American Agriculture Free Essays

Innovation, government strategy, and monetary conditions changed American horticulture in the time of 1865-1900 from numerous points of view. In the late nineteenth century, new ranch apparatus had an enormous effect. It allowed ranchers the chance to create more yields then they at any point recently had the option to deliver. We will compose a custom exposition test on American Agriculture or then again any comparable point just for you Request Now Railways likewise affected the agribusiness. They charged ranchers expenses that they were scarcely ever had the option to take care of. The business assumed a job in which they made restraining infrastructures and increased colossal measure of riches which ruled the ranchers. The money related arrangement alongside the consistently dropping costs of agrarian produce drove ranchers further into obligation, in the end creating results, for example, the yield lien framework and sharecropping. These tie into government strategy, which, as a rule, supported the huge and affluent businesses and restraining infrastructures over the ranchers. Over the time of 1865-1900, Document A shows that agribusiness was consistently declining. Wheat went from $2. 16 a bushel to $. 62. Cotton and corn both declined additionally, dropping from $. 83 to $. 10 a pound and $. 52 to $. 35 a bushel, separately. Ranchers were step by step losing benefit from their produces. They figured they could repay by creating an ever increasing number of items, however this in the end caused overproduction and the costs quickly fell. Archive A shows the pattern of overproduction. Archive G shows that the entirety of the farmers’ troubles couldn't simply be accused on overproduction alone. Railroad innovation developed between 1870-1890 as Document B brings up. As ranchers depleted soil in the eastern and focal pieces of the nation, they needed to keep spreading westbound. As they extended farther west, they hesitantly turned out to be progressively reliant on the railways. The most effective method to refer to American Agriculture, Essay models

Written Critical Analysis of a Literary Poetry To his Love by Ivor Essay

Composed Critical Analysis of a Literary Poetry To his Love by Ivor Gurney - Essay Example Gurney cherished the open country and frequently went for long strolls making the most of its excellence. He began forming music in 1904 at 14 years old. His grant empowered him to enlist himself at the Royal College of Music in 1911, yet his emotional episodes made it hard for him to concentrate on scholarly work. He experienced bipolar, hyper gloom, unforeseen weakness, and had his first breakdown in 1913. In the wake of convalescing, he came back to school (Pamela Blevins, 2008, p77) World War I adversy affected Gurney’s school instruction and that is the point at which he decided to enroll as a private. He was sent at the Western Front where he genuinely took to composing verse. (Michael Hurd, 2011) It was fairly lamentable that he was seriously injured in April 1917, when he was really busy composing sonnets. In the wake of recuperating, he returned to the front. Another awful disaster that occurred was that Gurney was illogically gassed four months after the fact, and mu st be hospitalized. In any case, by and by he took to composing verse once he was released from emergency clinic. Be that as it may, as destiny would have it, indeed he endured a genuine breakdown in March 1918 but again, invested his energy forming and composing verse during his stretch in medical clinic. After slowly recapturing his enthusiastic dependability, he was released respectably from Lamia Benmoussa 3 the military in October 1918. He came back to the Royal College of Music, however tragically his psychological security kept on intensifying and he was at last compelled to drop out. He had endured such a great amount throughout everyday life and by 1922, his family proclaimed him to be crazy. The accompanying fifteen years of his life was spent in various refuges yet at the same time proceeded with his composition during those harsh years. He reached tuberculosis, turned out to be extremely debilitated and inhaled his keep going on December 26th 1937 at 47 years old, in the City of London Mental Hospital. (Stuart Lee, The Ivor Gurney Collection). Gurney composed his first elegiac World War I sonnet â€Å"To His Love† from the profound channels at Seaton Delaval, Northumberland in 1917. His idyllic method was oversimplified at this point enraptured the peruser to center upon the decency of regular things. His sonnets feature clashing recollections that mirrored the agony and injury in his life. Gurney’s verse is one that looks for basic trustworthiness in contemporary thoughts and other ordinary articulations. In his sonnets, he communicates the delayed consequences of gas and the injury he confronted while at the front, and about his encounters following his release from the Army. (Jennifer Kilgore-Caradec, p.38) In the sonnet, â€Å"To His Love†, Gurney starts on a calm note with a conventional kind of funeral poem, thinking back about the glad days spent previously, with his companion, yet tragically now he lies dead. He can't l ook at his friend’s gashed body and loaded up with misery, communicates through a note of rising agitation as Lamia Benmoussa 4 he feels defenseless in attempting to delete the abnormal memory of his cherished companion. (Glynn Maxwell, 2011). There is notice of the River Severn and Gloucestershire, where, together in the organization of his dear companion, are related with two topics in the sonnet. The sonnet is a discourse and an epitaph where one of the fighters is discovered conversing with the fiance’ or the sweetheart about the demise of a warrior. He grieves with misery at this misfortune and second thoughts that he has lost the organization of this warrior always and will always be unable to recover that joy once more. Gurney’s motivation for this sonnet was drawn from the alleged demise of Willy Harvey who was his dearest companion, in August 1916. At the point when his companion was alive they had spent such awesome days together, yet now the sonnet de picts the unforgiving truth of his friend’s demise which is portrayed in this sonnet. Truth be told, Harvey was taken as

Alumni in the News COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Alumni in the News COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Sometimes our alumni make the news, and sometimes they are the news.   Sharon Epperson is a graduate of SIPA and may be familiar to those who watch CNBC.   The following comes from her CNBC profile: Sharon Epperson, an award-winning journalist and author, covers personal finance, the energy markets as well as breaking business and financial news at CNBC. She appears frequently on NBCs Today, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, MSNBC, and various NBC affiliates nationwide. Her personal finance book, The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take To Make The Most Of Their Money And Live Richly Ever After (Collins/HarperCollins), is a finalist for the 2008 Books For A Better Life Awards, honoring works that have changed the lives of millions. You can check out Sharons CNBC profile by clicking here.

Human Trafficking as a Global Issue - 1405 Words

Eaves defines slavery as ‘the practice of keeping a person in a situation of servitude or forces labour – or the slave trade – the sale and transfer of vulnerable, exploited persons’ (2009, p.5). Essentially, Eaves points out that the issue of global slavery is not, and has never been, a large scale issue of the past, as so many would assume, it is a contemporary, large scale global issue which is startlingly and vastly present, with approximately 27 million ‘enslaved people worldwide, nearly three times the number of slaves traded during the height of the transatlantic slave trade’. Within this, there are approximately 800, 000 women, men and children trafficked globally each year (Brysk and Choi-Fitzpatrick, p.2), and approximately 187, 000 of these people are trafficked into industrialised economies like the UK. It is important to recognise that there are differing types of trafficking globally, including voluntary, involuntary, trafficking into labour exploitation and trafficking into sexual exploitation. However, for the purpose of this report, we will look more specifically into the vast existence of sexual exploitation in trafficking, considering the 85% of women and girls that are trafficked into prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation worldwide. Human trafficking is a global issue, existing in some form in every country of the world; with statistics showing that victims are trafficked ‘from 127 countries, to be exploited in 137 countries’ (The FreedomShow MoreRelatedHuman Trafficking : A Global Issue1280 Words   |  6 PagesTrade began long ago in the 15th Century, after the Portuguese started exploring the coast of West Africa. It is now six centuries later and we as a human race still cannot say that slavery has ended. Since the onset of African slave trading, trafficking of women and children has since developed and atrociously branched into the trafficking of human organs as well as sex. It wasn t until several hundreds of years later that the Emancipation Proclamation would be created and signed. President AbrahamRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Global Issue1322 Words   |  6 PagesFollowing the development of globalization, human trafficking is getting worse and worse. The human trafficking is a globa l issue that everybody should care about. Lots of young people become a victim of human trafficking, whether in developing countries or developed countries. Some organizations and governments are beginning to solve this problem, but it is very hard to complete. Human trafficking, which is no respecter of national frontiers, is considered as a serious crime that has disturbed manyRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Serious Global Issue1404 Words   |  6 PagesHuman trafficking is and has been a serious global issue that dates as far back as Greek and Roman times. It became extremely prevalent in the 1600s with the introduction of the African slave trade to North America; it had begun in the early 1400s in Europe and Portugal (Source 1). However, as time progressed, another serious form of human trafficking gained â€Å"popularity†; sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is an â€Å"umbrella term† that includes many different commercial sex work. For example, â€Å"prostitution †¦Read MoreHuman Trafficking : Global Issues Research2113 Words   |  9 Pages Human Trafficking Global Issues Research Paper 22 April 2016 Professor Owens Ashlyn Dumas Abstract: Human Trafficking is something that goes around all over the world. In this essay I will discuss what human trafficking is, how it is done and give three countries who are mainly known for this kind of inhuman act. The three countries are countries that are vey much known and are known as Bangladesh, Brazil and Ghana. All three countries are known for tourism so human traffickingRead MoreHuman Trafficking : Global Issue Of Modern Day Slavery2146 Words   |  9 Pages Human Trafficking: Global Issue of Modern Day Slavery Hannah Melson Tri-County Technical College Abstract Although slavery or forced labor is commonly thought to be just a thing of the past, human trafficking is a billion dollar illegal industry. Traffickers responsible for this crime make profit trapping millions of people in horrendous situations around the world, including right here in the United States. Traffickers commonly use violence, deception, fraud, threats, and other manipulativeRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is The Issue That Widely Being Concern Under The Global Governance2920 Words   |  12 Pages0 Introduction Human trafficking is the issue that widely being concern under the global governance. The worst issue included more than 15,000 innocent little children (Asghar, Farhat, Niaz, 2005, p.6) aged as young as three years old that not only being smuggled, but being slave and terrifying being abuse to work as camel jockey in UAE. United Nation under Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons define human trafficking as recruitment byRead MoreSex Trafficking Is A Huge Global Health And Human Rights Issue Affecting Roughly 152 Countries Around The World1437 Words   |  6 PagesBy the time you finish reading this paper nearly 23 children around the world will be victims of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is a huge global health and human rights issue affecting roughly 152 countries around the world (Greenbaum Crawford-Jakubiak, 2015). The United Nations describes sex trafficking as â€Å"the recruitment, transportation, transfer, har boring, or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of theRead MoreHuman Trafficking : An Evolving Global Phenomenon1719 Words   |  7 PagesHuman trafficking is an evolving global phenomenon that lacks adequate attention and information. The global issue has been around for many years, but it has been hidden and kept a secret by so many who knew it was going on. Today, there are â€Å"approximately 800,000 people trafficked across international borders† and many more trafficked from state to state (Richards 155). No longer is human trafficking hiding in the shadows of a small farm or town that is hidden away from a busy city near by. HumanRead MoreHuman Trafficking- The Escalating Global Violation of Human Rights1355 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Trafficking- The Escalating Global Violation of Human Rights Human Trafficking is a serious Global matter that violates a multitude of the Human Rights articles outline in The Universal Declarations of Human Rights. Thousands of individuals are subjects of Human Trafficking every year; the perpetrators of this crime do not discriminate, targeting men, women, the young and the old all over the world. Human Trafficking is indeed a Global issue, occurring in nearly every country on the planetRead MoreThe Globalization Of Human Trafficking990 Words   |  4 Pageswill define the globalization of human trafficking through the context of the United States as a first world nation and extension of this problematic issue in European nations, such as Russia and in the Baltic region. The first world status of the United States provides a context in which human trafficking has become a major problem when defining domestic markets for criminal organizations. However, the U.S. provides an example of the impact of human trafficking that occurs on a much wi der scale

Baker Hughes Incorporated ( Bhi / Nyse ) - 858 Words

Baker Hughes Incorporated (BHI/NYSE) Baker Hughes is a top-tier oilfield service company that is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company provides oil and gas exploration and production companies worldwide with products and services for drilling, formation valuation, production, and completion. Baker Hughes also provides services for downstream segments of the oil and gas industry. Technological innovation is at the center of Baker Hughes’ success. The company is over 100 years old, with 60,000 employees in more than 80 countries. Baker Hughes has a far larger market capitalization than Newpark. Baker Hughes has a higher P/E ratio (22.60) and lower EV/EBITDA (7.88) than Newpark, indicating mixed opinions on whether the firm is over or undervalued from the market’s perspective. However, it does have a higher diluted EPS of 2.88 and ROE of 7.16, which would show inferior performance but superior return to shareholders. Meanwhile, both companies have shown similar trends in their amount of debt carried by decreasing debt. Baker Hughes is not focused on Newpark’s niche mat segment. Baker Hughes’ main source of growth in revenue this past year in the Gulf of Mexico region is its drilling and completion fluids segment, which could be a problem for Newpark. However, these fluids are for both the drilling stage and the completion stage, where all the growth is due to gas, while Newpark only supplies fluids for drilling. Also, Baker Hughes’s growth in the U.S. onshore drilling

The National Curriculum In Primary Schools Education Essay Free Essays

The purpose of this assignment is to discourse the tendencies policy that took topographic point in primary instruction from 1988 and 1997. The assignment will get down with analyzing the principle behind the alterations introduced in those old ages. Then it will look at the alterations themselves. We will write a custom essay sample on The National Curriculum In Primary Schools Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The last subdivision will speak about the advantages and disadvantages of those alterations. It should be mentioned from the beginning that I will non be adverting reforms related to secondary and higher instruction, even though they came at the same clip as the Primary schools. The term educational proviso refers to the usage of the equipment or tools with the purpose of supplying cognition and accomplishments, and includes things such as such as, schoolroom, text edition, chairs, pens/pencils and many more for pupils. Education is about the procedure of larning where cognition, accomplishments and information is transmitted. Yero ( 2002 ) believes that instruction is a process of bettering the pupils or students ‘ cognition, accomplishments and character. So instruction can assist to cut down inequality in society. In the United Kingdom, this construct of extinguishing inequality was at the base of alterations in instruction policy. Prior to 1988, instruction in the United Kingdom was wholly different. The determination of the course of study contents was in the custodies of schools, with spiritual instruction being the lone topic which was compulsory. This means that students had different attainment degrees due to following different programmes. Education was ruled by the 1944 Education Act which handed the disposal of schools and the preparation of school policies to local governments ; the lone exclusion being Section 1 where control and way of instruction were given to the Secretary of State. In fact, in the 1944 Education Act, the function of the Department of Education and Science was merely promotional and non one of giving way, which means they could non oversee local governments policies. This Act besides fixed the age of go forthing school at 15 and instituted free secondary instruct ion for all students. However it was noticed that the criterion attained in basic accomplishments by the UK population was low and hapless compared to other European states, and this could non fulfill the state national economic demands ( Department of Education, 2011 ) . To work out the job raised by the falling criterion, the Conservative Government came with the 1988 Education Act, sometimes referred to as the Kennet Baker reform which instituted a standardization of all school programmes, and brought four chief alterations with a position to conveying back the degree ( Young, 2008 ) . The first alteration was the debut of the National Curriculum, which defines four Key Stages, traveling from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4. In primary schools, two Key Stages, 1 and 2 were identified: Cardinal Stage 1 for Year 1 and 2 up to age 7 ; Key Stage 2 for Old ages 3 to 6, intending age 7 to age 11. Subsequently on, a Foundation Stage which concerns kids aged 3 up to reception twelvemonth was introduced. The National Curriculum came with a new nomenclature related to two types of school topics, nucleus topics and Foundation topics. In Primary schools, that is Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, the course of study consists of the undermentioned topics: English, Maths, scientific discipline, information and communicating engineering ( ICT ) , history, geographics, art and design, music, design and engineering ( D A ; T ) and Physical Education. This was supplemented by the literacy and numeracy reforms in the 1990s taught everyday to better kids standard in those accomplishments. Another alteration in the course of study was the debut foreign linguistic communications for kids aged 7. This course of study was subsequently reconsidered for betterment. One advantage of National Curriculum is that all kids in England and Wales have the same instruction programmes, and this makes comparing of degrees easier and the transportation of kids from one school to another is made easy. Actually the national Curriculum contains all the subjects to be taught, in footings of cognition, accomplishments and outlooks at the terminal of each cardinal phase ; it besides determines how appraisal has to continue. The 2nd alteration had to make with appraisal of students. Here national criterion trials such as SATs at age 11 ( Standard Assessment undertakings, and subsequently Standard Attainment Tasks ) were put in topographic point, non merely to measure whether they are up to the national criterion expected, but besides to set schemes in topographic point to guarantee betterment in those kids larning. This led to the National Curriculum Council ( NCC ) as an consultative service to the secretary of State in affairs related to the course of study, and the School Examinations and Assessment Council ( SEAC ) in charge of appraisals. The 3rd alteration affected the disposal of schools. As mentioned above, prior to 1988, Education disposal was handled by local governments. In London, for illustration it was in the custodies of the Inner London Education Authority ( ILEA ) , which was created in 1965, while outer London schools were directed by county councils and borough councils. The Education Reform Act of 1988 gave power to schools to choose out of local authorization control and be funded by cardinal authorities, so that schools could pull off their ain fundss. The Local direction of Schools meant that the function of caput instructors included budget direction every bit good ( Powell and Edwards, 2003 ) . This was the beginning of Grant maintained schools, which were subsequently replaced by foundation schools. This led to the abolishment of the Local Education Authority. The forth alteration concerned the creative activity of a conference tabular array where people could travel and compare the public presentation of different schools. It was hoped that such a tabular array would force schools to vie, and hence supply better instruction to kids. InA 1993, another instruction actA came into topographic point. It aimed at increasing the figure of Grant Maintained Schools ; it replaced the NCC and SEAC with School Curriculum and Assessment Authority so that the course of study content could be controlled by the authorities ; more power was given to headteacher in their exclusion determinations of boisterous students ; alterations were introduced for students with particular educational demands ; and the constitution of referral units. An review organic structure called Ofsted came into being to inspect schools in LEAS. Finally the SCAA and NCVQ formed the QCA. In 1997, the Labour Government introduced another reform. The Government introduced specialist schools such as Business, Sport schools so as to diversify instruction and the types of schools. So making parents could hold a assortment of picks to do for their kids. Failing schools were reopened under academies administered by churches or concerns. In disadvantaged countries, the Government created Education Action zone in order to assist better instruction criterion in those countries. Parents were given power and a voice to make up one’s mind on the pick of schools for their kids ; they were given power to be represented in the school regulating organic structure. Further, a system of exam conference tabular array was introduced where parents could easy descry schools that are making good, and those falling buttocks. Be it as it may, parents had the responsibility to guarantee that their kids attend schools. School support was linked to the figure of students a school had in i ts axial rotation. The deduction was that schools had to vie to better their public presentation so as to pull parents and their kids, and therefore good support every bit good. This is termed the market reform introduced by Conservative authoritiess in the 1980 ‘s and 1990s, where schools were seen as a service and the parents and kids as the clients. As a affair fact, instruction should supply â€Å" valued signifiers of cognition † and fit kids for life ( James and Pollard, 2012 ) In the 1997 White Paper, Excellence in Schools, the rights of parents to information were extended including directing them the kid advancement one-year study, their portion in the review procedure, one-year meeting, leting them to hold entree to the kid ‘s school record. Schools were farther obliged to print an one-year study about their direction and a prospectus. Teachers were besides given power to keep students By so, making the authorities, say the Department of Education gained new power, because they are in charge of the school course of study, non the local governments any more, the types of trials to administrate to pupils, the types of makings to be awarded, the support to give to schools, the nomination of members of the National Curriculum Council to be after the course of study. The blessing of schools that want to choose out, the alteration of school position is given by the State Secretary, even though the engagement of parents should be sought for. He has the disposal of grants. The function of caput instructors besides changed as they became budget directors every bit good. The inquiry 1 might inquire at this point is to cognize whether those reforms were successful. Two positions can be expressed here. On the one manus, the debut of the national Curriculum should be appreciated, because it helps to hold kids expected to hold the same cognition and accomplishments. The trials would assist schools to work hard to better their consequences, and research has revealed that more people are now traveling to university. The conference tabular array gives a better position to parents as to which school is making better, so do an informed pick of schools for their kids. On the other manus, it would look that proving is non good plenty to measure the public presentation of schools, and larning should non be limited to go throughing trials. With the conference tabular array, instruction has turned into fixing students to go through tests, and non a readying for life. The conference tabular array has besides been criticised as it ignores some countries such as Art and athletics. Further, the conference tabular arraies make some schools more popular than others, and this raises troubles for some parents to acquire a school of their pick for their kids. Ball ( 2006 ) examined the constructs of markets in the context of instruction merely to happen that more demands to be discussed, and that such constructs as â€Å" competition, supply and demand, manufacturer and consumer behavior, denationalization and commodification, values and moralss and distributional results † should be references as there is a dearth of research in this field. In Primary schools, instructors complained of the increased work load imposed by the National Curriculum, particularly at the terminal of Key Stage 2 with the readying of SATs, and this lead to Dearing Report which brought the burden down by 20 % ( Alexander, 2012 ) . The system of review besides came into fire by assorted instructors brotherhoods who find the Ofsted as a job, non a solution. Another job concerned the debut of foreign linguistic communication learning at age 7. This raised jobs in a state such as the United land where secondary schools teach assorted linguistic communications, French, German, Spanish. So a kid could larn one linguistic communication in primary school and have a different linguistic communication in secondary schools. This means there will be no continuity as noted by the Guardian ( 2012 ) . The construction of Key Stage 2 has besides been criticized as it takes four old ages which the Model for the National Curriculum found excessively long ( DE, 201 1 ) . To reason, it can be said that there have been one chief Education reform Act, the 1988, and many instruction Acts of the Apostless from 1988 to 1997. The alterations in educational policies in those reforms can be regrouped in three classs: alterations to make with centralization, as instruction moved from local governments to the authorities with the debut of the National Curriculum ; appraisal by results with the usage of national appraisal and the constitution of league-tables to compare the public presentation of different schools, and the quasi-market reform where schools are the makers and kids and their parents as consumers who have picks to do between different schools. In primary schools, the reforms could be noticed with the debut of Key Stages 1 and 2, the national Curriculum with Maths, English and scientific discipline as nucleus topics, while others were considered as foundations and spiritual survey as statutory, the debut of SATs and the literacy and numeracy schemes. How to cite The National Curriculum In Primary Schools Education Essay, Essay examples

The Wheelchair Experience Essays - Chairs, Wheelchair, Accessibility

The Wheelchair Experience I never imagined what an eye opening experience this was going to be. While conducting a simulation in a wheelchair with my partner Chuck, I had some very interesting, embarrassing, exhausting and informative incidents that I can use to my personal and professional advantage. I will provide an analysis of skills demonstrated while conducting the simulation along with specific examples to enlighten you on the experience. I have taken into consideration the environmental barriers that we experienced along our often-agonizing journey and will present a description of various architectural barriers, ecological barriers, and transportation barriers. Social reactions and personal reactions to the wheelchair experience will be stated thereafter. I will conclude with professional implications and strategies that will help people without disabilities enhance their attitudes about people with disabilities. Getting oriented with and accustomed to using a wheelchair seemed like it was going to be as easy as getting on a bicycle and pedaling away. At the start of our simulation my partner and I didn't fully understand how challenging using a non-motorized wheelchair can be. We knew quite well that it doesn't require an astronaut to operate a wheelchair but we sure had some troubles getting acquainted with the basic functions of the wheelchair we were using (i.e. how to apply the brakes properly). That made us feel like, well, let's just say that we didn't feel like the sharpest pencils in the box! We rented a wheelchair from a local medical supply store that was fairly new and had only been used once or twice before, according to the store clerk. When my partner and I set out to begin our wheelchair simulation we both had to grab one armrest from each side of the wheelchair and force it open because it was so rigid. At that moment we felt like we might have some problems with the wheelchair while conducting our assignment. I began the first four hours of our simulation in the wheelchair and was also first in experiencing some of the difficulties with using the wheelchair. Since it was practically brand new, I was the one who had to break in the wheelchair. The seat of the chair was so uncomfortable and stiff, which made me wonder how my partner and I were going to last four hours each sitting in it. After the first hour my buttocks were aching and my legs went partially numb. This made it challenging for me to concentrate on our simulation, to move around and to remain in the wheelchair for the duration of my time. Since my partner, Chuck, is taller with longer legs than me, he experienced twice the pain and discomfort. Aside from having had difficulties getting accustomed to being in a wheelchair, we also experienced difficulties for lack of knowing how to apply the brakes properly. I had some pretty embarrassing moments as a result of not knowing how to secure the wheelchair properly using the wheel brakes. My partner and I both took two forms of public transportation (BART and bus) on each of our turns. When I boarded the BART train I found a wheelchair accessible space to station myself and thought that I had put the brakes on securely. When the train started moving I began rolling backwards into to aisle. I kept myself from falling over by grabbing onto one of the train seats. I almost broke character by nearly standing up to prevent myself from falling, which wouldn't have helped any in an already humiliating situation as passengers looked at this apparently disabled guy in a wheelchair. As if that wasn't an embarrassing enough situation for me, a similar situation occurred when I was riding the bus. Positioned facing the front of the bus with a seat belt fastened around my waist, I began plunging forward when the bus hit the brakes to make a stop at an intersection. The only thing this time that kept me from having an utterly degrading experience was that the seat belt around my waist had stretched out to the max and locked up, which prevented me from taking a spill in the middle of a crowded bus. In this situation the bus driver was partially to

What Makes a Good Chemistry Term Paper Simple Chemistry Term Paper Tips for Beginners

What Makes a Good Chemistry Term Paper Simple Chemistry Term Paper Tips for Beginners When it’s time to start writing your chemistry term paper, chances are you’ll find yourself in the middle of new questions or asking yourself, ‘OK, what am I supposed to do next?’ You can get some fresh ideas based on thinking about actions you’re supposed to complete before actual writing that may be useful later when you work on the rough draft. Getting started is the most difficult part. It’s obvious that you have to conduct in-depth research on the topic and take notes. However, there are some other aspects that busy students usually forget about when they begin their writing journey. The following chemistry term paper tips are important to take as they won’t let you deviate from the chosen path. Know your audience. You need to know who your target reader is and what kind of content he/she will expect to receive from you. Knowing who is on the other side will impact your research, the experiments you’ll perform and the data you’ll make use of. Understand your starting point. You can choose to provide a list of recourses you’ re going to use later; to craft an outline that will become the ‘skeleton’ of your project or to research your topic if you’ve got one. Proper planning is a perfect start for a chemistry term paper. Choose the topic. The field of chemistry has a bunch of hot topics, which means it’s highly important to know your interests and passions in the subject to choose the issue you’ll be able to research effectively. Topics If you want to craft a unique project in the area of chemistry, it’s all about the topic. Actually, about picking one. Most chemistry term papers are completed in a formulaic style, so whether you choose to write about the most recent advances in battery science or Mary Curie and the way she influenced modern Chemistry, it’ll be written in the same way. Since chemical processes and interactions can be seen in everything that occurs day to day, chances are you’ll end up with a bunch of term paper topics (usually very similar to each other!) just waiting for you to explore them. Choosing an attractive topic should come down to the following: Your main idea is your passion. Chemistry can get boring faster than you think if you’re dealing with the wrong concepts of it. If you’re particularly interested in something, it’s time to look closely into it! The point here is that your passion may lead you to the brand-new discoveries. Your lab tools and other resources. If you’re lucky enough to have direct access to the chemistry equipment and the lab itself, you’ll face more term paper options to stick to. Feel free to set yourself apart from your classmates by using one of the topics offered below: Theory and Computation in Catalysts; Explaining the Reasons Why the Matter Exists i Three Distinct States; The Links Between the Synthetic And Biological Worlds; Atomic Structure: The Electronic Structure and the Nuclear Structure of Atoms; Similarities in the Sildenafil and Amitriptyline Compositions; How Inorganic and Organic Molecules Differ under the Microscope; Acid Rain and Its Human Body Implications; The Bond Between the Noble Gasses and Fluorine; Vitamin Deficiencies in Humans; The Difference Between Distilled And Deionized Water; Svante Arrhenius Father of Physical Chemistry. There are great topics to research and discuss, as the academics do not cease to debate these issues within the field. Plus, this also means that you’ll find a plethora of sources to turn into the ingredients of your term paper, which is a must for this type of assignment. Drafting a Thesis Statement: A Sample by Our Top Writers At this point, you’re required to sketch up a solid thesis statement that is a single sentence including your topic and your viewpoint. In other words, the thesis statement serves as the author’s answer to the central question or issue of your research. With this element at hand, you’ll be able to see where you’re going and to remain on the right track as you write. Before getting started, decide on what you want to write about and make your thesis statement both precise and appealing. If you’ve decided to know more about the personal life of Madam Curie, the thesis statement that will definitely work out is out there: ‘In 1891, Marie Curie finally made her way to Paris, where she became a part of a professional community of Sorbonne. The lady scientist threw herself into chemistry studies, but she had to pay the price for such a dangerous dedication. With little budget, she survived on a poor diet, which made her organism suffer.’ Introduction The key function of the intro is to introduce the readers to the chemistry topic and to outline the structure of the term paper. It includes a specific set of information and is composed in accordance with some formal rules. The introduction of the chemistry term paper makes up nearly one-tenth of the whole project. For a typical term paper, this part is usually entitled â€Å"Introduction† without any quotation marks. Provide a paragraph that includes a quick overview of the key argument within the criticism related to the paper topic. The main questions that you may address in this sections indirectly are ‘To what extent can this focus enrich the experiments conducted previously?’ or ‘Why do the results of the analysis/experiment matter in the context of the chosen topic?’. It is crucial to remain clear in the way you go on with conceptualizing your own findings. Elaborate on your thesis statement. How exactly are you going to perform your research? Provide a short outline of how you’re going to approach the topic and in which order the issues will be dealt with. Plus, mention the theories that you use and the aspects that you analyze: ‘A remarkable method for the organic compounds’ synthesis is the addition reaction of nucleophiles to the activated alkynes. The results of the addition mentioned before lie in zwitterionic species that can be trapped with a range of electrophiles or proton donors.’ The best way to structure your introduction is to follow the three-move approach shown below: Step 1. Set a Research Territory (e.g. Radioactive Isotopes) a. Show that the general research area is interesting, crucial and problematic in some way (‘Radioactive isotopes have many useful applications. In medicine, for instance, cobalt-60 is widely employed as a source of radiation to arrest the development of cancer’). b. Present and review elements of prior research in the area of chemistry (‘Frederick Soddy, English radiochemist, did much of his research on the basis of the products of radioactive decay. In the early 1900s, he had learned that radioactive substances such as thorium and radium transmuted into other elements as they decayed’). Step 2. Choose a Niche (Isolation of Deuterium; Application of Tritium in Nuclear Fusion, etc.) a. Introduce a gap in the previous research, or extend previous knowledge by some means. Step 3. Occupy the Niche a. Outline purposes or state the nature of the present research. b. List the research questions or hypotheses. c. Announce principle findings. d. State the value of the present research (‘Without a doubt, Isotopes will find even more uses in this century. For although the periodic table comprises 118 elements at the moment, there are up to 3300 known nuclides (the isotopes together with their various nuclear energy states). The biggest part of science happens on that wider playing field, which can later bring dozens of benefits to society’). e. Indicate the structure of the research paper. Main Part The body of the chemistry term paper is the place, where you have to provide the actual implementation of your argumentation. It must be logically comprehensible and clear. Here, you include the arguments that prove the thesis statement you’ve inserted in your introduction by going into details related to those aspects you’d like to concentrate on. The structure of the main part will depend on the objective of the paper. For that reason, there are no strict rules on how many chapters your Chemistry term paper must comprise and which aspects must be considered. To cut a long story short: Divide the body of the term paper into sections and subsections. Each element should comprise a key point in the argument or any relevant data. Develop your arguments in a comprehensive manner, step-by-step. Feel free to quote certain positions/viewpoints and then disprove them or contrast them with your own (‘Contrary to the Global Chemistry Experiment conducted by UNESCO, it is reasonable to†¦, because †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢). All literature that you make use of in the process of work requires a reference. This applies to the quotation of the data, ideas, and text. Predict and address the alternative explanations of the results. The point is that commenting on potential doubts will help you to avoid any misunderstanding and false interpretation of your results. Besides, the evaluation of the alternative explanations might serve as a logical step to the research context. Show how your chemistry findings fit into the general picture of the current research, as well as how your term paper contributes to the existing knowledge in the scientific community. Smooth Transitions Keep your reader in mind as you write your Chemistry term paper. Sum up your results at the end of every section. Moreover, it’s recommended to openly point out the relationships between the separate segments of your project with the help of transitions and road-mapping to inform your reader on where he/she is going. Thus, they will be able to enjoy your content and easily orient in the world you’ve created. The End The concluding paragraph of the term paper in the field of chemistry summarizes the key arguments of the project, as well as adds the results of the of the main part to the thesis statement. A helpful strategy here is to read and re-read the introduction, the discussion and the results to craft a well-structured conclusion that will sum up the paper’s focus. Refer back to the issue you’ve researched, and describe the conclusion that you reached in the process of work, sum up interpretations and observations: We have described the reaction between dibenzoylacetylene and 4-alkylaminocoumarins and in DMSO and THF/H2O. The reaction of dibenzoylacetylene with 4-alkylaminocoumarins in THF/H2O (50:50) leads to the formation of 4-(alkylamino)-3-(1,4-dioxo-1,4-diphenylbut-2-en-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives in good yields. Think through the limitations and strengths of your research (suitability of the chosen methods, the fruitfulness of questions, perspective for further debates, broader implication of the results, etc.). Don’t simply include the introduction into the concluding section of the term paperwork for word. Provide your readers with the ultimate feeling that your term paper was worthwhile to read, as well as encourage further thinking. It’s late at night and you’re about to finish your term paper for the chemistry class. Regardless of the outcome, you know you’re going to submit your paper tomorrow. What is even more important is that you have the writing strategy that you’re going to keep for your future term papers, for doing research and taking notes, for conducting experiments and reviewing previous researches. You’re not going to lose your grade and, who knows, will become a productive chemist one day. But for now, celebrate the end of the writing process, which was made possible thanks to this chemistry term paper guide!

Exploring the Components Found in the Ideal Classroom

Exploring the Components Found in the Ideal Classroom Perfection is often elusive, but good teachers continuously strive to obtain it. The classroom is the epicenter of teaching and learning. Throughout the school year, the four walls of a classroom encapsulate life-changing interactions between the teacher and their students. A classroom typically takes on the  personality of the teacher. Though similarities are prevalent in every classroom, no two classrooms are exactly the same. 35 Components of an Ideal Classroom Every teacher will have a slightly different version of the ideal classroom, but common elements do exist. It is in these commonalities that you often find a true representation of characteristics found in the ideal classroom. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is student-centered meaning that the teacher is the facilitator of learning built on student interests and abilities. The teacher rarely lectures or uses worksheets, but instead provides students with engaging, authentic learning opportunities.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is a display center for student made learning posters, artwork, and other exemplary work.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is well organized so that teachers and students can utilize the resources in the room quickly and efficiently.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.provides students with a safe zone where they feel comfortable and can temporarily escape any problems they are dealing with at home.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has structure or a specified set of procedures and expectations that everyone follows.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has a teacher who always addresses their students in a positive manner. They treat their s tudents fairly and maintain the dignity of the student when addressing discipline issues.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has an open door policy where parents and community members are encouraged to participate actively in daily activities and lessons. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..embraces technology and regularly integrates aspects of technology into lessons.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.provides regular authentic learning opportunities where active, hands-on learning is a standard classroom practice.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is one where teachable moments are embraced. The teacher realizes that value learning opportunities exist beyond simple rote learning and takes advantage of those opportunities.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.embraces modeling and independent practice as a critical learning tool. The teacher models new skills and then allows students to practice these newly acquired skills independently.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.allows students to work cooperatively on learning projects. Students are taught to create a plan, assign tasks, and then to bring everything together to complete the project.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has a teacher who is not afraid to experiment. They are continuously searching for ideas to boost learning and regularly tweaks previously used lessons to meet the needs of their current students. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.incorporates a variety of proven instructional strategies throughout the school year. The teacher exposes students to a wide range of strategies so that multiple learning styles are addressed on a regular basis.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is one where respect is a core value. Teachers and students understand that respect is a two-way street. Everyone is respectful of others thoughts and feelings.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is amicable. Students and teachers may disagree from time to time, but they respect each other’s opinions and listen to the other side without passing judgment.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.embraces accountability. Students are taught self-discipline and hold each other accountable when they make a mistake. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.embraces individual diversity and differences. Students are not only taught to value differences but that all individuals bring real val ue to the classroom because they are different.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. The same principles applied in the classroom are extended to all areas of the school as well as all school activities. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.encourages all students to participate actively in every learning activity. Each student brings value to the learning process and thus are expected to pull their weight in each and every activity.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is content driven meaning that students are minimally taught the concepts and requirements per grade level and subject area.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is data-driven. The teacher pulls data from multiple sources to paint an accurate portrait of individual student needs. The teacher then creates individualized learning opportunities to meet the specific needs of each student in their class.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.provides sequential learning opportunities allowing students to connect new learning experiences to prior learning experiences. It also allows students to begin to look forward to learning that is on the horizon.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.allows students to t ap into individual talents and creativity. Students are encouraged to individualize learning projects by putting their own unique or creative spin on them. The ideal classroom............is built on high expectations.   No one is allowed just to get by. The teacher and students expect maximum effort and participation in every class activity.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is one that students look forward to going to. They anticipate new learning opportunities and look forward to seeing the adventure that each day brings.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is made up of fewer than eighteen students, but more than ten students.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.teaches students more than what is required. Students are taught valuable life lessons and skills. They are encouraged to begin to establish a plan for their future.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.provides students with clear and concise directions in both verbal and written form. Students are given an opportunity to ask questions before, during, and after a task for clarification.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..has an ongoing, collaborativ e and engaging dialog where students share their expertise and experiences on the topic at hand. Teachers are facilitators who guide the discussion, but who ensure students are engaged throughout the discussion. The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has plenty of educational resources including up-to-date textbooks, supplemental learning tools, technology, and a comprehensive classroom library.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.provides every student with one-on-one instruction on a daily basis to meet individualized learning needs.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.has a teacher who makes adjustments as needed. The teacher takes the time to re-teach concepts when necessary and recognizes when individual students are struggling and provides them with extra assistance when needed.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.is full of students focused on learning. They are goal oriented and refuse to be a distraction for their classmates. They love learning and realize that a good education is a means to an end.The ideal classroom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..prepares students for the future. Students not only advance to the next grade level but do so with the tools and abilities to be su ccessful.

Happy Ending Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Happy Ending - Essay Example Margaret deftly and almost brutally shatters this faade of "ever lasting love" disseminated by emotionally and intellectually lazy writers, who often care little about exploring the mechanisms of love and desire in a realistic context. The intention of the writer seems to be to boldly jolt her readers out of their crumpling perceptions about love, which instead of bolstering human relationships, abandon them in a bog of disillusionments and frustrations. Though initially feeling disoriented after going through this seemingly simple work, the reader ultimately emerges with a more through and pragmatic grasp over the emotions of love and desire, that is not childishly black and white, but grounded in an adult atmosphere, dominated by shades of grey. Love is a noble emotion that imbues any relationship with bliss and happiness. Though it is a different thing that many a times people fail to fulfill the conservative claims of love, going by the frailty and imperfection inherent in human life. 'Happy Endings' astonishingly unravels this inevitable dilemma of love through a variety of relationships considered in the narrative. Desire is an aspect of love which if exercised in isolation, degenerates into a selfish and blind quest for self gratification.

Legal System of Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal System of Business - Essay Example The most common ADR methods are mediation and arbitration; however several other methods are available including: negotiations through facilitation; neutral evaluation; conciliation; summary jury trial; mini trial; neutral evaluation; judicial referee; and others (Goldberg, Green, & Sanders, 1985). In this instance, preparing an ADR clause that can be used by the learning team to resolve potential disagreements among team members requires an agreement on a complete definition of an ADR clause. Perhaps the most consistent and concise definition of ADR identifies it as a "procedure for settling disputes by means other than litigation; e.g., by arbitration, mediation, or minitrials" (Law Encyclopedia, 1998). Additionally, it is important that the clause make both business and legal sense, and include components that will avoid significant procedural issues or needless parameters that restrict the resolution process. In structuring the Alternative Dispute Resolution clause specific to this assignment, the goal was to be concise keeping needless complexity out of the resolution clause, including the necessary elements that demonstrate a clear understanding of the process to be used, but avoiding statements that may encourage disputes in its utilization (Aibel & Friedman, 1996).

Types Of Crisis With Special Reference Management Essay

Types Of Crisis With Special Reference Management Essay Natural crises, typically natural disasters considered as acts of God, are such environmental phenomena as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes and hurricanes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, storms, and droughts that threaten life, property, and the environment itself. Example: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (Tsunami) Technological crises Technological crises are caused by human application of science and technology. Technological accidents inevitably occur when technology becomes complex and coupled and something goes wrong in the system as a whole (Technological breakdowns). Some technological crises occur when human error causes disruptions (Human breakdowns). People tend to assign blame for a technological disaster because technology is subject to human manipulation whereas they do not hold anyone responsible for natural disaster. When an accident creates significant environmental damage, the crisis is categorized as mega damage. Samples include software failures, industrial accidents, and oil spills. Examples: Chernobyl disaster, Exxon Valdez oil spill Confrontation crises Confrontation crises occur when discontented individuals and/or groups fight businesses, government, and various interest groups to win acceptance of their demands and expectations. The common type of confrontation crises is boycotts, and other types are picketing, sit-ins, ultimatums to those in authority, blockade or occupation of buildings, and resisting or disobeying police. Example: Rainbow/PUSHs (People United to Serve Humanity) boycott of Nike Crises of malevolence An organization faces a crisis of malevolence when opponents or miscreant individuals use criminal means or other extreme tactics for the purpose of expressing hostility or anger toward, or seeking gain from, a company, country, or economic system, perhaps with the aim of destabilizing or destroying it. Sample crises include product tampering, kidnapping, malicious rumors, terrorism, and espionage. Example: 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders Crises of organizational misdeeds Crises occur when management takes actions it knows will harm or place stakeholders at risk for harm without adequate precautions. Lerbinger specified three different types of crises of organizational misdeeds: crises of skewed management values, crises of deception, and crises of management misconduct. Crises of skewed management values Crises of skewed management values are caused when managers favor short-term economic gain and neglect broader social values and stakeholders other than investors. This state of lopsided values is rooted in the classical business creed that focuses on the interests of stockholders and tends to disregard the interests of its other stakeholders such as customers, employees, and the community. Example: Sears sacrifices customer trust Crises of deception Crises of deception occur when management conceals or misrepresents information about itself and its products in its dealing with consumers and others. Example: Dow Cornings silicone-gel breast implant Crises of management misconduct Some crises are caused not only by skewed values and deception but deliberate amorality and illegality. Workplace violence Crises occur when an employee or former employee commits violence against other employees on organizational grounds. Example: DuPonts Lycra Rumors False information about an organization or its products creates crises hurting the organizations reputation. Sample is linking the organization to radical groups or stories that their products are contaminated. Example: Procter Gambles Logo controversy Government and crisis management Historically, government at all levels local, state, and national has played a large role in crisis management. Indeed, many political philosophers have considered this to be one of the primary roles of government. Emergency services, such as fire and police departments at the local level, and the United States National Guard at the federal level, often play integral roles in crisis situations. To help coordinate communication during the response phase of a crisis, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security administers the National Response Plan (NRP). This plan is intended to integrate public and private response by providing a common language and outlining a chain-of-command when multiple parties are mobilized. It is based on the premise that incidences should be handled at the lowest organizational level possible. The NRP recognizes the private sector as a key partner in domestic incident management, particularly in the area of critical infrastructure protection and restoration. The NRP is a companion to the National Incidence Management System that acts as a more general template for incident management regardless of cause, size, or complexity. FEMA offers free web-based training on the National Response Plan through the Emergency Management Institute. Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is a relatively recent mechanism that facilitates crisis communication across different mediums and systems. CAP helps create a consistent emergency alert format to reach geographically and linguistically diverse audiences through both audio and visual mediums. Elected officials and crisis management Historically, politics and crisis go hand-in-hand. In describing crisis, President Abraham Lincoln said, We live in the midst of alarms, anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read. Crisis management has become a defining feature of contemporary governance. In times of crisis, communities and members of organizations expect their public leaders to minimize the impact of the crisis at hand, while critics and bureaucratic competitors try to seize the moment to blame incumbent rulers and their policies. In this extreme environment, policy makers must somehow establish a sense of normality, and foster collective learning from the crisis experience. In the face of crisis, leaders must deal with the strategic challenges they face, the political risks and opportunities they encounter, the errors they make, the pitfalls they need to avoid, and the paths away from crisis they may pursue. The necessity for management is even more significant with the advent of a 24-hour news cycle and an increasingly internet-savvy audience with ever-changing technology at its fingertips. Public leaders have a special responsibility to help safeguard society from the adverse consequences of crisis. Experts in crisis management note that leaders who take this responsibility seriously would have to concern themselves with all crisis phases: the incubation stage, the onset, and the aftermath. Crisis leadership then involves five critical tasks: sense making, decision making, meaning making, terminating, and learning. A brief description of the five facets of crisis leadership includes: Sense making may be considered as the classical situation assessment step in decision making. 2. Decision making is both the act of coming to a decision as the implementation of that decision. 3. Meaning making refers to crisis management as political communication. 4. Terminating a crisis is only possible if the public leader correctly handles the accountability question. 5. Learning, refers to the actual learning from a crisis is limited. The authors note, a crisis often opens a window of opportunity for reform for better or for worse. Models and theories associated with crisis management Crisis Management Model Successfully defusing a crisis requires an understanding of how to handle a crisis before they occur. Gonzalez- Herrero and Pratt found the different phases of Crisis Management. There are 3 phases in any Crisis Management are as below 1. The diagnosis of the impending trouble or the danger signals. 2. Choosing appropriate Turnaround Strategy. 3. Implementation of the change process and its monitoring. Management Crisis Planning No corporation looks forward to facing a situation that causes a significant disruption to their business, especially one that stimulates extensive media coverage. Public scrutiny can result in a negative financial, political, legal and government impact. Crisis management planning deals with providing the best response to a crisis. Contingency planning Preparing contingency plans in advance, as part of a crisis management plan, is the first step to ensuring an organization is appropriately prepared for a crisis. Crisis management teams can rehearse a crisis plan by developing a simulated scenario to use as a drill. The plan should clearly stipulate that the only people to speak publicly about the crisis are the designated persons, such as the company spokesperson or crisis team members. The first hours after a crisis breaks are the most crucial, so working with speed and efficiency is important, and the plan should indicate how quickly each function should be performed. When preparing to offer a statement externally as well as internally, information should be accurate. Providing incorrect or manipulated information has a tendency to backfire and will greatly exacerbate the situation. The contingency plan should contain information and guidance that will help decision makers to consider not only the short-term consequences, but the long-term effects of every decision. Business continuity planning When a crisis will undoubtedly cause a significant disruption to an organization, a business continuity plan can help minimize the disruption. First, one must identify the critical functions and processes that are necessary to keep the organization running. Then each critical function and or/ process must have its own contingency plan in the event that one of the functions/processes ceases or fails. Testing these contingency plans by rehearsing the required actions in a simulation will allow for all involved to become more sensitive and aware of the possibility of a crisis. As a result, in the event of an actual crisis, the team members will act more quickly and effectively. Structural-functional systems theory Providing information to an organization in a time of crisis is critical to effective crisis management. Structural-functional systems theory addresses the intricacies of information networks and levels of command making up organizational communication. The structural-functional theory identifies information flow in organizations as networks made up of members and links. Information in organizations flow in patterns called networks. Diffusion of innovation theory Another theory that can be applied to the sharing of information is Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Developed by Everett Rogers, the theory describes how innovation is disseminated and communicated through certain channels over a period of time. Diffusion of innovation in communication occurs when an individual communicates a new idea to one or several others. At its most elementary form, the process involves: (1) an innovation, (2) an individual or other unit of adoption that has knowledge of or experience with using the innovation, (3) another individual or other unit that does not yet have knowledge of the innovation, and (4) a communication channel connecting the two units. A communication channel is the means by which messages get from one individual to another. Unequal human capital theory James postulates that organizational crisis can result from discrimination lawsuits. Jamess theory of unequal human capital and social position derives from economic theories of human and social capital concluding that minority employees receive fewer organizational rewards than those with access to executive management. In a recent study of managers in a Fortune 500 company, race was found to be a predictor of promotion opportunity or lack thereof. Thus, discrimination lawsuits can invite negative stakeholder reaction, damage the companys reputation, and threaten corporate survival. Social media and crisis management Social media has accelerated the speed that information about a crisis can spread. The viral affect of social networks such as Twitter means that stakeholders can break news faster than traditional media making managing a crisis harder. This can be mitigated by having the right training and policy in place as well as the right social media monitoring tools to detect signs of a crisis breaking. Social media also gives crisis management teams access to real-time information about how a crisis is impacting stakeholder sentiment and the issues that are of most concern to them. Public Distribution System (PDS) The Public Distribution System (PDS) in India is an important public intervention for enhancing food security. The PDS provides subsidised food grains (and other essential commodities) through a network of fair price shops. Until 1992 access to the PDS was, at least in theory if not in practice, universal. Corruption and high operational costs were among the reasons that were used to justify the move to the Revamped Public Distribution System (based on a principle of geographic targeting) in tribal, arid, hill and remote areas in 1992 and then to a Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in 1997. Under the TPDS, households were classi ¬Ã‚ ed as Above Poverty Line (APL) or Below Poverty Line (BPL), based on the economic status of households. BPL households continued to receive subsidised food grains through the TPDS whereas subsidies for APL households have been gradually phased out. The impact of these changes can be evaluated on several criteria including selection into or exclusion from the TPDS, utilisation of PDS quotas, e ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ect on the consumption patterns and so on. Correct identi ¬Ã‚ cation could mean that the programme may have improved in terms of better targeted subsidies. Access to cheap food grain could make a more diversi ¬Ã‚ ed and nutritious diet a ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ordable for poor households. Much depends, however, on the actual functioning of the PDS on the ground. Those with BPL cards made repeated trips to ration shop that were often quite far and queued in order to enjoy this small subsidy. In spite o this, they rarely got their full entitlement of 35kg. Having spent some time at ratio shops, I noticed that they were often cheated by their PDS dealer. Those who were aware of being cheated often complained to me, but did not protest in front of the PDS dealer. I find that though BPL cards have generally been given to the poorer households in the sample, utilisation is low. Among those who have access to the TPDS, one-third of the sample households do not utilise their quota at all and another half do not utilise their quota fully. Further, many of these households purchase the same items from the market at higher prices. This puzzle of under-purchase (purchasing less than ones entitlement and yet purchasing from the market at a higher price) from the PDS is examined using a dual pricing model. The dual-pricing model provides a framework within which government intervention in the wheat market and its associated problems can be analysed. However, in order to account for under-purchase from the PDS and related patterns, the standard dual-pricing model needs to be extended to take into account additional factors such as transaction costs, uncertainty, and quality variations. There could be various reasons for low utilisation levels. Demand-side bottlenecks include cash- ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ow problems (that is, households may not have cash when foodgrain is available in government ration shops), inappropriate foodgrains being supplied through the PDS, and so on. There are also supply-side constraints in the form of diversion to the open market or just irregular functioning of ration shops. The article also examines the impact of the PDS on consumption patterns. While the PDS does not have much impact on the level of cereal consumption, it seems to a ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ect the composition of cereal consumption. Speci ¬Ã‚ cally, the TPDS tilts cereal consumption of households towards wheat , away from coarse cereals. This is possibly a matter of concern, since coarse cereals are generally more nutritious than wheat. Problems which headed in PDS Free Amenities Free Supplies: Many family card or ration card holders dont go to the Fair Price Shops to get the goods or benefits which is eligible to them. As a result rice, wheat, sugar, kerosene or any other form of PDS which needs to be settled or handed over to the real beneficiary is not properly distributed. Still there are issues of hoarding and creation of black markets. The one who deserves is deprived of the benefits. The Govt.s prime motive is to eradicate death which occurs due to starvation and poverty. As a result it was decided to introduce subsidized PDS goods and free PDS goods. Later on this PDS was taken as a political strategy by politicians for their success in elections As a result of providing free amenities and free PDS people become lazy. They dont go for any form of employment especially, marginalized sections of the people. In the case of a SSI or Tiny sector which is labour intensive in nature face the heat or crisis in the form of short supply of labour. The amount which is being spent from the States Treasury for PDS Free Amenities results in price rise for other articles, goods and services in the form of taxation and setting off the amount which has been infused / spended in the PDS Free Amenities. Due to short supply of labour and due to power crisis which is now seen in many parts of India the GDP with regard to manufacturing sector has declined. At present due to failure of monsoon and uneven monsoon rains the kharif crops are destroyed. This has resulted in a heavy loss to the farmers and this lead to reduced supply of food grains and increased prices in the market. Now this particular free PDS cannot apply due to short supply of grains. Now the people who are unemployed or underemployed face the crisis as they have enjoyed free benefits throughout these years. They dont have the mindset to go in search for any other alternative employment opportunities. These free amenities made people more greedy Suggestions to solve the crisis which was created due to free PDS free amenities: The BPL(Below Poverty Line) should be provided with these benefits. Proper survey and field work should be conducted to know the population which is in the BPL. It is better to reduce the issue of PDS to APL (Above Poverty Line) and at a later stage it is advisable to eradicate this PDS to APL as they prove to be self sufficient with their earnings. Free PDS other amenities should be provided to the marginalized sections of the society based on a condition that atleast one person either male / female in a family should make themselves employed in any organized or unorganized sector. Awareness camps on health, stress management and necessity of being employed should be given. If the above said measures were put into effect then the scarce supply of labour can be reduced. Crisis of Malevolence: Organizations face crisis of malevolence when some notorious employees take the help of criminal activities and extreme steps to fulfill their demands. Acts like kidnapping companys officials, false rumours all lead to crisis of malevolence. Malevolence Employees who behave illegally or unethically act with malevolence. Intentional harm to an individual or company is malevolence. This type of crises includes security breaches, product tampering, sabotage, extortion, lawsuits and employee scandals. Malevolence outside of an organization may include kidnapping, assault or spreading rumors. Malevolence may refer to: Evil Hostility Malice (law) Sadism Security breach An act from outside an organization that bypasses or contravenes security policies, practices, or procedures. A similar internal act is called security violation. Broadly speaking, a security breach is a violation of any policy or law that is designed to secure something. When people or vehicles bypass screening checkpoints, or enter secure buildings without presenting the appropriate credentials, security breaches are generally obvious. Less obvious are security breaches that involve data or information. In a data context, a security breach is any activity that compromises the confidential nature of certain information. Most of the time, what is or is not a security breach is defined by law. Statutes in many countries set out security measures for any number of things, from border crossings to data sharing and electronic commerce transactions. A breach is usually defined as any action, intentional or otherwise, that weakens a certain defined security interest. The best-known security breaches typically cause some noticeable harm. An airport security breach that allows a passenger to board a plane with a weapon, or a data loss that leads to identity theft are clear examples. Under most security breach laws, however, harm is not always a requirement. The threat of harm, or likelihood of harm, is usually enough. Product Tampering, the unauthorized altering of a consumer product without the knowledge of the products owner or eventual user, is almost always treated as a threat to human health or safety, because it typically changes the contents of ingested products, such as foods or drugs, in a harmful manner. An exception to this pattern is fraudulently decreasing the odometer settings on used automobiles in an effort to increase the apparent value of a vehicle to a prospective buyer. Product tampering began in the 1890s. An especially bad case was the cyanide poisoning of Bromo Seltzer containers. The worst case of product tampering in America in the twentieth century happened in Chicago in 1982, when poison placed in packages of Tylenol killed seven people. Congress responded with the Federal Anti-Tampering Act of 1983, making it a crime to tamper with products or to make false claims of tampering. Tampering motives have included revenge, financial gain, and publicity for various causes. Ta mpering incidents have triggered false reports and copycat cases, both of which occurred in 1993 in response to a fabricated story that syringes were found in Pepsi-Cola cans. To combat tampering, manufacturers use science and technology to generate tamper-evident packaging and DNA testing to identify suspected tamperers. Sabotage is a form of subversion which involves deliberate damage, interference, or disruption. In a classic example, ecological activists have disabled the engines of logging equipment in the Pacific Northwest to prevent loggers from working at various points in history. There are a number of different forms of sabotage, all of which are designed to obstruct an activity in some way, creating chaos and often generating economic problems as people struggle to resolve the damage. Many people are not familiar with the true origins of this word, although they may be acquainted with the folk etymology, which claims that the term is derived from the practice of throwing wooden shoes known as sabots into the workings of machines. Though a charming idea, this is not, in fact correct. Sabotage actually comes from the French word saboter, which means to walk clumsily, a reference to the self-same sabots discussed above; the term is actually meant to describe the work stoppage and disruption created by sabotage. One of the most infamous forms is military sabotage, in which saboteurs penetrate the defenses of an enemy and attempt to disrupt weapons systems, military strategy, and so forth. Sometimes, damage comes from within, with rebels sabotaging the military of their own nations in an attempt to help the enemy gain the upper hand. It can also take a political form, in which case it is primarily carried out through well-timed media releases and comments which are designed to undermine opposing political campaigns. Extortion is a crime that involves the illegal acquisition of money, property, or favors through the use of force, or the threat of force. Historically, the term was defined as an abuse of privilege on the part of a public official who used his or her position to get money or favors, but today, people at all levels of society could potentially commit extortion. Penalties vary, depending on the specifics of the crime. In some countries, it is treated especially seriously because it is linked with organized crime, and sometimes special laws are designed to make it easier to prosecute and punish extortion. To the casual ear, extortion can sound very similar to blackmail, in which people use a threat to demand payments or favors, and robbery, in which a criminal takes something by force. However, extortion is slightly different from both of these crimes. In blackmail, someone threatens to do something which is entirely legal, such as publishing a set of photographs, with the blackmailee offering payment to avoid exposure and humiliation. Extortion is entirely illegal, as it involves threats of violence or other illegal acts. A lawsuit or (very rarely) suit in law is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendants actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiffs complaint. If the plaintiff is successful, judgment is in the plaintiffs favor, and a variety of court orders may be issued to enforce a right, award damages, or impose a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent an act or compel an act. A declaratory judgment may be issued to prevent future legal disputes. Although not as common, lawsuit may also refer to a criminal action, criminal proceeding, or criminal claim. A lawsuit may involve dispute resolution of private law issues between individuals, business entities or non-profit organizations. A lawsuit may also enable the state to be treated as if it were a private party in a civil case, as plaintiff, or defendant regarding an injury, or may provide the state with a civil cause of action to enforce certain laws. The conduct of a lawsuit is called litigation. One who has a tendency to litigate rather than seek non-judicial remedies is called litigious.The plaintiffs and defendants are called litigants and the attorneys representing them are called litigators. When Good Employees Do Bad: Seven Behaviors that May Precede a Scandal by David Gebler Good intentions can lead to bad outcomes in business. This is  especially true in organizations that have toxic cultures in which  leaders tout worthy valuesand then put up roadblocks that prevent  employees from living those values. The GSA scandal provides an apt example. With all the rampant spending  at the GSA, one has to ask if employees were afraid to speak up, lest  they upset their coworkers. Or perhaps they had become complacent in  an upbeat, backslapping culture that rewarded everyone early, often, and extravagantly. Time will tell. In the case of the GSA, the good  intention of employeesto be a solid team playerled to a very bad  result. But its poor leadership that created that toxic culture and  allowed it to drag good employees down. Gebler says desirable behaviors such as being team players (as in the  case of the GSA), or even meeting deadlines, being goal-oriented, and  staying on budget can get distorted and become destructive in a  company driven by weak leadership values and a weak culture. Thats  because leadership values drive success, not employee behaviors. When we look at companies that have faced scandals such as recalls,  ethical violations, or crimes, the problem often comes down to  employees whose surprisingly positive behavior was distorted by a  toxic culture and clueless leaders. Here are seven seemingly benign  behaviors that may come back to bite a company if they become  exaggerated and throw the organization out of alignment: Blind loyalty to the team. Loyalty is a good thing, right? Not when it  creates a culture of I know this is bad, but its not my decision.  The unethical spending at the GSA was a symptom of leadership without  values. Employees were rewarded with lavish perks provided by managers  who had their own interests at heart. This created a culture in which  employees received the greatest benefit by staying loyal to their  coworkers and generous bosses, rather than questioning their actions. Commitment to meeting deadlines. One would think that a company where  employees are encouraged to meet deadlines and rewarded for doing so  consistently would lead to super-productivity and efficiency. In fact,  it can lead to disaster. At Johnson Johnson, the understood  directive to get product to market on tough deadlines created a  culture of Dont ask too many questions and resulted in a series of  dangerous drug recalls that badly sullied the companys reputation. Excessive optimism. When a person is sick, optimism can buoy his  spirits and help healing. When a company is unhealthy, Everything is  going to be okay is not what you need to hear from those in authority  positions. Take David Myers, former controller of WorldCom. By his own account, he saw the problems of the now-defunct company through  rose-colored glasses. He simply kept believing-and telling his  frightened staff-that the problems would resolve themselves  eventually. By the time he came to his senses, he was under arrest for  accounting fraud. Staying focused on a goal.  Telling employees to keep their eye on the prize is not intrinsically a bad thing. But when the goal becomes more important to management  than the underlying values of the organization, it can lead to a  dysfunctional culture. For example, in the 1990s, Sears gave its auto  repair mechanics a mandatory sales goal of $147 per hour. It wasnt  long before customers began to be overcharged or sold unnecessary  repairs. Having a competitive mindset. Boeing is known for its highly  competitive employees and work culture. Thats a good thing, right?  Not so in 1996, when the company lost billions in government contracts  for ethics violations after an employee stole 25,000 pages of  proprietary documents from Lockheed. Flash forward to 2005, when  employees were still so competitive that their own work teams were  known to keep useful information secret from other teams in the  company to make sure they stayed on top. Too much competition can  erode cultural values, leading to disaster. Sticking to a budget. Most managers would be thrilled if their  employees were doggedly determined to stay on budget and not cost the  company any unnecessary money. But a good intention can go bad when  financial performance becomes the only metric that matters. That was  the case, many believe, behind the fatal mistake made on the BP oil  platform in the Gulf. Before the explosion in April 2012 caused by a  safety shortcut, BPs Macondo project was more than $40 million over  budget. You know the rest. Wanting to please higher

14-19 Work Related Learning

Key words: Student voice, democratic participation, egalitarianism, meritocracy, commodification, consumerism, post-modernism. 1 Every Child Matters ? In 2003, the Government published the green paper ‘Every Child Matters’ (ECM); this was published alongside the Climbie report (2003). The ECM (2003) emphasis’s four key themes: supporting families and careers, child protection, multi-agency collaboration, and ensuring that the people working with children are valued, rewarded and trained.The Every Child Matters (2003) green paper also identified five outcomes that are most important to children and young people: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being. These five outcomes are universal ambitions for every child and young person, whatever their background or circumstances.Following wide consultation with children's services, parents, children and young people, the Government published Ever y Child Matters: the Next Steps in November 2004, and passed the Children Act (2004), providing the basis for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families.The recently formed DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) echo’s the points made in ECM (2004) and seeks to ensure that all children and young people stay healthy and safe, secure an excellent education and the highest possible standards of achievement, enjoy their childhood, make a positive contribution to society and the economy, have lives full of opportunity, free from the effects of poverty. These outcomes are mutually reinforcing.For example, children and young people learn and thrive when they are healthy, safe and engaged. The DCSF also aim to raise educational standards so that more children and young people reach expected levels, lifting more children out of poverty and re-engaging disaffected young people. This is particularly app licable to my practice as the socio-economic circumstances of most of my students disadvantage them. Most of my students live in Camborne, Pool, Redruth and Hayle.These are widely recognized as deprived areas regarding economic opportunities, high number of single parent households, low employment prospects, and the majority of employment being minimum waged, relatively insecure, part time, seasonal or flexi time. (SDRC 2004). This relates back to ECM (2003) in that this seems to be applied in context of the geographic and demographic circumstances of children and young people.For example, a student from a poor single parent household in a deprived area with high crime rates who participates in underage smoking and drinking may be majority behaviour or the ‘norm’ in certain subcultures in Camborne, Redruth, Pool and Hayle but would attract more attention and concern in a more affluent area where this was not the ‘norm’. 2 We Could be Left Behind In every de cade children are maturing physically earlier than before resulting in a constant shortening of childhood in a biological and social sense. This has a converse repercussive effect involving the constant lengthening of childhood in an educational sense. Cunningham 2006) This is reflected in the proposals in the DfE (Johnson 2007) report Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16 are highlighting the need to continue study for 14-19 year olds and by 2015 the school leaving age will be increased to 18 years of age. The reasons the government have given for such policies being implemented are illustrated by the secretary of education; Johnson (2007:3) when he said ‘ the undeniable truth is that if a young person continues their education post 16 they are more likely to achieve valuable qualifications, earn more and lead happier, healthier lives’.A seeming contradiction to Johnsons (2007) policy of staying in education longer and its benefits have been r esearched by Walker and Zhu (2003:145) who asserted that ‘there is no evidence that raising the minimum school leaving age made people who have not intended to leave at the minimum age raise their educational standard. This is consistent with the view that education raises productivity and not with the view that productive people get more educated’Johnsons (2007) statement seems concerned with happiness, health and wealth. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR 1948) has wider reaching concerns. The UDHR (1948) states in Article 26 that ‘education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human right and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations, racial or religious groups for the maintenance of peace’.However, Johnson (2007:18) goes on to explain ‘we have a duty to prepare all young people for the labour market’ as †˜the world economy is developing at an ever more rapid pace. If we do not act now we could be left behind’. So its seems that it is not just for the benefit of our children’s wellbeing that Johnson encourages the parents of the youth of today to continue in education and so ‘achieving valuable qualifications, earn more and lead happier healthier lives’ (Johnson 2007:3) but more to do with deeper issues of ‘the world economy’s development and the UKs position of power within it’.In the same report Johnson (2007) quotes research carried out by the National Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) that reinforces the idea that when individuals achieve higher levels of skill and qualification, businesses and the economy benefit. This is compelling evidence that increasing the educative stock of human capital raises productivity at the macro economic level. In relation to literacy for example, a study by Coulombe Trembley and Marc hard (2004) found that if a countries literacy score increases by 1% relative to the inter national average a 2. % relative rise in labour productivity and a 1. 5% rise in GDP per year can be expected. 3 Surf’s up This emphasis on cultural superficiality, fragmentary sensations and disposability offers wide implications and questions; not least ‘what is postmodernism? Postmodernism itself is a much disputed term that has occupied much recent debate about contemporary culture since the early 1980s. In its simplest sense it refers generally to the phase of 20th century Western culture including the products of the age of mass television since the mid 1950s.More often, though, it is applied to a cultural condition prevailing in the advanced capitalist societies since the 1960s, characterized by a ‘superabundance of disconnected images and styles most noticeably in television, advertising, commercial design, and pop video’ (Baudrillard 1998:72) In my practice I notice that these media have a profound impact on defining student’s social standing and identity within their peer group. In my role as a lecturer I observe that the students are encouraged through media and peer pressure to consume.Children’s identities centre prolifically on brand names and icons (mobile phones and hoodies) which help to fulfil their aspirations to obtain products which make statements about who they are. The latest fashions all contribute to the identity of the youth of today where a distinct subculture and language exist involving Xboxes, ipods, beebo, Bluetooth, myspace, chavs, hoodies, emos, skaters and goths. I ensure that I participate and involve such subcultural language within my practice when explaining tasks, demonstrating skills or providing metaphorical illustrations.Whatever postmodernism is and however the term evades definition, what the intellectual highbrows have been lecturing on postmodernism are soon to become extinct by their own doing. The postmodernist wave of consumer students have climbed the ladder and are nipping at the heels of the old school who created them like Doctor Frankenstein who is dispatched by his creation. This wave of postmodernist students could also be seen as in a vast ocean of modernity where far from the shore one can see the formation of a wave.As the wave builds in popularity it slowly approaches the shore, the crest breaks; postmodernity is born. As we stand and watch, it slips beneath itself, down into the ocean, and there in time it becomes ‘the modern’, dissolved and replaced by yet another breaking new wave. Paradoxically the new wave will emerge in a significantly disposable, shifting, fragmentary postmodern society with expectations of structured, quantifiable, standardised educative processes.One of the latest waves to begin its postmodernist journey towards the shore before slipping back into modernism and the norm is the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) announcement in January 2008 by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) who have â€Å"allowed commercial companies the ability to award nationally accredited qualifications to employees, for the first time Network Rail, Flybe and McDonald’s all achieve the standards set by QCA for awarding accredited qualifications, enabling them to assess, track and recognise work-place learning† (QCA 2008) McQualifications This links to Ritzers (2000) notion of the McDonaldisation of education, where education is based on the premise of efficiency, calculability, and predictability and is partially governed by non-human technology. This perspective is rooted in both Fordian principles of mass production, mechanisation and assembly lines (Ling 1991) and Weberian (1968) principles regarding the growth of formal rational systems with its emphasis on the rules and regulations of large social structures.Ritzer (2000:2) applies this process of McDonaldisation not only to ‘restaurants but also to work, health care, travel, leisure, dieting, politics, the family, and virtually every aspect of society’; including, of course, education. This could be illustrated with the OFSTED standardisation of observations and grading, league tables, units of competence, knowledge requirements etcetera.For example, Young (1961) asserts that in a meritocracy, all citizens have the opportunity to be recognized and advanced in proportion to their abilities and accomplishments. The ideal of meritocracy has become controversial because of its association with the use of tests of intellectual ability, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, to regulate admissions to elite colleges and universities. It could be argued that an individual's performance on these tests reflects their social class and family environment more than ability.Maybe this is what Chomsky (1989) would label a necessary illusion. One that allows the system to keep on running with the support o f its members even if massive disparities and inequalities exist. Supporting a system that does not support you as an individual is a typical hegemonic regime of truth; a discourse that the society accepts and makes function as true (Foucault 1980:131). Excellence in Schools (DFEE 1997) and Meeting the Challenge (DFEE1998) were ntroduced as the Governments educational policies and marked the change from centralised control to educational intervention where direct involvement and partnerships with parents, schools, Local Authorities and businesses recognised them as stakeholders in an attempt to improve standards in schools and to find ‘radical and innovative solutions’ (Blair 1998:1 cited in Meeting the Challenge 1998) to problems of underachievement. Reference List Baudrillard, J. (1998) The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. London. Sage. Children Act (2004). London. HMSO. Chomsky, N. (1989) Necessary Illusions.London. Pluto Press Climbie Inquiry: Report of an In quiry by Lord Laming (2003). London. HMSO. Coulombe,S. Trembley, F. and Marchard, S. (2004) Literacy scores, human capital and growth, across 14 OECD countries. OECD. Canada. Cook – Sather, A (2002) ‘Authorising Students perspectives: towards trust, dialogue and change in education’. Educational Researcher, 31, 4, p3 -14. Cunningham, H. (2006) The Invention of Childhood. London. BBC Worldwide Ltd. DCSF (2007). Department for Children, Schools and Families. Accessed online at dfes. gov. uk. DFEE (1997) Excellence in Schools. London. HMSO.DFEE (1998) Meeting the Challenge. London. HMSO. DWP (2006) Equality and Diversity: Age Discrimination in Employment and Vocational Training. London. HMSO. ECM (2004). London. HMSO. Every Child Matters (2004) Change for Children in Schools. Nottingham. DfES. HMSO ECM (2005) Change for Children: common core of skills and knowledge for the childrens workforce. DfES. ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) ‘Consulting Pupil s about Teaching and Learning’. Foucault, M. (1980) Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews & Other Writings 1972- 1977. Gordon, C. (ed) New York. Pantheon Books. Illich, I. 1973) Deschooling Society. Great Britain. Penguin. Johnson, A. (2007) Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16. DfE Kolb, D. (1984) Experiential learning as the science of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs. Prentice Hall. Laidlaw, M (1994) The democraticising potential of dialogical focus in an action inquiry. Educational Action Research, 2, 2, p223 – 241 Ling, P (1991) America and the Automobile: Technology, Reform and Social Change, 1893-1923. Technology and Culture, Vol. 32, No. 3 p 627-628 National Institute for Social and Economic Research (2002).Britains relative productivity performance – updates to 1999. NISER Oplatka, I (2004) ‘The characteristics of the school organisation and the constraints on market ideology in education: an institutional viewà ¢â‚¬â„¢. Journal of Educational Policy 19, 2, p143 – 161. QCA (2008) News release: Employers gain official awarding body status on line at http://www. qca. org. uk on 29/01/2008 Ritzer,G. (2000) The McDonaldization of Society. London. Pine Forge Press. Rudduck, J and Flutter, J (2000) ‘Pupil participation and pupil perspective: carving a new order of experience. Cambridge Journal of Education, 30, 1, p75 – 89.Schon, D. A. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner: How professionals think in action. London: Temple Smith Social Disadvantage Research Centre (2004) The English Indices of Deprivation 2004 HMSO Tomlinson, M. (2003) Tomlinson Report, The. Accessed online at qca. org. uk on 4. 12. 07. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) General Assembly of the United Nations. Usher, R. Bryant, I and Johnston, R (1998). Adult Education and the Postmodern Challenge. London. Routledge. Walker, I. and Zhu, Y. (2003) Education, earnings and productivity: recent UK evidence. Labour Market Trends.Accessed online at www. statistics. gov. uk-article labour. Market-trends-education mar03pdf on 25. 6. 07 Weber, M. (1968) Economy and Society. Totowa. Bedminster. Whitehead, J and Clough, N. (2004) ‘Pupils, the forgotten partners in education action zones’. Journal of Educational Policy 19, 2, p216 – 226 Young, M. (1961) The Rise of the Meritocracy: An Essay on Education and Equality. Great Britain. Penguin. Bibliography Donovan, G. (2005). Teaching 14-19. Great Britain. David Fulton. Vizard, D. (2004). Behaviour Solutions: teaching 14-16 year olds in colleges of further education. Great Britain. Incentive Plus.