject taught (Lines, 2000). In this conventional setting, tutors and instructors are forced to divide their attention towards each student meaning that a student can only receive a fraction of the teacher’s attention. Though this has successfully been implemented to enhance student education and knowledge, the conventional classroom setting fosters partiality based on student participation in the class. Students who are more active in classrooms are more likely to receive more attention from the educators, putting the inactive students at a disadvantage over them. Sequentially, students who are dormant in class, for various reasons, may not receive proper education as their tutors constantly ignore them. Essentially, home-schooled children receive the complete attention from their tutors and educators (Belfield & Henry, 2005). This attention also promotes student participation, which is necessary for the promotion of physical and mental development in the student. The tutor, in this case provides personal education services, thus increasing understanding by the student concerning the subject being taught. With homeschooling, students do not feel left out or ignored by their tutors, which can, in turn, motivate them to learn.
Enhanced Curriculum flexibility
One observable characteristic of homeschooling is its elasticity both in terms of time and schedule, as well as, in terms of curriculum design. The regular education curriculum used in schools and educational institutions is designed in a way that it is used by all didactic institutions. Depending on the system of education, all schools share one principal curriculum, which is applied by educators during their course of teaching (Bauman, 2002). School curriculums are collectively designed owing to the diverse nature of the school as an institution. In most cases, schools are presented with diverse groups of student with different backgrounds, as well as, talent. Egalitarianism is the core element of the education system, and for that reason, all students are expected to receive the same quantity of education irrespective of their regions of origin. The large numbers of students attending schools my limit the contents of the curriculum as it may demand extra financial resources to make certain that all students receive the perfect education (Lines, 2000). Homeschooling, however, limits the number of students in the classroom, hence, increasing flexibility of the curriculum. Tutors can design specified curriculums that are aimed at ensuring the student receives superior quality education. Put simply, tutors can use explicit needs and capacities of the student to design a curriculum that best promotes physical and mental growth.
Reduced Negative Exposure
Observably, homeschooling is characterized by a level of privatization in the provision of education for students. This means that, home-schooled students do not engage in sufficient social interaction as their counterparts in public and private schools. This privatization may be an advantage to students, in that, it reduces the negative exposures typified by other forms of education. At the outset, public education promotes objectionable forms of competition between students. Competition can be both socially or institutionally induced including, talent competitions, or economic rivalry among students among other things (Bauman, 2002). Most of these competitions are not focused on education, making it hard for students to give full attention to their studies. Students find themselves in situations whereby achieving stature in school is more beneficial than receiving an education, which is detrimental for their mental growth and development. In effect, homeschooling permits students to focus on learning.
Promotion of Family Relations
Unlike public schooling, which places students amid varieties of cultures with different values and beliefs, homeschooling limits the promotion of beliefs and values within the family setting. Most socialists hold the belief that the family should be responsible for instilling core values and principles in their children (Belfield & Henry, 2005). In essence, homeschooling facilitate this, as the main contact with the child in such a setting is the family. With homeschooling, parents can dictate what is taught to their children, in that, they can fashion the curriculum in support of their beliefs. For example, religions families can use the curriculum to provide more religious teachings for the students, which may not be provided in public schools. Students can also be taught on specific cultures pertinent to the culture the student’s family.
Disadvantages of Homeschooling
Notably, the majority of disadvantages associated with homeschooling correspond to the perceived advantages of this form of education (Cooper, 2005). What is proposed as an advantage of this form of education also functions as a disadvantage of the same form of education. For example, promoting the family may lead to deficient community participation, which can also be detrimental to the child. Critics of this form of education identify four central disadvantages of homeschooling, all of which are consequences of privatization. These disadvantages include veiled costs, deficient community participation, reduced social services, and inadequate quality control.
Veiled Costs
Most parents hold the belief that homeschooling is a much cheaper option to enrolling a child in a private school. However, this belief is unfounded, especially if one considers the hidden costs associated with homeschooling. Homeschooling is more expensive than both public and private schooling as it demands that the family absorb the entire cost associated with their child’s education (Evans, 2003). Put simply, homeschooling forces parents to provide materials and equipment, including basic reading materials and technology if these are not being provided by umbrella schools. Paying for both the tuition fee and the purchase of education materials can be an expensive venture, not unless, the parent opts to assume the role of the tutor. On the other hand, taking up the role of tutor may also be expensive in that it requires the parent to invest plenty of time and money to receive instructional training to facilitate student learning. The veiled costs of homeschooling make this form of education financially demanding, and can only be attainable by families with extra money to fund their child’s education.
Deficient Community Participation
As previously mentioned, the most notable characteristic of homeschooling is its privatization, as well as, the fact that education in this setting takes place in the home. Learning from home implies that the student will have limited exposure to the outside community because the student will be isolated from his peers. Though this isolation may be necessary to reduce negative social exposure, it limits social learning and citizenship ideals. This means that, home-schooled students are likely to display individualized values, most of which are not coherent when applied in the social setting (Stevens, 2001).
Reduced Social Services
Concurrent with reduced community participation, homeschooling also reduces, if not diminishes the social service system. Public schools are not only recognized for the provision of educative services Lost Social Services (Evans, 2003). Homeschooling diminishes the provision of such services because the parents, as well as, the students eventually lack the resources needed to provide social services.
Inadequate Quality Control
In education, quality control refers to the regulation of what is taught in the school curriculum. Inadequacy, in this case, would therefore mean the inability to control the quality of education offered to students. Homeschooling does not necessarily imply probable incompetence in the delivery of instruction, but the likelihood of such an occurrence is high. For example, tutors who choose to design their own curriculums may fail to incorporate the basic principles of education, making it hard for the student to receive relevant education.
Conclusion
The popularity of home based education, otherwise known as homeschooling continues to grow in most developing nations today. This form of education has both advantages and disadvantages, none of which is greater than the other. When deciding on homeschooling as the preferred options for their children, parents should take into consideration the possible impacts of this form of education to ensure that it is put into the best practice. Parents, as well as, tutors have the option of fashioning the homeschooling curriculum to achieve both physical and mental growth and development in students. When properly put into practice, homeschooling, not only facilitates physical and mental development, it also improves student performance.
References
Bauman, K. J. (2002). Homeschooling in the United States: Trends and Characteristics.
Retrieved from: http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n26.html
Belfield, C. R. & Henry M. L. (2005). Privatizing Education Choice: Consequences for
Parents, Schools and Public Policy. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
Cooper, B., ed. (2005). Home Schooling in Full View:AReader. Greenwich, CT: Information
Age Publishing.
Evans, Dennis L. (2003). “Home is No Place for School.”USA Today. Retrieved from:
http://www.usatoday.com/home-is-no-place-for-school/context.html
Lines, P. M. (2000). “When Home Schoolers Go to School: A Partnership Between Families
and Schools.” Peabody Journal of Education 75 (1-2): 159-86.
Ray, B. D. (2003). “Facts on Homeschooling.” National Home Education Research Institute.
Retrieved from: http://www.nheri.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174&Itemid=51
Stevens, M. L. 2001. Kingdom of Children. Culture and Controversy in the Home- Schooling
Movement. Princeton University Press: Princeton.
advantages and disadvantages of Groupware
Groupware
Name
Institution of Learning
Groupware
Groupware is a program which assists people to collectively work together, while they are actually located at different places. It means that it gives people who are far away from one another an opportunity to work on a similar project regardless of their physical locations (Wilson, 2001).
Advantages
Groupware is preferred because of the following merits:
It provides structures which enable members to view the purpose, goals and set up schedules. This gives them a chance to acquire information, compare notes and exchange ideas.
It fosters creativity amongst the users. This enables members to come up with different ideas which can then be used to improve the project they work on.
It helps to facilitate communication amongst all the involved members. This can be achieved through the use of messages and chats. Through such means of communication, the members can discuss certain issues before coming to an agreed conclusion.
Disadvantages
The operations of this program have been considered ineffective because of the following demerits:
It is costly. Buying the materials and maintaining the groupware is always challenging, because it requires a lot of money to purchase and effectively maintain them. This explains why many organizations usually decide to use other software to manage such programs (Wilson, 2001).
It is an unreliable program because it depends on one server. When the Internet is down, the server can not allow anyone to use the program.
It does not allow the use of non-verbal communication amongst the users. This poses a very great challenge to the organization since this form of communication is always preferred to others. It is simple and easy to use by all the stakeholders.
It promotes overdependence on a particular groupware provider. Because of the logistical and security issues involved, it is appropriate for the user to only rely on one vender of the production, transportation and installation of the program.
References
Wilson, P. (2001). Computer Supported Cooperative Work: An Introduction. Kluwer Academic Publishers.