What Is Unschooling Strengths and Weaknesses

Because there are now over two million homeschooled children in the United States, most people are familiar with the idea of homeschooling even if they dont quite understand it. However, even some homeschooling families are confused about the concept of unschooling. What Is Unschooling? While often considered a homeschooling style, it is more accurate to view unschooling as an overall mindset and approach to how  to educate a child. Often referred to as child-led learning, interest-based learning, or delight-directed learning, unschooling is a term coined by author and educator John Holt. Holt (1923-1985) is the author of education books such as  How Children Learn and How Children Fail. He was also the editor of the first magazine dedicated exclusively to homeschooling, Growing Without Schooling, published from 1977 to 2001. John Holt believed that the compulsory schooling model was a hindrance to the way children learn. He believed that humans are born with an innate curiosity and the desire and ability to learn and that the traditional school model, which attempts to control and regulate how children learn, was a detriment to the natural learning process. Holt thought that schools should be a resource for education, similar to a library, rather than the primary source of education. He felt that children learn best when they are with their parents and are  engaged in everyday life and learning through their surroundings and circumstances. As with any philosophy of education, unschooling families vary as far as their adherence to unschooling principals is concerned. On one end of the spectrum, you’ll find â€Å"relaxed homeschoolers.† They prefer to follow their students’ lead with interest-led learning for the most part, but also have some subjects that they teach in more traditional ways. At the other end of the spectrum are â€Å"radical unschoolers† for whom educational activities are relatively indistinguishable from everyday life. Their children fully direct their own learning, and nothing is considered a â€Å"must teach† subject. Radical unschoolers are confident that children will acquire the skills they need when they need them through natural processes. There are some things that unschoolers usually have in common regardless of where they fall on the spectrum. All have a strong desire to instill in their children a lifelong love of learning – a realization that learning never stops. Most like to employ the art of â€Å"strewing.† This term refers to ensuring that  interesting and engaging materials are readily available in a child’s environment. The practice of strewing creates a learning-rich atmosphere that encourages and facilitates natural curiosity. Benefits of Unschooling This educational philosphy has many advantages. At its core, unschooling is natural learning based on pursuing passions, satisfying one’s natural curiosity, and learning through hands-on experimentation and modeling. Stronger Retention Adults and children alike tend to retain more learned information on topics that interest them. We stay sharp in the skills that we use every day. Unschooling capitalizes on that fact. Instead of being forced to  memorize random facts long enough to pass a test, an unschooled student  has a vested interest in learning the facts and skills that pique their interest. An unschooled student may pick up geometry skills while working on a building project. He learns grammar and spelling skills while reading and writing. For example, while reading he notices that dialogue is set apart by quote marks, so he begins applying that technique to the story hes writing. Builds on Natural Gifts and Talents Unschooling can prove to be the ideal learning environment for children who might be labeled struggling learners in a traditional school setting. A student who struggles with dyslexia, for example, may prove to be a creative, talented writer when he can write without worrying about having his spelling and grammar  critiqued. That doesn’t mean that unschooling parents ignore vital skills. Instead, they allow their children  to focus on their strengths and help them discover tools to overcome their weaknesses. This shift in focus allows children to reach their full potential based on their unique skill set without feeling inadequate because they process information differently than their peers. Strong Self-motivation Because unschooling is self-directed, unschoolers tend to be very self-motivated learners. One child may learn to read because he wants to be able to decipher the directions on a video game. Another may learn because she’s tired of waiting for someone to read aloud to her and, instead, wants to be able to pick up a book and read for herself. Unschooled students tackle even subjects that they don’t like when they see the validity in learning them. For example, a student who doesn’t care for math will dive into lessons because the subject is necessary for his chosen field,  college entrance exams, or successful completion of core classes. I have seen this scenario played out in multiple unschooling families that I know. Teens who had previously balked at learning algebra or geometry jumped in and progressed rapidly and successfully through the lessons once they saw a legitimate reason for and need to master those skills. What  Unschooling Looks Like Many people - even other homeschoolers -  don’t understand the concept of unschooling. They picture kids sleeping, watching TV, and playing video games all day. This scenario may be the case for some unschooling families some of the time. There are those who find inherent educational value in all activities. They are confident that their children will self-regulate and pursue learning the topics and skills that ignite their passions. In most unschooling families, however, lack of formal learning and curriculum does not mean lack of structure. Children still have routine and responsibilities. As with any other home education philosophy, a day in the life of one unschooling family will look drastically different than that of another. The most significant difference most people would note between an unschooling family and a more traditional homeschooling family is that learning happens naturally through life experiences for unschoolers. For example,  one unschooling family gets up and does household chores together before heading out to the grocery store. On the way to the store, they hear the news on the radio. The news story sparks a discussion about current events, geography, and politics. Upon returning home from the store, the children head off to different corners of the house  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ one to read, another  to write a letter to a friend, a third to his laptop to research how to care for  the pet ferret he’s hoping to  acquire. The ferret research leads to making plans for a ferret pen.  The child looks up various enclosure plans online and begins drawing out plans for  his  future ferret’s home, including measurements and a supply list. It’s important to note that unschooling isnt always done without homeschool curriculum. However, it usually means that the use of curriculum is  student-directed. For example, the unschooled teen who decides that he needs to learn algebra and geometry for college entrance exams may determine that a specific math curriculum is the best way to learn what he needs to know. The letter-writing student may decide she’d like to learn cursive because it’s pretty and would fun to use for writing letters. Or, perhaps she received a handwritten note from Grandma that she’s having trouble deciphering. She decides that a  cursive workbook will help her achieve her goals. Other parents may feel more comfortable unschooling some aspects of their children’s education while taking a more traditional approach to others. These families may choose to use homeschool curriculum or online classes for math and science, for example, while opting to allow their children to study history through books, documentaries, and family discussions. When I asked unschooling families what they most wanted others to understand about unschooling, they worded their answers a bit differently, but the idea was the same. Unschooling does not mean unparenting and it doesnt mean unteaching. It doesnt mean that education is not taking place. Unschooling is just a different, holistic way of looking at how to educate a child.

Child Development Scaffolding - 1444 Words

Choosing a child to interact with is a complicated process; however I have decided that my niece, Paige, with whom I spend a comfortable amount of time is a great candidate for this assignment. She is at ease in my presence and I can accurately assess her developmental level without too much bias. At two years old, Paige is in Piaget’s preoperational stage of development, which is characterized by the ability to use symbols and language to â€Å"represent objects in the environment.† Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development include the abilities: â€Å"visual acuity, hand-eye coordination, planning ahead, and caution.† Developmentally, Paige is not exceptionally advanced in the preoperational stage, as her language skills are not fully†¦show more content†¦She will imitate my actions and ideally successfully make up the bed. Before beginning the task I took the time to explain to Paige exactly what it was she and I would be doing. I engaged h er attention by first modeling the task. As stated earlier, I wanted to be as engaging as possible, thus I exhibited a lot of enthusiasm about making the bed, which proved to elicit the reaction I had hoped for. I tugged the fitted sheet on the bed as if it were physically strenuous, to which she laughed. I then tossed the blanket on the bed in a lofty manner, and meticulously arranged the pillows. I had her attention, and as I predicted she seemed eager to engage in the task. I was able to gauge her interests by her smile and attentiveness. I asked Paige to try and make the bed on her own, putting the Zone of Optimal development theory into practice. Although I had previously assessed her abilities, I needed to see how accurate my assessment was in order to see how I might assist her. Fortunately, my assessment was fairly accurate. Paige approached the bed with an exciting, yet skeptical look. She used imitation, gross and fine motor skills to try and put on the fitted sheet, howev er she struggled to secure it on the mattress. I asked Paige if she needed my help and she responded with a nod of her head. I approached the bed and decided to (as I suggested earlier) make up one side while she did the other,Show MoreRelatedSocio-cultural Assessment1369 Words   |  5 Pagesunderstanding the way a child responds to challenges and change. Their responses and perceptions are based on the world in which they live. Their understanding of the world comes from the values and beliefs of the adults, community, socio-economic status, education and culture that surround them. (Mooney, 2000). When making an assessment on an individual child it is necessary to consider the background and culture in which they exist. Berger (2005), states that human development results from dynamicRead MoreVygotsky s Play Theory On Human Development1089 Words   |  5 PagesVygotsky’s Play Theory Many researchers strongly believe on how important play on human development. A spontaneous play contributes to cognitive, social, emotional, physical and language in early childhood development. Plays promote social competence, creativity, language development, and thinking skills. The benefits of play that children use their creativity while developing their cognitive and social skills. Children learn best where the environment provides them an opportunity to create, exploreRead MorePlay Theory Of Human Development1264 Words   |  6 Pagesimportant play on human development. A spontaneous play contributes to cognitive, social, emotional, physical and language in early childhood development. Play promotes social competence, creativity, language development, and thinking skills. When children are fully engaged in a self-active play, they are able to express their inner capacity to create and express feelings, thoughts, and perceptions. Play in children stimulates physical, social-emotional, and creative development. As curious as childrenRead MoreTheories Of Lev Vygotsky1383 Words   |  6 Pagespsychology and he emphasized that interpersonal connections and the social environment had a lot to development. He had different theories on how biosocial development is an important aspect of a child’s development. Vygotsky felt that language and play had a lot to do with childrens development because of the dialogue between those playing. Psychologist Lev Vygotsky s theory of cognitive development posits that information from the external world is transformed and internalized through languageRead MoreThe Problem Of Children Intelligence Test Scores1653 Words   |  7 Pagesthat may cause children’s social and emotional problems in the future (Marcon, 2002). More and more researchers suggest that through engagement in The Vygotskian theory of make-believe play, young children will be on the right track o f cognitive development, then master necessary prerequisites of academic skills. During the past decades, many types of research have addressed that the children intelligence significantly develops in the critical period from birth to six years old; and the impact ofRead MoreTheoretical Perspectives On Language Development1590 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will consist of three theoretical perspectives on language development Burner, Vygotsky and Piaget. Each theory has key features that will be explained they are all opposing theories on language development; the main framework throughout this essay will be discussing the social interaction and cognitive development. In addition the essay will argue the main contrast and comparison using the key features that have been explained. Language is what separates mankind from any other species;Read MoreVygotsky And Vygotsky s Impact On The Early Childhood Sector Essay1302 Words   |  6 Pagessocial and cognitive development work simultaneously to build and evolve on one another. He believed that social, cultural and personal experience cannot be detached from each other and many things influence the way children learn and develop, not just their own experiences, thus Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory. Vygotsky’s ideas were and remain controversial as he had no specific training in psychology or children’s development. His preeminent contribution to children’s development is his recognitionRead MoreMale Aged Four Years ( 48 Months )1224 Words   |  5 Pagesnursery each child is assigned a key worker, who works with the child on a one to one basis and performs in partnership with parents or/carers to assist their child’s learning and development. There are about 17 children to 6 adults. Child A (as he will be known) has no special educational needs, is an only child and English is his original dialect. Physical There was a specific observation of mention when Child A was in the indoor environment drawing/writing on the whiteboard. Child A representedRead MoreObservation of Child Growth Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction red - Development blue – Conclusion orange Individualism– Giving priority to one’s own goals over group          goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes          rather than group identification.       For the first time in my life I am being an individualist. I am giving greater priority to my own personal goals. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking changing careers at the age of 42 but I am determined to get my nursing degree. For the next 2 years it will beRead MoreThe White Boy - Original Writing Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pagessure, but with his features already defined. His height was about 46 inches tall, and should have weighted around 45 to 47 pounds. The child was wearing dark skinny jeans, and a red t-shirt with lettering on its side. He also had a sort of necklace tucked inside his t-shirt, and a black digital watch. After five minutes of being seated and the mom on the phone, the child stands up and holds his mom’s leg. As he grasps harder he says— â€Å"Mom, can we go home now?†. To which the mom replies— â€Å"We only have

Locker Room Talk Essay Example For Students

Locker Room Talk Essay Page 1 Locker Room Talk Ethical Case April 18, 2010 Page 2 The Locker Room Talk Ethical Case outlines a situation that is an ethical dilemma for CPA Albert Gable who has performed personal financial planning for Larry and Susan Wilson. The Wilson’s, in their discussions with Mr. Gable regarding their personal finances, mentioned that in the past they have had marriage problems but have worked through the problems and are not seeking a divorce. Gable and the Wilson’s became personal friends due to the relationship built during their personal financial planning. Mr. Gable also performs the annual audit for one of the largest banks in the town where they all live. The sample pulled for the audit at the bank included the Wilson’s loan information. While performing the audit, Mr. Gable discovers information on the Wilson’s loan that does not coincide with the information given to him during the personal financial planning. Mr. Gable is concerned and addresses the discrepancy with a loan officer but did not confide to the loan officer that he was also their personal financial planner. The loan officer confided in Mr. We will write a custom essay on Locker Room Talk specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Gable that Mr. Wilson was setting up his business to divorce his wife without any compensation. This situation puts Albert Gable in a situation with a conflict of interests. His personal financial client is also a client of the bank where he performs the annual audit. The information the Wilson’s provided to him during their personal financial planning conflicts with the information provided on loan documentation at the bank. Albert Gable needs to determine the best course of action to take in this situation. The Stakeholders The stakeholders involved are: Page 3 1. Albert Gable As the CPA, his professional business ethics are at risk and his personal reputation is on the line. He also has a large bonus weighing on his decision. 2. Mrs. Wilson – She has the understanding that her marriage is not at risk and the financial planning is for the benefit of her and her husband for their future. 3. Mr. Wilson – If he is not being honest with his wife and is planning on divorcing her, the information that Albert has uncovered during the audit could create problems for him. . The loan officer – the loan officer that shared Mr. Wilson’s personal information with Mr. Gable. 5. The bank – the relationship Mr. Gable had with the Wilson’s as personal financial planner was not disclosed to the bank and is a conflict of interest. Course of Action The best course of action that Mr. Gable should take is to meet with the Wilson’s and explain that he cannot continue with thei r personal financial planning. He should have them seek out another financial planning firm to complete their personal financial plans. He should explain to them that he completes the annual audit for the bank and during the audit he discovered discrepancies with the loan information and the bank statements provided to him to prepare their personal finances and due to the discrepancies he feels it is necessary to remove himself as their personal planner. By removing himself as the Wilson’s personal financial planner, this eliminates the conflict of interest with the bank audit. By informing the Wilson’s they need to locate another Page 4 irm and cannot use the CPA firm he is partner with for financial planning removes all conflict business and personal and maintains business and personal ethics. Furthermore, he needs to notify the bank of the conflict with the Wilson account and that he will not be able to conduct an audit of their accounts due the relationship that was initially formed with the personal finance planning. By following the above steps he protects the clients, the bank and upholds his pro fessionalism and his business ethics. Impact to Stakeholder The deontology approach was used to determine the course of action. .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .postImageUrl , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:hover , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:visited , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:active { border:0!important; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:active , .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1b042ea9d2f641a57bcf536a8388378b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Stuck In The Middle EssayThis approach to ethics emphasizes doing what one should do in accordance with rules, obligations and/or ethical principles of the profession. The impact of the decision could cost Mr. Gable the banks account but if he would have acknowledge upfront his knowledge of the Wilsons prior to beginning the audit on their loan documents the situation could have been diverted. He is also losing a client, the Wilson’s due to the bank audit and the review he completed of their loan documents. If he would have acknowledged to the bank and had the file removed from the audit all of this could have been avoided. Mr. Gable will need to take the time and explain to his client the Wilson’s but he needs to keep it at a professional level and not discuss what was discovered only that it is conflict of interest. Conclusion Mr. Gable used poor judgment in his decision making process and has violated the ethic rules of the accounting profession. During the audit of the bank documentation he should have immediately notified the bank of the conflict with the Wilson file. He needed to be upfront with the bank and explain the Wilson’s were also a client of his for personal financial planning Page 5 nd have the file removed from the sample audit or bring in a third party to complete the audit on the Wilson documents. The loan officer should not have shared the personal information with Mr. Gable and Mr. Gable should have ended the conversation before it began. Sharing with the Wilson’s that discrepancies were noted between bank statements and loan documentation will allow the Wilsonà ¢â‚¬â„¢s to clear up the discrepancies at the bank in regards to their accounts. Page 6 References Brooks, L. J. , 2007. Business professional ethics for directors, executives accountants (4th ed). Mason, OH: Thomas South-Western.

The things they carried Research Paper Example

The things they carried Paper In the short story The Things They Carried, written by Tim OBrien, there is a lot of symbolism in each specific object that was mentioned. According to Dictionary. Com, a symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of Investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. A symbol Is something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. The things each soldier carried defined each individual soldier. The story was very detailed in the objects the soldiers carried which tied into the emotional things the soldiers carried. Most of the items each soldier had were very important for survival. The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. (Ernie 596) They had their water, medical gear, foods, and most importantly weapons. Each soldier was locked and loaded with a specific war Item. For example, Henry Dobbins, being the big guy, automatically made him the gunner, which led him to carry the 26 pounds of machinery called the M-60. The medic, Rat Killed, was in charge of carrying the deiced gear, including morphine, plasma, malaria tablets and surgical tape. The radio and telephone operator, Mitchell Sanders was in charge of carrying the PRE-25 Radio. This Is just some of the things that were specialized to an individual according to their size or skill. But the soldiers also carried things that werent so necessary, yet they would bring It along anyways for certain reasons. We will write a custom essay sample on The things they carried specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The things they carried specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The things they carried specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters, two photos, and a pebble sent to him by a woman named Martha. His decision to carry these items represented how much Martha meant to Cross. These objects symbolize his love for Martha because throughout the story, he often fantasize about her instead of leading his soldiers. For example, In the story he fantasize about when he went to the movies with her, touched her knee, and was sadly rejected. Lieutenant Cross remembered touching that left knee. A dark theater, he remembered, and the movie was Bonnie and Clyde, and Martha wore a tweed skirt, and during the final scene, when he touched her knee, she turned and looked at him in a sad, sober way that made him pull his hand back, but he would always remember that feel of the tweed skirt and the knee uneaten it and the sound of the gunfire that killed Bonnie and Clyde, how embarrassing It was, how slow and oppressive. (OBrien 597) Martha however didnt seem to have this same love for Cross, because none of the letters she sent him acknowledged the fact that he was in war. Due to his lack of attention to his soldiers and multiple daydreams of Martha, this showed that he wasnt ready to be a leader, but was probably forced to his position because he was drafted. He didnt have the mindset to be a successful leader, he was still young, and in love. His constant daydreams showed how mesmerisms Cross Is over this woman, and how unfocused The big soldier, Henry Dobbins, carried extra rations of food. This was because he was a big guy, and had a fast metabolism, and much of his food would be processed quicker than the others. He would also carry a panty hose around his neck. This was a way of him to boast and show off that he had a girl at home and was sexually active on his breaks. A soldier named Ted Lavender was the guy who carried tranquilizer, 6-7 ounces of dope, and extra rounds of ammo. This symbolized that he was frightened by the reality of war. He would smoke the dope and take the tranquilizer to calm his nerves. He wasnt in the war by choice, most of the soldiers werent. He felt safer by carrying extra amounts of ammunition. All of the soldiers needed a sense of security, something to make them feel that everything was okay, even though they were in the Jungle. The radio and telephone operator (ROOT) named Mitchell Sanders carried condoms. This was an odd item to carry, however, came in handy when it would rain, to keep the guns from getting wet. He carried brass knuckles, which was very interesting because it showed how even in a time of war with plenty of ammo and weapons, he was thinking of last resort situations. In the case of war, there seems no need to wear brass knuckles when the soldiers carry bazookas, grenades, and machine guns. But his mentality to having brass knuckles was so that he could have a sense of security. If he were to ever run out of ammo, and had to go one on one with an enemy, he would have an advantage. So basically, the brass knuckles symbolized safety. All the soldiers needed a sense of security. A soldier similar was Lee Struck. He carried a sling shot. This too gave him the feeling of protection. As silly as it may have seemed to have a sling shot when other people had guns, it worked for Struck. A soldier similar to Sanders and Struck thoughts was Kiowa. He too had a last resort weapon, a hatchet. He would have it to feel safe in case of an emergency, but the reality was that he probably never even used it. The point of carrying it wasnt for use, but simply for a sense of security. Kiowa said some things in the text after someone got shot, that showed a sense of how the soldiers minds were. Kiowa, who saw it happen, said it was like watching a rock fall, or a big sandbag or something? just boom, then down?not like the movies where the dead guy rolls around and does Nancy spins and goes ass over teakettle?not like that, Kiowa said, the poor bastard just flat-buck fell. Boom. Down. Nothing else. (OBrien 598) By this text, we can see that the soldiers were in a horrible reality. Not like things in movies, but real hard times in war. The medic Rat Killed carried his medical gear, and on top of that comic books and a liquor drink named Brandy. The fact that he carried comic books showed a couple of things. It showed that he was still a little kid. The draft caused many teenage boys who werent ready to grow up and be men to have no choice but to be an adult. The books also gave Killed a sense of hope. This was because comic books have super heroes, who never die. To him, he was a hero for the United States, which in a way meant he couldnt die. It made him feel safe. Also, the Brandy drink made him feel grown up. At the time, this was a drink only real men drank, older men. So by him having this, it proved that Killed was a man. One of the oddest items that were carried was by a soldier named Norman Booker. Along with a diary, he would carry a thumb. Now, the diary was pretty on during the war. However, the thumb had a sick representation. It was a thumb cut if from a dead enemys hand. A thumb symbolizes humanity, because thumbs are something unique that only humans have. By chopping off the thumb of another person, this action meant that there was no humanity at war, no rules, no morals, Just life and death. According to the text, the following happened when Mitchell cut off the thumb; You want my opinion, Mitchell Sanders said, theres a definite moral here. He put his hand on the dead boys wrist. He was quiet for a time, as if counting a pulse, then he patted the stomach, almost affectionately, and used Kiosks hunting hatchet to remove the thumb. Henry Dobbins asked what the moral was. Moral? You know. Moral. Sanders wrapped the thumb in toilet paper and handed it across to Norman Booker. There was no blood. Smiling, he kicked the boys head, watched the flies scatter, and said, Its like with that old TV show?paladin. Have gun, will travel. Henry Dobbins thought about it. Yeah, well, he finally said. I dont see no moral. There it is, man. Buck off. (OBrien 601) There were no morals. This thumb was a reminder to Booker that there were only two choices in war, to live, or to die. And this motivated him to stay alive and keep on humping through, which means to carry on. One of the most unique symbolisms in the story was towards the end, which was a Silver Bird.. To the soldiers, whenever injuries were to occur, there would be a silver plane that would come and rescue the soldier and take them to the hospital. This led to freedom, once the soldier was done at the hospital, they would go on home and be free. This was what all the soldiers wanted to do, Just go back home to their families. Many of the soldiers envisioned themselves on this Silver Bird, flying with no worries of being shot, no worries of suffering through the blazing sun, and no worries of not seeing their loved ones. In all, The Things They Carried is about soldiers who would carry symbolic objects, some were necessities, however there were a lot of things that werent so necessary, yet they would carry it along anyways. In this story, much was learned about each individual soldier simply by the possessions they would hold on to. The things the soldiers carried defined each individual soldier in a specific way.