The Effects of Child Care on Development - 1883 Words

THE EFFECTS OF CHILD CARE 1 A variety of changes in the world have demanded an increase in the need for child care. Some of theses changes include migration, poverty, and urbanization. These economic and societal changes are forcing more and more woman into the workforce. Among these are young women and mothers. From the 1970’s to the 1990’s there was a major increase in the need for child care. In March of 1970, 26% of mothers with children under the age of 2 were working outside the home. By the same month in 1984 that number had reached 46.8 %( U.S. Dept of Labor 1984.) Now a days that number is even higher and according to the 2006 census, the number of preschoolers under the age of 5 living with employed mothers reached 11,207. The†¦show more content†¦Between these two studies researchers found that children with secure attachments had negative impacts where as insecurely attached infants seemed to benefit from it. This proved that day care may provide a consistent stable environme nt where the children are able to experience missing their parents and look forward to them returning. Generally speaking there have been no true facts or data proving that day care attendance has a negative impact on the emotional development of children or the bond with their mother. While there are studies with findings that contradicts this statement, Belsky and Steinburg(1978) state, â€Å"many of the results cannot be generalized and have several limitations.† While this research has found links between child care and security issues, it also found that the links decrease over time and are usually completely gone by kindergarten or first grade. (Egeland and Heister1995.) Parents are not solely concerned about the emotional impacts, but the cognitive and social impacts as well. Social development can be described as, â€Å"the ways in which THE EFFECTS OF CHILD CARE 5 Individuals’ social interactions and expectations change across the lifespan† while cognitive development â€Å"involves the processes of learning problem solving, reasoning, imagining, and perceiving.† (Gerrig and Zimbardo 2002.)Show MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Day Care On The Development Of A Child1592 Words   |  7 PagesIn this assignment I will be discussing the different effects day care can have towards the development of a child. I will be discussing Bowlby’s maternal depravation hypothesis and Ainsworth’s theory of attachment and also the effects of attachment type and maternal deprivation or deprivation on later behaviour and relationships. A day care is daytime care for people who cannot be fully independent, such as children or elderly people. Day care takes place outside the home by someone other than closeRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Child Care on Child Development Essay2033 Words   |  9 PagesThe Negative Effects of Child Care on Child Development Dxx Wxxxxxxxx Anthropology 101 Mr. Bxx Lxxxxx September 5, 2010 Is child care having a negative effect on the development of children in the United States? Studies show that there are indeed negative psychological and developmental effects on children. Scientists in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are coming to the same conclusion. It is best for a child to be cared for at home. Over the past five to six decadesRead MoreLev Vygotsky s Theory Of Cultural Development Essay1399 Words   |  6 Pagesteaching and publishing literary works, and finally turning his attention to fundamental questions of human development and learning, where he made his biggest impact in the psychological field. Vygotsky proposed a general genetic law of cultural development in which cognitive function occurs on two planes: first on the social (between individuals), followed by the individual (internalized by the child) (Bjorklund, 2005). For a number of years, his theory mainly gained attention in Russia and Eastern EuropeRead MoreNon-Parental Child Care963 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Non-parental Child Care Non-Parental Child Care: In the initial years of the introduction of non-parental child care, the major question or concern regarding this practice was whether it was helpful or harmful to children. As the practice has developed since its inception, non-parental child care has become a fact of life in the modern society. This has resulted in the change to the initial question as the main concern of the practice in todays society is on the suitable ecological model of child careRead MoreNon Parental Child Care966 Words   |  4 PagesNon Parental Child Care Non parental Child Care, and the Influences It has on Development Amara Washington SOC312 Nancy Russell July 9, 2012 Non Parental Child Care and the Influence it has on Development In today’s society more and more women are working outside of the homes and are not able to take care of the children on a full time bases. When the parents are unable to tend to their children, they have to seek help from an outside source. Years ago, it was natural for the motherRead MoreThe Effects Of Home Environment On Children1468 Words   |  6 Pagesuse of child daycare has been debated endlessly. It has become hard to determine how it may aid in the development of a child’s cognition or if it hurts it instead. This is partly because of the wide variety of types of child care and the opportunities that are given to young children. Fortunately, measures have been created to help standardize what a daycare does and how it is run. In this paper, several studies are assessed and the criteria that daycares are held to are evaluated. The effect of homeRead MoreEffects Of Poverty On Children1553 Words   |  7 PagesHow Poverty Effects Children Makayla Ray University of Alabama in Birmingham Abstract This literature review of twelve previously published research articles has focused on summarizing some of the effects of poverty on children. The selected articles all focused on the major effect of poverty on children, and were sorted into four sub-categories or themes based upon a specific focus areas of this complex and not yet fully understood issue. These themes included developmental, educationalRead MoreChild Care and Education Cache Level 2766 Words   |  3 PagesD1: The expected stage of social development at the age of 4 years old is that children would be with other children, playing with and they start to understand the differences in people and their needs and so are able to get jealous and express anger whilst talking as well as physically and knows how to be creative. D2: The expected stage of social development for age 5 years old is that children will start to understand that having friends is good and they like to play more than being alone. TheyRead MoreThe Positive Effect of High Quality Childcare on Childrens Cognitive Development1452 Words   |  6 PagesCognitive development is defined as the growth and change in a person’s ability to perform mental tasks including thinking, understanding and reasoning (California Department of Education, 2014). Cognitive development is a process involving a complex interaction between biological and environmental factors (Feinstein, 2003, as cited in Wong, Edwards, 2013). There are multiple factors that occur in early childhood including breastfeeding, parental intelligence and obstetric complications that haveRead MoreEffects of Daycare on Children1301 Words   |  6 Pagesof a child’s life it’s crucial that the child gets the care and attention they need. For children to receive the best care and attention it’s best they stay home with their parents because it’s more influential on their development. However, in order to make a living parents need to re-enter the work force which then leaves them with the decision of which care would be best. This being said, most parents are left with the only option of sending their child to daycare. Being that the parents are left

Economic Inequality between Countries Essay - 1565 Words

Inequality can be traced as far back as possible. It can also be described as disparity. This disparity can be in terms of income, wealth, class etc. Economic inequality can be described as the disparity between income of individuals or household within and outside a country. When â€Å"income inequality† is mentioned, most people think about it in a within the country context, but in a world that is becoming more integrated, economic inequality between countries is becoming more relevant. In a world where other people’s income and wealth affect our perception of life, one might ask the question, â€Å"is economic inequality the biggest issue of our time†. The history of economic inequalities between countries can be traced back to the 18th†¦show more content†¦3). The decline of global economic inequality between 1998 and 2008 is the first since 1760 according to World Bank. As shown in â€Å"figure 2†, the bottom two-thirds of world population received 12.7 percent of world income in 2008 as against 9.3 percent in 1998. But the stagnation or decline in real income of the global upper middle class, and big gains realized by the top 1%, reverse the position of the Lorenz curves for the last one-fifth of the distribution. Here, the top 1% in 2008 receives almost 15 percent of global income vs. 11 ½ twenty years earlier (Milanovic, 2012, p. 3). An example of the effect of the decline in equality between 1988 and 2008 is that of china where a person with a median income is richer than only 10% of the world population as of 1988 but that had changed in 2008, a median income earner in china is now richer than one-half of w orld population. Above are the information (Lorenz curve, Gini index and decline in global inequality between 1988 and 2008) that makes up the history of economic inequality between countries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_curve FIGURE 1 http://www.ub.edu/histeco/pdf/milanovic.pdf FIGURE 2 (Milanovic, 2011, p. 16) Lots of activities has been happening since the onset of inequalities between countries. This has leads us to the current situations which are, firstly, effect of locationShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Income And Assets Inequality Essay1462 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: Income and assets inequality is a significate issue in economy. Throughout human history capital and assets will likely continue to accumulate and become more concentrated, as a result that an greater level of inequality might be witness. Piketty ( 2014 ) found that the rate of GDP growth is lower than return on capital. This Piketty s famous rg inequality shows that assets tend to accumulate faster than the rate of economic growth in capitalist societies which means capital distributionRead MoreGlobalization Has Severely Reduced The Barriers That Exist Between Countries1624 Words   |  7 Pagesseverely reduced the barriers that exist between countries. As a result, countries can share a variety of ideas and information which has greatly increased innovation and the capabilities of business. However, globalization has created an economic divide between countries and facilitated inequality throughout the globe. Global inequality refers to the disparity in wealth between countries, w hich creates an array of problems for low income countries; global inequality can be perceived from a World SystemsRead More ¬an Inevitable Consequence of Economic Growth Is Increasing Inequality1241 Words   |  5 PagesAn inevitable consequence of economic growth is increasing inequality. Do you agree or disagree with the assertion? In the world we live in today, it is quite obvious to see that inequality is a growing consequence of economic growth. In this essay I will discuss how inequality affects states and the individuals living in the state. There are increased demands for educated workers; dependence of technology; privatization of markets; and the rise of capitalism which have led people to have drasticRead MoreThe Effect of Income Inequality on Economic Growth1341 Words   |  5 Pagesbillion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. And while the richest 1% of the population owns about 46% of global wealth($110 trillion), the bottom 50% of the population barely owns $1.7 trillion (some 0.7% of the worlds wealth), about the same as the worlds 85 richest people. (http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats) So, if somebody wonders why did I choose the subject of inequality the previous lines are exactlyRead MoreA Theoretical Review Of Global Stratification913 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal stratification is defined as social inequality throughout the world. It is an unequal distribution of wealth and poverty, of resources and opportunities. Global stratification is much greater than social stratification in the United States or in any single nation and continues to increase. The poorest people in the United States have a much higher quality of life than most other people in the world. As a result of this global inequality, countries are classified into three categories, high-incomeRead MoreThe Context Of Growing Economic Interdependence1672 Words   |  7 Pagesthe context of growing economic interdependence (globalisation); inequality is both growing within and between nations. In turn, analysing the following the following statement that â€Å"Inequality can undermine economic, social and perhaps even political stability. It can tear the very fabric that holds society together. We now have firm evidence that a severely skewed income distribution harms the pace and sustainability of growth over the longer term. The growing gap between the rich and poor is nowRead MoreGlobalization758 Words   |  4 Pagespoorer? Globalization is taken as facilitator of international trade and economic growth. There might be various parameters for the measurement of the connection between globalization, international trade and economic growth that is derived from the mobility of investment, human capital to communication and transportation that fosters interdependency and other forms of economically beneficial and social relationship between countries. In economy each nation sets policy to manage its resources to maximizeRead MoreThe Problem Of Extreme Poverty1297 Words   |  6 PagesIn the last 10 years, the end of extreme poverty has been a top priority in the inequality equation. A report by the World Economic Forum s Global Risk states that inequality in 2013 is a big global risk. The world should immediately put in place objectives that abolish extreme inequality around the globe. The net income of 2012 from the 100 richest billionaires was $240 billion, which could end extreme poverty 4 times over. Having so much money and power in such few hands, causes depressed demandRead MoreImpact Of Globalization On The Social Consciousness Of The Late 20th Century Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pagesassert, when developed countries enter global markets, economic inequality is significantly diminished. However, according to Hogan (2012), the ability of developing nations to compete with developed ones is severely reduced in a globalized m arket due to inequality of skills. Pologeorgis (2010) also mentions that free trade has increased production and labor costs. Considering these divisive outcomes, does globalization help or hinder wealth creation in developing countries? This paper will argueRead MoreImpact Of Trade Liberalization On African Countries Essay1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe scholarship examining the extent at which trade liberalization (henceforth refers to as economic globalization) impacts poverty levels is limited. This essay examines the relationships between economic globalization and poverty levels in African countries. For instance, a 2006 UNDP report illustrates that just 7.2 percent of Bayelsa and Rivers State (Nigeria) residents were poor in 1980, but in 2004, the poverty index figures rose exponentially to 44.3 percent; Nigeria’s national rural poverty

The Return Midnight Chapter 8 Free Essays

Damon nodded thoughtful y, glancing back and forth between the fighting stave and the pil owcase in his hand. Hadn’t he suspected something like this for a long time? Subconsciously? After al , there had been that attack on the grandfather, which had failed to either kil him or to erase his memory completely. Damon’s imagination could fil in the rest: her parents seeing no reason to blight their tiny daughter’s life with this gruesome business – a whole new change of scenery – and then giving up the practice in the provincial, protected little town of Fel ‘s Church. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Midnight Chapter 8 or any similar topic only for you Order Now If they had only known. Oh, doubtless they had made sure that Meredith had had self-defense and various martial arts training since she was a child, while swearing her to absolute secrecy – even from her best friends. Wel , now, Damon thought. The first of Shinichi’s riddles was already solved. â€Å"One of you has a lifetime secret kept from everyone.† I always knew there was something about this girl†¦and this is it. I’d bet my life that she’s a black belt. There had been a long silence. Now Damon broke it. Your ancestors were hunters too? he asked, as if she were telepathic. He waited a moment – stil silence. Okay – no telepathy. That was good. He nodded at the magnificent stave. â€Å"That was certainly made for a lord or lady.† Meredith wasn’t stupid. She spoke without glancing away from his eyes. She was ready, at any instant, to go into kil ing mode. â€Å"We’re just ordinary folk, trying to get a job done so innocent humans wil be safer.† â€Å"By kil ing the odd vampire or two.† â€Å"Wel , so far in recorded history saying ‘Naughty, naughty, Mama spank’has failed to convert a single vampire to vegetarianism.† Damon had to laugh. â€Å"Pity you weren’t born early enough to convert Stefan. He could have been your grand triumph.† â€Å"You think that’s funny. But we do have converts.† â€Å"Yes. People wil say anything while you’re holding a pointed stick at them.† â€Å"People who feel that it’s wrong to Influence other people into believing they’re getting something for nothing.† â€Å"That’s it! Meredith! Let me Influence you!† This time it was Meredith who laughed. â€Å"No, I’m serious! When I’m a vampire again, let me Influence you not to be so much afraid of a bite. I swear I won’t take more than a teaspoon. But that would give me time to show you – â€Å" â€Å"A nice big house of candy that never existed? A relative who died ten years ago and who would have abhorred the thought of you taking my memory of her and using it as a lure? A dream of ending world hunger that doesn’t put food into one mouth?† This girl, thought Damon, is dangerous. It’s like a Counter-Influence that they’ve taught to their members. Wanting her to see that vampires, or ex-vampires, or Once and Future Vampires had some good qualities – like courage – he let go of the pil owcase and grasped the end of the fighting stave with both hands. Meredith raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Did I not just recently tel you that a number of those spikes you’ve just driven into your flesh are poisonous? Or were you not listening?† She had automatical y grabbed the stave as wel , above the dangerous zone. â€Å"You told me,†he said inscrutably – he hoped. â€Å"I particularly said ‘poisonous to humans as wel as to werewolves and other things’ – recal it?† â€Å"You told me that, too. But I’d rather die than live as a human, so: Let the games begin.†And with that, Damon began to push the two-headed stave toward Meredith’s heart. She immediately clamped down on the stave as wel , pushing it back toward him. But he had three advantages, as they both soon realized. He was slightly tal er and more strongly muscled even than lithe, athletic Meredith; he had a longer reach than hers; and he had taken up a much more aggressive position. Even though he could feel poisoned little spikes biting into his palms, he thrust forward and up until the kil ing point was once again near her heart. Meredith pushed back with an amazing amount of strength and then suddenly, somehow, they were even again. Damon glanced up to see how that had happened, and saw, to his shock, that she also had grasped the stave in the kil ing zone. Now her hands were dripping blood onto the floor just as his were. â€Å"Meredith!† â€Å"What? I take my job seriously.† Despite her gambit, he was stronger. Inch by inch, he forced his torn palms to hang on, his arms to exert pressure. And inch by inch she was forced backward, refusing to quit – until there was no more room to back up. And there they stood, the entire length of the stave between them, and the refrigerator flat against Meredith’s back. Al Damon could think of was Elena. If he somehow survived this – and Meredith did not – then what would those malachite eyes say to him? How would he live with what they said? And then, with infuriating timing, like a chess player knocking over her own king, Meredith let go of the spear, conceding Damon’s superior strength. After which, seeming to have no fear of turning her back on him, she took a jar ful of salve from a kitchen cupboard, scooped out a dol op of the contents, and motioned for Damon to hold out his hands. He frowned. He’d never heard of a poison that got into the blood that could be cured by external measures. â€Å"I didn’t put real poison in the human needles,†she said calmly. â€Å"But your palms wil be torn and this is an excel ent remedy. It’s ancient, passed down for generations.† â€Å"How kind of you to share,† – at his most sharply ironic. â€Å"And now what are we going to do? Start al over again?†he added as Meredith calmly began to rub salve into her own hands. â€Å"No. Hunter-slayers have a code, you know. You won the sphere. I assume you’re planning to do what Sage seems to have done. Open the Gate to the Dark Dimension.† â€Å"Open the Gate to the Dark Dimensions,†he corrected. â€Å"Probably I should have mentioned – there’s more than one. But al I want is to become a vampire again. And we can talk as we go, since I see we’re both wearing our cat burglar costumes.† Meredith was dressed much as he was, in black jeans and a lightweight black sweater. With her long shining dark hair she looked unexpectedly beautiful. Damon, who had considered running her through with the stave, just as his obligation to vampire-kind, now found himself wavering. If she gave him no trouble on his way to the Gate, he would let her go, he decided. He was feeling magnanimous – for the first time he had faced down and conquered the fearsome Meredith, and besides, she had a code as he did. He felt a sort of kinship with her. With ironic gal antry, he waved her on before him, retaining possession of the pil owcase and the fighting stave himself. As Damon quietly shut the front door he saw that dawn was about to break. Perfect timing. The stave caught the first rays of light. â€Å"I have a question for you,†he said to Meredith’s long, silky dark hair. â€Å"You said that you didn’t find this gorgeous stave until after Klaus – that wicked Old One – was dead. But if you’re from a hunter-slayer family you might have been more help in getting him dispatched. Like mentioning that only white ash could kil him.† â€Å"It was because my parents didn’t actively pursue the family business – they didn’t know. They were both from hunter families, of course – you have to be, to keep it out of the tabloids and – â€Å" † – police files – â€Å" â€Å"Do you want me to talk, or can you do your stand-up routine alone?† â€Å"Point taken† – hefting the extremely pointed stave. â€Å"I’l listen.† â€Å"But even though they chose not to be active, they knew that a vampire or werewolf might decide to pick on their daughter if they found out her identity. So during school, I took ‘harpsichord lessons’and ‘riding lessons’one day a week each – have done since I was three. I’m a Black Belt Shihan, and a Taekwondo Saseung. I might start Dragon Kung Fu – â€Å" â€Å"Point taken once more. But then how exactly did you find that gorgeous kil ing stick?† â€Å"After Klaus was dead, while Stefan was babysitting Elena, suddenly Grandpa started talking – just single words – but it made me go look in our attic. I found this.† â€Å"So you really don’t know how to use it?† â€Å"I’d just started practicing when Shinichi turned up. But, no, I don’t real y have a clue. I’m pretty good with a bo staff, though, so I just use it like that.† â€Å"You didn’t use it like a bo staff on me.† â€Å"I was hoping to persuade you, not kil you. I couldn’t think of how to explain to Elena that I’d broken al your bones.† Damon kept himself from laughing – barely. â€Å"So how did a couple of inactive hunter-slayers end up moving to a town on top of a few hundred crossing ley lines?† â€Å"I’m guessing they didn’t know what a line of natural Power was. And Fel ‘s Church looked smal and peaceful – back then.† They found the Gateway just as Damon had seen it before, a neat rectangular piece sliced out of the earth, about five feet deep. â€Å"Now sit down there,†he adjured Meredith, putting her on the opposite corner from where he lay the stave. â€Å"Have you given a thought – even the briefest – as to what wil happen to Misao if you pour out all the liquid in there?† â€Å"Actual y, not one. Not one microsecond’s worth,†Damon said cheerful y. â€Å"Why? Do you think she would for me?† Meredith sighed. â€Å"No. That’s the problem with both of you.† â€Å"She’s certainly your problem at the moment, although I may stop by sometime after the town’s destroyed to have a little tte--tte with her brother about the concept of keeping an oath.† â€Å"After you’ve gotten strong enough to beat him.† â€Å"Well, why don’t you do something? It’s your town they’ve devastated, after al ,†Damon said. â€Å"Children attacking themselves and each other, and now adults attacking children – â€Å" â€Å"They’re either scared to death or possessed by those malach the foxes are stil spreading everywhere – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, and so fear and paranoia keep spreading too. Fel ‘s Church may be little by the standards of other genocides they’ve caused, but it’s an important place because it’s sitting on top – â€Å" â€Å"Of al those ley lines ful of magical power – yes, yes, I know. But don’t you care at al ? About us? Their future plans for us? Doesn’t any of it matter to you?†Meredith demanded. Damon thought of the stil , smal figure in the first-floor bedroom and felt a sick qualm. â€Å"I told you already,†he snapped. â€Å"I’m coming back for a talk with Shinichi.† After which, careful y, he began to pour liquid from the uncorked star bal at one corner of the rectangle. Now that he was actual y at the Gate, he realized he had no idea what he should do. The proper procedure might be to jump in and pour out the star bal ‘s entire liquid in the middle. But four corners seemed to dictate four different places to pour, and he was sticking to that. He expected Meredith to try to foul things up somehow. Make a run for the house. Make some noise, at least. Attack him from behind now that he had dropped the stave. But apparently her code of honor forbade this. Strange girl, he thought. But I’l leave her the stave, since it real y belongs to her family, and, anyway, it’s going to get me kil ed the instant I land in the Dark Dimension. A slave carrying a weapon – especial y a weapon like that – won’t have a chance. Judiciously, he poured out almost al of the liquid left into the final corner and stepped back to see what would happen. SSSS-bah! White! Blazing white light. That was al his eyes or his mind could take in at first. And then, with a rush of triumph he thought: I’ve done it! The Gateway is open! â€Å"The center of the upper Dark Dimension, please,†he said politely to the blazing hole. â€Å"A secluded al ey would probably be the best, if you don’t mind.†And then he jumped into the hole. Except that he didn’t. Just as he was starting to bend his knees, something hit him from the right. â€Å"Meredith! I thought – â€Å" But it wasn’t Meredith. It was Bonnie. â€Å"You tricked me! You can’t go in there!†She was sobbing and screaming. â€Å"Yes, I can! Now let go of me – before it disappears!†He tried to pry her off, while his mind whirled uselessly. He’d left this girl – what? – an hour or so ago, so deeply asleep that she had looked dead. Just how much could that little body take? â€Å"No! They’l kil you! And Elena wil kil me! But I’l get kil ed first because I’l stil be here!† Awake, and actual y capable of putting together puzzles. â€Å"Human, I told you to let go,†he snarled. He bared his teeth at her, which only caused her to bury her head in his jacket and cling on koala-bear style, wrapping both her legs around one of his. A couple of real y hard slaps should dislodge her, he thought. He lifted his hand. How to cite The Return: Midnight Chapter 8, Essay examples

Integrating Elements of Marketing Mix †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Integrating Elements of Marketing Mix. Answer: Introduction: The study about the analysis of the impact of the marketing mix on customer satisfaction on Nike is important to know about the changes in the marketing mix approaches and. In the current scenario, the marketing mix (7ps) is having the influence of online activities and improvement in the level of competition that affecting the business process. The research will identify the factors and issues that have the direct or indirect impact on the customer satisfaction through marketing mix functions (Armstrong and et al., 2015). The analysis of customer perception and impact of the marketing mix activities will be beneficial to Nike to make corrective decisions to improve the awareness and interaction with existing and potential customers. To identify impact of marketing mix To analyze factors of customer satisfaction To develop strategy for new marketing mix To identify issues in current marketing mix for customer satisfaction What is the importance of marketing mix for Nike? Why customer satisfaction is essential for business development? What are the key factors influence the marketing mix and customer satisfaction? According to Huang and Sarigll, (2014), marketing mix refers to the set of actions or tactics that a company uses for promoting the products, services and brand in the market. The major marketing mix elements involve price, place, promotion, product, process, people and physical environment. The top management or the marketing team of organization analyze the marketing mix attributes and develop the strategy to improve the effectiveness of these marketing mixes to influence the decisions of buyers. The product and prices are primary functions of the marketing mix as the company need to design and develop products according to needs of target customers and set optimum prices that help to gain the competitive advantage. Additionally, the promotional activities of company support to create the awareness about the products and services and set the appeal to increase the sales (Huang, and Sarigll, 2014). For promotion company uses social and print media, direct marketing and promotional p ricing. The place and people are playing a vital role to influence customer satisfaction as easy availability of products in market increases the brand effectiveness and information provided by employees support to make the decision of the customer to buy the products. Huang, and Sarigll have added that physical environment and process of selling also help to engage the customers. The organizations are using the online selling method for processing the order and offering the products. The interiors and environment of stores also aid organization to increase the satisfaction level of customers. Factors of customer satisfaction There are various factors that have a significant impact on the customer satisfaction level. As per the views of Pavlou, and Stewart, (2015), the key factors that considered for analyzing and increasing the customer satisfaction involve accessibility, customer interaction level, convenience, customized approach, trust and choices. However, the leading organizations are developing the products and promotional activities by focusing these factors but changes in the market trends and improvement in the competition level influence the customer satisfaction level. In the current scenario, there are various organizations that offering similar kind of products at lower prices that affect the brand stickiness and choices of the customer. The high accessibility is essential for an organization to attract the customer and engage them in buying the certain products offered by them. In spite of that, past experience with organization and response from the staff members to make the choices also p lay a vital role in the improvement of customer satisfaction (Pavlou and Stewart, 2015). By having concern over these elements, the organizations could be able to maintain the constructive relationship with the customer and meet their satisfaction level. To maintain the effective marketing mix strategy, organizations have to face different issues. Hanssens (2014) has analyzed that, ethical pricing and promotion are affecting the activities of marketing and shaping the decisions of the customer to choose a particular brand. The customer demands high-quality products at optimum cost but the organizations are seeking for higher profitability. This kind of approach is affecting marketing functions and customer satisfaction level. If there is the monopoly of the organization in the market then the satisfaction level of the customer will be low. In addition to this, the false information that is provided by the organization to promote the products and services also affect the marketing strategy and performance of the organization in existing market (Hanssens and et al., 2014). Research methodology is an essential element of study that helps to maintain a systematic approach to solving the problem and meet the objectives. The research methodology is useful for readers to understand the manners in which the study has been conducted and identify the techniques were applied. The current research methodology is framed from the topic Marketing Mix of customer satisfaction on Nike. The major elements of current research methodology involve research methodology, research approach, data collection, sampling and data analysis. The research philosophies provided the ground for handling different directions of a study and for those three types of philosophies are used such as interpretive, positivism and realism philosophy. For the current research, positivism research philosophy that involves factual data that collected through observation and lead to the statistical analysis. The research philosophy will be helpful for the researcher to maintain the independent flow of study without any interaction with the human (Taylor and et al., 2015). This kind of research philosophy will be beneficial for explain and predict the marketing mix for Nike to improve marketing effectiveness. Research approach For managing the data and achieve the defined goals and objectives the research approaches plays a critical role. There are two types of research approaches are used that involve inductive and deductive. For the current research, the research will use deductive research approach to confirm the marketing mix theories on the basis of collected data (Lewis, 2015). In this context of the deductive approach, the research will analyze satisfaction level of the customer through marketing mix of Nike considering the secondary and primary data. The collection and comparison of both will help to draw an effective conclusion. The survey strategy will be used for collecting data and meeting the objectives of the research. In this approach, the researcher will design and develop a questionnaire and offer to the selected sample size to collect their views (Flick, 2015). The kind of strategy will help to improve the effectiveness of research and eliminate the risk of biases from the study. In order to manage the desired output and maintain the effective flow of research, the researcher needs to segment the study. For that three methods have been used such as qualitative, quantitative and mixed. For the current study of Marketing mix of customer satisfaction on Nike the researcher will use the quantitative method. According to this method, the researcher will collect statistical and numerical data using the survey and questionnaire method which will be done by using the primary data collection process (Silverman, 2016). This kind research type will improve the reliability and maintain the validity of research. The research could follow either descriptive or exploratory design for managing data and proving the desired objectives. For the current research, the researcher will use descriptive research design that will help to develop a new theory about the impact of the marketing mix on customer satisfaction level of Nike. Moreover, the research is based on quantitative data hence it is essential to use the descriptive research design to identify the facts (Palinkas and et al., 2015). For the study, the researcher will use cross-sectional approach for recording the information about the satisfaction level of customer considering the effectiveness of marketing mix. By using the cross-sectional time horizon, the researcher will analyze and compare the data collected from the different population groups. Moreover, by using this technique the data will be gathered using the survey method (Smith, 2015). Data collection is an important aspect of research that influences the finding and objectives. There are two types of data collection methods have been used such as primary and secondary. For the current research, the researcher will collect data through primary method. For that, the researcher will design a questionnaire and collected the data from the people. The survey question will be designed in a simple manner that will be easy o understand. The survey will be conducted using online method of distribution of questionnaire and collecting the views (Gelman and et al., 2014). This will be cost and time effective. The collected data will be analyzed using SPSS tool. For managing the data of primary research and maintaining the reliability of analysis SPSS tool is widely used. To analyze the data, the researcher will import the data into excel of SPSS. Additionally, the graph and pie charts also used for presentation of data (Kratochwill, 2015). This kind of statistical data analysis will encourage the validity and reliability. Plan and procedure The research will be helpful for analyzing the importance of marketing mix for managing the customer satisfaction of Nike. By considering the results the management of the company will be able to make changes in the marketing mix to achieve the better outcome. By undertaking the research, the impact of the marketing mix on the customer satisfaction level will be identified and highlight the key factors that have a significant impact on the marketing approach of Nike. The analysis of marketing mix will help to develop new theories and strategies to improve satisfaction level of customers. There will be some limitations that will influence the outcome of research. The major limitation of research will be proper management of time and lack of understanding of the research standards. I have to learn more about research planning and utilization of tools and services that will overcome the issues related to consideration of data and management of time. Work Schedule Activities/ time frame Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Introduction Literature review Research methodology Development of questionnaire Data collection Data analysis Finding and conclusion Recommendation Table 1: Gantt chart The research will be completed within five weeks. According to schedule, the researcher will develop the objective and research background by focusing on the secondary data to develop a strong literature review. In the next week, the researcher will develop a questionnaire and collect the primary data by using the primary data collection approach. The data will be analyzed in the 4th week using the SPSS tool. In the last week, the researcher will develop finding and conclusion on the basis of data analysis and provide recommendations for further improvement in the marketing mix of Nike to encourage the customer satisfaction. References Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M. and Brennan, R., 2015.Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Education. Flick, U., 2015.Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research project. Sage. Gelman, A., Carlin, J.B., Stern, H.S., Dunson, D.B., Vehtari, A. and Rubin, D.B., 2014.Bayesian data analysis(Vol. 2). Boca Raton, FL: CRC press. Hanssens, D.M., Pauwels, K.H., Srinivasan, S., Vanhuele, M. and Yildirim, G., 2014. Consumer attitude metrics for guiding marketing mix decisions.Marketing Science,33(4), pp.534-550. Huang, R. and Sarigll, E., 2014. How brand awareness relates to market outcome, brand equity, and the marketing mix. InFashion Branding and Consumer Behaviors(pp. 113-132). Springer, New York, NY. Kratochwill, T.R., 2015. Single-case research design and analysis: An overview. InSingle-Case Research Design and Analysis (Psychology Revivals)(pp. 13-26). Routledge. Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches.Health promotion practice,16(4), pp.473-475. Palinkas, L.A., Horwitz, S.M., Green, C.A., Wisdom, J.P., Duan, N. and Hoagwood, K., 2015. Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research.Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research,42(5), pp.533-544. Pavlou, P.A. and Stewart, D.W., 2015. Interactive advertising: A new conceptual framework towards integrating elements of the marketing mix. InNew Meanings for Marketing in a New Millennium(pp. 218-222). Springer, Cham. Silverman, D. ed., 2016.Qualitative research. Sage. Smith, J.A. ed., 2015.Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage. Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015.Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons.

Rifleman Dodd free essay sample

The story in the book talks about an infantry warrior named Private Matthew Dodd and his journey to re unite with his fellow soldiers. The British army was retreating to the lines of Torres Vedras and Dodd was left behind since he separated from his comrades during the retreat in Portugal behind enemy lines. He knew that he had to do one thing, and that was to kill all the Frenchmen. Private Dodd ran through a lot of problems during his journey trying to find his way back to his men. With some help here and there from the natives, but mostly his own, he raids the French with his rifle to try and prevent them from building a bridge across the Tagus River. Rifleman Dodd is a story of a soldier who is on his own and slowly learns to make plans without any given orders, and it shows leadership qualities and knowledge of warfare. We will write a custom essay sample on Rifleman Dodd or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The main challenges that he had to go through was starvation, fatigue, and the little Portuguese boy he had encountered while he was trying to find his way to his fellow soldiers. At the beginning of the story, Dodd was lost and couldn’t find his men or be on time so he got cut off and left behind and his fellow soldiers couldn’t wait any longer. He knew he would be left behind so he tried finding his own way to get to his people. While patrolling on foot alone, he was spotted out by a Frenchmen. They knew he was different because of the color of his uniform, it wasn’t like theirs. Half a dozen of the Frenchmen fired at him but every single shot they fired, they missed. While they still shot at Dodd, he still managed to make it up the hill to find cover, as he was up there; Dodd aimed at the group of Frenchmen from the top of the hill and was able to take some out with his rifle. The French saw where the shots were coming from and fired back at Dodd, but were unsuccessful to hit Dodd. His first challenge was battling starvation. This was a very serious problem because he didn’t have any food and it had a major effect on how he acted in the face of danger because he was tired and starving. Rifleman Dodd showed a big amount of discipline throughout his journey by only eating enough food needed to keep surviving. Mind you, this was the little rations he had the night before he was left behind, he saved it just in case they’d run out. With him doing this, he gave himself the hopes to not only sustain the little amount of food he had but also the strength and energy that he was going to need in case he would end up in the heat of battle. After traveling many miles on foot, Dodd crept through several fields during the day and night time so that he wouldn’t run into any Frenchmen. He was seen by Frenchmen, so the French started to fire at Dodd and still missed. Dodd fired back and took out numerous amounts of men. As the day goes by, Dodd starts to feel like he could no longer walk, his next challenge was that he had to go through during his separation was the battle of fatigue. It was really starting to tear him away. Fatigue is a major factor to a person who is in the heat of battle because a person can do so much to keep their strength and move forward without stopping or giving up. It was hard for Rifleman Dodd because he had been starving for days but he still found the durability to look beyond himself and continue to fight to return back to his men. He had a plan of attack to help him sleep at night and continue on with his mission in the morning by using tactics. For example, one night he slept with his pack on his back sitting straight up with his rifle in his hands just in case he had to fight if something was to go wrong around him during the night. He was ready to go! He was determined to get back to his men. His last challenge that he went through was the Portuguese boy he encountered. Dodd was taking cover from the French in a dark ditch. He then jumped as if a bullet had shot him but it was just beechnut thrown at his shoulder. He looks back and see’s a Portuguese boy, he looked very young around his youth ages. He was called â€Å"Idiot†. That was just the name he was given by the French Soldiers. Idiot approached him and grabbed onto Dodd’s hand but Dodd pulled back cause he didn’t know whether to trust him or not but his mind told him to because Idiot was just a young boy. He didn’t look like he was taken care of, pretty much on his own, he had a torn shirt on with some pants that looked like it’s been worn for years and nothing on his feet. Idiot then grabbed onto Dodd’s hand again and led him to the edge of the woods where from there, he pointed to a grey house. Idiot told Dodd that the neighborhood was clear of danger. Dodd took his word and went inside the house. Once they stepped in, all Dodd saw were two dead bodies lying on the ground. They were the idiot’s parents. Dodd got frighten thinking there might be someone around since there’s nothing but dead bodies in the house so he took off and Idiot came running after him. Dodd wasn’t sure about what to do with Idiot, he couldn’t just leave him there so he took the boy along with him and did everything he could to keep them both alive. He even gave the kid the rest of his food even though his mind told him to keep his rations but pity told him to give some to Idiot. Dodd took care of Idiot to the best of his ability then one morning, Idiot didn’t wake up, he had died of pneumonia. Dodd had no choice but to leave him in order to get back to his men. At the end of the story, Dodd was able to find his men, going through all these obstacles on his own and doing what he could to survive, he managed to get himself back to his men like he said he would when he got left behind in the beginning. He came across a river and slid down a nearly fifty feet of the stream. Scared he might run into a Frenchmen watering horses or washing clothes. As he kept investing, he made his way to town where he saw his first English patrol. He recognized those men. He walked towards them and the LT of the patrol came up to him and asked who he was, he replied â€Å"Dodd, sir. With ninety fifth. † The LT then told Dodd that the British men were only two miles up the road. As Dodd continued to walk towards the direction he was given, he saw his Colonel and walks right up to him, his Colonel remembers him only because he was reported missing asking how he had survived this whole time and he replied with â€Å"I don’t know sir, I just did. † From then on, the Colonel told him to fall into his platoon. Dodd’s men greeted him with joy and laughter when they saw him. This book talk’s about a mans commitment to taking lead over his own personal survival. It shows how one man with ability, courage, and initiative can make a difference to the outcome of a war. It relates to the Marine Corps because it shows leadership skills and the ability to do things on your own without being told or having any help from anyone yet, the mission is accomplished. Also, looking out for your Marines. Dodd found a stranded kid he’s never met before and took care of him to best of his ability. This is a story of one mans fight against the enemy. A British rifleman has been cut off behind enemy lines by the French advance into Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars. The British Army was pushed back to a last line of defense. The rifleman continues to do what he can to stop the French, with no hope for personal recognition and a slim chance of survival. He was highly trained to do his duty and got the job done.

Geronimo Held Captive at Fort Pickens

Geronimo Held Captive at Fort Pickens The Apache Indians have always been characterized as fierce warriors with an indomitable will. It is not surprising that the last armed resistance by Native Americans came from this proud tribe of American Indians. As the Civil War ended the U. S. Government brought its military to bear against the natives out west. They continued a policy of containment and restriction to reservations. In 1875, the restrictive reservation policy had limited the Apaches to 7200 square miles. By the 1880s the Apache had been limited to 2600 square miles. This policy of restriction angered many Native Americans and led to a confrontation between the military and bands of Apache. The famous Chiricahua Apache Geronimo led one such band. Born in 1829, Geronimo lived in western New Mexico when this region was still a part of Mexico. Geronimo was a Bedonkohe Apache that married into the Chiricahuas. The murder of his mother, wife, and children by soldiers from Mexico in 1858 forever changed his life and the settlers of the southwest. He vowed at this point to kill as many white men as possible and spent the next thirty years making good on that promise. The Capture of Geronimo Surprisingly, Geronimo was a medicine man and not a chief of the Apache. However, his visions made him indispensable to the Apache chiefs and gave him a position of prominence with the Apache. In the mid-1870s the government moved Native Americans onto reservations, and Geronimo took exception to this forced removal and fled with a band of followers. He spent the next 10 years on reservations and raiding with his band. They raided across New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. His exploits became highly chronicled by the press, and he became the most feared Apache. Geronimo and his band were eventually captured at Skeleton Canyon in 1886. The Chiricahua Apache were then shipped by rail to Florida. All of Geronimos band was to be sent to Fort Marion in St. Augustine. However, a few business leaders in Pensacola, Florida petitioned the government to have Geronimo himself sent to Fort Pickens, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. They claimed that Geronimo and his men would be better guarded at Fort Pickens than at the overcrowded Fort Marion. However, an editorial in a local newspaper congratulated a congressman for bringing such a great tourist attraction to the city. On October 25, 1886, 15Â  Apache warriors arrived at Fort Pickens. Geronimo and his warriors spent many days working hard labor at the fort in direct violation of the agreements made at Skeleton Canyon. Eventually, the families of Geronimos band were returned to them at Fort Pickens, and then they all moved on to other places of incarceration. The city of Pensacola was sad to see Geronimo the tourist attraction leave. In one day he had over 459 visitors with an average of 20 a day during the duration of his captivity at Fort Pickens. Captivity as a Sideshow Spectacle and Death Unfortunately, the proud Geronimo had been reduced to a sideshow spectacle. He lived the rest of his days as a prisoner. He visited the St. Louis Worlds Fair in 1904 and according to his own accounts made a great deal of money signing autographs and pictures. Geronimo also rode in the inaugural parade of President Theodore Roosevelt. He eventually died in 1909 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The captivity of the Chiricahuas ended in 1913.

Current to American Policits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current to American Policits - Essay Example Auers (2006) agrees, arguing that political campaigns are "issue-free" and, ultimately, a question of which of the candidates has the support of the big lobbies, PACS and corporations. Arguing the same, Wagner (2005) contends that it is precisely because campaign finance has completely undermined the one person, one vote,' principle and has displaced the issues, that campaign finance reforms were introduced. Instead of abiding by the limits established by campaign finance reforms, however, candidates have found a way around them, knowing the money will, ultimately, determine the fate of their political ambitions. Two of the 2008 presidential election candidates have declared their intention to adhere to the strictest of campaign finance regulations and make the 2008 elections one that is entirely based upon, and determined by, the issues. As Kirkpatrick (2007) reports, last February Obama announced that were he to win his party's nominations, he proposes the limitation of general election campaign funds to $85 million, on the condition that the Republican nominee accept a similar limitation.

Do the reading and answer the 7 question below Coursework

Do the reading and answer the 7 question below - Coursework Example The older Chinese in our families opposed the discussion and asserted that women are fixing problems that do not exist. Definitely, this increased the ire of the more hot-headed members of my ingroup. She managed to control her anger, but I could see that she was enraged with her red face and nearly-tearful eyes. In this example, two groups competed over the power to influence the youth, wherein power is a limited resource that cannot be easily shared, as in the Realistic Conflict Theory. The outgroup wants females to remain submissive and perform largely domestic roles, while the ingroup desires gender equality, including equal roles and responsibilities in their home and work lives. 2. b. Indicate the vitalities of these two groups (high/medium, low, etc.) by comparing their relative positions on the main vitality factors separately -- as well as their overall relative vitalities. Importantly, how did you arrive at these sets of judgments? Since we are now in the United States of America, the outgroup mentioned in #1 has medium vitality compared to when they are in the rural areas of China. In China, many people continue to have gendered ideas about women’s and men’s functions and social status, especially when their culture and religion teach gendered values. Here in the U.S., we have high vitality in terms of mass media, education, government services, industry, religion, culture, and politics, especially when it comes to the discussion of gender issues. However, if I will analyze the same aspects that give our ingroup the vitality, they are not completely promoting gender equality. Mass media, for instance, sends mixed messages regarding traditional and non-traditional female roles and functions. Education continues to teach that some jobs are more appropriate for males than females because of the continuation of burden for females to take care of their families, so they rarely have

Who are the nations who threaten our, Americas, standing in the world Research Paper

Who are the nations who threaten our, Americas, standing in the world market place - Research Paper Example While the United States is still the largest economy in the world, it faces challenges from global competitors. China, Japan, India and Germany are all countries that have gained ground on the United States in recent years and continue to do so. China, in particular, has proved to be a looming threat. It pulled out of the global recession much sooner than did the United States, due to a myriad of factors. Moreover, the people of China still lag behind the rest of the world in terms of wealth, therefore China is reliant upon the world market for its growth. This is the reason why China has carried an enormous trade balance with the United States. Japan, once a large threat, is now much less of one, as China has surpassed it in recent months in terms of the size of the economy, and Japan continues to have troubles due to the recent disasters. India is growing as well, and, like China, has a problem in that its citizenry is not as prosperous as more developed countries. Germany, meanwhi le, probably presents the least threat of all the countries examined here, as it has grown in recent months, but this growth has been driven by its domestic sector, not the world market. China While the United States and most of the world remain mired in the worst economic slowdown in decades, China remains relatively unscathed. In fact, it posted a gross domestic product growth rate of 7.1% for the first half of 2009, and its economy expanded by 10% in 2010 (â€Å"China Economy Hums Along as U.S. Remains Mired in Recession†). ... overseas investments (Ford), and the fact that Chinese banks are controlled by the Chinese government, which eases the flow of lending (â€Å"China Economy Hums Along as U.S. Remains Mired in Recession†). However, one of the most important factors that sets China apart is its economic stimulus plan (Reyes), that was more successful than the U.S.'s similar stimulus plan, in large part because China did not have the existing debt that the United States did prior to enacting the stimulus plan (Lau). The example set by the Chinese might be able to be emulated by the United States and other countries, however, since China has a unique set of circumstances, it is improbable that other countries can duplicate its success. At any rate, China seems poised to bring the rest of the world out of recession, when, in prior recessions, the United States has led the way (Schwartz). The great untapped potential in Chinese domestic consumption are the rural areas, whose consumption lag behind u rban areas by 10 years (Reyes). This, in large part, is because of the great income disparity between the two sectors, and because rural residents are compelled to save because of the current lack of a reliable social security system and the fact that over 99% of rural residents do not have health insurance (Reyes). China's contributions to insurance and pensions should therefore help in increasing the ability of the rural residents to consume. This increase in consumption will, in turn, offset the decrease in exports and presumably make China less dependent on the export market, thereby stabilizing China's economy (Reyes). Indeed, China is currently entering a period where they are poised to increase their consumption levels substantially, purchasing their first automobiles and first commercially

Right to Die Legislation Cases

Right to Die Legislation Cases Fermin Flores The Declaration of Independence gave us the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Now there are some times when these freedoms are placed into the hands of another for example a judge. A policy that brought the attention of Americans in the late 1900’s. Various court cases have been brought about to the public of several people who were in critical conditions and may not make it or could not recover, one of which where a man with locked-in syndrome, which paralyzed one’s muscles and brainstem, wanted to end his life. The right to die is a case where one chooses to die whether they were told that they had a certain amount of time left to live. Also, if they are in critical danger and someone chooses that choice for that person who can’t do it themselves. Choosing when one must die or live goes against the 14th amendment which gave every American the full and equal benefits of the laws. Having the choice of choosing whether someone lives or not ties in with abortion. One mother choosing over if a baby should live or not. The right to die is an issue which some still discuss today through if one has a choice or not. Society today has been leaning more towards helping those who are severely ill and cannot recover to give them the choice of ending it. Back then this was different, Americans and government did not acknowledge the right to die choice. The Supreme Court declared that the constitution did not mentioned â€Å"suicide† and plenty of Americans were uncomfortable. (http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/10/right-die). At least 20% of Americans who attend church believe that one must not suffer from a serious condition with irreversible effects. The reason why we think this way is because some may have experienced this first hand or have thought of the feeling of being in critical condition not being able to do almost anything without the help of a machine or someone else. Oregon voters passed a law in 1994 and went into effect into 1997 that gave anyone the option to end their life through medication. This was called the Death-With-Dignity law which allowed mentally competent, terminally ill adults to hasten their end which later Washington and Vermont adopted. (http://www.deathwithdignity.org/access-acts) In 1983, a woman by the name of Nancy Beth Cruzan was gravely injured from an automobile accident (http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1989/1989_88_1503). She was taken to the hospital where she had to be sustained by artificial feedings. Her parents, whom saw no other possible way of recovery for their daughter, wanted to terminate her life-support system. The hospital declined their attempt without the approval of a judge. The Missouri Supreme Court declared that there had to be â€Å"clear and convincing† evidence to which the patient wanted a decision like this to be made. Nancy’s co-workers were brought together by her parents and they all announced that she would not want to be sustained in a disabled condition. The Supreme Court took this as evidence and let Nancy go. Back in 1975, 21 year old Karen Ann Quinlan collapsed and fell into a coma (http://www.ncll.org/liberty-centers/center-for-life-defense/cld-articles/57-how-the-right-to-die-came-to-america) and was placed into the hospital with a ventilator. She was unable to eat nor breathe on her own to the point where her parents wanted to remove her from the artificial life support. As a hospital’s policy, they denied their request and later was taken into court which they ruled in favor of Ann’s parents. Karen was removed from her ventilator in 1976 but miraculously started breathing on her own again. Choosing the right to die for someone else who is in critical condition will be difficult for the hospital and the family. In order for one to make a life or death choice for someone in critical condition, some requirements must be met: The patient must no longer be competent to make the choice themselves, meaning they have no knowledge of what’s happening. Also, the patientâ⠂¬â„¢s conditions must be that he or she cannot recover. Another case of the right to die, 57 year old Paul Lamb was caught in a car accident 23 years ago which paralyzed him from his neck down. With the help of his daughter and the wife of a previous paralyzed man named Tony (who fought to end his life but the court didn’t allow him) Paul, followed Tony’s legacy, and took his battle to the court just to end up losing on July 30th, 2013. The court did allow, however, for a third man to appeal for the right to die, but the law did not make it clear whether the doctor or nurse will be prosecuted by the government if they helped in the procedure. In one of the most recent news, a woman by the name of Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with brain cancer which gave her only six months to live. She thought of ways to give herself and her family the least amount of pain possible. After researching, she found Death-with-Dignity and moved to Oregon, one of five states that allow Death-With-Dignity. (http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/07/opinion/maynard-assisted-suicide-cancer-dignity/) Within the news, she mentioned â€Å"I do not want to die. But I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms,† she wanted the choice to die in peace and surrounded by her loved ones than to die in pain, alone in a hospital. One must consider how painful it would be to stay in the bed for the rest of their life due to a serious accident. Letting the people you love the most go with the consent of the judge is one of the most heartbreaking event a relative can experience. In the year 1947, only 37% of the citizens felt that doctors should be legally permitted to end a patient’s life if there was no way for them to get cured. Fast forwarding 55 years later, the government placed the same poll again hoping for different results. (http://www.gallup.com/poll/6265/right-die-dead-rights.aspx) That year, in 2002, 72% of Americans now felt that doctors should help end a patient’s life. Without a doubt, one should cherish every single moment they spend with a certain person like as if it’s the last time you may see them. Whether you think nothing will happen wrong or that they are safe from any harm, live your life out. You don’t know if one may get diagnosed with a serious life-threate ning or get attacked until it happens. With all said, if all of the states decide to adopt the Death with Dignity law, new opportunity will be open to those who are severely ill. This can have two results, one of which will result in new arguments. It will open the gate for those with suicidal thoughts and may think they have a chance to get a law passed to allow those who feel â€Å"alone† to end their life. On the other hand, it gives those with severe issues to have their easy, unpainful way out.

Not All is Cheerless, Dark and Deadly in Shakespeares King Lear Essay

Not All is Cheerless, Dark and Deadly in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚   'All's Cheerless, Dark and Deadly' Are Kent's Words a Fair Summary of The Tragedy of King Lear? Samuel Johnson asserted that the blinding of Gloucester was an 'act too horrid to be endured in a dramatic exhibition', and that he was 'too shocked' by the death of Cordelia to read the play again until he was given the task of editing it.1 Nor was Dr Johnson alone in finding himself unable to stomach the violence and apparent injustices that unfold in King Lear. The 18th century certainly found the play 'all cheerless' and preferred Nahum Tate's 1681 watered-down version of Shakespeare's original.    King Lear is a dark play, with the near triumph of the malcontent Edmund, the intense sufferings of Lear and Gloucester, and the seeming lack of justice at the piece's conclusion. Shakespeare locates his tragedy in an extreme and entropic universe that makes his audience uncomfortable, and indeed is supposed to. On its own, the sheer violence of Act III.7 bears witness to Kent's nihilistic utterance at the plays close. However, Lear's universe, as I have just stated, is one of extremes, and not merely negative ones. As A.C. Bradley notes:    There is in the world of King Lear the same abundance of extreme good as of extreme evil. It generates in profusion self-less devotion and unconquerable love.2    The play contains a cluster of characters that are unequivocally good. Kent, for instance, is a paradigm of devotion. In Act I.I he is publicly insulted and humiliated. In spite of Lear's threats, Kent remains determined to serve his master, even braving the storm to be near him. Cordelia too, is traduced and punished by Lear, and yet she is the... ... condemned to short lives - 'nor live so long'. Edgar's closing words are disturbingly equivocal. They allude to the antithesis constantly at work in the play   a mixture of hope and despair. Perhaps the couplet is ultimately nihilistic, and the play as a whole equally so. Redemption remains unattained. However, while I would agree that Kent's words that 'All's cheerless, dark and deadly' may be the overriding message of the tragedy, I do not believe that King Lear can be simply summed up in such a comment. To do such a thing would be to see the drama two-dimensionally   to ignore the world of polarities, of good as well as evil, which Shakespeare creates in which to hold his play.       Works Cited: 1 Johnson as Critic, ed. John Wain, Routledge & Kegan Paul 1973, pp. 216-217 2 A. C. Bradley, Shakespearian Tragedy, Macmillan 1908, pp. 304 -305    Not All is Cheerless, Dark and Deadly in Shakespeare's King Lear Essay Not All is Cheerless, Dark and Deadly in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚   'All's Cheerless, Dark and Deadly' Are Kent's Words a Fair Summary of The Tragedy of King Lear? Samuel Johnson asserted that the blinding of Gloucester was an 'act too horrid to be endured in a dramatic exhibition', and that he was 'too shocked' by the death of Cordelia to read the play again until he was given the task of editing it.1 Nor was Dr Johnson alone in finding himself unable to stomach the violence and apparent injustices that unfold in King Lear. The 18th century certainly found the play 'all cheerless' and preferred Nahum Tate's 1681 watered-down version of Shakespeare's original.    King Lear is a dark play, with the near triumph of the malcontent Edmund, the intense sufferings of Lear and Gloucester, and the seeming lack of justice at the piece's conclusion. Shakespeare locates his tragedy in an extreme and entropic universe that makes his audience uncomfortable, and indeed is supposed to. On its own, the sheer violence of Act III.7 bears witness to Kent's nihilistic utterance at the plays close. However, Lear's universe, as I have just stated, is one of extremes, and not merely negative ones. As A.C. Bradley notes:    There is in the world of King Lear the same abundance of extreme good as of extreme evil. It generates in profusion self-less devotion and unconquerable love.2    The play contains a cluster of characters that are unequivocally good. Kent, for instance, is a paradigm of devotion. In Act I.I he is publicly insulted and humiliated. In spite of Lear's threats, Kent remains determined to serve his master, even braving the storm to be near him. Cordelia too, is traduced and punished by Lear, and yet she is the... ... condemned to short lives - 'nor live so long'. Edgar's closing words are disturbingly equivocal. They allude to the antithesis constantly at work in the play   a mixture of hope and despair. Perhaps the couplet is ultimately nihilistic, and the play as a whole equally so. Redemption remains unattained. However, while I would agree that Kent's words that 'All's cheerless, dark and deadly' may be the overriding message of the tragedy, I do not believe that King Lear can be simply summed up in such a comment. To do such a thing would be to see the drama two-dimensionally   to ignore the world of polarities, of good as well as evil, which Shakespeare creates in which to hold his play.       Works Cited: 1 Johnson as Critic, ed. John Wain, Routledge & Kegan Paul 1973, pp. 216-217 2 A. C. Bradley, Shakespearian Tragedy, Macmillan 1908, pp. 304 -305   

Example of school report for facilities Essay

I am writing regarding an article published in your magazine last week entitiled †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ I strongly disagree with the writer for a number of reasons. see more:importance of school facilities Firstly, as Socrates wrote, work makes the man. However, in Plato’s Dialectics he argued that, on the contrary, one must have sufficient rest to Secondly, I believe that we need to ‘recharge our batteries’ in order to have the energy to work efficiently. For example, as an IB student I have so much work to do with CAS, ToK, Extended Essays and all the other portfolios, fieldwork, internal assessments, oral exams that I cannot devote enough attention to one alone. Instead, with exams today I am left tired and unmotivated. If I do not have time to relax and unwind, I cannot possibly do the work properly. Therefore leisure is necessary for doing a good job in whatever field. Lastly, In conclusion, Yours Faithfully, Zorg Last Friday I went to the swimming pool the school said it owned before I moved here to see what it was like. Well, guys, here’s my report: Size- The size is its biggest asset. It is an Olympic-Sized pool which will allow all you fat, physically challenged pre-IB kids to get in shape for 2008. In fact, it also is designed to accommodate disabled children like you Vincent. Even during the weekend it’s open with enough room for you to play with your parents, grandparents, and all the uncles currently staying with you. Price The pool is expensive (if you buy tickets from the school) but there is a discount card for students which gives 15% to orphan children suffering from Bird Flu. Location- Perfectly sited near an industrial dump. Is a problem because it was nuclear industry before the swimming pool located there, so radiation sometimes forces the pool to close on smoggy days. The road is new- it’s being built right now. Facilities- There is a change room in 21st Century Hotel which is a problem in winter. The showers work but the water is greenish and cold. Finally, there is no chlorine in the water so it smells and has algae on the surface. The sauna is equipped with coal but there is no ventilation so get a tan but die of suffocation. Happy Hour- With new management, the owners have now added a bar to the pool allowing you to be totally relaxed swimming in the deep end or jumping off the diving board. Free drinks every time you jump! Doctors- After this new facility, trained medical staff are on standby with dogs trained to swim and rescue disabled children. I highly recommend this pool because it is the only one in Chaoyang apart from the pond behind Annie’s restaurant (during the rainy season).

Fifty Shades of Grey Book Review Essay Sample

Fifty Shades of Grey Book Review Essay Sample Fifty Shades of Grey Book Review Essay Example Fifty Shades of Grey Book Review Essay Example Fifty Shades of Grey is an interesting and yet controversial book that presents the case of human sexuality in a way that most consider as shocking. Depending on how open-minded one is, this book can be either enlightening or rather too revealing. It is about a young woman who falls in love with a rather ‘different’ man who seems to have issues with his sexuality. The book narrates a number of scenes in which the two lovebirds are at conflict with the concept of gender roles in the realm of sex and relationships. As a work of fiction, the book allows numerous considerations with respect to what people want or at least what they think they want as far as their sex lives are concerned. There may be a number of books that present an insight into the sexuality debate, but none of them can claim to be as thorough as Fifty Shades of Grey in the way it covers the subject as its secondary theme. Initially, with all the negative reviews that the book was getting, it could have be en presumed that the book is all about sex. However, after reading the book, I realized there is more there than just sex. The author may have subconsciously decided to address the subject of sexuality and gender roles, along with power and its manifestations in one’s life. I had previously considered significance of one’s sexuality as a channel that revealed one’s personality, but I have also learnt from this book that there is a very limited scope for determinism in one’s sexuality. Christian Grey may have been ‘damaged’ as a teenager, but he ends up ‘loosening up’ a bit when he falls in love with Anastasia Steele. The significance of this is that sexuality is influenced in its formation and redefinition in one’s personality. In this paper, I have discussed how various chapters in the textbook correlate with facts and ideas from the book Fifty Shades of Grey. The Most Relevant Connection between the Book That I Chose and Our Course Learning about human sexuality is all about developing an understanding of how the concept of sexuality works. This entails examining human needs, thoughts, values, fantasies, desires, and responses within sexual contexts and with relevance to their life as a whole. It is all about understanding influences and consequences of sexuality from a physical, biological, and psychological context (Yarber, Sayad, Strong, 2012). The key factor here rests with uniqueness that each individual is considered to possess. As such, human sexuality as a course creates awareness of one’s individuality when it comes to understanding and acknowledging sexuality. In the book, Giddens and Sutton (2013) present a case of two people who were introduced to a new kind of sexuality with one having the strength to question it, while the other seems to have been willing to embrace it fully. The primary theme in this book is power or will. Christian Grey becomes engrossed in his BDSM lifestyle after being introduced to it by an older woman and at a younger age. He then introduces Anastasia Steele who at the time is much older than he had been when he was introduced. There are two ways of looking at this story. One may see Christian Grey as an abusive lover who uses his position of power and feelings that young Anastasia has for him to twist her and misuse her as a woman. The pain and pleasure combination that he is attracted to is not in any way acceptable from this viewpoint and can thus be construed as abusive and debasing for the woman in the picture. Another way of looking at this is as a context between two consenting adults. Anastasia Steele knows what she wants in a man and she is ready to get it except that it is not nearly half as painful as Christian is offering her. Throughout the story, there is an underlying battle of the sexes and those who believe in the inequality that is affirmative action will expect Anastasia to be the one conceding and fully embracing the BDSM lifestyle in order to be with Christian Grey. The truth is however not so simple. Women in this case are presented as stronger and more willful (Yarber et al., 2012). The author here allows a comparison between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele with regards to their response to BDSM. Whatever reasons the Christian Grey may have had for adapting to the lifestyle and only changing his role from a submissive to a dominant, Anastasia does not seem to have similar intentions. She tries to be his submissive, but in the end she bails out and leaves him despite how much she thinks she loves him. This relationship in its entirety is about power and that Christian Grey holds all the aces from the start may not really mean that he is the only one with the strong will. After reading Fifty Shades of Grey, one may realize that sexuality and power are very much connected. This course is all about taking control of your sexuality, being able to determine what you want and what makes you uncomfortable, and understanding what a healthy relationship is all about. For most people, knowing what they want is perhaps the hardest part of being in a relationship. This book has helped me understand that while there may be room for making mistakes and learning from experience, knowing what you want implies that in the end you will make the right choice. In Fifty Shades of Grey, Anastasia Steele is able to make the right choice and leave when she feels uncomfortable. The Next Most Relevant Connection between the Book That I Chose and Our Course Contrary to a popular belief, gender roles and gender equality are secondary themes in this book. The author does not really dwell on gender roles and gender equality as much as she does on power and sexuality. This means that the reader is expected to understand that gender and equality are a part of their sexuality, but they are not really as significant as individuality and their ability to make their own choices. This is what makes gender equality and gender roles secondary themes in Fifty Shades of Grey. Gender roles are basically expectations placed on people by the society based on their gender or more specifically their sex. In most cases, women are expected to be nurturing, generally tender, and caring, while men are domineering and basically in control at all times (Yarber et al., 2012). The basic perception with the increasing cultural shift and consuming feminist mindset is that women can also be domineering and in control and that they actually enjoy this more than being submissive. This is however a rather misguided perception that is fully embedded in limited ideologies of ‘feminism’ that is devoid of femininity. Within Human Sexuality as a course, there is an emphasis on the need to embrace individuality over feminism and in her own rather ‘sick’ way E. L. James is able to bring this forth in a satirical way. Most people would argue that Fifty Shades of Grey is just a book about sex or power as I would put it. However, the kind of debate that this book starts in the readers’ mind or even that it did in the media soon after its release states otherwise. The big question here is whether under ordinary circumstances Anastasia Steele would have even contemplated getting into the relationship knowing that there were so many rules and so many dangers all in the name of Christian Grey’s sexual gratification. The ideal argument here would be that agreeing to submit to his perversions, she was actually taking control of her own sexuality. She found his demands rather outrageous, but she was willing to try them out and see if she actually enjoyed herself in the process. The preset concept of gender roles here would limit the young woman from even attempting to engage in Christian Grey’s lifestyle. She would be very restricted in her role as a woman and anything that seemingly w ent beyond the societal definition of a norm would strike her as unfathomable. Here, however, she is past these restrictions and, thus, she is able to try out new and ‘unthinkable’ things in search of her own sexual freedom. This book is not really about who gives in to whom, but rather who is able to understand their sexuality and thus take control of it. Anastasia Steele is portrayed as a strong woman with full understanding of her body and her needs and this explains why she ends up leaving an otherwise perfect ‘gentleman’ when she feels exceedingly violated. There is also some relevance to gender equality when learning about human sexuality. The top debate when looking at the themes in the Fifty Shades of Grey book includes superiority that Christian Grey seems to have over Anastasia Steele. It may be appreciated that right from the start the young woman is seemingly under his spell and, thus, he holds some unfair advantage over her. In the course of the book, however, it becomes clear that Anastasia Steele is also fully aware of her own needs and is thus trying to negotiate her spot in the relationship. She is able to cross so many of Christian Grey’s ‘lines’ in terms of making him do things that she wants instead of consistently ‘aiming to please’ him. Here, I learn that sexuality is mainly about what I am comfortable about as an individual. Both people in this story were trying to accommodate each other’s needs, while also being honest about what they wanted. Christian Grey, with all his twisted ideas on sex and satisfaction, was only able to ask for that kind of relationship because he felt confident in his position as a man. It is not because he felt like he deserved it, but rather because he was comfortable enough to ask that Anastasia was willing to try with him. Gender equality within this book and thence within the course on human sexuality is thus a concept that requires either party to be confident in their stating needs and asking to be sated provided they do not endanger one’s life (Yarber et al., 2012). It can be noted that Christian was at all times careful not to put Ana’s life at risk, physically or otherwise, as was Ana in terms of Christian’s feelings. The mutual concern that these two h ad for each other is a justifying leverage for their experiments in the relationship. The Science behind the Primary Themes in the Book That I Chose Sociology by Anthony Giddens and Philip Sutton presents the connection between sexuality and power very vividly. The authors here argue that, as a social construct, gender often affects one’s perception of their sexuality (Giddens Sutton, 2013). Most women are thus mould to become passive and rather submissive in the context of their sexuality, not to ask questions or examine their own needs and desires, but rather to do what they are ‘needed’ to do by their partners. In a patriarchal society, this is largely acceptable as a norm and it can be expected that feminists of this world would come up in arms if this expectation is to be spoken aloud. The greatest problem with feminism is the reductionist basis with which it approaches such sensitive matters (Giddens Sutton, 2013). If one looks at the women’s submissiveness from a modern day perspective with the media reviews on how many women read this text and actually enjoyed it, one may notice that the conce pt of letting the man take charge is rather pleasing to modern day women. The only appealing and rather erotic factor in this book is the way Christian Grey commits himself and is willing to take care of Anastasia Steele for as long as she is ‘his’. Power here has two definitions. Christian Grey is powerful because, as the dominant in the BDSM context, he holds all the aces and thus controls the direction of the relationship. Anastasia Steele is however also powerful here because she is able to break the rules every now and then to get Christian Grey to go out of his way, do things that he never considered himself capable of doing, and to generally love her enough to want to change his intensity as a masochist of some sort. The authors of this study argue about sexuality and power from the viewpoint of feminism and their many disparities in terms of how they perceive sex (Giddens Sutton, 2013). Feminists mostly focus on the exclusion of women from positions of wealth and power, but they fail to recognize that a woman’s sexuality could also be a point of exclusion. When people were busy criticizing E. L. James for writing a book in which a woman submits to a man, real feminists should have been busy lauding her for breaking the stereotype idea and allowing the woman to just let go and be loved. The truth here is that while the man feels powerful when he is in control, the woman is likely to feel mo re powerful when she lets go of that control and is able to trust someone else to take the lead. This is probably because of the feminist waves that got women so bent on taking the reins that they forgot how to actually sit back and relax. Social Psychology and Human Sexuality: Essential Readings by Roy F. Baumeister argues that the need for a man to feel more powerful than a woman may drive them to get physically violent during a sexual intercourse (Baumeister, 2001). This means that they find their sexuality to be a tool with which they can validate their position as men in a society that may have otherwise ripped them off other masculinity. It may be appreciated that men who use physical force in sexual relations are usually deprived in one way or another. Either they were abused as children or they watched someone that they loved being abused, or they are simply living with some form of deficiency or inadequacy (Baumeister, 2001). In this book, I have learnt that circumstances that one is exposed to at a young age may have an impact on sexuality, but if one intends to change, one will find a reason to do so. Christian Grey is in this story able to let go of some of his demands on Anastasia Steele because he considers her as a reason to change, albeit gradually. The fact that he is only able to feel powerful and in control when she is his submissive implies that he at some point had no control over his life. It can also be noted that perhaps the sub/dom situation is therapeutic as a channel for him to release his control issues as opposed to being violent in his interactions with physically or psychologically weaker people. The holding argument here is that one’s sexuality is a great channel for their power needs in terms of their personality. For Anastasia, the power was in trusting Christian despite her trust issues, while for Grey being Ana’s ‘dom’ was enough to keep him sane. Conclusion and My Thoughts and Feelings about the Book When I first read about Fifty Shades of Grey, I imagined that the book was simply a twisted shocker that was not only boring, but also too graphic for anyone’s liking. With some knowledge in sex education, however, I was able to read the book and actually enjoy it. The writing, as often stated in reviews, is rather amateur, but the content is simply enlightening. At first, I was unsure about Anastasia Steele as the protagonist since she seemed so engrossed in the Christian Grey’s world. Nevertheless, as she got to know him and started questioning his actions and desires, she suddenly became very interesting. Initially, I would have considered her a clichà © for falling in love with a rich and powerful man at the first sight. With my understanding of sexuality and its manifestations of one’s personality, I think I can forgive this young woman for wanting what she wanted and respect her for her efforts in trying to remain on the right path. In the end, she leaves the relationship, being hurt, but not broken, considering that she does not end up becoming like Christian Grey. With my understanding of human sexuality, I was also able to read the book and find that it was more about power and gender roles than it was about sex. While the author uses the characters’ sexuality to explore these themes, she is simply trying to express the concept of ‘Fifty Shades of Fucked Up’ as used to describe Christian Grey in the book. Having read the book and studied this course, I believe that all the choices that an individual makes with regards to their sexuality are their own. Determinists may argue against this by stating that Christian Grey was a BDSM enthusiast because of his exposure to the lifestyle at a young age. It can however be noted that, despite numerous years of experience and practice, he is willing and able to let go of all the factors in his lifestyle that make his woman uncomfortable. While he is seen trying to get her to appreciate these pleasures as he does, he is also very sensitive to her situation as a ‘norm’ who is not likely to enjoy processes that take place in the ‘Red Room of Pain’. This book has gotten me thinking of feminism in a new light. Rather than focusing on what women are restricted from doing and experiencing within their respective societies, it may be beneficial to consider things that women are actually allowed or even expected to do and, yet, t hey do not. In this case, I believe Anastasia Steele was expected to refuse Christian Grey’s proposal of the BDSM situation and the fact that she actually allows herself to try it out, if anything to satisfy her own curiosity, is a triumph. Unlike ‘feminists’ out there who contend that the book is demeaning and that it teaches women that being submissive is the right thing to do within a sexual relationship, I believe that this book teaches women to make their own mistakes and learn from them. To me, this is what power is all about: finding what you are comfortable with and embracing it, while discarding whatever you do not enjoy. After all, sexuality is all about personal needs, wants, and expectations with some consideration for the other party as well.

The eNotes Blog Decembers Teachers Corner Column Are We Expecting Too Much, TooSoon

Decembers Teachers Corner Column Are We Expecting Too Much, TooSoon Teacher’s Corner is a monthly newsletter from just for teachers. In it, experienced educator and contributor Susan Hurn shares her tips, tricks, and insight into  the world of teaching. Check out this month’s Teacher’s Corner column below, or sign up to receive the complete newsletter in your inbox at . I recently read an article by Laura Katan  in which she shares an anecdote I keep thinking about. At a fair, Katan saw a ten-year-old boy and his mom pass a massage vendor, and she heard the mother ask her son, â€Å"Do you want a massage? It may relax you.† Katan recalls she was â€Å"incredulous† as she overheard the comment. â€Å"Since when do 10-year-olds need to relax?† she asks. Well, apparently now. In fact, there seems to be a lot of kids who need to relax, and most of them are in our classrooms.    A growing body of research indicates that we are demanding too much of kids, too soon. In the name of â€Å"rigor† and in the pursuit of high scores on standardized tests, we’re often getting ahead of their natural growth and development- and by â€Å"we,† I don’t mean teachers. Teachers know how the fallout from too much, too soon impedes learning, but their judgment rarely influences educational policy and administrative mandates. Classroom teachers, however, aren’t the only ones who are ringing alarm bells. According to the Alliance for Childhood, a nonprofit that advocates for children, pushing kids too far, too fast is evident now even in kindergarten curriculums. Consider this passage from Crisis in the Kindergarten, a 2009 report released by the Alliance: Children now spend far more time being taught and tested on literacy and math skills than they do learning through play and exploration . . . . Many kindergartens use highly prescriptive curricula geared to new state standards and linked to standardized tests. In an increasing number of kindergartens, teachers must follow scripts from which they may not deviate. These practices, which are not well grounded in research, violate long-established principles of child development and good teaching. It is increasingly clear that they are compromising both children’s health and their long-term prospects for success in school. A friend of mine summed it up succinctly: â€Å"The kids don’t get to color anymore.† Here’s the full report, Crisis in the Kindergarten.  In â€Å"Reimagining Kindergarten,† Elizabeth Graue raises the same concerns and arrives at the same conclusions. â€Å"Kindergarten is now built on a model of content,† she writes, â€Å"rather than on the needs of children.† Read her article at this link. So, kindergarten has become first grade, first-graders are now expected to read, second grade focuses on third-grade testing, and to make more time for instruction in chasing test scores, recess has been eliminated in many elementary schools. One encouraging development, however, is that the push to get rid of recess is losing steam. This report from Scholastic  on how recess makes kids smarter  offers an update. Middle school and high school? Lots of middle schoolers are taking classes once reserved for the high school curriculum, and many high school kids are taking so many Dual Credit and AP courses that essentially they are going to college before graduating. When you go to college in high school, when do you go to high school? And what is the goal here? To have kids with Ph.D.’s by the time they’re twenty-two? Seriously! When can kids be kids and teenagers teens? It’s no wonder the mom back at the fair offered to buy her ten-year-old a massage to alleviate his stress! Many students are developmentally mature enough to do fine and even excel when pushed to the max in the classroom. Many, however, are not, and even though they can’t articulate that they’re overwhelmed, they express it- in the inability to concentrate or stay on task, in rowdy behavior or quiet withdrawal, and in passive-aggressive self-defense. Some kids simply shut down and refuse to engage until prompted, and prompted, and finally reprimanded. What appears to be a discipline problem is often a manifestation of academic demands getting ahead of natural growth and development. For instance, why do some kids persist in taking their mechanical pencils apart and playing with the pieces? Just to drive their teachers crazy? Probably not. Things being what they are right now, what can be done in the classroom to alleviate students’ stress? Here are a few suggestions: On the board, list what will be done in class; the unknown can be scary. Give kids â€Å"brain breaks,† a time-out to process information; let them talk it over with a partner, write a brief response, or sketch a simple picture, chart, or graph. Incorporate some humor in lessons, activities, and tests. Cartoons are fun and can be subject-appropriate. Allow for movement and fidgeting; give kids hands-on activities with things to hold and manipulate; let them build something or create a physical product. Build in transition time between lessons rather than racing from one to another. Use some activities that call for students to visualize something they enjoy or find restful. Eliminate extraneous noise, and play quiet background music during work time. Lots of kids are not used to silence, and it makes them uncomfortable. Beat the system! Design activities you know are good for your students, and then work backwards to find some standards they meet. For more tips, check out www.stressfreekids.com  and â€Å"5 Easy Ways to Reduce Student Stress in the Classroom† at www.teachthought.com And here’s a suggestion to relieve your own stress. Forget about school and have a great winter break! Happy Holidays! Susan