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Pirates, Power, and Culture: The Influence of Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard on Colonial Charleston’s Barbadian and Low Country Connections
No full textThe goal of this dissertation paper is to inspire and open the minds of those interested in Southern History and the relationship between nautical and cultural History that surrounds the State of South Carolina. Colonial Piracy is more relevant than ever in the Lowcountry of South Carolina at this moment in time and needs to be further researched to expand the haunting acts of these men of the sea. In the Charleston area, historical tours are available, and movies are filmed surrounding the acts of Blackbeard and Major Stede Bonnet; however, the story lines are questionable. Hollywood loves to focus on the dark past of these men, never relaying the positive attribute of human equality believed and shared by these individuals. It grows increasingly ironic to believe these men were only out to pillage and plunder when written documentation clearly proves these men would capture slave vessels and set the men, women and children onboard these ships free along the barrier islands of the South Carolina coast. The first question that needs to be explored while working on this dissertation paper surrounds the appeal of the City of Charleston, South Carolina to these men of the sea. What was it about the colony of Carolina that attracted these men? Could it have been the lucrative port, the corrupt governmental officials or the women that were believed to have stolen Blackbeard’s heart? The myths of these men haunt the Lowcountry, and the City of Charleston has learned to make a lucrative business from them. The taxing relationship between colonial piracy and the public’s disgust of the King needs to be further researched to find the common connection that links corrupt governmental officials that bartered with pirates sailing through the Holy City. Throughout the Colonial Era, the colony of Carolina held a special kind of ambiance that lured the wealthiest people of the New World to come together and create what is known as the Holy City. The Rice industry flourished all around the Lowcountry which created a lucrative environment of extremely wealthy plantation owners. The nightlife of the city Charleston is historically remembered for the mix of wealthy plantation owners and governmental officials who came together to discover lucrative business deals which undermined the taxation of imports and exports ruled on by the King. This proves the relationship between the Lowcountry’s most affluent and corrupt governmental officials who shared the same desire to maximize the profits exports of rice and indigo trading industries. The constant influx of dirty money that surrounded the Lowcountry attracted piracy due to the extremely lucrative ports which controlled the plantation-based trading industry. Many Historians overlook the once booming rice industry of the colony of Carolina due to the colony’s economic dominance in the realm of the cotton industry. Prior to cotton, rice was the state of South Carolina’s cash crop, however, disastrous hurricanes over the years destroyed the rice industry of the Lowcountry. However, it is throughout the golden age of piracy that the Charleston area was known for creating an economic phenomenon due to the lucrative industry of Barbadian-inspired rice trading. The lucrative rice industry and the large ports influenced the acts of piracy in the Lowcountry. However, what influenced these men of the sea to buy property and mingle with the local governmental officials of this era? This question must be answered before delving into the corrupt act of slavery which fueled the State of South Carolina’s extremely lucrative economy. There is a major gap in historical studies which questions the cultural belief and acceptance of these men of the sea whose names have been demonized by Hollywood. Today, in the State of South Carolina, the Gullah culture is more influential than ever. We must credit these men of the sea who saw these individuals for who they were and not just their skin color as a positive influence in the eventual end of slavery. Today, the city of Charleston praises the familial ties of the Colleton family as well as the Yeamans which ultimately contradicts the role of racial progression along the South Carolina coast. Discovering the connection amongst these prominent South Carolina names in relation to the lives of history’s most notorious Pirates is much more similar than one may choose to believe. This is why focusing on the beliefs of these once very rich men who turned to piracy in connection to the beliefs of the charming Southern plantation owners must be further researched to discover the differential view of beliefs shared amongst the two
A Comparative Analysis of K–12 Public School Music Teacher Burnout from 1986 to 2025
No full textThis historical comparative analysis assessed five different sources to understand the effect stress and burnout have had on public school music educators over the last fifty years. In the United States, music educators are facing stress and burnout in their teaching careers, which can result in attrition from their profession. In this research study, four studies pertaining to music educator burnout are analyzed through a narrative compilation of research already established. Also analyzed is a supplementary recent article providing contemporary relevance. The criteria for source selection included studies or articles that primarily researched stress and burnout among K-12 public school music educators in the United States, within a fifty-year span. Sources of both historical and current dates were sought out to support the historical analysis function of this research study. This research examined the history of music educator burnout, the similarities and differences in the reasons for stress, historical trends within the data, and the rationale for the music educator shortage. The findings of this historical comparative analysis suggest that symptoms of music educator burnout, including feelings of career overwork, lack of control in music programs, insufficient salary, lack of school community support, and an absence of fairness in job responsibilities and treatment, when compared to non-music teachers, are often primary causes of music educator stress. Additionally, adequate support from administration can help lessen music educator career stress, contributing to increased job satisfaction, decreased workplace stress, and a lower chance of burnout
Education Standards and the United States Military
No full textThe United States military has been observed by many conservative and libertarian think tanks, such as The Heritage Foundation and CATO, as losing strength and effectiveness. Many outside these major think tanks are concerned about why defense takes up so much of the discretionary budget when the military seemingly continues to decline as most military branches fall short on their recruitment quotas. To boost recruitment and bolster the US military several branches have reexamined policies and altered them to expand the recruiting pool. One policy that is being investigated for reexamination is education standards. Education standards in some branches may be, or already are dropping to expand the recruitment pool. Actions such as this should lead Americans to wonder what the importance of education is to the US military—specifically, looking at whether education plays a positive, negative, or neutral role in the strength and effectiveness of the US military. This paper will examine education’s effects on the US military, specifically targeting the United States Navy’s decision to drop the requirement for a completed high school education before enlistment. In doing so, this paper seeks to advocate for the instrumental role education plays in the maintenance of a strong and effective military
Primary Hyperaldosteronism
No full textThis paper will give an overview of primary hyperaldosteronism, which is a condition characterized by the excess production of aldosterone from the adrenal glands. Since its discovery in 1954 by James Conn, primary hyperaldosteronism has been discovered to have a variety of causes, with the more common ones being either benign tumors or inherited disorders such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Affected patients display conditions such as hypertension or hypokalemia, which may lead to symptoms including headaches, blurred vision, or dizziness. This paper will cover the anatomy of the adrenal glands, along with the normal physiology and synthesis of aldosterone. Aldosterone’s role in maintaining body electrolyte and fluid homeostasis will also be discussed
Types of Burns and Burn Care
No full textBurn treatment focuses on minimizing tissue damage, preventing infection, managing pain, and promoting optimal healing. The severity of burns—classified as first, second, or third degree—determines the appropriate therapeutic approach, which may include wound cleaning, topical antibiotics, dressings, fluid resuscitation, and surgical interventions such as debridement or grafting. Effective treatment requires careful monitoring and support through each healing stage to reduce complications and improve functional and cosmetic outcomes
Ministry Organization Response to the Mental Health Crisis
No full textThe mental health crisis has been negatively affecting individuals across the globe for about half a century, only growing in its impact each year. However, following the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health crises skyrocketed. This is especially true for youth and young adults as physical isolation has altered many facets of their lives. This thesis will explore the mental health crisis, as well as the way it has impacted youth and young adult organizations. Specifically, it will discuss research on recommended ways for these organizations to respond to the mental health crisis through unique programming and how these practices have been implemented. Additionally, it will synthesize this research with a Biblical worldview to discuss how specifically camp ministries should respond
Developing Healthy Leaders for Multiplication at The Bridge Church
No full textThe problem addressed in this DMIN action research project is the lack of a clearly defined biblical framework for the ongoing leadership development at TBC in Venice, Florida, amid rapid growth and increasing attendance. This gap has hindered the equipping of leaders to disciple and lead others and fulfill the Great Commission through church multiplication. The purpose of this project was to design and implement a biblically grounded leadership pathway, including The Bridge Institute (TBI), to equip current and future servant leaders for maturity, relational authenticity, and missional impact. The goals included developing improved assimilation, increasing volunteer engagement, and creating scalable training to help the congregation move from consuming to contributing. Utilizing qualitative action research methods, the project involved anonymous questionnaires, known questionnaires, and one-on-one interviews with members and leaders of the church. The results revealed six key themes: enhanced assimilation and belonging, improved volunteer development, increased leadership confidence, identified engagement barriers, deepened spiritual growth, and clearer pathways. The implications emphasized biblical preaching for aligning vision, ensuring relational authenticity, streamlining onboarding, and centralizing equipping through TBI. The application of this project provides a helpful model and approach for churches facing growth challenges and those seeking greater health. Grounded in Ephesians 4:12, the impetus of the project emphasizes that as pastors and churches seek to build healthy churches, a multiplying culture grounded in biblical leadership is crucially important
Treatment Concerning Grief Disorder After COVID-19: Can Spiritual Care Help?
No full textThe phenomenological study described the experiences of spiritual care for adults who lost a loved one due to COVID-19 in Texas. The theory guiding the study was Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, which was humanity’s search for meaning in a finite world governed by spiritual principles (García-Alandete, 2024; Parker, 2022; Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). Grief was one of the occurrences that grappled with humanity’s understanding of life. Death was a universal phenomenon, and grief occurred as a response to a loss (Fernández & González-González, 2022). Research shows that symptoms of grief dissipate over time. When it was accompanied by prolonged time or trauma, grief could turn into complex or prolonged grief, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or Clinical Depression. For those faced with the effects of COVID-19, the grief of a loved one was accompanied by loss of various other kinds (Biancalani et al., 2022). When the complexities of grief lasted for over a month, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- 5th edition referred to that as a persistent complex bereavement-related disorder. The study examined the effectiveness of spiritual care to treat the different facets of grief, including trauma-related grief. Exploring spiritual care as a substantial way to address multisystemic areas of client distress, including grief and bereavement, was done to address and challenge the medical viewpoint of biopsychosocial care. Data collection included the interview of each participant. Answers to the interviews were analyzed, and themes were developed. Suggestions were made to help clergy and lay people prepare for times like this. The church can minister more effectively by organizing care teams to support individuals and communities during times of grief and beyond
Overcoming Fragmented Implementation: Leadership Insights Toward A Standardized Framework for Generative AI Adoption in Enterprises
No full textThis convergent-parallel mixed-methods study examined how the absence of a standardized framework for integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) affected leadership alignment, organizational consistency, and ethical governance within enterprises. Grounded in the pragmatic research paradigm, the study combined quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate factors that shaped AI framework effectiveness and to identify insights that could guide future framework development. Quantitative data were collected from 137 full-time professionals representing executive, technology, employee, and regulatory roles across industries. Using validated constructs derived from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST), statistical analyses including ANOVA, chi-square, and regression were conducted to explore relationships between framework type and key organizational outcomes. Qualitative data from 20 semi-structured interviews were coded to identify dominant themes of leadership influence, framework ambiguity, and ethical responsibility. Findings revealed that leadership behaviors, rather than framework type alone, were the primary drivers of alignment, governance effectiveness, and organizational readiness. Leadership role significantly predicted alignment outcomes, with executives and technology leaders reporting higher coherence in AI integration than employees. Regression analyses indicated that Attitude Toward AI, Effort Expectancy, and Perceived Threat collectively predicted ethical governance outcomes, delineating that readiness and perception shaped success. Qualitative results supported these findings, demonstrating that visible leadership engagement, clear communication, and reinforcement of ethical expectations promoted adoption confidence, while ambiguous frameworks and diffuse accountability weakened governance and trust. Triangulation of both strands demonstrated convergence, complementarity, and divergence across perspectives. The study concluded that leadership commitment and organizational readiness exerted greater influence on successful AI integration than the existence of a standardized framework; however, the findings offered foundational insight for future efforts to design consistent, ethically grounded frameworks for responsible AI adoption