Discrimination and Young People - 706 Words

Final draft Feb 2010 Title Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people 3 2 Assessment criteria The learner can: 1.1 Identify the current legislation and codes of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity 1.2 Explain the importance of promoting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access 1.3 Explain the importance and benefits of valuing and promoting cultural diversity in work with children and young people 1.4 Interact with children and young people in a way that values diversity and respects cultural, religious and ethnic differences 1.5 Demonstrate ways of applying the principles of equality, diversity and antidiscriminatory†¦show more content†¦the unit and relevant national occupational standards or other professional standards or curricula (if appropriate) STL18 Support pupils’ learning activities STL23 Plan, deliver and evaluate teaching and learning activities under the direction o f a teacher STL38 Support children with disabilities or special educational needs and their families (CCLD 321) Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people (level 3) final draft Feb 2010 Page 2 of 4 FinalShow MoreRelatedExplain Ways in Which Children and Young People Can Experience Prejudice and Discrimination.863 Words   |  4 PagesExplain ways in which children and young people can experience prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice and discrimination are linked, however they are different terms, prejudice comprises of preconceived negative thoughts or beliefs about individuals who belong to a particular group, whereas discrimination is bigoted behaviour or action that is motivated by unfair beliefs.   Both discrimination and prejudice can take a range of forms and can take place for a multitude of reasons and usually occursRead MoreThe Effects Of Prejudice On Children And Young People1502 Words   |  7 PagesPrejudice is an opinion or attitude about a group of people that is based upon lack of understanding or incorrect information. It is making assumptions about children and young people because they belong to a particular group. Prejudiced attitudes can all too often be found among children, even at a very young age. Research has shown that children are capable of holding prejudices and negative attitudes towards others from the age of three. There are so many pressures on children to fit in and toRead MoreHiv/Aids Stigma and Discrimination1338 Words   |  6 PagesCepeda Social Psychology HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination Strayer University November 19, 2011 Internationally, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, triggered at least in part by growing recognition that negative social responses to the epidemic remain pervasive even in seriously affected communities. Yet, rarely are existing notions of stigma and discrimination interrogated for their conceptual adequacy and their usefulness inRead MoreEquality Diversity Inclusion1538 Words   |  7 Pages1.1 Explain what is meant by. Equality Equality is treating people fairly and making sure that everyone is given a fair chance and that their individual needs are met. It’s about giving all sections of the community equal access to employment, education and other services that are provided whilst valuing and respecting them. Recognising that different sections of the community require specific measures to make sure they receive equality. Recognising how and why some groups are underrepresentedRead MoreExplain What Is A Code Of Conduct And Provide An Example Relevant To Working With Groups In Community Services1028 Words   |  5 Pages c) You hear a rumour from the young people during the group activity that one of the youth workers is having sex with one of the young people. What do you do? Hold a team meeting with all youth workers involved if you are the team leader and address that there are rumours of this behaviour happening and that it is not acceptable. Note these rumours in your group reports. Advise your supervisor /manager of these reports and what is being talked about. Also it may be important to address the groupRead MoreTa Level 2 204 Equality Diversity Inclusion in Work with Children and Young People, 2.1, 2.2, 2.51545 Words   |  7 PagesTA level 2 204 Equality Diversity amp; Inclusion in work with children and young people, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5 Question 1 Case Study 1 1a) Who is being discriminated against? Sally has been attending nursery school for three months. Both Sally and her family; who are travellers, are being discriminated against. 2a) What kind of discrimination is taking place? The discrimination taking place for Sally and her family could be considered to be direct; Sally is being treated less favourablyRead MoreTda 2.4 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young People1458 Words   |  6 Pageswith children and young people The current legislative framework protecting the equal rights of all children and young people are stated in the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). These rights are extensive, including the right to education and the right for children and young people to have their views respected. The Children Act 1989 sets out the duty of local authorities to provide services according to the needs of all children and young people. Every Child MattersRead MoreEquality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work Children and Young People.773 Words   |  4 PagesTDA 2.4 Equality, diversity and inclusion in work children and young people. Unfortunately some children, at some point in their life will experience some form of discrimination. This could be anything from being called names because they wear glasses or being shunned in the playground because they aren’t wearing the latest fashion in coats or trainers. Sadly as children become young people this could also grow into discrimination due to their race, colour or even sexual preferences. WhateverRead MoreDiscrimination And Discrimination1032 Words   |  5 PagesDiscrimination is a monster lurking in the shadows, it can be found almost anywhere and can affect anyone. Discrimination is bad treatment or judgement of a certain group of people, similar to prejudice. It affects the teens and young adults of the world, especially those still in school. Homophobia, racism, and sexism are three of the most common types of discrimination. Discrimination like homophobia, racism, and sexism negatively affects many young adults. A notable type of discrimination isRead MoreHow Disability Affects Young People s Experience Of Growing Up918 Words   |  4 Pagesarticle I read was about how disability affects young people’s experience of growing up. This article explains how disabled children and young people can experience the transition to adulthood quite differently to their non-disabled peers (leading education and social research, 2014, p1). In this article they conducted their research on a longitudinal study, and they looked at young teens in England who was experiencing behavior change. The study gathered young teens that were age 19, who was experiencing

Human Trafficking A Form Of Modern Day Slavery - 1394 Words

Human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery, is the third largest money making venture in the world; 2.5 million out of 8.1 million of forced labor are sex trafficked and 1.7 million of women and girls are in commercial sexual exploitation (Stone 320). When it comes to human trafficking, it can happen to anyone and anywhere. Many female victims are sexually exploited because women and girls under the age of 18 are lured and misled by promises of employment, leaving their home and consideration that they will have a better life and finding themselves in sexual slavery and fear (â€Å"What Is†). Most sex-trafficked victims are unable to escape, but when they do, they use their voices to share their horrid experiences and how it has affected them. Women and children from all over the world are forced into some type of labor or prostitution. They are beaten, starved, and forced to work with little or no pay at all (â€Å"What Is†). Jasmine Marino-Fiandaca is a former sex-trafficking victim that was a prisoner for seven years of violence and sexual slavery. On New York Daily News, Marino-Fiandaca was interviewed and shared her story of sex trade. Marino-Fiandaca was only eighteen years old when a man, who was supposedly her boyfriend, targeted her. The man â€Å"groomed† her by buying her gifts, providing a place to stay, promising a loving relationship before he revealed his true intent. She states that she felt very special because he gave her all the attention she wanted while she feltShow MoreRelatedHuman Trafficking : Modern Day Form Of Slavery Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Trafficking: The Modern-Day Form of Slavery Laura Gomez Case Western Reserve University On October 6, 2016, the CEO of the Backpage.com was arrested in Texas on allegations of sex trafficking and pimping involving underage victims (Fernandez, 2016). In Los Angeles, 153 prostitution-related arrests were made along with the rescue of 10 victims forced into the sex trade (Evans, 2016). A human trafficking sting in Texas, headed by McLennan County Sherriff s Office and the Homeland SecurityRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Modern Day Form Of Slavery1393 Words   |  6 PagesDo you know what human trafficking is? Well, human trafficking is just another name for modern slavery.   Different medias, like television shows and movies, make it look like human trafficking only happens in foreign countries or to foreign citizens.   That however, is dangerously untrue.   It is one of the biggest crime industries in America, behind drug and arms dealing.   It’s happening right in our backyard, human trafficking is extremely prevalent in big American cities and states w ith internationalRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Modern Day Form Of Slavery1591 Words   |  7 PagesHuman trafficking is a billion dollar industry and is arguably the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. It exists in every country. It’s victims are both old and young, black and white, and spans every socioeconomic bracket. The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as, ‘a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain’ (What Is Human Trafficking?). While people are trafficked for a majority of reasons, the mostRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Trafficking : A Modern Day Form Of Slavery Essay1068 Words   |  5 PagesHuman smuggling and trafficking: Did you know that women make up 66% of the worldwide trafficking victims? The victim is usually aged 8-18, and some are as young as 4 or 5. Human trafficking and smuggling is becoming the world’s largest crime in the world. People that are caught up in these horrible crimes either end up in jail if caught, or dead. Trafficking is a compared to a modern-day form of slavery as it involves the exploitation of unwilling people through force. Karla Jacinto was one ofRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Form Of Modern Day Slavery1147 Words   |  5 Pages Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that involves the buying and selling of human beings. Although human trafficking is highly illegal The United Nations estimate that 2.5 people are trafficked every year (2008). Most victims of human trafficking are from Asia, Slavic European nations and Central America (Thio Taylor 2011).These victims may be tricked into leaving their countries with false promises of a better life. Once imprisoned the victims are told they now have large debtsRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Modern Day Form Of Slavery1232 Words   |  5 Pages Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that continues to pose problems to many countries including the United States of America. As technology continue to improve, it is very easy for a pimp or trafficker to sit in one state and connect with a victim in another state. People are been trafficked for many reasons, one of which is sex. As victims of sex trafficking suffers with emotional, physical, sexua l and psychological abuse and manipulation, they are often afraid to report their traffickersRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Form Of Modern Day Slavery1339 Words   |  6 Pages Trafficking in persons or TIP, â€Å"is a form of modern day slavery† (Women’s Bureau 2002). â€Å"Traffickers often prey on individuals who are poor; frequently unemployed, or underemployed, and who may lack access to social safety nets. Victims are often lured by traffickers with false promises of good jobs and better lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhumane conditions†(Attorney General). TIP â€Å"involves the use of violence, threats or deception to create a pliant and exploitable work force†Read MoreHuman Trafficking : A Form Of Modern Day Slavery2259 Words   |  10 PagesLiu Mrs. D English 3 5/9/2016 Issue on Human Trafficking Stott and Ramey stated in their journal: â€Å"Human Trafficking described as a form of modern-day slavery, human trafficking tremendously violates the rights of its victims. Human trafficking is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing business of organized crime. Bales and Lize explained that human trafficking is a means by which people are brought into as well as maintained in, slavery and forced labor. It is an actual process of enslavement†Read MoreHuman Trafficking Is The Modern Day Form Of Slavery1845 Words   |  8 PagesHuman Trafficking in America Cindy Vann Term Paper for Social Science 180 Diversity in the United States On-line Course # 71032 Submitted to: Professor Leal November 14, 2015 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that: this term paper, entitled Human Trafficking in the United States, is exclusively the result of my own original library research, thinking, and writing. I wrote this paper for Social Science 180 to satisfy the requirement. No part of the paper was copied or paraphrasedRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Form Of Modern Day Slavery1568 Words   |  7 PagesModern Times Slaves Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery where its perpetrators profit from control, exploitation, coercion and defrauding of others through forced labor, or sexual exploitation and in some cases both. Sexual exploitation is the most prevalent form of human trafficking especially in the United States. Even though accurate statistics are rare in this field, those currently existing approximate that massive numbers of women and girls are sold for sexual exploitation within

In Cold Blood Capital Punishment Essay Example For Students

In Cold Blood Capital Punishment Essay Susan Smith purposely drove her car off into a lake with her 2 children strapped to the back seats. Think of how they must have felt as the cold water started to fill the car, and then ultimately drowned them. Barbaric is the word I would use to describe her actions. But yet, the jury rejected the death penalty and chose a 30-year sentence instead because capital punishment was not enforced in the state. Broken up from the death of his 2 children, Mr. Smith said, Me and my family are disappointed that the death penalty was not the verdict. I am going to convince you that capital punishment has to be enforced in all states. I will tell you about the problem, the solution to the problem, and what it would be like if my solution is implemented. The problem is that the current criminals that commit these brutal crimes are not fearful enough of the consequences and punishment they have to pay. Life in prison is too easy on the convicts. We have to be harder on them. Another problem is capital punishment is not imposed in enough states. All of the states need to adopt it in the United States for it to be effective. Another dilemma is that it is not fair that an individual who took the life of another receives heating, shelter, clothing, 3 meals a day, and indoor plumbing while a homeless person who does not cause any harm to anybody else receives nothing. An additional problem is the current prisons are very low on cell space. The criminals that have life in prison are taking up many of them. The solution to the problem is to adopt capital punishment in all states. It lowers the number of brutal crimes and murders. According to a study composed by Isaac Ehrlich in 1976, 8 murders are deterred for each execution carried out in the United States. He goes on to say, If one execution of a guilty capital murderer deters the murder of one innocent life, the execution is justified. To most supporters of the death penalty, like Ehrlich, if even one life is saved, for countless executions of the guilty, it is a good reason for the death penalty. The theory that society engages in murder when executing the guilty is considered to be invalid. Supporters feel that execution of convicted offenders expresses the great value that society places on innocent life. There are 5 ways to actually perform the executions: lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad. Lethal injection is by far the most painless and is the most widely used. It only takes about 15 secon ds for the criminal to loose consciousness. If capital punishment is not implemented by all of the states, criminals will not receive the punishment that they deserve. Criminals are not afraid enough of just going to jail so they do not care if they get in trouble for their crimes. There are many additional murders and brutal crimes without capital punishment. It is proven in statistics that capital punishment does work to deter potential criminals. Also with capital punishment, there would be less murderers taking up jail space so there would be more space for the criminals that committed less harsh crimes. Capital punishment needs to enforced in all states because it is not used in enough states, it is proven that it lowers the number of murders and brutal crimes, and the criminals are not fearful enough of just life in prison. You need to support capital punishment and vote in favor for it when you can and give those criminals the penalty they deserve.

Marketting mix on coca cola Essay Example

Marketting mix on coca cola Paper The services marketing mix is also called the ups and includes the addition of process, people and physical evidence. 3. Ups of Neurotransmitter: Product means the goods and services combination the company offer to the target racket. Price: Price is the amount of money customer must pay to obtain the product. 4. Ups of Marketplace: Place includes company activities that make the product available to target customers. Promotion: Promotion means activities that communicate the merits of product and persuade target customers to buy it. 5. ACS of Marketings is also important for marketing mix. The four CSS includes-O Customer Solutions Customer Cost Convenience Communication 6. Coca Cola Founded in beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce more than 230 beverage brands. The corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in nearly 200 countries around the world. The Coca Cola Company is a leader in the cokes industry, with thousands of employees and offices in the entire world, making it an emporium of beverages. 7. Vision Mission The Coca-Cola Company vision statement is to be the leader in the beverages industry. The companys main goal is to keep being number one selling coke in the world and to increase their incomes, the same way they have done in their past years. 8. Strengths The products that this company produces are hard to copy. These products have added value The quality of the products reaches highest standards Is a leader in the industry Is known in all the world 9. Marketing Mix of Coca Collateralized Product: The Coca- Cola Companys pro ducts include beverage concentrates and syrups, with the main product being finished beverages. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketting mix on coca cola specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketting mix on coca cola specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketting mix on coca cola specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The business has over 300 brands of beverages around the world with the main ones being Coke, Fauna, Lift, Sprite, and Powered. Different Price: The prices of Coca-colas products vary according to the brand and the size. Each sub-brand of coca cola has different pricing strategy. Their racing strategy is based on the competitors pricing, Pepsi is the direct competitor to coke. 10. Marketing Mix of Coca Collaborationist Activities: The Coca-Cola Company sells its products by bottling and canning operations. The distributors reached the coke to the wholesalers and the wholesalers reached it to retailers. And at last the customers buy coca cola from retailer shop. Promotion Activities: Advertising The Coca-Cola Company uses advertising as its main source of increasing consumer awareness. It mainly uses the television. There are many television advertisements on Coca-Cola products. This source allows the companys products to reach a large audience. 11. Coca-Cola in Evenhandedness-Cola is the most popular and biggest- selling soft drink insisting, as well as the best-known product in the world. Cochlea is the oldest brand in Bangladesh. From the last 50 yearbooks cola has been marketing its products through electroencephalograms of Bangladesh. However, now it is marketed Abdul Money Limited. It marketed coca cola under authority of the coca cola company, USA and distributes focal-Cola, Sprite and Fauna in Bangladesh. 12. Marketing mix of Coca Cola in Bangladesh:product: Coca Cola offers two efferent sweet and flavored cola in our country. This is normal cola and another is dieting Cola. Coca Cola does not frequently change its taste. It has many nutritional values similar to Pepsi. It serves different type of beverage like Sprite, Fauna, etc. Price: Coca Cola Bangladesh Limited always tries to keep a standard price. It also offers promotional discounts, allowances, credit terms and payment period for the stores and Restaurants. Coca Cola, furthermore, offers discounts in a family size bottle frequently. To thing consumer buying power the coca cola company manufacture efferent types of can for our countries people, so that they can easily buy it. 13. Marketing mix of Coca Cola in Bangladesh:place: Coca Cola Bangladesh Limited has a strong distribution channel to distribute their Coca Cola. They make Coca Cola easy to get and available to the customer everywhere through their expert distributors channel. Their transport facilities, channels of distribution, coverage area, etc. Are maintained very securely. Promotion: Coca cola spends millions of dollar for and color to advertise. Coca Cola makes sales promotion, advertising, force selling, public relations, direct marketing, etc. Sometimes local and international games inaugurated by the help of coca cola Bangladesh Ltd. 14. Summarys Cola now a brand all around the word. Every day they promote their market every corner of the world. More than 60 percent soft drinks liked people like coca cola. They have different kinds of products like Coke, Sprite, Fauna, Lift etc. They always try to provide their product with low price with different packaging. As it is a soft drink, Coca-Cola Company follows Intensive Distribution. It is found more or less everywhere in Bangladesh. In terms of promotions they use Emotional Appeal.

The Judgment by Fraz Kafka Essays

The Judgment by Fraz Kafka Essays The Judgment by Fraz Kafka Paper The Judgment by Fraz Kafka Paper The story The Judgment, written by Franz Kafka was said to be one of his breakthrough stories that sparked his story writing career. While most of Kafka’s stories were thought to be closely related to certain aspects of his life, The Judgment is thought to closely represent the conflicting relationship between Kafka and his father and the turmoil that Kafka experienced growing up as a result of his crude-minded father. This relationship that Kafka had with his own father is reflected in The Judgment, a story between a young man named Georg Bendemann and his father Bendemann senior. Bendemann senior appears to be a very controlling and business orientated person who has spent most of his life working to build his business and taking care of his wife and son. After the death of his wife, Bendemann senior admits that things are not the same as they use to be. His health is deteriorating and he has left his business, which he was highly devoted to before to his son Georg Bendemann. George is a young middle aged man who is in the midsts of taking over his father’s business and has taken to watching over his father because of his deteriorating health. While Georg has plenty to look forward to; a booming business, a new fiance and moving into a new home, a strange feeling comes over him when he is writing to announce his engagement to a long time friend who has moved to St. Petersburg Russia. This uncanny feeling that presides over him is one that he is unsure of how to go about, thus he goes to his father for advice on what to say to his friend who has not been doing as well as Georg has. The scene that occurs in Bendemann’s senior’s room on a random Sunday morning is reflective of the relationship that Georg and his father have created since childhood . Depending how interpreted- either from the father’s side or the son’s side- can help understand what influenced Georg’s actions after his father condemns him to death. The reactions from both the father and son and the conflict between the two is a result of an inferiority complex Georg has attained as a result of the way Bendemann senior has treated Georg from a young age. The ultimate affect that this father and son have on each other are exposed on that day, which ends in George committing suicide The specific instances that occur when Georg goes to see his father in his dark room can be seen as a power struggle between father and son. When Georg first enters his father’s room he tells his father that he has written a letter to announce his engagement to his friend in St. Petersburg but is unsure of whether or not he will send it to his friend in consideration for his feelings. Bendemann senior becomes frustrated and tells Georg that since his mother’s death things have not been the same, and then goes on to criticize Georg in many aspects of his life. From his choice in bride to how he been a coward towards his friend in Russia and not kept him updated about what is going on in his life, admitting that he has been writing to his friend to keep him updated. From Bendmanns seniors point of view Georg has never fully be able to grow up and make decisions on his own, hence why he comes to his father for his approval before he sends the letter. Further supporting Bendmann senior’s perception of his son is the fact that he has been keeping in touch with his friend from Russia. Writing him letters and keeping him up to date about matters at home, knowing or rather believing that his son is incapable of doing so. Throughout this whole scene Georg is trying his best to comply and deal with his aging father. When Georg tries to tuck his father into bed he resists and says that he is trying to smother him. When looking at this situation from Bendemanns senior’s point of view it is as if he believes his son has not grown into an adult and has escaped from the reality of growing up, claiming that â€Å"How long you hesitated before your time was ripe. Mother has to die; she couldn’t love until that happy day! † (Pg 9). He believes his son is incapable of taking over his business that he worked so hard to build, further criticizing his choice in his fiance calling her a floozy. An explanation for Bendmenns senior’s reactions could be one of two things. Either Georg’s father is having a hard time accepting the fact that his son is growing up and essentially taking over his business and the position that he once had. Or that he has always been resentful towards Georg since childhood, treating him poorly and when his wife passes it is even more apparent. Either explanation would do justice when understanding how Bendemenn senior has affected Georg’s development and how his treatment of his son throughout his how life has manifested into a negative, almost weak aspect of Georg’s personality when he is an adult. The relationship that Georg and his father have is an interesting relationship because of the affect that the two have on each other. While Georg highly aggravates his father, because of his belief that his son being incapable of doing the right thing, this in turn creates a sense of guilt in Georg. A sense of guilt which surfaces later in his life when he is trying to become a man, get married, and have business. Georg’s feelings manifest later in life though suffering, insecurity, and eventually death. What Georg should do is grow up and stand firm to his father that he is taking over the business and that he needs to stay out of his relationship with his friend in Russia and keeps his opinions about his wife to himself. Unfortunately certain aspects of this father son relationship have developed into Georg’s feelings of inferiority, which have been this way for a while make it difficult for Georg to stand up to his father let alone talk to him. Those who experience feelings of inferiority are believe that it can sometimes start from childhood, weather they were not loved enough or were always degraded from their parental figures growing up. As a result Georg feels the need to seek his father’s approval in menial matters such as whether or not he should send this letter. It is interesting how Georg reacts to his father who constantly believes he is incapable of making his own decisions. From Georg’s point of view he believes that he must help his aging father, take over the business and have a wife because that is what is expected from him. Georg is kind to his father, tucks him in, asks for his opinion on matters he sees important and was even willing to let him move in with them after his marriage. Although his actions are subconscious to Georg himself, these actions are coming from a place where Georg feels the need to gain approval from his father. These feelings of approval steam from his father’s treatment of him as a child. Another result of this complex would be the need to overcompensate which he is doing so by taking care of his sick father and putting up with his aggressive and hurtful words. Georg is even going as far as letting his father live with him and his fiance so he is not alone. The fact that Georg has taken to not being honest with his â€Å"good friend† in St. Petersburg further supports how his feelings of inadequacy have caused him to retreat from reality and display almost anti social behaviors. Although the Judgment is a short story a lot can be implied from this psychological mind-twister. The relationship between Georg and Bendemann senior is a complex one which reaches its peak on that Sunday afternoon in his father’s room. When interpreting the story from Georg’s side he is trying to spare the feelings of his friend in Russia, which is why he doesn’t keep him completely up to date. He appears to care for his father and take care of him and over the business in a time of his ailing health. Looking at this story from the father’s side, he believes his son to be immature and incapable of growing up and making the right choices. He believes that Georg just wants to take over the business and is around just because he is still alive. Interestingly how these two act towards each other is a result of the relationship that they have developed since Georg’s youth. Bendemenns senior’s treatment of his son; harsh criticism and constantly degrading his worth have manifested into Georg’s personality and certain motivations in life. His feelings of insecurity and his constant struggle to gain approval from his father has resulted in him feeling inferior to his father, thus taking everything he says literal. When Georg’s father condemns him to death, he utters â€Å"I have always loved you† before jumping off the bridge. As a result of his feelings of inferiority and never being able to satisfy or prove his father right, he says I have always loved you because even though it did not appear that way because his father made it difficult for him to prove it, he still loved his father. The extent of power that this father and son have on each other is displayed through Bendemann senior’s aggressiveness and belief that his son is inadequate. In turn this has had a negative effect on the development of Georg’s personality and his life as an adult. Georg finally takes his father’s words literally and kills himself as a result of the suffering and torment his father has instilled in him throughout the years. References Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis and other stories. (Mineola, N. Y. Dover Publications. 1996)

Get Ready to Live Abroad with These Tips

Get Ready to Live Abroad with These Tips How to Pack for Your Year Abroad? Everyone would somehow or other like to travel outside their country to visit interesting places, get a job, immerse themselves in a new culture, or see how people from other countries live. When you travel abroad first, you may not know the exact things you need to pack, what will be useful and what not, and how to pack all your things on time. Students and employees are especially interested in this issue. Well, at first glance, this activity seems complicated, exhausted and boring. We all might want to throw all the things into a suitcase, close it instantly, take a phone and a passport, and jerk off to the airport. However, often we have to deal with heavy travel bags, packages, and other trifles. For students who wish to study abroad and avoid mistakes while packing belongings, we released this article with useful tips. Well, let's get started. Check These Useful Tips for Packing Abroad! 1. Don’t pack much. This is probably the most important and difficult task for all the travelers. People need plenty of things for work, studying, or leisure time, so they want to shove as many things into their suitcase as possible. Perhaps, it happens by chance, even if that wasn’t a person’s real will. This kind of panic before traveling is typical, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Try to accept that you take just one suitcase. That's all. Pack your most necessary belongings, select priority things, and get rid of unnecessary items. 2. Make a list. You might think we are crazy that offer you such a boring idea of making a list of things. But believe us, such lists are really helpful tools for those planning to travel abroad. Just have a try: write a list of things with subheadings, which will represent the names of the rooms. Then, go to each of the rooms of your apartment, write down what you will need to take, and leave some space for checkmarks. When it's time to pack, come to your rooms again, take and place those things in the suitcase, and put a checkmark next to each item. Besides, those traveling lists will help you pack once you need to return so that you can’t forget anything. 3. Pack for all seasons. The more you plan to live abroad, the more clothes you need to take with. Different seasons mean different garments, and this, in turn, is a minus for those who want to take the very minimum of clothing. Well, find out about the prevailing weather in another country, look through your wardrobe and take a few things for each season, and do not neglect the warm clothes. In case there is nothing suitable, you can always buy on the spot. 4. Take some nostalgic items. Leaving home is always a tough issue for anyone, especially for those who leave it for a long time. The ideal solution here is to take a piece of your home - something that strongly reminds of your loved ones, friends and family. Pack (not many, of course) pictures, photographs, letters, or gifts from your close ones. Such a piece of nostalgia will not take much place in a suitcase and will bring good mood at any moment. 5. What to put into a hand luggage? Hand luggage is just of the same importance as your main suitcase: you don’t need to put much in it. No matter what you travel on - a plane, a car, or boat, take the most necessary things, namely, hygiene means, medicines, nightwear, cosmetics (for women), chargers, travel adapters, and of course your phone and ID. 6. Start as soon as you can. As you may have noticed, travel packing is not as simple as it looks. So starting in advance is the best thing you can do, this will save your time for something more important. If you get it done soon, you will have an opportunity to hang out with friends or spend time with family members before you leave. Or, you may use it for your own purpose, for example, you may sleep well for a few days and gain strength for traveling.

Profile of Adolf Hitler Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Profile of Adolf Hitler - Essay Example Most people believe that Hitler was the prime instigator of the Second World War and links him with the popular German’s Holocaust that led to loss of millions of people considered inferior to Aryan beliefs (Davidson 23). Due to this historical background, the profile of Hitler is of great meaning to the generations. This essay hence provides the profile of Hitler unveiling important concerns about this controversial and popular leadership. Hitler’s Childhood Hitler was born in the year 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Australia. He was an unlawful son to Alois Hitler family. Hitler was an ever-hostile child who frequently clashed with his father, particularly after he had retired and shifted to Linz; however, he closely related with his mother. He lost his father when he was 14 and his mother at 18 (Davidson 78). Academically, he was a performer in his elementary course, but he later developed a rebellious habit that affected his performance. Notably, his aggressive behavior ma de him conflict with school managements hence he frequently shifted schools and finally left formal training at the age of 16 (Weber, 5). Indeed, he failed to accord values advocated by the formal system and opted to engage in liberal system. As such, he had inspirations of becoming a popular artist. He therefore, shifted to Vienna where he tried to enroll to Viennese Academy of Fine arts (VAFA), but failed (Nicholls 19). Dismissal of his applications gave him bad experience. He disbursed the idea of enrolling to the college and walked around the streets of Vienna selling his artistic pieces. He hence survived on orphan’s allowances and the little amount earned from his sales (Weber, 123). During her homeless period, he accumulated knowledge about the world’s politics noting the concern about Jews and socialism. Military experience By 1913, Hitler shifted to Munich to join military. However, initially he failed to secure the position in the Austrian military academy si nce he was unfit for the course. Nevertheless, emergence of the WWI offered him a chance of joining the service. Therefore, by 1914 he enrolled to the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment (BIR) and worked in force for the entire war period (Davidson 45). His tactics in the force asserted his potentials and bravery as a solder; indeed, he won â€Å"First Class† award twice. On war course, he was gravely injured twice, and towards the end, he faced a gas attack, which earned him a temporary blindness. This experience taught him of Germany’s surrender that he considered disloyal. Particularly, he passionately reprimanded Versailles Treaty and fought against it (Weber, 78). Hitler and the Idea of politics The WWI experience developed him a feeling that he was fated to save Germany. Later, while serving in the army unit, he secured a duty of monitoring a political party of idealists referred as the German Workers Party (GWP). Interestingly, instead of observing his spy duty, he enrolled to the group tactically and later rose to an influential position. In the year 1921, he secured the chair post in the party and changed its name to Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) (Weber, 130). He then developed the Swastika, which was to be the party’s symbol. Importantly, he established his private army the ‘storm troopers’ and a bodyguard to offer him security while attacking rebellious entities. Besides using his force, he tactically used his influential public speech power to lure the masses into embracing his ideologies (Weber, 12). These approaches were very successful hence enhanced his popularity considerably. By this time, many Germans granted the name Hitler attention (Nicholls 17). In 1923, he coordinated Bavarian nationalist under a

Analyzation paper on the Novel the bluest eye by Toni Morrison Essay

Analyzation paper on the Novel the bluest eye by Toni Morrison - Essay Example At the beginning of the story she is ruled by two desires. The first one is to understand love and to know how makes people love her. And the second is considered not to observe parent’s quarrels that make her feels horrible. She has been interested in the feeling of love, and her life experience gives her an opportunity to face with the special and even strange manifestation of love. The matter is that Pecola has been raped by her father Cholly Breedlove. This man has problems with the alcohol that may be predetermined by his hard childhood. He loves his daughter and reflects this love in a brutal and violent form. The feelings, that he is experienced in the moment of raping Pecola, may be described as love and hatred. His character has been cruel and alcohol helps him to become mad. Still, that is considered to be the only form of love that Pecola knows in her life, and as it is suggested in the novel â€Å"wicked people love wickedly, violent people love violently, weak people love weakly, stupid people love stupidly, but the love of a free man is never save† (Morrison, 163). Her father’s freedom in love is considered to be dangerous and it reflects on a daughter. Pecola is represented as fragile and delicate child through the entire story. Her life is suffering with no positive implications in reality. She is in need to endure the boys who tortured her after school, the classmates who ridicule her, or Mr. Yacobowski who rejects to touch her hand. Pecola is a true victim of the entire society in general and of her own views in particular. The matter is that this girl is considered to be sure in her ugliness and uselessness in this world. Her black skin is interpreted by her as a huge drawback in her life and in all the society. Black means ugly for Pecola and nothing can change her vision. Her dream is represented as a desire to have blue eyes and white skin. Pecola has an imaginary illusion

Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilization Essay Example for Free

Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilization Essay Many ancient civilizations developed as a result of the Neolithic Revolution, or the turning point in which the utilization of systematic agriculture created societies. Two civilizations, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, both transformed into civilizations by changing from nomadic hunter-gatherers to agriculture and trade civilizations. Both civilizations were created as a result of the same revolution, but they still differ in numerous ways. Egypt and Mesopotamia had similarities and differences in religion, social and political structure, and geography. These variations shaped the two civilizations into completely contrasting societies. The religion of Egypt greatly differs from that of Mesopotamia, yet it is also similar. First of all, the ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife and resurrection for all people, whereas the Mesopotamians believed in only a world of darkness after death. Both Mesopotamia and Egypt were polytheistic civilizations, meaning that they both believed in multiple gods or deities. Ancient Mesopotamian religion is associated with biblical mythology. Egypt and Mesopotamia had drawings and artwork to represent and worship their gods. They each believed in prayer as a form of interaction with their gods. Since Egyptians did believe in an afterlife, they performed a process known as mummification to preserve the bodies of the people who passed. The priests would remove organs, preserve the body, and bury them in tombs along with the items one would need in the afterlife. Not all Egyptians were mummified. Only the wealthy or important people were mummified in hopes that they had the afterlife they deserved. The religions of these civilizations developed differently. Social and political structure of a civilization can vary depending on religion, economy, and the technology available to the people. Egyptian social structure resembles Mesopotamian social and political structure because they are both able to be thought of as a pyramid; the least important, poorer subjects are at the base of the pyramid, the commoners and average people are in the middle, and the kings, priests, or pharaoh belong at the top, except there was no middle class for Egypt. There was a Pharaoh and its subjects. Egyptians had pharaohs, while Mesopotamia had Kings and priests. Egypt had priests, but they were not higher than the pharaoh. Priests were able to speak to the gods, teach, and go through with the process of mummification. Pharaohs were said to be very god-like and after their death, become a god. In Mesopotamia, the priests were the highest in means of communication with the gods. Kings were trusted to protect and better the kingdom or empire. Mesopotamia would raid hill peoples for potential slaves and Egypt would keep prisoners of war as slaves. Slaves did not have rights, but in Mesopotamia they were still treated as a whole being, like the commoners and were the lowest possible class of the two civilizations. The Egyptians had a centralized government with a Pharaoh as the ruler, and its subjects serving them. The Pharaohs has one main servant that is in power to make small decisions in the case of the Pharaohs request. They are called vizers and somewhat resemble having the privileges that a prime minister would. In Mesopotamia, they have a king and either a city-state government or an aristocracy, meaning the wealthy individuals and families are more powerful that the commoners. Peasants are able to own land in Mesopotamia, but they must provide a portion of their harvest of wheat or barley to pay a tax for their land. Egypt and Mesopotamia had similar form of empowerment, and their governments were also somewhat similar. The geography of Egypt and the geography of Mesopotamia directly affects the development of the two civilizations. Egypt is located in northern Africa and one river, the Nile, runs through it. The Nile river was a geographically asset to the Egyptians, with fertile silt and soil lining its banks. They called this black land, which they used for farming. The Nile occasionally flooded, but it was predictable and the Egyptians learned to control the flooding to use it to their advantage. They created irrigation systems that utilized the floods. Egypts early civilizations did not expand very far from the Nile river because of what they called red soil. Red soil is the barren desert, which provided a natural blockade from other invasive armies. The desert did not have arable land and was of no real use to the Egyptians. They were relatively isolated due to the surrounding desert, but the desert did provide glass and precious metals for trade. Mesopotamia was amongst two rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. Mesopotamia has a Greek making of between the rivers. The rivers were unpredictable when it came to flooding and were thought of as signs from god. When the Mesopotamians experienced a flood, they believed it was due to upsetting the gods. The rivers run through present-day Iraq and the Euphrates runs through a portion of Syria. The southern region of Mesopotamia was marshy wetland due to the flooding of the rivers, and the northern region of Mesopotamia was hills and plains. Contact and communications without outside civilizations near Mesopotamia as important to them. The resources and geographic location of these areas allowed for their development and growth into civilizations. Mesopotamia and Egypt are civilizations that grew on completely different continents under diverse conditions. The Neolithic Revolution allowed for the change in lifestyles of Egypt and Mesopotamia. These conditions affected their beliefs and growth. The two are similar and different in their ideas and religion, structure, and geographic location.

The Rattler essay :: essays research papers

Commentary on  ¡Ã‚ °Rattler ¡Ã‚ ±   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author ¡Ã‚ ¯s techniques in Rattler convey not only a feeling of sadness and remorse but also a sense of the man ¡Ã‚ ¯s acceptance of the snake ¡Ã‚ ¯s impending death. The reader can sense the purpose of the author ¡Ã‚ ¯s effective message through the usage of diction, imagery, and organization.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author uses diction in the passages to signify the effect of the author ¡Ã‚ ¯s meaning in story and often sway readers to interpret ideas in one way or another. The man in the story arrives to a  ¡Ã‚ °[dry] desert ¡Ã‚ ± where he accosts an animal with  ¡Ã‚ °long-range attack ¡Ã‚ ± and  ¡Ã‚ °powerful fangs. ¡Ã‚ ± The author creates a perilous scene between the human and animal in order to show that satisfaction does not come from taking lives. With instincts of silence and distrust, both of them freeze in stillness like  ¡Ã‚ °live wire. ¡Ã‚ ± In addition, the man is brought to the point where animal ¡Ã‚ ¯s  ¡Ã‚ °tail twitched, ¡Ã‚ ± and  ¡Ã‚ °the little tocsin sounded ¡Ã‚ ± and also he hears the  ¡Ã‚ °little song of death. ¡Ã‚ ± With violence ready to occur, the man tries to protect himself and others with a hoe, for his and their safety from the Rattler. The author criticizes how humans should be  ¡Ã‚ °obliged not to kill ¡Ã ‚ ±, at least himself, as a human. The author portrays the story with diction and other important techniques, such as imagery, in order to influence the readers with his significant lesson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The effect the reader perceives in the passage of Rattler is attained from the usage of the author ¡Ã‚ ¯s imagery. The author describes the pre-action of the battle between the man and the snake as a  ¡Ã‚ °furious signal, quite sportingly warning [the man] that [he] had made an unprovoked attack, attempted to take [the snake ¡Ã‚ ¯s] life...  ¡Ã‚ ± The warning signal is portrayed in order to reveal the significance of both the man ¡Ã‚ ¯s and the snake ¡Ã‚ ¯s value of life. The author sets an image of how one of their lives must end in order to keep the world in peace. In addition, the author describes how  ¡Ã‚ °there was blood in [snake ¡Ã‚ ¯s] mouth and poison dripping from his fangs; it was all a nasty sight, pitiful now that it was done. ¡Ã‚ ± This bloody image of snake ¡Ã‚ ¯s impending death shows the significance of the man ¡Ã‚ ¯s acceptance toward the snake. In a sense, the reader can interpret the man ¡Ã‚ ¯s sympathy toward the snake because of the possibility that he should have let him go instead of killing him.

How to Write a Critical Essay on Film Essay

1. The introduction includes the name of the movie and the director’s name. 2. The introduction identifies the thesis, or focus, of the analysis. 3. The Ideas presented are supported with details from the movie. 4. Supporting materials are smoothly incorporated into the sentences. 5. In writing this critical analysis, the writer has considered purpose and audience. 6. The conclusion brings the essay to a definite close. 7. The paragraph is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, and manuscript form. Sample Outline for a Critical Essay The following is a basic outline of a critical essay, the kind that might be written in a composition, literature, or film class. in this case, the writer is analyzing the meaning of particular symbols in a short story and film. Keep in mind that this is only one kind of possible organization; there are several ways to structure an essay effectively. Outlines can also vary in the amount of detail. Always check with your instructor if you are unsure about the organization of your essay. Title: Symbols of Freedom in Stephen King’s story â€Å"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption† and Frank Darabont’s film The Shawshank Redemption. Thesis Statement: In their different version of Shawshank Redemption, author Stephen King and director Frank Darabont make distinctions between freedom and captivity using a bird, a library, and a poster as symbols of freedom and justice. I. Introduction †¢The theme of freedom †¢Contrast freedom with the idea of unfair imprisonment †¢A bird, a library, and a poster as symbols of the human spirit, longing for community, and rebirth II. The bird as the struggle of Andy Dufesne’s human spirit †¢Bird as a universal symbol of freedom †¢Ã¢â‚¬ Caging† the bird is a metaphor for Andy’s false imprisonment †¢Jake’s different fates in the book and the film: warning and hope III. The  library as a symbol for community †¢The library as a place of freedom within the prison †¢Represents Andy’s connection with his own intellectual society †¢The library as a connection between Andy and the other prisoners IV. The poster as a symbol of rebirth †¢The women on the posters represent the â€Å"outside† †¢The posters guard and protect Andy’s struggle for freedom †¢Andy must go through the poster to escape †¢The sewage pipe Andy crawls through is like a birth canal †¢Rita Hayworth is like a â€Å"mother† to Andy’s new life V. Conclusion †¢Andy’s freedom was stolen †¢Andy â€Å"steals† his freedom back †¢Andy’s escape is the ultimate triumph of the human spirit over injustice and inhumanity

Charity Concert Event for the Benefit of the HIV-positive patients Essay

The â€Å"Rock for a Cause† is a concert intended to help HIV-positive patients in the local hospital. The proceeds of the concert will all go to the local hospital to provide financial and medical   assistance to HIV-positive patients confined at the hospital. Through this commendable event, the company can help hundreds of people afflicted with this dreadful disease in alleviating their disposition.   This project was conceptualized a month ago because the company saw the need to boost its social responsibility. By venturing in this humbling project, the company can promote generosity within the work environment and awareness on the condition of HIV-positive in the hospital.   The company chose HIV-positive patients as the beneficiary of this charity concert because they are the usual victims of prejudice and negative social stigma. Through the company’s initiative,   HIV-positive patients can feel a sense of compassion from other people.   Works Accomplished Since the conceptualization of the project, the following were accomplished: Selection of the theme for the concert which will celebrate the musical hits of contemporary pop rock. Reservation of the venue for the concert which is at the the open area of the park. Processing of the legal permits and documents needed for the concert to materialize. Works in Progress The following are currently being accomplished: Drafting of line up of singers and bands who will perform at the concert. Production of promotional materials including leaflets and posters. Works to be Done The following are pending works to be accomplish: Coordination with the hospital for the proper relegation of the financial proceeds of the concert and meeting with the beneficiaries to inform them about the project. Generation of marketing campaign to promote the concert. Invitation of performers and sponsors for the concert.   So far, there were only few drawbacks experienced during the preparation phase of this project. The most common problem was the time constraint. Supposedly, 80% of the works have already been accomplished but due to limited time and human resources, many are still pending. Despite the impediments, the project is still worth pursuing because of its noble cause. To ensure that the project will run smoothly, additional staff and an extension of two weeks on the deadline are needed. Success lies in the hands of everyone who will participate in this project.

Free Essays on Questionnaire Design

1 – Introduction 1.1 For this assignment the service that has been investigated is the Southampton Institute Library. The aim of the study is to highlight any existing or potential problems the computer workstations on the 3rd floor of the library may have. 1.2 The purpose of this report is to explain the type information that is needed and the ways in which the necessary data can be obtained. It will also describe the chosen survey method that was used to gain the required data, why this method was chosen and how it was put into action. 1.3 This report will write up and finish the research as stated by Martyn Denscombe 2003 â€Å"the process of research is not complete until findings have been written up†. 2 – Main Body 2.1 One of the most common methods of surveying people’s thoughts and opinions is by using questionnaires. Business rely heavily on survey results, to aid them identify what their customers and clients want, so large amounts of money are invested into the design of them, helping to ensure the businesses receive useful feedback. Because questionnaires are such an effective method of recording information, it will be the method used to collect relevant information for this report. Before the questionnaire can be designed and implemented, the goals (what you want to learn) have to be established. 2.2 The goal of this report is to identify thoughts and opinions, relating to the information technology aspect of Southampton Institute’s library. More specifically, focusing on the computer work area (located on the third floor) and the availability of computer workstations. As the goal of the questionnaire has been acknowledged, a sample or target population has to be determined. The sample that is chosen has to be relevant to the goal of the survey, so that useful information can be gathered. In the case of this report, the sample will be students, studying at Southampton ... Free Essays on Questionnaire Design Free Essays on Questionnaire Design 1 – Introduction 1.1 For this assignment the service that has been investigated is the Southampton Institute Library. The aim of the study is to highlight any existing or potential problems the computer workstations on the 3rd floor of the library may have. 1.2 The purpose of this report is to explain the type information that is needed and the ways in which the necessary data can be obtained. It will also describe the chosen survey method that was used to gain the required data, why this method was chosen and how it was put into action. 1.3 This report will write up and finish the research as stated by Martyn Denscombe 2003 â€Å"the process of research is not complete until findings have been written up†. 2 – Main Body 2.1 One of the most common methods of surveying people’s thoughts and opinions is by using questionnaires. Business rely heavily on survey results, to aid them identify what their customers and clients want, so large amounts of money are invested into the design of them, helping to ensure the businesses receive useful feedback. Because questionnaires are such an effective method of recording information, it will be the method used to collect relevant information for this report. Before the questionnaire can be designed and implemented, the goals (what you want to learn) have to be established. 2.2 The goal of this report is to identify thoughts and opinions, relating to the information technology aspect of Southampton Institute’s library. More specifically, focusing on the computer work area (located on the third floor) and the availability of computer workstations. As the goal of the questionnaire has been acknowledged, a sample or target population has to be determined. The sample that is chosen has to be relevant to the goal of the survey, so that useful information can be gathered. In the case of this report, the sample will be students, studying at Southampton ...

Overview of the No Child Left Behind Act

Overview of the No Child Left Behind Act The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (NCLB) was initially legislated for 5 years, and has been since temporarily extended, but not officially reauthorized. Senate Democrats were divided were divided on reauthorization, while most Senate Republicans heartily despise NCLB. In May 2008, Senate reauthorization was put on the back-burner while legislators pondered hundreds of reform ideas. In early 2010 and again on March 14, 2011, President Obama said he will seek to reauthorize NCLB, but modified to be similar to his $4.35 billion Race to the Top initiative, which requires five major education reforms for K-12 public education, and pushes states to compete for education funding, rather than automatically receiving it based on a formula. At Race to the Top, Obamas 2010 Education Grant Initiative, read a summary of Obamas controversial five reforms which are a model for his planned reform of NCLB. NCLB is a federal law that mandates a number of programs aimed at improving U.S. education in elementary, middle and high schools by increasing accountability standards. The approach is based on outcome-based theories education that high expectations goal-setting will result in greater educational achievement for most students. Supporters of NCLB Supporters of NCLB agree with the mandate for accountability to educational standards, and believe emphasis on test results will improve the quality of public education for all students. Proponents also believe that NCLB initiatives will further democratize U.S. education, by setting standards and providing resources to schools, regardless of wealth, ethnicity, disabilities or language spoken. Opponents of NCLB Opponents of NCLB, which includes all major teachers unions, allege that the act hasnt been effective in improving education in public education, especially high schools, as evidenced by mixed results in standardized tests since NCLBs 2002 inception. Opponents also claim that standardized testing, which is the heart of NCLB accountability, is deeply flawed and biased for many reasons, and that stricter teacher qualifications have exacerbated the nationwide teacher shortage, not provided a stronger teaching force. Some critics believe that the federal government has no constitutional authority in the education arena, and that federal involvement erodes state and local control over education of their children. Current Status In January 2007, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings published Building on Results: A Blue print for Strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act, in which the Bush Administration: Asserts that the Act is challenging our students to succeed and our schools to improve.Claims that 90% of teachers have met NCLBs highly qualified teacher requirements... At-risk students are getting help earlier... children with disabilities are receiving more classroom time and attention... Spellings report admitted problems that NCLB has identified and not cured, including:Between 1999 and 2004, reading scores for 17-year-olds fell 3 points, and math scores fell 1 point.U.S. 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 29 developed nations in math literacy and problem-solving, in 2003.1 million students annually drop out of high school before graduation. Changes Proposed by Bush Administration To strengthen the No Child Left Behind Act, the Bush Administration proposes: * A stronger effort must be made to close the achievement gap through the high school standards and accountability. TRANSLATED: More testing, and tougher tests. * Middle and high schools must offer more rigorous coursework that better prepares students for postsecondary education or the workforce. TRANSLATED: Tougher and more basics-focused courses in middle and high school. Also, clearer differentiation between college bound and non- college bound students. * States much be given the flexibilities and new tools to restructure chronically underperforming schools, and families must be given more options. TRANSLATED: The most controversial new proposal would enable students at failing schools to receive a voucher to transfer to a private school. Thus, the Bush Administration is proposing that public school funds would be used to pay private and religious schools. Until now, students at perennially failing schools had the options to either transfer to another public school or receive extended tutoring at the schools expense. Background The 670-page No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was passed with strong bipartisan backing by the House of Representatives on December 13, 2001 by a vote of 381-41, and by the Senate on December 18, 2001 by a vote of 87-10. President George W. Bush signed it into law on January 8, 2002. The primary sponsors of NCLB were President George W. Bush and Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, a decades-long advocate for raising the quality of public education for all American children. NCLB was partially based on education reform strategies instituted by President Bush during his tenure as Texas governor. Those Texas education reforms were reputed to result in improved standardized test scores. Subsequent inquiry revealed test-rigging by some educators and administrators. Margaret Spellings, Former Secretary of Education One of the principal authors of NCLB was Margaret Spellings, who was nominated to Secretary of Education in late 2004. Spellings, who holds a B.A. in political science from University of Houston, was the political director for Bushs first gubernatorial campaign in 1994, and later served as a senior advisor to Texas Gov. Bush during his term as 1995 to 2000. Before her association with George W. Bush, Spellings worked on an education reform commission under Texas Governor William P. Clements and as associate executive director for the Texas Association of School Boards. Prior to her nomination to be Education Secretary, Margaret Spellings worked for the Bush Administration as Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. Margaret Spellings has never worked in a school system, and has no formal training in education. She is married to Robert Spellings, former Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Texas House, now a prominent attorney in Austin, Texas and Washington D.C., who has actively lobbied for the adoption of school vouchers. Pros The primary positives of the  No Child Left Behind Act  include: Accountability standards are set and measured annually by each state to foster educational growth and achievement. All results are also annually reported to parents.Standards are set for teacher qualifications.NCLB links state academic content with student educational outcomes, and requires school improvement be implemented using scientific-based research methods in the classroom, parent programs, and teacher development courses.NCLB emphasizes reading, writing and math.NCLB measures educational status and growth by ethnicity, and helps to close the achievement gap between white and minority students.NCLB requires schools to focus on providing quality education to students who are often underserved, including children with disabilities, from low-income families, non-English speakers, as well as African-Americans and Latinos.Parents are provided annually with a detailed report of student achievement, and explanations are provided of achievement levels. Cons Major drawbacks of the  No Child Left Behind Actinclude: Federal Underfunding The Bush Administration has significantly underfunded NCLB at the state level, and yet, has required states to comply with all provisions of NCLB or risk losing  federal funds. Said Sen. Ted Kennedy, a sponsor of NCLB and Senate Education Committee Chair, The tragedy is that these long overdue reforms are finally in place, but the funds are not. As a result, most states have been forced to make budget cuts in non-tested school subjects such as science,  foreign languages,  social studies  and arts programs, and for books, field trips and school supplies. Teaching to the Test Teachers and parents charge that NCLB encourages, and rewards, teaching children to score well on the test, rather than teaching with a primary goal of learning. As a result, teachers are pressured to teach a narrow set of test-taking skills and a test-limited range of knowledge. NCLB ignores many vital subjects, including science, history and foreign languages. Problems with NCLB Standardized Tests Since states set their own standards and write their own standardized NCLB tests, states can compensate for inadequate student performance by setting very low standards and making tests unusually easy. Many contend that testing requirements for disabled and limited-English proficient students are unfair and unworkable. Critics allege that standardized tests contain cultural biases, and that educational quality cant necessarily be evaluated by  objective testing. Teacher Qualification Standards NCLB sets very high teacher qualifications by requiring new  teachers  to possess one (or often more) college degrees in specific subjects and to pass a battery of proficiency tests. Existing teachers must also pass proficiency tests. These new requirements have caused major problems in obtaining qualified teachers in subjects (special education, science, math) and areas (rural, inner cities) where schools districts already have teacher shortages. Teachers especially object to the Bush 2007 proposal to allow districts to circumvent teacher contracts to transfer teachers to failing and poorly-performing schools. Failure to Address Reasons for Lack of Achievement At its core, NCLB faults schools and curriculum for student failure, but critics claim that other factors are also to blame, including: class size, old and damaged school buildings, hunger and homelessness, and lack of health care. Where It Stands Theres little doubt that the  No Child Left Behind Act  will be reauthorized by Congress in 2007. The open question is: How will Congress change the Act? White House Kicks-Off Reauthorization Discussions A meeting was held on January 8, 2007 at the White House to mark the 5th anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act, and to kick-off Bush Administration discussons with Congress regarding reauthorization of the act. Attendees at the meeting with President Bush and Education Secreatary Margaret Spellings were Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Chair of the Senate Education Committee; Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), ranking Republican on that committee; Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education Committee; and Rep. Howard McKeon (R-CA), ranking Republican on that committee. According to Sen. Enzi,  There was agreement we should proceed, and an agreement in principal on what needs to be done. Religious, Civil Liberties Groups Propose NCLB Changes More than 100 religious denominations and  civil rights, education and disability advocacy groups have signed on to the  Joint Organizational Statement on NCLB, calling for changes to NCLB, and stating that: We endorse the use of an accountability system that helps ensure all children, including children of color, from low-income families, with disabilities, and of limited English proficiency, are prepared to be successful, participating members of our democracy... ... we believe the following significant, constructive corrections are among those necessary to make the Act fair and effective. Among these concerns are: * over-emphasizing standardized testing, narrowing curriculum and instruction to focus on test preparation rather than richer academic learning; * over-identifying schools in need of improvement; using  sanctions  that do not help improve schools; * inappropriately excluding low-scoring children in order to boost test results; * and inadequate funding. Overall, the laws emphasis needs to shift from applying sanctions for failing to raise test scores to holding states and localities accountable for making the systemic changes that improve student achievement.

Housing Prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Housing Prices - Essay Example As it takes time for new housing to be constructed (in case of no overbuilding left from previous periods and thus existing housing stock being insufficient to meet the newly increasing demand) the supply cannot react fast to the demand shocks and thus increased prices will stay for some time until the supply is sufficient. Increased prices motivate construction firms to increase their output levels dramatically as the profit margins to be received from housing due to these high prices are expected to be high. That is why the real estate market is prone to known "hog cycles" or "herd behavior"2 where the construction companies overestimate the market demand and thus are myopic and construct too much supply. Other theories claim that actions of constructors to thoughtfully produce more than can consumed over short span of time are rational acts and are based on their trying to take advantage of economies of scale in production and thus economize on each unit of housing to be produced. Also, it is not irrational to have expectations of the economic upswing to be followed by some structural economic changes which will further lead to economic development or increase in the total population of the region due to this better economic conditions of living. Economic development is cyclical and the influence of the factor that lead to economic upturn has its' term. After the factor is not in power any longer, the economy starts stabilizing with real purchasing power not growing any longer. This is usually the time when the majority of the new housing supply comes on the market and it will be absorbed slowly with the prices dropping and vacancies occurring. The downward pressure on the market will sustain until the next economic upturn or until all the overbuilt housing supply is consumed. The biggest problem is that very often construction firm being overoptimistic about the housing or in general real estate prices develop land by using borrowed money. Once they bring on the market their product, the cycle is already in another stage which makes difficult for companies to generate enough income to pay back their loans. The highest risk of overproduction exists in real estate segments where the construction terms are the longest, demand is most uncertain and construction is irreversible. That is why some developers try to eliminate the risk and deliver to the market not niched products but ordinary housing. This further aggravates the crisis as the stock becomes not varied and overproduction is especially significant within some segments of the market. The similar situation was observed during famous real estate which lead to banking crisis in Sweden in 1991 and was also considered a global real estate crisis with numerous international investors being in the market. The theory behind the occurrence of International housing cycles is the interrelationship of overall economic development in the different global regions and due to this increased interrelationship between economies investors find

Identify the main reasons behind the phenomenal success of Facebook Essay

Identify the main reasons behind the phenomenal success of Facebook. Evaluate whether the rapid growth of the last decade can be sustained - Essay Example The site has recorded tremendous growth since its inception, and this is owed to various factors as will be discussed in this paper. The success of Facebook mainly lies on the fact that the company has endeavored to improve the products it offers so that they meet the requirements of users (Walter, 2013). At first, the company did not dwell on making profits, but with the increased dependency of people on Facebook for various purposes it started making profits from advertising and selling data that was exchanged through the site. Facebook has developed to be one of the most popular sites since its inception in 2004 and continues to gather a following to the present day. Being the largest social media site, Facebook was started as a theory in 2003 by Zuckerberg, a Harvard student and was known as Facemash.com., at that time (Phillips, 2007). The site allowed Zuckerberg’s classmates to visit the site and compare how attractive people were, but was criticized and it did not become a success then. However, in 2004 mark launched the Facebook and within a day more than 1200 Harvard students had signed up and created a profile. In no time, word spread around, and the founders of the site saw it necessarily to open the site to other universities in the states. As at august 2005, the site was bought for 200,000$ and was now referred to as faceboo.com (Phillips, 2007). High schools in the United States were now allowed to create profiles and as at September the same year, it began to be known all over the world with the united kingdom universities being the first to know about the site after the united states. As word spread all over the world about the site, the network grew beyond being only used in schools but was now accessible to anybody who wanted to join and had an email address. The fact that the site was free to join made it easy for it to grow as more features were added to it to make user friendly. It made profits through

Visual arts and film studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Visual arts and film studies - Essay Example On the board, was also an artist from Navajo nation. His name was Nataani which means son of Ogla Lakota. He is an activist and he tells stories depicting the everyday hardships of 21st Centuary.Though,he is inspiring his performance art in songs is political oriented. His songs play politics because it attacks the current leadership on how they have managed. It has highlighted some various social injustices such inequality, corruption and unfair representation. He has also involved fiction and exaggeration in narration in the music. This is to emphasize the magnitude of how people have been forgotten in America. There was also background from the real world and also imaginary which had unknown and alien logic of different temporal and special conditions to emphasize his political theme. The paintings reveal power of image, words, history and symbols to pass information. The images were used as communication tools in the native American history.There was also a common visual artist a nd rapper Witko who uses his music to shade some light on the common issues that affect his people. His artwork is politicized. He uses fine and performance art in his effort to pass the information. He insists on good virtue in his music and respect for one another in the society. Witko has a tattoo to represent fine art, a symbol which communicates louder even than the song for the people to have peace. This is to suggest an index of cultural memory such that various cultures and destinies and mission of the regions are represented by the symbol.

Comparison Of Islamic And Christian Philosophers

Comparison Of Islamic And Christian Philosophers According to the Encarta dictionaries, philosophy can be defined as the branch of knowledge that examines the basic concepts of thoughts and a set of beliefs or aims. Islamic philosophy is a style of philosophy that deals with the study of the framework of Islamic cultures, not necessarily religious issues, while Christian philosophy strictly deals with the theological doctrines of Christianity. However, as time went on there are many Islamic and Christian philosophers who have systematically established their works and have influenced the way people think in the society. Some of the great philosophers to be considered would be Plato, Mohammed Al Farabi, Saint Augustine, Aquinas, Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi and Ibn Rushd also known as Averroes. Further, I would examine the views, works and areas of study as an attempt to compare both Christian and Islamic philosophers. Plato, Mohammed al Farabi and Ibn Rushd were great renowned world philosophers who lived at one time or the other, and whose many contributions including their thoughts and works specifically with regards to philosophy, politics and science have greatly imparted into Islamic political theory. The impact these Islamic philosophers made during their life-times are still felt even up till today. Plato was an Islamic political thinker that was a well known student of Socrates. Plato established many dialogues and theories such as the Cartesian dualism hypothesis. This theory talks about the mind (soul) and the body. The theory further explains that there are conflicts between the mind and soul because the body is made up of physical appetites which can lead ones soul to committing sin.* However, Plato has greatly influenced many Arabic philosophers such as Mohammed Al Farabi. Mohammed Al Farabi was known to be the second teacher of Islamic philosophy after Aristotle. Al Farabi was one of the most famous, well respected, and successful Arabic philosophers. Also, He made an important contribution in the Islamic society by splitting the study of logic into two categories; Takhayyul (idea) and Thubut (proof). (Islamicity.com). Both Mohammed Al Farabi and Plato came up with philosophical themes. An example of one of these themes is the First theme which is the theory of Knowledge. Mohammed Al Farabi and Plato both stated that Knowledge development is very important in the society and that it was the key to the rise of power in most successful societies. Therefore, knowledge is responsible for the distinct differences between developed countries and the third world countries of the world. This theory of Knowledge is the basis for major societies like the United States of America (U.S.A). Plato and Mohammed Al Farabi made it clear that in every society, social and political changes are naturally observed and an isolated individual is not capable of achieving perfection. Both philosophers believed that anyone who was trying to be an island could have little or no chances of being successful in life. On the other hand, well known Christian philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine of the late centuries have also impacted greatly into the world. Both philosophers were good writers and made different dialogues. Thomas Aquinas was born to an aristocratic family and has produced a philosophical and cultural impact on the minds of many in the society today. Thomas Aquinas was a Christian philosopher that elaborated very much on how mankind could understand the truths of the universe through rational thinking. For example following Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas emphasized that humans are rational creatures that are capable of much learning and contemplating God. (Moseley, Page 12). He also contributed to Augustinian Christianity with an Aristotelian logic because he felt the followers of Saint Augustine lacked basic understanding of Christianity.* Meanwhile, Saint Augustine was a philosopher who was born into a Christian family and learnt about Christianity through his mother, after he was enrolled as a catechumen into a catholic church. * Nevertheless, both Saint Augustine and Aquinas came up with different ethical theories. Saint Augustines ethical theory was based on the love of God. He claims that people can be categorized into two: good or evil. According to Saint Augustine the good people are those that love and show appreciation to God while the evil people had no regards for God and his laws. Further, He explained that the good people are those that live in the city of God and the evil people are those that dwell in the city of man.* However, Thomas Aquinas ethical theory was immensely connected to the belief that everything had an end and an individuals action towards the end is initiated by an agent. As stated by Thomas Aquinas all actions must have an end otherwise an action without an end would tend to infinity.* Furthermore, Thomas Aquinas explained that an action should not just have an end but a proper end which seeks a lot of perfection. This perfection can be attained through the guidance of God who is referred to as the only perfect being. Moreover, Thomas Aquinas also discusses on good and evil. He argues that the act of will is not always good, but sometimes evil, indicating that the goodness or badness of a thing is sought in the will of an action. Initially, Christian and Islamic philosophers were very versatile because they expertise in different fields. One of the common areas of study which was associated with both Christian and Islamic philosophers was the study of medicine. For example Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, Ibn sina also known as Avicenna, and Thomas Aquinas were both philosophers who studied medicine at one point in the life time. Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi was an Islamic philosopher who was born in Kufa at around 800 A.D. He did not just study medicine but was one of the chief contributors to the field, because he was known to be the first to systematically determine the doses to be administered of all the drugs to sick patients at his time. Furthermore, this resolved the conflicting views prevailing among physicians on the dosage that caused difficulties in writing recipes. (trincoll.edu). On the other hand Thomas Aquinas who was a Christian philosopher that also studied medicine and explained that the human body contained innate capacities and non- innate capacities (also referred to as learned capacities). Thomas Aquinas made a related distinction between these two capacities by giving the term potential for the innate capacities and dispositions for the learned capacities. Moreover, Thomas Aquinas distinguished between the innate capacities and the non-innate capacities by giving examples. Take the case of playing a musical instrument such as the flute and the sense of sight. Thomas Aquinas stated that playing of the flute is obviously learned unlike someone that does not acquire the sense of sight by seeing; rather because he has the capacity of sight, he is made actually to see. (Books.google.com.ng). Secondly, Christian and Islamic philosophers share different political views. Take the case of two well known philosophers Plato and Saint Augustine who both had different views of the concepts of politics such as justice and evil. Plato defined justice in a society as the connection and balance of roles occupied by social agents or people in a society. He further explained that justice can only be achieved in a society if there is evil present in that particular society. Moreover, evil according to Plato is anything that is not in accordance with justice. However, Saint Augustine had a different perspective of evil. Saint Augustine related evil with Gods existence by explaining that evil was transgressing against Gods will. He explained that God was the Supreme Being in charge of all creatures and was the only one free of evil. Saint Augustine further elaborated that all human beings are created good but not made perfect, and therefore makes humans liable to committing sin which sometimes fulfills the will of God. Although both philosophers shared different views, Plato and Saint Augustine had it in mind to maintain justice and goodness in the society. Lastly, Christian philosophers accepted the notion of Greek natural philosophy, while the Islamic philosophers did not. Perhaps the reason that Christian philosophers accepted Greek natural philosophy was that Christianity is founded within the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, so the Christian philosophers grew accustomed to Greco Roman culture. Unlike Islam which was founded outside the Greco-Roman world. Take the case of Saint Augustine who converted to Christianity after being influenced by the biography of the life of Saint Anthony. Saint Augustine did not only become a Christian but also was inspired to produce more works such as his most famous of all works which was titled the city of God.* To conclude, it is obvious that over the years some Islamic and Christian philosophers do not necessarily agree to each others dialogues or theories, while some succumb and even supplement the theories made. However, as stated earlier both Islamic and Christian philosophers have contributed greatly to the each other even up until today despite the fact that both Islam and Christianity are two different religions that are based on their particular principles. Bibliography Adler, J. Mortimer. Great Books of the Western World: 16 Augustine. Chicago: 2003. Print. Afnan, Soheil. The Commentary of Avicenna on Aristotles Poetics. The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 (1947) 188-190, JSTOR Web. 22 Mar. 2010. Black, Antony. The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present. New York: Routledge Publishing Company, 2001. Print. Ebenstein, Alan. Introduction to Political Thinkers. 2nd ed. Orlando, Florida: Words worth, 2002. Print. Matthews, T. Roy and Dewitt, F. Platt. The Western Humanities, Volume 1: Beginnings Through the Renaissance. New York: Mc Graw- Hill Publishing Company, 2008. Print. Mohammed Al- Farabi. Islamicity.com. . 22Mar. 2010. Moseley, Alexander. A to Z of Philosophy. London, New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2008. Print. Russell, Bertrand. A History of Western Philosophy. New York, London: Simon and Schuster publishing company, 1972. Print. Stroumsa, Sarah. Avicennas Philosophical Stories: Aristotles poetics reinterpreted. Arabica. 39. 2 (1992): 183-206, JSTOR Web. 22 Mar. 2010. Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al- Kindi. trincoll.edu. Chris Marvin and Trinity College, n.d. . 22 Mar.2010

Peer To Peer Piracy :: File Sharing Network MP3

Peer To Peer Piracy Everyone loves good tunes, and that’s okay. In this media heavy society, everyone has a favorite type of music, or a favorite artist. However, expanding one’s horizons in music beyond mainstream was terribly expensive, until Napster. Napster, Shawn Fanning’s brainchild, was a revolution. People began trading music over the internet through peer to peer file sharing, and next thing you know, everyone could have thousands and thousands of songs. Napster had shown a society a method for getting what they wanted, for free. It was only a matter of time until users started trading a lot more than just music; movies, software, and games were all in demand. Napster was formulated off of a simple concept of sharing music, but it turned out to be revolutionary by becoming a catalyst to a much larger peer to peer pirating system. Napster helped computer literate users share music through a system of indexing. When a user logged on, the user’s computer would send data with which mp3s, or songs, were in their predestinated â€Å"shared folder† to the index computer. The index computer would then tell that user where other files were stored over the network, on other user’s computers. With this system, a user could download an entire album of Jimi Hendrix from another user either two states away, or two doors down. Since Napster only dealt in mp3 files, it was targeted by the music companies, who sued until it Shawn had to take down the Central Index Server. It was replaced though, by networks like Gnutella which use a referral system. When one computer comes onto the Gnutella network, it finds another computer on the network, and introduces itself. Then, like a spreading rumor, the word gets around the network. The computer that just learned tells 8 others about the new one, then those 8 tell 7 more about the new one, and so on. This way, each client has a larger number of other clients who know it is online and what content it has available (Wikipedia). However, without a main server to regulate, users could distribute whatever they wanted. Software piracy was very prominent. Any user could punch in the search terms â€Å"AutoCAD† and download a thousand dollar program for free.

Easy Clean, Co: Evaluation of Internal Control Environment Essay

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Evaluate a new audit client’s control environment. Provide an initial evaluation of certain components of the client’s control environment Appreciate the judgment involved in evaluating the overall internal control environment based on interview data Provide support for your internal control assessments Ted is a manager in the Business Advisory and Assurance Services division of a national public accounting firm. He has been given the job of managing the audit of Easy Clean, Co., which provides industrial and domestic carpet steam-cleaning services. Easy Clean has never been audited. Thus, Ted does not have any prior-year working papers to review. Ted recently conducted a preliminary interview with Doug Dosio, who along with his brother, Phil, owns Easy Clean. Ted’s objective for the interview was to establish an understanding of the control environment. To prepare for his interview, Ted reviewed professional auditing standards. Those auditing standards (AU 319) indicate that the control environment â€Å"sets the tone of an organization, influencing the control consciousness of its people. It is the foundation for all other components of internal control, providing discipline and structure.† The standards state that control environment factors include the following: 1. Integrity and ethical values 2. Commitment to competence 3. Board of directors or audit committee participation 4. Management’s philosophy and operating style 5. Organizational structure 6. Assignment of authority and responsibility 7. Human resource policies and practices Based on the interview dialogue provided below, you will be asked to evaluate the seven components of the client’s control environment noted previously in order for you to make an evaluation of the overall internal control environment. Before reading the interview information, please spend a couple of minutes reviewing the assessments you will make. Based on the information provided in the interview that follows, you are to evaluate Easy Clean’s overall control environment. To assist you in making this overall assessment, you will find detailed descriptions of factors noted below that may weaken or strengthen each of the seven components comprising the overall control environment. INTERVIEW WITH CLIENT Ted:Doug, can you give me a little information on the background of Easy Clean? Doug: Easy Clean provides both a domestic and industrial carpet steam-cleaning service and sells a relatively small amount of inventory, such as spot removers and carpet fresheners. Our company provides this service throughout three counties, which cover over 40 townships in a densely populated area. Easy Clean is completely owned by Phil and me. Our business has grown steadily over the course of several years after starting out with just one car-pulled trailer over five years ago. Over the years, the business has gradually added 12 fully equipped vans, worth about $30,000 each. Now in our sixth year of business, we plan to purchase approximately one new van each year to meet the growing demand for our services. The company grossed just over $1,650,000 in revenues last year, about half of which was collected in cash. We feel our continuing success is due in large part to â€Å"word of mouth.† Ted: Can you tell me something about the day-to-day operations? Doug: Well, Mr. Day, our office manager, and I are in charge of a small sales force that goes out on leads to give estimates for new jobs. Mr. Day is paid a salary plus a percentage of the total sales each month. My brother, Phil, is usually out in the field managing the 20 employees who work as cleaners for Easy Clean. Phil also helps with managerial and operating decisions. Salespeople are paid on a commission basis, selling both the domestic and industrial jobs based on standard prices established by the owners. Salespeople may sometimes negotiate special cut rates during the slower spring and fall seasons. Of course, these are almost always subject to approval by me or Mr. Day. Large industrial jobs are typically booked well in advance of the actual work. The job commitments obtained by the salespeople are normally submitted to Mr. Day, who signs them to indicate his approval and then returns them to the salespeople. Sales people then forward job commitments to one of two data input clerks for processing. The computer processes each commitment by extending the number of jobs by the standard price stored on the pricing file, or in specially negotiated situations, by the price on the input document. The sales, accounts receivable, and commitment files are updated and invoices are produced. An exception report of special prices is produced and sent to the salespeople to ensure that the specially negotiated commitments to jobs were processed correctly. Mr. Day developed this sales system himself and it’s working rather well. He’s currently in the process of creating the user manual for the system. I’ve also noticed that he sometimes makes adjustments to improve the system, which makes the accounting process more efficient. We’ve agreed that he’ll reevaluate the process at least once every eight weeks. Ted: And how about your accounting department? How big is it, and who oversees the accounting process? Doug: The accounting department of Easy Clean consists of seven part-time clerks, including the two data input clerks, who are all paid an hourly wage. All except one are college students working toward their accounting degrees. Mr. Day trains all new accounting help when they are hired. Typically, they stay on with us until they graduate, which usually covers two full years. We keep them pretty busy around here, but everyone helps each other out and they always get the job done. Ted: What are your brother Phil’s responsibilities? Doug: Phil manages the service component of the business. He usually trains all newly hired cleaning employees and explains their specific duties and responsibilities. When he feels sure that the employee is ready, the new hire is teamed up with a more experienced worker and assigned to a truck unit. When additional help is needed, Phil places ads in the local newspaper. Phil is the expert at running that end of the business. Ted: What about employee turnover? Doug: We haven’t had a problem with employee turnover. Phil expects some turnover in this type of business and knows how to deal with it. We try to prevent any employee concerns by maintaining an open door policy and encouraging employees who have questions or concerns about their responsibilities to ask for help or to come talk with us. If a problem should arise that might affect others, Phil or I will immediately address the problem at the monthly office meeting, making all employees aware of the issue. Both Phil and I work hard to ensure that any problem is resolved promptly. Doug leaves to give an estimate and Ted continues his observations of the business. Later that day, after spending time with the accounting staff, Ted has a moment to ask Mr. Day a few questions. Ted:Mr. Day, I’m wondering if you could help me clarify some things regarding my brief observations of the accounting staff? Mr. Day:Sure, I’d be glad to. What can I do for you? Ted: I got the impression from the staff that they’re not always certain about their assigned functions. Are job responsibilities clearly defined? Mr. Day: In assigning office responsibilities, Doug says the main considerations are that work should be done by the people who are familiar with a task and who are capable of doing it. But, he also admits that availability has to be a consideration. Although this does lead to some overlap in duties, it doesn’t create any confusion in responsibilities. I carefully assign the daily duties and overview each day’s accounting records. This keeps the office running smoothly and in a well-organized manner. Ted: The staff mentioned that they’ve occasionally had problems processing collections of trade receivables. Do you prelist cash receipts before they’re recorded? Mr. Day: Well, we haven’t really experienced any need to. The system is set up so that we collect all of the checks at the end of the day, making it possible to record them all at one time. This way, we can be more efficient by avoiding the need to write them down twice. On those rare occasions when there is a collection processing problem, we resolve it immediately. Ted: Do you ever run into accounting policy problems? Mr. Day: Not very often. I usually handle any policy problems that do arise, although Doug will handle the situation if he feels strongly about the issue. Ted: Well, thank you Mr. Day. I need to talk to Doug before he leaves for the day. A few moments later, in Doug’s office†¦ Ted: Are you satisfied with the processing of trade receivables? Doug: Yes, definitely. Mr. Day is meticulous in his clerical operations, which is well systematized. He has excellent control over the trade receivables. In fact, it’s been over a year and a half since the bank accepted a list of pledged receivables as security for a loan. From then on, we’ve had access to a continually renewable loan based on a list that’s updated weekly. The loan is relatively small, and the contract allows the bank to access Easy Clean ‘s checking account in the unlikely event that collection of the loan seems doubtful. Perhaps I should add that although Phil and I have no formal accounting training and we have given Mr. Day full responsibility for the accounting duties, Phil and I are the only people allowed to sign company checks. Ted: One of the accounting clerks mentioned that you’re thinking about making a change in the accounting system. Doug: As a matter of fa ct, Mr. Day has been looking into using a new accounting software package that should make the bookkeeping process an easier task for the clerks. This package includes a budgeting system that should help control costs and identify those areas that need attention. Although I’ve always monitored the company’s expenses, I didn’t previously see the need for a formal budgeting system. If something didn’t seem right, Phil or I would bring the problem up at the informal monthly office meeting between all the employees and try to resolve the issue. Given our current success, the implementation of a more sophisticated budgeting system seems like a wise investment. Ted: I’m also interested in your security measures. How do you protect your accounting records and physical assets? Doug: After hours, the office door and windows are heavily bolted. Only Phil, Mr. Day, and I have keys to open the office. Although there haven’t been any problems, we’re considering locking up the file cabinets where the hard copies of the accounting records and data disks are stored at night. I’ve also be en meaning to see about having the computers bolted down to the desks. As for the vans, they’re kept in a fenced-in lot behind our office. Each driver gets a key to the gate lock so they can let themselves in or out for work. We have to do this because a lot of the commercial cleaning is done after hours, when the office is closed. As a precautionary measure, we change the lock regularly. Ted: That should about do it for now, until I can get in to do some preliminary audit work. But before I leave, I’d like to ask you a few more general questions. To start with, can you tell me what you feel is responsible for Easy Clean’s recent success? Doug: Well, Ted, because Easy Clean is using the newest steam-cleaning procedure, we provide a much better result than the traditional rotary shampoo methods used by our competitors. And, our customers can tell. Plus, Phil and I understand the business well, we are personable, and we pride ourselves on doing good work. Ted: Having an audit performed by our firm is a big step. Why did you decide to have an audit now? Have you ever been audited before? Doug: Phil and I are confident that Easy Clean is a truly viable concern. We feel that audited financial statements will corroborate our claim. We’re eager to learn what suggestions your firm can give us regarding the most professional way to record and present our financial statements. We also have an interest in learning how to increase the company’s credibility with the local business and banking community. Both Phil and I are excited about the success of our company and we’re motivated to continue strengthening the organization with the eventual goal of pursuing additional business opportunities and endeavors. We’ve never been audited before, although we have used a local tax preparer to fill out our tax returns ever since Easy Clean has been in business. We did ask another firm, about two years ago, to come in to do an audit. We decided not to have the audit performed, though, because the company’s fees were too high. Although I’d have to look up the audit firm’s name, Phil and I decided that Easy Clean would have to wait for an audit until we could reasonably afford the fees. We’ve come to the decision that now is the time. Ted: Are there any issues of concern that you have regarding the audit? Doug: Not really. I’m proud of Easy Clean. The company has had no record of serious problems and has rarely had a problem with bad debts, since most of our receivable balances are collected within two to three weeks. Ted: I understand that Easy Clean does not have an audit committee, which is typical of an organization this size. Can you tell me if Easy Clean has a board of directors and, if so, who serves on the board and how active the board is in overseeing important issues at Easy Clean? Doug: We do have a board of directors. It is somewhat informal, but Phil, I, and our wives function as directors. We do have at least one regularly scheduled meeting each year and we have met on other occasions as necessary. Obviously, Phil and I have a pretty good idea of what is happening at Easy Clean on a daily basis. We do not believe our company is yet at a stage that could effectively support a separate board comprised of outside directors. Maybe we’ll do that in a couple of years, if we keep growing. Ted: One final thing I’d like to ask—have you and your brother Phil set out any goals for the future? Doug: Phil and I have spent a lot of time talking about our goals and objectives, but we’ve never formally recorded them anywhere. Our long-term goals are fairly uncertain, but we’re hoping to build our nest egg to the point where we can potentially retire early. We both agree that our future plans include expanding our sales territory, increasing advertising, investing more help and additional equipment, and, I have to admit, taking a well-deserved vacation in Hawaii.