1 REGIONAL PLANNING Running head: REGIONAL PLANNING Name Department Date THE URBAN CENTRES CANNOT BE ISOLATED ON ITS OWN Any urban centre that has a hope of being successful must be attached to balanced social, economic and environmental requirement. It cannot exist on its own. Most of the urban centers are the places where investments take place. This means that, the security must be very strict to ensure that these investors are attracted to invest in them. Infrastructure is the most important aspect of any city (Motto, 2008). This means there must be availability of safe transport and communication systems. Before any city is built, therefore, the planners must ensure that the needs of their citizens are taken care of. This is where urban planning comes in. Poor urban planning can destroy the economy completely since most economies are built by the activities carried out in urban centers. Planning also helps in taking care of the environment and protecting the society from adverse effects those come as a result of poor urban planning. Local government plays a very vital role in ensuring that, urban centers are competitive and attractive to investors and other people living around them. Any time an urban centre is neglected, the health and the wealth of those people living in and around it is highly affected. Poor urban centers bring about growing of slums and indigent ability to expand. For urban cities to sustain development right from the word goes, they must consider the environment in the early stages of their planning (Motto, 2008). It is imperative to note that, a better urban environment will result into a better and sustainable social, economic development. There are various factors that can influence urban cities. Starting from the high rate of poverty that affects most cities, economic and political changes, pollution, resettlement and health issues. What Motto, 2008 argues is that, these factors don’t affect one city; this are common problems affecting almost if not all, urban environments. Good urban centers are also able to pass the necessary information to the general public as a part of their environment. Whichever method they use, this means that, if the planning was poor, then this cannot be possible. More than forty percent of the people today live in urban areas (Motto, 2008). This means that, cities can bring together the best entrepreneurs, innovators and other great academicians. When these people come to the city, they expect to get a good life for themselves and their families. If the urban centers cannot provide that, and they become a source of environmental hazards, diseases, insecurity and discrimination, then they don’t meet their purpose of why they are there and this results into crimes (Motto, 2008). Every successful city must, therefore, be able to offer a balanced life. This means that, socially, economically and even environmental wise, no matter how much pressure the local government is .

1. 1
REGIONAL PLANNING
Running head: REGIONAL PLANNING
Name
Department
Date
THE URBAN CENTRES CANNOT BE ISOLATED ON ITS
OWN
Any urban centre that has a hope of being successful must be
attached to balanced social, economic and environmental
requirement. It cannot exist on its own. Most of the urban
centers are the places where investments take place. This means
that, the security must be very strict to ensure that these
investors are attracted to invest in them. Infrastructure is the
most important aspect of any city (Motto, 2008). This means
there must be availability of safe transport and communication
systems. Before any city is built, therefore, the planners must
ensure that the needs of their citizens are taken care of. This is
where urban planning comes in. Poor urban planning can
destroy the economy completely since most economies are built
by the activities carried out in urban centers. Planning also

2. helps in taking care of the environment and protecting the
society from adverse effects those come as a result of poor
urban planning.
Local government plays a very vital role in ensuring that, urban
centers are competitive and attractive to investors and other
people living around them. Any time an urban centre is
neglected, the health and the wealth of those people living in
and around it is highly affected. Poor urban centers bring about
growing of slums and indigent ability to expand.
For urban cities to sustain development right from the word
goes, they must consider the environment in the early stages of
their planning (Motto, 2008). It is imperative to note that, a
better urban environment will result into a better and
sustainable social, economic development. There are various
factors that can influence urban cities. Starting from the high
rate of poverty that affects most cities, economic and political
changes, pollution, resettlement and health issues. What Motto,
2008 argues is that, these factors don’t affect one city; this are
common problems affecting almost if not all, urban
environments.
Good urban centers are also able to pass the necessary
information to the general public as a part of their environment.
Whichever method they use, this means that, if the planning was
poor, then this cannot be possible. More than forty percent of
the people today live in urban areas (Motto, 2008). This means
that, cities can bring together the best entrepreneurs, innovators
and other great academicians. When these people come to the
city, they expect to get a good life for themselves and their
families. If the urban centers cannot provide that, and they
become a source of environmental hazards, diseases, insecurity
and discrimination, then they don’t meet their purpose of why
they are there and this results into crimes (Motto, 2008).
Every successful city must, therefore, be able to offer a
balanced life. This means that, socially, economically and even
environmental wise, no matter how much pressure the local

3. government is experiencing, they should be able to provide
these basics (Motto, 2008). Again, if an urban area is to be
successful, then it should offer security and infrastructure to the
investors and to the citizens around it. The citizens should come
first during the planning of these urban centers. If the planners
can put enough value to the environment as well as its natural
resources, no doubt it will grow and get profits from what it is
doing (Motto, 2008).
In short, the city cannot be able to function in isolation, if it has
to succeed; then it will have to attach a great value to all the
above-discussed factors.
ARTICLE 2
URBAN CENTRES AND TRANSPORTATION
There is no way an urban centre will do without good
transportation. What many people who dwell there do mainly is
transport based. People are moving from one point to another.
By this Litman, 2013 means that, transport planning takes care
of the evaluation, assessment, sitting and designing
transportation facilities. In all urban centers, we come across
streets, bike lanes, public transportation lines, pedestrian lines
and highways (Litman, 2013). This means that, when urban
centers are being planned, all this must be put into
consideration. Planners are expected to adopt a
multidisciplinary approach. This is because; the
environmentalists have become very sensitive as far the effect
of environment by various factors is concerned.
There is also need for wisdom when dealing with people,
especially those who use their personal automobiles. Good
psychologists can do this well and convince them. Their private
vehicles cause a lot of jam and they can be persuaded to leave
them behind and use public transport. The role of these
transport planners is to ensure that there is sustainability
through integrating different transport policies (Litman, 2013).

4. When traffic is moving so slow, there is a lot of delay in the
economic activities, as most of the time is used along the way in
the urban traffic. Another reason these vehicles and motorcycles
should be reduced is because of the pollution and the damage
they cause. If all of us inhale the gases they emit, at the end of
the day our health will be weak, leaving no one else to develop
this urban centers (Litman, 2013).
Many people don’t just adhere to the rules, sometimes they want
to be convinced through gifts and other incentives. It is,
therefore, good for these planners to be able to come up with
these attractive methods that can help grow these cities by
reducing traffic (Litman, 2013).. There are various things that
are encompassed within transport planning in urban planning.
They include the, environmental integration, integrating land
use planning, including other social needs such as health,
wealth and pollution management policies as well as the
integration of different modes of transport (Litman, 2013). It is
also crucial to have in mind that; it is the work of the urban
transport planners to ensure that they work within the set rules
and regulations. This adherence will make cities be less chaotic
and be more stable, not only now but also in the future. There is
also an aspect of commerce in operating these transport
systems. If all activities done as far as transportation is
concerned bring in losses and have no commercial benefits, then
the plans might be forced to change and be made more
profitable. Lastly on that, every activity that is to be carried out
by these transport urban planners must be economical. It is good
to take care of the resources and maximize on the areas they see
fit for this projects. They must also be good managers, with
good communication skills and be excellent in their personal
skills. This will make it easy for them to fit among the people
they are working with (Litman, 2013).
To conclude on this, transport is a paramount factor in every
developing urban area. It however comes with its advantages
and disadvantages which need to be taken care of especially at
this crucial stage of planning.

5. References
Litman, T. (2013), The New Transportation Planning Paradigm.
Journal of Institute of Transportation Engineers, 83(6), 20-
28.
Motto, J. L. (2008). State action Immunity, Municipalities, and
the Unique Case of Eminent Domain. Journal of Corporation
Law, 33(3), 797-818.
Running Head: DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
1
DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
6
Diversity in Education: The Girls in the Back of the Class
Name
Institution

6. In my view, the main role of education was to provide a
foundation on which students can get employed. However, from
the book, I have realized the profound role that education plays
in the society. Education provides a foundation of hope for
people to improve their lives. When learners are taught how to
read and write, they are more competent and can take advantage
of the opportunities that exist within their immediate
environment. All this can only be made possible with the aid of
an understanding teacher who focuses on the wholesome growth
of their students. It also shows the progress that has been made
in regards to girl education.
The book directly relates to diversity in education. The book
revolves around an American veteran Ms. Johnson, who spent
several years teaching at Park Mont high in California. Most of
the students come from rough neighborhoods where violence is
prevalent compared to sustainable education and employment
opportunities (Johnson, 1996). From the book, it is apparent
that most of her students are African Americans and Hispanics,
and she teaches them how to live peacefully with one another.
Furthermore, despite their differences, she never allowed any
religious, racial or sexual discrimination within the school.
There is globalization in the world, and this has led to migration

7. of people from one country to another. Teachers should develop
curriculums that consider all the students despite their various
backgrounds. Unlike in the past, there are more girls who are
within the educational system and teachers must develop
curriculums that consider all the needs of their various students
to improve their efficiency within the society (Banathy, 2002).
Some of the principles of education that are highlighted in the
book are still applicable in current education systems. These
include good communication skills, enhancing student
engagement, offering room for individualized learning and
giving students the opportunity to make their decisions. Finally,
it is important for teachers to give positive feedback to their
learners so that they are motivated and can strive to achieve
more in their endeavors.
Good communication is important as it enables teachers to
connect and build rapports with their students. Ms. Johnson was
always willing to listen to her students and in return; they did
what she requested them to do. With this connection, the
environment was conducive for learning and ultimately she
helped them achieve their goals. This is still applicable today,
and tutors still embrace the same ideology (Johnson, 1996). Ms.
Johnson used an interactive approach in the course of her
teaching; this principle is applicable in many institutions today
to increase the effectiveness of the learning process to the
students.
Students need to grow up and become wholesome individuals;
this should be the focus of education in the future. There has
been a wholesome shift to a digital era and teachers should
embrace such platforms to increase their interaction levels with
their students (International Seminar on Democratic and Secular
Education, Panikkar & Bhaskaran, 2011). In the future, the role
of teachers will increase despite the easy access of information
to students through the internet and social media. In accordance
to the author’s perspective, teachers have a profound role in
shaping the lives of students. In future; teachers will have the
mandate to ensure that their students are responsible in their use

8. of various platforms to access communication. Furthermore,
teachers should be able to develop blended learning by
combining the use of computers with traditional teaching
techniques. Teachers will have to make use of collaborative
online discussion platforms to enable their students to conduct
research and complete their course work (Brezinka, 2004).
Part 2
Based on the book review interpretations there are certain
concepts that are crucial. The first is an indication of the high
degree of tolerance that teachers are required to possess. In
most education platforms, teachers establish regulations that
were to be followed by the students and in case this did not
happen, they were punished. Ms. Johnson was more tolerant and
used many approaches to ensure that these students remained
within the education system, even bribing them to ensure they
graduate. In one instance, she loans money to one of her
students, Raul Chacon to enable him get back his jacket that had
been snatched by a gang (Johnson, 1996). Her only condition is
that instead of repaying the money, he will have to attend
school until he graduates with his high school diploma. In
another instance, a student ran into her office while she was in a
meeting whilst being chased by a gun carrying individual.
Rather than be alarmed as would normally have happened, she
calmly told him to leave since she was occupied. It shows the
lengths that she was willing to take as a tutor to ensure that her
students attained education. Tutors should understand that
students are not perfect and as a result, should create an
enabling environment for them to learn. Despite their faults, it
is the role of teachers to mold students to useful members of the
society.
The second concept that emerges is that teachers have to play in
regards to promotion of equity within the education system.
Parents have a mandate to send their children to school,
however, in the event that they do not, teachers must step up to
class and request them to do so. Education should be guaranteed
to all the children within the society, without any exceptions

9. due to gender or racial background (Brezinka, 2004). In the
book, Ms. Johnson realizes that there are fewer girls within her
class. Later on, while looking back at the School, she realizes
that she might not have been effective in promoting education
among the girl child. In one instance, she talks to two boys
about the importance of education. She points out that they do
not have to do anything that they do not want to in the course of
their education. What is important is that they attend their
classes regularly. As much as she is tough in her approach, she
is also kind to her pupils. If she had used the same strategy on
the female students, it might have improved their rate of
enrollment at the institution.
From participation in the book reviews, the importance of
education has emerged. Ms. Johnson was a war veteran and
from her experience, one would think that she would advocate
violence as a means for resolving conflict within the society.
However, she states that education is a more important tool for
improving lives of people in disadvantaged societies. When
learners can read and write, they are cable to access the many
opportunities that present themselves in the society (Banathy,
2002). They are better skilled, can get better jobs and have more
fruitful lives than their counterparts who are illiterate. This is in
addition to other skills such as perseverance and team work.
Within the education environment, we learn to interact with
people from different racial backgrounds. Tolerance of various
backgrounds is important given that later on in life, we have to
live with such people in the society. With the spirit of teamwork
learnt through the education system, we are better suited to cope
with such scenarios.

10. References
Banathy, B. H. (2002). A systems view of education: Concepts
and principles for
effective practice. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Educational
Technology Publications.
Brezinka, W. (2004). Basic concepts of educational science:
Analysis, critique,
proposals. Lanham, Md: University Press of America.
International Seminar on Democratic and Secular Education,
Panikkar, K. N., &
Bhaskaran, N. M. (2011). Emerging trends in higher education
in India: Concepts and practices. Delhi: Longman.
Johnson, L. A. (1996). The girls in the back of the class. New
York: St. Martin's
Press.