Honor-Shame Code in The Tale of the Heike Essay - 1395 Words

11/28/12 HIST485 Honor-Shame Code in The Tale of Heike In The Tale of Heike, the way in which the Japanese viewed defeat and dying is revealed to the reader through various incidents covered during the time of the novel. To be defeated was shameful but to prevail was a way to gain respect and honor. The accounts in Heike tell us that one could defeat an opponent by exiling him, insulting him, or even taking revenge upon him. Because being defeated was shameful, warriors would kill themselves before being killed by the opponent. If a warrior failed in his duty, suicide would be the necessary measure taken to regain honor. Not only could suicide be a way to gain honor, it could also be a way to shame someone. If you prohibit your enemy†¦show more content†¦Munetaka was ordered by Yoshitsune to shoot the fan â€Å"right square in the middle (420),† but Munetaka hesitated to accept the order saying, â€Å"if I missed, we’d never outlive the disgrace (420).† Not able to refus e the angered Yoshitsune, Munetaka preparing to shoot closed his eyes in silent prayer saying, â€Å"Let me hit the center of that fan! If I miss, I’ll smash my bow and kill myself’ I’ll never show my face again (420).† Munetaka knew that his failure would disgrace the Genji and his suicide would be the only way of recompense. Heike also reveals that another way to defeat your enemy and another way to be shamed by your enemy was through humiliation. Kiyomori often humiliated his enemies. He exiled Naritsune, Yasuyori, and Shunkan to Kikai-ga-shima, a faraway island, because they were conspiring against the Taira. Later, only Naritsune and Yasuyori were pardoned but Shunkan was not. This was Kiyomori’s revenge on Shunkan because Kiyomori had given Shunkan his job and still had the nerve to betray him (290-291). Through exile, Kiyomori shamed Naritsune, Yasuyori, and Shunkan by denying them the opportunity to commit suicide but sentencing them to dea th by starvation. Insults were another way to shame your enemy. Nakatsuma passive aggressively denies Munemori the chance to ride Konoshita, his horse, by saying the horse was tired from having been overridden (306). When Munemori found out that was a lie, he had been humiliated. To take revenge he seized Konoshita,Show MoreRelated The Way of The Warrior in The Tale of The Heike Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesThe Way of The Warrior in The Tale of The Heike Heike Monogatari, with its multitude of battles and skirmishes, provides a wonderful chance to analyze the way of the warrior in ancient Japan. There arent a great number of surviving works from this period that show in such great detail both the brute and the compassion of the Japanese warriors. They followed carefully a distinct set of principles which made up the well-rounded warrior. Loyalty to ones master, bravery and glory in any situation

Native Indian Culture Color Blind Racism - 880 Words

Another form of racism placed onto Native Indian people is color-blind racism. This form of racism rationalizes â€Å"racial inequality as the outcome of nonracial dynamics† (Robertson 120). Color-blind racism takes the standards created by the dominant discourse and applies them to all ethnic groups, putting them on an even level plain field without recognizing historical or social context of each group. Therefore, according to color blind racism, the effects of casualties and stereotypical of Native Indians such as alcoholism, poverty, etc. is essentially their fault and they should be the ones to start change. However, these the casualties of Native Indian culture was changed by racial oppression implemented by the dominant discourse. Therefore, Native Indians cannot be the ones to change of societal perception when they were not the ones to implement it. Even the views of famous philosophers—Hobbes, Locke, and Kant—implemented racial discourse to the Native Indian Culture. According to Robertson, Hobbes implied that the â€Å"bestial state of nature† came from the Native Indian groups, who he, and many others during that period, referred to as savages (Robertson 122). The concept of the Manifest Destiny, according to Locke, was â€Å"that God gave the world to the industrious English,† which justifies taking Native Indians land. Kant, ranking racial morality by skin tone, implied that red people, Native Indians, were â€Å"incapable of being educated or civilized† (Robertson 122).Show MoreRelatedCultural Communication And New Policy Implementation1754 Words   |  8 Pagesethnic relation between several cultures such as the relationship between whites and blacks and the relationship between new colonizers and native tribes. For example, The searchers’s main character, Ethane is white from western and seem Native American as a savage group of people. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to define the race and ethnic relation that can relate to our social problem today. The film, To kill a mockingbird, has portrayed the problem of racism on black people during 1960sRead MoreRace And Racial Inequality During The Civil Rights Of Everyone Has Improved Over The Last Few Decades1719 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Racism[ˈrÄ Ã‹Å'sizÉ™m]prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one s own race is superior†. Race and racial inequality have strongly shaped American history from its beginning up until now . Americans like to think of the founding of the American colonies and, later, the United States, as driven by liberty and freedom .However, from the start America was founded on inequality which involved the absolute oppression for not onlyRead More Prejudice and Racism in The Jewel in the Crown and Heart of Darkness1361 Words   |  6 PagesRacism in The Jewel in the Crown and Heart of Darkness      Ã‚   The effects of British colonialism are reflected in literature from both early modernism and post colonialism. Racial discrimination tainted both eras portrayed in the British morale of white supremacy over non-European counties unfolded. Heart of Darkness exemplifies early modernism in the British explorers viewed African natives of the Congo as incapable of human equality due to perceived uncivilized savagery. Personal interactionRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Legendary Fight Against The Indians 1411 Words   |  6 Pagesgenre in the American film industry and culture. The legendary fight against the Indians has been reconstructed for decades. Neil Diamond, a Cree filmmaker, directed Reel Injun, a documentary that sheds some light on the Native American perspective on the Western film. The main concern that Diamond and other Native American artists have is that western films give the public a misconception of who Indians are. Filmmakers have altered the true identity of the Indian through changes of historic events,Read MoreCollections of Stories that Address the Nature of Racism and Discrimination1262 Words   |  6 Pages The world is a home to a culturally diverse population. Each culture has their own beliefs, values, and truth that provide us with knowledge and a deeper appreciation of ourselves. We live in the age of Globalization in which culture should not be an issue. Discrimination and Racism plant borders between cultures. Everyone becomes blind to the fact that they are all part of one race, the human race. Differences of color and beliefs should not set us apart from each other, everyone is unique, andRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1936 Words   |  8 PagesRacism in America Mark Twain penned his famous novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884 and it quickly became one of the most banned books in America (Sova). The popularity of the novel as a teaching tool as well as the call to ban this book continues today due to the novel’s theme of racism. In the novel, Mark Twain utilizes satire to show his â€Å"contempt for slavery and any racist morality that would uphold it† (Battaglia). Twain’s ability to humorously make a political point regardingRead MoreEssay on Assimilating into American Culture1214 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica. Elizabeth Wong details her journey to break with her culture and become Americanized in, â€Å"The Struggle to be an all American girl.† and (McWhorter, 2010 pp522-529). At debate today is whether immigrants and their families should blend into American culture even if it means breaking with their past. Once cultures intermingle, they are forever changed. American culture was initially shaped by many European races and cultures coming together through shared ideals and values which has attributedRead MoreEffects Of Jim Crow1510 Words   |  7 Pages It gave a false perception that America was taking a step in the right direction towards racism. The truth was that it was masking segregation in America. In some aspects Jim Crow laws still exist today but instead of color, it is social status that is used. Jim Crow laws has greatly affected America by minimizing education benefits for minorities, social equality, and negatively shifting American culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, at the closing of the Civil War, Confederates were defeated and they knewRead MoreRole Of Cultural Identity Essay1352 Words   |  6 Pagesgo our entire lives thinking we know one thing, we often deny the potential of being wrong and refuse to adapt to ideas that contradict our own. Relevant to Robert Lake’s â€Å"An Indian Father’s Plea,† environment majorly impacts one s view on cultures that are different from their own. In this story, Wind-Wolf is a young Native American child who is new to public school. In school, the education is mainly based on problem solving and critical thinking. In Wind-Wolf s tribe, he was taught basic knowledgeRead MoreRacism in America Today1933 Words   |  8 PagesRacism has been a terrible problem in American society for hundreds of years. Racism issues are not limited to one specific race, but include all races. It is the responsibility of the people of this nation to address r acism and learn to accept and embrace each other for our differences, and allow this great nation to become even more united for our sake and the sake of future generations. To eliminate racism it is imperative to know first, where racism started and how it has developed, why it continues

James Baldwin Writing Responce free essay sample

Then I first read it, I did not agree with most of what he had to say. There a few points that Baldwin brings up, but I am filled with conflicting ideas. Unfortunately for me, the three questions to answer imply that you agree with Baldwin’s opinion. Therefore, in order to answer them honestly, I must confess my disagreements. Throughout the essay he represses the term Dialect. Dialect is what defines someone. He says, â€Å"Language, incontestably, reveals the speaker. † I must disagree with that statement. Dialect is what defines the speaker, and language is what reveals, not the speaker, but, the audience. You speak the same language with another to communicate, what reveals you, or where you are from, culture, etc, is the way you speak that language. Changing a word or two, cutting a letter out, or using improper grammar does not give you the right to say that you speak another language. We will write a custom essay sample on James Baldwin Writing Responce or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Baldwin believes that language is supposed to reveal who you are and where you are from; your social status. To write English in a way that is proper reveals that you know the language well. If a person reads your writing, that ‘spell-check’ does not disagree, he will only determine your writing style and nothing about your speech, not where you are from, or what you look like. Only when you reveal yourself and speech, will a person know. The altercation in speech between one another is not called a different language but dialect. This means, that the functions of language is to communicate. The type of language you select is chosen by where you reside, or by your choice. It will not tell anyone anything else about you. To say that Black English is a language is to say that my English is a language. Why shouldn’t everyone just have they’re own English languages? I not only speak with a French accent but I use terms and phrases from all different types of people and literature. Telling people that Black English is a language is a disgrace to this language. Language is not just anything that can be created because people had not been educated enough to use it correctly. It is a highly important communication method that must be studied hard to fully comprehend it. A different, non scholarly, version should not be considered a language to make up for the experience of the original users of Black English. Because it was written almost thirty years ago, it does not understand that there is no reason for anyone in this nation to not be able to learn it properly. If you disagree, Oh my brothers, then do me this one favor. Please, oh please, write your essays for the Standardized Assessment Tests in Black English. And please, tell us what you receive. Take another glance at it, and think: maybe, oh maybe, a double negative is not correct in the language of English. Maybe being â€Å"down with it† is not the way to say that you are ok, pleased, or agreeing with it. And also, the nonstandard word ain’t, was not the best one to appease the test graders. Baldwin believes that anything can be language, but language is not just a small piece of history where s percentage of the world was discriminated against. They developed a way to talk, a dialect. Let’s be mindful that Baldwin calls it Black English. English is English, whether there is Black, Standard White, Irish, French, Jamaican, or anything before never removes the next word: English. There can be many types of English, that is what makes us differ from one another but keep us together under one language. Let’s not break it by dividing ourselves.

One Of The Biggest Problems Which The United States Is Faced Essays

One of the biggest problems which the United States is faced with is juvenile crime. The reason experts feel juveniles commit crimes is because of risk factors when they were younger but experts still have not found the main reason why juveniles commit crimes. Some risk factors associated with juvenile crime are poverty, repeated exposure to violence, drugs, easy access to firearms, unstable family life and family violence, delinquent peer groups, and media violence. Especially the demise of family life, the effect of the media on the juveniles today, and the increase of firearms available today have played a big role in the increase of juveniles crimes. The most common risk factor is the demise of the family life and the increase in family violence. Between 1976 and 1992 the number of juveniles living in poverty grew 42% and this caused an increase in crimes by juveniles. Many of these juvenile criminals have been abused or neglected and they also grew up in a single-parent household. Research has found that 53% of these children are more likely to be arrested, and 38% more likely to commit a violent crime as an adult, then their counterparts who did not suffer such abuse. The symptoms of child abuse are high levels of aggression and antisocial behavior and these children are twice as likely to become juvenile offenders. Also improper parental care has been linked to delinquency such as mothers who drink alcohol or take drugs during pregnancy cause their babies to grow up with learning disorders, a problem which leads them to be juvenile criminals. Another risk factor is the effect of the media on the juveniles of today. Before the time a child has reached seventh grade, the average child has witnessed 8,000 murders and 100,000 acts of violence on the television. There is no doubt that heavy exposure to televised violence is one of the causes of aggressive behavior, crime and violence in society. Television violence affects youngsters of all ages, of both genders, at all economic levels, and all levels of intelligence. Long-term childhood exposure to television is a casual factor behind one half of the homicides committed by juveniles in the United States. The increased availability of guns has played a big part in escalating the number of crimes committed by juveniles. In Los Angeles juvenile delinquency cases involving weapon violation grew by 86% from 1988 to 1992, which was more then any other type of juvenile offense. According to a University of Michigan study found that 270,000 guns accompany secondary school students to class daily. This is startling because it shows how many more juveniles are carrying guns and the juvenile use of guns in homicides has increased from 65 to 80 percent from 1987 to 1991. The possession of firearms plays a big cause in the delinquency of children and is playing a bigger role in the crimes which juveniles commit. Another cause of the increase of juvenile crimes has been the effect of children seeing multiple murders and other acts of violence on the television. Finally the demise of the family life and the increase in family violence has been the biggest factor in the increase of juvenile crime.

King Edward II of England

King Edward II of England This profile of King Edward II of England is part ofWhos Who in Medieval History Edward II was also known as: Edward of Caernarvon Edward II was known for: His extreme unpopularity and his general ineffectiveness as king. Edward lavished gifts and privileges on his favorites, fought against his barons, and was ultimately overthrown by his wife and her lover. Edward of Caernarvon was also  the first Crown Prince of England to be given the title Prince of Wales. Occupations: King Places of Residence and Influence: Great Britain Important Dates: Born:  April 25, 1284Crowned:  July 7, 1307Died:  September, 1327 About Edward II: Edward appears to have had a rocky relationship with his father, Edward I; upon the older mans death, the first thing the younger Edward did as king was give the most prestigious offices to Edward Is most notable opponents. This did not sit well with the late kings loyal retainers. The young king angered the barons still further by giving the earldom of Cornwall to his favorite, Piers Gaveston. The title Earl of Cornwall was one that had hitherto only been used by royalty, and Gaveston (who may have been Edwards lover), was considered foolish and irresponsible. So incensed were the barons over Gavestons status that they drew up a document known as the Ordinances, which not only demanded the favorites banishment but restricted the kings authority in finances and appointments. Edward seemed to go along with the Ordinances, sending Gaveston away; but it wasnt long before he allowed him to return. Edward didnt know who he was dealing with. The barons captured Gaveston and executed him in June of 1312.   Now Edward faced a threat from Robert the Bruce, the king of Scotland, who, in an attempt to throw off the control England had gained over his country under Edward I, had been retaking Scottish territory since before the old kings death. In 1314, Edward led an army into Scotland, but at the Battle of Bannockburn in June he was roundly defeated by Robert, and Scotlands independence was secured. This failure on Edwards part left him vulnerable to the barons, and his cousin, Thomas of Lancaster, led a group of them against the king. Beginning in 1315, Lancaster held real control over the kingdom. Edward was too weak (or, some said, too indolent) to dislodge Lancaster who was, unfortunately, an incompetent leader himself, and this sad state of affairs persisted until the 1320s. At that time the king became close friends with Hugh le Despenser and his son (also named Hugh). When the younger Hugh attempted to acquire territory in Wales, Lancaster banished him; and so Edward gathered some military might on behalf of the Despensers. At Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, in March of 1322, Edward succeeded in defeating Lancaster, a feat that may have been made possible by a falling-out among the latters supporters. After executing Lancaster, Edward annulled the Ordinances and exiled some of the barons, freeing himself from baronial control. But his tendency to favor certain of his subjects worked against him once more. Edwards partiality toward the Despensers alienated his wife, Isabella. When Edward sent her on a diplomatic mission to Paris, she began an open relationship with Roger Mortimer, one of the barons Edward had exiled. Together, Isabella and Mortimer invaded England in September of 1326, executed the Despensers, and deposed Edward. His son succeeded him as Edward III. Tradition has it that Edward died in September, 1327, and that he was probably murdered. For some time a story circulated that the method of his execution involved a hot poker and his nether regions. However, this gruesome detail has no contemporary source and appears to be a later fabrication. In fact, there is even a recent theory that Edward escaped his imprisonment in England and survived until 1330. No consensus has yet been reached on the actual date or manner of Edwards demise. More Edward II Resources: Edward II in Print The links below will take you to an online bookstore, where you can find more information about the book to help  you get it from your local library. This is provided as a convenience to you; neither Melissa Snell nor About is responsible for any purchases you make through these links.   Edward II: The Unconventional Kingby Kathryn Warner; with a foreword by Ian MortimerKing Edward II: His Life, His Reign, and Its Aftermath 1284-1330by Roy Martin Haines Edward II on the Web Edward II (1307-27 AD)Concise, informative bio at Britannia Internet Magazine.Edward II (1284 - 1327)Brief overview from BBC History. Medieval Renaissance Monarchs of EnglandMedieval Britain   The text of this document is copyright  ©2015-2016 Melissa Snell. You may download or print this document for personal or school use, as long as the URL below is included.  Permission is   not  granted to reproduce this document on another website. For publication permission,  please   contact  Melissa Snell. The URL for this document is:http://historymedren.about.com/od/ewho/fl/Edward-II.htm

Race and My Community

Race and My Community Free Online Research Papers My community consists of mostly White Americans. I am a white female living in Middleton Wisconsin. I see very few members of other cultures in my community. They are here though. I have a few Mexican American and also Muslim American neighbors living in my apartment community and there is a small apartment community that has a few African Americans down the road from me. The majority however is upper-class White Americans making more than fifty thousand per year per person. The chart below shows the population by race within Middleton Wisconsin. (Idcide, 2010). Population by Race White 92% African American 2% Native American 0% Asian 3% Hawaiian 0% Other/Mixed 3% I have not seen others that are not like me get treated any differently. Speaking with my neighbors they have all the rights we do and are not discriminated against within the community. The community holds many fun events for all ages and all races or religions. The motto for Middleton Wisconsin is â€Å"The Good Neighbor City.† It was also named â€Å"Best Place to Live† in August 2007 in Money Magazine. (City of Middleton, WI, 2008). In the community there are many different parks and other recreations you can go to. I was just at the Aquatic Center the other day and there where White Americans and African Americans in the pool and around the pool. I did not see anyone being mean or judging of others. It is all about having fun with family and friends and embracing the environment around us. There was a little girl that was African American that came over to help me teach my daughter how to swim. She was encouraging her and helping her along the way. Parents were talking about there kids and no one was upset that someone of a different color were in the pool as well. I have learned that it is a very friendly neighborhood that provides opportunities for all. In my work manual as well as many others I have seen, it shows no sign of discrimination. It is not geared just towards one race or religion. There is a part on there about a no tolerance for discrimination. I am pretty sure most places have this policy. It is illegal to fire, or not hire, or not promote someone because of there race or ethnic background or even religious views. I do not know of any company that would allow that, and I have seen many companies here in Middleton with a range of diversity. Restaurants, Stores, Malls all have employees of different backgrounds. With the media and my community, I have not seen much of the local media, however in Madison Wisconsin our neighbor city they have local events that are being broadcasted or put into the papers. I feel that they represent everyone. It does seem to have more White Americans that any other race but again most of Madison’s population is also white as well. In my old hometown of St. Petersburg Florida you would always see some kind of crime and the reporter is always in a African American area, while if a crime happened in a White American community you would see nothing. My opinion was that the media was trying to make the African Americans look like bad people. In that town I did see a lot of people being rude to African Americans and even teachers treating them unfairly. A White American student would be late for class and that would be okay but if an African American student was late they were sent straight to the principal’s office or they would get detention. The similarities that I share with the leaders in my town are that they are White American. A big difference would be the money they make compared to the money me or others in my community make. While I live in a city where most of the population makes fifty thousand a year I fall in the range of twenty thousand to thirty thousand a year along with the Muslim and African Americans in my area. You can only tell the difference by looking at our homes or are cars. The ones that make more of course they will have nicer homes and drive a nice car. I am not saying ours is junk. We drive decent paid off cars and live in apartments as opposed to a beautiful two hundred thousand dollar home or more. I am not sure if Minority Groups interests are met in my area. I have not heard of any concerns of theirs, other than they can’t afford the nice homes and cars that others can, but this is not a question for our leaders of the city. This is about the jobs we have and how much they pay us. I have talked to a few of my neighbors that say they are getting paid fairly but because they do not have a college degree they will not be able to go further than they are right now. It is not like they can not go back to school as well. When I go the library I see many postings on classes that are affordable and sometimes offer financial assistance for those who need it. Taking a look around my community I was trying to find any inequities but I did not see any. I am not sure if this is because 92 % is all white Americans. But I know that this town is not unfair to the African Americans, or Muslim Americans, or anyone of another race. If there were I am not sure if there would be a way for me to change that. I spoke with a lady named Tiffany that works in a pay day advance company who also lives in Middleton and she has had no problems living there, nor has she ever felt like she did not belong there. She does make more than others of her race though and that is why it is easier for her to live there. â€Å"I make enough to afford this area and it is a nice area, but I don not feel that others of my color should not live here because they are African American.† (Tiffany 2010) After all my research my finding are that all in all Middleton is mainly an upper class White American community, but I do not see any discrimination against others. If you walk down the streets of my town you will find it mostly whites, around the corner from my Apartment there is another Apartment complex that for the most part I believe has all there diversity there. Most of the population in those apartments were African Americans, I wanted to take a look at this place because many people would believe that they live in horrible apartments and are messy or have a lot of children running around. I went into them and they were really nice apartments a little smaller than mine at about 900 square feet, but were less on rent and included some utilities. I looked around outside and saw that everyone was being friendly and there were some children playing outside. I knew that this was probably where the 2% of African Americans lived that make up our population statistics. I spoke wit h another young lady who did not give her name but she didn’t feel like she was ever judged in the community. She could take her kids to the park or the pool and not have any problems with people being rude to her. She told me she lived in another town about 20 minutes away and they just didn’t like you if were not white. Also after talking with other White American neighbors they would have no problem if someone from another culture lived next to them. I found that the main reason there is not much diversity is because of the cost it is to live there. Houses are no less than $300,000.00 not that someone from a different culture could not get a house like that but for the majority here it is a lot of Graduate School or Masters degrees living in our area that are making more than $50,000.00 a year with just one income. I know for me my fiancà © and I do not make that together, but also we have not gone to school as long as others have. In my conclusion Middleton is a great place to live a little expensive, but very nice area good school, nice clean parks with lots of things to do. Everyone is nice to you and no one that I have met seems to judge you based on the color of your skin or the things you believe in. Reference page Idcide. (2010). Middleton, WI Profile. Retrieved from idcide.com/citydata/wi/middleton.htm City of Middleton, WI. (2008). Welcome to Middleton. Retrieved from ci.middleton.wi.us/Profile.htm Tiffany 2010 a member of my community Research Papers on Race and My Community19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetCapital PunishmentMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Spring and Autumn

Are VLEs being used successfully in Secondary Schools within London Essay

Are VLEs being used successfully in Secondary Schools within London - Essay Example As with all other systems implemented within schools without any real time trial and tested period, the VLE might be open to harsh criticisms. An article by Becta (2003) defines Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as â€Å"a standardised, computer-based environment that supports the delivery of web-based learning and facilitates on-line interaction between students and teachers.† It also goes on to state that parents, teachers and learners can access this web based system from any internet connection. This means that having access to a secure site will facilitate the delivery of course materials and enhance activities such as on-line interactions between students and tutors, uploading and downloading resources, on-line tracking and assessment of students’ progress. However, for these features to be possible, all teachers, parents and students would have to be computer literate and this will obviously require appropriate training, which is bound to be time consuming. Research shows that VLEs can be a fantastic tool for learning. However institutions will have to outline appropriate principles and practices and protocols to govern transfer of data as well has bring about a willingness to culturally change the way how teachers deliver lessons and the pace at which learners learn (O’Hagan, 1995). According to a survey conducted by Tom Browne and Martin Jenkins for the Universities’ and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) computing and information systems would be under significant pressures and thus centralisation would be essential for the use, implementation and technical support of virtual learning environments, as well as a cultural change in the attitude towards teaching and learning on the part of staff and students. It was found that most institutions are using VLEs for different purposes while others were uncertain in deciding which is best for the main purpose of the individual institution’s faculties and departments (Browne and