The Hardship of Haiti Essay - 1755 Words

Haiti is a beautiful Caribbean country that has had more than its fair share of hardship. A culture of strength and perseverance is evident from the moment one arrives and it only feels stronger the further one travels from Port au Prince. The people are of African descent, with a strong French influence creating a uniquely mixed culture that is rare in the western hemisphere. The business climate is such that there are very few foreign businesses or joint ventures in Haiti and although there are many historic reasons for that, there now sits immense opportunity. First-mover advantage is only an advantage if the first-mover is successful. A firm in the initial stages of market research into Haiti will be drawn to the dream of†¦show more content†¦Safety and security is a big risk in most underdeveloped nations, and Haiti is riskier than most. Finally, the provision of broad based orientation to this new market as it applies directly to business operations in this new market. History Understanding Haiti’s past will grant an ideal window into the cultural soul of this nation and may aid in a deeper realization of why many things appear as they do in this country. Cultural intelligence is defined as â€Å"an individuals capability to function and manage effectively in culturally diverse setting† (Ahn Ettner, 2013). This is a highly sought after skill in the interconnected world of globalization where this individual appears to hold a â€Å"seemingly natural ability to interpret someones unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures in just the way that persons compatriots and colleagues would† (Ahn Ettner, 2013). Having an individual with these skills in a firm would reduce the likelihood of communicating a cultural faux pas that would inadvertently hinder business relations. Gaining knowledge will greatly contribute to the competitive advantage of a firm. To understand Haiti, one must start in 1492, when the Island of Hispaniola was first discovere d by Christopher Columbus (Central, n.d.). In the initial 25 years of Spanish control of the island the Spanish settlers killed off almost all of the indigenous people who had originally occupied the island (Central, n.d.). â€Å"In 1697, Spain ceded toShow MoreRelatedLife Is A Of Life1333 Words   |  6 Pagessomewhere in the world. It just all depends on how you were brought into this world. For some people, life is full of stress and hardships. That’s how life was for someone very dear to me Kimberly Domonique. She had it difficult from the start however, she chose not to let life get her down. When life gave her lemons, she made lemonade. Kimberly is from the island of Haiti, she moved to the states at the age of ten years old. 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You’Re a Contract Painkiller Free Essays

In You Are a Contract Painkiller (1997, p. 111), author Maureen Littlejohn makes extensive use of personification to describe the functioning of Aspirin in our body, its various properties to fight pain, and its evolution over the years. Littlejohn describes how Aspirin claimed celebrity status as one of the world’s most popular, inexpensive painkillers by relieving headaches, sprains, blows, burns, swelling and fever. We will write a custom essay sample on You’Re a Contract Painkiller or any similar topic only for you Order Now Furthermore, she added that Aspirin could also be used to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. The author supports the main idea by describing how the aspirin when taken with a modest stream of water or ginger ale, passed to the stomach through the esophagus and undergoes a series of chain reactions to disable the enzyme that converts the acid in cell membranes into prostaglandins (responsible for the pain). In a similar fashion it also helps bring fever down. Moreover, the author gives a brief history about the evolution of the modern day Aspirin from almost a thousand years ago when Hippocrates first discovered the property of willow leaves to help relieve pain. The author concludes the essay by highlighting the useful properties of Aspirin and the various ailments it provides relief from. â€Å"You have achieved renown by destroying headaches but you are equally effective in countering sprains, burns, or blows. † (You Are a Contract Painkiller, 1997, p. 112). According to me, this sentence sets the tone for the entire essay. It describes the purpose of using Aspirin and the different ailments that it provides relief from. It basically highlights why and about what the essay is written. It furthermore, sets the stage to write details about the composition and mechanism of Aspirin and also the various ways by which it has meliorated our lives by relieving pain. It puts the entire essay in perspective. â€Å"In the 1800s, two Italian chemists confirmed that willow bark contains one of your main ingredients, the antipyretic (fever-reducing) salicin. A Swiss pharmacist then found that meadowsweet, a shrub in the spirea family, has ever more of the magic substance than willow bark. In 1893, Felix Hoffmann at the Bayer AG Chemical Works in Germany purified and stabilized you, and that’s when your first claimed celebrity status as one of the world’s most popular, inexpensive pain relievers. † (You Are a Contract Painkiller, 1997, p. 111). The reason I chose this quote is because, it provides a lot of credibility to the essay, by describing how the Aspirin has evolved and also, it gives a perfect example why Aspirin has become so popular all over the world. By describing its formation and development, it gives an overview about what makes Aspirin what it is today. The main idea of this essay revolves around the painkiller called Aspirin. The purpose of this essay is to describe the remarkable properties of Aspirin, to help relieve from different types of pain, and how Aspirin has formed and the mechanism by which it provides instant relief from the pain. This essay is written for a general audience, to educate them about the useful benefits of aspirin followed by providing detailed information about how an aspirin works to provide relief. This would help people to better understand the pros and cons of aspirin and erase any misconceptions. I really like the way how Littlejohn has written the essay. By using personification method, she has depicted the various aspects of Aspirin in an interesting way rather than just quoting some scientific facts about it. By this, it has really help understand the overall functioning and mechanism of an aspirin in an uncomplicated way. How to cite You’Re a Contract Painkiller, Essay examples

The Explosion Essay Example For Students

The Explosion Essay As I arrived in the plane, I looked out of the window with great anticipation. I saw the volcano it was colossal, I could feel the blistering heat coming from the volcano, even though I was still in the plane. And there was lava squirting out of the summit like nothing I have ever seen before. Mauna Loa is renowned for its unpredictability, and it was practically unstable now. It was like an egg being boiled until it finally cracked, but in this case it would not be the soft yellow centre squirting out, it would be a vast flow of molten lava oozing out, with rocks soaring into the sky like a space shuttle departing for space. This was the first time I had been to Hawaii. I was told by a geologist that it was the most unpredictable volcanic island in the world. I felt my whole body shiver as I was told this, but I knew it would be the greatest experience of my life. Nothing in the natural world could ever beat Mauna Loa for its shear size or beauty; I could smell my adrenalin pumping around my body like a swarm of bees. We landed a few miles away from the volcano, named Mauna Loa. Richard and I departed the plane and collected our luggage which had already been unloaded on to a trailer. It was a typical American trailer, with all the grunt and power you would ever need. The Americans always have to be bigger and better. Richard was a good friend of mine; we had studied in the same university. We had decided to come and visit Hawaii so everything we had done over the four years in university studying volcanic activity would make sense and with out doubt make things a lot clearer. It would also be great experience. Richard was well spoken and a typical graduate of Oxford, you could tell he came from a good background. He was very plump in stature and he had a stomach that was if he had been fattened to be sold in the cattle market. But never the less he was a great chap to be with, especially after a few pints. Richard incised that he drove, he was always one for his big toys. He once told me that he had a tractor for his 12th birthday, I found this incredible, as my parents would never have been able to afford such a luxury for me to prance about it in. On our drive to the offices I was very worried as we had very expensive volcanic analysing equipment, and Richards driving was hazardous, he had already lost a few points back in Britain.

Ma Practice Question Essay Example

Ma Practice Question Paper Practice Questions: Time Value of Money (TVM) Its Applications in Investments 1. Jose now has $500. How much would he have after 6 years if he leaves it invested at 5. 5% with annual compounding? a. $591. 09 b. $622. 20 c. $654. 95 d. $689. 42 e. $723. 89 N6 I/YR5. 5% PV$500 PMT$0 FV$689. 42 2. How much would $5,000 due in 25 years be worth today if the discount rate were 5. 5%? a. $1,067. 95 b. $1,124. 16 c. $1,183. 33 d. $1,245. 61 e. $1,311. 17 N25 I/YR5. 5% PMT$0 FV$5,000 PV$1,311. 17 3. Suppose the U. S. Treasury offers to sell you a bond for $747. 5. No payments will be made until the bond matures 5 years from now, at which time it will be redeemed for $1,000. What interest rate would you earn if you bought this bond at the offer price? a. 4. 37% b. 4. 86% c. 5. 40% d. 6. 00% e. 6. 60% N5 PV$747. 25 PMT$0 FV$1,000. 00 I/YR6. 00% 4. You sold a car and accepted a note with the following cash flow stream as your payment. What was the effective price you received for the car assum ing an interest rate of 6. 0%? Years:01234 ||||| CFs:$0$1,000$2,000$2,000$2,000 a. $5,987 b. $6,286 c. $6,600 d. $6,930 e. $7,277 I/YR = 6. 0% 01234 CFs:$0$1,000$2,000$2,000$2,000 PV of CFs:$0$943$1,780$1,679$1,584 PV = $5,987Found using the Excel NPV function. PV = $5,987Found by summing individual PVs. PV = $5,987Found using the calculator NPV key. 5. At a rate of 6. 5%, what is the future value of the following cash flow stream? Years:01234 ||||| CFs:$0$75$225$0$300 a. $526. 01 b. $553. 69 c. $582. 83 d. $613. 51 e. $645. 80 I/YR = 6. 5% 01234 CFs:$0$75$225$0$300 FV of CFs:$0$91$255$0$300 FV = $645. 80Found by summing individual FVs. FV = $645. 80Found with the NFV key in some calculators. FV = $645. 80Found with a calculator by first finding the PV of the stream, then finding the FV of that PV. PV of the stream:$501. 99 FV of the PV:$645. 80 6. What’s the future value of $1,500 after 5 years if the appropriate interest rate is 6%, compounded semiannually? a. $1,819 b. $1,915 c. $2,016 d. $2,117 e. $2,223 Years5 Periods/Yr2 Nom. I/YR6. 0% N = Periods10 PMT$0 I = I/Period3. 0% PV = $1,500 Could be found using a calculator, an equation, or Excel. FV = $2,016 Note that we must first convert to periods and rate per period 7. We will write a custom essay sample on Ma Practice Question specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Ma Practice Question specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Ma Practice Question specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer An investor plans to buy a common stock and hold it for two years. The investor expects to receive $1. 5 in dividend a year and $26 from the sales of the stock at the end of year 2. If the investor wants a 15% return (compound annually), the maximum price the investor should pay for the stock today is roughly: A). $24 B). $28 C). $22 D). $32 E). $26 C). $22 (n=2, pmt = 1. 5, fv = 26, I = 15%, PV = ? ) 8. Morin Companys bonds mature in 8 years, have a par value of $1,000, and make an annual coupon interest payment of $65. The market requires an interest rate of 8. % on these bonds. What is the bonds price? a. $903. 04 b. $925. 62 c. $948. 76 d. $972. 48 e. $996. 79 N8 I/YR8. 2% PMT$65 FV$1,000 PV$903. 04 9. Sadik Inc. s bonds currently sell for $1,180 and have a par value of $1,000. They pay a $105 annual coupon and have a 15-year maturity, but they can be called in 5 years at $1,100. What is their yield to call (YTC)? a. 6. 63% b. 6. 98% c. 7. 35% d. 7. 74% e. 8. 12% N5 PV$1,180 PMT$105 FV$1,100 I/YR = YTC7. 74% 10. Assume that you are considering the purchase of a 20-year, noncallable bond with an annual coupon rate of 9. %. The bond has a face value of $1,000, and it makes semiannual interest payments. If you require an 8. 4% nominal yield to maturity on this investment, what is the maximum price you should be willing to pay for the bond? a. $1,105. 69 b. $1,133. 34 c. $1,161. 67 d. $1,190. 71 e. $1,220. 48 Par value$1,000 Coupon rate9. 5% Periods/year2 Yrs to maturity20 Periods = Yrs to maturity ? Periods/year40 Required rate8. 4% Periodic rate = Required rate/2 = I/YR4. 20% PMT per period = Coupon rate/2 ? Par value$47. 50 Maturity value = FV$1,000 PV$1,105. 69

Rise Of Superpowers After WWII Essays (4206 words) - Free Essays

Rise Of Superpowers After WWII Essays (4206 words) - Free Essays Rise of Superpowers After WWII It is often wondered how the superpowers achieved their position of dominance. It seems that the maturing of the two superpowers, Russia and the United States, can be traced to World War II. To be a superpower, a nation needs to have a strong economy, an overpowering military, immense international political power and, related to this, a strong national ideology. It was this war, and its results, that caused each of these superpowers to experience such a preponderance of power. Before the war, both nations were fit to be described as great powers, but it would be erroneous to say that they were superpowers at that point. To underezd how the second World War impacted these nations so greatly, we must examine the causes of the war. The United States gained its strength in world affairs from its status as an economic power. In the years before the war, America was the world?s largest producer. In the USSR at the same time, Stalin was implementing his ?five year plans? to modernise the Soviet economy. From these situations, similar foreign policies resulted from widely divergent origins. Roosevelt?s isolationism emerged from the wide and prevalent domestic desire to remain neutral in any international conflicts. It commonly widely believed that Americans entered the first World War simply in order to save industry?s capitalist investments in Europe. Whether this is the case or not, Roosevelt was forced to work with an inherently isolationist Congress, only expanding its horizons after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. He signed the Neutrality Act of 1935, making it illegal for the United States to ship arms to the belligerents of any conflict. The act also stated that belligerents could buy only non-armaments from the US, and even these were only to be bought with cash. In contrast, Stalin was by necessity interested in European affairs, but only to the point of concern to the USSR. Russian foreign policy was fundamentally Leninist in its concern to keep the USSR out of war. Stalin wanted to consolidate Communist power and modernise the country's industry. The Soviet Union was committed to collective action for peace, as long as that commitment did not mean that the Soviet Union would take a brunt of a Nazi attack as a result. Examples of this can be seen in the Soviet Unions? attempts to achieve a mutual assiezce treaty with Britain and France. These treaties, however, were designed more to create security for the West, as opposed to keeping all three signatories from harm. At the same time, Stalin was attempting to polarise both the Anglo-French, and the Axis powers against each other. The important result of this was the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact, which partitioned Poland, and allowed Hitler to start the war. Another side-effect of his policy of playing both sides was that it caused incredible distrust towards the Soviets from the Western powers after 1940. This was due in part to the fact that Stalin made several demands for both influence in the Dardanelles, and for Bulgaria to be recognised as a Soviet dependant. The seeds of superpowerdom lie here however, in the late thirties. R.J. Overy has written that ?stability in Europe might have been achieved through the existence of powers so strong that they could impose their will on the whole of the international system, as has been the case since 1945?.? At the time, there was no power in the world that could achieve such a feat. Britain and France were in imperial decline, and more concerned about colonial economics than the stability of Europe. Both imperial powers assumed that empire-building would necessarily be an inevitable feature of the world system. German aggression could have been stifled early had the imperial powers had acted in concert. The memories of World War One however, were too powerful, and the general public would not condone a military solution at that point. The aggression of Germany, and to a lesser extent that of Italy, can be explained by this decline of imperial power. They were simply attempting to fill the power vacuum in Europe that Britain and France unwittingly left. After the economic crisis of the 1930?s, Britain and France lost much of their former international ezdingas the world

Personal Finance Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Finance Concepts - Essay Example With respect to an individual's financial security, this implicates the need to intelligently plan one's investments and retirement plan, not only to secure a good life for the future, but also to ensure safety from unprecedented economic crisis and financial problems. As an individual seeking to secure a retirement plan, investing in a house, gold, and retirement insurance such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) will be top priorities. After careful consideration of the market, these three products present the most profitable and secure values, which are crucial factors that must be considered in making an investment. First, a person's home is perhaps his most important investment. Not only does it provide an important use at present, but, given proper maintenance, ownership of a house and lot can reap high returns. Depending on the location of a house and the possible development plans in that community for the future, home values can appreciate up to 100% in a span of ten years. Furthermore, it is also a valuable asset, which could be mortgaged in times when large sums of money are needed. In addition, given its high appreciation values, houses can also be very useful for retirement, which could be sold in order to pay for membership in a comfortable retirement house in the future, or rented to earn a sizeable monthly income despite retirement. A second investment of importance are pension plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s. These pension plans, which acts like savings accounts, allows individuals to save money form their salaries before taxes and deposit them into a fund, which through the years could grow into a sizeable sum. Its importance lies in the manner that it is saved. First, since they are automatically deducted from salaries before taxes, it makes sure that a regular amount of money will be saved every month, eliminating the chance for individuals to skip payments. Furthermore, it decreases one's gross salary, decreasing income tax, which gives individuals a higher disposable income if analyzed properly. Thus, it is an efficient investment for retirement. Lastly, another investment, which is of importance, is gold. Unlike other investments, gold provides the most stable, hence safe, investment for retirement even in times of economic crisis and financial instability. On the average, its value has been increasing throughout the years. Thus, it is no question why it has endured as a viable form for keeping wealth in centuries. Another reason why gold is an important form of investment for a retirement plan is its negative correlation with the US dollar (van Eeden, 2000). There has been numerous forecasts regarding the weakening of the dollar in the coming yeas, thus, gold provides individuals with a greater sense of security. Furthermore, owning gold allows one to diversify his domestic portfolio and diversify the risks present in his other investments. Thus, gold is an important investment for retirement because it allows individuals to diversify his portfolio, hence, shielding it from the risks that could be brought about by a deeply integrated world economy, ensuring that one's retirement plan is secure. A house, an untaxed investment, and gold are three important components of a retirement plan because they are relatively stable, diverse, and could still be used in the present during hard times in mortgages and loans giving them value

Toys R Us Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Toys R Us Case Analysis - Essay Example So the company formed partnership with McDonalds which helped the firm to understand the business process which other companies follows for establishing its position in Japanese market. 80% of the company was owned by TRU and rest of the shares was owned by McDonalds of Japan. This partnership became very beneficial for TRU to start its business in Japan. TRU entered in Japanese market at the time of recession. The people of that country at were focusing of low priced products. For this reason the company introduced a catchy tagline for attracting customers in its stores. TRU provided discounts on its various products and maintained a good quality. The tagline of TRU in Japan focused on the low price and quality of its products. This helped the company to become popular among the Japanese people. By this even TRU was successful in establishing its position in the market of Japan. It also helped the company to create its customer base in that country. For expanding its business into Japan TRU had to set up stores in different parts of the country. The company required 3000sq ft area for establishing its retail stores. But according to the law of Japan government establishment of large retail stores were prohibited. The company TRU was able to change this law of Japan. The company opened its store of 3000sq ft in Japan in 1991. Soon the company opened its many other toy stores in different parts of this country. Therefore for establishing its business TRU changed the one of the government laws of Japan. TRU improved some of its internal factors for launching its business in Japan. The company introduced export managers in its business system for analyzing and evaluating the market of Japan. It helped the company to get a qualitative and quantitative idea about Japanese market for establishing its business. The organization teamed up with McDonalds of Japan for evaluating its new business environment. It helped the company to

Profit and Loss Essay Example for Free

Profit and Loss Essay Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Two of the most important financial statements for a business are the Profit and Loss Account, and the Balance Sheet. The Profit and Loss Account shows the profit or loss of a business over a given period of time e. g. 3 months, 1 year, etc. In contrast, the Balance Sheet is like a photograph taken at an instant in time giving a picture of what the business owns and what the business owes at that moment in time. As we shall see it will always balance because what the business owns is financed by what the business owes. The Profit and Loss (PL account) Net profit takes account of other sources of income and expenditure that are not involved in normal operations e. g. interest paid on loans and interest received on having a positive balance in a bank account. Turnover is the value of sales made in a trading period. It is some eferred to as sale revenue and is calculated by the average price of items sold x the number sold. Cost of sales calculates the direct costs of manufacturing items, or buying in items to sell them on. Expenses are the overhead costs of running a business. These overheads cant be tied down to particular cost units. For example, it would be very difficult to calculate what fraction of the heating cost of a pen factory can be allocated to just one pen. The Balance Sheet is a statement showing the assets, liabilities and owners capital of a business at a particular Downloaded from The 100 Edition http://www. he100. co. uk moment in time, for example the year end. The Balance Sheet balances because the assets t hat a business possesses at a specific time have been financed either through the provision of capital by the owners or by the creation of external liabilities: Value of assets = Value of Liabilities Value of Owners capital. There are a number of things that we can see from looking at a balance sheet, for example: 1. The Net Assets of the business, i. e. the difference between the value of the assets and the value of the liabilities. A growth in net assets tends to indicate a growing business. 2. How solvent the business is. In other words, does it have enough assets that are short term, and hence easily converted into cash, to pay any pressing short-term liabilities. Case Example: A typical balance sheet will be set out in the following way (note that we use two columns. The first column is for minor calculations, the second column is for grand totals): Balance Sheet of Superior Traders, as at 31st December 2004 Fixed assets consist of those items that are kept within the business to create wealth over a period of time e. . machinery, equipment, vehicles, computers, etc. Current assets are used in the short period to generate income for a business. For example, in a manufacturing company like Kraft, stocks would represent products that have already been made and are waiting to be sold onto retailers. Typically stocks will be sold on credit for periods of one month, two months, or three months. Retailers buying s tocks on credit from Kraft would become Krafts debtors. At the end of the credit period they will pay up in the form of cash, enabling Kraft to buy more raw materials to create further stocks. Creditors due within one year are the sums that a business owes money to in the short period otherwise known as current liabilities. Net current assets is a measure of how solvent or liquid a business is. Many businesses need to have working capital. Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets: Working capital = Current assets Current liabilities Note that the figure for net current assets appear almost in the centre of a balance sheet, and is a figure that many people will look at first to check on the solvency of a business. Total assets current liabilities is a sum that appears in the balance sheet simply doing what the title suggests. Creditors due after more than one year shows the longer term liabilities of the bsiness. Total net assets is calculated by taking away all the liabilities (both current and long term) from all of the assets (both current and long term). Shareholders funds shows the value of the shareholders capital in the business. It will always be the same value as the total net assets and it balances the account. Downloaded from The 100 Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Two of the most important financial statements for a business are the Profit and Loss Account, and the Balance Sheet. The Profit and Loss Account shows the profit or loss of a business over a given period of time e. g. 3 months, 1 year, etc. In contrast, the Balance Sheet is like a photograph taken at an instant in time giving a picture of what the business owns and what the business owes at that moment in time. As we shall see it will always balance because what the business owns is financed by what the business owes. The Profit and Loss (PL account) One of the most important objectives of a business is to make a profit. The PL account shows the extent to which it has been successful in achieving this objective. Companies are expected to keep their PL accounts in certain formats. Typically the PL account will show the revenues received by a business and the costs involved in generating that revenue. In simple terms: Revenues Costs = Profits. A typical PL account will look like the following: Case Study: PL Account for Superior Traders as at 31/12/2004 You can find out the gross profit of a business by deducting cost of sales from turnover: ? 100,000 ? 50,000 = ? 0,000 You can find out the operating profit by deducting the expenses from the gross profit: ? 50,000 ? 30,000 = ? 20,000 You may also come across the term net profit. Operating profit is earned from carrying out a businesses normal operations e. g. producing confectionery, or selling Christmas cards. Net profit takes account of other sources of income and expenditure that are not involved in normal operations e. g. interest paid on loans and interest received on having a positive balance in a bank account. Turnover is the value of sales made in a trading period. It is sometimes referred to as sale revenue and is calculated by the average price of items sold x the number sold. Cost of sales calculates the direct costs of manufacturing items, or buying in items to sell them on. Expenses are the overhead costs of running a business. These overheads cant be tied down to particular cost units. For example, it would be very difficult to calculate what fraction of the heating cost of a pen factory can be allocated to just one pen. The Balance Sheet is a statement showing the assets, liabilities and owners capital of a business at a particular Downloaded from The Times 100 Edition oment in time, for example the year end. The Balance Sheet balances because the assets that a business possesses at a specific time have been financed either through the provision of capital by the owners or by the creation of external liabilities: Value of assets = Value of Liabilities Value of Owners capital. There are a number of things that we can see from looking a t a balance sheet, for example: 1. The Net Assets of the business, i. e. the difference between the value of the assets and the value of the liabilities. A growth in net assets tends to indicate a growing business. Creditors due within one year are the sums that a business owes money to in the short period otherwise known as current liabilities. Net current assets is a measure of how solvent or liquid a business is. Many businesses need to have working capital. Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets: Working capital = Current assets Current liabilities Note that the figure for net current assets appear almost in the centre of a balance sheet, and is a figure that many people will look at first to check on the solvency of a business. Total assets current liabilities is a sum that appears in the balance sheet simply doing what the title suggests. Creditors due after more than one year shows the longer term liabilities of the bsiness. Total net assets is calculated by taking away all the liabilities (both current and long term) from all of the assets (both current and long term). Shareholders funds shows the value of the shareholders capital in the business. It will always be the same value as the total net assets and it balances the account. Downloaded from The Times 100 Edition.

Irregular Religions Essay -- Social Issues, Poverty

Perhaps the strongest basis for one critic’s belief that Major Barbara had â€Å"an utter want of the religious sense† comes from the morality and adopted religion of Andrew Undershaft. An armorer, Undershaft founded his creed on the belief that â€Å"honor, justice, truth, [and] mercy† are â€Å"graces and luxuries of a rich, strong, and safe life† (93). To Undershaft, social problems such as sloth and drunkenness can be traced back to poverty, for a man’s â€Å"first duty, to which every other consideration should sacrificed, is not to be poor† (15). Shaw makes this point clearly in the play’s preface, and argues his own cynical views through the mouth of Undershaft. Shaw explains through Undershaft that poverty is â€Å"the worst of all crimes† (142). The impoverished â€Å"poison [the country] morally and physically† – â€Å"they force [those not poor] to do away with [their] own liberties and to organize unnatural cruelties for fear that [the poor] should rise against [the wealthy] and drag [the wealthy] down into their abyss† (142). Life has proven to Undershaft that money is a God on Earth; money allowed him to raise his family comfortably despite the less-than-reputable source from which he obtained it (namely, war). Because his faith of money and gunpowder is unconventional in its generally strict focus on the economic aspects of life, the faith leaves little room for the traditional spiritualism and morality of religion. Undershaft admits that he would not have the income of a poor man for all his conscience (88). In Undershaft’s religion, typical morality – that is, earning money in a respectable way, believing death and destruction are abominations, and seeing God as that which rules the world – has no place. Undershaft takes advantage of â€Å"the ... ...ara has learned from the Army, a starving man will say anything to get the bread, furthering Crosstianity rather than absolving his soul (142). While Shaw respects the Salvation Army’s intentions in trying to rid the country of poverty, he believes only a revolution can destroy it completely and that the Army’s attempt to save people individually is ultimately futile. The Army is not saving their souls; rather, it forces them to sin by lying to gain food. Barbara comes to this understanding at the end of the play, and by it she is converted again to the saving of souls, this time â€Å"through the raising of hell to heaven and of man to God† – essentially, by bringing goodness and spirituality into her father’s factory of death (152). Through her strength and spirituality Barbara finds hope and reaffirms the true, if unconventional, Christianity she practices.

Immigrant Children and U.S Education Essay

Aware of the free education provided by the United States government to any school age children, immigrants both legal and illegal continue to be attracted to the United States, migrating in an attempt to provide better opportunities for their families and themselves. As the number of illegal immigrants living in the United states continues to rise and the percentage of illegal immigrant households which consist of children also continues to rise, it is important for the American government to examine the effect that these illegal children are having on the United States public education system. How educators and policymakers address the increasing diversification of the population will ultimately determine the stability of communities in the future.In order to produce a more effective public education system for students as a whole, it is important for the government examine the effects of the influx of immigrant students and learn to address the issues in a more productive way.Americans must ask themselves and answer the question, â€Å"How should the government better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system?† In 1982, the supreme court case Plyler v. Doe, ruled â€Å"that public schools were prohibited from denying immigrant students access to a public education. The Court stated that undocumented children have the same right to a free public education as U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Undocumented immigrant students are obligated, as are all other students, to attend school until they reach the age mandated by state law (Olivas).† As an american citizen, it is crucial for our society to realize the effects of allowing illegal immigrants the right to free public education because the effects affect us as individuals and future generations in the american society. It is important for us to see if the benefits of allowing immigrants free education outweighs the strain it puts on our public education system. Researching and answering the question â€Å"How should the government better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system?†, will help americans realize what laws and policies need to be edited, reformed, or added, to greater benefit our society. Answering this question will show us if we need more laws promoting and protecting immigrants rights which would bring in more immigrants or if we should create laws restricting the rights of immigrant children. As immigration continues to increase, and the children of immigrants fill more of the schools, educators will have to recognize and address the social, cultural, political, psychological, and economic complexity that is immigrant education in the twenty-first century. â€Å"Despite several decades of reform, public education in the United States is criticized by some as not teaching all children effectively† (Koehler). Due to poor test results and low graduation rates, many taxpayers criticize public schools and want to see better results. Among many of the issues creating discontent with the public educational system, inequality of opportunity ranks high among citizens. Despite the historical promise of quality education for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, or income, many americans feel that many children do not have equal opportunities to learn and are not likely to attend a quality school. â€Å"Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that 63 percent of fourth graders perform at only basic, or below basic, levels in reading. Sixty-nine percent perform at these levels in mathematics. African-American, Hispanic, and Native American fourth graders perform consistently lower than their white coun terparts†(Koehler). These statistics show that over half of the students in the American educational system fail to learn high thinking skills. â€Å"And once again, this â€Å"bottom half† comprises primarily the poor and ethnic minorities†(Koehler). Majority of immigrants live in poverty.†The poverty rate for immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) is two-thirds higher than that of natives and their children, immigrants and their minor children now account for almost one in four persons living in poverty†(Camarota). The high percentage of immigrants that live in poverty causes majority of their children to attend an underachieving school adding to struggles they already face as an immigrant and effecting their educational success.â€Å"The percentage of immigrants without a high school diploma is 30 percent, more than 3.5 times the rate for natives.†(Camarota). with out proper management of immigrant children in the school system, these underachieving school s will take the blunt force of the student population increase and due to lack of resources and funding the schools have, the schools will continue to strip the students of their equality to opportunity. As the immigration population continues to increase â€Å"immigration has become the determinate factor in population growth. The arrival of 1.5 million immigrants each year, coupled with 750,000 births to immigrant women annually, means that immigration policy is adding over two million people to the U.S. population each year, accounting for at least two-thirds of U.S. population growth†(Camarota), it is important that the government learn how better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system to ensure equality of opportunity to american and immigrant students. As taxpayers, citizens should especially be concerned with the amount of their money that is used to educate immigrants. In January 2011, it was estimated that 11.5 million unauthorized immigrants are currently living in the United States. Of these it is estimated that 1.5 million children attend a public school costing the government an estimated six thousand dollars a year per student. In addition to the six thousands per student the government also pays about $1.5 billion annually to pay the bi-lingual teachers which are necessary to teach and attempt to provide an equal opportunity to immigrant children. All together, the total cost of educating the children of illegal immigrants is around $52,000,000,000. Educating the children of illegal immigrants is by far the single largest cost to American taxpayers. Even though americans are paying large sums of money to educate children of illegal immigrants, â€Å"foreign-born students ages 16-24 had a drop out rate of 29% while students ages 16-24 of foreign born parents had a high school drop out rate of 38.7%†(Illegal immigration statistics). This drop out percentage shows that despite the large amounts of money being spent, the government needs to find a way to better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system. Due to the large number and rising percentage of immigrants in our school system, the immigrants educational success will influence our nations future success. Works Cited Camarota, Steven. â€Å"Immigrants in the United States: A Snapshot of America’s Foreign-Born.† Center for Immigration Studies. Nov. 2002. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete Hernandez, Donald J. Demographic Change and the Life of Immigrant Families. Publication. New York: Foundation for Child Development, 2004. Future of Children. Web. . Report TagsEditDelete â€Å"Illegal Immigration Statistics.† Illegal Immigration Statistics. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete â€Å"Immigration Statistics.† DHS. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete Koehler, Paul, and Joy W. Lewis. â€Å"Criticism of Public Education.† Encyclopedia of Education. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1948-952. Print. Encyclopedia Article TagsEditDelete Olivas, Michael A. No Undocumented Child Left Behind: Plyler v. Doe and the Education of Undocumented Schoolchildren. New York: New York UP, 2012. Print. Book TagsEditDelete Schoorman, Diyls. â€Å"Immigrant Education: Contemporary Issues.† Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education. Vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2009. 433-35. Print.

In this assignment, we would present our findings on whether Singaporeans are receptive to Telecommuting

In this assignment, we would present our findings on whether Singaporeans are receptive to Telecommuting. Telecommuting is the substitution of telecommunication for transportation, permitting work to be performed at a remote site anywhere except from the office. We conclude that Singaporeans are not very receptive to Telecommuting although Singapore is quite a technologically advanced country in Information Technology. A total of 20 respondents ( males and females) were asked to complete a survey form. Their age group was around 21-30 years of age. They were mainly made up of NUS students and system analysts. Among the 20 interviewees, 55% indicated that their current jobs do not require them to telecommute. Half of the 20 respondents spend on the average, 0-10 work-related hours in front of the computer every week. In addition, 90% of them feel that Telecommuting could not replace most of the jobs in Singapore. Below are the four highly topped responses that the interviewees made regarding their feelings towards Telecommuting in general. In the survey, 90% of those participating recognize that there is a loss in human touch while 85% of the interviewees feel that there is a loss in team cohesion. Telecommuting may cause a relative loss of synergy, because of reduced face-to-face contact, although electronic mail and on-line documentation can counterbalance this. Thus, Telecommuting results in less social interaction and reduced contact with the physical part of the organization (the office). This leads to isolation, loneliness and a reduced sense of identification with the organization and its members. The survey reported that 80% of the interviewees recognize that there is no need to commute with telecommuting. Telecommunication technology lets telecommuters transform almost any space into a workplace. Instead of going to work, telecommuters let work come to them. Time is saved too when the telecommuter does not have to travel to work. He beats the hassle of traveling to work and getting stuck in traffic jams. The time saved can be used to generating more output for his work. Moreover, 70% of those participating in the survey feel that they are able to spend more time with family and friends with Telecommuting. Telecommuting can help balance work and family demands. In this sense, Telecommuting can play a part in helping to bond the family together. When the parent does not have to leave home to go to work, he/she is able to spend more time at home with his family. The parent is able to show more concern for his children and spouse, as he/she knows what is going on in their lives. This will greatly improve the family cohesiveness. We found out that 65% of the interviewees think they are not able to work from home. This could be because Telecommuting requires unwavering self-discipline as telecommuters can make a choice between eight hours of work time or eight hours of web-surfing. The latter is of course more tempting. The reasons why Singaporeans are not receptive to Telecommuting might be due to three reasons. Singaporeans have a collectivistic culture and value team cohesion as well as membership. They are socialized to be emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions. As a result, Singaporeans are not used to the idea of Telecommuting. Firstly, the close proximity between family members due to Singapore's small physical size makes Telecommuting unfeasible. Secondly, the accessibility of Singapore due to its efficient transport network ensures that employees can commute between home and office quickly.

Leopracy (decease) Essays - Leprosy, Corynebacterineae, Free Essays

Leopracy (decease) Essays - Leprosy, Corynebacterineae, Free Essays Leopracy (decease) title = Leopracy (decease) Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin and the mucous membranes, especially those in the nose and in the peripheral nervous system. Leprosy is not usually fatal, however, patients with untreated infections may develop crippled hands and or feet. Leprosy results from infection by a rod-shaped bacterium called mycobacterium leprae, sometimes known as hansens bacillus. Leprosy infections occurs primarily in human beings, armadillos, chimpanzees and Mangabey monkeys. Researchers do not know how the bacteria is transmitted. Evidence show it is caused by inhaling the bacteria or from skin to skin contact. Leprosy resist infection and develop immunity after this exposure. Only a few develop the disease. Symptoms of leprosy typically appear three to five years after infection. The cheif symptoms of leprosy include white or reddish patches of skin, the loss of feeling in the skin and thickened nerves. The skin may also thicken, and dark lumps may appear on many parts of the body. If this disease is not treated, nerves can become severely damaged, causing weekness in the hands and or feet. As a result the fingers and toes may curl inward. If M. leprae enter the eyes, a painful inflamation called iritis can occur. In severe casas, the bacteria can cause blindness. PLEASE CONTINUE FROM HERE. (hey, at least is this far done!)

Fin Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fin Project - Essay Example The QFMA Code encourages companies to consider and implement voluntarily the appropriate policies, about the companys circumstances, even though the Code is not prescriptive yet. The article mainly aims to compare the QFMA Code with the international benchmark of the Principles of Corporate Governance of the OECD of 2004, so as to develop recommendation to the on how the QFMA can strengthen their corporate governance framework. The article first looks at a brief overview of the QFMA Codes. This is done with respect to the major issues of the duties of the director, mechanisms of control, rights of the shareholders, disclosures, compliance and corporate governance. The benchmarks in the OECD Principles are used to compare these key areas. Finally, the article looks at the recommendations about how the QFMA can be able to meet the set standards by the OECD Principal, and help in strengthening the corporate governance framework of the Qatari (Zain, 2011). Corporate governance can be dated back to the 19th Century when there was the introduction of the agency theory on the background of public corporations. There was a great need to separate functions from those functions of the owners and maintain some control over management performance (Gregary, 2000). Corporate governance encompasses the mechanism of control for a business that is organized in a limited liability corporate. Other people consider corporate governance to be a set of rules, regulations and voluntary practices that are aimed at resulting in the best performance by humans and maximizing the entitys net worth through securing and safeguarding its interests (Chee, 2002). Various scholars have overviewed different theoretical perspectives on corporate governance and further elaborated within various domains (Kirkpatrick, 2005). All this results from the corporate governance ground and its

Ethics in Business Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in Business Today - Essay Example Along with this, ethics also helps in reducing employee turnover thereby enhancing the range of efficiency, if maintained properly. Therefore, from the above points, it might be revealed that ethics acts as the catalyst that helps the business to enhance its dominance and supremacy in the market among other existing rival players. So, ethics is extremely essential for any business organization, operating in current scenario. Other than this, ethical policies and behaviors help an organization or business to attract more investors that might enhance the share prices to a significant extent among other rival players. Side by side ethics also helps in recruiting experienced and skilled employees within the organization that may prove effective in enhancing the total productivity of the organization. Thus, recruitment of talented staffs helps in development of varied types of inventive products and services for its customers thereby satisfying their changing needs and demands. This might help an organization in enhancing its brand value and loyalty within the minds of the target customers. As a result, its level of sustainability might get enhanced significantly. Consequently, ethics also helps in enhancing the inner morale of the employees so as to cope up with the inconveniences in turbulent situations. As a result of such type of inner confidence and willpower of the employees, the organization might become able to tackle the effects of the tough situations thereby retaining its previous image and values. However, this might be possible only if cooperation and team work might be maintained among all the members of the organization. Thus, it might be revealed that ethics is that type of inner psychology that might help an organization to develop a strong image and may also destroy its portfolio in the market among others (Plastin, 2013). Other than this, ethical decision making within an organization also helps in enhancing employee growth and their performance t owards the assigned duties and responsibilities. Due to which, the organization might become able to fulfill its target objectives and goals, which is extremely essential for any organization in this era. As a result, the organization might enhance its level of dominance within the market that may reduce the intensity of the new entrants to enter the segment. Along with this, the level of distinctiveness of the organization might also get enhanced thereby amplifying its output and profitability by a significant extent. As a result, the position and reputation of the organization might get improved in this aggressive market among other operating rivals. Hence, according to me ethics is important for any organization or a business for the following reasons presented below: Employee commitment Employee Growth Investor and stakeholders loyalty and commitment Improvement of the confidence power of the shareholders Improvement of the level of customer satisfaction Improvement in the relat ionship with the stakeholders Enhancement of the productivity of the organization Improvement of the level of performance Improvement of revenues and profit margin Improvement of reputation and image of the organizati

The 3rd part of the Tyler Model concerns Organization Research Paper

The 3rd part of the Tyler Model concerns Organization - Research Paper Example Attaining a given objective needs a proper sequence of events before getting to the milestone and every part or section has particulars which need to be achieved. The Maryland school curriculum has a disciplinary literacy framework that cuts across the different disciplines within. The core issue of having a good framework is to ensure that students achieve world class education. The framework provides a direction to educators on what they need to do to facilitate the various units and lessons. Maryland is not a one party school and involves many stakeholders who must all comply with the core standard to ensure high performance within the institution. There are different grades within Maryland and students should know and be able to perform in the different disciplines. On this let’s look at the social study, science and technical subjects grades 6-12 on the standards applied by Maryland school. The core framework is to prepare students ahead as they enter into college of what challenges lie ahead, thus preparing them for excellence. It is essential for students to understand their literacy development isn’t achieved in a day but rather discipline and a sense of responsibility must be instilled. There is the division for instructions that provide essential skills to students. A framework for obtaining, analyzing, evaluating rich data and presenting credible conclusions in argumentations and explanations encourages research in the institution. Career preparation is important to students and there is a framework for defining literacy expectations for every student required for graduation.It is good to note that based on various units the organization may be differ a little bit but the core standard framework is similar to the whole school so as to ensure standard evaluation across all levels. Teachers in Maryland are encouraged to form daily instructions on their particular subjects in each day;

Population of the country Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Population of the country - Research Paper Example This paper explores reasons for that. Before the start of the industrial revolution, the CBR and CDR in Canada were both high. The high rate of births can be attributed to the fact that more children went into the work of farming whereas families needed a greater number of children to be able to sustain because of the high rate of deaths. The high death rate can be attributed to the fact that the health and safety conditions of the society were not good. People suffered from different kinds of diseases and lacked hygiene. However, there was a stability in the high CBR and CDR which played a role in slow growth of the population. The CDR did increase dramatically with occasional epidemics for some years. The drop in the CDR in Canada around the mid-18th century is explained by improvement that occurred in the areas of medicine and sanitation. Despite the decline of the CDR, the CBR continued to remain high because of tradition as well as practice. As a result of the declined CDR but sustained CBR, population growth in Canada skyrocketed. Over the passage of time, children in the families became an extra cause of expenditure and were not in the position to help the family run the finances. As a result of that, the CBR in Canada started to decline in the 20th century with the use of advances in the birth control. By the 20th century, the condition of health and safety and the medical facilities for people in Canada were much better than what they were before the start of the industrial revolution. People used the newly found methods of birth control effective in reducing the rate of birth. Although there still occurred rapid growth of population in the 20th century in Canada yet the g rowth of population began to happen at a slower pace. The CBR and CDR both leveled off in the late 20th century at a low rate in Canada. Much of the growth in population

Statutory Requirements for Childcare

Statutory Requirements for Childcare MARY MCALLISTER The Early Years Statutory Framework is mandatory for all early years providers, who LEGAL force by an order made under section 39(1)(a) of the Childcare Act 2006. The safeguarding and welfare requirements are given LEGAL force by regulations make under the section 39(1)(b) of the Childcare Act 2006. Ofsted has regard to the Early Years foundation Stage (EYFS) in carrying out inspections and reports on the quality and standards of provision. The EYFS statutory framework recognises that; ‘children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring from them.’ The framework also outlines what all providers must do to safeguard children, ensure the suitability of adults who have contact with children, promote good health; manage behaviour and maintain records. Good. The statutory Framework requirements promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children were written to ensure the protection and safety from harm of every child within the Early Years Setting. Some Child Protection As part of the statutory requirements, providers must have and be able to implement a policy and procedures to safeguard children in line with the guidelines and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB). The Framework clearly outlines the responsibility of the provider with respect to identifying and responding to the signs of possible abuse and neglect and the provision of staff training to recognise this. Suitable People The statutory framework also states that; ‘Providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles.’ Providers need to ensure that they have effective systems in place to vet anyone coming into regular contact with the children within the setting are suitable to do so. It is the responsibility of the childcare provider to obtain enhanced criminal records disclosure and barred list checks for every person aged 16 and over who; works directly with children; who lives on the premises where the childcare is being provided and/or works on the premises where the childcare is provided. The provider must keep records of all practitioners’ checks and qualifications and be able to produce this during an Ofsted inspection. Staff Qualifications, training, support and skills Staff training is recognised as being an essential part of providing high quality care. Providers need to ensure that staff is made aware of their roles and responsibilities. Their training should include; evacuation procedures, safeguarding , child protection and the policies and procedures regarding reporting cases of suspected abuse or neglect and health and safety issues. The provider must also ensure that staffs have the relevant qualifications to work with children and that staff:child ratios are adhered to. At least one member of staff with a paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises at all times. Good. Health The framework outlines that policy and procedures should be in place to respond to children who are ill or infectious and the necessary steps to be taken to prevent spread of infection to other children. Administration of medicine should only occur where it has been prescribed for that child and with the parent’s written consent. Food and drink Any areas used for the preparation of food must be adequately equipped to provide healthy meals, snacks and drinks. These areas must be clean and suitable sterilisation equipment available for the preparation of food and mild for babies. Those responsible for the preparation of food and food handling must receive the appropriate up to date training. Cases of food poisoning involving two or more children on the premises must be reported to Ofsted. Failure to do so is an offence. Early years providers and practitioners have a primary responsibility for the safety of the children in their care. There are a number of legal and regulatory requirements that help protect children (and adults) in any setting; some of which have already been discussed. When considering how best to keep children safe within the setting it is important that the practitioner is familiar with the following legislation as it pertains to their particular area if practice. Managing behaviour The statutory framework states that, ‘Providers must have and implement a behaviour management policy and procedures. A named practitioner should be responsible for behaviour management, and have the necessary skills to advise other staff on behaviour issues.’ Corporal punishment should NEVER be used as a form of discipline and if used would constitute an offence. There are many ways of dealing with the various types of behaviour that can arise within an early years setting and the recommended approach is one that is child-centred and non punitive. Educational psychologist B.F. Skinner suggested that most humans and animals learn through exploring the environment and then drawing conclusions bases on the consequences of their behaviour. Skinner goes on to suggest that positive reinforcers are likely to make people repeat a behaviour in order to get something they desire. In the case of young children this could be praise, a sticker or merit award, adult attention etc. Th is, skinner believed was the most positive and effective way of encouraging new learning behaviours. Child-centred approaches to behaviour focus on the underlying causes to prevent unwelcome behaviours and can be very effective, whereas simply managing or containing behaviour may not result in longer term improvement. Good point and link to Skinners theory. While the environment in which children are cared for must be stimulating, they must also be safe. Young children have little sense of danger and so require constant adult supervision, where they are given the freedom to explore, discover and develop unhindered. Risk assessment is an important part of health and safety procedures, and the idea is to evaluate possible risks during activities and in the environment and then to consider how best to minimise them. Having a policy and procedures in place is essential as there is not only a moral duty to keep children safe, but also a legal one. The statutory framework outlines the following areas to be considered: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 This act places overall responsibility for health and safety with the employer but also on the employees, so everyone in a setting has some responsibility for the health and safety of everyone who is there. In the context of an early years setting as it pertains to the safety of the children the act covers the following: Buildings should be well maintained and designed with the safety of the users in mind, The general environment should be clean and safe. Equipment must be safely used and stored. Working practice must promote the health and safety of children. Articles and substances should be stored and used safely Adequate welfare facilities should be available Appropriate information, training and supervision should be made for the health and safety of employees. Certain injuries, diseases and occurrences should be reported to the Health and safety Executive. First Aid facilities should be provided. Employees should take care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions. Employees should cooperate with their employer on health and safety. Product marking: Toys and products used within the early years setting should be tested by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and carry a kite mark as proof that they have been independently tested and conform to the relevant standards. They may also carry a CE mark which indicates that the product meets the European legal requirements; however this is not a safety or quality mark. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH Regulations 2002 covers substances which can cause ill-health and the legislation lays down a step by step approach to the precautions that need to be put in place to prevent injury or illness from dangerous substances. These substances must have particular labels on them, which show the substances are dangerous and need to be kept in special containers and carefully stored. The importance of this cannot be over emphasised as children can easily ingest such substances causing considerable harm. Every person working with children is responsible for their safety. It is important that the environment children are working and playing in is regularly checked, before and during activities. The following points should be considered: Buildings and maintenance Doors opening into entrances and exits from the building must NOT be capable of being opened by young children. Emergency exits must be clear and easy to open from the inside. Floors should not have any loose rugs or pieces of carpet. Low-level glass should be safety glass of covered with a guard. Electrical sockets should be covered. Cleanliness of the general environment There should be a high standard of cleanliness throughout the building. Spillages should be immediately cleaned. Toilet areas should be regularly cleaned and checked. Food preparation areas All staff dealing with food should have a food hygiene certificate. All regulations relating to food storage should be in place. Safe storage and use of equipment Cupboards at ‘child-level’ should not contain cleaning items, knives, tools or any other potentially dangerous items. Toys with very small parts should be kept away from children under three years old. Heaters and radiators should be covered and not a risk to children. Outdoor areas Outdoor slides, swings etc. Should be safe and have impact absorbing matting provided. Young children should not be able to open gates. Sandpits should be kept covered when not in use. As a general rule equipment should be regularly checked for wear and tear, such as fraying ropes and rusty joints. Check equipment before use to ensure that it is clean and dry especially slides and steps. Children should have enough space to play and move freely without bumping into each other or objects. Appropriate adult-child ratios should be maintained and supervising adults should be able to see all the children. Good. Swings and rope ladders should be used by only one child at a time and other children discouraged from getting too close in case they are hurt by a swing or rope. First aid provision Young children invariably have accidents and injure themselves and at such times can become frightened and upset. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to know what to do in an emergency and to carry out the appropriate first aid calmly and confidently. In accordance with the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and the statutory requirements of the EYFS the early years provider must ensure that there is at least one member of staff with a current paediatric first aid certificate present at all times on the premises and that there is a well stocked up to date first aid kit available. There must be policies and procedures in place to deal with and record all accidents and their treatment as well as current phone numbers to contact parents or a designated adult in the event of a child requiring emergency treatment. In the event of serious injury or death the provider must comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Premises The framework states that, ‘The premises and equipment must be organised in a way that meets the needs of the children.’ The indoor space requirements are: Children under two years: 3.5m ² per child. Two year olds: 2.5m ² per child Children aged three to five years 2.3m ² per child. The provider must also ensure the following: Facilities and equipment and access to the premises are suitable as far is reasonably possible accessible to children with disabilities. That there is access to outdoor activities. Provision of a quiet area for children who wish to relax or sleep. Adequate toilet and hand washing facilities. Child care settings should have secure entrance doors that sound an alarm or require buzzer activation to alert staff to anyone coming into the premises. It is important to check that other adults coming in are allowed to be there and that they sign in and out; not only for security purposes but also in case of fire or accident on the premises. It is also important to ascertain from parents those adults who will have responsibility for collecting their child at the end of the day. There should be procedures in place for parents to inform the setting if a different adult is to collect a child at the end of the day. However the practitioner should never be afraid of challenging someone they are not familiar with. It is also important to take care when people are leaving the setting that no other children are nearby and able to slip out the door unnoticed. References: [1] Statutory Framework for the Early Years foundation Stage. (March 2012). Department of Education.  https:// www.educataion.gov.uk/publications/standard/AllPublications/Page1/DFE-00023-2012 [2] COSHH assessment: identifying hazard and assessing risk.  Available online at:  www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/assessment.htm. [3] Tassani, Penny; Bulman, Kath; Beith, Kate (2005) Children’s Care, Learning and Development (2nd edition), Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-435-44851-6 [4] The Health and Safety at work Act 1974  Available online at: www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm [5] RIDDOR  Available online at: www.hse.gov.uk/guidance/index.htm [6] B.F. Skinner – Operant Conditioning  www.simplepsychology.org/operant-conditioning.htm

John Stuart Mills On Liberty Essays -- essays research papers

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty Imagine going through life not questioning anything that anyone tells you. Anything that is said to be true you would just agree with and not question the statement for yourself. Imagine how blindly you would go through life not finding anything out for yourself. A good example of this is something that just happened to me today. I have always been told that the population of the United States is 240 million and I have been told that for the longest time, even recently within the last month. I was always under this assumption and never questioned it. In my sociology class, my teacher told me that it is now 260 million and has been for quite some time. I took it upon myself to look up the census information on the Internet and found out that indeed, the population is 260 million. Without ever questioning the â€Å"truth† about the population, I never would have obtained the real truth. John Stuart Mill illustrates this point in his book, On Liberty and I will discuss how he mak es these certain points.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mill claims that we may not interfere with a person’s liberty unless her or his acting freely will bring harm to others. In addition, he claims that the root cause for most of our errors in action and thought is â€Å"the fatal tendency of mankind to leave off thinking about a thing when it is no longer doubtful.† This statement is part of Mill’s initial argument promoting total freedom of both thought and discussion. The statem...

Data-collection in Qualitative Research Essay

This Chapter is about methods and techniques in data-collection during a qualitative research. We mentioned earlier that qualitative research is eclectic. That is, the choice of techniques is dependent on the needs of the research. Although this should be true for almost all social research, it is particularly so with qualitative research in that the appropriate method or techniques is often identified and adopted during the research. Qualitative research is also multi-modal. The researcher may adopt a variety of research techniques, or a combination of such, as long as they are justified by the needs. The discussion below is therefore not to identify a set of techniques unique to qualitative research, but rather, to introduce the methods and techniques most commonly used in qualitative research, and the issues related to such use. We shall introduce the methods and techniques in three broad categories: observations, interviews and study of documents. These are also the basic methods used in cultural anthropology (Bernard, 1988:62). Indeed, the discussions about qualitative research in education can be viewed as a particular case in cultural anthropology. Observations Observation usually means the researcher’s act to find out what people do (Bernard, 1988:62). It is different from other methods in that data occur not necessarily in response to the researcher’s stimulus. Observation may be obtrusive or unobtrusive. A researcher may simply sit in the corner of a school playground and observe how students behave during breaks. He may also stand by the school gate and observe how students behave at the school gate. Such cases of observation may be seen as unobtrusive. In other cases, the researchers may not apply any stimuli, but their presence per se may have some influence on the scene. The most common example in this category is classroom observation. Although the researcher may just sit quietly at the corner of a classroom, the presence of the researcher may  change the classroom climate. It is, nonetheless, still observation. Observation is a basic technique used in almost all qualitative research. Even if other methods or techniques are used, the researcher remains the most essential â€Å"sensor† or â€Å"instrument† and hence observation always counts (McCracken, 1988:18-20). For example, when interviewing is used, a qualitative researcher also takes into account the tonic or facial expressions of the informant, because they help interpret the verbal responses. Such expressions are only sensed by observation. If the interview is done in the field, then the surroundings of the interview site also provide meaningful data for the research. The surroundings can only be depicted through observation. Hence observation is indispensable in almost all occasions of qualitative research. However, the term observation may sometimes go beyond what is seen. It also pertains to what is heard, and even sometimes what is smelled. Case 4.1 provides one of such examples. Case 4.1: Classroom Observation Scheme In the IIEP project on basic education, Leung designed for the Chinese research a scheme for classroom observation. Classroom was taken as one of the environmental factors affecting students’ learning. The scheme was designed after Leung stayed in local schools for two days. The scheme did not confine itself to the performance of the teacher, although that was a part. The figure on the next page shows one of the six sections of the scheme. Different writers have different ways of classifying observations. Without running into juggling of definitions, we shall briefly introduce observations as participant observations and non-participant observations. More detailed classification of observations can be found in Bernard (1988), Goetz and LeCompte (1984) and Patton (1990). Participant Observation Participant observation is perhaps the most typical of qualitative research.  Some authors even use participant observation as a synonym for ethnographic research. Different writers may have slightly different definitions of participant observation. The following description by Fetterman is perhaps the most agreeable to most researchers. Participant observation is immersion in a culture. Ideally, the ethnographer lives and works in the community for six months to a year or more, learning the language and seeing patterns of behaviour over time. Long-term residence helps the researcher internalize the basic beliefs, fears, hopes and expectations of the people under study. (1989:45) Immersion of the participant can either be continuous or noncontinuous. The three classical cases we quoted in Chapter 1 all include participation in the continuous mode. Li’s study of classroom sociology (Cases 3.8 and 3.9) involved one year’s continuous residence. In the second and third year she went to the school three days a week. She combined continuous with noncontinuous participant observations. Fetterman used noncontinuous participation when he was doing qualitative evaluation of educational programmes. Case 4.2: Noncontinuous Visits In two ethnographic studies, of dropouts and of gifted children, Fetterman visited the programmes for only a few weeks every couple of months over a three-year period. The visits were intensive. They included classroom observation, informal interviews, occasional substitute teaching,interaction with community members, and the use of various other research techniques, including long-distance phone-calls, dinner with students’ families, and time spent hanging out in the hallways and parking lot with students cutting classes. (Fetterman, 1989:46-7) II. Environment of the classroom 1. The classroom is on the _____ floor of the school building. 2. The classroom is near ( ) residential area ( ) factories ( ) road(s) ( ) field ( ) marketplace ( ) others _______________________________________ 3. The number of windows which provide lighting and ventilation to the classroom: ( ) satisfies the required standard ( ) is below the required standard 4. The main artificial lighting facility in the classroom is: ( ) florescent tubes total no.__________________ ( ) light bulbs total no.__________________ 5. Condition of lighting during the lesson : ( ) bright ( ) dim ( ) dark 6. Ventilation in the classroom: ( ) well ventilated ( ) stuffy ( ) suffocating 7. Quality of air in the classroom: ( ) refreshing ( ) a bit smelly ( ) stingy 8. Environments for listening: ( ) very quiet ( ) occasional noise ( ) noisy 9. Classroom’s floor structure: ( ) concrete ( ) log ( ) mud ( ) carpet 10. Classroom’s floor condition: ( ) clean ( ) some litter ( ) full of rubbish 11. Classroom’s wall conditions: ( ) smooth & clean ( ) some stains ( ) dirty & damaged 12. Classroom’s area: _____________m2; area/person: _____ m2. 13. Space use in classroom: ( ) looks spatial ( ) fairly crowded ( ) very crowded 14. Furniture and other article arrangements in the classroom: ( ) orderly and tidy ( ) messy 1Figure 1 Classroom Observation Scheme (Designed by Leung Yat-ming) Whyte’s experience in the Italian slum (Case 2) is perhaps the nearest to ideal in participant observation. He stayed in the community for two years. He experienced the life of a member of the Italian slum. In Whyte’s case, native membership allows the researcher the highest level of participant observation. Most researchers are denied such an opportunity, often because of constraints in time and resources, as we have discussed at length in Chapter 3. Under all sorts of constraints, at best the researcher â€Å"lives as much as possible with and in the same manner as the individuals under investigation† (Goetz and LeCompte, 1984: 109). In these circumstances, the researchers may not claim that they was doing ethnography, but it is legitimate to apply ethnographic approach and techniques to the study (Fetterman, 1989:47). Participant observation in its broad sense therefore tolerates different lengths of time and different degrees of depth. There is a full range of possible modes of participant observation, what Wolcott calls â€Å"ethnographer sans[1] ethnography† (Wolcott, 1984: 177). The most frequent case in education is that a researcher may stay in a school and become a teacher in that school. The researcher identity may or may not be disguised. The researcher may then, as a participant, observe teachers’ behaviours in teaching, in meetings, in conversations, and so forth. Sometimes, the researcher is readily a member of the community (say, a school) and may still carry out research as a participant observer. However, in this case, the researcher should be aware of his/her knowledge of the community and should be cautious that such knowledge would not lead to preoccupations about the school under research. In cases where the researchers have successfully gained membership (as Whyte did in the Italian  slum), the distinction between a native member and the researcher-as-participant begins to blur. This insider-outsider dialectics will be further discussed later. Nonparticipant Observation Strictly speaking, nonparticipant observation involves merely watching what is happening and recording events on the spot. In the qualitative orientation, because of the non-intervention principle, strict nonparticipant observation should involve no interaction between the observer and the observed. Goetz and LeCompte assert that in the strict sense â€Å"nonparticipant observation exists only where interactions are viewed through hidden camera and recorder or through one-way mirror† (1984: 143). Dabbs (1982:41), for example, used hidden camera in Atlanta at a plaza in Georgia State University, and studied an informal group that frequently gathered during the morning break. There are examples of using hidden video-cameras in school toilets to study drug problem among students, or to use unnoticed audio recording device to study student interactions. The use of audio or video recording device often invites concern in ethnical considerations. Such problems are similar to those arising in using one-way mirrors in interviews or psychological experiments. Such cases are rare in policy-related research. Another case of nonparticipant observation with ethical problem is disguised observation, or covert observation. A typical example is Humphrey’s (1975) study on homosexual activities. He did not participate in such activities, but offered to act as â€Å"watch queen†, warning his informants when someone approached the toilet. Another famous example is Van Maanen’s covert study of police. He became practically a police recruit. Over more than a decade, he â€Å"slipped in and out† of the police in various research roles (Van Maanen, 1982). Covert observations are again rare in research which is related to educational decision-making. Hidden camera or recorder and covert observation occur only exceptionally.  Most author would accept the watching of audience behaviour during a basketball game (Fetterman, 1989:47) or the watching of pedestrian behaviour over a street as acceptable examples of nonparticipant observations. Interaction between the researcher and the social community under study is often unavoidable. We have again discussed this at length in Chapter 3 under the notion of researcher intervention. If we perceive the problem of intervention as a matter of degrees, then the distinction between participant observation and nonparticipant observation begins to blur. The general principle across the board is that the researchers should minimize their interactions with the informants and focus attention unobtrusively on the stream of events (Goetz and LeCompte, 1984:143). Wolcott’s study of school principal (Case 3) was perhaps the most intensive type of nonparticipant observation that one could find in the realm of education. (He also used other supplementary methods as mentioned in Case 3). He did live with the school for two years, but he did not participate as a school principal which was his subject of study. He saw his role as one of â€Å"participant-as-observer† (Wolcott, 1984:7). So was Li’s study (Case 3.8) of classroom sociology in her first year. She did stay with the school as a teacher but she never became a student which was her subject of study. The following two years of her study, however, was not nonparticipant observation because she applied experimental measures. During the UNICEF research in Liaoning, the basic method I used was interviewing and not nonparticipant observation, but I did have, at times, nonparticipant observation when debates occurred between the local planners and the provincial planners (Case 3.7), or when planners chat among themselves about their past experience in the field. The most frequently employed nonparticipant observation which is relevant to educational decision-making is perhaps observation at meetings. Typically, the researcher attends a meeting as an observer. The researcher tries to be as unobtrusive as possible and records everything that happens during the meeting. When Wolcott did his study on the school principal, he was present at all meetings unless he was told otherwise (Wolcott, 1984:4). The following was my experience of a non-participant observation in China. Case 4.3: A Validation Seminar I realized during the UNICEF research in Liaoning (Case 4) that one essential step in the planning for basic education in China was validation. When drafting of an education plan was complete, the draft plan had to undergo scrutiny in what is known as a validation seminar. In essence, all those related to the plan, including leaders at all levels, representatives of all relevant government departments, experts from all areas – are invited to discuss. Relevant documents are sent to the participants well in advance. They are then asked to comment on the plan during the validation exercise. Only â€Å"validated† plans are submitted to relevant machinery for legislation. The validation seminar for Liaoning was unfortunately held before the UNICEF research. I got an opportunity, however, a year after in 1988, when the Shanghai educational plan was to undergo validation. The host of the meeting agreed to send me an invitation. I attended the meeting in the name of an â€Å"external expert†, although I made clear to the host that my major task was not to contribute. They agreed. During the meeting, I was able to observe the roles of the various â€Å"actors† during the meeting. I was also able to talk to individual participants during tea breaks and meals to understand their background and their general views about educational planning. I was able to do a number of things over the two-day meeting: (a) to classify the over 40 participants into technocrats, bureaucrats, policy-makers and academics; (b) to understand the different extents in which the participants contributed to the modification of the plan; (c) the disparity in capacity among participants in terms of information and expertise; (d) the inter-relations between the different categories of actors and (e) the function of the validation exercise. In the end, I concluded that val idation was a way of legitimation, which employed both technical (expert judgement) and political (participation) means to increase the acceptability of the plan before it went for legal endorsement. The political aspect came to me as a surprise. It indicated a change in the notion of rationality among Chinese planners and policy-makers. Interviewing Interviewing is widely used in qualitative research. Compared with observation, it is more economical in time, but may achieve less in understanding the culture. The economy in time, however, makes ethnographic interviewing almost the most widely used technique in policy-related research. Interviewing is trying to understand what people think through their speech. There are different types of interviews, often classified by the degrees of control over the interview. Along this line, we shall briefly introduce three types of interviewing: informal interviewing, unstructured interviewing, semi-structured interviewing, and formally structured interviewing. We shall also briefly introduce key-informant interviewing and focus groups which are specific types of ethnographic interviewing. Qualitative research of course has no monopoly over interviewing. Interviewing is also frequently used in research of other traditions. The difference between ethnographic interviewing and interviewing in other traditions lies mainly in two areas: the interviewer-interviewee relationship and the aims of interviews. Ethnographic interviewees, or informants, are teachers rather than subjects to the researcher, they are leaders rather than followers in the interview. The major aim of the interview should not be seeking responses to specific questions, but initiating the informant to unfold data. Readers may find more detailed discussions about ethnographic interviewing in Spradley (1979) who provides perhaps the most insightful account of the subject. In-depth discussions about ethnographic interviewing can also be found in Bernard (1988), Patton (1990), Fetterman (1989) and Powney and Watts (1987). Informal Interviewing Informal interviewing entails no control. It is usually conversations that the researcher recall after staying in the field. It is different from  Ã¢â‚¬Å"observation† in that it is interactive. That is, the informant speaks to the researcher. By its own nature, informal interviewing is the most â€Å"ethnographic† in the sense that it is not responding to any formal question. It is part of the self-unfolding process.

Apush Dbq American Revolution

Though some may try to argue that the American Revolution was not a real revolution since the upper class was not displaced, it was in fact a revolution because it transferred power from an entrenched British monarchy into the hands of local state legislatures. The American Revolution was representative of a great change which occurred in the way that in Britain, parliament viewed Americans as a small cluster of people who could be taxed without representation, to where in America the government was able to see how each individual could contribute to the economy, government, and the overall well-being of America.This idea came about from the increasingly more harsh and authoritarian taxes that were being placed on the colonies, without representation, from British monarchy. In reaction to the Tea Act, one of the taxes placed on imported goods to America, the New York Sons of Liberty wrote several resolutions to protest against it.These resolutions were signed by all different social classes, which signifies a change in society, because while in Britain only the wealthy and educated were permitted to participate in governmental choices, a very broad spectrum of society was able to be an active participant in how they wanted their government to be run. Although the lower class was not necessarily in congress, their ideas were able to represented by the people that they elected to express their ideas.Some who wish to argue the idea that the American Revolution was not a full revolution may bring into light the women of the revolution, and how there was not a huge change for them. Even though their was not an extremely significant change for them, American women were given a multitude of rights that were not given to women in Britain at the time. The women of America were able to go out to war with the men to protect them, and at times even take their place when a man was wounded and could not fulfill his duties on the battlefield.Additionally, they were often left in charge of the business and upholding of the household when their husbands went out to war. In summation, American women played many roles that were not typical of them in that time period; showing a revolutionary new way of thinking that involved women. After the surrender at Yorktown, a cartoon by James Gillray was made as a warning to the British that since they were able to defeat the British once, they could do it again should they try to overtake America and their freedoms again.While this act in itself was not a revolution, it was representative of the revolutionary ideas in the works of the United States of America. The American Revolution was the transference of power from a monarchial government to that of a representative democracy that was able to reflect the ideas and desires of all free white men of America; indicating that it was in actuality a revolution and not an expeditious rebellion.

8 Tips for Students Starting College

8 Tips for Students Starting College With so many options available for college students, knowing how to make wise choices becomes critical for success. These eight tips can help set you up for a strong first-year experience. 1. Goto Class This is number one for a reason. College is an amazing experience, but you cant stay if you fail your courses. Missing class is one of the worst things you can do. Remember: your goal is to graduate. How are you going to do that if you cant even make it to class regularly?​ 2. Participate in Events Early on- Especially During Orientation Lets be honest: not all events aimed at first-year students are super exciting. Tours of the library and silly-sounding mixers may not be your thing. But they connect you to the campus, help you meet people, and prepare you for academic success. So roll your eyes if you must, but go.​ 3. Don't Go Home Every Weekend This can be especially tempting if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend at home or if you live close to your school. But going home every weekend prevents you from connecting with other students, getting comfortable with your campus, and making it your new home.​ 4. Take Risks Do things that are outside of your comfort zone. Never been to a program that explored a certain religion? Never tried a kind of food thats available in the cafeteria? Never introduced yourself to someone from a certain country? Step outside of your comfort zone and take some risks. You went to college to learn new stuff, right?​ 5. Sign Up for a Class You Know Nothing About Just because youre pre-med doesnt mean you cant take a course in astronomy. Expand your horizons and take a subject you never even considered.​ 6. Learn How to Say "No" This may be one of the most challenging skills to learn when youre first in school. But saying yes to everything that sounds fun, interesting, and exciting will lead you to trouble. Your academics will suffer, your time management will be horrible, and youll burn yourself out.​ 7. Ask for Help BeforeIt's Too Late Colleges are generally pretty good places; no one there wants to see you do poorly. If youre struggling in a class, ask your professor for help or go to a tutoring center. If youre having a hard time adjusting, talk to someone in the counseling center. Fixing a smaller problem is almost always easier than fixing a big one.​ 8. Stay on Top of Your Finances and Financial Aid It can be easy to forget that appointment with the Financial Aid Office or that deadline by which you had to submit a simple form. If you let your finances slip, however, you can quickly find yourself in a lot of trouble. Make sure youre sticking with ​your budget throughout the semester and that you always know the status of your financial aid package.