Monday, December 30, 2019

Income Inequality Is A Tough Policy Issue - 901 Words

Income Inequality is a tough policy issue to tackle and relate to the texts the class has been assigned to read. This particular policy issue is rather difficult to give insight on because income inequality is widespread and immense, yet most of Washington and mainstream America will not address this critical matter in question that is happening all over the country. Beliefs are blinding the majority of America when it comes to how money is distributed throughout the social classes and minorities in this nation. Americans have a distorted view of how unequal the pay gap is between the top 20% and the bottom 40%, according to Nicholas Fitz (2015). For instance, in the first study done by Michael Dorton and Dan Ariely, 5,000 Americans guessed that the richest 20% own 59% of the wealth and the bottom 40% own 9% of the wealth (Fitz. 2015). Consequently, the actual statistics are that the top 20% own more than 84% of the wealth, whereas the bottom 40% own a scarce amount of the wealth of 0.3% (Fitz.2015). Elitist view of power, also, is another term that relates to this issue of income inequality due to how government in this country, with regards to how only a few people with power actually know economically, what is happening in America, leaving the majority of American citizens in the dark about how money flows and how discrimination of minorities is hindering their ability to earn livable wages (Fitz.2015). The Federal Poverty Level which is based on the amount of incomeShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Wealth Inequality in the U.S.1484 Words   |  6 PagesAnthony Giovenco Political Science Inequality Paper 12-18-14 The Effects of Wealth Inequality in the United States Wealth inequality in the United States has grown tremendously since 1970. The United States continuously reveals higher rates of inequality as a result of perpetual support for free market capitalism. The high rates of wealth inequality cause the growing financial crisis to persist, lower socio-economic mobility, increase national poverty, and have adverse effects on health andRead MoreThe Ambiguity Of Income Inequality1143 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ambiguity of Income Inequality Pundits say that income inequality has been one of the greatest downturns of our country’s growth and development, however a puzzle exists where economics and politics meet that does not make the solution to income inequality easy to find. Political leaders, economists, and bankers all agree that policies have appealed more to the interests of the governing class than those of the ordinary people. The comments surrounding this topic mostly stem from the strongRead MoreThe Development Of Cambodia s Garment Industry900 Words   |  4 Pagessignificantly propels the development of its economy by increasing investments in real estate and finance. Although the distribution of income, indicated by the gini coefficient, seems to be unequal, it is closer to absolute equality rather than inequality. This shows that majority of the population receives similar income. Thus, as the economy grows, the income received by the people will increase at a similar scale. According to their HDI, human development is a prime concern for development. TheirRead MoreThe Effect Of Trade On Poverty1377 Words   |  6 Pages1. INTRODUCTION Foreign trade has been a widely debated issue across the developing world. In the last 30 years, a number of developing countries increased their openness to foreign trade. World trade as a percentage of world output has increased 1.46 times between 1980 and 2003.These years witnessed an integration of individual economies into a globalized economy, which has been beneficial for the participating countries in many ways. This integration includes the flow of capital across countriesRead MoreGender Issues For Women s Mothers At Work1510 Words   |  7 PagesGender related issues for women inparticula mothers at work. Gender inequality Inequalities have been prevalent since the beginning of civilization. Up until the women’s movement, did we see a shift in feminism whereby women would gain certain rights. Within this movement, the role of the women fell short to discrimination and gender inequalities. The argument stands forth and is true that there are gender inequalities prevailing in all aspects of society. Thus, the concept of gender is notRead MoreChild Poverty in New Zealand1119 Words   |  5 PagesChild poverty is a major and complex issue that New Zealand faces today. The degree is far more severe than the publics perception and it is a problem that we cannot afford to ignore. A combination of factors contributes to child poverty, from individual causes at the micro level to the macro collective government involvement. This occurs partly due to social construction and it is potentially avoidable. The consequences can impact on both individual and to a great extent affect significantly onRead Mor eRole Of Unions During The United States899 Words   |  4 Pagesemployees that forms to negotiate or bargain with an employer (Dias, 2012). Unions are a part of our Nation’s history, allowing workers the power to negotiate wages, work hours, benefits, health and safety guidelines, training, and other work related issues, and helped to create todays labor standards. These standards include minimum wage, social security, eight-hour workday and weekends, overtime pay, the American with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Unions help to ensureRead MoreBlack Lives Matter By Alex Nabaum920 Words   |  4 Pagesstate ‘Black Lives Matter’ Movement, implies black lives are more valuable than white lives. The battle is literally being turned into a black and white issue which according to the author Nabaum this misdirection is intentional. Nabaum primarily writes on social issues such as the United States tarnished reputation around the world. L ow income student’s experiences when attending Ivy League colleges. Nabaum being a writer for a news source that’s been around since 1801 (New York Times) helps toRead MoreThe Democratic Ideal And The Modern Challenges916 Words   |  4 PagesThus, egalitarianism remains non-achieved owing to the social and practical inequalities between the US citizens. Despite the ability of free expressing their political and social views, the US society remains divided into the income classes. In addition, the income and educational background create a pretext for the unequal status of the Americans in different aspects (Edwards, Wattenberg Lineberry, 17). E.g. the low-income family might not be able to educate their children that would prevent themRead MoreEffects Of Loans On Students By Suzanne Mettler1410 Words   |  6 Pagesbecause education has evolved into a caste system that doesn’t give them a chance to succeed. Mettler addresses this topic in her book, â€Å"De grees of Inequality: How the Politics of Higher Education Sabotaged the American Dream.† She analyzes the relationship between money and politics, greed, and misplaced priorities, and how education produces more inequality amongst students from different economic levels (HU, 2015). In a dysfunctional system, something is wrong because eleven countries surpass the

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Questions On Uranium And Uranium - 1567 Words

School of Engineering Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering NHM 412: Hydrometallurgy Hydrometallurgy assignment 2: by R. Chiradza 10145461 Supervisor/Module Coordinator: Dr. T. Coetsee Date of Submission: 11 May 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1 2 Safety issues 1 3 Health issues 1 4 Environmental impact 1 5 Conclusion 2 6 References 2 7 Appendix A 3 8 Appendix B 4 1 Introduction Uranium should be produced in a safe, healthy and environmentally responsible way because this is important for consumers, producers and society as a whole. The production of uranium through hydrometallurgical processes such as leaching, ion exchange, solid-liquid separation and solvent extraction has not been without controversy, especially during the early stages of the industry. Nowadays, the industry has changed drastically and a lot more can be done to ensure that safety is a number one priority. 2 Safety issues The process of mining uranium releases radon into the atmosphere as well as other heavy metals if not properly managed. Radon is a colourless, tasteless gas and exposure to high levels can increase the chances of getting cancer. As a result, every country that has nuclear facilities, has regulations to ensure public land, air and water (both surface and groundwater) are protected now and in the future (Vance, 2014). The erosion of tailings and waste rock facilities has led to contaminants (either solid or in ground/surface water) enteringShow MoreRelatedNuclear Power Has Been Highly Controversial1525 Words   |  7 Pagesin the world, specifically uranium mining. Uranium mining is an option that was presented to the world for a source of nuclear weapons, nuclear medicine, as well as nuclear power. Uranium is a natural element, it has an average concentration of 2.8 per million in the Earth’s crust. Uranium is very abundant and is more plentiful than gold, silver, and mercury. The half-life of uranium-238 is 4.46 billion years, the half-life of uranium-234 is 245,000 years, and uranium-235 has a half-life of 704 millionRead MoreUranium in Geobacter and Its Effects Essay614 Words   |  3 Pagesto metabolize soluble uranium found in underground water sources. Uranium (U) is a radioactive element which in its soluble form (VI) causes a multitude of serious health conditions (Craft et al, 2 004). Uranium is present in the environment as a result of leaching from natural deposits and emissions from the nuclear industry (WHO, 2003). Uranium salts present in a water supply can be an extreme detriment to public health as the majority of human consumption of soluble uranium can occur through a contaminatedRead MoreGeobacters Effectivness in the Removal of Uranium Essay806 Words   |  4 Pageshave solved the age long question. They have decided that bacteria do so by a hair like pili. The pili acts much like a conductive wire, by transferring electrons. Geobacter Sulfurreduncen is one of the many bacteria that do so. The energy conducted by the pili, in turn powers the bacteria. Geobacter, for short, is able to both isolate and, in a sense, kill off uranium in contaminated ground water. So my question is, how effective would it be to clean out mass amount of uranium? First I had to learnRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1593 Words   |  7 PagesWhile some arg ue that Truman’s decision to drop the bomb was in America’s best interest, others question the ethics of dropping the most destructive weapon in the history of war on a city filled with innocent civilians (Pavlik 1995). In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received a letter from Albert Einstein. In this letter, Einstein outlined a new field of physics in which the element uranium could undergo nuclear fission, releasing an incredible amount of energy (Katayma, n.d). EinsteinRead MoreShould Nuclear Energy Be Produced Or Not?971 Words   |  4 Pagesand governments are looking for new and more sufficient sources of energy. Nuclear energy has drawn the global attention to itself recently. Nuclear energy is source of energy generated by breaking uranium atoms and releasing extremely large amount of energy (NEA 2014) (ENEC 2011). However, the question of should nuclear power be used or not arises when the worlds energy consumption is increasing at a significant rate. Some sources illustrate that nuclear power produces perilous radiations and itRead MoreThe Manhattan Conspiracy : Overview1489 Words   |  6 Pagesdrop of both of these Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). Thus ended World War II. H owever, the United States did not have enough enriched Uranium for one bomb much less two. Where did the US obtain the enriched Uranium to accomplish this task? Did U-234 play a role in this conspiracy? U-234 The German Underwater boat was given only one mission-to transport uranium oxide to the Japanese forces. 294 feet long and 22,000 tons fully loaded, was one of the titans of the German undersea fleet; it had surfacedRead MoreThe Disaster Of Nuclear Reactors1057 Words   |  5 PagesRadioactivity, n.d.). Most power reactors use water as a coolant, in light-water reactors, the core is surrounded by the coolant under pressure. The nuclear fuel contains uranium that contains 2 to 4 percent uranium-235. For fuel rods the uranium is changed to uranium dioxide (Nuclear Energy, n.d.). Heat is created by the uranium-235 atoms splitting which is called fission then steam is made which spins a turbine to drive a generator and produces electricity, this is a nuclear reaction. FukushimaRead MoreNuclear Power And Nuclear Energy1637 Words   |  7 Pageswhich atoms are split, producing heat, which boils water. The steam then turns a turbine to produce electricity. While fission is involved in nuc lear bombs, the process in each are both different. The ‘fuel’ used for this process is Uranium-235, an isotope of uranium. Nuclear energy, contrary to popular belief, does not describe the horrible power of nuclear explosive, but the calculated, safe procedure of releasing the fundamental power of the atom. The pros of nuclear energy firmly outweigh theRead MoreThe Power of the Radioactive Atom1410 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing such a powerful force but if handled properly, nuclear reactions can be as safe as chemical reactions handled in the lab. Even mining uranium is safe. The U3O8 is only mildly radioactive. (The radiation level one metre from a drum of freshly-processed U3O8 is about half that - experienced from cosmic rays - on a commercial jet flight.) (â€Å"How Uranium† 5). With such precautions like the high pressure coolant injection system that pumps coolant whenever there is a high temperature reading orRead MoreThe P5 + 1 Agreement With Iran1654 Wor ds   |  7 PagesIran, that can limit their nuclear abilities, as displayed in the past. The deal brings forth rather easy sanctions relief for Iran, limits uranium enrichment to a certain extent where Iran can still produce nuclear weaponry, and reduces the enriched uranium stockpile that can be sold for more natural uranium which can be used to produce more enriched uranium with its ability to still develop advanced centrifuges. The issues lies within the broad and quite loosely held terms of this agreement. Knowing

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Is it time now for a new social contract Free Essays

There are many suggestions for reform in government’s relationship to the economy. As I had hinted in my earlier discourse, many of my recommendations deal with eliminating government’s intervention in economic activity. Thus, there needs to be a creation of a free market economy, independent of government influence as a means to stimulate economic enterprise toward more productivity and to restore the economy to a strong position. We will write a custom essay sample on Is it time now for a new social contract? or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, given the long history of government involvement, it is highly unlikely that such action is possible. I guess it is time for a new social contract. It seems that the policies and practices in the employment of relationships in America are no longer responsive to the needs of today’s working families and society. There had been more emphasis on increased profits and productivity while the wages have remained the same, or worst, declined and stagnated for families. The irony is that people are working harder, but they do not belong among those who share in the gains from their efforts. Only a small percentage of the population is privileged to have that benefit, adding to the increasing inequality. The families are affected by these changes and one wonders what he can do in the face of these economic changes. The implicit social contract that encompasses work such as loyalty and hard work are not necessarily rewarded with fair and increasing wages. This has been blotted out by a norm where employers give center stage to stock price and even short-term gains, which are often at the expense of the workers who work hard daily. What we call the American Dream is usually the promise of riches and prosperity and a life that is well-lived.   This has been the ideal ever since that ensures one success in life so long as he is willing to sacrifice everything to work for it. It has been such an illusion for many. Thus the American dream has become a driving and motivating force for millions of people who flock to the â€Å"Land of the Free† because they want to escape the poverty in their countries. They think that their only option viable to them is to move to a country that promises them success, wealth, freedom from material prosperity.  Ã‚   However, even though this is oftentimes true for the people who really do work hard for the dream, the American Dream must not be promoted as it is. The reason here is because it shifts the focus from the true values that count in the family to the material wealth and greed that entices people to come work in a land of opportunities which may otherwise not turn out to be so (The American Dream). I remember Walt Whitman’s poem I Hear America Singing where there is the sense of each one seeking his own personal niche in the land of promises as seen in the following lines: â€Å"Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day–at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.† (I Hear America Singing). It almost captures that desire as one reads the entire work and is very descriptive that the future belongs to the young and those who are open to opportunities. For the people who leave their country of origin, there is a substantial tradeoff for embracing the American Dream. Behind the veil of power and comparative material wealth that is promised to every individual, there is a significant loss that one must encounter. And that loss is the loss of traditional culture. In the essay by MSNBC columnist Eric Liu, he states that during one of his dinner meals at a friend’s house: â€Å"The more time I spent in their midst, the more I learned to be like them. To make their everyday idioms and idiosyncrasies familiar. To possess them.† This particular longing to assimilate all of the â€Å"everyday idioms and idiosyncrasies† of the American culture was brought about not by curiosity or a certain zeal for knowledge. This particular longing was fueled by negative emotions. This passion for learning the ropes of American culture was born out of the longing of the desire to fit in. The American Dream may be able to provide a person the necessary wealth that one could only dream about in his native country but it also takes away the immaterial liberties that come from being rooted in a different culture. This is what is seen in Tony Went to the Bodega But He Didn’t Buy Anything. Because the person sat at the doorway and saw people come and go, his being in that position depicted a life of leisure which one thinks could be achieved if he pursues the American Dream. One does not know that there is an illusion to this since one may never attain this goal by just going to a place and hoping that one’s station in life is guaranteed to be easy. The American Dream will always be a Utopian dream until people realize that material wealth is not the only path for success and happiness. This is seen in the lines, Tony went to the bodega, But he didn’t buy anything: He sat by the doorway satisfied To watch la gente (people Island-brown as him). Crowd in and out, (Tony Went to the Bodega But He Didn’t Buy Anything). The American Dream promises people from all walks of life and all countries of origin that within this land, there is freedom from oppression, freedom from poverty and material wealth but for other people, it will only remain a dream for them. As Langston Hughes remarks, â€Å"I am the people, humble, hungry, mean–Hungry yet today despite the dream.†Ã‚   There have been casualties during this fight for the American Dream. Several people have risked leaving their homelands in search of a bright future in the United States yet there are millions today on relief and people are still being persecuted and discriminated. The land of the free is still a land of oppression and even though people would like to view it as a land of opportunity, it becomes more like a land of   deception and false hopes. Hughes ends his poem with both a revelation of what America has come to be as well an exhortation to the people to make America what is should have been. He says: â€Å"The mountains and the endless plain–All, all the stretch of these great green states–And make America again! (Hughes, 1938). Being optimistic about the dynamic forces of globalization and the practical applications of corporate social responsibilities sweeping multinational and large national organizations, I still believe that there is a balanced solution in multinational’s outsourcing of resources and less developed countries’ mutual advantage from this economic relationship. It is the primary duty of the national governments to uphold their sovereignty and protect their natural resources, especially their human resource or labor from being corrupted by foreign companies. They must uphold their constitution and by laws and promote more economic and bilateral policies to protect their people and resources at the same time harness their economic potential for the nation’s own advantage, growth and development.   They must dictate the terms for which their resources will be used, taking into consideration the growth and comparative advantage of their people and the extinction of their natural resources and habitat. The notion about hiring local managers and staff is preliminary. Of paramount importance is the question of how and in what terms they will allow the multinationals to exhaust their most important resources and capital. In effect, the dream that once tugged at people’s hearts never really existed in the first place. The dream that made people leave their homelands only remain a dream because there are people who still have not â€Å"made it† in America. There is something amiss in the ruckus that is about the American Dream. On one side, the American Dream remains a dream where the corruption and the apathy of people continues to prevent it from coming true while on the other side, the American Dream comes with too high a price. It asks for the individual’s culture, it torments the person and convinces him into thinking that if you do not assimilate the American culture, you will never make it. Given the importance of our work in our daily lives, our policies and institutions need to provide decent benefits and the opportunity to use one’s abilities to the maximum. Consistent with our nation’s democratic principles, all Americans must possess a freedom to voice out their opinions and be treated fairly. This just means that we value a balance between the interests of the employers and shareholders and the interests of the family. References The American Dream. Retrieved Oct. 20, 2007 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman.About.com Literature Classic. Retrieved Oct. 20, 2007 at: http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/wwhitman/bl-ww-ihear.htm Hughes, Langston. 1938. â€Å"Let America Be America Again.† Retrieved Oct. 20, 2007 at:   http://www.poetryconnection.net/poets/Langston_Hughes/2385 Tony Went to the Bodega But He Didn’t Buy   Anything.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved Oct. 20, 2007 at: http://www.gcsk12.net/speech_meet/speech_docs/Junior%20High%2005-06/dramatic%20poety/dramatic_poetry_43.pdf How to cite Is it time now for a new social contract?, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Childrens Nursing free essay sample

Identify opportunities for child health promotion Moules and Ramsay (1998) identify many areas for child health promotion. This includes smoking, exercise, diet and nutrition, sexual health, dental health, skin care and the sun, accidents, alcohol and drug abuse. As with the other branches of nursing, health promotion can take forms of primary, secondary or tertiary intervention. Interventions may depend on the age of the child. Younger children, for example pre school aged children will benefit form health promotion aimed at the parents. Health promotion activities may include: †¢Assessing needs Social support: providing support by creating groups, counselling sessions and creating opportunities for listening and building friendships †¢Providing education through different medians †¢Detection of disorders and health problems via screening programmes †¢Providing practical help :providing access to information and knowledge, for example legal and economic advice †¢Community projects and community development As children’s health is determined by a wide range of factors, addressing the wider determinants of health is viewed as been effective health promotion. Whichever method used the child’s health needs to be viewed holistically, Hall and Elliman (2003). Explore issues of consent: Fraser Guidelines/ Gillick competencies Caulfield (1996) p287, Individuals over eighteen years who have the mental capacity can make their own decisions regarding health care. The Family Law Reform Act also allows young people of the age sixteen to eighteen to also make their own decisions. Consent issues become more complex when dealing with individuals under the age of sixteen. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children NSPCC (2009) state Gillick competency and Fraser guidelines are used to assess whether a child under the age of sixteen is competent and mature enough to make their own decisions and understand the consequences of their decision regarding health care. The guidelines originated after a legal case between Victoria Gillick and her local health authority. Gillick took the authority to court in order to prevent her daughter under the age of 16 being able to receive contraceptive treatment and advice without parental consent. Gillick lost the case. In 1985 Lord Fraser produced guidelines specifically for contraceptive advice and treatment which stated treatment could be given to children under the age of 16 providing the advice was understood. Advice and treatment could be provided if the professional was unable to persuade the child to discuss contraception with their guardians, sexual intercourse would continue without contraception, mental and physical health may become at risk and it was in the young person’s best interest to receive contraceptive advice. Caulfield (1996) p287, If the child is assessed as being competent they have the right to consent. If the child is viewed as incapable of giving consent, the child’s parental guardians can do this on the child’s behalf. Conflicts can arise if the opinion of the child and guardian differ. For example, if the child is refusing treatment, parental guardians can override their child’s decision and consent to treatment. However if the difference of opinion is extreme and the health professional does not know how far the child’s wishes should be taken into account (For example refusal of life threatening surgery) a court can make the final decision. . Explore the concept of family centred care Mcewing, Kelsey, Richardson and Glasper (2003) p 88 identify children’s nursing to be based on a philosophy of family centred care. This approach of care focuses on the family as a whole instead of solely on the child. The nursing environment should encourage and enable the family to help care for the child. This is believed to benefit both the child and the family emotionally and physically. The family unit is maintained and it allows the parents to help care and learn the correct skills and knowledge to help care for their sick child. They also will therefore not feel they are loosing their role as a parent. However it can be quite difficult for parents in this situation and very upsetting for family members to care for their ill child in this setting. Difficulties sometimes arise when family members have differences in opinions also. Therefore it is ultimately up to the family how involved they want to be in their child’s care. The nurse and other members of the multi disciplinary team have a role in supporting the family members throughout the care of the child. Demonstrate an awareness of child protection issues Citizens Advice Bureau (2009) state child abuse can take different forms. This may be physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Abuse affects a child’s health and development. If reports have been made to social services they will investigate further to find out if the child is at risk and take appropriate action to protect the child. Investigations may involve family visits, medical examinations and interviews. The parents are usually informed about the enquiries being made. In more serious cases and all sexual abuse cases the police will be informed before the parents. Children can be removed from the home and placed under police protection. Further action may be required which may involve a police investigation, applying for court orders to place the child in care or under supervision from the local authority in order to provide support for the family. The child may also be placed on the child protection register. Huband (1996) p449 identifies the Children’s Act (1989). This act: †¢Highlights the rights of children and identifies parental rights are dependant on parental responsibility †¢Recognises the fact that there will be instances whereby children’s rights over power parental rights. Compare and contrast communication between children and that of adults Moules and Ramsay (1998), Similar to communicating with adults its important to use non verbal communication to show the nurse is interested and sensitive to the child and to ensure the nurse does not display signs of authority or superiority to the patient. Again as with communicating with adults it is advised to look relaxed, ask open ended questions and avoid medical jargon. Different types of communication need to be adopted when communicating with different age groups. INFANTS: Emphasis on Non verbal communication as this is what the child relies on to express needs and understand surroundings. Allowing the parents to be in sight of the child will help relax the infant especially if the guardians can remain calm. The nurse should talk to the child at their level, similarly to adult nursing. The child should be focussed upon and communicated with using simple sentences and concrete terminology. Encouraging the child to play and express their feelings through play may help decrease the child’s anxieties. This is a large part of communication in child nursing. Having the parents present is also important to help reduce any fears and encourage comfort in an unfamiliar setting. Are often interested in what is happening around their environment. Allowing the child to question the hospital, treatments and health care improves communication. Questions should be encouraged in both adult and child nursing.   It is important to give the adolescent opportunity to discuss their care alone to provide privacy. The adolescent should be treated autonomous, this will also encourage communication. It is important to be non judgemental as this again will encourage the adolescent to discuss thoughts and feelings more openly. There are both similarities and differences in communication between adults and children. These skills need to be developed in order to communicate effectively with patients of different age groups. Consider the role of other agencies and professional groups e. g. social services, sure start â€Å"Sure Start is the Government’s programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support† Sure Start (2010) Sure Start implements initiatives via outreach programmes and community development to help improve child care, early education, health and family support. The aim is to help reduce poverty. Sure Start deals with children up to the age of fourteen or sixteen if the child has a disability, Sure Start (2010). Social Services have a role to help provide family support services for children if requested alongside protecting children from harm when concerns are raised. Social services are involved in protecting children in care or when placed up for adoption. In order to be successful effective inter agency communication and team work is needed. This may involve health services, education services, social services and police.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Study Finds THIS Influences How Likely You Are to Attend College

Higher education is not for everyone, but is it right for your child? The benefits of college have recently been called into question. Even Michael Bloomberg, former NYC mayor and alum of Johns Hopkins and Harvard Business School, has suggested that a college education may not be necessary. On the flip side, Bill Gates, a Harvard dropout, has urged students to finish college, arguing that â€Å"getting a degree is a much surer path to success.† There’s always going to be the question of whether or not college is worth it. But, to be honest, there’s a bigger determinant of whether your child ends up attending college†¦ and it’s you. A poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in 2014 sheds some light on education trends within families. Of the 1,271 people surveyed, 11% responded that both their parents held college degrees, 14% responded that only one parent held a college degree, while 55% responded that neither parent graduated with a diploma. The gap starts with divergent views of the value of higher education and its impact on future success. The survey found that 62% of those with college-educated parents believe that a four-year college is necessary to succeed, while only 46% of those from no-degree families agree. How are these opinions formed? Children with college-educated parents are often, at an early age, guided down a path paved with extracurriculars and tutors that grant them a better chance at college. Compare this to families with no-degree parents: while these parents may also encourage their children to pursue a four-year college education, they typically do not put the same kinds of pressures on their children or incentivize them pursue a college degree. The outlook of these parents is that, as long as their children find a way to support themselves, a higher ed degree isn’t a must-have, especially given the parents’ own personal experiences. As a result, the poll found that 80% of those who had both parents to go to college also attended four-year institutions, compared to the 29% of first-generation children. Being able to graduate from college can also be a challenging task. Of the respondents, 55% of students from two-degree families graduate, compared to 23% of students from zero-degree families. However, graduation rate is not necessarily influenced by the educational background of family, but more so by financial abilities. Although your child’s likelihood of attending college seems to be correlated to your own education level, perhaps the assessment should shift away from whether a student’s education level is influenced by his or her parents and instead to whether the cost of college makes it a worthwhile pursuit. What can we do about the cost of higher ed to make it more accessible to all? After all, if it’s true that â€Å"by 2025, two-thirds of all jobs will require education beyond high school† (as Bill Gates claims), how will students pay for those degrees if they want to be competitive candidates for those jobs?

Monday, November 25, 2019

Online Public Schools for Wisconsin Students

Online Public Schools for Wisconsin Students Wisconsin offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. Though students normally attend a public school in the district where they live, Wisconsin allows students to enroll in public schools in other districts, so although a school is chartered in one district, students statewide can enroll.    JEDI Virtual Online PK-12 School JEDI Virtual School, a not-for-profit charter school, offered its first distance education class in the 1996-1997 school year and was the first school of its kind in Wisconsin.   JEDI focuses on personalized attention. Full-time online students are assigned, in addition to their highly qualified teachers, learning coaches to help with time management and tracking students’ achievements. Also, a student services coordinator oversees course schedules, monitors grades and attendance, and makes any necessary schedule adjustments. Curriculum options include AP and dual-credit courses. The chartering district is  Whitewater Unified School District.   Wisconsin Virtual Academy Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA)’s core values are â€Å"Achieve, Communicate, Collaborate Engage (ACCE).† WIVA promotes a collaborative, student-centered approach to ​developing young adults who are ready for college or a career. With the school’s individualized program, K-5 students learn at their own pace in a mastery-based curriculum. Middle school students study core subjects as well as self-guided electives in music or world language. High schoolers have a diversity of options for meeting their educational needs. This full-time, tuition-free, online public charter school is authorized by the McFarland School District. Monroe Virtual Middle School​​ The Monroe Virtual Middle School (MVMS) uses computer-based courses, correspondence, independent study and experiential credit-based options to offer a flexible approach to earning middle school credit. Approved by the School District of Monroe Board of Education, MVMS offers a three-year middle school diploma. The MVMS program understands that all students are entitled to have the opportunity to earn a middle school education, but not all students are well served in a traditional classroom setting.  Students at MVMS can earn credit for work study and service learning.​ eAchieve Academy The vision of the eAchieve Academy team  is as follows: â€Å"Using todays technology to educate tomorrows leaders.†Ã‚  All Academy faculty and staff pledge to help students develop to their full potential and lay the groundwork for life success. To bolster that pledge, the curriculum at eAchieve is constantly evolving, as courses, technologies and social opportunities are added to address the needs of the diverse student body. First known as iQAcademy Wisconsin, eAchieve Academy has the most graduates and some of the best ACT and high school WKCE scores of any online Wisconsin high school. eAchieve added its virtual middle school in 2009 and its virtual elementary school in 2014. The school can boast of four National Merit Scholar Finalists and 916 total high school graduates since 2004 (as of May 2017).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Citique of Research Studies Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Citique of Studies - Research Paper Example The abstract captures the main ideas of the article in a concise but informative summary. The abstract begins with informative ideas as background information concerning chronic kidney disease, which is the issue of focus in the paper (Cheng et al. 2011). It highlights the objectives of the experiment and a description of the methodologies used in the research. In the abstract, the results and findings are outlined in a precise form. Moreover, the abstract presents the main conclusions drawn from the study. The authors present the identified problem with clarity, extensiveness and relevance. From the introduction, it becomes clear that there is need for more efforts especially regarding the management of chronic kidney disease (Cheng et al. 2011). The authors introduce the surging problem and highlight that self-management support is one of the strategies that can help in slowing down the progression of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) to its final stages. ... 2011). A quantitative research is the best because it will provide data on the progression of chronic kidney disease from one level to the next. The hypothesis highlighted in the paper is the fact that self-management support systems have the potential of CKD. The authors highlight that the self-management programs is one of the ways through which the progression of CKD occurs (Polit & Beck, 2013). Self-management is one of avenues where participation of the patient occurs, which is a paramount issue in reducing rates of progression of the CKD to its advanced state. The authors also mention the critical variables that will define the rate at which the progression occurs in both patients under the self-management support programs and the control group. The authors introduce a level of consistency in the conceptual framework of addressing the problem, and the available literature. The authors offer a short review of the available literature concerning the chronic kidney disease, explai ning how it results and the different stages of its progression. From literature review provided, it becomes evident that self-management is one of the ways that when coupled with early diagnosis present the probability of reducing the progression rate of CKD. The literature review represents the data reflected in previous primary researches concerning the progression of CKD to the end stage renal disease (Cheng et al. 2011). The authors highlight that there is an existing gap in the available literature because previous researches have not addressed the impacts of self-management support programs in altering the progression rate of CKD. The author highlights a conceptual framework in the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Essay One Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

One - Essay Example Terrorism has become a menace and it hampers development and growth of a country. It is very important take appropriate measures. 250000 people were approximately killed in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; this still remains the most dreadful massacre of the civilians ever to take place in the history. A lot of things changed after the Second World War, the US became a force to reckon with. The US also tested atomic bomb under water and this was first done in the year 1946. The Bikini Islands in the Pacific was the place where these tests of atomic bomb were conducted. "The United States Representative to the UN Atomic Energy Commission unveiled a plan under which the US would surrender its monopoly of atomic weapons to an international body. The Soviets refused the proposal, and proceeded to develop their own weapons." (Baruch Plan for Atomic Control, 22 April 2009) In Germany nine of the most influential people were hung after their trials, these nine people committed malicious crimes such as killing about nine million Jews. The Germans just wanted to ensure that this should not be repeated and hence did justice to these nine people. In the year 1947 the Asian countries also made significant progress, India and Pakistan got independence and formed their own governments, this independence was achieved after a long struggle with the foreign forces. These were some of the most significant events that took place after 1945. US War on Terror The US war on terror was launched after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the US bombarded several countries to eliminate the terrorists, countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and a few others were invaded by the US. The sole purpose was to eliminate the menace of terrorism. During this invasion the US crossed all limits, several unethical activities were also carried out by the US soldiers, and they redefined the word torture. Several Iraqi citizens had their body parts removed by the US soldiers; many dogs were also used in this operation to torture the citizens. The eye balls of several people were removed and many barbaric activities took place. The US claimed that Iraq was in possession of biological weapons capable of mass destruction but no such weapons were found once the operation by the US in Iraq was completed. Saddam Hussein was also brought to justice during this invasion; he was hanged till death by the US. There are several ethical factors involved in "W ar on Terror". On the other hand the war on terror has decreased the terrorists' activities to a significant extent. The US eliminated many terrorists by air strikes in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. The same has reduced the activities of the terrorists and the same has dampened the zest of the terrorists which was very essential. Dampening the zest of the terrorists was very important because had this not happened, the terrorists would have executed several major strikes across the world. The war on terror is a very debatable issue, ethically it may be argues that it is a very bad thing but realistically it is a very good thing and there was a very high need for such a war on terror. The Impact of Terrorism Terrorism has affected our lives and there are no two ways about it, the impact it has left on the people who have lost their near

Monday, November 18, 2019

Innovation as accelerator for sustainability - The interface between Essay

Innovation as accelerator for sustainability - The interface between sustainability and innovation is the sweet spot for the fut - Essay Example In order to increase the level of assessment on this important resource, the food and beverage company in question should find innovative methods of packaging in order to increase their value as a company that is socially responsible and actively pursuing avenues of real change. In recent years, the discussion of sustainability has been at the forefront of the public relations strategies of most businesses. While it would be nice to hope that corporate responsibility was a result of enlightenment, it has been the development of global communications through which the pressure to right the wrongs that are occurring across the planet have become enough pressure for companies to have a broader concern for sustainability. The concept of sustainability covers a wide range of resource management issues including, but not limited to, labour, environmental issues, and resources. While there are a great number of companies making a concerted effort to lesson the impact their industry has on t he resources of the Earth, there is much to be done to reinvent the philosophy of a disposable world that has ruled the two centuries throughout the industrial era. One of the biggest problems in the world today is that of the amount of waste that is produced through packaging. The only way to combat this problem is through innovative techniques that shrink the level of left over product once either a package is opened or a product has been used and discarded. The amount of solid waste that is created through packaging is staggering. Through innovations and creative thinking, corporations have developed products and packaging that has less of an imprint on the environment, thus supporting the sustainability of that aspect of the health of the world. Defining Sustainability Sustainability is a product of responsible behavior within the corporate framework. Business that is conducted in a socially responsible manner maintains and preserves resources so that business can continue witho ut adversely impacting the availability of what is needed to continue business. Furthermore, sustainability is a way in which to frame how to continue a valued and quality environment within the world, both in humanitarian spheres and in environmental spheres. Sustainability is best conducted through the stakeholder form of corporate governance where all stakeholders are considered during the decision making process. The U.K. and the U.S. have corporate models that are more oriented towards the shareholder model of corporate governance, thus impeding the philosophy that best supports long term goal making that will provide for socially responsible decisions that are intended for sustaining all of the interests of those who have a stake in the business (Hoffman 2007, p. 29). Several companies can be examined for their efforts towards social responsibility and sustainability. Nike corporation, as an example, was cited for using manufacturing plants in countries with lax human rights l aws and practices in regard to workers in order to save money on the costs of creating their line of products. During 1996 and 1997, Nike was under a tremendous amount of pressure because of the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Existentialism In A Country Doctor English Literature Essay

Existentialism In A Country Doctor English Literature Essay In A Country Doctor, several principles of existentialism are demonstrated via changes that takes place in doctor, the main character. Being an anti-existential character, the doctor has no control upon the situations that he is in. Even when he is given the opportunity to choose, he selects to fulfill the expectation his community has upon him then doing what he truly feels needs to be accomplished. However, a gradual transition takes place as he is faced with a number of absurd situations. Anxiety dominates him as things become unmanageable. Subsequently, notion of selfish human nature disgusts him which causes him to feel alienated from the entire community that he belongs to. Thus, plot and character development plays a major role in illustrating the existentialist point of view upon life as revealed in the story. Absurdity of events that occur to the main character causes him to feel helpless and insignificant. As mentioned previously, the doctor is an anti-existential character in the beginning of the story. Even when in position where he can decide upon what to do, he habitually does what the society expects of him. For instance, he abandons Rose in the hands of the groom whose sexual intent for her is obvious in order to save a patient. This demonstrates his tendency to primarily accomplish his responsibilities as a doctor no matter in what horrid problems he may find himself at the time. However, he grows tired of adhering to such obligation as series of strange events occur. A groom who is found in supposedly empty sty provides him with two horses in extremely good condition. And because the groom enables him to accomplish his duty as a doctor, the doctor loses his ability to prevent the groom from approaching Rose by making him accompany him on his journey. Despite his concern for Rose, the doctor has no choice but to leave her with the groom. This frustrates the main character to the extent where he cannot properly examine the patient. Further absurdities ensue as choir sings a song of his insignificance as a human being and people lay him in bed with the patient whose illness he cannot cure. And how is it that he happens to have a patient in such horrid weather right after his horse died? Endless continuation of the absurd events over which he has no control causes him to be upset. In the end, he finally makes a choice by running away- a shift toward existentialism. As shown, strange events that consist the plot reveals absurdity and the importance of having control of ones life. One of the characteristics of the main character that hints of existentialism is anxiety. The first indications of such disposition are the short sentences that consist the beginning of the story. This denotes his frustration at the difficult situation that he is in. Also, he feels powerless and dejected as revealed in the sentence but it was hopeless, I knew it, and stood there forlornly. Of course, who would lend a horse to such a journey? Even when he arrives at the patients house, his negative feelings do not disappear. He behaves passively as if he does not want to be there. For example, he permits the patient to take my fur coat from me, and he yields and drinks from the rum he has been given. Furthermore, he constantly worries about Rose and notices little details such as horses putting their heads in and out through the window. Due to such distractions clouding his mind, he is unable to check his patient properly. He first decides that the patient is fine as shown in the stat ement what I already knew, the boy was quite sound. As a matter of fact, the invalid is well beyond aids. And this is when he commences to question himself. Why is he doing this? What is the point of him trying so hard to have control over matters that keep on slipping through his fingers? Who is he doing this for? He realizes that he does not want to dwell in such situation and ends up running away. As indicated, the uncertainty, helplessness, and anxiety that is brought upon the main character by the absurd situation he faces illustrate existentialism. Development of sense of alienation in the main character further reveals existentialism. When the main character is in desperate need for the horses, no one helps him but the groom. However, this assistance is not offered to the doctor out of goodness of the grooms heart; the grooms true purpose lies in sexual approach to Rose. The main character is disgusted by the selfishness of human nature. Unfortunately, matters do not improve when he faces the patient and the community. The doctor thinks that despite the sacrifice he makes by choosing between Rose and the patient, people are feeling no gratitude for him. Due to such reason he comments that the whole district made my life a torment. He feels even more isolated when his thought reaches to the notion that he means nothing to the people but tools for saving their lives. This is when the doctor realizes that he does not have to be what other people expect him to be. As a result, he ceases adhering to his responsibilities and escapes . In this way, alienation manifests existentialism by assisting the main character in discovering perverse human nature and meaninglessness of life. In conclusion, absurdity, anxiety, and alienation accentuate upon the existentialist view of meaningless, desolate life in A Country Doctor. This is well demonstrated through the process of transformation of the main character from an anti-existential character to an existential character. Series of strange uncontrollable events that constitute the plot of the story triggers the main character to feel insignificant. Subsequently, two emotions that are strongly developed in the main character throughout the story denote the pointlessness of life. Anxiety caused by the continued absurd events induce the main character to pose questions upon whether it is worthwhile living as a being that other people desire him to be. Moreover, alienation that he feels from people who do not value him as a human being acts as a key factor that changes him into an existential character. Thus, A Country Doctor has a plot and development of the main character that emphasizes upon existentialism.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Homers Odyssey :: Odyssey essays

The Use of Symbolism in Homer's Odyssey There are three signs in the Odyssey which are quite significant to the epic and are symbolic of different things. The first sign is the scar, the second sign is the bow and the third sign is the bed. "Note the importance of signs in the works of Homer, such as the sign of the burning ship in the Iliad. Then there is a long flashback telling how Odysseus got the scar and the significance of it. The scar is symbolically important, for it defines who he is -- and what he is. The scar-flashback starts with the naming of Odysseus by his grandfather Autolykos, who was the world's greatest thief. There Autolykus says, since he has caused pain to people all over the world (the Greek verb odyussai) the boy will be called Odysseus. Odysseus is one who both gives pain and also suffers it. Then we get the long description of the hunt in which Odysseus gets the scar. This is a type of male initiation ritual, where the men of the family or tribe take the young man on an animal hunt so he can prove himself in the company of men. Such rituals often involve scarring or ritual mutilation, and here Odysseus achieves notable deeds by killing the fierce boar (giving pain) but also receiving pain and a scar as token of his accomplishments"(chss.montclair.edu/classics/ODYNOTES19TO24.HTML). "IN the folk-tale told about the husband who comes home after years of absence, so changed by time and Fortune's hard usage that he must adduce proof after proof of his identity before his wife will admit his claim, the first Sign to be exhibited is the scar. This he reveals first to an aged dame, his old nurse, perhaps the only woman then alive in the world who was familiar with its appearance and history. For naturally the first token must not be of a kind so intimate and convincing as to make the wife's unreadiness to respond to it appear capricious and unreasonable. To this extent Homer has adopted the ancient tale"(questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5372374). "The book ends with another sign of the great sympathy that exists between the two, as Penelope admits she could gladly spend all night talking with Odysseus. The beggar has accomplished his mission of winning her confidence and now can see the means by which he might kill the suitors -- the bow" (chss.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Argumentative Essay In Favor of Euthanasia Essay

â€Å"Euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering†. When we talk about euthanasia it is meant as a means to help someone to achieve a good death. The majority of those who seek euthanasia are terminally ill and do not have any other options. Either they stay alive and suffer from the severe pain, the symptoms, and the side effects like bedsores, or they decide to end their agony and choose the only other alternative. Unlike what some people think, euthanasia is used as a last resort and is only meant for people who face an imminent death. It is not meant â€Å"to kill†, but to help the dying die with dignity. Given that everyone has the right to die with dignity, as soon as the suffering comes to a decision to shorten his or her last days or weeks in order to end the unbearable pain, the society should accept it and do everything in their power to make it possible. Euthanasia is considered accepted among its supporters only if the following ethical guidelines are met. The person must be an adult in a rational state of mind, whose terminal suffering happens to be unbearable despite the best medical efforts. Secondly, the person must have clearly made a considered decision. As Timothy M. Quill illustrates in his essay â€Å"Death and Dignity† Diane, a woman diagnosed with terminal leukemia, her husband, and her son talked about her disease and the options including treatment extensively; however, â€Å"She remained very clear about her wish not to undergo chemotherapy and to live whatever time she had left outside the hospital†. An individual can express his or her preferences about healthcare at the end of life, for example by writing a living will, or even, in today’s more open and tolerant society, freely discuss the option of euthanasia with a health-care professional or a family member. Timothy M. Quill notes in the same essay Diane’s wish to die, once she â€Å"lost control of herself and her dignity†. She discussed this wish with her family and her doctor and asked them for their help and support. They were not happy about this, but they agreed to respect her choice, and that is what they did. Her doctor had regular meetings with her and talked to her about â€Å"the philosophy of comfort care†, but also about the â€Å"Hemlock Society†. As her condition worsened, she called up her closest friends including her doctor and said goodbye to them. Two days later she  asked her husband and her son to leave her alone for an hour after saying goodbye to them. After an hour, they found her dead â€Å"covered by her favorite shawl†. Euthanasia should not be carried out at the first knowledge of a life-threatening illness, and the individual must seek reasonable medical help to cure or at least slow down the progress of the terminal dise ase. Life is precious and is also worth a fight. Euthanasia is only an option when the fight is hopeless and the agony unbearable. However, once the decision is made, the treating physician must be informed and his or her response should be considered. It is always possible, that the diagnosis has been misheard or misunderstood; furthermore, the individual’s decision could have been triggered by major depression or any other curable mental illness. I think everyone would agree that each physician confronted with a patient seeking help to commit suicide should involve psychiatric consultation in order to rule out major depression before euthanasia should even be considered. After excluding any form of a treatable illness, it should be the physician’s choice whether or not to assist the patient to commit suicide. Under normal circumstances we do not have the right to kill or to let someone die, but there are some exceptions to this rule. A physician is permitted to withhold treatment and let the patient die, if it is so desired by the patient or a legal representative. However, if the same person under the same circumstances wishes to be helped directly in order to end his or her suffering, the physician is not allowed to assist this person put an end to his or her life. According to the American Medical Association â€Å"The physician who performs euthanasia assumes unique responsibility for the act of ending the patient’s life†. On the other hand the AMA also states â€Å"Physicians have an obligation to relieve pain and suffering and to promote the dignity and autonomy of dying patients in their care. This includes providing effective palliative treatment even though it may foreseeably hasten death.†The above statement shows us that AMA prohibits active euthanasia, â€Å"the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering.†, yet allows passive euthanasia, â€Å"at least in some cases, to  withhold treatment and allow a patient to die†. James Rachels argues for why physicians should place passive euthanasia in the same category as active euthanasia. First, techniques of passive euthanasia extend the suffering of the patient, because it takes longer to passively allow the patient to die than it would if active measures were taken. Second, Rachels argues that passive euthanasia encourages the physician to make decisions on irrelevant grounds. For example, children born with Down’s syndrome often have correctable congenital defects, but sometimes the parents refuse the surgery, because they do not want a child with Down’s syndrome; therefore, they let the infant die. Rachels’ example might be a little extreme, but if we really want to be honest with ourselves, we should recognize that active euthanasia seems to be more humane in some cases than passive euthanasia. Advances in medical technology brought about a number of miracles to keep us healthy and to help us live longer; however, modern medicine has not entirely solved the problem of terminal illness and pain. It has even contributed to the complication of the decisions we might be confronted with towards the end of our life, or the life of a loved one. We are going to face life-and-death decisions, we should always choose life over death when life is truly possible, but tragic circumstances can make the afterlife a better life for some people. Euthanasia is an option not a destination. After all â€Å"No one wants to live to be one hundred, until you ask the man who is ninety-nine.† Reference pagehttp://www.starcourse.org/euthanasia.htmhttp://www.togopeacefully.com/http://www.missouri.edu/~philwb/Quill.HTMTimothy E. Quill, M.D. Death and DignityA Case of Individualized Decision MakingPrinted in The New England Journal of Medicine,March 7, 1991, Vol. 324, No. 10, pp 691-694. http://www.banned-books.com/truth-seeker/1994archive/121_5/ts215n.htmlDeath and Dignity: Making Choices and Taking Charge by Timothy E. Quill. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.  ©1993The American Medical Associationhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8458.htmlhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8457.htmlhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8459.htmlJames Rachels : Active and Passive

Friday, November 8, 2019

Definition and Examples of Speakers in Language Studies

Definition and Examples of Speakers in Language Studies In linguistics and communication studies, a speaker is one who speaks: the producer of an utterance.  In rhetoric, a speaker is an orator: one who delivers a speech or formal address to an audience. In literary studies, a speaker is a  narrator: one who tells a story.   Observations On Speakers The average adult English speaker has a vocabulary of around thirty thousand words and speaks ten to twelve sounds per second. Most of us in modern America, apart from the very solitary and the very garrulous, speak anywhere from 7,500 to 22,500 words a day. Grabbing these words, one every four hundred milliseconds on average, and arranging them in sequences that are edited and reviewed for grammar and appropriateness before theyre spoken requires a symphony of neurons working quickly and precisely. Pronouncing (or signing) words in any language requires that your brain coordinate with your body in order to turn the electricity of nerve impulses into waves of sound (or, if you sign, of gesture and motion). So far, scientists have been able to draw only simple models of how the control of language toggles back and forth between the brain and the body.(Michael Erard, Um, Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean. Random House, 2008)Since native speakers of a language can not have memorized each phrase or sentence of their language, given that the set of phrases and sentences is infinite, their linguistic knowledge cannot be characterized as a list of phrases or sentences. . . . If a list of phrases is insufficient, then how can we characterize the native speakers linguistic knowledge? We will say that a speakers linguistic knowledge can be characterized as a grammar consisting of a finite set of rules and principles that form the basis for the speakers ability to produce and comprehend the unlimited number of phrases and sentences of the language.(Adrian Akmajian, et al., Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication, 5th ed. MIT Press, 2001) We thus make a fundamental distinction between competence (the speaker-hearers knowledge of his language) and performance (the actual use of language in concrete situations). . . . A record of natural speech will show numerous false starts, deviations from rules, changes of plan in mid-course, and so on. The problem for the linguist, as well as the child learning the language, is to determine from the data of performance the underlying system of rules that have been mastered by the speaker-hearer and that he puts to use in actual performance.(Noam Chomsky, Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. MIT Press, 1965) Pronunciation: SPEE-ker Etymology: From the Old English, speak Source: Adrian Akmajian, et al., Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication, 5th ed. MIT Press, 2001 Michael Erard, Um, Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean. Random House, 2008 Noam Chomsky, Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. MIT Press, 1965

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Percent Yield Definition and Formula

Percent Yield Definition and Formula Percent yield is the percent ratio of actual yield to the theoretical yield. It is calculated to be the experimental yield divided by theoretical yield multiplied by 100%. If the actual and theoretical yield ​are the same, the percent yield is 100%. Usually, percent yield is lower than 100% because the actual yield is often less than the theoretical value. Reasons for this can include incomplete or competing reactions and loss of sample during recovery. Its possible for percent yield to be over 100%, which means more sample was recovered from a reaction than predicted. This can happen when other reactions were occurring that also formed the product. It can also be a source of error if the excess is due to incomplete removal of water or other impurities from the sample. Percent yield is always a positive value. Also Known As: percentage yield Percent Yield Formula The equation for percent yield is: percent yield (actual yield/theoretical yield) x 100% Where: actual yield is the amount of product obtained from a chemical reactiontheoretical yield is the amount of product obtained from the stoichiometric or balanced equation, using the limiting reactant to determine product Units for both actual and theoretical yield need to be the same (moles or grams). Example Percent Yield Calculation For example, the decomposition of magnesium carbonate forms 15 grams of magnesium oxide in an experiment. The theoretical yield is known to be 19 grams. What is the percent yield of magnesium oxide? MgCO3 → MgO CO2 The calculation is simple if you know the actual and theoretical yields. All you need to do is plug the values into the formula: percent yield actual yield / theoretical yield x 100% percent yield 15 g / 19 g x 100% percent yield 79% Usually, you have to calculate the theoretical yield based on the balanced equation. In this equation, the reactant and the product have a 1:1 mole ratio, so if you know the amount of reactant, you know the theoretical yield is the same value in moles (not grams!). You take the number of grams of reactant you have, convert it to moles, and then use this number of moles to find out how many grams of product to expect.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Examining the Stages of Interpersonal Communication Assignment

Examining the Stages of Interpersonal Communication - Assignment Example Someone was playing a prank on him and had taken away his clothes as he was swimming. He did not have a locker there since he was not a member so he had left the clothes on the benches when he went to the pool. It can then be considered that the first meeting was a bit funny and also sad. This was the initiating stage and it was characterized by us meeting in the pool area and the changing rooms and exchanging pleasantries whenever we could. I had the idea that he wanted to be my friend since he always said hello whenever we met and seemed more comfortable putting his clothes and bag near where I kept mine. When he asked me for my number so that he could get in touch and we could be swimming together, I knew that he wanted us to be friends. In the experimenting stage of our relationship, we began calling each other and planning for swimming together. This stage was definitely experimenting since we were always trying to know more about each other. I particularly wanted to find out where Tim lived, his hobbies, whether he had brothers and sisters, which school he went to and so much more. Later I came to realize that he also wanted to know the same and this was a way that would help us to reduce uncertainty (Adler & Proctor, 2012, p. 256). At this particular stage, I tried my best to appear as a good person so that Tim would be comfortable being my friend and he even let me know that there had been some guys at the gym that had always bullied him and played pranks on him and that was what had happened the first time we had met. As this stage progressed, we had more time around each other especially when going swimming since I had come to realize that Tim liked swimming the same way that I did. Severally, we visited each others’ houses and in the process I met his parents and siblings and when he came to my place, he got the chance to meet my parents and my brothers too. In this stage, I tried to be as direct as possible and told Tim the things that

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Exercise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Exercise - Assignment Example Cognitive linguistics assumes that the interactions of human beings are mediated by the mental informational structures. This is to say that the human beings perceive things or ideas based on how the natural language presents them to the society. In principle, this notion implies that cognitive linguistics is not just a science of language rather it is an experience of the universe as presented by language. The second assumption is that the cognitive linguistic forms an unchangeable part of an innate aspect of the human cognitive awareness. This is to say that the part of the human mind which informs on other things also informs the same human being on the aspects of the natural language. In retrospect, the underlying principle and argument is that the cognitive part of the human brain informs the language patterns as well as other things in the human being (Lee, 2001). For instance, if a term has a specific meaning, it is innate in that form as presented by the language and the mental construction of the same word. Perspective in its aspect and broadest notion refers to an opinion or view which has no absolute meaning or implication. This is to say that a perspective varies from one person to the next based on the preferences of the person or individual inclinations which inspire the person to believe something and dispute others. According to the arguments and ideas put forth by Fillmore on case grammar, it conceptualizes that language is constructed and border within set semantics frames. This is to say that if a concept or a system of ideas is introduced in a text, then the other parts of the ideas would obviously and automatically fit in the text. Similarly, the flawed intuition was based on predicates, arguments and semantic frames. For instance, if a sentences such as Mark opened the opened today. Mark did open the lock using a key. The lock opened. All these three sentences have a

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Asia History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Asia History - Essay Example Same holds true for Africans and Americans. In fact, there is little difference between Europeans and Americans. Many people in the two continents conventionally have similar way of living. Most of the tribes in African states have exactly same style of living, traditions and culture. Many even retain the same financial status. Such trends are least likely to be observed in Asia. In Asia, people generally tend to associate with one another on the basis of some similarity. Religion is largely considered as a means of association irrespective of the difference of race, ethnicity or origin. People tend to develop irremovable differences with people even in their own race on the basis of religion. Two Asians, one from India and the other from Pakistan might look exactly the same apparently, but the two are very different from each other in every day life. This is because the way of life of the two people is governed by the religions they belong to. Let’s assume that the Indian is a Hindu and the Pakistani is a Muslim. The vastness of distance between the beliefs the two of them hold can be estimated from the fact that the former worships a cow while the latter slaughters it, and both of them have religious reasons for doing so. Similar examples can be quoted while comparing Pakistanis to Chinese, Chinese to Srilankans and Iranis to Russians. Apart from religion, other fundamental causes of differences among Southeast Asian countries are political systems and differing sizes of population (Pope, n.d., p. 2). This can, hence, be stated that religion plays a fundamental role in deciding the relations between a vast majority of Asians. This is because many in-flowing religions have had influence on the already existing ones in Asia from time to time. Asia’s history is much influenced by religions. Buddhism has long been the religion of Asians. The teachings

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Whom do you admire more as a leader Essay Example for Free

Whom do you admire more as a leader Essay These two heroes have embarked from the same destination but on very different journeys. Whilst they are both Iliadic heroes at the start of their stories, they develop and adapt their manner towards the characteristics required of them to succeed. Before we judge them, it is necessary to determine our definition of a successful leader. A hero from the Iliad must be a speaker of words and one who is accomplished in action, according to the horseman Phoinix (Iliad. 9. 413). A leader must have these primary qualities then, as he must lead by example, but to create the ideal we must add to this. The leader should rely on no others but in turn listen to sound counsel. He should be fair in his justice, in control of his situation and surroundings, keep his men abreast of the plan of action and reasoning behind it, remain calm under pressure and have compassion and understanding for his people. Thus his primary concerns should be the welfare of his people, their security and maintaining peace at all costs. His men, a good indicator of his leadership to us, should therefore give him loyalty, trust, and obedience, if the leader has led them suitably. The performance of the men is also important, and what they achieve under his direction is representative of his strength of leadership, though this must be compared with how they act without his presence. These measures can be seen as the important assets of a competent leader, though extenuating and uncontrollable circumstances must be taken into account, as we make a sound judgement of our two heroes. Aeneas and Odysseus themselves are different, both in character and in their quest. Whilst Aeneas is born of the goddess Venus, Odysseus lineage has no close link to a deity. However, whilst Aeneas is of divine descent, he receives little or no help from his mother. When he lands at Carthage and Venus is kind enough to give him information about Didos people, she is disguised and departs immediately after having spoken, to the despair of Aeneas (you so often mock your own son you too are cruel A. 1. 406). The other help he receives is limited (thick mist A. 1. 411) and with no knowledge of its existence. Whilst his mother is vehement in defending her son and his people when she is on Olympus (it is unspeakable. We are betrayed A. 1. 252 take pity on them A. 10. 60), no action is taken to ease him in his distress or console him in person. Within the Aeneid, the gods are not the ever-present guardians that Athene is to Odysseus in the Odyssey, whether they agree or not (Hercules checked the great groan helpless tears streamed A. 10. 465). Athene on the other hand, not only helps Odysseus with her divine power but she gives him advice (go to the swineherd O. 13. 403), disguises him (change you beyond recognition O. 13. 396), and even cares for his family (instil more spirit into Odysseus son O. 1.89, prompted the wise Penelope O. 21. 1). She is very intimate with Odysseus, conversing at length and speaking very openly (you are so persuasive, so quick-witted, so self-possessed O. 13. 333). Whilst Venus never alights on the earth to console Aeneas in his grief (heart sick at the sadness of war A. 8. 29), Athene can not bear to leave her hero in distress (I cannot desert you in your misfortunes O. 13. 332). Aeneas is in fact quite a lonely character and doesnt even compete in the games of Book 5, which we can easily imagine Odysseus competing in (as in the Iliad). His lack of personal contact with the gods shows that he is just a pawn, merely a very important pawn. However, the actual tangible help that Aeneas receives is far greater than Athenes to Odysseus. The son of Venus receives divine weapons beyond all words and of shining splendour. Neptunes actions against the work of Juno allow his crew to survive the shipwreck (calming the swell A. 1. 145). Thus, whilst Aeneas is never given a piece of news from the Olympians that he actually wants to hear (dumb and senseless A. 4. 280), his physical aid from the gods is great. Odysseus receives emotional and strategic help from Athene (the two of them sat down to scheme O. 13. 371), as well as assistance from Hermes in person. However, his encounters with monsters and magic are largely left to him. He is given no divine armour, and Athene checks her aid in deference to Poseidon. But Venus just goes head to head with Juno, despite her lesser status, and aids Aeneas. Odysseus walks with the gods and they interact with him regularly but this counterbalances his character as a loner. Aeneas leadership begins in conjunction with his father Anchises who dies in Sicily, but his son Ascanius is on the voyage also. He also has no alienation from his men, such as Achates, and listens to their words (there is no danger A. 1. 584). Odysseus on the other hand has a difficulty with listening to people. Despite Agamemnons warning in Book 11 (make a secret approach O. 11. 456), it takes Athenes reminder (tell not a single person O. 13. 308) to prevent catastrophe (I would certainly have come to a miserable end if you, goddess, had not made all this clear to me O. 13. 383). He ignores Circes advice not to put on his armour when he goes past Scylla. He ignores his mens attempts to stop him saying his name to the Cyclops. This inability to accept criticism or advice hampers a good relationship with his men. Odysseus hardly ever refers to his men by name and the only man whom we hear in person is the treacherous Eurylochus and the drunken ghost of Elpenor. No direct speech from a living Ithacan on Odysseus crew is ever said to him in kind. Though Odysseus goes so far as to divide the men up and share command with Eurylochus, his pondering as to whether or not he should lop his head off counts against it. Odysseus acts very much on his own compared to Aeneas whom only ever parts company from his men when he is with Dido and when he first lands on Carthage. However, Odysseus is frequently dividing himself from his men. He receives the souls of the dead on his own, with no Sibyl to guide him. He forages on his own in Scherie, he lands his ship away from the others at Telepylus, he lets no one else control the rudder leaving Aeolia and he sleeps away from the others upon Thrinacie. Odysseus repetitive action of taking everything upon himself points to the different nature of his and Aeneas travels. Odysseus is going home to free his wife, his home, and his kingdom. His men just happen to be going to the same place. Aeneas though is going to found a new race with his people. It is essential, for his mission to be completed successfully, that he reaches Latium with a band of men to found Rome. Odysseus though has no commitment to his crew. Homer is very insistent on the fact that the Ithacans on the ship are not worth saving and could not have been saved from destruction, despite Odysseus attempts (in spite of all his efforts their own transgression that brought them to their doom O. 1. 6). The point that these are his fellow countrymen, whom he should have the utmost concern for , as their king, seems to be ignored. Aeneas has no legal duty to his crew as their king, unlike Odysseus. The Ithacan crew does have their shortcomings but compared to the Trojans, the Ithacans arduous trials on the seas are far worse. No rest is received from Troy until Aeaea. The Sirens, and Scylla and Charybdis also occur without a pit stop in between it is not surprising that Eurylochus expresses the wish of the men to land and take on supplies (you expect us, just as we are[to] go wandering off over the foggy sea O. 12. 285). The crew has lost 11 ships by the time they leave the Laestrygonians.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic conditions have been defined as â€Å"health problems that require ongoing management over a period of years or decades† and have been labelled as the biggest challenge faced by the health sector in the 21st century (WHO, 2002:11). While the economic cost of managing them is high, Suhrcke, Fahey McKee (2008) identify some strong economic arguments that may be made in support of the need for societies to invest in their (chronic diseases) management. They identify some primary benefits such as improved health (in terms of patients quantity and quality of life in years), long-term cost savings from complications that are prevented, and workplace productivity experienced by patients and their employers. Management of such conditions are no longer evaluated by the rates of survival alone but, also, by the quality of life experienced by patients as a result of the therapy (Bowling, 2005) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is becoming a global pandemic (Mahon, 2006; Chen, Scott, Mattern, Mohini Nissenson, 2006; Clements Ashurst, 2006). The disease causes gradual decline in kidney function (Silvestri, 2002). It has been categorised into 5 stages according to the glomerular filtration rates (Johnson Usherwood, 2005) and the progression through these stages is influenced by several processes, mostly lifestyle-related (Riegersperger Sunder-Plassmann, 2007). Patients with stage 5 kidney disease (end stage) must receive kidney transplant, peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis to survive (Niu Li, 2005). However, Wu et al. (2004) identifies that many patients undergo either haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis because kidneys are, mostly, not available for transplant. Between these two treatment methods, haemodialysis is more common in many countries (Jablonski, 2007; Zhang et al., 2007; Martchev, 2008) although Carmichael et al. (2000) report that about 50% of dialysis patient s in the United Kingdom are on some form of peritoneal dialysis. The two common treatment modalities for kidney failure (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) have the same primary purposes: to remove metabolic waste and excess fluids, and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance the functions the kidneys have failed to perform (Martchev, 2008; Timmers et al, 2008). However, each of them places unique demands on the patient as well as the healthcare team. For instance, patients on conventional haemodialysis have to spend between three to four hours on the machine for three times in a week (Rayment Bonner, 2007; Dunn, 1993). This, in addition to transportation to and from the haemodialysis centre or hospital, if they are not on home haemodialysis, affects their work or family life (Martchev, 2008). Likewise, patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the most common form of peritoneal dialysis, have to allow dialysate to dwell within their peritoneal cavity for an average of four hours and exchange of the dialysate is done about four times in a day (Dunn, 1993; Bowman Martin, 1999; Gonzalez-Perez et al., 2005). Moreover, compliance to dialysis regimen is very difficult because of all the dietary and fluid restrictions and other lifestyle modification associated with it (Cleary Drennan, 2005; Timmers et al., 2008; Martchev, 2008). Presently, more than 23,000 adults in the UK undergo dialysis treatment as a result of kidney failure and this number is expected to increase yearly (World Kidney Day, 2009). Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (Ghana) recorded 558 cases of chronic kidney disease between January 2006 and July 2008 in the country (All Africa, 2009) and this may represent less than 30% of the total disease burden as the hospital serves a few regions in the country. I once encountered a 27-year old young man who had been diagnosed with kidney failure. At that point in time, my concern was the kind of life he would experience depending on dialysis for survival. Cleary and Drennan (2005) identifies that patients with kidney failure have lower quality of life than the general healthy population while Loos et al. (2003), also, identify that patients with kidney failure have poor quality of life as compared to other patients with other chronic diseases. Complications such as anaemia and fatigue may contribute to the lower quality of life in patients with kidney failure (Phillips, Davies White, 2001). Therefore, management of kidney failure should not only be cost-effective, but should also provide acceptable quality of life for the patients (Kring Crane, 2009). How, then, can health professionals provide an acceptable quality of life for persons diagnosed with kidney failure? Major roles played by health care personnel include educating, encouragin g, and assisting patients to choose the treatment modality that is best for their unique needs (Niu Li, 2005). It is, therefore, appropriate for nurses to know which of the two kinds of treatment modalities promises an acceptable quality of life for individual patients, and this knowledge should be supported by appropriate evidence gathered through quality research. In the 21st century, patients feelings and perceptions on health care are paramount to the feelings and perceptions of the health care providers (Bowling, 2005). Therefore, studying the quality of life, as experienced by patients on a specific regimen, requires the direct, subjective assessments of the patients and not the objective assessment of the health care provider (Kring Crane, 2009). However, quality of life lacks a unanimous definition as a concept, making interpretation and synthesis of studies on it very difficult (Cleary Drennan, 2005; Kring Crane, 2009). Researchers and theorists have reached a consensus on some characteristics of quality of life as a concept: it is multidimensional, temporal and subjective (Bredow, Peterson Sandau, 2009). The multidimensional aspect of the concept comprises of the physical, psychological and social capabilities of the person (McDowell, 1996 cited by Fortin et al., 2004). It is temporal because people can change their values and perc eptions to fix the changes in their perceived quality of life as circumstances change (Sprangers Schwartz, 1999). It is subjective because, as stated earlier, patients perceptions and feelings on such an outcome supersede that of the health care provider. Nevertheless, Tobita and Hyde (2007) states that there are some objective measures such as age and gender that can influence the measurement of quality of life. Different subjective tools have, therefore, been developed to measure subjective aspects of quality of life but these are of two kinds: generic and disease-specific measures (Tobita Hyde, 2007). Generic tools measure broad aspects and can be used for several types of diseases at different locations and for different cultural groups while disease-specific tools are for specific types of diseases or patient groups (Patrick Deyo, 1989). When the two kinds of tools are combined, different populations can be compared and sensitivity to the changes that might occur with time is enhanced (Wu et al., 2004). The generic tool that is commonly used to measure quality of life is the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) (Neto et al., 2000; Fortin et al., 2004; Morsch, Gonà §alves Barros, 2006). Carmichael et al. (2000) identify that three disease-specific measures have been designed for dialysis patients and these are Kidney Disease Questionnaire (KDQ) , a questionnaire designed by Parfrey et al. and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life questionnaire (KDQOL). Polaschek (2003) identifies that most of the studies that have been undertaken to explore the quality of life of patients with kidney failure have used the quantitative approach. However, he adds that a few nursing studies have used qualitative methodologies in an attempt to understand the quality of life as experienced by patients on dialysis. For example, Al-Arabi (2006) used the naturalistic enquiry method to identify how the challenges faced by patients with kidney failure influence their quality of life. Sadala and Loreà §on (2006) also used a phenomenological approach to explore patients perspective on their dependence on haemodialysis machines for survival. Grounded theory approach has, also, been used Kaba et al. (2007) to understand patients experience of kidney failure and dialysis in Greece. So far, this essay has addressed the poorer quality of life experienced by patients with chronic conditions, with special emphasis on that of patients with kidney failure. It has, also, touched on the attempts made by theorists and researchers to conceptualise and assess quality of life. Development of tools to measure subjective quality of life has created more diversity in the assessment of quality of life of patients, either by the use of quantitative or qualitative methodologies. It has been stated earlier that nurses and other health personnel assist patients in choosing the treatment modality that is best for their condition with the best available evidence. Therefore, the question for healthcare providers to answer is ‘does peritoneal dialysis, compared to haemodialysis, provide a better quality of life for patients with kidney failure? The next section would look at ways by which health care providers can use research to generate answers to the above question. This section would critically appraise various research methods that could be employed to answer my research question does peritoneal dialysis, compared to haemodialysis, provide a better quality of life for patients with kidney failure? Empirical research, audit/service evaluation and systematic review of published studies are the approaches that would be considered in this essay Empirical Research Qualitative and quantitative designs could be used to answer the above research question. However, steps to control bias and to ensure reliability of the findings should be considered (Polit Cheryl, 2008). Consideration should also be given to ethical issues (Robson,..) Qualitative research is the best approach when questions on ‘what, ‘how and ‘why on a phenomenon are to be answered (Green Thorogood, 2004). Some of the research traditions that are used in qualitative studies include ethnography, phenomenology and grounded theory (Polit Cheryl, 2008). To understand quality of life, as experienced by dialysis patients from their own perspective, phenomenological approach appears to be more appropriate. Polit and Cheryl (2008) identify that phenomenological study focuses on the meaning and importance attached to a phenomenon by those experiencing it and suggest that this approach is beneficial for studies on concepts that have been poorly defined, such as quality of life. If phenomenological approach is used for my research question, I would interview dialysis patients on how kidney failure and dialysis have affected their quality of life, after obtaining their informed consent for the study. However, Ashworth (1996) states that researchers using descriptive phenomenological approach by Husserl should set aside all their preconceptions on the phenomenon that is being studied (bracketing). For instance, now that I know that dialysis patients have a poorer quality of life, as compared to other patients with other chronic diseases or the general healthy population, I should be able to set such an idea aside during the collection and analysis of data. But Polit and Cheryl (2008) identify that researchers using interpretive phenomenology approach by Heideggar acknowledge that bracketing is not possible in empirical studies. Nevertheless, both types of phenomenological studies require the researcher to be open to all meanings that are given to a phenomenon by those experiencing it and maintain such an attitude when analysing the data and describing the findings. One limitation of phenomenology, however, is that small number of participants can be used for each distinctive phenomenological study, usually ten participants or less (Polit Cheryl, 2008). Phenomenology shares other limitations of qualitative research methods. Given (2006) identifies that qualitative research generate a lot of data, even when the sample size is small. He also states that collecting and analysing data may take a long time and results may not be generalised because of the small number of participants. Therefore, even though phenomenology and other qualitative methods may offer me rich and in-depth information on dialysis patients perspectives on their quality of life, a qualitative design may not be suitable to answer this research question for generalisation purposes.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Hispanic Dropouts Essays -- Teaching Education Spanish Hispanic Essays

Hispanic Dropouts White, black, Mexican, Asian; no matter what the ethnicity, students will drop out of school. Yet when the term dropout is mentioned, Hispanic often comes to mind. Why is this? Schools all over the United States are affected by the Hispanic school dropouts. Many questions need to be answered on this topic: What is a dropout? What is causing these students to dropout? How many are actually dropping out? What is the future like for the dropouts? And what can be done to help lower the dropout rate? What exactly is a dropout? Although difficult to define, a dropout is considered a student who leaves school for any reason and does not continue on into any other type of schooling (United States Department of Education Consumer Guide [USDE], 1996). Unfortunately, a dropout could definitely be considered a quitter, which in the United States is not a term one wants to inherit. To not be named as a dropout, one must graduate. There is more than one path to high school completion (USDE, 1996). Regularly, a student receives a diploma after a certain required course load is completed. On the other hand, some students can complete high school by a means of an equivalency test and receive a diploma that way. Unfortunately, each state, district, and even school uses the term dropout differently (USDE, 1996). The United States Department of Education?s National Center for Educational Statistics has stated three separate ways used to calculate the dropout rate. The first is when the percentage of students who drop out in a single year are reflected by the event rates. The second is when the status rates reflect a percentage of those students who in a certain age range have not finished high school ... ...from the World Wide Web: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/OR/ConsumerGuides/dropout.html. United States Department of Labor. (2003). Employment Situation Summary. Retrieved November 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm. Valladares, M.R. (2002). The Dropouts. Hispanic, 15(12), pp.36-40. Retrieved November 9, 2003 from EBSCO database (Masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com. Viadero, D. (1997) Hispanic dropouts face higher hurdles, study says. Education Week, 16(41), pp. 3. Retrieved on November 12, 2003 from EBSCO database (Masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com. Zehr, M. A. (2003). Reports Spotlight Latino Dropout Rates, College Attendance. Education week, 22(41) p.12. Retrieved September 28, 2003 from EBSCO database (Masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com.