No Class Pets!

Imagine that you are a soft and adorable Guiana pig that was born in a pet store from your captured parents. There, shoppers are banging on the cage window, trying to wake you up and see you running on your hamster wheel, and are screaming â€Å"Look! Cute piggy! † When you are purchased, you are transported to a tight, compact cage, believing thou will finally have some peace and quiet, but instead, every day you must endure even more despicable kindergà ¤rtners. Now, when you were busy imagining that you were that poor Guiana pig, you felt angry and mistreated, right?It s obvious that whether we should have classroom pets or not is a complex issue. While some may believe that class pets are beneficial In some ways, I feel that after researching both sides, It Is clear that there should not be any class pets. There are many disadvantages of having a classroom pet. They will waste too much money and demand a lot of attention. One disadvantage of having a class pet is that pet s aren't for free. In fact, they're very expensive! Guiana pigs may be small, but still have all the characteristics to be worthy of being called a â€Å"living thing.So if one died, its death cannot be called â€Å"smaller† than a human death. Humans cannot underestimate animals because of size. Therefore, they must be fed and given all basic necessities dally, and need to be raised properly. According to â€Å"Does a Guiana Pig Belong In the Classroom? â€Å": â€Å"A teacher must be very involved and dedicated to proper cavy care before the opposite becomes true. † A lack of these needs may result in a free, one- way trip into the void. Also, sick pets must visit the vet, like humans must go see the doctor. Pets die when they become very ill; we can't overestimate them either!But then again, pet go to vet = $$$$$ = not very fun! Reproduction Is also a problem. Andrea Milder-Slater states In the ‘Cons' section: â€Å"If you have a male and female hamster, r abbit, or fish, are you prepared for babies? Will you spay or neuter your larger pets? † Spay or neuter = Spend even more of your dear green paper and metal coins on more class pets! 6 pets= 6 times more resources= 6 times more money! While some may say that yes, there is one more solution, it is no better than spaying r neutering: let them have the babies, and then support them all. But if Bob and Gabrielle the Guiana pigs have 6 babies, uh Oh!Will the class even be able to afford to keep all 9 Guiana pigs alive? Or will they enjoy the prospect of using more money on this? In addition to large costs, class pets need a lot of attention. Can at least one pair of eyes be provided to watch the class pets at every second? They must be supervised at all times. This includes all breaks, weekends and holidays. What would the pets be doing when the students had summer vacation? They might starve to death because no one fed them while their owner was having a nice relaxing trip to Lass Vegas, gambling and sightseeing, totally forgetting about them?After all, if there actually was someone there, would any crimes have happened to the pets? Additionally, â€Å"Does a Guiana Pig Belong in the Classroom† tells us that a Guiana pig class pet â€Å"cannot simply be a decoration. A Guiana pig needs petting and interaction every single day. She also needs daily â€Å"floor time† to run around and explore. This includes weekends†¦ † Also, class pets must be safe at school overnight. You must take mom your class pet at these times to ensure their safety, since there might not be students when they are interacting with the class pet.Children might be too rough with it, or be frightened and drop it. These things might result in the class pet's demise. Numerous crimes have occurred to pets when nobody was with them. For example, â€Å"Say ‘No' to Class ‘Pets† states: â€Å"A snake was stolen from his classroom enclosure and cooked alive inside a school's microwave,† and â€Å"a lamb was stolen from a school agriculture building, spray-pained, duct-taped to the outside of the building, ND left alone overnight in freezing temperatures. † This means that those ‘pets' didn't receive the attention that they required.In addition, article â€Å"Say ‘No' to Class ‘Pets† says : â€Å"Once at a student's home, may classroom â€Å"pets† are ignored and deprived of both human contact and appropriate companions of their own species. Students who do not understand the responsibility and time that animal companions require may neglect to fill water bottles, provide food, or clean cages. † While some may think that bringing the pet home is very easy to do, the parents or families of the students, Hough, may find the pet extremely annoying or may refuse to accept or take care of them.After reviewing the provided sources, I believe that it is clear we shouldn't have class pet s. It is clear that banning them is the best option. In the future, we should really think about whether we should make another life suffer Just for students' â€Å"education† Really, it would Just be better not to have a class pet, as the famous class pet equation is: â€Å"Class pets = money = more money = much more money + make another life suffer! †

Britian And France Over Educational Practices Essay

The existence of mass education is a common feature of industrial societies. It is agreed by sociologists that the education system accepts some responsibility in preparing young people for the world of work. It is viewed as an institution where socialisation takes place, involving acquisition of knowledge and skills. It with or without intent also helps to shape beliefs and moral values. Education is an issue that plays an essential role in all aspects of society and sparks debates in issues of national economic competitiveness, national identity, and social justice. It is viewed as protecting the status quo and is a crucial element of personal growth and social transformation. The education system has existed since the early 19th century and appears o expand as society progresses. Education in general appears to be shaped by four educational traditions. The first view is known as Encyclopaedism, it is very strongly inherent with the ideas from the â€Å"ËÅ"enlightenment’ period. It has been a very influential frame, especially for European countries such as France. This view promotes the idea that valid knowledge should be categorised, codified, and learnt. It promotes the concept that education provides the ability to think rationally, to reason, which leads to a better society with â€Å"ËÅ"enlightened’ people who, from education have the ability to use knowledge and reasoning with situations they encounter throughout their lives. The second traditional view is based from a philosophical root known as humanism. It highlights the concept that education creates a â€Å"ËÅ"virtuous individual’ who posses high qualities of moral values, and high levels of intelligence. The humanism belief is strongly developed from English public schools and universities. This approach strongly emphasises the role of the academic tutor who in some ways acts as a â€Å"ËÅ"role model’ and though their guidance and example results in the pupil becoming a well rounded individual. The third view is Vocationalism, which is orientated around the national economy. Its objective is to meet the needs of the national economy for skilled labourers who possess the suitable attitude towards work. The fourth tradition is a recent philosophy in education known as Naturalism. This has developed from a combination of psychology, sociology, and philosophy. It highlights the significance of an individual child, its needs, ability knowledge, and its social world. It is based on the ideology of learning, influences, and interaction from the environment. It is a skill based approach, focusing on â€Å"ËÅ"learning how to learn’* and how the child interacts with its environment, education and other institutions, from which the child develops into a whole person. Although the education systems may have been adapted as time progresses and vary slightly from country to country, the root of education originates from these four views. Therefore similarities can be seen in the education system in Britian and France. (* Extracted from Spyby; line 10 pg 222) In both countries France and Britain, majority of children attend preschool. Their compulsory schooling begins around the age of 4/5.The pre-school stage is a period where children in Britain are encouraged to mostly play and develop rather than being taught any academic subjects, where as in France, children at pre school stage encounter formal teaching of subjects such as mathematics and reading and writing. In general there is a higher level of participation in preschool in France than Britain. It appears that the France system bases its pre school system on the Naturalism approach, where by the child’s personality, creativity, intellect and socialisation is developed external to the family. From around the age of 5 children in both countries enter primary education. At this stage it is apparent that the naturalism ideology concludes and other traditional views become evident. In primary education there is similarity in the subjects studied throughout Europe, such as Maths, science, their language, P.E, arts. The History of the France and Britain were similar in the changes they experienced in the 19th century. The primary education in England and Wales was originally based on the humanist tradition in the early 19th century. From the late 18th century,  large amounts of children had access to free elementary education from which basic values were conveyed. The Hadow reports 1931 and 1933 changed the structure of schools to form primary and secondary sectors. Primary school was based around developmental psychology, which then advances the child onto highly differentiated secondary school. The Hadow report was also the basis of the education act in 1944. There had also been a change in the ideology of teachers after war where childcentered learning became an issue with primary school teachers in Britain. In the 70’s education in Britain became strongly associated with economic issues thus having a large impact in aspects of education. In turn an Education reform act had been produces in 1988, which imposed the National Curriculum. The national curriculum was strongly based on an encyclopaedism view. It arose problems for teachers as it restricted teachers from having the capacity to apply their professional judgement, and resulted teachers as being messengers of the curriculum to submissive learners. The French system also went through changes around this time. Like Britain the education system primarily prepared labouring class children for the world of work. In the early 90’s issues were highlighted where teachers were regarded more as â€Å"ËÅ"cultural emitters’ rather than a â€Å"ËÅ"teacher’ especially secondary school teahers . Primary school teachers focused on the development of children rather than academic development. The educateion system in both France and Britiain share a common factor of taking interst in the childs devlopment and both have a nationaal curriculum to follow. The French system however differs compared to Britian in their child centered approach.The French very strongly follow the tradtion of equality, where everyove achieves at the same rate and every individual is treated the same. Therefore a dtrucutres learning programme has been implemented where pupils learn at the same rate and achieve at the samt rate. Teachers on France play a crucial role in assisting every individual pupil to a similar stage as each other and unlike the British teachers do not view their professional role as involving curriculum development. There is generally a diffrenc ein the way children are taught in France and Britain. As evident from a study conducted by Sharpe (92) the French primary schools tend to adopt a less child centred approach compared to Britain, they have a formal setting with blackboards and chalk, with desks faced towards the black board where as in Brtian there is more diversity in the way the National curriculum is taught, through working in groups, existence of play corners and there is a much more bright colourful displays of childrens work. Another difference in the French and British system is the concept of equality which is promoted on scholls. In the British system there os a emphasis in schools to reseocet multicultural values and other tradtions and cultures each being unique and individual. Whereas in the French system the ideology of a single nation culture is strongly promoted. The next stage from primary school is secondary school (in france refered to as lycÃÆ' ¨es professionelles), which the typical age for in both countries is between 10-12. [more recently there has been debates amongst the british overment about the way children are taught in primary schools and the very â€Å"ËÅ"child centered â€Å"ËÅ" approach has been critised. There has been speculation that the educational practices in Britiain may somewhat resmble the France system in the instructive and the extensive use and structure of the whole class. However these practices can only be implemented in the eduacational system through doverment intervention as unlike Britain, such practices in France are more â€Å"ËÅ"teachers professional culture (Mclean 199

The Gravedigger's Daughter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Gravedigger's Daughter - Essay Example That was a grim challenge to the former high school teacher, to assist the coffins to take a restful sleep. But for the daring daughter Rebecca, it was not the end of the road, but the beginning of the efforts to scale new heights in life, under the most trying circumstances the girl of her age could think of. Even while dealing the mounds of earth, her father had not lost the intellectual fire of the teaching fraternity. But by nature he was cruel, finding it extremely difficult to cope up with the destined circumstances. He cautioned his daughter about which Joyce Carol Oates writes, (2007, p.186)"You-you are born here. They will not hurt you." She was the only member of the family born in America and therefore, the lawful citizen of the country. She proved worthy of her heartfelt desire to be part of the American triumph. Leaving behind the grim situation of the family, she lived life in its trials, tribulations, duty and beauty to come to terms with her life. In every stage of li fe, at every time, she faced difficulties/tragedies that would shatter any individual. The path she chose to tread was not the rosy one; it was emotionally engaging and intellectually provocative. It was a fascinating mirror of humanity, and an individual, who was orphaned as a teenager, challenging to cross the ocean through a rudderless boat! Her past was her greatest liability to meet the challenges of the future. But she had no powers to undo it, but she was certainly not inclined to carry the ghosts, neither wanted societal pity nor the condemnation! Her past haunted her like the dark ghost. As she attained the status of a married woman and motherhood, recollection of her father’s prophetic words continued to knock at the portals of her mind. â€Å"In animal life the weak are quickly disposed of. So you must hide your weakness, Rebecca."(p.113) Childhood abuses on development of woman’s identity are intense, and that wound may be possible to hide, but it will nev er heal. The shadows of the past will follow such an individual and part of one’s memory zone will retain them permanently. A series of challenges had engulfed her life—the youngest child of an impoverished German Jewish immigrant family, --ill-tempered, imbalanced, violent father, mother suffering from mental disorders, two insensitive older brothers who showed callous disregard for her well-being and finally witness the murder of her mother and suicide of her father. Violence and alcoholism were the other negative traits of the family that Rebecca had to put up with. --with the cumulative effect of all these ‘calamities’ any one would turn cynical and think that the whole world is ignoble!—but not Rebecca! She tries to find her elusive peace, and reinvent her identity with her total commitment to her child’s wellbeing. She wants to keep the dark memories of her past a well-guarded secret. The end of one misery leads to another calamity and she literally jumps from the frying pan to the fire itself. Nature releases her sufferings in installments and her cup of sorrow is ever brimming without any letup. After escaping almost being killed by her father, she marries a beer salesman, Niles Tignor, who also turns out to be physically abusive. He nearly beats her to death; she escapes with her son Zacharias. She finds support with an old man Chet Gallagher, who recognizes her son’s latent musical genius. But the original question of her life, remains the original question—how to reconcile with the past, and whether reconciliation

Architecture from the Baroque Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Architecture from the Baroque - Essay Example The Philadelphia Saving Fund Society building has been called a bridge between the building style of the Chicago school of the 1880s and that of the 1950s, which saw a mushrooming of metal and glass buildings. The design for this building was the result of collaboration between Howe, an American and Lescaze, a Swiss à ©migrà ©, who were in turn influenced by several other structures, and some of the most valuable inputs for the design and structure, especially the â€Å"mullioned faà §ade of the 27 storey slab† have been credited to James Willcox, the then president of the bank. The elegant metal furniture for the interior of the building was the work of the German à ©migrà ©, Walter Baerman. Howe, in designing the building was guided by the principle that â€Å"architectural beauty is the result of the successful interpretation of a human problem in terms of a structural technique.† Howe and Lescaze, working in tandem created a building, meant for commercial use t hat was so brilliantly organized, that it has few rivals. The building is placed on the adjacent sides of the downtown area, and so there are two entrances, one leading to the office tower and the other to the banking hall. The entrance of the banking hall from the Market Street, leads one straight to the bank by elevators and escalators, which lead to the banking floor, on the level above. The banking counter moves in a â€Å"serpentine layout’ in keeping with the rows of columns. Above the banking hall is â€Å"a 69 foot span, sixteen and a half-foot deep steel truss† .

Corporate Finance High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Finance High School - Essay Example That is, organizations need to be structured in such a way so the agent will expect that diligently serving the interests of his or her principals will also be in his or her own long-run best interests. In order to accomplish this, the principals need to be reasonably clever in setting up the initial rules of the game that are set in the employment contract , sufficiently vigilant in keeping track of their agents' quality of performance over time, and willing to bear at least some minimum level of "agency costs" in order to provide the necessary incentives There are many definitions for the term ethical investment, and what this term entails. Ritsie Lowry, maintainer of the GoodMoney site1 suggests that "In one sense, ethical investment is just like traditional investment. Ethical investors pursue the same economic goals as all investors: capital gains, higher income and/or preservation of capital for future needs. However, ethical investors want one additional thing. They don't want their investments going for thing that cause harm to the social or physical environments, and they do want their investments to support needed and life-supportive goods and services". From this certain definition we are able to realize that ethical investment is similar to the conventional investment, but differs to the fact that it needs one more requirement. Ethical Investors are very strict as far as the kind of business their money is going to fund. Many researches have proved that the ethical investors prefer to invest their money ethically although they know beforehand that the investment will not be as lucrative as a traditional investment. Russell Sparkes 2 in his book mentions "Repeated surveys (the last by Minitel in 1991) have shown that around 40% of the public want their money invested ethically. Interestingly enough, most of those in favor said that they would make ethical investments even if they knew that the returns would be lower than on conventional investments". Nevertheless there exist some facts which prove that ethical investment is quiet lucrative and in some cases more lucrative than the traditional investment. Weidner Investments3, point out four reasons, why the ethical investment is more profitable: 1) Management of the ethical company can focus on genuine growth without worrying about public reactions 2) Legal and hassle related costs are minimal 3) Brand loyalty is less expensive to maintain 4) Active ethical investors and consumers will give the firm free advertising again and again All these points seem quiet rational and representative of reality. We can assume that ethical

3 discussion questions and participation questions I will post a Essay

3 discussion questions and participation questions I will post a couple more later. thanks - Essay Example The best way to protect intellectual property rights is for managers to utilize a mechanism called patents. A patent is a special type of license that protects your intellectual property rights up to 20 years. An industry that depends on protection for its survival is the pharmaceutical industry. Patents are a way to pay justice to investors or companies that believe in innovation. A pharmaceutical company can take up to 16 years and upwards of $800 million to develop a new drug. Managers have to establish control mechanism in order to protect tangible and intellectual property rights. For example the research and development people should work in an area separated from the rest of the staff. The internal security of the building is also important. A way for a corporation to improve its security is by installing various cameras around the building. Performing trimester audits can help increase the accountability of the managers and workers of an enterprise. The OSHA Act protects all parties that participate in the corporate world. Safety is something that companies cannot forget since we are dealing with the well being of human workers. If an Act such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act would have existed in India in 1984 the tragic events of Union Carbide which killed thousands of people may have been avoided. The government has to establish responsible regulation to protect workers from being the victims of abusive behavior to their patrons. The Family Act you mentioned is a very governmental initiative because it protects the basic right of people when they needed the most. A major illness to a family affects people emotionally which can hurt their profitability at work. An interest fact you mentioned in your post was that employer are obligated to place an ASHA poster visible to the employees. I believe a lot of companies may be violating this regulation. At my last place of work I did see such a poster anywhere in the building. The minimum wage in

Music Jongleur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Music Jongleur - Essay Example During the 9th century, the song â€Å"Veni creator spiritus† has been utilised in various kinds of religious observances. Apart from the Religious observances which commonly haunted the music in medieval periods, there also exists some place for the love songs which dominated spiritual music. The composer has composed the love songs in his native language where he lived (usually in Old Occitan or Latin or Old French).One of the best example of love song is â€Å"Sic Mea Fata† which was written in latin and was seen in a manuscript from the abbey of St.Martial in Limoges. Jongleurs usually perform their work along with some dance. One of them is ‘estampie’. The above mentioned form consists of two successive melodies which was given a name as ‘puncta’ of which the first part ends with an unclosed ending and the second part ends with a concluded ending. Therefore ‘La Uitime Estampie Real’ meaning ‘The Eighth Royal Estampieâ₠¬â„¢ was one among those French dances which was performed by the Jongleurs in the early period. ‘Souvent Souspire’ is also one of the famous French dance song performed by Jongleurs. Also earlier Jongleurs commonly came across ‘hurdy-gurdy’ type of music supplemented with dance.

Sea Level Rise Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sea Level Rise Crisis - Research Paper Example Global warming has given rise to the climate changes which is one of the most addressed global problems. Millions of people are getting influenced with the variations in the climate conditions which have affected the lifestyle of many individuals all over the world. Thanks to the introduction of the new technologies and the greater energy efficiency methods which have given birth to problems such as green houses gases affects, one of the many reasons behind the climate changes. â€Å"Over the last hundred years, the earth’s average temperature has increased by three quarters of a degree centigrade (1.3 F) this seemingly minor change may strike some people as inconsequential. However if global warming adjusts just another 4 C (7F) or so to the atmospheric temperature, both Greenland and Antarctica can be on their way to meltdown† (Jerry 2008.) The extreme changes in the climate conditions couple with the green house gases emission will cause the glaciers to melt, which w ill as a result cause the sea water to heat and will expand thermally. One of the biggest threat imposed by global warming to the world is that of the rising sea levels, for which the consequences are going to be catastrophic. As discussed above, the expansion of the sea water causes the sea level to increase, because the water warms up due to the constantly changing climatic conditions. Rate of change in the sea level from the year 1870-2000 was 1.70 mm whereas in comparison to this figure the rate of change in the sea level from 1993 to 2012 is 3.12 mm. (NASA 2012) As per the recent reports, one of the massive ice shelves of Antarctica are also decreasing because of the warm water that resides below the ice shelves. Due to the shrinkage of the ice levels, the sea water level will start rising at a much faster rate than what the scientists have been predicting so far. The western chunk of Antarctica is losing 23 feet of its floating ice sheet each year. (Mail Online 2012) However a fter intense research, the scientists have been able to conclude that the rise in the sea level is directly associated with the thermal expansion, which is the water of the ocean getting warm causes it to expand. Secondly, the change in the sea level can also be associated with the land based ice which is melting at a rapid speed due to global warming and the emission of the green house gases. Since most of the stored water on land is found in the form of glaciers and ice sheets, this means that melt down of these forms will directly result in the sea level increment. Rising sea level is a justification or rather a proof that the world today faces a threat from the anthropogenic (human based) warming contributions, which in the late 20th century has caused the sea level to rise to new levels. The contribution to the rising levels is associated with Greenland, Antarctica, and the melt down of other important ice sheets and glaciers. The effects of the constant changes in the climate conditions and then the rising sea levels can have devastating effects on the human kind. As per the increases which have been mentioned above, it is also been shared that with respect to these changes, there will be a vast number of influences on the coastal systems. Coast erosion, changes in the quality of the water, high storm flooding are few of the many effects that this rise will bring along with itself. There will also be changes in the surface water quality which will result in the monetary losses as well as non monetary

Programs for Incarcerated Women Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Programs for Incarcerated Women - Research Paper Example Previously, women in prison were arrested and incarcerated for violent crimes such as murder, poisoning and arson, but the last few decades saw that a growing number of new female inmates were inside a prison for non-violent crimes, meaning these are crimes which are economic in nature. This is not a surprising fact, given that a lot of female inmates belong to racial and ethnic or other minorities such as those belonging to the lower socio-economic classes or being uneducated. The negative effect of incarcerated mothers gave rise to innovative ideas and approaches when it comes to dealing with children whose mothers are in prison. Special attention was paid to their daughters, and that is how the Girl Scouts of the USA came out with their â€Å"Girl Scouts Beyond Bars† program which made a positive influence on people who would otherwise had lost hope. Keywords: daughters, drugs, economic, girl scouts, incarcerated, women in prison Introduction The issue of women in prison is a very sensitive topic for most people. Only lately has it caught the attention of policy makers, politicians and other interested parties because of the so-called women's movement, or feminism. The previous research on this subject was limited to the gender gap among highly visible political issues such as voting preferences between males and females, social equality discussions at the workplace, abortion rights and gender differences in attitudes towards crime and punishment. Some studies showed that most women, who feel that they are more vulnerable to crime due to their enhanced feelings of insecurity, usually favor a harsher and more severe punishment for convicted offenders to serve as deterrence. Female attitudes with regard to appropriate punishments include a longer prison sentence and capital punishment. The prevailing psychology in this regard is that punishment is used as deterrence for potential crime offenders and that the said punishment will somehow reduce crime in society. Women feel particularly vulnerable when it comes to certain crimes in which by their very nature, women are the predominant victims, such as domestic violence and rape. A general perception is that the two sexes have a different attitude towards crime and punishment, with women oriented to more â€Å"ethic in care† while men prefer the â€Å"ethic in equity of justice† by which criminals must be punished immediately with enough severity, sometimes by applying death penalty. Only lately has the issue of women in prison been brought out into the open and included in the public discourse. The feminists have done quite a job in highlighting the problems of women in prison, including the racial and economic differences found to be inherent in the criminal justice system, and in particular, how female prisoners fare. This topic is the subject of this paper. Discussion The previous focus of the women's movement had been on the perceived vulnerability of women to cert ain crimes targeting them specifically. This feeling of fear and insecurity is of a great consequence in terms of their feeling and perception as potential victims. However, a new feminist focus today is one on the problem of women ending up in prisons and all the other issues related to female incarceration. The prior years had been focused on women as victims, but this new tack in public discourse has now shifted to women as

Historical Influence of Soccer in Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Historical Influence of Soccer in Africa - Essay Example Football in Africa today is a game of skill, violence and ebullient spontaneity. The richness of the talent has not been watched by the administrative expertise to bring it to full fruition. Africa has to overcome poverty of natural resources but instead of falling into despair the young African children of Africa turn to soccer as their way out in some cases. will establish an instant connection. Soccer in Africa is followed passionately all over. One could easily establish when football is being played. This is through a country becoming into a standstill when soccer is being played. The development of soccer in Africa has been enhanced in the recent past. Boys and young girls no longer stay idle in their leisure time. Everywhere you go in Africa be it Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Congo, Kenya e.t.c. you will find young boys and girls kicking around a football.2 Sometimes the ball will be made of plastic bags with strings wrapped around it. Sometimes it will be made of crumpled up paper. As long as it can be kicked, there will be a game.3 After 1960's soccer in Africa has developed greatly. However, it is yet to reach the level of the game in Europe and Latin America. To speed up its development, Confederation of African Football (CAF) was formed to spearhead and manage soccer in Africa. Under CAF, Africa Cup of nations was started. This is a league that brings together all African countries in finals for African Cup of Nations qualifiers. This league was started in 1957 and it has gone through various stages to be where it is today. Confederation of African football CAF) was founded in 1956 and immediately began making plans for a continental championship tournament. Four teams were expected to play in the first tournament, hosted by Sudan in February of 1957. However, South ______________________ 2. Ibid 3. www.cafonline.com. Africa which was expected to play was excluded because of its apartheid government wouldn't send a multi-racial team, so it came down to just three, that is Egypt, Ethiopia and the host Sudan. Since then, the field for the African Cup of nations has gradually increased to four. Six, eight, twelve and presently fifteen teams. Originally the tournament was to be played in odd numbered years. However, the 1961 event was postponed to 1962, resulting in championships in consecutive years, and the 1967 also had moved back a year. Since 1968, the tournament has been played biennially, in even-numbered years. Besides the African Cup of nations, there are other leagues which are played under the confederation of African Football. These tournaments are as follows:- The African Youth Championship: this is the main international football competition for confederation of African football. This football competition is played by under 20 years old players. The competition is played with the top four teams qualifying for the FIFA World Youth championship. Until 1989 the African representatives were determined purely on a qualifying basis with no African title on the line. Since 1991, there has been qualifying stage followed by a final

Hawaii Weddings Essay Example for Free

Hawaii Weddings Essay Wedding Style in Hawaii Like most of the rest of the world weddings, in Hawaii symbolizes tradition and cultural elements in a colorful and beautiful place intended to bring fortune, luck and happiness to couples who are going to be for the rest of their lives together. Hawaiian brides, traditionally wear a Hawaiian dress called holoku. A holoku is a wedding dress with flowers and in her hair as well. Men usually wear a white shirt, white pants and a colorful sash. Casual foot wear is permitted, unless if the wedding is inside a house, footwear may be avoided. Another Hawaiian symbol for wedding eremony is the leis. Leis are a traditional flower garlands worn around the neck. Two main leis made of fragrant flowers and green leaves are especially made for the groom and bride. These main leis represent the peoples relationship with nature as a traditional aspect. The brides lei have white Jasmine and the grooms lei have Lima. Also, both the mother-in-laws wear especially made leis which have an abundance of jasmine. The weddings are announced by three blows ofa conch shell in a consecutive manner. This conch shell represents the summoning of God to support the ceremony. Fireworks also are part of the weddings symbolizing the pushing of evil away. The performance of dance called pandango is required, its also performed in many weddings and its often called the money dance, encircling the couples with a strong of taped money. Cultures around the world has affected Hawaiian weddings as well, as one of the influences is the wedding cake. Hawaiian wedding cakes are usually made of wheat flour, symbolizing the beginning of a new relationship together. This relationship is further strengthened by sharing the knife for cake cutting and presenting the first slice to each other.

Old And New Testament Views On Social Justice Religion Essay

Old And New Testament Views On Social Justice Religion Essay Christians regard the Bible as a uniquely important source for human life on matters of belief and practice. For human beings to live a life that is meaningful and dignified, they have to be in a just and fair society that looks up to the need of others. For this to happen justice has to be emphasized, it has to be the driving force. In the Bible, God clearly imposed social concern upon his people especially the poor and the marginalized. In Bible, numerous passages such as; in 1 John 3: 17 and James 3:14-17 draw peoples attention towards social concern and social justice. DEFINITION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. Defining social justice, Dr Paul Kengor said, Historically, social justice has meant different things to different people, and so equally todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Online). This statement actually means that social justice is a just a branch of justice that accommodates all forms of justice, it being restorative justice, economic justice distributive justice, rectificatory justice and so forth. We can in this paper therefore, say that biblical justice entirely consists of social justice because there are many chapters like Matthew 18:23-35 it talks about penal fairness that needs punishment by the book but lacks mercy is not the kind of justice desired by God. Also in Matt 20:1-16: the summary on social justice is an economy of care for the common good through social sustainability, healing, and transformation. Marshall in his book said, There is huge amount data to deal with. There are hundreds of texts in the Old and New Testament, which speaks explicitly about justice, and hundreds more, which refer to it implicitly. Justice is in fact one of the most frequently recurring to topics in the Bible (2005:3). What actually Marshall means here is that, Biblical justice covers all aspects of life in terms of justice such as the personal and the social, the public and the private, the political and religious, the human and nonhuman. But on the other hand, such remarks may mean that biblical justice does not consist entirely of social justice, but also independent justices such as political justice and many others. Marshall said, Justice entails the appropriate distribution of social benefits and penalties and contending parties(2005:6). Still more despite such analysis, social justice in biblical justice concept, remain inclusive of other justices because, the product of each justice is a social concern to the need. OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPTS OF JUSTICE Marshall in his book wrote, Often in Hebrew Bible, righteousness (sedeqah) and Justice (mishpat) occur as a word pair with virtually identical meaning: But let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an overflowing stream (Amos 5:24)(2005:12. So this statement means that righteousness in the Bible incorporates the idea of doing justice and doing justice conveys the idea of putting right what has gone wrong. Social justice of the Old Testament indeed was concerned with giving according to need thought it worked antagonistically; to the other it was really social justice and to another a different justice. For example, the deliverance of Israel by God from slavery in Egypt, it was a justice on social concern to them by God; but it was under a covenant. Marshall said, Biblical justice is therefore covenant justice. It is the practical outworking of Israels special relationship with God (2005:15). We can say, that indeed God did well for the Israelites out of the obedience to the law He gave them through Moses at Mount Sinai. The Law actually reviews what needed for Israel to live in peace, to experience what the God intended for human society, and all was done out of the covenant which was made. In this justice, Israel had seen God intervene in their liberation from the oppression of slavery, to lead her safely through the wilderness and to constitute her as a free independent people. This became Israels own experience that God was a God of justice, Isaiah 30:8. Gods justice towards the covenant people was a call the Israelites to act towards one another I the way God had acted towards them, with justice, mercy and equity. It is also recorded in some chapters like in Leviticus 19: 15 You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justiceyou shall judge your neighbour. It is aslo written on social justice in the Old Testament that, You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take the widows garment in pledge. Remenber that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this, Deuteronomy 24:17-18. This has actually pointed to Marshalls description of Gods justice for covenant, through biblical justice which leds to social justice and further with the concerns with giving according to need. Sometime, Biblical justice points at social justice with no concern to giving according to need. Marshall said, justice requires impartiality; at other time partiality(2005:38). In Exodus 23:3, nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit. As for Marshall, he poits to this kind of justice in accord to what he called criminal justice. Actually, we can support his point with the biblical justice on social justice in Exodus 22:21-24. God warns the Egyptians with His wrath in favour of the resident aliens, widows and orphans. In other instances, Marshall said, Gods bias or preferential option for the por is, ultimately, in the interest of equity. In the perennial struggle for social Justice (2005:41). This statement from Marshall actually talks about distributive justice that considers fair dealing between men. This is also a biblical justice of Gods bias according to Marshall, can be seen through Gods historic intervention to rescue powerless impoverished Israel fro the hands of the Pharoahs in Egypt, and feed them in wilderness. This is Gods justice which is purely social justice which was give according to the neen of Israel at that particular time. The other Gods justice which is in nature of social justice that is concerned with the giving according need is actually in Deuteronomy 24:19-2. This justice provides specific welfare and protection for the por and vulnerable. It is inform of law which guarantees access to food. They are given justice according to the need for survival. This is purely a social justice for social concern in biblical justice. OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF JUSTICE. In the New Testament, biblical justice is not different from that of the Old Testament because the words that are used for justice remain the same, like righteousness but differs only that most of them are teaching by Jesus Christ. Jesus in part of this bible portrays biblical justice consisting social justice by barely giving according to the need. Marshall wrote, At the outset of His ministry, Jesus deliberately evoked this messianic expectation by defining His own mission in terms of bringing justice to the poor (2005:50). Indeed this is what Jesus had started to do, Isaiah 61:1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken -hearted, and to proclaim liberty to the captives release to the prisoners. For Jesus to accomplish this he rejected social discrimination, he promoted social justice and gave it according to the need. To the rich man who wanted to know he was to do to enter the kingdom of god, Jesus to him to sell all that he had and share the money with the poor. This is another biblical justice from our Lord Jesus Christ, as sign for social justice, which he had promoted. To fight social discrimination, Jesus openly criticized the self-righteous arrogance of the religious experts and knowingly antagonized them by enjoying intimate fellowship with sinners and outcasts. For example in Matthew 9:13 when He said, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners and also in Luke 5:27-23, a story of how He met Levi the tax collector and how the Pharisees and Scribes complained about it. Therefore, social justice of Jesus who is characterized by giving according to need viewed in Levis story, Jesus also assessed a new community, which was inclusive, and the poor were to be given preferential option. CONCLUSION. Indeed, both Old and New Testament provide Biblical justice which is entirely consist of social justice that is concerned only with the giving according to the need because it is a complex multifaceted reality. It relates to every dimension of human experience. Biblical justice to its social justice seeks to restore dignity to those who have been unjustly deprived of, to meet their basic needs. Jesus proclaimed of the Kingdom of God as a social justice. That is, proper use of wealthy and not excluding the weak and the vulnerable from participation in national matters.

Polymers and plastics in biomedical applications

Polymers and plastics in biomedical applications Introduction Polymers are increasingly being used to fabricate biomedical materials for tissue engineering and wound treatment applications, as well as for drug delivery. For tissue engineering and wound treatment applications, the mechanical properties of the polymeric material have to be matched to the specific application. An example of tissue engineering is the use of bioresorbable polymeric orthopedic materials for bone regeneration applications. The degradable material supports the growth and adhesion of new bone cells (chondrocytes) and is porous so as to provide a large, continuous surface for cell proliferation throughout the matrix. The degradable material serves to maintain mechanical integrity while the bone heals itself. The materials are designed to degrade in a time suitable for the particular application, but may be on the order of six months to twenty-four months. An example of an external wound treatment application is artificial skin, where the polymeric material provides protection as new growth develops. Other materials are used internally to separate organs after surgical procedures. In tissue engineering and wound treatment applications the mechanical properties of the materials have to meet requirements specific to the application. In this experiment you will determine how the tensile properties of films of plasticized biopolymers depend on the chemical formulation of the material. Such applications are based on the polymer materials being degradable as well as biocompatible. Other applications might require materials that are biocompatible and nondegradable, such as long-term polyethylene implants. Polymers Polymers can be synthetic or biological. Synthetic polymers are almost always made from nonrenewable fossil feedstocks, mainly petroleum. Examples are polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), and polypropylene, all of which are polyolefins. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] is a synthetic polyester. None of the above-named polymers are degradable, the main reason being that the polymer backbones contain only carbon-carbon single bonds. Examples of biodegradable polymers derived from petroleum are poly(vinyl alcohol) [a polyalcohol], poly(ethylene glycol)[a polyether], and the polyesters polycaprolactone and poly(glycolic acid). Polymers with heteroatoms in their backbones are generally biodegradable, although there are exceptions. Biological polymers (biopolymers) are found in nature; they are intrinsically biodegradable. Abundant biopolymers include plant polysaccharides such as starch (composed of amylose and amylopectin), cellulose, agarose, and carrageenan, and animal polysaccharides such as chitin and the glycosaminoglycans. Abundant proteins include gelatin(denatured/hydrolyzed collagen), casein, keratin, and fibroin. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an example of a synthetic commercial polymer in which the monomer, lactic acid, is produced in large amounts through fermentation; the polymer is then synthesized by conventional methods. PLA is biodegradable. Mechanical Properties In implant and wound healing applications, the mechanical properties of the materials are of critical importance. In this experiment you will carry out tensile tests—tests in which specimens are placed between two clamps (grips) and drawn. The instrument measures and displays the force being applied (the load) and the resulting increase in the length of the sample (elongation, also called extension). From the dimensions of the film specimen (width and thickness), the instrument software calculates and displays the tensile stress (ï  ³), equal to the load (F) per unit area of cross section (A = width x thickness). It also calculates the (tensile) strain (ï  ¥), equal to the elongation (extension) divided by the original length of that portion of the specimen being measured (called the gage length). [In our experiment, the gage length is simply the separation of the grips securing the specimen.] The instrument will display percent elongation, which is the strain multiplied by 100. As the tensile test proceeds, the instrument generates and displays a tensile stress-strain curve, which is a diagram that displays values of tensile stress (in MPa) plotted against tensile strain (%). The test continues until the specimen breaks. From the stress-strain curve, the software determines, and reports the following results in table form: (1) Tensile strength at break (or ultimate strength), which is the tensile stress at break. (2) Elongation at break, as a percentage. (3) Youngs modulus (also known as elastic modulus or modulus of elasticity or sometimes simply as modulus). It is calculated as the initial slope of the stress-strain curve, which is usually observed to be linear with plastic films. This initial region reflects the elastic deformation of the specimen, in which the stress varies linearly with strain, analogous to Hookes law for the expansion of a spring. Beyond the linear region, the behavior is termed viscous; polymers and plastics are said to be viscoelastic materials. Modulus is a measure of the stiffness of the polymer or plastic. Table 1. Typical tensile properties of materials Material t.s.(MPa) elong.(%) modulus(MPa) polyethylene, low density 10 620 166 polycaprolactone 26 600-1000 435 polypropylene 36 1380 poly(lactic acid), biaxially oriented film 110/145 160/100 3310/3860 keratin(human hair) 526 46 6700 copper, annealed 240 30 100,000-130,000 steel 380-700 200,000-250,000 glass 2160-4830 50,000-70,000 Encyclopedia of Chemistry, 4th ed.; Handbook of Physics, 2nd ed. Experimental Procedure 1. Film casting Prepare the following cast films of plasticized biopolymers. Sample 1 Place 32 mL of 2%(v/v) aqueous glycerol solution in a 200 mL beaker. Add 88 mL water and 2.40 g starch and 4.8 g agar. Heat with stirring to approximately 85-95  °C or until the polymer is in solution; do not boil. Slowly pour the solution into the big petri dish on a flat level surface. Try to remove all imperfections (bubbles) from the surface. Sample 2. Repeat using 32 mL glycerol solution, 88 mL water, and 1.20 g starch and 3.6 g agar. Sample 3. Repeat using 48 mL glycerol solution, 72 mL water, and 1.20 g starch and 3.0 g agar. Sample 4. Repeat using 48 mL glycerol solution, 72 mL water, and 2.40 g starch and 3.5 g agar. Allow the solutions to set for approximately one hour then place the petri dish in the drying oven. Label all petri dishes. 2. Film conditioning After the agar films have been in the drying oven for about 24 hours, remove the petri dishes from the oven and place them in the large relative-humidity conditioning box (maintained at approximately 50% relative humidity) for 24-48 hours. 3. Preparing test specimens After conditioning, the films are ready to have test specimens prepared from them. Working with one sample at a time, remove the petri dish from the conditioning box. Slowly and carefully remove the film from the petri dish by first peeling one corner and then applying fairly equal pressure to the entire width of the film as it comes off the petri dish lengthwise. Place the sample on a piece of cardboard. Using the 1/4 wide aluminum template as a straight edge, and the cutting knife, cut a rectangle approximately 3.5 x 3 from the center of the film, so as not to include any edges, as they are often not as uniform in thickness as the center. Align the sample on the cardboard as follows: Place the 1/4 wide aluminum template vertically near one of the edges. Using the cutting tool, cut on both sides of the template to produce a specimen 3.5 long and 1/4 wide. Cut as cleanly as possible so as not to notch or tear the specimen. Cut six or seven additional strips, but do not use the second cut of the previous specimen as the first edge of the next; make two new cuts to produce each specimen. Place the cut specimens on a piece of filter paper and transfer them into the dessicator located next to the Instron instrument. Similarly prepare specimens from the other three film samples. 4. Measuring mechanical properties of test specimens During the laboratory you will measure the mechanical properties of the fours cast films. Measure at least five specimens for each of the four film samples. As you remove each specimen from the dessicator, you will be measuring the thickness of the specimen with a digital caliper. 5. Operating the Instron Testing Instrument Refer instrument manual. 6. Laboratory Report 1. Express the compositions of the four film samples in terms of the weight percent of each component to two significant figures (excluding water); i.e. % agar, % glycerol (the density of glycerol is 1.26) and, if present, % starch. 2. Prepare a summary table of results showing the mean values of tensile strength (Mpa) (to 3 sig. figs.) and its standard deviation, elongation (%) (to 2 sig. figs.) and its standard deviation, and elastic modulus (MPa) (to 3 sig.figs.) and its standard deviation. [ASTM specifies these numbers of significant figures; a smaller number of significant figures would otherwise be justified given the observed standard deviations.] 3. For the three agar-glycerol films what correlation do you observe between the effect of glycerol on one property and its effect on the others? Prepare a graph for each of the properties showing variation with composition. In Excel you can show a standard error for each point separately by using a separate data series for each point. Do not show a trend line and do not attempt to connect the data points.

Review Of the City Of Mexico In The Age Of Diaz Essays -- essays res

The Great Divide University of California-Berkley geographer and author Michael Johns argues in his novel, The City of Mexico in the Age of Diaz, that the central Zocalo of Mexico City does more than geographically segregate the East from the West, but Mexico’s national mentality as well. During the years of Diaz’s democratic faà §ade, the upper classes thrived upon plantation exports, feudalist economics and the iron fist of Diaz’s rurales while struggling to maintain European social likeness. East of the Zocalo, shantytowns housed thousands of poor pelados that served as societal blemishes of a suburbanite’s experience. In Johns’s work, the penniless and indigenous serve as the scapegoats for the priviledged and their obsession with grooming Mexico City to be a little Europe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A growing affluent class called upon the Diaz regime and imported architects to construct buildings in the Zocalo to reflect a â€Å"proper† image that drew on influences from Europe and the United States. Johns recognizes the architectural dependence of the influential Mexicans constructing Mexico City when he states, â€Å"Mexican architecture, on the other hand, was an expression of a city run by a people who were looking to create their own culture while entirely dependent on the industry and ideas of Europe and America† (22). The same construction that the elite felt was a celebration of a newfound dignity in the Mexican people was criticized, by visitors and locals alike, as grandiose and a futile effort to shield the native roots of a circle of imposters. Johns’s argues that the â€Å"Mexicans knew little of their adopted European tradition, had acquired even less of its taste, and enjoyed none of its tranquility† (23). While the influence on the Westside led to development, the squalor and lack of authority of the peasants on the Eastside created mesones, or as Johns described them, â€Å"†¦a little more than ‘a bare spot to lie down in, a grass mat, company with (the) vermin that squalor breeds†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (48). Politics on the Westside of the Zocalo were concerned little with the living conditions of the majority. No one would undertake the unglamorous task of assisting the poor, but rather they attempted to veil the masses in the shadow of their refined buildings and recent assumption of culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another shield of the upper classes was t... ...rural hamlets, many in the big city drowned their sorrows in pulque †¦ it accounted for over 90 percent of all the alcohol drunk in the capital †¦ The suggestive power of a bright scene or an exotic name painted on the faà §ade was at times enhanced by a slogan like ‘Drink Pulque, Be Happy† (50-51). The little solace the masses gained from their wages was usually happily wasted in one night after the paycheck had arrived. Aspiring to drown their social inferiority, pulque crippled the east side’s population. In essence, both rich and poor yearned to gain acceptance, at conscious or subconscious levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mexico City in the Age of Diaz is a literary illustration of one country’s struggle to define itself as a modern, cultured nation. Written mainly in the upper class point of view, the poor masses are defamed as lesser, indigenous beings. This anxiety of the Westside population and â€Å"President† Diaz lead not to reform but to exploitation and ignorance of social dilemmas. Europe and the United States served as a model for these citizens who craved status and acceptance due to the inherent inferiority complex gained by a historically conquered people.

Euthanasia Essay - Concerns About Euthanasia -- Euthanasia Physician A

  Ã‚   A medical examiner from Oakland County, Michigan and three researchers from the University of South Florida have studied key characteristics of 69 patients whose suicides were assisted by Jack Kevorkian between 1990 and 1998. Their findings are published in the December 7 New England Journal of Medicine. Autopsies show that only 25 percent of Kevorkian's clients were terminally ill when he helped them kill themselves. "Seventy-two percent of the patients had had a recent decline in health status that may have precipitated the desire to die." However, "no anatomical disease was confirmed at autopsy" in 5 of the 69 people. In light of the generally lower rate of suicide among women, it was notable that 71% of these patients were women. Persons who were divorced or never married were over-represented among Kevorkian's clients, "suggesting the need for a better understanding of the familial and psychosocial context of decision making at the end of life" [L. Roscoe, J. Malphurs, L. Dragovic, and D. Cohen, "Dr. Jack Kevorkian and Cases of Euthanasia in Oakland County, Michigan, 1990-1998," Correspondence, 343 New England Journal of Medicine 1735-6 (Dec. 7, 2000)].    Numerous studies have established that the Americans most directly affected by the issue of physician-assisted suicide -- those who are frail, elderly and suffering from terminal illness -- are also more opposed to legalizing the practice than others are:    * A poll conducted for the Washington Post on March 22-26, 1996, found 50% support for legalizing physician-assisted suicide (Washington A18) Voters aged 35-44 supported legalization, 57% to 33%. But these figures reversed for voters aged 65 and older, who opposed legalization 54% to 38%. Majo... ... suicide: attitudes and experiences of oncology patients, oncologists, and the public." 347 The Lancet 1805 (June 29, 1996):1809    Humphry, Derek. "What's in a word?" Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization 1993, Table 1-A.    Koenig, Dr. Harold et al.. "Attitudes of Elderly Patients and their Families Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide." 156 Archives of Internal Medicine 2240 (Oct. 28, 1996)    Lee v. Oregon, 891 F.Supp. 1429 (D. Or. 1995), vacated on other grounds, 107 F.3d 1382 (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 328 (1997).    "Poll Shows More Would Support Law Using Gentler Language," TimeLines (Jan.-Feb. 1994):9    Washington v. Glucksberg, 117 S. Ct. 2258, 2262 n. 7 (1997. -- -- --. 117 S. Ct. at 2272, quoting United States v. Rutherford, 442 U.S. 544, 558. 1979.    Washington Post, April 4, 1996.

The Bride Price Essays -- Literary Analysis, Okonkwo

Throughout the world, there are numerous cultures that practice various customs and traditions. These cultures have often set up guidelines for the people of the society to follow and adhere to. Some societies practice their customs and traditions in a more lenient manner. On the other hand, some societies are very strict with their practices and strive to maintain and preserve their culture by teaching the customs to the people and practicing them frequently. Such is the case in the Nigerian society. The Nigerian people follow specific rules and customs in regards to marriage practices, social status, and superstitions. The marriage custom is one specific aspect of their culture that is strictly enforced for all men and women of the society. The man’s family is supposed to pay the family of the bride a certain amount of money to marry the girl. This custom, along with many others, is demonstrated in the novel, The Bride Price, by Buchi Emecheta, when the main character, a you ng girl named Aku-nna, falls in love with a man named Chike, who comes from a family in which the people were once slaves. Throughout the novel, the customs of Nigerian society are explored while Aku-nna and Chike try or overcome their families’ adversities. Aku-nna and her brother Nna-nndo live in Lagos with their father at the start of the novel. The two siblings have grown up in Nigeria learning the customs and practicing them at a young age. Aku-nna, being the only female in the home takes on the responsibilities of the family much like all the other women in Nigerian society. The women acknowledge the fact that it is their responsibility to do so and comply without arguments. When Aku-nna’s father told her to make dinner, she does so willingly in orde... ...ous† (100). Not only do these superstitions play a role in the Nigerians’ daily lives, but some superstitions relate to the bride price custom as well. It was said, â€Å"if the bride price was not paid, she would never survive the birth of her first child† (168). Okonkwo would still not accept the bride price, no matter how much money was offered because â€Å"he still refused to consent to give his daughter to a slave† (162). When Aku-nna gets pregnant soon after, the Nigerian superstition is up held and she dies while giving birth to her child. Through Aku-nna’s upbringing, relationships, and experiences, the reader is able to gain an understanding of the customs and traditions followed in Nigerian society. The Bride Price by Buchi Emecheta is good demonstration of the many aspects of Nigerian culture such as marriage practices, social status, and superstitions.

A Proposal to Abolish Grading

In every education system, grading and testing are done simultaneously so as teachers and lectures can know the capabilities of their students and whether they have assimilated what have been taught and used effectively.Most of universities and higher learning institutions as prerequisite of students admission is being tested before granted admission, the system help the universities assessing applicants’ capabilities in correspondence to their applications.The grading system which is conducted after certain amount of academic units covered of students respective courses or subjects, apart from assessing students’ capabilities, also assist them in studying especially for lazy students. When students know that there will be grading for the tests they are going to do, definitely they are going to study hard for it.I tend to differ with Paul Goodman in his proposal to abolish grading as the notion has been much effective for quite some time and has helped most of students scoring good grades even though they were lazy. But to Paul Goodman, who proposed the abolishment of grading take this as bullying students as he argues that â€Å"Many students are lazy, so teachers try to goad or threaten them by grading. In the long run this must do more harm than good.†(Paul Goodman, Mis-Education, 1971).Nevertheless, grading system assist in discovering people weaknesses being students or applicants to the higher learning. Through grading students can be able to spot their weaknesses in accordance with the type of grades they get either low or high. If low then students have an opportunity of knowing how to correct it so as to improve their grades, hence becoming knowledgeable.Despite the good intention the system has, there are setbacks that have been spotted by Paul Goodman as he argues that â€Å"But if the aim is to discover weakness, what is the point of down-grading and punishing it, and thereby inviting the student to conceal his weakness, by fak ing and bullying, if not cheating?†(Paul Goodman, Mis-Education, 1971).In conclusion, even though students might cheat during their assignments, yet they will be working hard in the tests and examinations which will help them study. Grading and testing system still assist students to learn more through the performance of their grades.Reference:Goodman Paul, ‘A proposal to abolish grading’, Mis-Education, (1971), Chapter 10, John Wiley New York   

Human Resource Management Process1 Essay

The role of a Human Resource department is ever changing in today’s volatile business environment. Over the years HR have become strong strategic partners within an organization by providing functions such as recruitment, training and development and retention. Human Resource, in order to be strategic, works directly with all levels of management in an effort to help with strategy and the growth of the company to meet their vision. One very important aspect is talent acquisition. Having the right people in key roles within the organization is vital to the success and growth of any company. Performing this function includes job analysis, task and KSA statements, preparing job descriptions, recruiting, and then setting compensation. The entire process from job analysis to compensation is discussed as follows; Job analysis                      When a new job is created or a vacancy occurs, it is the role of a HR representative to fill that void. In order to perform this function they need to first understand what role they are trying fill is and what skills and responsibilities this new role would require. By conducting a job analysis they are able to further define important elements of any job and then search for the person or people that are the most qualified and would be a good fit for the company. Job analysis is the process of describing and recording aspects of jobs and stipulating the skills and other requirements necessary to perform the job. It refers to the process of Gathering and collecting information about responsibilities, duties, skills, the outcomes and the environment that influences working in a particular job field. The job analysis process will help the HR managers find the ideal candidate for the position. Task statement                      Task analysis is the process by which a task statement is derived. The task statement is the most important element of task analysis process because it provides a standardized, concise format to describe worker actions. It is a document that defines and describes the specific job to be performed by the candidate. The creation of these task statements may take considerable thought and insight. However, the rewards of conducting this due diligence before taking on the task of hiring a new employee, makes the process very simple and less stressful. Everything is clearly defined and above all, measurable in the future. KSA statement                      KSA statements are the job related knowledge, skills and abilities that an applicant must perform successfully in a certain position. It is a statement that helps employees in the process of identifying the employee who best fits in a particular field. KSA statements help hiring managers identify the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to successfully perform a specific job. Knowing the tasks that have to be performed, helps you to identify the KSA that the candidate must possess in order to perform to the companies standards and in return hire the right candidate. Job description                      Writing a job description is an important step in the human resource staffing plan. A job description typically outlines the necessary skills, training and education needed by a potential employee for a specified job. It provides an outline of what should be done by a particular employee in a specific position. It should give a brief overview of the role, how it relates to the organizational vision, a list of key responsibilities, requirements and qualifications.Once a job description is prepared, it can serve a basis for interviewing candidates, orienting a new employee and finally in the evaluation of overall job performance. By incorporating and utilizing job descriptions, an organization can better understand the experience and skill set needed to enhance the overall success of the company. Recruitment plan                      Once the Job analysis, Task statements, KSA statements and the job description are completed, the next step is to search for candidates. A complete recruitment plan identifies vacant positions in an organization that need to be filled so that so that an adequate job advertisement can be created and placed appropriately for a specific period of time. Most recruitment plans include searching both internally and externally from the organization. When organizations choose the right people for the job, these people are not only great performers with their job, but also tend to stay with the organization longer. Selection method                      The key to the selection process is to choose a strategy for screening candidates that will allow an organization to view the most qualified candidates for the vacant position. Employee selection process usually entails reviewing, screening, interviewing, testing then selecting the best available candidates for theavailable position. Organizations also make use of many outside agencies when completing the selection process. Drug screening and reference checks are often done by a third party. Many companies are beginning to incorporate assessment tests and activities into the selection process to insure additional training is not necessary for potential candidates. A selection method chosen by the organization should allow the selection panel of a company to pick the candidate that is most suited to fill the vacant position. Performance evaluation                      A performance evaluation is a review and discussion of an employee’s performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. Performance evaluations need to be in place to support decisions made by management and the HR department. The appraisal is based on results obtained by the employee in their job. These evaluations can also be used to teach as they may show areas that need improvement as well as provide backup for recognition of a job well done. It measures skills and accomplishments with reasonable accuracy and uniformity.The performance evaluations need to be structured and performed in a timely manner as well and managers need to be trained appropriately has to how to conduct these evaluations. Compensation plan                      Compensation is a systematic approach to proving monetary value to employees in exchange for work performed.Compensation may achieve several purposes assisting in recruitment, job performance, and job satisfaction. Job analysis can be used in compensation to identify or determine skill levels, compensable job factors, fiscal and supervisory responsibilities and required level of education which is related to salary level. Job descriptions are used as a tool for determining salary ranges.Many people associate compensation with money but when looking for a job, many compensation packages are designed with a package of products in mind. Due to the fact that compensation isn’t just about the dollar figure, compensation packages need to be discussed in great detail when hiring new employees.Overall compensation strategies have to be designed to meet the overall objectives of the organization. Would you change anything in your process at this point? No I wouldn’t change anything. This is because of the following reasons: I don’t think that I would change anything about my paper because I did do extensive research on a HR Receptionist position to determining the skills, qualifications and experience needed for this type of positions. There is a legal need to do a job analysis. Employers who wish to demonstrate that their selection processes are valid will need to start with the job analysis. There are also management reasons for doing the analysis. It yields an improved process for obtaining, retaining and managing organization’s work. Job description communicates the organization’s expectations to its employees. Conclusion                      In conclusion, we have discussed the importance of the job analysis process which includes task statement, KSA statement and job description. Job analysis is the procedure used to determine tasks, duties and responsibilities of each job, and identify knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to perform the job.The job analysis process can render positive outcomes like increased profits, employee retention and reaching overall organizational goals when implemented successfully within an organization. We have also discussed importance of human resource department’s ability to recruit, select candidates appropriately and continue ongoing performance evaluations with the organization’s employees.An organization cannot build a good team of working professionals without good Human Resources. The key functions of the Human Resources Management team include recruiting people, training them, performance appraisals, motivating employees as well as workplace communication, workplace safety, and much more. As you can see, human resource plays a very big role in the foundation of an organization. Literature review on compensation                      Compensation can be defined as any rewards obtained by employees in return for their labor. Compensation can be divided into three aspects, that is; direct financial compensation, indirect financial compensation and non-financial compensation. Direct financial compensation consists of pay received in the form of wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions provided at regular intervals. Indirect financial compensation includes all financial rewards which are not included in direct compensation, and form part of the social contract between the employer and employee such as benefits, leaves, retirement plans, education and employee services. Non financial compensation refers to topics such as career development and advancement opportunities, opportunities for recognition as well as work environment and conditions. As much as many employees focus on direct financial compensation, it is the non-financial rewards that are more effective in the long term employee engagement. Job position covers the various duties such as interesting duties and responsibilities, autonomy, challenges, authority feeling of achievement, advancement opportunities and opportunities for recognition. Work environment focuses on; competent supervision, fun and effective co-workers, flexible scheduling, modified retirement and fair and consistent practices and policies. Scholarly review                      Levels of firms’ productivity widely depend on good compensation strategies. In small businesses, coordination between general resource management practices lacked, hence, diminished productivity levels. Besides, personnel related problems are arising as a result of unclear, outlined policies on human resource management and compensation in small businesses. Inadequate and inefficient management of human resources often adversely affects employee’s perception of equity, resulting in dissatisfaction, inadequate motivation, higher turnover and lower productivity (Tate, et al, 1982). Unlike small businesses, large businesses rely on a well organized, formal personnel development to ensure effective human resource management. There are various policies that aid in proper human resource management and increment of productivity levels. These policies are based on both wage payment and other fringe benefits. In order for these policies to effectively work, one need to enact proper maintenance practices which include; appropriate induction of an employee, conducting performances review, providing employee service and instituting governance. However, the surveys were done to come to a conclusion on the gap that was observed between ‘what could be’ and ‘what was’ (in terms of professional human resource management) might be caused by at least four factors; a lack of formal personnel management training, a lack of perception on the part of decision makers that productivity is improved by use of generally accepted human resource management practices, a lack of incentive because employers are family members or an inability to use human resource management practices effectively because of size and monetary constraints. Compensation can also be achieved through recognition of personnel. Recognition of personnel is done by considering the following; the length of service, above and beyond program, peer to peer, retirements and sales. Rewarding of the recognized personnel is done through; certification and or plaques, cash gifts, certification and company logo merchandise. Recognition is meant to; salute years of service, create a positive work environment, encourage high performance, foster a culture of recognition and raise personnel morale. Not all gestures succeed. Celebrating employees can also backfire, as far as the research conducted by Business Scholars at Harvard Business School. There were two reasons that emerged; first, â€Å"employees strategically gave the program improving timelines only when eligible for the reward, and call in sick to retain eligibility,† scholars explain. Secondly, â€Å"employees with perfect pre-program attendance or high productivity suffered 6.8% productivity decrease after program introduction, suggesting they were de-motivated by awards for good behavior they already exhibited.† Compensation related issues have called for relevant compensation plans and decisions in order to cater equally for personnel. There are various decisions that human resource management makes concerning compensation as highlighted below; Compensation decisions are essential in compensation strategies. Compensation of personnel depends on the market position (level of pay relative to competitors), internal versus external orientation, hierarchy (the pay structure and the basic-job versus skills-for the pay structure reward mix, and the basis of research performance versus seniority, groups versus individual and criteria used) (Lawler 1981). These are issues that determine decision of salary increment. Increasing list of decisions has raised doubts about the efficacy of a strategic perspective. It brings to mind the multiple facts of job satisfaction that made the constraint more complex than originally conceived (Heneman, 1985), hence, t is necessary to differentiate decision which are strategic from those that are not. Compensation decision making widely depends on the strategic policies as highlighted below; Competitiveness, whose degrees vary among various organizations and among occupations within them, from a strategic perspective, competitiveness refers to positioning a firm’s compensation relative to its competitors (Belcher, et al, 1987). It deals with total return trade off decision. Internal structure- the internal pay structure is a fundamental policy that requires strategic decisions. Typically it refers to the distribution of rates or internal pay differentials. (Simon, et al, 1987.) Decisions involved depend on the issue of pay, equity and slope of the hierarchies. Forms of pay- this is another policy that pertains the forms of the mix of various elements of total compensation (Heneman, et al, 1973). Decisions include the number of forms to offer, the degree to which each is contingent to employees maintaining their membership in the organization like entitlement, or performance like incentives, relative importance of each form and the proportion of the workforce eligible for each firm. Basis for increase-decisions based on the strategic policies involved in granting pay increase are also involved; they range from an emphasis on short versus long term incentives (Caroll, et al, 1987). Role in the human resource strategy- description of firm’s human resources strategies plays a very important role in decision making (Dyer, 1985). Administrative style- this process is used to administer compensation decision also referred to as strategic properties. It deals with issues such as employee participation, communication centralization and dispute resolutions mechanisms. Compensation planning and administration has various challenges which require efficient decision making criteria. These compensation related decisions are formulated to do away with disputes that may result from pre hiring pay, ongoing employment, legal compliance, equal pay out and fair labor standards acts. Conclusion                      From what we have seen in the scholarly articles, for one to improve business productivity, it is essential to have relevant compensation strategies to provide guidelines on personnel compensation. Many small businesses are characterized by inadequate and insufficient management of human resources which tend to affect employee’s perception of equity, resulting to dissatisfaction, inadequate motivation and lower productivity, hence, proper human resource management strategies are essential in building a well organized, formal, personnel department to ensure high productivity levels. Compensation can also be achieved through proper recognition of personnel by considering different aspects as highlighted in the articles above. Recognition is essential as it fosters work environment and also encourages high performance through appraisal of morale among the staff. In order to come up to a proper compensation plan, the human resource department needs to formulate clear policies and procedures to follow. These policies aid in decision making regarding various compensation incentives to personnel or employees. These decisions involve financial compensation which is in form of wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions, leaves, retirement plans and other employee services; non financial compensation decision on job positions and working environment related factors. In short, it is essential for a good human resource management to have relevant policies which are essential in identifying when and how to compensate personnel properly. References Amba-Rao, S. C. & Pendse, D. (1985). Human Resource Compensation and Maintenance Practices. American Journal of Small Business, 10(2), 19-29. Belcher, D., & Atchison, T. (1987). Compensation administration (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Caroll S. (1987). Business strategies and Compensation Systems. In D.B Balkin &L.R. Gomez Mgia, New Perspectives in Compensation, Pp 343- 355, Prentice Hall. Ellig, B. R. (1981), Compensation Elements: Market Phase Determines the Mix. Compensation Review. Third Quarter, 30-38. Freedman, S. (1978). Some Determinants of Compensation Decisions. Academy of Management Journal, 397-409. Heneman, H. G. (1985), Pay Satisfaction in K. M. Rowland & G. R. Ferns (eds), Research in Personnel and Human Resource Management, vol 3, p 115-139. Lawler, E. E., III. 1981. Pay and organizational development. Reading, Mass.: AddisonWesley. Simon, H. (1950). Public administration. New York: Knopf. Tate, J. 1957. Suggestions toward a reformulation of wage theory. Reprinted in Mahoney,1979. Thompson, K. (2014). Honoring Employees is Good Business. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 94(2), 26. Source document

Political Decentralization and the Local Government System

The final tier of elected government is the district (Gila) council. The district council insisted of all the (directly elected) union council Nazism in the district. The head of district council, the district Nazism and district naif-Nazism are indirectly elected. Another aspect of representation in Devolution Plan is the creation of Citizen Community Boards (CBS) in both rural and urban areas. The CBS were expected to initiate and manage their own development projects, with 25 percent of the district development funds set aside for their use.They are Voluntary organizations' formed by citizens themselves. Source: (Schema, Jaws, & Qatar, 2005) 3. 3 Characteristics of Current Local Government System . Restructuring of Government Pakistan. † (Abaft & Hussy, 2010). Schema, 2005 discussed that the elected government and provincial administration have been integrated at the district and Thesis levels, the division abolished altogether and the local level provincial administration h as been made accountable to elected officials at the local level.Moreover, majority of public services that were previously under the provincial government have been transferred to local government increasing their scope and responsibilities. B. Provincial to Local Decentralization with No Federal Decentralization The other side of he picture is, all the authority and power which have been distributed in local governments came from provincial government, no power transferred from federal government to either provincial or local governments. C.Integration of Rural and Urban In pre-devolution period, there was a sharp distinction between rural and urban governments. But in post-devolution, it is no longer there as the administrative unit is union council which includes several towns and villages. D. Electoral Process Prior to devolution, members of urban local councils and district councils were directly elected and then they elected their heads of respective councils. Under the devol ution, both the members and heads of the lowest level of government, the union council, are elected through public vote as before.But the new legislation has created inter-governmental linkages by ensuring that the majority (two-thirds) of the members of the Thesis and district councils are these elected heads. However, within the devolved departments, â€Å"not all functions were devolved and certain activities remain within the provincial purvey. † (Schema, Jaws, & Qatar, 2005). A closer look at these changes and differences has been provided below. 3. 4 Changes under Political Decentralization Schema (2005) discussed in detail the changes brought in by devolution of power plan.These are the changes in level of decision making, administration, accountability and fiscal resources available. While this paper only covers changes in level of decision making and accountability of representative governments as focusing on political decentralization. A. Change in Decision Making L evel Before devolution, provincial government was more powerful and took all the decisions. But devolution plan distributed this power of decision making among local elected governments. For example, a service may have been under purvey of rabbinical elected government but after devolution it is transferred to local elected government.One thing to be noted is that this involves change in level of decision level of decision making power can be different depending upon the scale of service. Schema (2005) described the level changes in many different categories as under: a. Province to province b. Province to district c. Province to Thesis/Town d. Urban/ Rural Local Council to Thesis e. Urban/ Rural Local Council to District b. Change in Accountability Devolution also changed the decision maker's accountability keeping the decision making power on the same level.These are the changes where decision of a particular service is now made by the agent who differs in his accountability to pu blic. Prior to devolution, provincial bureaucracy was accountable to their non- elected provincial secretariat, while under the new system they are accountable to the elected heads of district and Thesis governments. For example, decision of some service might be taken at district level by bureaucrats before devolution, while decision are still made on the district level but by the elected district representative. So accountability of that service is now closer to the voters who elected their preventatives.The most significant accountability change is that the De facto head of district administration under the previous system, the deputy commissioner (DC), used to report to the non-elected provincial bureaucracy, whereas in the present system the head of the district administration, the District Coordination Officer (DOC) reports to the elected district Nazism. Schema 2005 summarized the discussion stating â€Å"the ultimate decision maker changed from a provincial government distr ict officer who reported to the provincial bureaucracy, to an elected Nazism who ultimately is answerable to his district's constituents. 3. 5 Analysis Critics on Current Local Government System and POLO 2001 Devolution plan is a revolutionary step in the history of decentralization in Pakistan but the structure of system of representation created a number of problems also (Abaft & Hussy, 2010). Direct election in a particular constituency limited the attention of union Nazism to union specific development schemes and they did not pay attention to their role as Thesis and District council members.This resulted in holistic and fragmented union council level projects rather than district or Thesis bevel. The structure of the electoral system also caused reverse campaigning; instead of directly elected union councilors campaigning for elections, there are cases of union Nazism campaigning for their respective union councilors. This secures the future re-election of union Nazism if the union councilor of his choice gets elected as Nazism are to be selected later indirectly (Hessian, 2008).Since political parties had been bypassed and caste-based candidates were now pitted against each other, the elections reinforced traditional hostilities at the local level. To a large extent, â€Å"such a yester of patronage and hostility defeated the opportunities for rural areas to participate in decision making and to demand better services from the state† (Abaft & Hussy, 2010). Another major problem with the system of representation that was promulgated through the Devolution plan was the lack of checks and balances between and across elected bodies.The accountability of district Nazism is almost council headed by naif-Nazism rarely goes counter to Nazism. The most important issue facing elected bodies was the clash of interests with representative provincial governments. The Devolution plan of 2000 had been prepared without consultation with stakeholders particularly provinces, at the time national and provincial assemblies had been dissolved. When these assemblies were revived, local tier had been added according to devolution plan.On that time there was no political ownership of newly created local governments which led provincial governments to interfere in both policy making and implementation at the district level (Abaft & Hussy, 2010). Citizen Community Boards (CBS) were a great way for the representation in local government, but they became functional to a certain degree, to quite in the way envisioned in the Devolution plan. Usually â€Å"CBS have become splinter groups lobbying for small investment projects and often captured by local elites or contractors looking for project funding† (Abaft & Hussy, 2010) 4.To characterize decentralization in the country â€Å"all these components (political, fiscal and administrative) must complement each other to produce more responsive local governments that will deliver effective, efficien t and sustainable services and maintain fiscal discipline† (Never, 2001). Never provided a set of questions for each component of decentralization in order to assess the level of decentralization. Considering the scope to this paper only political decentralization is being assessed in context of Pakistan using the indicators given by Never.With the descriptive answers, every situation has been given marks out of 10 ('10' is best/strong yes while ‘O' is worst/strong No) in relevance to the description. 1 . Are governments elected? Yes generally governments are elected as long as military take over and dissolved in the ill situation of law and order and bad governance. 10) 2. Are there multi-party elections? Yes elections are multi-party; there are a number of small medium and large, old and new political parties which participate in general elections. (10) 3. Are ballots cast secretly in government elections?According to constitution, ballots are and should be cast secret ly in all the areas. Exception prevails at some electoral stations which are under a high influence of some political parties but such areas are very few in number. (08) 4. Are elections held at regular intervals? 2008-13 is the first time in history of Pakistan when elected National government employed its 5-years tenure and elections were held after exact five years that is in May 2013. Before this, military has been taking over in the situation of bad governance and ill law and order. (03) 5.Are elections free and fair? There has been a big question mark on the fairness of elections as there are a few old political parties which have been controlling the country politics for a long time. Moreover, every party has its area of influence in which it can use its power and influence people and sometimes elections also. (05) 6. Is the head of local government elected directly, indirectly or appointed? According to electoral process defined by the Devolution plan which has been discusse d earlier, head of local at keeping a check on local corruption?In real practice, civil society has no power to keep check and balance on local elected representatives. They are Just elected locally but they are not in control of or accountable to the general public as envisioned in the Devolution Plan. (00) 5. The Devolution of Power Plan which has been promulgated through Local Government Ordinance 2001 is a revolutionary step in the history of decentralization in Pakistan. Mustard introduced a number of reforms which helped in reducing the AP between state and civil society.All the powers distributed to the newly created lower tiers came through provincial government without distributing the powers of federal government. Provincial governments which used to be very powerful tier become less authoritative as local tiers were directly connected with the center. Initially local governments were given constitutional protection of six years against any kind of amendments but later som e political powers, which got affected by the direct linkage of local government with center, made amendments to recover some of the lost powers.The reverse campaigning because of structure of government affects fairness of electoral process as Nazism campaigns for their own union councilors to secure their future elections rather than union councilors campaigning for the elections. This promotes sense of self benefits among the union councilors and the interests of community are ignored. Though the Devolution plan transferred powers to local tiers and empowered local communities at very bottom level but still there are some issues which hinder the efficiency of plan and limited the benefits to the citizens of Pakistan.The assessment of political decentralization in Pakistan on the basis of Never indicators shows that political system is well decentralized at least on the policy documents but in real practice issues of transparency and accountability exist. There are still some gaps in the real practice as civil society is still lacking the actual power to keep checks and balances on the representatives. 6. RECOMMENDATIONS All the powers and authority distributed at local level has been taken from province while center keeps all the authority and decision making power as it is including sisal authorities.There should be distribution of powers of center as well in order to develop a balance between center-province and province-district relation. In real practice, plan has not work up to the mark because of absence of transparency in the system particularly in financial matters. There should be complete transparent system which allows common public to look into the country's on-going matters. Voters should have power to keep check and balance on the decisions made by their representatives as they are the one who elected them through electoral process.