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Betty Grable

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Betty Grable
Betty Grable - 1951.JPG
Grable in 1951
Born Elizabeth Ruth Grable
(1916-12-18)December 18, 1916
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died July 2, 1973(1973-07-02) (aged 56)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Lung cancer
Nationality American
Other names Frances Dean
Occupation Actress, dancer, singer
Years active 1929–73
Spouse(s) Jackie Coogan (m. 1937–39) (divorced)
Harry James (m. 1943–65) (divorced) two children
Partner(s) Bob Remick (until her death)
Children Victoria Elizabeth James (b. 1944)
Jessica James (b. 1947)

Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, dancer, and singer and popular contract star for 20th Century-Fox during the 1940s and 1950s.[1]

Grable began her film career in 1929 at age twelve, after which she was fired from a contract when it was learned she signed up under false identification. She had contracts with RKO and Paramount Pictures during the 1930s, and appeared in a string of B-movies, mostly portraying co-eds. Grable came to prominence in the Broadway musical DuBarry Was a Lady (1939), which brought her to the attention of 20th Century-Fox. She replaced Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way (1940), her first major Hollywood film, and became Fox's biggest film star throughout the remaining decade. Fox cast Grable in a succession of Technicolor musicals during the decade that were immensely popular, co-starring with such leading men as Victor Mature, Don Ameche, John Payne, and Tyrone Power. In 1943, she was the number one box office draw in the world and, in 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States. Two of her biggest film successes were the musical Mother Wore Tights (1947) and the comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), one of her last films. Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, although she continued to perform on the stage and on television.

Throughout her career, Grable was celebrated for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity often photographed her featuring them. Her bathing suit poster made her the number one pin-up girl of World War II, surpassing Rita Hayworth. It was later included in the Life magazine project "100 Photographs that Changed the World". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as thigh (18.5 inches (47 cm)), calf (12 inches (30 cm)), and ankle (7.5 inches (19 cm)).[2] Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1 million with Lloyds of London.

Early life and education[edit]

Betty Grable was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable on December 18, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the youngest of three children born to Lillian Rose (née Hofmann; 1889–1964) and John Charles Grable (1883–1954), a stockbroker.[3] She had Dutch, Irish, German, and English ancestry. Nicknamed "Betty" as a child, the young girl was pressured by her mother, a stubborn and materialistic woman, to become a performer. She was entered in multiple beauty contests, many of which she won or achieved considerable attention for. Despite her success, she suffered from demophobia, the fear of crowds, and was a sleepwalker.

Early career: 1929–1939[edit]

A twelve-year-old Grable and her mother traveled to Hollywood in 1929, shortly after the infamous stock market crash, hoping to achieve stardom. To get her daughter jobs, Lillian Grable lied about her daughter's age, claiming she was fifteen to movie producers and casting agents. The same year, after assuming the stage name "Betty Grable", she made her film debut in Happy Days (1929). This eventually led to her having small roles in Let's Go Places (1930) and a short Movietone commercial reel for 20th Century-Fox.

In 1930, at age thirteen, Grable began a partnership with producer Samuel Goldwyn—she thereby become one of the original Goldwyn Girls, along with Lucille Ball, Virginia Bruce, and Paulette Goddard. As a member of the ensemble group of attractive young starlets, Grable appeared in a series of small parts in movies, among them the mega-hit Whoopee! (1930), starring Eddie Cantor. Although she received no on-screen credit for her performance, she led the film's opening musical number, entitled "Cowboys". In 1932, she signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures, and she was assigned to a succession of acting, singing, and dancing classes at the studio's drama school. Her first film for the studio, Probation (1932), provided the fourteen-year-old Grable with her first credited screen role. Over the next few years, however, she was again relegated to uncredited minor roles in a series of films, many of them that became worldwide successes, like the 1933 hit Cavalcade. She received larger roles in The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Follow the Fleet (1936), two movie musicals starring the immensely popular movie duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Late in the 1930s, Grable signed with Paramount Pictures, who loaned her to 20th Century-Fox to co-star in the adolescent comedy Pigskin Parade (1936). The film was the studio's effort to introduce Grable to the mainstream movie audience, but her performance was overlooked by audiences and critics in favor of newcomer Judy Garland. When she returned to Paramount, she began a new phase in her career—the studio began casting her in a series of college-aimed movies, the majority of the time having her portray unintelligent blonde co-eds. These films included the moderately popular This Way Please (1937) and College Swing (1938). Even though Grable played the leading roles in these films, the roles led to her being typecast as an innocent and not-so-bright co-ed.

In 1939, she appeared opposite her then-husband Jackie Coogan in Million Dollar Legs, a B movie comedy from whose title Grable's famous nickname was taken. When the film did not become the hit Paramount had hoped for, the studio released her from her contract, and Grable began preparing to leave Hollywood for a simpler life. However, she changed her mind and decide to take her chance at Broadway; she accepted Buddy DeSylva's offer to star in his musical DuBarry Was a Lady with musical-comedy star Ethel Merman. The play was an instant critical and audience success, and Grable was branded a new found star.

Stardom at Fox: 1940–1949[edit]

In a 1940 interview, Grable stated she was "sick and tired" of show business and that she was considering retirement. Soon thereafter, she was offered to go on a personal appearance tour, which she readily accepted. The tour brought Grable to the attention of Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century-Fox, who offered her a long-term contract. "If that's not luck, I don't know what you'd call it," Grable said in her first interview after signing with the studio. Zanuck, who had been impressed by Grable's performance in DuBarry was a Lady, was, at the time, in the midst of casting the female lead in the musical film Down Argentine Way. The role had originally been assigned to Alice Faye, Fox's reigning musical star, but she had to decline the part due to an unspecified illness. After reviewing her screen test, Zanuck cast Grable as Faye's replacement in the movie. The film was a lavish Technicolor musical and co-starred Don Ameche and Carmen Miranda. Grable's performance of the song "Down Argentine Way" is considered a highlight of the film.

Down Argentine Way was a critical and box office success at the time of its release, and many critics proclaimed Grable to be the successor to Alice Faye. The film's success led to Grable's casting in Tin Pan Alley (1940), co-starring Faye. As the Lily sisters, both Grable and Faye received favorable reviews for their performances and the film recouped its financial investment. Over the years, rumors have circulated that there was a rivalry between Grable and Faye during filming, but this has been said to be entirely untrue--both actresses denied all accusations of a feud, and each often expressed their admiration for the other. The two reportedly remained friends until Grable's death. After Tin Pan Alley, Grable was again teamed with Don Ameche in the hit musical Moon Over Miami (1941), which also co-starred up-and-coming actress Carole Landis.

In 1941, Fox attempted to broaden Grable's acting and audience range by casting her in two films with more serious tones than those she had starred in previously. The first, A Yank in the R.A.F., released in September, co-starred heartthrob Tyrone Power, and cast her as Carol Brown, who works in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the day, but is employed as a nightclub singer in the evening. The film followed along the lines of other World War II movies of the era, but it was not considered a propaganda movie by the studio. At the time of its release the film received positive reviews, with many critics singling out the obvious on-screen chemistry between Grable and Power. It was also a major box office success, becoming the fourth most-popular movie of the year. The second movie, I Wake Up Screaming, released in November, saw Grable receiving top billing as Jill Lynn, the sister of a young model who is murdered. The film offered Grable her second teaming with Carole Landis, and it also co-starred Victor Mature. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, the movie was a traditional black-and-white film noir, containing a combination of suspense and romance. Grable's performance was favorably reviewed by most critics, and the film enjoyed reasonable financial success.

Grable and Carmen Miranda in hit Springtime in the Rockies (1942).

Grable's star continued to rise when she starred in Song of the Islands (1942), co-starring Victor Mature and Jack Oakie. The success of the movie led to her re-teaming with Mature in Footlight Serenade (1942), also co-starring John Payne, in which she played a glamorous Broadway star. Fox then began to develop Philip Wylie's short story, "Second Honeymoon", into a script suited for Grable's talents. The resulting movie was Springtime in the Rockies (1942), directed by Irving Cummings and pairing Grable opposite John Payne, Cesar Romero, Carmen Miranda, and her future husband, bandleader Harry James. The film was an immediate hit, Grable's biggest success to date, grossing more than $2 million. The film's success led to Fox upping her salary and to her having a wider choice over the films she would make.

Grable was voted the number one box office draw by American movie exhibitors in 1943; she outranked Bob Hope, Gary Cooper, Greer Garson, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable in popularity. Grable's next movie, Coney Island, released in June 1943, was a Technicolor "gay nineties" period musical and co-starred George Montgomery. The film earned more than $3.5 million at the box office and was well-received by critics. Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943), her follow-up feature, was equally successful at the box office although it failed to obtain the same critical favoritism. In 1943, she collaborated with photographer Frank Powolny for a regular studio photo session. During the shoot, she took several photos in a tight one-piece bathing suit. One particular pose consisted of Grable's back being to the camera as she playfully smiled looking over her left shoulder. The picture was released as a poster and became the most requested photo for G.I.s stationed overseas. Grable's photographed sold millions of copies, eventually surpassing the popularity of Rita Hayworth's famous 1941 photo.

Grable's success as a pin-up girl furthered her career as a mainstream movie star. As her star continued to ascend, Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck expressed interest in broadening Grable's range as an actress. Zanuck attempted to, on multiple occasions, cast her in films that challenged her acting abilities, but Grable herself was reluctant—she felt insecure about her talent which rendered her unwilling to accept roles she felt required too much of her. Throughout her career, she was very cautious; she often worried about starring opposite well-known leading men, fearing they may squander her success. She preferred to star in up-beat and outlandish musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story tactic. In fact, many of her movies were thin when it came to their stories, but they were high on energy during their song and dance sequences. Despite their lack of quality, Grable's movies were immensely popular, and Fox regularly channeled the profits it received from Grable's movies into their more prestigious movies.

Grable's iconic pose from 1943 was a World War II bestseller, showing off her "Million Dollar Legs".

Zanuck relented to Grable's own request not to tamper with her successful screen formula. As a result, the studio prepared a film called Pin Up Girl for her. The film as her as a hostess for a USO canteen, who also provides entertainment for the troops during their time there. The lavish musical used her famous pin-up photograph in many scenes, which boosted the photo's sales. Many of the film's later scenes had to be rewritten to hide Grable's pregnancy. Pin Up Girl co-starred comedians Martha Raye and Joe E. Brown and was released in April 1944 to overwhelming success at the box office. Critics, on the other hand, were not as accepting of the film. Variety said the film "makes no pretenses of ultra-realism", but also called it "very pleasing and pleasant." After time off to give birth to a healthy daughter, Grable returned to Fox to star in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945), co-starring Dick Haymes and Phil Silvers. Even though the film earned more than $3 million at the box office, it struggled to make a profit because of its high production costs. The Dolly Sisters (1945), her next film, teamed her with newcomer June Haver, an actress Fox was promoting as Grable's successor. Although the press hinted that there was a tense behind-the-scenes rivalry between the two actresses, they both denied it, claiming to be good friends. The Dolly Sisters earned more than $4 million at the box office, and was Fox's second highest-earning movie of the year, behind Leave Her to Heaven.

After five years of constant work, Grable was allowed time off for an extended vacation. She did, however, briefly return to filming to make a cameo appearance in Do You Love Me (1946), in which she appeared as a fan of her husband Harry James' character. Grable was reluctant to returning to movies, but Fox was desperately in need for her return—without Grable's movies, which generated large profits, the studio struggled to stay afloat. The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) was her first film back at Fox. She played Cynthia Pilgrim, a college student who graduated at the top of her typewriting class during the first year of the Packard Business College. Although critics acknowledged that the film "momentarily achieved" brilliance, they also felt that the movie's music was like "sticky toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube." The film also suffered from indifferent ticket sales and Fox failed to regain their financial investment. Grable next starred in Walter Lang's Mother Wore Tights, released in September 1947, co-starring Dan Dailey. The film told the story of two aging vaudeville performers as they look back on their heydays through a series of flashbacks. It received critical acclaim from critics and was a box office hit, earning an estimated $5 million.

In 1948, she was cast in That Lady in Ermine, a film that had previously been considered for either Jeanette MacDonald or Gene Tierney. It co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and was originally directed by Ernst Lubitsch. After Lubitsch's death early into production, he was replaced by Otto Preminger. It was widely reported that Grable often quarreled with Fairbanks and Preminger and that she nearly walked out on filming, but decided against on the advice of her agent. When the film was finally released, it received mixed reviews; it was referred to as "a bright and beguiling swatch of nonsense" and it did not generate the revenue Fox had hoped for. Grable immediately thereafter began filming When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948), co-starring Dan Dailey, which became a blockbuster, cementing Grable and Dailey's status as a bankable movie duo. Closing out the decade, Grable starred in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949), an oddball movie that unevenly mixed musical numbers with Western clichés. Despite a casting consisting of Cesar Romero and Rudy Vallee, the film was universally panned by critics, but contrary to popular belief, it was a reasonable box office success.

Decline and last films: 1950–1955[edit]

Grable had been consistently placed in the "Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll" every year, beginning in 1942. She ranked at the top of the poll in 1943, and ranked second in 1947 and 1948. In 1949, although she still placed in the top ten, she slipped from second to seventh place in popularity. Fox became concerned that Grable might gradually be becoming regarded as a movie passé. Darryl F. Zanuck had the film Wabash Avenue tailored to fit Grable's talents. The film's plot line closely followed the story of Grable's earlier hit, Coney Island. Despite the similarities, the had new songs and dances written and choreographed to modernize the film. Wabash Avenue was released in May 1950, and was a box office hit, despite its less-than-favorable critical reviews. Her following film, My Blue Heaven, released in December 1950, re-teamed her with Dan Dailey, and was equally successful financially. In 1950, Grable had regained her status as the most-popular female at the box office; she ranked fourth overall, just behind John Wayne, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby.

Although, by the early 1950s, Grable was searching for originality in the scripts offered to her, she had no luck in finding the movies she wanted to do. She reluctantly agreed to make Call Me Mister (1951) with Dan Dailey, a loose Technicolor musical remake of A Yank in the R.A.F. The film was only moderately successful, and was quickly followed by Meet Me After the Show (1951), co-starring Macdonald Carey, Rory Calhoun, and Eddie Albert. It received favorable reviews from most critics and was a box office success. In 1952, Grable began renegotiating her contract with Fox. She requested an upped salary and the option to make only the films she wanted to make. The studio refused to accommodate her requests, and she left the studio on strike. As a result, Grable was replaced by Marilyn Monroe in the movie adaptation of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a role Grable felt perfectly fit her persona. In late 1952, she was scheduled to begin filming The Girl Next Door, a light-weight musical comedy, but when she failed to show up to work, Fox suspended her. She was eventually replaced by June Haver in the film.

with Marilyn Monroe (left) and Lauren Bacall (right) in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953).

After a year off from filming, Grable reluctantly reconciled with Fox and agreed to star in a musical remake of The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953). The film was an attempt by Fox to recapture Grable's heyday as the studio's biggest star, and even though she was paired with the popular Dale Robertson, the film was a critical and box office flop. She next starred in How to Marry a Millionaire, a romantic comedy about three models plotting to marry wealthy men, co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. It was rumored that, during production, Grable and Monroe did not get along. It was assumed that Grable, whose career was declining, was jealous of Monroe because she was being groomed as Fox's newest star and possibly as Grable's unofficial successor. In reality, Grable and Monroe got along famously; Grable reportedly told Monroe: "Go and get yours honey! I've had mine!" How to Marry a Millionaire was a box office triumph when released, grossing an estimated $8 million.

After refusing a leading role in Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business, Grable was again suspended from her contract. She was replaced by Ethel Merman. In an effort to prevent getting sued, Grable grudgingly agreed to return to Fox to complete two more films. The first, Three for the Show (1955), paired her with up-and-coming talents Jack Lemmon and Marge and Gower Champion. Critics called the film a "slight but cheerful item", and proclaimed it "does serve to bring Betty Grable back to the screen." It enjoyed reasonable success at the box office, particularly overseas. She then agreed to make How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) on the assurance Marilyn Monroe would be her co-star. When Monroe dropped out of the production, she was replaced with Sheree North. The release of the film surrounded a massive publicity campaign promoting, but despite the promotion, the film failed to live up to its hype, with many critics complaining of the lack of chemistry between Grable and North. It was, however, a box office hit, earning more than $3.7 million. It proved to be Grable's final film appearance. In 1956, she did attempt to return to acting in Samuel Goldwyn's film version of Guys and Dolls. She opted to play the role of Miss Adelaide, but was passed over in favor of Vivian Blaine, who had played the role on the stage. She thereby officially retired from motion picture acting.

Personal life[edit]

Grable married former child actor Jackie Coogan in 1937. He was under considerable stress from a lawsuit against his parents over his childhood earnings and the couple divorced in 1939.

In 1943, she married trumpeter Harry James. The couple had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica. Their marriage, which lasted for twenty-two years, was rife with alcoholism and infidelity before they divorced in 1965. Grable entered into a relationship with dancer Bob Remick, several years her junior, with whom she remained until she died in 1973.

Crypt of Betty Grable at Inglewood Park Cemetery

Grable died of lung cancer at age 56 in Los Angeles, California, on July 2, 1973. Her funeral was held two days later and attended by her ex-husband Harry James and Hollywood stars Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Booth, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Alice Faye and Dan Dailey. "I Had the Craziest Dream," the ballad from Springtime in the Rockies, was played on the church organ. She was entombed at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California located southwest of Los Angeles.

Betty Grable's handprint/signature in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard. She also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.[4] She was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians

Stage work[edit]

Radio appearances[edit]

Year Program Episode/source
1952 Lux Radio Theatre My Blue Heaven[5]

  1. ^ Obituary Variety, July 4, 1973, page 63.
  2. ^ Pin-up, The Tragedy of Betty Grable. Spero Pastos; 1983;.pg. 47
  3. ^
  4. ^ St. Louis Walk of Fame. "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees". Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. ^ Kirby, Walter (February 24, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 38. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via  open access publication - free to read

External links[edit]

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Clarence J. Brown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Clarence J. Brown
Clarence J. Brown, 83rd Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 7th district
In office
January 3, 1939 – August 23, 1965
Preceded by Arthur W. Aleshire
Succeeded by Clarence J. "Bud" Brown Jr.
36th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
In office
January 13, 1919 – January 8, 1923
Governor James M. Cox
Harry L. Davis
Preceded by Earl D. Bloom
Succeeded by Earl D. Bloom
36th Ohio Secretary of State
In office
January 10, 1927 – January 9, 1933
Preceded by Thad H. Brown
Succeeded by George S. Myers
Personal details
Born (1893-07-14)July 14, 1893
Blanchester, Ohio
Died August 23, 1965(1965-08-23) (aged 72)
Bethesda, Maryland
Resting place I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Blanchester, Ohio
Political party Republican Party
Spouse(s) Ethel McKinney
Children at least three
Alma mater Washington and Lee University School of Law
Brown as lieutenant governor of Ohio 1919–1923.

Clarence J. Brown, Sr. (July 14, 1893 – August 23, 1965) was an American newspaper publisher and politician; he represented Ohio as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 until his death in Bethesda, Maryland in 1965. Long representing conservative views, near the end of his life, he helped gain passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided enforcement of the right to vote for all citizens.

As president of Brown Publishing Company from 1920, he created a huge media company that lasted for 90 years. In 1918, at age 25, Brown was elected as the 36th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, the youngest man to gain that post.

Life and career[edit]

Brown was born in Blanchester, Clinton County, Ohio[1] or West Union, Clermont County, Ohio,[2] the son of Owen and Ellen Barerre (McCoppin) Brown. His middle name is "J" and does not stand for anything. He attended the Blanchester public schools, and then attended law school at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Virginia, from 1913 to 1915.

On his twenty-first birthday, Brown married Ethel McKinney. He worked as state statistician in 1915 and 1916 in the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

Brown began newspaper work in Blanchester in 1917, where he published several country newspapers. He became president of the Brown Publishing Company in Blanchester, and also owned and operated several large farms. He directed Brown Publishing for the rest of his life.

Political career[edit]

In 1918, at age 25, Brown was elected as the 36th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, serving from 1919 to 1923; he was the youngest man ever to hold the office. In 1926, he was elected Ohio Secretary of State and served from 1927 to 1933.

Brown twice ran for governor of Ohio: in 1932, he lost the primary; in 1934, he won the Republican nomination but lost the general election. Brown was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1936, 1940, 1944 and 1948, and a member of the Republican National Committee beginning in 1944.

Brown was elected in 1938 as a Republican to the Seventy-sixth and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1939 until his death in 1965. While in Congress, he was chairman of the Select Committee on Newsprint in the Eightieth Congress; he was very close to Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas.

In the 1930s, Brown was a staunch isolationist and opposed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies. When Harry S. Truman became president, Brown opposed his Fair Deal. Brown co-sponsored legislation to create the Hoover Commission to study the Federal government and served on the commission, formally the Commission on the Organization of the Executive Branch of Government.

By the 1950s, Brown was the ranking minority member of the important Rules Committee in Congress. In the 1960s, he worked with its chairman, Democrat Howard W. Smith of Virginia to block liberal legislation sought by presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, including enforcement of constitutional civil rights of African Americans. (Smith was a senior member of the Southern Block, established by white Democrats at the turn of the 20th century when former Confederate states disfranchised blacks.) But, near the end of his life, Brown broke with the ardent segregationist Smith. He checked out of the hospital to help shepherd the Voting Rights Act of 1965 through Smith's Rules Committee, and contributed to the achievements of the civil rights movement.

Brown died at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland on August 23, 1965. He was buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Blanchester, Ohio.

Brown was a member of the Masons, K. of P., I.O.O.F., Moose, and M.W.A.[3]

His son Clarence J. "Bud" Brown Jr. won the special election in 1965 to fill his father's seat in Congress. His grandson is Clancy Brown, an actor. He is no relation to the film director of the same name.

See also[edit]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  1. ^ Bioguide
  2. ^ ANB
  3. ^ Halley, W E; Maynard, John P. (1920). Manual of Legislative Practice in the General Assembly 1919-1920. Columbus: State Bindery. p. 38.

External links[edit]


text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Collectibles)
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Collectable (disambiguation).
"Collector's item" redirects here. For other uses, see Collector's Item.
Collectable • Antique • Antiquities

Ephemera • Premium
Prize • Souvenir
Special edition

List of collectables
List of hobbies

A collectable (collectible or collector's item) is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector[1] (not necessarily monetarily valuable or antique).[2] There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old. A curio is a small, usually fascinating or unusual item sought after by collectors.[3] A manufactured collectable is an item made specifically for people to collect.[4]

The business of collectables[edit]

Created to be collected[edit]

A "manufactured" collectable (often referred to as a contemporary collectable) is an item made specifically for people to collect. The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, fall under the category of manufactured collectable and are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including cars, fine wine and other collectables. A limited edition is restricted is extra material of some kind included. Some companies that produce manufactured collectables are members of The Gift and Collectibles Guild.[4]

Collectables in commerce[edit]

Manufacturers and retailers have used collectables in a number of ways to increase sales. One use is in the form of licensed collectables based on intellectual properties, such as images, characters and logos from literature, music, movies, radio, television, and video games. A large subsection of licensing includes advertising, brandname, and character collectibles. Another use of collectables in retail is in the form of prizes (items of nominal value packaged with or included in the price of a retail product at no additional cost) and premiums (items that can be "purchased" by redeeming coupons, boxtops, or proofs of purchase from the product along with a small fee to cover shipping and handling). Also, collectables have played an important role in tourism, in the form of souvenirs.[5] Another important field of collecting that is also big business is memorabilia, which includes collectables related to a person, organization, event or media, including T-shirts, posters, and numerous other collectables marketed to fans; but also includes ephemera from historical, media, or entertainment events, items that were meant to be thrown away but were saved by fans and accumulated by collectors.

Collectables as investments[edit]

Collectables are items of limited supply that are sought for a variety of reasons including a possible increase in value. In a financial sense, collectables can be viewed as a hedge against inflation. Over time, their value can also increase as they become more rare due to loss, damage or destruction. One drawback to investing in collectables is the potential lack of liquidity, particularly for very obscure items. There is also a risk for fraud.[6]

The urge to collect unusual and fascinating objects is primeval and not limited to humans.

The Renaissance Cabinet of Curiosities was an antecedent both of modern museums and modern collecting.

The earliest manufactured collectables were included as incentives with other products, such as cigarette cards in packs of cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and sometimes became the subject of "collectable crazes". Eventually many collectable items came to be sold separately, instead of being used as marketing tools to increase the appeal of other products.

To encourage collecting, manufacturers often create an entire series of a given collectable, with each item differentiated in some fashion. Examples include sports cards depicting individual players, or different designs of Beanie Babies. Enthusiasts will often try to assemble a complete set of the available variations.

Early versions of a product, manufactured in smaller quantities before its popularity as a collectable developed, sometimes command exorbitant premiums on the secondary market. Dolls and other toys made during an adult collector's childhood can command such premiums. Unless extremely rare or made as a one-of-a-kind, in a mature market, collectables rarely prove to be a spectacular investment.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]


text:
Davisville Village

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Skyline of Davisville Village, 2009
Skyline of Davisville Village, 2009
Davisville Village is located in Toronto
Davisville Village
Location within Toronto
Coordinates: 43°42′04″N 79°23′20″W / 43.701°N 79.389°W / 43.701; -79.389Coordinates: 43°42′04″N 79°23′20″W / 43.701°N 79.389°W / 43.701; -79.389
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
City  Toronto

Davisville Village is an area of Toronto near the intersection of Davisville Avenue and Yonge Street. There is a subway station named Davisville at this intersection. The area directly abuts Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and has a large number of massive apartment and condominium complexes built between the 1970s and the 2000s, as well as a number of office buildings. The area is an attractive area in Midtown Toronto between St Clair and Eglinton.

Davisville was founded by John Davis in 1840. Davis opened the first post office in the neighbourhood and served as the post-master.[1] The building that housed the original post office is currently a Starbucks at the North-East corner of Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue. John Davis also started Davisville Pottery Company, which was the largest employer in the neighbourhood for several years.[1] In 1911 Davis sold a large portion of the land to Dovercourt Development Company to be developed.[1] Many single family homes were built between the 1920s-1930s and still exist today.[1] In the 1970s condominium towers and apartment buildings began to develop in the neighbourhood and in 2007 the Minto Midtown Quantum towers were completed.[2]

Population - The population of Davisville Village as of 2006 was 23,690.[3] The population of Davisville grew approximately 6.5% between 1996 and 2001, and another 8.5% between 2001 and 2006.[3]

Davisville is a densely populated neighbourhood. It consists of many medium and high-rise buildings, especially in the area west of Mt. Pleasant Road. There are 23,690 people in Davisville, in an area of approximately 2.23 km2, giving it a density of approximately 10,623 people per km2.[3]

Davisville is a fairly wealthy neighbourhood. Approximately 33% of Davisville's households earn more than $60,000 per year, which is more than double Toronto, which has an approximately 16.2% of its households earning more than $60,000 per year.[3]

Diversity - Davisville has a higher percentage of Canadian citizens than Toronto according to the 2006 census data. Almost 48% of Davisville residents are Canadian citizens compared to 46% in city of Toronto.[3] Between 1961 and 1981 the immigrant population in Davisville remained fairly consistent at approximately 17% of the total population. By 1981 the immigrant population in Davisville increased rapidly and has continued to do so for the past three decades.[3]

The immigrants in Davisville come from many different countries. The country where most of Davisville's immigrants come from is the United Kingdom. In 2006 there were 955 people living in Davisville from the United Kingdom. There are also 480 immigrants living in Davisville from the United States of America and 470 immigrants from Iran. Other countries of origin for Davisville immigrants are China, India, Philippines, Germany, Poland, Jamaica, South Korea, Romania and Russia.[3]

Davisville is serviced by 2 TTC subway stations, Davisville and Eglinton station on the Yonge-University line. It also has regular bus service on Eglinton Ave. E. and Bayview Ave. The easy access to public transportation and the proximity to the Downtown core, results in a higher percentage of residents using public transit and self-propulsion (walking/biking). Davisville's transportation mode shows that 46.5% of residents use public transit and 11.9% walked or biked to their destination, compared to the City of Toronto's transportation mode which shows that only 34.4% of residents use public transit and 8.8% walk or bike.[3] The 2006 census data also shows that Davisville neighbourhood has a lower percentage of vehicle users than the city of Toronto. 40.1% of residents in Davisville use car, trucks, vans, and/or motorcycles to get to their destination compared to Toronto's 55.8%.[3]

Physical environment[edit]

Davisville Village is a unique neighbourhood with several distinct features. These features help people to understand their surroundings and navigate themselves within the neighbourhood. One of the most renowned theories of understanding these features is that of Kevin Lynch, an urban planner who outlined five elements people use to understand their surroundings:

Districts – There are 2 main districts in Davisville. The first district is at the corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, an entertainment area within the neighbourhood with several restaurants, bars, Yonge Eglinton Centre and several office buildings. The second is Mt. Pleasant Road between Eglinton Avenue and Davisville Avenue, a mixed-use street with independent stores, gift shops, restaurants and homes.

Nodes – The main nodes in Davisville are Yonge & Eglinton and Yonge & Davisville. These nodes are popular, recognizable meeting places for people and transportation hubs. These nodes are intersections of major streets.

Paths – The frequent paths in Davisville are Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Mt Pleasant Road, Davisville Avenue and Eglinton Avenue.

Edges – The edges of Davisville are Yonge Street (West), Bayview Avenue (East), Eglinton Avenue (North) and Merton Street (South)

Landmarks – Yonge-Eglinton Centre, a mid-size shopping centre with several major chain stores and restaurants, is a frequently cited landmark. Minto Midtown Quantum towers, the largest residential condominium towers in Davisville, are also landmarks in the neighbourhood. Davisville Park is a landmark located at the corner of Davisville avenue and Mt. Pleasant Road.

One of the most important physical elements of Davisville Village is the streets. Davisville is a busy neighbourhood that accommodates high-pedestrian traffic because of its streets. Jane Jacobs, a long time Toronto resident and author identified 4 elements that make good streets. The first element described by Jacobs is Various types of aged buildings. Davisville has a mix of houses built in the early half of the 20th century as well as new, modern condominium buildings, apartments and offices which creates a mix of new and old buildings in the neighbourhood. Another important element of good streets is High concentration and density uses. Davisville is a very densely populated neighbourhood. The density helps make the neighbourhood sustainable and safe. Good streets also incorporate Mixed-use areas. Mt. Pleasant is a frequent mixed-use street within Davisville. The fourth and final element of good streets is Frequent streets and very few long blocks. The streets within and surrounding Davisville are frequently spaced, with very wide sidewalks that accommodate high pedestrian traffic.

The city of Toronto assigns the Davisville Village into two neighbourhoods:

Mount Pleasant West is situated West of Mount Pleasant Road, North of Merton Street, East of Yonge Street and South of Keewatin Ave. 91% of people in this neighbourhood live in low/high rise apartment and condo buildings, which makes it one of the most building-dominated neighbourhoods in Toronto (comparable to the high-rise dense downtown core; Source: Statistics Canada). There are a number of affordable housing units in the area which factors into the lower income levels in this neighbourhood compared to the surrounding ones. Over 80% of residents are renters, which is approximately 30% over Toronto's average.

Minto Midtown In 2003 Minto proposed a plan for two high-rise condominium buildings on Yonge street, south of Eglinton avenue. A majority of Davisville residents were strongly opposed to the development. The case was taken to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), which agreed that in order for Minto's plans to be approved, they needed to comply with the following conditions:

  • Reduce building height by several stories
  • Contribute $1 million towards affordable rental housing for seniors
  • Contribute $200,000 towards a new pedestrian walkway (Moore, 2009).

The Minto Quantum towers were built and completed in 2007 (Coorsh, 2010).

Mount Pleasant East is bordered to the east by Bayview Ave, Moore Ave to the South, Yonge street to the West and Blythwood to the North. The people in this neighbourhood are predominantly in their working years and enjoy an average income and average house value well above the norm for the city (Statistics Canada). While not the most affluent of neighbourhoods it is comparable to The Beaches in demographics and income.

  1. ^ a b c d Royal LePage (2011). "Davisville Village".
  2. ^ Coorsh, 2010 Minto condos helped change midtown for better or worse
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i , Statistics Canada, 2006  Missing or empty |title= (help)


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Land clearing in Australia

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  (Redirected from Deforestation in Australia)
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The distribution of Banksia largely coincides with areas of high population density, and large tracts of Banksia woodland are cleared for urban expansion every year.[1] In this photo, land clearing for housing threatens the Banksia menziesii species in Canning Vale, Western Australia.

Land Clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands and native grasslands and the draining of natural wetlands for replacement with agriculture, urban and other land uses.

As much as 70% of Australia's native vegetation has been cleared or modified in the past 200 years, most of which has occurred in the last 50 years.[citation needed] Prior to European settlement native vegetation covered most of Australia but now only 87% of Australia's natural vegetation remains. This 13% of Australia's nativepoos and woodlands.[2]

By region[edit]

Tasmanian (in Australia) ancient and unique temperate rainforest areas, were in the danger of being converted into wood plantations for Japanese paper factories In 2007. The swamp gum tree or Tasmanian Oak (Eucalyptus regnans) is the world’s largest flowering plant and the tallest hardwood tree in the world.[3]

Coffee plantations in Queensland ca. 1900 contributed to loss of native forest

The primary motivator for land clearing in Australia is agricultural production. Where soil fertility and rainfall allow, the clearing of land allows for increased agricultural production and increase in land values. Land clearing was seen as progressive, and there was the general view that land was wasted unless it was developed.

Historically[when?], land clearing has been supported by the Commonwealth and State Governments as an essential part of improved productivity essential for national economic prosperity. A range of institutional incentives for agriculture increased the economic gain from land clearing, with offerings of cheap land along with venture capital in the form of loans or tax concessions. Other incentives included the War Service Land Settlement Scheme, low interest bank loans and financial support programs such as drought relief assistance.

The majority of cleared land in Australia has been developed for cattle, sheep and wheat production. 46.3% of Australia is used for cattle grazing on marginal semi-deserts with natural vegetation. This land is too dry and infertile for any other agricultural use (apart from some kangaroo culling). Some of this grazing land has been cleared of "woody scrub". 15% of Australia is currently in use for all other agriculture and forestry purposes on mostly cleared land. In New South Wales, much of the remaining forests and woodlands have been cleared, due to the high productivity of the land. Urban development is also the cause of some land clearing, though not a major driver. In The Australian Capital Territory for example, much urban development has occurred on previously cleared agricultural land.

Bushfires in Australia[edit]

Bushfires in Australia are frequently occurring events during the hotter months of the year.

Land clearing destroys plants and local ecosystems and removes the food and habitat on which other native species rely. Clearing allows weeds and invasive animals to spread, affects greenhouse gas emissions and can lead to soil degradation, such as erosion and salinity, which in turn can affect water quality.

The following table shows the Native Vegetation Inventory Assessment (NVIS)[2] of native vegetation by type prior to European settlement and as at 2001-2004.

Vegetation Type Pre Settlement Total 2005 Total Percentage lost
Forest and Woodland 4,101,868 3,184,260 22%
Shrublands 1,470,614 1,411,539 4%
Heath 9,256 8,071 13%
Grassland 1,996,688 1,958,671 2%
Total Native Vegetation 7,578,204 6,562,541 13%

Effects Land Condition As land cover is crucial to land condition, land clearing exerts significant pressure on land condition. Removal of vegetation also leaves soil bare and vulnerable to erosion. Soil stability is essential to avoid land degradation.

Soil erosion[edit]

Soil erosion is a very significant pressure on land condition because it undermines existing vegetation and habitats and inhibits vegetation and other biota that inhabit the vegetation from re-establishing. Terrestrial vegetation is a source of nutrient replenishment for soils. If vegetation is removed, there is less biological matter available to break down and replenish the nutrients in the soil. Exposing soil to erosion leads to further nutrient depletion.

Main article: Salinity in Australia

Another consequence of land clearing is dryland salinity. Dryland salinity is the movement of salt to the land surface via groundwater. In Australia there are vast amounts of salt stored beneath the land surface. Much of Australian native vegetation has adapted to low rainfall conditions, and use deep root systems to take advantage of any available water beneath the surface. These help to store salt in the earth, by keeping ground water levels low enough so that salt is not pushed to the surface. However, with land clearing, the reduced amount of water that previously got pumped up by the roots of the trees means that the water table rises towards the surface, dissolving salt in the process. Salinity reduces plant productivity and affects the health of rivers and streams.

The extinction of 20 different mammal, 9 bird and 97 plant species have been partially attributed to land clearing. While land condition is one indicator of the pressure of vegetation removal, the health and resilience of the vegetation that remains is also largely dependent on the size of the fragments and their distance from each other. This is also true for species living within these habitat fragments. The smaller and more isolated the remnants, the greater the threat from external pressures as their boundaries (or edges) are more exposed to disturbances. Pressure also increases with the distance between fragments.

Climate Change[edit]

Land clearing is a major source of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, contributing approximately 12 percent to Australia’s total emissions in 1998. It has also been found that past clearing of native vegetation contributed to higher temperatures, decreased rainfall and more intense droughts.[citation needed] The removal of vegetation damages the microclimate by removing shade and reducing humidity. It also contributes to global climate change by diminishing the capacity of the vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide. Land clearing could also be responsible for reduced rainfall levels & possible desertification of land as well as soil erosion.[citation needed]

Deforestation and climate extremes[edit]

Deo et al. (2009) checked the impacts on climate extremes and droughts by analysing daily rainfall and surface temperature output from the CSIRO Mark 3 GCM. This work, the first of its kind, demonstrated an increase in the number of dry days (<1mm rainfall) and hot days (maximum temperature >35°C), a decrease in daily rainfall intensity and cumulative rainfall on rain days, and an increase in duration of droughts under modified land-cover conditions. These changes were statistically significant for all years across eastern Australia, and especially pronounced during strong El Niño events. Clearly, these studies have demonstrated that LCC has exacerbated the mean climate anomaly and climate extremes in southwest and eastern Australia, thus resulting in longer-lasting and more severe droughts.

Since the 1980s, the rate of land clearing has declined due to changing attitudes and greater awareness of the damaging effects of clearing.

Regulation of clearing.[edit]

Clearing is now controlled by legislation in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and to a lesser degree in Queensland. Land clearing controls differ substantially between jurisdictions, and despite growing awareness of the effect of land degradation, controls on clearing have been generally opposed by farmers.

Federal legislation[edit]

Land clearing is controlled indirectly by federal law in the form of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), which may also apply if there are federally protected threatened species (plant or animal) or endangered ecological communities present on the land in question.

New South Wales[edit]

Clearing of native vegetation in NSW is regulated by the Native Vegetation Act 2003(NSW), by the protections on the habitat of threatened species contained in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW). It is also regulated by development control and Environmental Planning Instruments (EPIs) under land use planning law, namely the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). Federal law in the form of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) may also apply if there are federally protected threatened species (plant or animal) or endangered ecological communities present on the land in question.

Clearing of native vegetation in Queensland is principally regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and the Vegetation Management (Regrowth Clearing Moratorium) Act 2009. The Federal EPBC Act may also apply (see above).

South Australia[edit]

Clearing of native vegetation in SA is principally regulated by the Native Vegetation Act 1991 (SA). The Federal EPBC Act may also apply (see above).

See also[edit]

  1. ^ Lamont, Byron B.; Enright, Neal J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Groeneveld, J (2007-05-18). "Conservation biology of banksias: insights from natural history to simulation modelling". Australian Journal of Botany (CSIRO Publishing) 55 (3): 280–29. doi:10.1071/BT06024.
  2. ^ a b Department of Sustainability Environment Water Population and Communities. "Indicator: LD-01 The proportion and area of native vegetation and changes over time". Australian Federal Government. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  3. ^ Banks, Pulp and People 2007 by Chris Lang June 2007, Urgewald, pg.16, 29-31, 45

  • Australian Conservation Foundation 2007, [1] Viewed 26 October 2007.
  • Australian Greenhouse Office 2000, Land Clearing: A Social History, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. Accessed on [2] 29 October 2007.
  • Benson, J.S 1991, The effect of 200 years of European settlement on the vegetation and flora of New South Wales, Cunninghamia, 2:343-370.
  • Cogger, H, Ford, H, Johnson, C, Holman, J and Butler, D 2003, Impacts of Land Clearing on Australian Wildlife in Queensland, World Wildlife Foundation Australia, Sydney
  • Commonwealth Scientific and industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2007, Land and Water, viewed 29 October 2007.
  • Department of Environment and Water Resources, State of the Environment Report, [3] viewed 26 October 2007.
  • Department of the Environment and Heritage 2005, National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) Stage 1, Version 3.0 Major Vegetation Groups, [4]
  • Giles, D 2007, State’s land clearing concern, in The Courier Mail, 28 October 2007.
  • National Land and Water Resources Audit, Present Vegetation 1998 in National Land and Water Resources Audit 2001, Commonwealth of Australia, [5] viewed 29 October 2007.
  • Thackway, R & Cresswell, I.D (eds.) 1995, An Interim Biogeographic Regionalization for Australia: A Framework for Setting Priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program, Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
  • The Australian Bureau of Statistics,, viewed 26 October 2007.


text:
Edsilia Rombley

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Edsilia Rombley
Edsilia Rombley - Persfoto 2 - Fotografie Nico Swartz (klein).jpg
Edsilia Rombley in 2009
Background information
Birth name Edsilia Francisca Rombley
Also known as Edsilia
Born (1978-02-13) 13 February 1978 (age 37)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres Pop, R&B, contemporary R&B
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1995–present
Associated acts Dignity
Website www.edsiliarombley.nl

Edsilia Francisca Rombley (born 13 February 1978) is a Dutch singer. She participated in the Soundmixshow in 1996. She represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1998 and 2007.

Edsilia Rombley was born on 13 February 1978 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Her parents were from Aruba and Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles).

The career of Edsilia Rombley started in 1995, with Gracia Gorré, Karima Lemghari and Susan Haps in the group called Dignity. The name Dignity stands for Dignified Individuals Giving New Insight To You. A year later the singles "Talk To Me" and "Hold Me" from the compilation album "No Sweat" entered the charts.

In 1996, Edsilia won the final of the European Soundmix Show with a cover version of Oleta Adams' song, "I Just Had To Hear Your Voice". In 1997, her international reputation was established thanks to the profit of the European Soundmix Show, in which she sang the same song. That year she left Dignity and released her first solo single "Baby It's You". In 1997 she recorded her first album "Thuis" which was in assignment and exclusive for Douwe Egberts.

In 1998, Edsilia competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, where she gained 150 points and placed 4th with the song "Hemel en aarde" ("Heaven and earth"). This was the best result the Netherlands had achieved since their win in 1975 with Teach-In. The song was written by Fluitsma & Van Tijn and reached twelfth place in the top 40. Her debut English album was released shortly after her Eurovision participation.

After many struggles, Edsilia released her second album "Face To Face" in 2002. The album was produced by Tjeerd Oosterhuis. This was preceded by the hit "What Have You Done To Me", which became nominated in the category for best R&B song at the TMF Awards. The same song gained her a nomination in 2003, as well as an Edison Award nomination for the 'Best Artist'. In spite of high expectations, the album did not do well. In 2003, "Face to Face" was released in Germany and also gained minimal success. The singer stayed there to promote the album, however, the album did not succeed.

From January 2004, the singer went on tour with jazz pianist Michiel Borstlap, in which she played a combination of headstock and jazz. Besides her own repertoire she covered song from Anita Baker and Oleta Adams. On 28 November Edsilia Rombley and Karin Bloemen sang during a benefit concert for Bangladesh, organised by Memisa, a foundation which works for the improvement of health care in developing countries. The singers were accompanied by a five-man band and backing singers. They also sang some special numbers by Tjeerd Oosterhuis, composed for Memisa.

Using one of the songs from the benefit concert in Bangladesh, Tjeerd Oosterhuis created a version for a special cause. The song was for the benefit of the victims of the Tsunami that occurred in the Indian Ocean. In January 2005, Edsilia was one of the singers incorporated into the Artists For Asia, "Als Je Iets Kan Doen" song that included many Dutch artists. In 2005, for the first time, Edsilia went on tour in the Dutch theaters with the show 'Van Jongs Af Aan'. She played a repertoire of covers, but also own numbers. In spite of her minimal success as a singer, the tour was rather successful. In 2006, Rombley took part in the RTL 4 TV-programme Dancing with the Stars, a dancing contest with well-known Dutch and professional dancing teachers. Edsilia danced with the dance-coach Peter Bosveld, but was eliminated after the fourth show.

Edsilia Rombley singing during the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki

In June 2006, Edsilia's single "Dan Ben Ik Van Jou" was released as an indication of an entirely new album with Dutch compositions. It had reasonable success in the Dutch Top 40. On 1 September 2006 Edsilia married Tjeerd Oosterhuis in Amsterdam. Recently, her new single has appeared: "Eén Keer Meer Dan Jij". This ballad was written by Tjeerd Oosterhuis and will be on the new album titled "Meer Dan Ooit". The release is planned for February 2007. Edislia has begun a new tour in Dutch theatres. Edsilia's vocals are present on the single "Vlinders" by Brainpower, which was released in December 2006.

Edsilia Rombley represented the Netherlands again at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in May 2007 in Helsinki, Finland with the song "On Top of the World", but was eliminated in the semi-finals. The Dutch original is titled "Nooit Meer Zonder Jou". She also announced the votes from the Netherlands for the Eurovision Final that year with Paul de Leeuw.

  • Thuis (1997)
  • Edsilia (1998)
  • Face to face (2002)
  • Meer Dan Ooit (2007)
  • Live (2009)
  • Uit mijn hart (2011)
  • "Baby It's You" (1997)
  • "Hemel en aarde" (1998)
  • "Second Floor" (1998)
  • "Get here" (1999)
  • "How Can You Say That" (1999)
  • "What Have You Done To Me" (2001)
  • "Gotta Let Me Go" (2002)
  • "I'll Be That Someone" (2002)
  • "Dan Ben Ik Van Jou" (2006)
  • "Nooit Meer Zonder Jou" (2007)
  • "On Top of the World" (2007)
  • "Een keer meer dan jij" (2007)
  • "Geef je over" (2010)
  • "Uit het oog niet uit mijn hart" (with Ruth Jacott) (2011)

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Mrs. Einstein
with "Niemand heeft nog tijd"
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
Succeeded by
with "One Good Reason"
Preceded by
with "Amambanda"
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
Succeeded by
with "Your Heart Belongs to Me"


text:
Education in Mauritius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Education in Mauritius
Coat of arms of Mauritius (Original version).svg
Ministry of Education and Human Resources and
Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology
Minister of Education Leela Devi Dookhun
National education budget (2011)
Budget Rs 11,709 million[1]
General details
Primary languages English
Mauritian creole
System type National
Literacy (2011)
Total 89.8%[2]
Male 92.3%
Female 87.3%
Enrollment (2011)
Total 282,961(23%)
Primary 116,068
Secondary 122,559
Post secondary 44,334
Attainment (2011)
Secondary diploma 31%
Post-secondary diploma 4.9%

Education in Mauritius is managed by the Ministry of Education & Human Resources, which controls the development and administration of state schools funded by government, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools. The Tertiary education is maintained by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology. The government of Mauritius provides free education to its citizens from pre-primary to tertiary levels. Since July 2005, the government also introduced free transport for all students. Schooling is compulsory up to the age of 16.[3] Mauritian students consistently rank top in the world each year for the Cambridge International O Level, International A and AS level examinations.[4][5]

After the country became independent in 1968, education became one of the main preoccupations of the Mauritian Government to meet the new challenges awaiting the country. Considerable investment of resources, both human and material, has been put into the Education sector and impressive progress has been achieved in terms of free, universal, compulsory primary education, free textbooks, free secondary education and a fairly wide range of higher education courses at the University of Mauritius.

Education has been free through the secondary level since 1976 and through the post-secondary level since 1988. The government has made an effort to provide adequate funding for education, occasionally straining tight budgets and even subsidised a great part of the expenditure in the Private Confessional schools, that is, schools under the control of the Catholic Church. However, the pre-primary schools are still privately owned mostly.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources supervises and monitors all action related to the support to be provided to education. The Mauritius Qualification Authority is the regulator of the technical and vocational education and training sector.[6] The Tertiary education is maintain by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology. The Tertiary Education Commission has the responsibility for allocating public funds, and fostering, planning and coordinating the development of post-secondary education and training, its strategic plan envisages Mauritius as a regional knowledge hub and a centre for higher learning and excellence. It promotes open and distance learning to increase access to post-secondary education and lifelong learning, both locally and regionally.[7]

The education system in Mauritius is largely based on the British system since Mauritius was a former British colony. It consist of a 3+6+5+2 system of formal education. The education system in Mauritius is categorized into 4 main sectors – pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary. There is additionally a provision for pre-vocational and vocational education and training for school leavers and students outside of the academic stream.

Pre-primary schools accept students as from the age of three. Children from the age of five to eleven go to primary school. They are admitted in standard I and gradually moves on to standard 6. Primary education ends with a national examination which is the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). Students passing CPE gains admittance to secondary schools, those with excellent results are admitted in National secondary schools. Secondary education is normally a 7-year study, starting from Form I to Form VI. The National Assessment At Form III is carried out in the third year of Secondary education. Varied subjects are taught and as from Form IV, students are streamlined according to subjects they choose. At the end of the 5th year of study at secondary level, students sit for the Cambridge School Certificate (SC) examination. Passing the SC exam, allows them to continue another 2 year study ending with the Higher School Certificate (HSC) exam.[8]

The teaching of English and French are compulsory in all schools. Students also has the option to learn any ancestral languages which are spoken in Mauritius, which include Arabic, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Mandarin, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Other languages includes Italian and Spanish, in 2012 the government also introduce Mauritian Creole in primary schools. The medium of instruction varies from school.

The school year consists of thirty nine weeks, divided into 3 terms of thirteen weeks.[6] For Secondary schools 1st Term is from 12 January to 6 April, 2nd Term from 23 April to 20 July and 3rd Term from 13 August to 1 November. For Primary schools the 1st Term is from 12 January to 6 April, 2nd Term from 23 April to 20 July and 3rd Term from 20 August to 9 November. [9]

Academic stream[edit]

The academic stream is the standard stream of education, allowing progression from primary school to secondary school to tertiary institutions. Students who aim to seek admission in higher education or foreign institutions generally follow the academic stream.

Academic Formal Education Structure
Stage Age Status Pre-requisites Class Exams
Pre-Primary 3 – 5 Years Compulsory None Year I
Year II
Year III
Primary 5 – 11 Years Compulsory Pre-Primary Education Standard I
Standard II
Standard III
Standard IV
Standard V
Standard VI
Certificate of Primary Education
Lower Secondary 12 – 16 Years Compulsory Certificate of Primary Education Form I
Form II
Form III
Form III Certificate
Upper Secondary 17 – 20 Years Optional Form III Certificate for School Certificate

School Certificate for Higher School Certificate

Form IV
Form V
Lower VI
Upper VI
School Certificate (O Level)
Higher School Certificate (A Level)
Tertiary 18+ Years Optional Higher School Certificate   Leads to Bachelor's, Master's, PhD,
and other academic degrees

Vocational stream[edit]

Those who wish to obtain career and technical qualifications, as well as those who fail to complete any stage or obtain any qualification of the academic stream from the Certificate of Primary Education onward, may enter into the vocational stream, which provides technical and vocational training and education (TVET) in life skills and job skills for employment and independent living. The vocational stream offers options outside of the academic stream for students to complete the compulsory stages of education, and to continue their formal education beyond the compulsory years, in vocational programmes of study. Those who successfully complete the Higher National Diploma (HND), a post-secondary qualification, may then progress to the Bachelor's degree with advanced standing, and thus re-enter into the academic stream of formal education, with the option to progress onto postgraduate studies in higher education.

Vocational Formal Education Structure
Qualification Pre-requisites Class Progression
Pre-vocational Certificate Standard VI of Primary Education Form I
Form II
Form III
Form IV
National Trade Certificate Foundation
National Trade Certificate Foundation Form III Certificate or Pre-vocational Certificate Year I
Year II
Year III
National Trade Certificate II
National Trade Certificate II National Trade Certificate Foundation Year I
Year II
Year III
National Trade Certificate III
National Trade Certificate III National Trade Certificate II Year I
Year II
Year III
Post-secondary qualifications

The adult literacy rate for both sexes was estimated at 89.8% according to the census made by Statistics Mauritius in 2011. Male literacy were 92.3% and Female 87.3%.[2] For the year 2011, government expenditure on education was estimated at about Rs 11,709 million, representing 12.5% of total expenditure.[1]

Education sectors[edit]

Pre-primary education[edit]

Pre-primary education embraces children between 3 and 5 years old. The number of children in pre-primary schools was 33,901 out of which 51% were boys and 49% girls. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (number of students enrolled per 100 population aged 4–5) works out to 97% with an average of 13 pupils per teacher.[1] The number of pre-primary schools in March 2011 was 1,018, that is 985 in the Island of Mauritius and 33 in Rodrigues. 75% of these schools were privately run institutions, 18% operating on government primary school premises administered by the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority and the remaining 7% were administered by either Roman Catholic or Hindu Education Authorities or Municipal/Village Councils.[1]

Primary education[edit]

As at March 2011, there were 305 primary schools with 116,068 pupils (51% boys, 49% girls). Total staff comprised 8,266 persons with 4,227 General Purpose Teachers and 1,350 Oriental Language teachers. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (number of students enrolled per 100 population aged 6–11) is 100% and the pupil/teacher ratio 27.[1] Children are enrolled in primary school from the age of five and enter Standard I and move automatically up to Standard VI. The system is highly competitive and a two-year preparation starts since Standard V up to Standard VI for the end of primary school examinations, the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). The CPE is a national examination carried out by the Mauritius Examination Syndicate which devises the syllabus; prepares and prints the examinations papers and does the correction. Five subjects are compulsory and taken into account for the ranking process; English, French, Mathematics, Science, History and Geography, Oriental languages are optional. Children who fail the CPE may have one re-sit. Those who do not pass the CPE at either attempt are not eligible to join the secondary system and may enter the Technical and vocational education. After the CPE exams children are admitted to regional secondary colleges according their zones, those with the best result are admitted in National Colleges. Pass rate for CPE examination increased from 68.1% in 2009 to 68.5% in 2010.[1]

Since 2002 the government has implemented educational programmes in some of the primary schools of the country in order to improve CPE exams results in the low achieving schools. The initiative is now known as Zones d'Education Prioritaires (Z.E.P) and in order to reach its objective, it seeks to involve the whole school community: school staff, parents, NGOs, business and community-based associations.[10]

Secondary education[edit]

The CPE determines admission to a secondary college. The child enters college in Form I and progresses through to Form VI, requiring seven years of schooling. From Form I to II internal examination is carried out by the schools. The domains of learning for students from Form I to Form III include: Languages (English, French, Hindi and Other Languages), Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Technology (ICT, Design and Technology, Home Economics, Design, Clothing and Textiles), Health (Home Economics - Food and Nutrition and Human Development and Physical Education), Social sciences (History, Geography, Sociology) and Arts (Visual Arts, Music and Drama & Dance) and Cross curricular Domains of Learning.[11] In the past there were no major nationally devised curriculum since each school has to plan its work according to the level of the students. In 2012, the National Assessment At Form III was introduced for students in Form III, this examination is carried out by the Mauritius Examination Syndicate.[12]

When students reach Form IV, they have to choose at least six major subjects for their Cambridge School Certificate (SC) which is the GCE 'O' Level examinations. This examination is carried out in Form V.

Laureate Celebration

This is followed by a two-year upper secondary education (Lower VI and Upper VI) ending with the Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC) that is the GCE 'A' Level. Students have to specialise in 3 main subjects and 2 subsidiary ones for the A Level examination. HSC Students have the option to compete and those with the best results win scholarship for their tertiary education. The O-Level and A-Level examinations are carried out by the University of Cambridge through University of Cambridge International Examinations, which devises the syllabus; prepares and prints the examinations papers and does the correction, in conjunction with the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate.

At March 2011, there were 180 schools providing secondary education in the academic stream. The secondary school enrolment was 115,289 (48% boys, 52% girls) and the number of teachers was 7,873. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (number of students enrolled per 100 population aged 12–19) works out to 70% and the pupil/teacher ratio 15. For the Cambridge School Certificate (SC), the pass rate improved slightly from 77.6% in 2009 to 77.8% in 2010. For the Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC), it decreased from 78.8% in 2009 to 78.3% in 2010.[1]

Tertiary education[edit]

Tertiary education which started in 1924 with the College of Agriculture has since developed into a diversified system, composed of public, private, regional and overseas institutions catering for a wide range of courses and programmes.[13] The provision of tertiary education extends beyond the local tertiary education institutions given that a significant number of Mauritian students either go overseas or resort exclusively to the open learning mode for pursuing their studies. Tertiary level enrolment went up by 6.9%, from 41,484 in 2009 to 44,334 in 2010.[1]

Tertiary institutions in Mauritius includes colleges, universities, Institutes of Technology/Polytechnic and other technical institutions. The country's two main public universities are the University of Mauritius and University of Technology. Universities, as in most countries worldwide, have three stages: Bachelor's (undergraduate), Master's (graduate), and Doctoral degrees. Undergraduate stage lasts for at least four years and graduate stage lasts for five years after completion of secondary education or one year after obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree. The third stage of higher education results in obtaining a Ph.D. Degree. Private institutions and overseas institutions/bodies deliver tertiary-level programmes mostly in niche areas like Information Technology, Law, Management, Accountancy and Finance. A number of the institutions are overseas with their provisions made available through the distance education mode.

Technical and vocational education[edit]

The Government has undertaken to ensure provision of educational facilities to students till they the reach the maturity age of 16 to enter the world of work. In this context the pre-vocational sector caters for around 4,000 students ejected at the end of the primary cycle, in view of their inability to meet the established benchmark for promotion to the mainstream in the secondary sector. Since its conception in the late 90s, the Prevocational Education has been providing a second chance to pupils who have failed the CPE or who are above 13. The children previously completed a 3 year program in secondary schools in line with the National Trade Certificate Foundation Course, but this has now been supplanted by a four year technical and vocational education and training programme. Such programmes are offered by the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development.[14] Pre-vocational education was dispensed in 126 schools in March 2011 with an enrolment of 7,270 students (64% boys, 36% girls) and 634 teaching staff. The pupil/teacher ratio was 11.[1]

In addition to providing pre-vocational and vocational education and training options for early school leavers, institutions of technical and vocational education also provide further education and training for greater employability and career skills enhancement as well as practical training in a number of fields.

Private Tuition[edit]

In recent years private tuition has become very common among students due to the competitiveness of the education system; they would usually take private tuition after school hours and during the weekend. In October 2011, the government amended the Education Act to extend the ban on private tuition to pupils in Standards I to III to those in Standard IV. The government introduced the Enhancement Programme as an alternative to private tuition for students in Standards I to IV, a programme which covers the pedagogical aspects of the respective curriculum, as well as co-curricular and extra-curricular components to render the learning experiences more enriching, enjoyable and rewarding.[15]

See also[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ministry of Education and Human Resource (2011). "Education statistics - 2011" (PDF). Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b "2011 POPULATION CENSUS - MAIN RESULTS" (PDF). Statistics Mauritius. 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. ^ Ministry of Education and Human Resource (2011). "Labour Act - Minimum age of employment raised from 15 to 16 years". Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Minister of Education for Mauritius to present awards at Brilliance in Mauritius prize giving ceremony". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  5. ^ "List of Candidates nominated for the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards". Mauritius Examinations Syndicate. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b "World Data on Education" (PDF). UNESCO. 2010/11. Retrieved 24 June 2012.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Education". 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Education in Mauritius" (PDF). University of Mauritius. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. ^ Ministry of Education and Human Resource (2012). "SCHOOL CALENDAR - YEAR 2012". Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  10. ^ "From Special Support Schools to 'Zones D'Education Prioritaires'". Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  11. ^ Ministry of Education and Human Resource. "Domains of Learning - Forms I to III" (PDF). Government of Mauritius. p. 21. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  12. ^ Ministry of Education and Human Resource. "National Assessment at Form III 2012" (PDF). Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Tertiary Education Commission Of Mauritius". Archived from the original on 2007-01-14. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  14. ^ "Pre Vocational Education". Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ Prime Minister's Office (2011). "CABINET DECISIONS – 15 JANUARY 2010". Government of Mauritius. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

External links[edit]