Xdsl Essays - Digital Subscriber Line, DSL Modem,

Xdsl Digital Subscriber Lines Fast and affordable Internet access has become a big issue for private users and small businesses. Today users have many different options concerning Internet access. One can use a 56k/28k modem, cable modem, wireless, Ethernet, an ISDN connection, a T1 or T3 connection, or a DSL connection. Each method of connection has advantages and disadvantages concerning security, cost, and speed. A newer technology for users is DSL or a Digital Subscriber Line. DSL uses existing phone lines to send info. Unlike a dial up analog modem, a DSL connection allows voice and data to be sent at the same time on the same phone line, the bit rate is faster and the connection is continuous (no need to dial up). DSL Technology DSL is a technology for pushing high bit rates through last mile telephone connections (small gage copper less that 18,000 ft.). For most people, point A will be their home and point B will be the substation of the local phone company. DSL modems, unlike conventional modems, establish a connection from one end of a copper wire to the other end of that copper wire: the signal does not pass into the telephone switching system. DSL modems are not limited to using only the voice frequencies passed by the standard telephone system (usually 0-4kHz), DSL modems typically use more than 100kHhz. (Day 1999) When the local loop carrying the voice/data reaches the local phone company the loop first goes to a splitter which separates the voice from the data. The voice frequencies are sent to the traditional telephone switching network used for voice transfer. The data frequencies are wired into a DSL modem at the central office (CO) end. The resulting high-speed digital data stream coming from (or going to) the consumer is handled as digital data (not analog voice) and may be hooked into a number of networks connection to the data's destination. The data never enters the standard telephone switching system. (Day 1999) When you connect to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) you are not connecting to the ISP over its standard modem bank, instead you are coming in over some sort of LAN/WAN (Local/Wide Area Network) data connection that the ISP has arranged with your local phone company. This is the only way an ISP can provide DSL-connected ISP service for customers. Because of the connection to the area network the DSL connection is always on, there is no need to dial up and connect to a modem. (Day 1999) This is a good graphic network map from dslreports.com DSL Protocols There are many different protocols and sub protocols that fall under DSL. Some of the main protocols for DSL are: -ADSL-Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (1.5 Mbps-9Mbps) (DNAI 1999) -RADSL-Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (test and adapts for fastest speed) (DNAI 1999) -HDSL-High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (T1 Speeds, currently requires 2 lines) (DNAI 1999) -VDSL-Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (ten times as fast as ADSL, not on market yet) (Clarke 1999) DSL networks have modems at both ends of the connection, the customer's modem and the ISP's modem. Because different protocols use different hardware (modem) the ISP chooses what protocol will be used. Hardware Although it depends on your ISP and the equipment they use, typically you will need a 10Base-T adapter with which to connect to the external DSL modem, and a personal computer. Keep in mind that with different protocols you will need different DSL modems. If you are putting together a LAN you will also need a hub or preferably a switch. Usually the customer DSL device is implemented as a bridge, router or both. (Kristoff 1999) Splitters and Filters Because the same line is used to send voice and data frequencies it is possible for interference to occur. Sometimes a phone will go above the 4kHZ frequency and cause interference with the DSL data stream. Another problem is the high frequencies used by the DSL modem can be picked up by the phone resulting in static on the headset. The original solution to 4kHZ interference problems was to use a POTS splitter. A splitter takes the phone line and forks it. One line goes to the telephones and the other goes to the DSL modem. Besides splitting the line the splitter acts as a

Global Food Production essays

Global Food Production essays The present world population exceeds 6 billion people. Incredibly, of those 6 billion about half suffer from malnourishment. In the past, people viewed malnutrition as a problem of hunger and famine amongst poor countries. However, the definition of malnourishment has broadened to include a deficiency in a persons intake of nutrients and other dietary elements to live a healthy life, as well as an excess in the intake of nutrients. For the first time in history the number of people that are over-consuming food rivals the number of people that arent eating enough. Over-consumption is a problem of industrialized countries with the United States leading the way. Also, there are profound misconceptions about malnutrition. For example, there is often enough food to go around in countries like Africa where hunger is severe. Also, in U.S., the wealthiest nation in all of history, hunger still persists. The biggest misconception of all is that global hunger is a result of scarcity of food. For more than 40 years the world has produced regular and often bountiful food surpluses. So why then does malnutrition affect half of the worlds population? Delving into this problem we find that malnutrition is only the tip of the iceberg to a much more intricate global problem. As we analyze the problems of worldwide malnutrition we find it is interconnected to global food production systems, land and water degradation, poverty, and the political-economy of globalization. We find that malnutrition is only the face to a whole body of problems. It is the first visible symptom of our present day food production system. It directly affects populations which we easily identify with. Looking beyond the immediate effects of malnutrition, we find connections to the degradation of the environment on a global scale. Malnutrition leads to another problem, and another to another, and so on and so forth. As our perspective widen...

A Timeline of the History of Alcohol

A Timeline of the History of Alcohol The history of alcohol and humans is at least 30,000 and arguably 100,000 years long. Alcohol, a flammable liquid produced by the natural fermentation of sugars, is currently the most widely used human psychoactive agent around the world today, ahead of nicotine, caffeine, and betel nut. It was made and consumed by prehistoric societies in six of the seven continents (not Antarctica), in a variety of forms based on a variety of natural sugars found in grains and fruits.   Alcohol Timeline: Consumption The earliest possible moment that humans consumed alcohol is conjecture. The creation of alcohol is a natural process, and scholars have noted that primates, insects, and birds partake in (accidentally) fermented berries and fruit. While there is no direct evidence that our ancient ancestors also drank fermented liquids, it is a possibility we should consider. 100,000 years ago (theoretically): At some point, Paleolithic humans or their ancestors recognized that leaving fruit in the bottom of a container for an extended period of time leads naturally to alcohol-infused juices. 30,000 BCE: Some scholars interpret the abstract parts of Upper Paleolithic cave art as the work of shamans, religious specialists who were attempting to connect with natural forces and supernatural beings. Shamans work under altered states of consciousness (ASC), which can be created by chanting or fasting or aided by pyschotropic drugs, like alcohol. Some of the earliest cave paintings suggest activities of shamans; some scholars have suggested they reached ASC using alcohol. Laussel Venus, Upper Paleolithic Bas-Relief, Aquitaine Museum, Bordeaux, France. Apic / Hulton Archive / Getty Images 25,000 BCE: The Venus of Laussel, found in a French Upper Paleolithic cave, is a carved representation of a woman holding what looks like a cornucopia or a bison horn core. Some scholars have interpreted it as a drinking horn. 13,000 BCE: To intentionally make fermented beverages, one needs a container where they may be stored during the process, and the first pottery was invented in China at least 15,000 years ago. 10,000 BCE: Grape pips attest to possible wine consumption at Franchthi Cave in Greece. 9th millennium BCE: The earliest domesticated fruit was the fig tree, 8th millennium BCE: The domestication of rice and barley, crops used for the production of fermented alcohol, occurred about 10,000 years ago. Production Alcoholic substances have intoxicating, mind-altering properties that might have been restricted to elites and religious specialists, but they were also used in the maintenance of social cohesion in the context of feasting available to everyone in a community.  Some herb-based beverages may have been used for medicinal purposes as well. 7000 BCE: The earliest evidence of wine production comes from jars at the Neolithic site of Jiahu in China, where residue analysis has identified a fermented concoction of rice, honey and fruit. 5400–5000 BCE: Based on the recovery of tartaric acid in ceramic vessels, people produced resinated wine, such as that on a fairly large scale at Hajji Firuz Tepe, Iran. 4400–4000 BCE: Grape pips, empty grape skins, and two-handled cups at the Greek site of Dikili Tash are the earliest evidence for wine production in the Aegean Sea region. 4000 BCE: A platform for crushing grapes and a process to move crushed grapes to storage jars are evidence of wine production at the Armenian site of Areni-1. Ubaid Pottery from Susa, Iran, 4th millennium BCE, Musà ©e National de Cà ©ramique, Sà ªvres, France. Siren-Com 4th millennium BCE: By the beginning of the 4th millennium BCE, wine and beer were produced in many locations in Mesopotamia, Assyria and Anatolia (such as the Ubaid site of Tepe Gawra) and treated as a trade and elite luxury good. At the same time, Predynastic Egyptian tomb paintings and wine jars are evidence of the local production of herb-based beers. 3400–2500  BCE: The predynastic community of Hierankopolis in Egypt had a large number of barley- and wheat-based brewery installations. Alcohol as a Trade Good It is difficult to draw the line globally for the production of wine and beer explicitly for trade. It seems clear that alcohol was both an elite substance and one with ritual significance, and the liquids as well as the technology of making them was shared and traded across cultures fairly early on. 3150 BCE: One of the rooms of the tomb of Scorpion I, the earliest of the dynastic kings of Egypt, was stuffed with 700 jars believed to have been made and filled with wine in the Levant and shipped to the king for his consumption. 3300–1200 BCE: Wine consumption is in evidence, used in ritual and elite contexts in Early Bronze Age sites in Greece, including both Minoan and ​Mycenaean cultures. Fu Yi Gong wine vessel from the Late Shang Dynasty (13th–11th century BCE) at the Shanghai Museum, China. Tim Graham / Getty Images 1600–722 BCE: Cereal based alcohol are stored in sealed bronze vessels of Shang (ca. 1600-1046 BCE), and Western Zhou (ca. 1046-722 BCE) dynasties in China. 2000–1400 BCE: Textual evidence demonstrates that barley and rice beers, and others made from a variety of grasses, fruits and other substances, were produced in the Indian subcontinent at least as long ago as the Vedic period. 1700–1550 BC: Beer based on the locally domesticated sorghum grain is manufactured and becomes ritually important in the Kerma dynasty of the Kushite kingdom of present-day Sudan. 9th century BCE: Chicha beer, made from a combination of maize and fruit, is a significant part of feasting and status differentiation throughout South America.   8th century BCE: In his classic tales The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer prominently mentions the wine of Pramnos. When [Circe] had got [the Argonauts] into her house, she set them upon benches and seats and mixed them a mess with cheese, honey, meal, and Pramnian wine, but she drugged it with wicked poisons to make them forget their homes, and when they had drunk she turned them into pigs by a stroke of her wand and shut them up in her pig-sties. Homer, The Odyssey, Book X 8th–5th centuries BCE: The Etruscans produce the first wines in Italy; according to Pliny the Elder, they practice wine blending and create a muscatel type beverage. 600 BCE: Marseilles is founded by the Greeks who brought wines and vines to the great port city in France.   Iron and Gold Drinking Horn of the Celtic Chieftain at Hochdorf, on display at Kunst der Kelten, Historisches Museum Bern. Rosemania 530–400 BCE: Grain beers and mead produced in central Europe, such as barley beer at Iron Age Hochdorf in what is today Germany. 500–400 BCE: Some scholars, such as F.R. Alchin, believe that the first distillation of alcohol might have occurred as early as this period in India and Pakistan. 425–400 BCE: Wine production at the Mediterranean port of Lattara in southern France marks the beginning of the wine industry in France. 4th century BCE: The Roman colony and competitor of Carthage in North Africa has an extensive trade network of wine (and other goods) all over the Mediterranean region, including a sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes.   4th century BCE: According to Plato, strict laws in Carthage forbid the drinking of wine for magistrates, jury members, councilors, soldiers, and ships pilots while on duty, and for slaves at any time.   Widespread Commercial Production The empires of Greece and Rome are largely responsible for the international commercialization of the trade in many different goods, and specifically in the production of alcoholic beverages. 1st–2nd centuries BCE: The Mediterranean wine trade explodes, bolstered by the Roman empire. 150 BCE–350 CE: Distillation of alcohol is a common practice in in northwest Pakistan.   92 CE: Domitian forbids the planting of new vineyards in the provinces because the competition is killing the Italian market. Roman pavement mosaic depicting the god Bacchus at the Genazzano Villa in Rome, Antonine dynasty, 138–193 CE.   Werner Forman / Archive/Heritage Images / Getty Images 2nd century CE: Romans begin cultivating grapes and producing wine in Mosel valley of Germany and France becomes a major wine-producing region. 4th century CE: The process of distillation is (possibly re-)developed in Egypt and Arabia. 150 BCE–650 CE: Pulque, made from fermented agave, is used as a dietary supplement at the Mexican capital city of Teotihuacan. 300–800 CE: At Classic period Maya feasts, participants consume balche (made from honey and bark) and chicha (maize-based beer).   500–1000 CE: Chicha beer becomes a significant element of feasting for the Tiwanaku in South America, evidenced in part by the classic kero form of flared drinking goblet.   13th century CE: Pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented agave, is part of the Aztec state in Mexico. 16th century CE: Production of wine in Europe moves from monasteries to merchants. Selected Sources Anderson, Peter. Global Use of Alcohol, Drugs . Drug 25.6 (2006): 489–502. Print.and andTobacco Alcohol ReviewDietler, Michael. Alcohol: Anthropological/Archaeological Perspectives. Annual Review of Anthropology 35.1 (2006): 229–49. Print.McGovern, Patrick E. Uncorking the Past: The Quest for Beer, Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009. Print.McGovern, Patrick E., Stuart J. Fleming, and Solomon H. Katz, eds. The Origins and Ancient History of Wine. Philadelphia: The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2005. Print.McGovern, Patrick E., et al. Fermented Beverages of Pre- and Proto-Historic China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101.51 (2004): 17593–98. Print.Meussdoerffer, Franz G. A Comprehensive History of Beer Brewing. Handbook of Brewing. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, 2009. 1–42. Print.Stika, Hans-Peter. Beer in Prehistoric Europe. Liquid Bread: Beer and Brewi ng in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Eds. Schiefenhovel, Wulf and Helen Macbeth. Vol. 7. The Anthropology of Food and Nutrition. New York: Berghahn Books, 2011. 55–62. Print. Surico, Giuseppe. The Grapevine and Wine Production through the Ages. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 39.1 (2000): 3–10. Print.

Provide a concise account of the fundamental legal, ethical and Essay

Provide a concise account of the fundamental legal, ethical and professional practice aspects of nursing drug administration - Essay Example The safe and efficient administration of medication is one of the key responsibilities of the professional nurse. The practice of drug administration involves providing the patient with a substance prescribed and intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a medical illness or condition (Hopkins, 1999). Although, effective drug administration involves the actual and complete conveyance of a prescribed medication to the patient, however, there is wider set of practices required to achieve safe, effective patient outcomes and to prepare for and evaluate the outcome of medication administration (Potter and Anne, 1997; Taylor et al, 1997). Because nurses administer prescribed drugs directly to patients, they happen to be the last link in the safe and effective drug prescription and administration sequence. Increased acuity of the patient nurses have to serve and the apparent reduction in the volume of resources available to nurses to ensure safe and effective practice, have greatly complicated the role of the nurse in drug administration (Cook, 2002). The purpose of this paper is therefore, to examine the legal, ethical and professional requirements of safe nursing drug administration. According to the NMC Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines, administration of medicines is a vital part of the professional duty of the nurse. It is not, however, a function that can be carried out ‘mechanically’ or following orders, but should be seen as a task that must be carried out in strict compliance with the written prescription of a medical practitioner. More importantly, it is task that requires thought and the exercise of professional judgement (NMC, 2002:3). Drug administration play a crucial role in achieving positive patient outcomes and despite the complexities involved with safely administering medications to patients, the professional nurse is duty-bound to do everything within her professional capacity to ensure this. The NMC code of

Subsidence Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Subsidence - Coursework Example The crystalline rocks in which most metals are mined have greater strength and are less likely to settle or collapse. Subsidence can also occur where underground water has dissolved subsurface materials or has been withdrawn by wells. Sinking caused by the caving in of underground mine workings. Subsidence can result in serious structural damage to buildings, roads, irrigation ditches, underground utilities and pipelines. It can disrupt and alter the flow of surface or underground water. Surface depressions created by subsidence may be filled in, only to sink further because the underground void has not been completely closed. Areas may appear to be free of subsidence for many years and then undergo renewed gradual or even drastic subsidence Weight, including surface developments such as roads, reservoirs, and buildings, and man-made vibrations from such activities as blasting, heavy truck or train traffic can accelerate the natural processes of subsidence. Fluctuations in the level of underground waters caused by pumping or by injecting fluids into the earth can initiate sinking to fill the empty space previously occupied by water or soluble minerals. In general, the type and severity of surface subsidence is governed by the amount ground surface and the location of removal or compression, and the geologic conditions of a particular site. Withdrawal of pore fluids, usually ground water, is a common cause of ground subsidence. Massive lowering of the groundwater table by "mining" of ground water* in a poorly consolidated aquifer results in subsidence of the ground surface. Hydrocompaction produces ground surface collapse from excessive wetting of certain low-density weak soils. This can occur in two general types of soil, a) wind deposited silts b) predominantly fine-grained colluvial soils. In either case, collapse occurs from excessive wetting of previously dry, collapsible soils. Wetting of these materials weakens the already weak or unstable soil structure, which undergoes internal collapse and densification (reduction of air voids). Densification of the weak soil column produces ground surface collapse and subsidence in the v icinity of excessive wetting. Removal of fine material by piping* is probably an additional factor in some cases of subsidence by wetting. Such excessive wetting can occur from irrigation, broken water lines, surface ponding, or drainage diversions. Dissolution of soluble rock or soil materials also results in ground subsidence. This occurs in areas underlain by highly soluble rock formations-especially gypsum (CaSo4. 2H2O), or halite (NaC1); and to lesser extent in limestone (CaCO3) materials. Removal of earth materials by water solution leads to surface collapse. Hydrologic factors that may cause the solution and removal of material may be natural or man-induced. Natural solution is the result of the normal hydrologic processes of downward percolation of surface water and/or lateral movement of ground water within the water table (either the main ground water table or a perched water table). Man-induced hydrologic changes or activities can have much the same effect on soluble eart h materials. Such activities include temporary or permanent stream channel changes, irrigation ditches, land irrigation leaking or broken pipes, temporary or perm

How the area of a wire affects the resistance in a circuit Essay Example for Free

How the area of a wire affects the resistance in a circuit Essay Electricity is conducted through a conductor. Resistance is the word used to describe the opposition between forces. The more free electrons there are, the better the conduction and the worse the resistance is. The more atoms vibrate, the more resistance there is. The free electrons are given energy, as a result they move and collide with the surrounding electrons. This happen throughout the whole wire. This is how the electricity is conducted. Resistance is the result of energy loss in form of heat. How do we measure it? V=I/R V=Voltage I =Current R=Resistance Ohms Law. This law states that the current through a metallic conductor (wire) at a constant temperature is proportional to the potential difference (Voltage). Therefore the Voltage and Current is constant. If the resistance increases the temperature increases, so it stays constant. At higher temperatures the particles move more quickly, increasing the collision of the free electrons. Possible Input Variables Wire area Wire thickness Wire length Applied voltage Material Taught connections Cross-sectional shape Insulated Density of wire Coiled or not Temperature Preliminary Experiments. Easy to measure? Easy to change Wire area V V Wire thickness X X Wire length V V Applied voltage V V Material X V Taught connections X X Cross-sectional shape X X Insulated X V Density of wire V X Coiled or not V V Temperature V V Applied I or V by a double cell which is measured by digital volt and ammeter. I will find out the Resistance by the formula using R=V/I. Wire area. It is difficult to change the area. A possible solution would be to add wires and twist them together. Coiled or not? It has not got an obvious affect. The Voltage and Current didnt increase or decrease. Temperature. My idea was to set up a water bath to keep the wire at a same temperature at every point. I would experiment with temperatures from 20? C-100 (room temperature to the boiling point of water) Wire length. Is very easy to set up. There is a very large range of results. Chosen Input variable I chose wire area as my variable because it is has a better variety of results. I will have 8 wires with the same cross sectional area. It would be to expensive using different cross sectional sizes of wire. I will put the wire parallel to each other an twist them add the end to increase the area of the wire. My chosen output variable is resistance because that is what I am looking for in the wire. Fair Test In the experiment I am not going to change anything ( wire length and applied voltage). The only thing I will change is the area of the wire (input variable). I will use the same equipment throughout the test, to make sure it is a fair test. If I would use different equipment it may give me different readings. I am using a safety resistor, so that the current is the same and that the wire will not overheat. It would not be a fair test if the wire would heat because it would give my different sets of results at different temperatures. It could also be a safety hazard if the wire overheats. Method Cut eight wires of the same cross sectional area in 35cm length (only 30cm of wire measured because I have to attach crocodile clips on each side   The equipment is as following: 2 cell Battery Ammeter+ Voltmeter Safety Resistor 8 wires (35cm) 2 crocodile clips   My circuit will look as following:   Let electricity pass through the circuit and note down the readings of the ammeter and voltmeter. Add more wires to the circuit and continue as planned   Make three sets of results through an accurate experiment Prediction I will expect that if the area of the wire increases the resistance will decrease. This can be proven by background physics of the past. Observation Test Results Nr. of wires   This graph shows the voltages I measured Nr. of wires This graph shows the Current I measured Nr. of wires R1 R2 R3 Rave Area m^2 1/Area   This graph shows me the resistance and resistance average I have worked out. It also includes the formulas for the Area and 1/Area My Graphs are on a separate sheet of graph paper. Analysis My graph shows me that if I increase the area the resistance decreases. I have plotted two graphs to give me a wider range of results and averages in different areas (1/Area and Area m^2). My Area graph looks like a y =1/X graph X Y 1 1 2 0. 5 3 0. 333 4 0. 25 To reassure this I have plotted an average 1/Area. If it is correct then I should get a straight line. When I plotted the graph I had a straight line. This tells me that the average is proportional to 1/Area i. e. Rave ? 1/Area. The slope is: y/x= 10. 5/16= 0. 66 ? /mi I am ignoring the offset on my 1/Area graph This experiment shows me that resistance is definitely affected by the area of the wire. Looking at my background physics it has worked out like resistors on a parallel circuit. When attaching another wire to the experiment it acts like adding another parallel resistor in a parallel circuit. So if the area of the wire increases the resistance decreases. Also I have learned if the voltage goes down the resistance goes up Evaluation I found this experiment easy to do. I had no anomalies on my graph. This means that the points I have plotted are all in a acceptable arrangement. There were no experimental caused by a faulty connection. There were no safety hazards and the experiment was safe to do.

Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology Essay -- Psychology

For a long time in history, studies of history of psychology have been done in three distinct ways. These domains were as follows: consciousness, psyche, behavior and mental life but every case stood on its own. Psychology was in this case the knowledge domain. Moreover, psychology was composed of various accounts. There was also the case of the society that was composed of views of the world or culture or industrialization. Although the history between these disciplines is not viewed sometimes, there are social aspects that are studied on how they are related to psychology. The often asked question is the relationship between the theories of psychology and its application to human life for instance, individual life, mental life and subjectivity. Presently, efforts by writers to separate the three categories have seen light. Psychology itself cannot exist without a society which supports all its facts. Moreover, psychological object cannot be taken as independent, given, discovered b ut that which is discovered and comes before knowledge. Psychology can hence be seen in two perspectives: as a discipline and as a subject of human. A conclusion can be made that psychology exists in a domain that is constructed. This is contrary to science domain where truth is constructed. Introduction Science employs an approach of empiricism. This approach states that our senses are the only place from which knowledge originates. This is in contrary to knowledge view that exists that it could be acquired purely by logical argument and reasoning. Hence empiricism views knowledge to be based on experience. Empiricism through gain of knowledge via experience came to be an approach of science and influenced greatly chemistry and physics d... ... Scientific thought on the other hand, goes ahead to justify every observation by mere experimentation. With time it is found out that there an implication that the outcome of the experiments has on judgment because many arguments can be correct till proven right. Another example is on statistics where it is implicated in relationships. Works Cited McLeod, S. A. (2008). Simply Psychology; Psychology as a Science G. Bachelard (1984).The New Scientific Spirit, tr. Arthur Goldhammer, Boston, Beacon Press K. Danziger (1990).Constructing the Subject, Cambridge: Cambridge U. P K. Gergen(1985). The social constructionist movement in modern psychology, American Psychologist Hacking (1990).The Taming of Chance, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. P. Heelas and A. Lock (1981).Indigenous Psychologies: The Anthropology of the Self, London, Academic Press

Poverty in Russia Essay

Poverty is not simply about being on a low income. It is also about having poor health, education and housing. Poverty makes people’s lives shorter and more difficult than they need to be. Measuring poverty is difficult. Nevertheless, it is undisputed that a large share of the Russian population lives below the poverty line. The transition from communism to a market-based economy did not create poverty in Russia, but it certainly made life more difficult for many groups of people. The economic transition also witnessed the â€Å"feminization† of poverty. Single-mother families and single elderly women make up a group with the highest poverty risk. In the case of single-mother families, poverty factors include the low individual income of the mother. The elderly also suffer from insufficient pensions, of which 90 percent go to women. The problem for women retirees is compounded by the fact that a pension, which for this age group is largely the only source of income, are higher for men of retirement age than for women. I think that the main problems in Russia are corruption and bureaucracy. It’s a bureaucracy who steals in most cases. They steal from the state. And they steal from citizens in acts of corruption. However Russia isn’t truly poor country. For example: the Human Development Index in Russia is ‘high’, almost ‘very high’. Russian poverty is unnecessary. Like all poverty in today’s high-productivity age, it is the result of bad policy. In my opinion, Russia has many issues that must be solved. Due to the transition Russia has had many struggles, but in order to help the people of the country, the country of Russia has to discover a way to stabilize itself. Russia has the same issues as any other country and hopefully can solve those issues by studying other countries examples and even some of their own to combat the problems that they have.

Strategic Planning

â€Å"Tomorrow is built today† – Each of us knows very well that our decisions and actions or non-actions of today will shape our future tomorrow. The collective consciousness of this fact and our efforts in the direction of a better future can definitively work in order to make the future what we like to see – the future can be provoked! Mind rules not only heart and body but all the respective issues in this world. The strategies of life are created by man with his ideas and approaches. â€Å"Think twice before you speak† is a familiar term in day to day life, this statement has got a deep meaning within itself, i.e., before you are about to say something think bout what you are going to speak and what would be it's outcomes later on. It is well said that if you want to achieve something in life, dream for it and plan how to achieve that goal or objective once getting started. Things always gets complicated for a person if the tasks involved in it are not familiar to that very person who was suppose to finish it off. It's always said that, two are better always rather then working single because two people working together makes things possible easily n quickly, thinking bout it's outcomes in advance and the result that comes out is always systematic and best possible. Some human beings follow others footsteps and some create their own ideas and work hard effectively and efficiently for attainment of their goals and objectives. Achievements never knocks at the door after dreaming bout them. One has to work out in real to achieve such tasks. As our day routine gets started we do look for a change so that the coming day should be better in comparison to the previous one. The major aim of most of the people in today's world is profit(monetary) and goodwill and yes definitely a long term well know never ending name in the market place just not in their country but most of the parts of the world. Future remains in hand if a task or work is performed efficiently and effectively keeping in mind all the basic operations which are supposed to be included in that known task. Life has changed a lot with real life competitions and challenges coming up day by day. Whatever step one moves should be effective and well balanced as the other could be smarter and experienced then what he/she is. Challenges not only arise within individuals but also within group of people and competitors. Each and every movement should be well planned and then only should be undertaken for its progress. For the highest level of stability one has to adopt advance skills and objectives as these only help in attainment of goals and objectives. STRATEGIC PLANNING Strategic planning is a management tool, period. As with any management tool, it is used for one purpose only: to help an organization do a better job – to focus its energy, to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the same goals, to assess and adjust the organization's direction in response to a changing environment. In short, strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. A word by word dissection of this definition provides the key elements that underlie the meaning and success of a strategic planning process: The process is strategic because it involves preparing the best way to respond to the circumstances of the organization's environment, whether or not its circumstances are known in advance; nonprofits often must respond to dynamic and even hostile environments. Being strategic, then, means being clear about the organization's objectives, being aware of the organization's resources, and incorporating both into being consciously responsive to a dynamic environment. The process is about planning because it involves intentionally setting goals (i.e., choosing a desired future) and developing an approach to achieving those goals. The process is disciplined in that it calls for a certain order and pattern to keep it focused and productive. The process raises a sequence of questions that helps planners examine experience, test assumptions, gather and incorporate information about the present, and anticipate the environment in which the organization will be working in the future. Finally, the process is about fundamental decisions and actions because choices must be made in order to answer the sequence of questions mentioned above. The plan is ultimately no more, and no less, than a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it, and how to do it. Because it is impossible to do everything that needs to be done in this world, strategic planning implies that some organizational decisions and actions are more important than others – and that much of the strategy lies in making the tough decisions about what is most important to achieving organizational success. The strategic planning can be complex, challenging, and even messy, but it is always defined by the basic ideas outlined above – and you can always return to these basics for insight into your own strategic planning process. Strategic planning is only useful if it supports strategic thinking and leads to strategic management – the basis for an effective organization. Strategic thinking means asking, â€Å"Are we doing the right thing?† Perhaps, more precisely, it means making that assessment using three key requirements about strategic thinking: a definite purpose be in mind; an understanding of the environment, particularly of the forces that affect or impede the fulfilment of that purpose; and creativity in developing effective responses to those forces. Strategic planning has also been described as a tool – but it is not a substitute for the exercise of judgment by leadership. Ultimately, the leaders of any enterprise need to sit back and ask, and answer, â€Å"What are the most important issues to respond to?† and â€Å"How shall we respond?† Just as the hammer does not create the bookshelf, so the data analysis and decision-making tools of strategic planning do not make the organization work – they can only support the intuition, reasoning skills, and judgment that people bring to their organization. Finally, strategic planning, though described as disciplined, does not typically flow smoothly from one step to the next. It is a creative process, and the fresh insight arrived at today might very well alter the decision made yesterday. Inevitably the process moves forward and back several times before arriving at the final set of decisions. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE MIGHT BE? WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? Competitions and challenges in the market or in a working concern is the primary aspect .it bothers all the managers of a growing concern in way or the other. Whether, it is the product (which they deal in or going to launch in the market), price (what should be the price related with other substitutes available in the market), longevity (what would be its demands in future), uniqueness (how it would be different from the other products) and rather endless number of features. Production is concerned with costumers, their tastes, choices. Mood differs from one body to the other. Nobody have the same kind of needs or wants. Thereby products also vary in prices, weight and size. Production is always carried out keeping in mind the perfect market situation. The basic aim of every individual is to earn profit and goodwill in the market. The stability and up-to-date growth is a must concern. To achieve all the goals and objectives all the plans are well made and accordingly strategies are designed. A strategy not only helps in a unique start of work but also gives the best outcomes of the efforts made for future. It takes years to earn goodwill in the market; therefore it is a must to make plans whatever is effective for the start-up of the work. End numbers of features are taken in consideration by any of the famous well-known company or industry whoever are the known leaders in the market. Sum of the known features are: * Members: the number of people who are going to lead the environment and the owners of the business concern. Most of the business concerns have partners. They have to aim at the goals and objectives, moreover, decide what their future would be. They are the only leaders to decide the nature of their business and what would be the size and how globally it should be recognised. They look out for not just competitors but also have to follow some law and orders of the government. These owners employ experienced staff as managers to work under them and employees to work under managers known as subordinates. Owners are the decision makers. * Capital: investments or the amount to be engaged into the business is one of the important feature without which nothing could be worked out. * Product: plans are made regarding the product that has to be brought up in the market. number of issues are considered like, costumers and their choices, other resembling or same usage products that would come up or already exists in the market,. The managers have to decide, how their products would be unique and how it would be better then the rest of the companies' products available in the market. How it would be cheaper and what goodwill would it bring to the company. Whether it has the future or not in the major aspect considered. * Market: strategies relates to market size and its globalization as well. One has to think bout customers and tends and fashions in the market. Managers have to plan out for the best market for their companies' products and its variations. * Machinery and equipments: new methods of production are used with new techniques available so that product could be easily made with less time consumption. Therefore, experienced and well defined staff is appointed and supervisors always motivates the employees and brings in new innovative ideas regarding production. * Available resources: A strategy not only helps in effective production but also helps in usage of resources available. Less wastage results in more profit and best outcome. * Employ welfare: Board of directors gives utmost respect to their employees and take care of their employees whether they are managers or subordinates by providing them with comforts and teaching them the new innovative ideas. They also give them bonus for their effective and efficient hard work they put on for production. * Exports-Imports: strategies are designed on the matter for exports of products and markets for trade are searched in a way or the other to earn profit and goodwill. They also take care of the importers from whom they have to but the raw material and stuff for production. A strong relation could only be maintained if the company have well detailed strategies regarding their work performance. * Strengths and Weaknesses: managers or the board of directors make plans to overcome the weaknesses whatever they could be. The strategies are designed in such a way that it lasts long and have enough strength to overcome every declining effect. A long lasting performance can only be obtained if the growing concern gets hold of their weaknesses. * Web page: as internet has proved to be one of the best sources in business relationships of most business companies. Owners make it a point to design their company's web page in such a manner that each and every product and its features along with price details are easily understandable. Strategies are made to achieve goals and targets not only through internet but also globally. Concluding with an Example: Longview Solutions and Marks & Spencer Take Planning to New Heights THIS IS MARKS & SPENCER Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers of clothing, foods, homeware and financial services. Operating within approximately 12.5 million square feet of selling space, serving ten million customers a week in over 340 UK stores, Marks & Spencer employs more than 67,000 people. The company also trades in wholly owned stores in the Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong, and has over 150 franchise stores in 28 countries operating through a network of partnerships. In 2002/2003, Group turnover was in excess of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½8 billion. SITUATION With extensive operations in the United Kingdom, Marks & Spencer required a financial planning, actual reporting, and reforecasting solution to be used by all stakeholders in the planning process across all business units, service areas, and stores. There was a requirement for consistent, cohesive data that could be viewed and reported upon at various levels of summarisation from individual budget holders to a consolidated Group position. BUSINESS CHALLENGE The Marks & Spencer objective was to approach the planning process in a professional manner, passing accountability to individual commercial budget holders. The existing process was spreadsheet-driven and time-consuming with a heavy reliance upon the Finance Group to manipulate and consolidate the data, leaving less time for challenging and detailed analysis. SOLUTION Marks & Spencer considered five critical factors in its decision process – Product, People, Policy, Principles, and Price. Marks & Spencer selected Corporate Performance Management (CPM) application Khalix(r) by Longview Solutions because it best met their needs on all five key performance criteria. Khalix was able to: * Provide Marks & Spencer with a single, accurate version of the financial truth through one central repository of data * Delegate ownership and accountability for budgets and plans back to the commercial budget holders * Reduce the overall time required to achieve an approved, realistic budget * Meet Marks & Spencer's need for a flexible solution that could adapt and grow with the company * Perform â€Å"what-if† analysis during budget creation, to facilitate better decision-making and minimise risk * Provide Marks & Spencer with a solution that would fit with their corporate technology standards and future requirements * Achieve consistency of reporting across similar business units RESULTS With Longview Solutions' Corporate Performance Management application, Marks & Spencer is able to provide excellent service to internal customers and has achieved the following results: * Speedier and more accurate budgeting and planning process, with an overall reduction in process time. * High visibility of consistent, accurate data which is accessible to all – â€Å"One version of the financial truth† * Successful ownership for budget-setting to the appropriate level and clear visibility of ownership and accountability of planned performance at all levels of business * Ability to spend time analysing and challenging the plan, removing risk, and exploiting opportunities to achieve a realistic plan * Strong relationship between the Longview Solutions and Marks & Spencer teams, which has resulted in a high level strategic partnership that is helping shape future product direction * Ease of maintenance for database changes and reporting Thus Strategic planning brings in longevity and prosperity for modern corporations. Bibliography: TEXT BOOKS: -Strategic Management Business Policy by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger. (Ninth edition). -Strategic Management by John L Thompson. -Strategic Management-An Introduction by Ronald Rosen. -The Strategy Process-Concepts, Contexts, Cases by Henry Mintzberg and James Brian Quinn. -Strategic Management by Cardiff Business School Cardiff University. -Sir John Harvey- Jones, Past chairman ICI, 1987 WEB: -http://www.longview.com/customersuccess/M&S.asp -http://www.lordofthewebs.com/portfolio/StrategicPlanning.asp Strategic Planning Strategic Planning MGT3880: Leadership for Organizations George Henson Strategic planning is a process of optimism by an organization. It anticipates the future of the organizational goals and strategically plans how the organization will achieve those goals. Strategic planning involves several steps in its process those steps are; (1) strategic thinking including external analysis, (2) internal analysis, (3) identifying key strategic issues, (4) developing viable strategic alternatives, and (5) choosing the best strategy using as criteria whatever the company defines as â€Å"success† (Abraham, 2012).The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† requires a strategic plan to ensure effectiveness so that new clientele, products and profits are within reach in the near future. The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† is a new organization and a revised strategic plan can assist with tackling new goals and growth for the organization over the next three years. This organization is very distinct because it offers services and products that exclude them from other leading competitors. In particular, the organization is responsible for employing individuals with great customer service and providing the client with quality individuals and extraordinary services.Also, the organization capitalizes on its stellar training of culinary and customer service skills which separates it from other competitors. The organization members are required to understand the organizational policies and are the first to ensure that the employee’s and client’s needs are addressed. The managers of the organization are responsible for deciding the direction in which the department should go, what the company should produce, and hence in what industry it competes (Abraham, 2012).Understanding the organization’s competitors, identifying the customers, rather they can provide and how the company will continue to remain profitable is the management’s responsibility. In order for the strategic plan to be effective the direction of the company must be understood. The student believes that the current direction is understood but is not being implemented correctly. The company knows what they want to offer; good products and great services this will allow the organization to compete with leading competitors.The menu of this organization differs from the cafe products to catering services and menu. The organization is aware of who the customer is but is unaware of how to meet them which is a weakness of the organization. During this strategic planning process a SWOT analysis must be completed to understand the organizations strengths, weaknesses opportunities and threats of the organization. The SWOT analysis is a straightforward model that provides direction and serves as a basis for the development of marketing plans (Danca, 2012).The SWOT analysis is being conducted for the benefit of meeting certain goals, the organization has to address the strengths an d weaknesses internally and the opportunities and threats externally. The â€Å"Opening Bell† has several strengths but the employee relations and effective differentiation are two of the organizations strengths. Opening Bell Cafe is a respectable employer and values its employees. They ensure that the employees feel a part of the team which increases employee relations so that everyone has a pleasant experience with Opening Bell Cafe.Effective differentiation is the second strength of the organization. Effective differentiation permits the organization to study the competition and questions if they offer the same as competitors. While studying the group has to be realistic about behaviors that will allow the organization to compete with leading brands while identifying ways to improve. These strengths allow the organization to offer well trained employees and recognize products the competitors do not offer. Exploiting the strengths give the Opening Bell the ability to market and promote ahead of the competition.Weaknesses of the organization need to be understood in order for the organization to have growth and tackle goals. One weakness of the organization is the narrow product line and poor marketing skills. Having a narrow product line limits this company from competing with other cafes’ that offer a selection of breakfast, and lunch. Poor marketing skills limited the organization from reaching millions of potential customers. Just recently the organization established a website which means the people who do not go utilize their stores or catering was unaware that the organization exists.Strategically the company can avoid these issues by planning for new menu items and developing a marketing strategy. If the company can begin to offer more products and reach potential clients the organization can increase growth, revenue and earnings. Capitalizing on opportunities can be beneficial to the organization as well. The opportunity has a specific technical definition; it is a product-market issue (Abraham, 2012). The company can address this situation by creating a new product for an existing market. Opening Bell can also, expand the market for an existing product.Creating new products and expanding on existing products can bring about new clients which can offer the organization appeal from their competitors. Such small changes can be huge when competing with leading brands such as Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts. Threats can be unfavorable to any company however identifying threats can help the company when strategizing. The threats for the Opening Bell consist of competitors having stronger brand names and the downturn in the economy. All consumers are currently aware of the leading brand names of Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts.Since Opening Bell is aware of these leading brand names they have to offer variations of products and experience. The leading brands do not offer delivery which means that local companies can phone in orders or even order online. Experts say that, â€Å"a downturn in the economy can mean that customers are spending less† (Anonymous,1990). After the threats are identified the organization can work towards increasing customer relations. After conducting the SWOT analysis the student has identified areas that are crucial toward the strategic planning process.The crucial areas are employee relations, poor marketing skills, expand the market for an existing product, and expanding on new products. If these areas are continuous strengths of the organization the organization can focus on other areas that may need restructuring. Employee relations are a part of the operational aspect of the business. Managers are required to guarantee that the organization employees know what to do and how to do it. For this aspect to remain an organizational strength it is essential that all employees know how to communicate effectively.One expert states, â€Å"In order to cope with competitio n, technological developments and customer demands, managers seek different solutions and tools to manage the unstable, rapidly changing, and never predictable situation which involves communicating effectively† (Johansson, 2008). This statement shows the organization that in order to continue growth in the industry the organization should continue focusing on employee relations. The organizations poor marketing skills have to be addressed in order for the strategic plan to be effective.It seems that at the present time the organization does not possess a marketing team or manager. The Opening Bell cannot dismiss what marketing the organization can do for the growth of the company. Having a marketing team who can promote the organization and improve customer relations will be valuable for the organization. The organization should put a budget together that permits marketing opportunities. This issue cannot be overlooked any longer the â€Å"Word of Mouth† marketing stra tegy has gotten the organization so far and now the growth is at a cessation.The organization has to utilize the tools of the internet and television to compete with the leading brands. Having a marketing team who can create promotional opportunities for customers can increase customer acquisition. The strategic plan has to improve the marketing skills of the organization. Expanding the market for an existing product can be challenging but the organization can grow from improving something that is already prevalent for other brands. Since, the organization utilizing fresh ingredients there is nothing like freshly baked cookies and homemade hot chocolate.There is already a market for these items and making them fresh to order with like a fifteen minute wait time would be fulfilling for the consumer. The hot chocolate would be a great in markets where the winters are cold and something warm is always desired One expert states that, â€Å"In fact, line extensions may be the answer to building sales and moving your company in a whole new direction† (Mischina, 2004). Being able to expand can open a whole new avenue for the organization that has not been offered by the leading competitors.Expanding on a new product for an existing market can create long-term growth for the organization. In today’s world of healthy eating offering gluten free product or even allergen free products on the daily menu can set the organization apart from leading competitors. These new products can provide a much needed solution to a giant problem that others have not offered yet. The previously mentioned areas are essential to the strategic plan of the Opening Bell because they provide an avenue on what is being done and what can be done to further advance the organization.The external analysis which entails observing, analyzing, and understanding what is changing in a company's external environment to anticipate what the future might hold has been completed (Abraham, 2012) . Secondly, the internal analysis involves knowing analyzing, and understanding everything about the company itself, especially what makes it a strong competitor or why it isn't as strong as it could be (Abraham, 2012). Both of these steps in the strategic planning process have been completed. The key strategic issues have been identified and managers are working on resolving the issue.Annual objectives will be set also, to measure these critical challenges. To measure the success of the strategic plan the Opening Bell will utilize the metrics of revenue growth and the return of investments. These two measuring tools can allow the organization to measure the success or failures of the organization. Revenue growth is used more often when a firm's revenue growth has been inadequate or flat, or when issues of market share and market positioning are strategically significant (Abraham, 2012,).The organization must measure the growth of revenue to warrant an effective strategic plan. Meas uring revenue growth allows the leader to be aware of rather the organization is prepared monetarily for the strategic plan that has been set forward. Also, the strategic plan sets forward what the allotted monies will be used for and how. Secondly, the return of investments can measure the success of the strategic plan. A ROI is a profitability measure. When utilizing the ROI managers should be aware that ROI can measure the performance of the organization, managers and its business units.Lastly, the strategic plan should include strategic implementation because it’s the only way to boost ROI and increase your chances of success (Evans, 2012). Both of these metrics are capable of measuring the success of the strategic plan which can help any adjustments that need take place to guarantee the company is headed toward success. For an organization such as the Opening Bell Cafe a strategic plan will help to provide sustain the ups and downs of this uncertain economy.Planning stra tegically can ensure that the organization meets goals that they have established. All of the strategic planning process steps have been addressed and will be implemented in the near future. Effectiveness is only possible when all employees are on the same page with one another and when a directive is put into place for all to follow. Indeed, the organization is new to the industry but they have found that revising the strategic plan can lead to growth for the organization. Reference Abraham, S. 2012) Strategic Management for Organizations. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content. ashford. edu/books Anonymous. (1990). 1990 SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from: http://som. csudh. edu/depts/cis/meyadat/ClassesPage/CIS502/casestudies/SWOT Danca , A. (2012). SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from; http://www. stfrancis. edu/content/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/btopics/works/swot. htm Evans J, (2012). 8 Steps to Boost the ROI of Your Strategic Planning Efforts. Retrieved from: http://www. vancarmichael. com/Management/5844/8-Steps-to-Boost-the-ROI-of-Your-Strategic-Planning-Efforts. html Johansson, Catrin (2008). Speaking of change: three communication approaches in studies of organizational change. Corporate Communications 13. 3 Retrieved from: http://search. proquest. com/docview/214190184/ Mishina,Y. (2004), Are more resources always better for growth? Resource stickiness in market and product expansion. Strat. Mgmt. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary. wiley. com/doi/10. 1002/smj. 424/abstract

A People Essays

A People Essays A People Essays October 13, 2014 A People’s History of the United States: Chapter 4 The fourth chapter of â€Å"A People’s History of the United States† is about how Britain started to become more aggressive towards the American colonies in order to tighten their loosening grip they had on the colonies. The colonies were supplying their mother country with raw materials needed in order to produce goods to send back to the colonies, benefitting the mother country. The colonists began to get tired of the on ­going monopoly with Britain and tried cutting ties all together by rebelling against Britain. To lead these rebellions, the founding fathers led groups prioritized on the hate and opposition of British ruling. The colonies had longed for an independent, self ­government, completely detached from British power. As in any place, wealth was not distributed evenly throughout the colonies causing more problems than it was probably worth. The separation between the classes throughout t he colonies led to an unequal balance between the rich and poor. The struggle for unity in the colonies was just another spark leading up to the revolution. The basic point of Zinn’s argument is â€Å"tyranny is tyranny†. He argues the American Revolution was one substitution for tyranny after another. He states the founding fathers were just as greedy and malicious as the king of England was. Zinn states the founding fathers were able to, â€Å"take over land, profits, and political power from favorites of the British Empire. In the process, they could hold back a number of potential rebellions and create a consensus of popular support for the rule of a new, privileged leadership†. The founding fathers wanted to keep the lower class suppressed as much as the king did. Zinn points out prior to the revolution, there was a great deal of anger and resentment already existing between the upper and lower classes of the colonies. However, in the time leadin g up to the revolution, the colonial â€Å"elite† had managed

A Plan to Decrease the Dropout Rate among School Students

A Plan to Decrease the Dropout Rate among School Students SCENERIO ABC High School has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students who are choosing to drop out of school over the past decade. The reasons are limitless. They range from failure to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, to inadequate academic programming to accommodate at risk students, to lack of parental concern and involvement. Therefore, the Academic Council has developed a comprehensive plan that will address the issue of the student dropout rate and provide goals and actions to take to decrease the dropout rate among our high school students. For the purpose of this writing, dropout rate is defined as the rate at which students withdraw from school during grades nine through twelve and who do not attain a General Education Degree (GED). TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Scenario Table of Contents Demographics Background Statement of the Problem Members of Planning Committee: Leadership Team Initial Meeting and Future Meetings Mission Belief/Statement Paramet ers Scanning Tools SWOT Analysis Literature Review Goals Strategic Communication to Share Plan Action Teams Action Plans Communication of Results/Outcomes Future Recommendations References/Bibliography Appendix/Appendices DEMOGRAPHICS ABC High School is located at 1234 School Way, Your Town, GA; a rural area in the North Georgia mountains. The student population is comprised of the following: Enrollment 1997 Students per Teacher Ratio 16.4:1 Economically Disadvantaged 51.3% Breakdown by Ethnicity for Students – White 84.0% Black 0.4% Hispanic 13.7% Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5% American Indian/Alaska Native 0.2% Number of students eligible for free and/or reduced meals 1116 Number of teachers 128 Degrees held by teachers Bachelor’s Degree 45.1% Master’s Degree 34.2% Master’s Degree + 30 Hours 15.3% Doctoral Degree 2.7% Description of organization Began in 1934 with 300 students and 13 teachers Eight classrooms Small library Office A partial basement housed classrooms for agriculture and science classes Description of community Businesses in area Automotive repair Carpet industry Computer and electronics Food and dining Home – indoor/outdoor Real estate Travel and recreation Business services Community services Finance Health and personal care Legal Shopping Religious entities 26 churches in ABC High School area Baptist (includes Southern Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Independent Baptist), Methodist, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational Other educational facilities 1 four-year college within 30 miles of ABC High School Community celebrations (what’s important in this area) Sporting events Town festivals Parent educational levels Number of people who have achieved the following levels of education: No high school 3316 Some high school 4601 Some college 3726 Associates Degree 967 Bachelor’s Degree 1321 Graduate Degree 695 BACKGROUND The dropout rate among high school students has steadily increased o ver the past decade. In several of the largest school systems across the country half of the students are dropping out (Thomas and Date, 2006). Some of the contributing factors to this increase are a lack of appropriate measures to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, a lack of adequate and appropriate programs that will foster academic achievement for at-risk high school students, and a failure to educate parents on the importance of their participation in the education process of their child. What events have occurred over the past decade that affected the dropout rate? There are less stringent consequences for students who do not attend school, as well for parents who do not actively participate in the educational progress of their child. There is a decrease in parental involvement, due in part to mothers returning to the workforce. There is an increase in the occurrence of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood.

Current Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Current Issues - Essay Example In addition, the state has joined half of other states in the U.S. and gone ahead signing the Medicaid expansion program, which is going to be fund by the Federal government, for a period of 3 years. The Governor and the lawmakers have done this by extending the program to adult persons earning up to 138% of the level of Federal poverty (MPRnews, n.d.). Other crucial issues that are being discussed by the legislatures and the governor include the budget, which is the focus; taxes, which, Gov. Dayton is saying that, he wants making Minnesota’s tax system simpler and fairer, by unveiling a tax reform plan. New plans for a health insurance exchange required by the Affordable Care Act unveiled by President Obama are underway (Governing, n.d.). In addition to the aforementioned issues, other issues underway include the same-sex marriage, which is illegal in Minnesota, public safety issues, which were triggered by the recent shootings of high profile, election issues, triggered by the Republican-backed amendment to the constitution, requiring voters to produce photo identification (Liz, 2014). Finally, the sand mining issues, which the governor says will be huge in the current season, and transportation. Therefore, it is evident that there are a couple of issues that the governor and lawmakers be pushing for in the current year, w hich form our current issues in Minnesota. Liz, F., Chris, K., Wogan, J.B., Mike, M., and Ryan, H. (2014). The Top ten Legislative Issues to Watch in 2014. Retrieved from