Should Mobile Phones Be Allowed in Schools

Children should be allowed to use their mobile phones in class because they can serve as ‘learning aids', a study claims today. Academics are calling on schools to rethink bans on phone handsets after trials suggested that functions such as calculators, stopwatches and email can be ‘educational'. However, the call is certain to infuriate many teachers and parents, who will be concerned that pupils will be unable to resist the temptation to put the devices to less productive uses, such as cyber-bullying or cheating in tests.During a nine-month experiment involving classes aged 14 to 16, pupils either used their own mobiles in lessons or the new generation of ‘ smartphones' which allow internet connection. They were used to create short films, set homework reminders, record a teacher reading a poem and time experiments with the phones' stopwatches. The smartphones also allowed pupils to access revision websites, log into the school email system, or transfer electronic files between school and home.The study by researchers at Nottingham University involved 331 pupils in schools in Cambridgeshire, West Berkshire and Nottingham. ‘At the start of the study, even pupils were often surprised at the thought that mobile phones could be used for learning,' Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young will tell the annual conference of the British Educational Research Association in Edinburgh later today. ‘After their hands-on experience, almost all pupils said they had enjoyed the project and felt more motivated. One teacher told researchers that students like mobiles and they know how to use them. ‘Using this technology gives them more freedom to express themselves without needing to be constantly supervised,' the teacher said. However, the report admits that some teachers think greater use of mobile phones in schools could prove problematic. Increased temptation to steal phones belonging to the school was one worry. ‘I thought, well, four of the se smartphones†¦ Should Mobile Phones Be Allowed in Schools Mobile phones are extremely helpful after school when you’re travelling home. Your parent/ guardian can contact you regarding family matters and also after school if you have to walk your parent can phone you to make sure you’re secure. Likewise Mobile phones also provide safety and protection in times of need. If for example you are in danger of some sort you can phone someone quickly and inconspicuously. In addition if the child goes missing the police can track the mobile and parents can check in on the Childs location.Also mobiles can help if there is an emergency; your parents can phone you direct instead of phoning the office which would take longer. This would be more effective because your parent can tell you exactly what’s going on instead of having a message passed to you. If for example your Gran was ill in hospital your mum or dad etc. could phone or text you updates through out the day. Mobiles also brings families together –They don’t seem to have much time to spend together anymore due to overtime and after-school activities, having the ability to communicate with any one of your family member helps bringing families together.Similarly if you forget something important like homework or your lunch you can contact your parent /guardian and they can drop it off. This would help when you have an important essay, for example, due but you forgot it at home. This would help make sure that all your homework is on time and would help teachers when they have to mark homework. Likewise if you are unwell in school, you can phone your parent to let them know. This would be helpful because your parent would be able to pick you up or can tell you what to do.Moreover mobile phones could save money because they could be used as calculators and can be used to record/ write notes. This would save a lot of money on paper which would make the school more eco friendly and money could be used on other equipment instead of just calcula tors which can be found on all phones, although teachers would have to supervise and trust pupils not to stray from the task. Another benefit would be that pupils can record important dates in their phone to help with important deadlines and exams.A final reason is that mobiles could be used for a wide range of educational purposes, including creating short movies, setting homework reminders, recording a teacher reading a poem and timing science experiments. Mobiles which can connect to the internet, also allowed pupils to access revision websites, log into the school email system, or transfer electronic files between school and home. Experts have claimed that using a mobile gains children’s confidence because the technology is familiar to them.

Focus of the Marketing Plan Essay

†¢Construct an overview of internal and external contingencies, describing at least two internal and three external contingencies and how they impact the sports marketing plan. †¢Justify market selection decisions including the psychological and sociological factors as influences. Include targeting and positioning of the product(s). †¢Generate a Sports Marketing Mix for your organization to address the promotion mix of advertising, public relations, sales promotion, and pricing. †¢Create a plan for the marketing process. Within that plan include a control phase and an implementation strategy. Any unique issues should also be addressed in this section, including the impact on facilities and any specific departments or segments of the organization impacted by the plan. Writing the Marketing Plan The Marketing Plan: †¢Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide. †¢Must include a cover page that includes: – Student’s name – Course name and number – Title of paper – Instructor’s name – Date submitted †¢Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement. †¢Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. †¢Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph. †¢Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide to document all sources. †¢Must include, on the final page, a Reference Page that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Self Reliance

The Idea of American Self Reliance From the readings of Cooper, Hawthorne, and Emerson you get a coherent understanding of how each writer interpreted the notion of â€Å"American Self Reliance†. Self- Reliance is defined as the dependence on one's own efforts and abilities . There are profound strengths in promoting and practicing the idea of Self-Reliance but also evident weaknesses if the phrase is taken too literally.While making reference to Cooper, Hawthorne and Emerson's readings the following essay will discuss the otion of American Self Reliance as well as an advantage and a disadvantage that can be caused by fully living by its creed. Most of us strive for success and independence. Most take pride in themselves for being able to start from the bottom and emerge on top with no help from others. This is typically interpreted as self reliance. However, it is not always possible to rise to the top by our efforts solely. At times we all need help in succeeding in life or simply bettering ourselves.Emerson's writing persuades you to believe that man alone is completely self sufficient for him r herself. I view this as a disadvantage or weakness in thought and practice because you cannot always believe that you will never need help from anyone or anything. This type of thinking could potentially stagnant one's progress and the reluctance to ask for or accept help would be the cause. Emerson writes â€Å"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men, – that is genius†.I disagree with this statement because it can be interpreted negatively or positively and from the reading I deduced that Emerson only presented his statement in a positive cogitation. This quote further influences us to believe that if we feel we can accomplish anything on our own in our hearts then everyone should believe this as well and in turn this is the most intellectual way to think. Unfortunately there a re countless times when what we believe true in our hearts, whether it concerns our capabilities or accomplishments, are in reality not feasible.Certain external or internal factors beyond our control can hinder our progress. Although, with the help of others, and the renouncement of the notion of living trictly by a creed of self- reliance, one could possibly demonstrate success in their thoughtful aspirations regardless of the unknown or potential hindrances that may lie ahead. With help we are able to maneuver and the ability to maneuver in our lives is an advantage and strength. I do not disagree with the complete ideology of self reliance.Emerson writes, â€Å"What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the people think. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd eeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude†. This quote is powerful because it depicts the strength or advantage (great man) that one can have in life if they focus on self and not worry about the opinions and conformity that society attempts to influence them with.It makes reference to will-power, determination and in solitude, amidst society. Having independent thought no matter what coaxes exists is a vital aspect of self reliance. In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown he writes, â€Å"Faith! Faith! cried the husband. Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One! . Despite the fact that Hawthorne does not specifically mention the theory of self reliance in Young Goodman Brown, it is still included metaphorically throughout the text.Here Hawthorne support Emerson's ideology of Self Reliance by showing the strong will and determination Goodman Brown had by sticking to his beliefs and resorting to the higher power (God) in the face of evil and ultimately veering away from the influence of the wicked that surrounded him. After Brown sticks to his beliefs and does not conform to those of his surrounding environment he finds imself alone again in the woods, everything having vanished.Staying committed in your beliefs and views at all times whether in solitude or among others is important and as Hawthorne depicts, can entirely alter a predicament or situation for the better. From the readings I also concluded that self reliance is not only about believing in yourself or staying true to who you are despite the influence of society it is also about not abusing the resources that god has put forth for you to flourish. James Fenimore Cooper writes in The Pioneers, â€Å"It's much better to kill only such as ou want, without wasting your powder and lead, than to be firing into God's creaters in such a wicked manner.But I come out for a bird, and you know the reason why I like small game, Mr. Oliver, and now I have got one I will go home, for I don't like to see these wasty ways that you are all practysing, as if the least thing was not made fo r use, and not to destroy'. Cooper reveals a portion of his interpretation of Self reliance with this excerpt from The Pioneers. The character who speaks these words, Natty Bumppo, was portrayed as the embodiment of American Self-Reliance, who ived free, was strong, determined, self sufficient and lived close to nature.Cooper believed that connection with nature was essential for one's development and ability to be self reliant. In this quote he portrays his distaste for killing god's creations for game and not necessity, which translate into the abuse of our natural resources. Cooper, Hawthorne and Emerson collectively make some great points and examples of American Self Reliance throughout their works. However, it is important to acknowledge that some of their ideologies can serve as strengths as well as potential eaknesses. Cooper, F.J. (2003). The Pioneers. In N. Baym, The Norton Anthology of Literature (pp. 440-449). New York : Norton & Company. Emerson, R. (2003). Self Relianc e. In N. Baym, The Norton Anthology of Literature (pp. 450-467). New York: Norton & Company. Hawthorne, N. (2003). Young Goodman Brown. In N. Baym, The Norton Anthology of Literature (pp. 613-623). New York : Norton & Company. Merriam- Webster. com. (2013, November 3). Retrieved November 3, 2013, from Merriam- Webster: http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/self%20reliance

Emergency Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Emergency Management - Assignment Example Lastly is the fire department in each and every county that handles all types of disasters and emergencies in their county. Each of the five mentioned emergency management and disaster response agency is keen on training people about the different types of disasters and how to response in case they happen as well as how to alleviate some of the disasters. For an individual who is used to emergency management, they react very fast to disasters in terms of seeking safety and the safety of others as well as preventing the effects from spreading further and communicating with others. However, for a private citizen not used to such emergency management, they take time to react. They try to save things that are not necessary as well as forget the safety precaution steps to take and they may find themselves injured. The first step in any disaster is to seek safety and try and calm down so as to take the other necessary steps. Panicking even though is human nature only tends to worsen things and bring disorientation. Keeping calm and planning way forward to safety is what people should always remember (Hyndman and Hyndman,

Performance of Deerfield Massacre Research Paper

Performance of Deerfield Massacre - Research Paper Example When the army led by France attacked Deerfield in the evening of 29 February 1704, (Haefeli, Sweeney) villagers were busy in their day to day chaos; they had not even a single hint of what is going to happen. But that happened. Â  You can give any name for this; a natural calamity, a mass murder or a conspiracy. Present day America consider this day in the history to be erased and some take it as an example for not to repeat the same. Â  Really it has to be like that, and should not take the incident personally. There is no doubt that the war was between British and French; (Borneman) but the victims were the Common Americans only; killing them locked inside a palisade (Melvoin) was a very cruel human act. Â  That was because of the disunity among the Americans, the outsiders captured and attacked innocent locals once and again and end up in a terrible massacre. Hope such will never repeat in America and world as a whole

Sustainability at Millipore Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainability at Millipore - Essay Example ents utilized as a part of fluid stream procedures to sift through or concentrate particulates, atoms, microorganisms, infections, and different materials. Clients utilized Millipores channels for sanitizing, cell reaping, and detaching mixes from complex blends. For instance, the refreshment business utilized Millipores channels to expel microorganisms and yeast from wine, lager, squeeze, and water. Millipore likewise delivered a variety of lab hardware, including recognition devices. The questions to be discussed in light of the company’s efforts to achieve sustainability are as below. The manufacturing process or any production process needs some inputs (raw materials). The raw materials undergo a certain chain of process or multiple chain processes before the final product is achieved. These inputs are resources that nature provides like air, water, stones, etc. Therefore, manufacturing processes consume the naturally available resources. During the production process, other substances are produced in the form of waste. The waste materials could be in gaseous, liquid or solid state. These waste materials are chemicals that are harmful to the environment. For instance, greenhouse gasses and other harmful materials that are harmful to the microorganisms living in water and on land. Overutilization of the natural resources beyond the replenishing capacity of nature is the consequence of most company’s activities. The act can be referred to as unsustainable utilization of resources. Sustainability embraces the consumption of natural resources to meet the needs of the current generation, but at the same time conserving and restoring the same resources to meet the needs of the future generation. Sustainability can be achieved through reducing the negative impact of a company’s economic activities on the environment by engaging in activities that are socially responsible. Social responsibility enhances the company’s image and reputation, which in turn, leads

Convergence Culture Argumentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Convergence Culture Argumentation - Essay Example is the merging of old business idea such as marketing in business ideas that deal with the new generation goods and services while cultural convergence is when the audience becomes the user. The emergence of the media convergence has given the audience capacity to store, edit, improve and recalculate media content. This is an outcome of the current trends in new generation media which has such features like download, edit play, watch, and upload share among others. This features give the audience unlimited capacity to modify media products and take them back to the same market as if they were originals. Global convergence occurs due to international circulation of media products such as music and film content. This has further been reinforced by the development of social media platforms such as chat, face book, Sykpe, Google+ among other which make the circulation of media products very easy. It has made communication easier by development of new media gadgets that can perform multiple tasks eliminating the need to have several bulky media items. The new models are precise, efficient and portable. This means that there is the flexibility of accessing the media item even on the move, or attending to other tasks. Cultural convergence has made the global market to be more competitive hence initiating creativity and diversity to compete fairly in the market. This culture has brought about new trends in socialization making it dynamic. It has reduced the social barriers and bridged geographical barriers making it possible for people in different regions to access each other just by the click of a button. It has created a platform where media products can be improved and shared with much ease. Accessing media con tent has also been simplified. However some negative effects have come along with cultural convergence. They include: Lowering the worth of ideas in media production. Often the initiator of the original ideas do not reap from their work since other people

Ethical Issues of British Petroleum Oil Spill Term Paper

Ethical Issues of British Petroleum Oil Spill - Term Paper Example Its Exploration and Production’s activities falls under three key areas. The first is upstream activities which include oil and natural gas exploration, field development and production. The second is Midstream activities which include pipeline, transportation and processing activities related to its upstream activities (BP PLC (BP), 2011). The third is marketing and trading activities which include the marketing and trading of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), together with power and natural gas liquids (NGLs) (BP PLC (BP), 2011). Refining and Marketing activities include the supply and trading, refining, manufacturing, marketing and transportation of crude oil, petroleum and petrochemicals products (BPPLCBP), 2011). History The history of the company starts in 1908 when oil found in a rugged part of Persia after a long and difficult search. It was Mr D’Arcy who financed the oil exploration. Mr Reynolds was the explorer. The discovery was due to the p atience of Reynolds. By the early morning of 26 May 1908, the drill reached 1,180 feet and a fountain of oil spewed out into the dawn sky ( BP at a Glance, 2010). Within one year, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which would one day become BP, was in business ( BP at a Glance, 2010). ... After the war, the nationalists throughout the Middle East angrily questioned Western companies’ right to profit from Middle Eastern resources ( BP at a Glance, 2010). Anti-British sentiment also increased. The agreement between the former Shah of Persia and William D’Arcy expired in 1954, and the director board changed the company’s name to The British Petroleum Company ( BP at a Glance, 2010). Later unexpected changes took place in the Middle East. Ghaddafi and other Middle Eastern countries declared that they will nationalise energy companies in ten years. So, by 1983, BP’s oil supply from Middle East was reduced from 80% to meagre 10%. Fortunately BP had discovered major oil fields in other parts of the world, including Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and the Forties field off the coast of Scotland ( BP at a Glance, 2010). In 1987 BP bought Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio) incorporating it into a new national business, BP America. That same year the British governme nt sold the last of the shares it held in BP ( BP at a Glance, 2010). With major, long-term projects in Russia, the Gulf of Mexico, North America, Azerbaijan, Indonesia and elsewhere, BP had a lot of oil and gas (BP at a Glance, 2010). Mission The mission of BP is to help the world meet the growing demand for heat, light and transportation. This is achieved by finding efficient and cleaner ways to produce energy that’s affordable and safe. To meet that goal, BP is progressive, responsible, innovative and performance driven (Our culture and values , 2011) Ethics Background The BP has a code of conduct. The company says that it is part of the ethics program and is supported by the directors and senior

Building and Sustaining Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Building and Sustaining Strategy - Essay Example Establishing good customer relations has helped learn the importance of feedback in the business (Langdoc, 1998). The feedback reception helps an entrepreneur to plan and make necessary changes in the product and services approaches. Innovation is a very important part of building and sustaining strategy. As an entrepreneur I have also learnt the basic skills of nurturing an innovation protecting it and making the best out of it. For any business to be successful there must be a good communication network. Lack of feedback was major issue at the organization (Coyle, 2003). The management never responded to the points of concerns raised by employees. Effective feedback usually helps in dealing with the emerging challenges. The management is the policy translator to the employees and therefore continuous feedback should be available. I have also been able to learn the importance of good communication with other employees. The proper communication network helps in solving problems that we may encounter while conducting business. Good communication is also important with the customers (Business Forecasting, 2011). Management is a continuous process of synchronizing an organization with its market throughout while tackling the competitors and regularly collecting feedback within the organization itself (Buchanan, 2000). It examines external and internal factors affecting a particular organization together with the skills, information and strategies put in place to effectively manage the change and consequent improvements. I have a feeling that management is an effective tool for decreasing motivational and environmental constraints while improving organizational structure. I learnt that lack of organized information (lack of an integrated framework) in an organization is a potential drawback. Organizations have departments, which at most times cause distortion of information hence influencing the decisions made by the executives. Information in an organization can b e organized in a process-based manner (Pitak, 2000). The process-based manner ensures that the organization is viewed horizontally regardless of the departmental boundaries. In addition, intangible (making of decisions, leadership, and innovation) and tangible should be Organization communication is the movement of knowledge and information amongst people in the organization in order for efficiency and effectiveness to be attained. Both the management and staff should share the goals of the organization. In the past, application aspects (writing and speaking) were the major concerns of communication but it later changed to character-based aspects. Since that time, organizational communication has developed and undergone various modifications. When changes or challenges occur in an organization, ways and means are identified to counter the changes effectively spread equally within the organization fraternity. For any entrepreneur the ability to maximize and optimize profits is an ess ential part while building and sustaining strategy. Application There is need for development of an overall plan on the integration of the various departments and staff. The management should insist on teamwork and establish an environment within the company that practices respect and diversity. The management should make a decision on the points of responsibility interdependence by assessment of the joined responsibilities. After

Myth of Money and Success Essay Example for Free

Myth of Money and Success Essay The American Dream is different for everyone, though it is most commonly associated with success, freedom, and happiness. The concept of the American Dream seems to have dwindled from where it was in the past few generations. It has gone from success, freedom, and happiness to having lots of money and the nicest possessions. In today’s society, we all hope and strive for this dream, but how many actually achieve the American Dream? Is it a reasonable goal that Americans should strive for, or is it a myth that only leads to self-destruction? According to Horatio Alger and Toni Cade Bambara, they both believe the concept that the American Dream is a myth and prove these fundamentals through their writing. A single person or a small group does not create the notion of success, but it is created by our whole society. The myth of instant wealth is one of the most popular myths society uses. In fact society uses the hope of instant wealth to make people work harder. The fact that they do not have a real chance of obtaining that wealth by competing in the economic system stays invisible to the most of people. But people have believed that if they will work hard then they can achieve success. Richard Hunter, main character of the book â€Å"Ragged Dick† has been a typical example of American notion of success. According to this book, by Horatio Alger, everybody can become well recognized and financially prosperous if they would work hard and show their merit. Dick, â€Å"a young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune,† as his friend Fosdick from the story â€Å"Ragged Dick† describes him in the end of the story, climbs on the social ladder, starting from the very bottom. Being absolutely illiterate and having no money in the beginning, Dick gets into business circle of people, by working hard and showing his merit. While reading this book, I really was able to put myself in the story, and live Dick’s life with him. This typical story of â€Å"Rags to Riches†, is a general theme for many people’ lives. Today, as well as back in the 1800’s when the story was written, most people’s dreams are to achieve success. This formally became known as â€Å"The American Dream†. Although this may seem strange for everyone to have the same idea, it really isn’t when you look at it with an open perspective. Each and every person’s perception of success is extremely different and individual, which makes everyone’s dreams different. There may be people who strive for big goals, and there may be others who take it one day at a time, achieving happiness on a less formal level. In comparing the time period of the story to our society today, there are many similarities and differences to consider. According within the world we live today, people tend to set much higher goals and expectations for themselves, whereas, in Ragged Dick, it was more of a day-to-day type situation. When people set smaller, more realistic goals, it results in more happiness and comfort in their lifestyle. However, in today’s world, Americans have become so incredibly competitive and successful, that the standards have been significantly raised to the point where personal happiness is no longer good enough. After reading a novel like Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, you subconsciously make yourself realize the important underlying message that he is trying to portray. To me, this message is to always be optimistic, and no matter how bad your life is, it can always get better if you are honest, hardworking and determined. Another good source that brings forth the concept of money and success is through Bambaras writing, â€Å"The Lesson†. The major theme of the story was creating awareness in adolescents about what life has to offer. The nature of human beings of accepting the realities of life to such an extent that apathy and lethargy sets in, is what proves to be destructive for the social fabric of today’s world. In this stagnation, Mrs. Moore provides the impetus required for people to realize their god given right to something better. We are told that Mrs. Moore has a college degree, is well dressed most of the times, and has a good command on her language. She seems to be a kind of a person who has seen the world. She has experienced life, and wants to use that experience in providing the children with an opportunity to broaden their horizons. This opportunity that she strives to provide is opening their eyes to the true nature of life and not by giving them money and bombarding their psyche with moralistic attitudes. The story showcases the lack of aspirations of a culture. It takes us through the point of view of the children, who think of nothing but entertainment, and through the mind frame of the adults who have resigned their lives to mediocrity. Mrs. Moore proves to be the catalyst that sets alight the imagination of the children. She realizes that by just telling the children that there is something better out there, she will not be able to instill in them a sense of longing; an aspiration to achieve something better in life. So the morale of this story was to show how one could achieve success with certain disadvantages and still work towards the realistic â€Å"American Dream†. As a result, Americans are never satisfied with what they have. It has been said that Americans are no longer trying to keep up with the Joneses, but instead looking at celebrities, and envisioning themselves with the same expensive possessions. Americans today do in fact look at celebrities and long for their lavish lifestyles, but also still do try and keep up with the Joneses. This scenario is also similar with possessions of luxury items. Ever look at your neighbor’s new car and want one of your own? It is very common to see your neighbor pull in their driveway with a new Mercedes, then look at your car and think of going and getting a nice new car that is comparable to the Mercedes. We as Americans are never satisfied with what we have. The American Dream is still alive, though it is not what it used to be. One can be successful, have freedom, and be happy. But are they fulfilling their version of the American Dream? Some of us may take it to further extremes than others, but there will always be the desire to have something better than everyone else. Society today tells us that we should have the best of everything if we don’t; we are of a lower class of people. We are sucked in by these beliefs because we as Americans do not want to be shown up, and want to be part of the higher class. Americans are always demanding more, while in poverty-stricken countries people are just thankful for what they do have. Maybe we as Americans should just be thankful for the opportunities that this great country has to offer and live our OWN dreams. . Works Cited Alger, Horatio Jr.. Ragged Dick Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks. New York. Penguin, 2005. Print. Bambara, Toni. â€Å"The Lesson†. Literature: Reading and Writing the Human Experience. Shorter 7th ed. Ed. Richard Abacian and Marvin Koltz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 121-126.

How Do Single Sex Schools Effect Students Young People Essay

How Do Single Sex Schools Effect Students Young People Essay Single sex school is better than co-ed school as it brings more confidence to every individual. Single sex education as known as single-gender education, is the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or schools while co-ed school is the integrated education of males and females in the same institution. Socially, single sex school makes for more mature people earlier. Young people learn more from experience of diversity. Educationally, single sex schools seem to be better for girls to do well at traditionally male subjects like chemistry and physics. Emotionally it encourages sexual relationships which some say its a distraction from education or is to be objected to morally especially for girls which is why Islam forbids coeducation. If a boy isnt male stereotype in personality he is more likely to be lonely in a single-sex school because with co-ed he may find girls to hang out with. Generally single-sex schools tend to have better academic grades and better discipline, but this may be because most of the hard-working Hindu and Muslim children go there or for other reason that allow them to select against disruptive and disaffected kids, rather than because they are single-sex. Furthermore, single sex schools are more educational than co-ed school because boys are less attracted by girls and girls are also less obsessed with the boys. Therefore, students may pay more attention on classes while all students are same sex. Besides, they will also break out of their behavior when they are left to their own devices. Single sex education has a delightful way of encouraging students to be fearless, to be curious, to be enthusiastic, and to just be themselves. Single sex education with more controlled social outlets is just the ticket for many students. Firstly is less pressure to act cool around friends of other sex. Secondly is less conflict between friends of the opposite sex. Thirdly is more relaxed attitude such as not putting on a show for boys or girls they like. Last but not least, they have lower levels of anxiety over appearance or clothing. Also, less emotional stress brought on by the head games teens play while in relationships. There are several reasons for choosing a single sex school. For boys, they tend to soften their competitive edge and become more cooperative in a single sex school. They can just be boys and not worry about what girls might think or judge them. Furthermore, boys enjoy playing in an orchestra as opposed to a marching band and learn Latin in single sex settings. For girls, teachers will quickly feel comfortable exploring non-traditional subjects like mathematics, advanced science, computers, and technology if the teacher understands how to teach girls. Besides, they may drop their shyness in a single sex setting. They join some sports like hockey, football follow their hobbies without worrying about appearing like tom boys girls are free from sexual harassment which always happens in co-ed high schools. In all-girls schools, girls take over all the positions of leadership whether its drama, sports, or debate team. Also, they participate in class discussions freely, which boys always dominate in co-educational schools. They tend to gain confidence in themselves as students and score higher on their examinations. Girls no longer have to live up to expectations that they must be nice, quiet, non-athletic, and passive. Moreover, girls may work harder without boys distracting them. Girls brains usually work differently from boys because girls are more likely to take up subjects normally dominated by boys. For example like maths and sciences. On the other hand, co-ed schools are many like gender stereotyping has mostly seen in these institutes. Both sexes are almost immature in the very young age and they get mix and are not able to keep a distance. Teacher favoritism is also major issues like some teachers favor girls and some boys. It has been observed that Co-education can cause gender stereotyping. Many students are not able to focus on their studies and they become interested in each other at very young age. Some favoritism has also been observed. In co-education sometimes it becomes difficult for the parents to manage their kids. Students are more likely to become fashion conscious. It can affect the natural learning for some of the students. Co-Education is bad because it create the complex in the poor student who cannot afford expensive mobiles, car, motorbike  etc. The one big disadvantage about having boys and girls in the same class is when we go for physical education. Boys and girls just cannot do the same type of exercise or play the same game together. So we need to have two teachers, one for the boys and one for the girls. Our headmaster has come up with the ingenious solution of having two classes doing P.E. at the same time so that the boys and girls from each class combine together under one teacher each. There are certain conservative people criticize the system of co-education. According to them, this system is against our tradition. They also fear that co-education will develop immoral relationships between boys and girls. They believe that in this system both the boys and girls will be spoilt. The negative aspect is engaging in some non required activities like mostly in coeducation girls and boys are found hanging around those cafes and pubs bunking the classes and this all stinks There are also certain disadvantages of co-education. First, co-education is against the law of nature. Girls and boys are temperamentally different from each other. They have different duties to perform. A girl is required to receive education which can make her a good wife and a good mother while a boy is required to receive education which can make him a good husband and a good father. A Uniform education cannot help them be expert in their respective fields. Thus the very idea of co-education is wrong. Then co-education is against our traditions. It will develop immoral relations between boys and girls. Young boys and girls may fall a victim to their emotions. Moreover, research on coeducation has shown that coeducation in its commonly practiced form tends to reinforce rather than diminish gender stereotypes. For several years the studies concentrated on girls, only during the last seven years or so the focus shifted to boys. All in all, it can be said that coeducation has proved to be of great disadvantage for both sexes. Some of the most common disadvantages for girls are having less space at their disposal, literally as well as symbolically speaking in coeducational classes. Furthermore, no matter if the teachers are male or female, girls get only few fraction of the teachers attention compared to boys. Also girls are abused as social workers, according to the motto seat a well-behaved girl next to a disruptive boy, so as to create an orderly working situation in the classroom. Girls achievements in school are discriminatingly attributed to their diligence versus boys intelligence. Disruptive girls are treated much more severely than d isruptive boys. Boys are given more speaking time during lessons. Cooperative behavior of girls is labeled as conformity, whereas boys` competitive attitudes are usually admired and seen positively by teachers. Girls` contributions in lessons are often pulled to pieces by their male classmates. They are also humiliated, degraded and ridiculed. Even today girls are little motivated for science and mathematics and still opt for traditional female subjects like languages and humanities. The same applies to the choice of schools girl tend to attend schools that are traditionally associated with female education and shun technical schools. Girls` strengths are often not seen as such: cooperative behaviour, high commitment in school, social intelligence, high achievements, good performances, to name but a few. During the early years of research on gender and school ( from the late seventies onward), most of the studies dealt with girls. Programmers to strengthen girls were developed and practised. As a result not only of this , but also of the crisis of the male in Western world in general boys seem to have become even more disruptive and difficult. And so it was realized that coeducation cannot be improved without working with both sexes. As a result the focus of researchers to a very high degree female turned to boys, particularly boys up to the age of 14 or 15. Also, there was a change as to the approach: In the early days of gender conscious work in schools (notably with girls), girls were seen as having deficits compared to boys. From the late eighties onwards the approach was that of a concept of difference, with the vision of a school in in that offered equal opportunities for both boys and girls, reinforcing non-traditional gender stereotypes rather than perpetuating the traditi onal ones. Besides, the disadvantages of coeducation for boys are most of the boys have great problems in the field of social competence. Cooperative methods of work are difficult for them (group and teamwork, for example) whereas, vice versa, girls find competitive methods more difficult. Boys tend to solve conflicts with physical and verbal aggressions. They lag behind considerably in language learning, achieving far worse results. In general, male pupils have worse results in school, fail more often and have a higher dropout rate. As a conclusion the advantages and disadvantages of attending a single sex school or co-educational school are now being looked into more closely when the decision is being made on which environment is best for a child to learn. Each school environment has pros and cons to offer the student. What is important is that the right learning environment is selected based on the one student and how they learn. When a student is not placed in the right learning environment for them they can begin to fall behind the rest of the class. It is important to keep in mind that neither learning environment has yet to show that is the best learning environment for all children to be taught in. This is why the question Is a single sex school or a mixed school the best learning environment for my child? is been asked more and more recently but as a advantage they would able to know how to behave and the difference between them.

Okonkwo Essay -- essays research papers

Okonkwo Tragic Hero Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Slowly the men make their way up the hill with Obierika in the lead. Leaves crunch as feet uniformly step onto the ground. The commissioner and his soldiers are warily eyeing their surroundings. Each man snuggles close to Okonkwo’s compound wall, hoping not to be seen. They go past a small bush. It is next to a red hole in the wall where small animals enter and exit the compound. Finally, the men all stop. They spot the body dangling from a tree. They stand upright in shock. The carcass of Okonkwo steadily swings in the breeze. As each man looks upon it disbelievingly, Obierika says to the commissioner heatedly, â€Å"That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself, and now he will be buried like a dog†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 207). In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the main character of Okonkwo displays many different aspects of his personality that lead to this moment. Even though Okonkwo is in a society that forbids suicid e, for many reasons he chooses to end his life this way. Thus, Okonkwo becomes a tragic hero, and at the end of the book, he takes his own life to end his pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two of the characteristics of a tragic hero are that the person is of high birth and his actions affect the nation. â€Å"Unoka, for that was his father’s name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow† (page 4). High birth can be a miracle or a curse, high birth comes with the ability to achieve the impossible and this is Okonkwo’s focus in life. Unoka to Okonkwo is a failure and he strives to be the exact opposite of his father and make a name for himself apart from his fathers. â€Å"Unoka loved it all, and he loved the first kites that returned with the dry season, and the children who sang songs of welcome to them† (page 5). The happiness that Unoka enjoys is not the result of high birth it is because of his love for the simple moments in life and the music that flows around it. Okonkwo does not enjoy life and all it has to offer and ultimately he will not obt ain victory. â€Å"As he broke the kola, Unoka prayed to their ancestors for life and health, and for protection against their enemies† (page 6). Prayer is ultimately the most important aspect of Unoka’s life, even though he is not of high birth, and as he bes... ... much. Overall, his error is in the way he treats his family and how he can not lean back on them in his time of need. â€Å"Take down the body† (page 208). Okonkwo commits many errors within his life and pays for it in the most sinful way, suicide. He dies as a result of the white man’s invasion as well as other affairs that are symbolic to his life. â€Å"His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it† (page 207). The body of a dead person in Umuofian culture is evil and it is unholy for a friend to touch it, for that reason a stranger must touch Okonkwo. Okonkwo’s body is not only evil from death but it is evil from his personality and soul.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thus, Okonkwo becomes a tragic hero, and at the end of the book, he takes his own life to end his pain. Okonkwo a man in disguise is a victim of wrong choices in life and dies for it as a noble purpose. Okonkwo is a human being and with that comes the result in fatal flaws that result in his downfall. High birth is not of Okonkwo’s back ground, but ultimately his actions affect Umuofia in more ways than he could ever understand. Okonkwo not only is a tragic hero, he is also a victim of his own fate and destiny.

The Great Game of Business :: essays research papers

The Great Game of Business â€Å" I am often asked to say exactly what the Great Game of Business is. I have to admit I find this hard to do. It is not a system. It is not a methodology. It is not a philosophy, or an attitude, or a set of techniques. It is all of those things and more. It is a whole different way of running a company and thinking of how a company should be run.† Business has many different parts to it. The main two aspects of business are making money and generating cash. Many people don’t know the difference between the two, but it is this distinction that can determine whether or not your business will fail or be successful. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to give each person in the company the knowledge that they need to prosper. The biggest barrier at any company is ignorance, and it comes on more than just one level. The problem with the top managers is that they don’t feel that the people below them understand the responsibilities and problems that they have. The workers are the people who don’t know why the managers do what they do. They also think that everything that goes wrong is a result of the greed and stupidity of the managers. The middle managers are caught in the middle of everything. They are torn between the demands of the workers and the highest managers and feel as if they have a responsibility to both. They, perhaps, have the hardest job at the company because of it. Every company has trouble at some point being short on people that they need to do a specific job. To prevent this from becoming a disaster, plan ahead! Give all people the opportunity to learn anything and everything that they want. Teach people the skills they would need to function in a department that is completely unlike their normal work. Not only will this prevent future problems, but you could find hidden talents in several people that will help you out a great deal. If you have every one doing something that they really enjoy doing, they will blow by any obstacles that arise. If ignorance is taken out of the workplace, it will help your establishment be prosperous, and motivate the people who work for you. The first step to get people interested in their jobs is to give them the numbers.

Satire in How to Poison the Earth Essay -- Linnea Saukko

â€Å"How to poison the earth† by Linnea Saukko can be seen in two different aspects. The first one would be by looking at it in a literal way, in which it will make it a very harsh, inhumane and cold text. On the other hand, it could be seen as a satire, sarcastic and ironic text in which Saukko expects to catch the reader’s attention. Saukko exaggerates the sarcasm, and satire in her writing in order to make the readers realize and understand the main purpose of her essay, which is to warn readers about threats to the future of our planet. Scientific terms are used frequently through out the text, but are followed by explanations in a coherent way, hence it makes it clearer and more understandable to the reader. For example, she is writing about substances and their characteristics, one of them is an unusual term called â€Å"half-life†, followed by an explanation in a parenthesis with a clearer explanation of the term. That way, it can be understood by the general public. The writing is straight forward and it’s absent of metaphors and similes. It is more an informative reading rather than descriptive, therefore it is lacking details and adjectives. Saukko starts by pointing out sarcastically how difficult polluting the earth can be. Afterwards, she starts listing efficient methods on contaminating the world, such as â€Å"generating as much waste as possible from substances† (Saukko, 246), or building more nuclear plants. At the beginning, it might be shocking to the reader the approach she is taking to make her point. In other words, the readers might not understand why she has such a negative attitude and hatred against the world. The manipulation, exaggeration, and the wor... ...d for the general public in order to raise social awareness in preventing polluting the world. It is important to raise social awareness on topics of this nature because it is affecting our world. It is important to consider it as every individual problem and concern rather than see it as an external issue. Saukko chose a whole new approach and technique to get into people’s mind. Usually, authors that want to point out and raise social awareness on issues of this nature, tend to be direct and straightforward about it. However, Saukko has taken it to the next level by approaching the readers in a unique way that will catch more of their attention and hopefully move their emotions on the topic. Works Cited Saukko , Linnea.â€Å"How to Poison the Earth.†The Brief Bedford Reader. Bedford/St.Martin’s Boston: 9th edition ,2006.246-247.

Driving Habits in Today’s Society

American’s lack basic knowledge of rules of the road and safe automobile operation. While many drivers seem to think they’re sitting in their living rooms, rather than behind the wheel, you don’t have to travel far to see people driving with risky driving techniques. Dangerous habits can be seen on highways, residential streets, and in parking lots. Nearly all Americans today, would fail a state driver’s test due to everyday driving habits, revealing some perilous driving routines. According to a six week survey, conducted by Progressive Insurance Group, more than forty-six percent of the respondents report expressing their anger at other drivers by shouting or swearing, using hand gestures, cutting off other drivers or excessive speeding, while they were behind the wheel. Many of us survive these situations, but some do not. Approximately 6,800,000 crashes occur in the United States each year; a substantial number are estimated to be caused by aggressive driving. Drivers from all age groups are vulnerable, due to either lack of experience of younger drivers or loss of your senses and reflexes as you get older. A recently new dangerous driving habit is the increase use of cell phones. More than fifty percent of the respondents report that they continuously talk on their cell phones while driving. This convenient distraction has increased nationwide in the past years because of technological advances, a need to be connected to work or home at all times, and a perception that driving is an unprodcutive.

Unit 508 Develop and Implement Policies and Procedures

Unit 508 Develop and implement policies and procedures to support the safeguarding of children and young people. 1. Understand the impact of current legislation that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people. 2. 1 (CCLD Unit 2 – Support policies and practice to safeguard children and ensure their inclusion and well being). 2. 2 (CCLD Unit 2 – Support policies and practice to safeguard children and ensure their inclusion and well being). 2. 3 (CCLD Unit 2 – Support policies and practice to safeguard children and ensure their inclusion and well being). . 4 (CCLD Unit 2 – Support policies and practice to safeguard children and ensure their inclusion and well being). The young people , have the availability to call , Voice of a child whenever they would like. They can do this in a confidential setting, so they are able to express any concerns in private. If a young person is un happy with decisions that have been made about them or their care, th ey can call to speak to an advocate. The advocate will help ensure that they are listened to and that their views are taken seriously. An advocate can help the young people if: * They want support at reviews or other meetings * They don't like the plans that have been made about them * They want to complain Young People resident at have access to numerous supports, advocates, and complaints processes. We also aim to work alongside placing authorities to work with local advocacy services. NCC Participation and Advocacy Officers Anya Proud and Robin Craig are available for looked after young people who need advice, support or information. Young people can also express their views about the services they receive The Client Relations Officer based at County hall also offers independent support to Young People. also benefits from regular visits from an Action for Children advocate, contact details are: We also have an internal comments, suggestions and complaints system that can be accessed by young people, family members or placing authorities. If you wish to use this service please contact one of the registered managers. 2. Be able to support the review of policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people. 3. What is the purpose of a Serious Case Review? RATIONALE FOR SERIOUS CASE REVIEW (SCR) 1. 1. 1 Regulation 5 of the Local Safeguarding Children Board Regulations 2006 requires Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to undertake reviews of serious cases in accordance with procedures set out in chapter 8 of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006). * When a child dies, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor in the death, the LSCB should conduct a Serious Case Review (SCR) into the involvement that organisations and professionals had with that child and their family. The purpose of an SCR is to: ? ‘Establish whether there are lessons to be learned from the case about the way in which local professionals and organisations work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children Identify clearly what those lessons are, how they will be acted upon, and what is expected to change as a result and As a consequence, improve inter-agency working and better safeguard and promote the welfare of children’ Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006), Serious case reviews are not inquiries into how a child died or who is culpable; these are matters for coroners and the criminal courts, respectively The purpose of a Serious Case Review is to:   * â€Å"establish whether there are lessons to be learnt from the case about the way in which local professionals and organisations work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children   * identify clearly what those lessons are both within and between agencies, how and within what timescales they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result; and   * improve intra- and inter-agency working and better safeguard and promote the welfare of children† Who undertakes a Serious Case Review? Regulation 5 of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 20069requires Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to undertake reviews of serious cases . LSCBs are inter-agency forums, set up by a local authority, to agree how different agencies and professionals should co-operate to safeguard children. In cases that do not meet the criteria for a full serious case review, theWorking together  guidance suggests conducting individual management reviews or a smaller-scale audit of individual cases . In cases that do meet the criteria, the LSCB establishes a Serious Case Review Panel involving local authority children’s care, health services, education and the police at a minimum as well as any other relevant agencies . The decision to conduct a SCR must be made within one month of the LSCB chair being made aware of the incident and should be completed within six months, unless an alternative timescale is agreed with the relevant Government Office . What happens during a Serious Case Review? Working together to safeguard children  (HM Government, 2010)  states that each of the relevant services identified in the initial scoping of the review is required to undertake an individual management review of its involvement with the child and the child’s family . The aim of an individual management reviews is for an agency to critically assess practices, and identify how any improvements can be made . The SCR Panel will commission an independent overview report, which brings together and analyses findings from all of the individual management reviews and makes recommendations for future action . The SCR Panel should ensure that all contributing organisations and individuals are satisfied that their information is fully and fairly represented and that any findings from other relevant processes such as care or criminal proceedings, an inquest or inquiry/investigation are incorporated into the overview report . The SCR Sub-Committee will also need to look at how the child (where the review does not involve a death), surviving siblings, parents or other family members should contribute to the review and who should facilitate their involvement What happens after a Serious Case Review? Working together to safeguard children  (HM Government, 2010)  states that the SCR Panel should translate recommendations into an action plan and the senior manager in each of the organisations which will be involved in implementing the action plan should sign up to this plan . A copy of the summary which accurately reflects the full overview report must be made publicly available . The summary and key findings must be disseminated to relevant interested parties, and feedback given to the child (if surviving) and family members/carers. Relevant staff must also be given feedback and debriefed . Anonymised copies of the individual management reports, overview report, executive summary, multi-agency action plan, and chronologies must be sent to Ofsted, the relevant Government Office . LSCBs should monitor and audit actions of agencies against action plan – â€Å"at least as much effort should be spent on implementing the recommendations as on conducting the review† Duty to conduct Section 47 (s47) Enquiries Where a child is suspected to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, the local authority is required under s47 of the Children Act 1989 to make enquiries, to enable it to decide whether it should take any action to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. Responsibility for undertaking s47 enquiries lies with the local authority in whose area the child lives or is found. ‘Found' means the physical location where the child suffers the incident of harm or neglect (or is identified to be at risk of harm or neglect), e. g. ay nursery or school, boarding school, hospital, one-off event such as a fairground, holiday home or outing or where a privately fostered or looked after child is living with their carers. Whenever a child is harmed or concerns are raised that a child may be at risk of harm or neglect, the authority where the incident occurred is responsible for informing the child's home authority immediately and inviting them to participate in the strategy meeting / discussion to plan action to protect the child. Only once agreement is reached about who will take responsibility is the host authority relieved of the responsibility to take emergency and ongoing action. Such acceptance should occur as soon as possible and should be confirmed in writing. Section 47 Enquiries A s47 enquiry must always be commenced immediately when: There is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm in the form of physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect; * An Emergency Protection Order or use of police powers of protection have been used. (Further information about legal responsibilities in Appendix 6: Legal Matters) The threshold criteria for a s47 enquiry may be ide ntified during an initial assessment, but may also be apparent at the point of referral, during the interagency checks and information gathering stage, or during a core assessment. 3. 6 (CCLD Unit 2 – Support policies and practice to safeguard children and ensure their inclusion and well being). 3. 7 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3. 8 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3. 9 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. .

Kant’s Ethics of Dignity and Freedom Essay

Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy contends that morality is grounded from deductive reasoning.   In his Groundwork for   Metaphysics of Morals, Kant introduced the main premise of his moral Philosophy, the Categorical Imperative (Singer, 1993).   The Rationale of Kantian ethics is to construct ethical principles in accordance with rational procedures which includes duty (Singer, 1993).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kant grounds his moral philosophy on the question â€Å"what I ought to do?†, he then attempts to determine the fundamental principles that humans should adopt.   Kant fully furnishes his ethical claims in a subjective approach regarding what is good for man. Criticism of Previous Ethical Thories In his Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant primarily makes a connection between rationalism and empiricism.   Conversely, Kant counters David Hume’s empiricism, stating that although all knowledge begin with experience, it does not necessarily mean that it all comes from experience.   In his realization of Hume’s dubious conclusions, Kant dwelled on the postulation that all ideas are representations of sensory experience (Guyer and Wood, 1998).   To counter Hume, Kant attempted to find another means to derive cause and effect without dependence from empirical knowledge (Guyer and Wood, 1998). Kant grounds his perspective of freedom as autonomy, and morality from the beliefs of renowned French enlightenment philosopher, Jean Jacque Rousseau.   Rousseau believes that freedom is not simply being unbound from any law, but by the laws that are, in a sense,   made by the individual.   Hence, Kant primarily conforms to the idea that freedom bypasses the negative notion of being free from influences that are governed by elements outside the self (Johnson, 2004). Kant, although influenced by rationalist Rene Descartes, counters the latter’s perspective on the existence of God based on reason, that due to restrictions brought about by reason, no one can really know if there really is a God.   Kant solidifies his claims by stating that justifiable knowledge must be grounded from a reality encountered solely by human experience (Singer, 1993).   In his explanation, Kant asserts that all the preparations for reason in what may be deemed as pure philosophy, are directly adressed to three problems; God, soul and freedom (Guyer and Wood, 1998).   Kant neither denies nor accepts the existence of God, he, however, argues against the rationalist perspective of God and sees the Christian scriptures as a worldly narrative which can be agreed upon as a representation of morality (Singer, 1993). Autonomy and Heteronomy Autonomy and its principles are important in Kant’s moral philosophy, this is due to the fact that the basis of the actions are based on internal motives.   In this context, the one who acts (the Agent) does it in an autonomous manner since the agent is the only key holder to the basis of the action.   Heteronomy, for Kant is an element in the basis of a moral act that are driven by external factors (Singer, 1993).   A person then who acts under the influence of outside forces is not acting freely, therefore, that person is acting heteronomously. Categorical Imperative Kant grounds the foundations of the princple of his moral philosophy from the denial of principles that are non-universalizable.   Kant formulates this concept as a demand which he calls the categorical imperative (Singer, 1993).   Kant’s formulation of the categorical imperative claims that Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law   (Singer, 1993).   This sentiment is the core of Kant’s ethics and is the basis for the maxims or fundamental principles an individual may advocate.    Kant’s categorical imperative may also be viewed as an end in itself, described as a means that only serves the fulfillment of the interest itself and not to any other purpose.   Immanuel Kant holds that the principles of reason governs the moral law and that irrelevant factors such as what would make people happy, is the basis of morality and the moral law (Guyer and Wood, 1998).   Kant defining Rational beings as people who are capable of moral deliberation who can choose to act by fundamental principles that have universality.   It is in this framework that Kant formulated the Kingdom of Ends and furthered his Categorical Imperative, implying the term kingdom as a group of rational beings bound by common laws. Kant argues that inclination to the categorical imperative bequeaths an individual with autonomous ethical choice.   The basis for such argument is on Kant’s assertion of the bond between moral law and autonomy.   In his presupposition, Kant suggests that practical will is bound by the categorical imperative through the simple fact of reason, and uses such thought to postulate that our wills are autonomous (Johnson, 2004). The essence of Kant’s moral philosophy is quite ironic due to the primary intentions that are never achieved. The first point of criticism is that Kant, like many other scholars are in pursuit of a universal truth, given the textual fact that Kant’s ideas are based on his own assumptions, it is unimaginable that Kant is unable to provide concrete defense of autonomy of the will in accordance to the categorical imperative. Reflection In reference to his categorical imperative, Kant provokes individuals to act according to such principles that ends to the universal law (Singer, 1993).   This categorical imperative, and his moral beliefs for that matter, are based on subjective thinking, another irony on the true aims of his moral philosophy.   In this regard, I think it is safe to connote that Kant’s undertaking of how an individual should think only provides signs of the conventional human flaw, the fear of elements and concepts that the human brain cannot fully comprehend. Personally, I think Kant’s suggestion regarding compliance to the categorical imperative provides freedom in ethical decision making is incomprehensible, since one of his underlying concepts is rationality and morality (Singer, 1993).   I feel that Kant’s moral philosophy may result to individuals to be narrow-minded since they only consider the reasons in doing actions and overlook the possible outcomes that may have destructive tendencies.   I myself cannot see how to live in a world of subjectivity and apathy.   If Kant wrote his ethical theories to burst out personal opinion, he should have been a journalist, rather than a scholar who cannot live up to the principles of his own philosophy. References Johnson, R. (2004). Kant’s Moral Philosophy. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved 12 February 2008 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/#Aut Singer, P. (Ed.) (1993). Blackwell companions to philosophy: A companion to ethics. Malden,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   MA: Blackwell Publishing. Kant, I., Guyer, P. & Wood, A. (Eds.). (1998). Critique of Pure Reason. Cambridgeshire:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cambridge UP.

Corporations Law

Corporations Law 1. 0 Areas of law Corporate social responsibility has long been a touchy issue for governments not Just in Australia, but around the world as well. Companies in Australia are governed by the corporation's act, which outlines the legal capacity and power of a company. The Corporations Act 2001 (Act) s AAA, defines a corporation as a separate legal entity, that includes any corporate body and unincorporated bodies that may sue, be sued or hold property in the name of an office holder appointed for that purpose.In context of corporate governance, the main issue is with the current escalation is in regards to director's duties. Under the Corporations Act 2001 (Act) asses, directors have a civil obligation to act with due care and diligence, with best interest of the corporation in mind. This civil obligation however, does not extend to certain classes of stakeholders other then shareholders. Modern day companies often have a great impact on society at large, through the various activities they conduct.Given the broad economic, environmental and social impacts they have, it is understandable that a push has been made for director's duties to extend beyond warehouses, and include stakeholders at large. The Corporations Act 2001 (Act) sass, also outlines the legal capacity and powers of a company. S 124(1) states, † a company has the legal capacity and power of an individual both in and outside this jurisdiction†. A company can also be held primarily or secondarily accountable for torts and crimes.To think of a corporation as solely an instrument of business, fails to account for social changes, which has taken place over the past century. 5 It is therefore vital that amendments be made to the Corporations Act 2001 (Act), so as to ring accountability and responsibility of corporations and directors up to date with societal change that has occurred over the past decade. 2. 0 Problems associated with the law The current law governing compani es and directors outlined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Act), only allow for calculated corporate social responsibility.According to the Corporations Act 2001 (Act) asses, directors are required to act in good faith and in the best interest of a company, and in appropriate circumstances may choose to take into consideration a range factors external to shareholders, only if they benefit the warehouses collectively. As a result, companies may be obliged to consider CARS, only when it is likely to result in positive publicity, public approval, endorsements and goodwill; investor confidence and demand; and promote a positive impact on company share prices.It is evident that the current Corporations Act 2001 (Act) limits company director's ability to adhere to CARS practices, as shareholders must receive some benefit from engaging in CARS. This can be seen through statements made by The Australian Shareholder Association pertaining to corporate donations in relation to tsunami relief eff orts, here it stated directors have no approval for philanthropy, donations should only be made in situations where they are likely to benefit the company or shareholders through greater exposure.Directors who seek to engage in CARS activities that do not directly benefit their companies or stakeholders would therefore be in breach of their director's duties outlined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Act) assess, and this is where the the Corporations Act 2001 (Act) falls short. 3. 0 Recommendations & suggestions Although there are absences of specific law regarding how companies should be socially responsible, new suggestions and recommendations may be implemented as a guideline for companies to be socially responsible.One of the suggestions is for companies to introduce triple bottom line reporting, principles of conduct and charitable contributions in their environmental record as to evaluate its responsibility performance. However, according to the s 181 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Act) directors of the company should prioritize needs of the company for proper purposes by exercising their powers and duties in good faith. Also, theAustralian government may introduce a rule that requires registered companies to participate in a policy in which each company need to design a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee that will observe every activity conducted and how will it impact those other than the shareholders, specifically the employees, suppliers, customers and also the environment. The company would then have to participate in a policy in which it is required to be publicized on its own website.Although it may be contradicting to the directors' best interest for the company, by spending an mount on volunteering programs, such as the hunger project to help extinguish famine in poor countries, it also helps the company to build a better image that in turn, could be advantageous to the directors. 4. 0 Issues of importance The push for company reporting to in clude CARS related information in annual reports is of utmost importance, given the prominence of corporate influence in today's society.The recommendation to implement triple bottom line reporting would increase the extent to which companies are taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions, in relation to corporate activities that touch on environmental or other issues of community concerned The implementation of the policy requiring companies to establish a corporate Social Responsibility Committee are also essential in the push for more CARS friendly law reforms governing Australian companies.Greater transparency in relation to social and environmental impacts of companies has been called for by community groups, given the success of corporations as vehicles for productive enterprise. The degree of accountability displayed by companies in their course of business pertaining to social and environment issues are understandably a matter of public interest, due to mode rn day companies having a large environmental and social impact on external stakeholders in the course of their activities. . 0 Foreign solutions for CARS A similar issue has been addressed in the United Kingdom in regards to the degree that the directors may take into consideration on its responsibility to other individuals besides its shareholders. As it was being evaluated by the country's Department of Trade and Industry, the issue had resulted in the establishment of the Companies Act 2006 (I-J) (companies Act') that constitutes the first codification of directors' duties.Based on the Companies Acts 172, it has been maintained that the directors are obliged to take considerations of the interests held by individuals other than the shareholders, employees, customers and also the environments 5. Nevertheless, the provision claimed that the directors are required to function in a way that the success of company can be improved, which will then prompt the directors on its duties in protecting the interest of the shareholders.Also, in India, he government has come up with the introduction to the policy of a two-percent Corporate Social Responsibility law that promotes company to be charitable by having two percent from profit earned each financial year to be spent on government-approved projects that may consist of environmental sustainability and education that are leaning towards development of the nation as a whole. Companies are liable in designing its own committee of corporate social responsibility to aid in observing, reporting and preventing any activities that may harm the society and environment.Each report is then to be disclosed in the company's website as required by the policy. 6. 0 Views on suggested reform policies In relation to the proposed reporting reforms pertaining to CARS, we are in agreement that the implementation of the suggested changes would be in the best interest of companies, their directors and wider stakeholders at large. The C orporations and Markets Advisory Committee has stated in their report that it does not support the revision of The Corporations Act 2001 (Act), in relation to the inclusion of CARS under director's duties.The proposed amendments have been seen to fail in providing directors with meaningful clarification, whilst risk obscuring the accountability of directors. It is their belief that that the most effective response to concerns arising from time to time pertaining to the environment and social impact of business behavior, is through the setting of specific legislation directed to the problem real 8. However the Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee have identified a number of issues in relation to the implementation of environmental and social reporting elicits.Issues relating to discrepancies that may arise in relation to comparability, market advantage and cost have been identified. In regards to the comparability of company reports, it has been argued that additional mandator y reporting is necessary to ensure comparability of non-financial reports. Further more, it has been identified that enhanced mandatory reporting would reduce selective positive-only reporting, thereby only benefiting responsible companies by improving their standing among risk analysts.Lastly, concerns have been raised by companies in geared to costs that will have to be incurred due to additional mandatory reporting. There has been a general consensus among companies that additional mandatory reporting will be too costly, however others have argues that such additional reporting could in fact reduce costs, through the standardization of reporting requirements. Having considered these statements, we still belief that the best approach in relation to company CARS reporting, is through the introduction of separate policies which are to run concurrently with the Corporations Act 2001 (Act)

How the human race has become dependent on technology and how this Research Paper

How the human race has become dependent on technology and how this negatively influences the human race individually and as a w - Research Paper Example The introduction of nuclear weapons, luxury items, television, computer and daily used appliances has become a target of these opponents. These opponents argue that technology is making things difficult for mankind and these problems would be felt in the latter years of life. On the other hand the proponents of technology argue that it is a blessing for the whole mankind as it is making things a lot easier for people. The question then remains â€Å"Is technology really affecting us adversely or not?† This essay would further address this question by revolving around the negative influence of technology on our daily lives. The introduction of internet and computers in our life has turned out to be joyful for many as individuals enjoy surfing and chatting on the internet. Internet not only helps one to surf and chat but also helps to find out useful information about different topics. But the opponents argue that internet has turned out to be a disaster for many. Experts on tec hnology believe that excess usage of computers and internet makes one impulsive and forgetful in his daily life. Excessive usage of internet has been termed to be fall under the category of addiction. Different types of self assessment tests have been designed to check if one falls under the category of internet addiction or not. ... In other words internet is causing people to be distracted from education and family both at the same time. Cell phones also fall in the category of the internet as they seem to be causing dependence amongst the people too (Parker 2010). The introduction of nuclear power and nuclear weapons has also turned different aspects of the world. Nuclear power has helped countries to increase their capacity to generate energy so that the scarce resources can be preserved. However on the other hand the negative aspects of nuclear power are not being considered over its advantages. One of the most potential disadvantages of nuclear power is that it creates waste which can be harmful to the environment. Although the nuclear plants have a refining plant through which they reduce their waste but this refinery is not successfully able to contain the radioactive material inside the waste. The chance of accidents in these nuclear plants is also high and certainly causes high risk to the life of a hum an being. Similarly these nuclear power plants are also capable of producing enough plutonium every year so that nuclear warheads can be built (Swain 2007). Nuclear warheads are of serious concern to the whole society as they may be harming the society as a whole. In the World War II it was seen that the atom bomb was able to destroy a large area of Japan which harmed the integrity of the human race. These nuclear weapons have been a cause of concern for the whole world as they may fall in the hands of the wrong people. Nowadays even some of the third world countries like India and Pakistan possess these nuclear warheads. A study showed that the nuclear warheads in Pakistan are susceptible to being stolen by the terrorists. This clearly shows that the invention of nuclear weapons in

What is about 'mercy killing' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What is about 'mercy killing' - Essay Example The base of democracy or fundamental human rights mean individuals free will and rights. If so, giving a right to choose pleasant death to a person is also needed. Along the path from life to death, it is essential to choose the way and timing according to ones own faith about death. I am of the opinion that euthanasia should not be allowed unless a patient is very much pain that can end up killing them. Euthanasia has elicited a big debate across the countries in the world whereby some approve the practice while others detest it. These reactions are based on the view that people take towards the practice based on their cultures and traditions. In my cultural context, euthanasia is considered the same as killing another person. A life of a person is very precious, it is a like a taboo that a person should not terminate the life of another irrespective of the means used. There are some areas where euthanasia is totally banned such that even the patient cannot seek it. I do not think is right because the patient knows what they are going through. The procedure of ‘mercy killing’ it is not popular across many populations, therefore it skips the minds of many to imagine whether such a procedure is ever done anywhere in the world. I initially never though there was ever such a procedure until I went to high school. In most cases, the less developed parts of the world have ve ry little awareness on this procedure. However, in the developed world, people are very much aware and at times patients request the procedure to be done to them. In this regard, there is no option other that the doctor heed to the patient’s need if the laws allow it. Myself included, a majority of the people have some basic understanding of euthanasia. Across the population, it is important that people understand what this procedure entails; this is because very few are able

Establising Integrity and Anticipating Ethnical Challenges Essay

Establising Integrity and Anticipating Ethnical Challenges - Essay Example Participant observations can be considered observations that reveal only the public persona, while the responses of the interview will be intended to reveal the under layers of a relationship. While the public personal can indicates some of those layers, the responses in the interview will hopefully establish a more realistic picture. The concept of the â€Å"shared† construction cannot be ignored as participants are eager to give answers they hope the interviewer is looking to hear. The analysis of the interview will have a built in challenge that seeks to glean unprompted insight from questions that will undoubtedly prompt certain types of responses. When writing about the interviews, it will be important to have a previous concept of which answers will more often be the result of prompting. The anticipated participants will be approached through contact with religious institutions who recommend couples whose marriages appear to have been long lasting. It is anticipated that content couples will be willing to share their experiences. The culture of the religious institution usually creates a culture of people who want to share their experiences. In approaching religious leaders to recommend couples, these â€Å"gatekeepers† are more than likely to recommend those they believe to be content, creating a probability of finding the right couples to interview about a romantic relationship. It will be essential for couples of both male and female gender be approached in order to have a balanced interview. This study will not be using couples in a homosexual relationship because this dynamic is influenced by the culture both within and outside of that configuration. This would be beyond the scope of this particular study. The political, social, and cultural influences would change the focus. Consent will be obtained through a simple form. The purpose of the study will be openly

Michel Foucault. Panopticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Michel Foucault. Panopticism - Essay Example This visibility is actually a trap: prisoners can see each other but cannot communicate. â€Å"The major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power† (Foucault). Paradoxical at first glance, Foucault’s writing parallels contemporary realities and conflicts. Panopticon exemplifies a unique analogy of present day surveillance relations and principles (Simon 2). Panopticon also closely resembles and redefines the essence of modern communications, particularly, the Internet (Winokur 1). Winokur suggests that, through the prism of Foucault’s writings, the Internet makes users question the mere essence of electronic communications and relations (1). Why the Panopticon-Internet relationship? The answer is simple: both operate as complex poststructuralist models of human relations with permanent and conscious visibility as the main prerequisites for the successful use of power (Winokur 1). The Internet is more panoptic than cinema or television. It is a bi-directional space, in which people observe other people through the computer monitor. Contrary to most beliefs, the Internet is not an instrument of socialization and empowerment but merely a tool of remote control (Winokur 5). This is where Foucault’s Panopticon turns into a symbol of present day surveillance relations. However, Foucault’s writing is much more complicated than it seems; and so is the world described by the philosopher in his famous work. The writing deserves much attention and analysis to understand its real meaning and writer’s idea. The Panopticon is not merely an instrument and medium of power, its meaning is really more important. It is the symbol of social resistance and control (Simon 3). It is a representation of a socio-material epistemology (Simon 3). Panopticon shapes a unique but extremely

The Annuciation in Gothic and Early Renaissance Art Essay

The Annuciation in Gothic and Early Renaissance Art - Essay Example Overall, the painters act as the societal mirror with emphasis in interpretation of complex issues. Vyssi Brod Cycle was a painting done by Master/Cycle of Vyssi Brod and is dated 1350. The 14th century was manifested with the urge to represent the Annunciation by several painters as observed in the above art showing an angel communicating to Virgin Mary. Master/Cycle of Vyssi Brod, an artist of German descent, use tempera on wood panel to smoothen the linen coating of his painting now located in the National Gallery in Prague (Janson & Janson 123). This painting is called Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus and was done by two artists namely Lippo Memmi and Simone Martini. These were Italian Gothic artists fascinated with the Annunciation concept prompting them to complete the painting in 1333. On the other hand, they used gold on panel and Tempera to exquisitely paint the Cathedral of Siena as dedication to the patron saints of the city such as St. Ansanus and St. Victor. Therefore, because of its brilliant nature, the painting is presently located in Florence, Italy and mostly displayed at Uffizi Gallery. It means the Annunciation of this painting is determined by the entry of Archangel Gabriel into the house of Virgin Mary to bear the message of the son to be born called Jesus. In terms of Annunciation, the two artists easily compare to original biblical text found in Luke 1:26-38. For example, Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus by Lippo Memmi and Simone Martini actually depict the moment Archangel Gabriel has descended from heaven to impart the good message of a son to be born. This is complimented by extras that include the background setting where Mary is seated in a holy place flanked by companions carrying crosses. Alternatively, the props that include the flower in Gabriel’s hand enable the two artists to elaborate the story because it is a representation of a gift (Janson & Janson 128). Additionally, the two

OP-ED articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

OP-ED articles - Essay Example The USA president Obama has said that he will look to build consensus in the international community before intervening in Syria (Nicholas and Adam). This necessary means that all major western powers such as Russia , France and UK need to agree on the need for intervention. However whenever USA is asked to send its military to a foreign land in order to ‘liberate’ the people of the country, the voices of those who matter the most are never heard. In this article I will try to bring the spotlight on these voices – the average citizen of USA who pays for the military intervention, the soldier who has to lay down his life and the people of the country who are being ‘liberated’. ... So much amount of public money going down the drain is downright criminal when Congress is telling us that it does not have any money to spend on health, education and social security. How do the citizens of USA benefit by sponsoring these wars in distant foreign lands? What do we gain? No one has ever asked this question. It is time to do so. I think it should be made mandatory for a referendum to be held for intervening in wars which do not belong to us. The decision to bring democracy to distant lands should be a democratic one. If the people vote a yes in the referendum, then the President should be free to intervene in Syria. The people may make a wrong decision but at least it will be their decision, not the decision of NATO or a war hungry president. If we are paying for these wars, it is the USA soldiers who are dying in these wars.2220 USA soldiers have laid down their lives in Afghanistan (Icasualties.org.) and 4488 young soldiers have been killed in the Iraqi war (Antiwar. com.).As so many of them lay down their lives, it is just that they also have say in which wars to fight and which ones to avoid. Some people may say that as soldiers they have no right to have a say, it is the prerogative of the elected legislature. I agree that it is the prerogative of the legislature and the President of USA to declare wars; and I also agree that soldiers when they join the army agree to serve our nation without any question. But we have made an army to defend our country and fight our wars; not to liberate Syria or Libya. An army man will be more than happy to lay down his life for his motherland but why should he kill himself for people he has never met and who mean nothing to him. The death of our soldiers when there is no threat

International Risk Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Risk - Term Paper Example Introduction Main Street Capital Corporation (MSCC) was founded on 9, March 2007 with a diverse purpose agenda. The firm assists the business corporations and companies by providing the long-term debts to the middle market and the lower class middle market (LMM) companies. It also helps the middle markets by providing them with the equity capital and tends to commence its partnership with entrepreneurs, management organizations and reputed business companies and it normally grants the financing alternatives within its lower-middle-market profile (MSCC, n.p.) Such classes of companies normally generate $10-$150 million per annum and the long term debt investments are made for the companies greater than the lower-middle-market companies with respect to their business capital multitude. It seeks to bridge financial hole and the gap between LMM businesses and the investment and revenue generations. With the expanse of the MSCC, the company has debt and invested in almost 59 LMM companies till the Fall, 2012. At the end of the year 2012, the Middle Market scenario of the investments had risen up to 85 companies in total. The basic business strategies are categorized as follows 1. Delivery of the customized solution of financial problems in the LMM market. 2. Focusing and assisting the newly established companies. 3. Invest to help multiple companies, Business firms, industries, Regional and capital markets by strictly following a pre-defined investment criteria. 4. Leveraging on strong finance sourcing groups. 5. Lower rates of debts as compared to other debt companies and banks and providing benefit from long term, fixed capital and lower capital financing. (MSCC, n.p.) Owing to the expanse in the business and the investments, financial decisions, debt planning and managing the total expenditure per annum is ofcourse a very risky job and it renders the streamline of the company vulnerable to loss exposure and other risky situations. Following are the risk factors w hich could be predicted stochastically on the basis of the firm’s performance and subject to the economic and investment constraints, business structure and the competition with other business investment funds. The sinusoidal behavior of the economic conditions of US could be catastrophic to the performance of the firm. This rise and all in the country’s economy renders the operation of the company very risky and will obviously down trod the portfolio of the firm. Managing and deploying the capital with proficiency Competitions with other firms Referral conditions, relationships, and the maintenance of such relationships by managing and pacifying all the cliches and the rifts between client and our firm. It could be risky Rules and regulations governing the working of the firm and adversely affecting the way in which the firm rise its capital. Money borrowing business. So the potential for the gain or loss is amplified and so is the risk of investment on the company Su bjugated to the SBA authority regulations because of the licensing issues. Insurance rules in Germany Germans believe in the quotation â€Å"Better safe than sorry†. Germany is the forefront of technology trade and hence it is also a scientific hub. Because

Article review in fashion industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article review in fashion industry - Essay Example However, this may not be always easy for the companies to know what designs offends or goes against cultural beliefs and practices of an individual society2. However, there are certain ways that designers can avoid conflicts and offending others using their designers3. For instance in the case of Urban Outfitters, in the controversy regarding the grey and white striped pattern combined with a pink triangle, may be the Company would have changed the color of the stripes and the triangle shape to a different one, and that way it would not have offended anyone. Also, in cases of ‘Punk as F**k Shirt’ and ‘Pro-booze Shirts for Kids,’ Urban Outfitters would have avoided using offending logos, in particular, to the parents who always wish that their children would not suffer due to negative fashion influences. I believe that it is possible to convince the market people on any controversy, but if only it is not repeated several times. Furthermore, asking for genuine apology can make the market people change their attitude and perceive the apologizing party as sensitive, and thus forgive

Fast Food America Essay Example for Free

Fast Food America Essay Fast food has become a major phenomenon here in America. According to Eric Schlosser, he writes in the New York Times, on average $301,369,863 is spent a day on fast food. As Schlosser shows, American people are abusing fast food. In accordance with fast food binging, obesity has become a widespread epidemic. According to Joseph Mercola M. D. , on a personal website states obesity is, A chronic condition that develops as a result of an interaction between a persons genetic makeup and their environment. Here Dr. Mercola expresses how obesity is directly related to an individuals environment. Today it is not uncommon to find major fast food chains with in a short distance from residential areas. With so many choices for fast food, Americans turn to the fast food as an alternative to the healthy home cooked meal. The reason for so many Americans eating out is simply because they are in a hurry or unable to cook and just want something fast and easy. A majority of these people get into the habit of constantly eating at these fast food chains. According to Morgan Spurlock, in his documentary Super Size Me, he quotes Elliot Bloom, a young marketing wiz for Taco Bell, The fast food chains were sustained by a large group of diners who ate out more than twenty times a month. A big chunk of this group, about 30% of customers, were considered to be heavy users and accountable for bringing in a whopping 70% of total revenue. These numbers show how important fast food has become to Americans daily eating habits, and further demonstrates the connection between fast food eating and the increases in obesity. Accordingly, excessive amounts of fast food can be very damaging to ones body, and there is proof to back up this claim. Director Morgan Spurlock, set out to document a strictly fast food diet, I am trying to prove, fast food makes someone fat. Spurlock closely documented his thirty-day McDonalds binge, eating only foods and beverages served at the one of the many Golden Arches. Over the thirty-days, he underwent some amazing conditions that even the doctors and health care professionals could not have predicted. Besides the usual changes which included skyrocketing cholesterol and a major increase in body fat, his liver was showing signs similar to that of a smoker. Though the symptoms that Spurlock experienced were on a very drastic scale, this is what is slowly damaging many Americans who are unable to control their fast food cravings. Research has shown the severity of obesity since the late 1980s, and the studies show the common health problems related with obesity are Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Osteoarthritis. However, little is known publicly about the dangers of obesity, and the future repercussions if obesity. According to Nanci Hellmich, writing in the USA Today, she states that, Overall, employers and privately insured families spent approximately $36. 5 billion on obesity-linked illnesses in 2002, up from an inflation-adjusted $3. 6 billion in 1987. Hellmichs statistics show a tenfold increase in obesity spending over a span of fifteen years. If obesity continues to increase at this rate, in the future obesity may become the deadliest disease in America. Hellmich goes on to say, On average, treating an obese person cost $1,244 more in 2002 than treating a healthy-weight person did. In 1987, the gap was $272. As Hellmich shows in her quote, there exist a connection between obesity and increasing health care cost. Since the majority of Americans pay for health care, the epidemic spreads beyond those affected directly, and raises prices for the healthy Americans too. Hellmich shows there is a cause for concern, simply because obesity has predominately increased over the past two decades. The problem starts with the media which influences Americans eating habits on a daily basis. Today Americans have numerous choices in fast food as compared to five to ten years ago. As well as more commercials there exists the convenience of eating fast food. Within minutes, fast food is ready to serve at most fast food restaurants, and for relatively cheap. Besides the fact food preparation is fast, every year thousands of commercials can be seen on TV. According to Spurlock, on average a single person watches about 10,000 different commercials per year, most of them being junk or fast food products. These influential commercials broadcast smart slogans and offer cheap food to attract customers. In a recent survey, at the Brea Mall Food Court, when asked if they ate on a daily basis, 28 % of males said yes, while 25% of women said they too ate out daily. A surprising portion of people, 30% said they enjoyed the taste and quality, while majority about 46% said there was no time to cook at home because of work or hectic schedules. With so many great food specials and a plethora of commercials, its no wonder Americans turn to fast food for meals. Fast food is practical, quick, and reasonably cheap, though unhealthy many seem to no care. The first signs of concern came in 2003 when legislation was passed by Congress to help to slow obesity among children. The new law banned all junk foods from public schools and enforced new cafeteria food requirements. Robert Colin Carter a medical researcher from the John Hopkins School of Medicine showed that the meals served prior to changes by school cafeterias exceeded the newly established limits for total and saturated fats, set by the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program. Here Carter shows the importance for the legislation, as well as exposing children to healthier foods. In a recent interview, with Sonya Dravenstatt, a School Nutrionist, she stated, The new menu now consists of vegetables, low calorie pizzas, and salads. The unhealthy items such as Tatter-tots and French Fries have been substituted with corn, green beans, and fruit cocktail. As Mrs. Dravenstatt mentioned, the meals are better for the students and follow the limits recently established by NSLP and NSBP. As well as healthier foods in cafeterias, there has been a fairly recent ban of unhealthy foods and drinks in public school vending machines. The soda selection has been exchanged with Dasani water, Minute Maid Juices, and various PowerAde flavors. As for food, all candy and snacks high in fat and sugar have been replaced with healthy low fat alternatives. As well as the changes Spurlock noted in his documentary, there has also been recent public out cry for fast food restaurants to create healthier portions. In 2004 McDonalds forever banished their Super Sized soft drinks and fries, and in 2005 Arbys abolished their Giant Size offerings. While removing these bigger portions from the menu, food chains like McDonalds now offer healthier portions and substitutions. For example french fries can be replaced with a side of apple slices or mini salad and instead of soda a variety of juices are offered (Spurlock). These healthier changes need to be continued due to the fact fast food is a major contributor to obesity. However, the change must begin with the consumers. The numbers show that people are dining out too often and it is affecting their physical health. Since a majority of Americans are either unaware or uninformed on how to prevent obesity, the solution should be enforced by the Government. By issuing a plan of action for fast food companies, a majority of unhealthy food can be exchanged with healthier portions. If the Government passed legislation subjecting fast food chains to restrictions on what consumers can purchase, maybe then fast food consumption could help the obesity epidemic. Fast food companies need to abide by nutrition laws, in the same way schools do, to protect naive consumers. The creation of a program could strictly regulate the unhealthy content commonly found in fast food. A program with capabilities to regulate big corps such as McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Kentucky Fried Chicken would be a major success in terms of stopping the widespread disease. Americans need to wake up and face the facts. Consumers must take the initiative to learn the facts on healthy dieting. The problem needs to be dealt with now, and not in the future. Obesity is affecting millions of Americans each year and is a major threat to American childrens future health. If parents and children are not held accountable now, obesity will continue to shorten lives and cost billions of dollars in health care. Hellmich, Nanci. Health Spending Soars for Obesity. USA Today on the Web 26 June. 2005. 18 Oct. 2005 http://www. usatoday. com/news/health/2005-06-26-health-spending-obesity_x. htm Mercola, Dr. Joseph. Home page. 2005. 18 Oct. 2005. Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation, The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York Times on the Web 2000. 18 Oct. 2005.