English Literature: Romanticism and Victorian

The Romantic era is the historical period of literature in which modern readers most begin to see themselves and their own conflicts and desires. As what was mentioned in the class and as what I have researched, English Romanticism in terms of literature is a shift from faith in reason to faith in the senses, feelings, and imagination; a shift from interest in urban society to an interest in the rural and natural; a shift from public, impersonal poetry to subjective poetry; and from concern with the scientific and mundane to interest in he mysterious and infinite.There are various themes on how the authors of romantic literary pieces composed their works. Those themes were based on the main idea of the revolutionary movement initiated during that time which was CHANGE. These people want to veer away from what was ordinary and stale and they came up with this radical change. I do not know if my idea regarding the themes used by romantic poets and writers is correct that is why I made further research. As I went through the research, I came up with these insights regarding the subjects used by romantic writers.Imagination ND emotion are more important than reason and formal rules; imagination is a gateway to transcendent experience and truth. Imagination was one of the keys used by romantic poets and writers to effectively stress out and reveal what they want to convey their readers. They treat imagination with high importance because it was their belief that the only way to attain the highest form of art is to use your imagination. Sometimes, some of the writers do not only rely on their â€Å"usual/ ordinary' imagination.Sometimes they use other meaner like taking addictive drugs which allows hallucination to happen. For example, Coleridge Kabul Khan was written when Coleridge was high with laudanum, a solution of opium in alcohol used for pain relief. In the last lines, â€Å"Weave a circle round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread, for he on hon eydew hath fed, and drunk the milk of Paradise†, he is implying that writers like him would be feared for their power to make such poems with the use of extraordinary imagination.Since change is the main idea and reason for romantic movement, having exceptional kind of imagination was one of their vital component. Romantic literature tends to emphasize a love of nature, a respect for romanticism, and a valuing of the common, â€Å"natural† man; Romantics idealize country life and believe that many of the ills of society are a result of arbitration. The Romantics inclined more on the natural aspect of the world rather than the urbanize and modernized sector because they have high respect on these entities.For example, Wordsmith's sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge accentuates the beauty of nature before man had touched and exploited it based on their needs. The lines â€Å"Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be soul who could pass by, A sight so touching in its majesty†¦ Show the majesty of nature. The poem stresses out the reclaiming of nature's own from what man has taken away from it. The poem also emphasizes the silence and stillness of nature which makes it great and marvelous.Change is what Romantics aim for but they did not veer away from what natural things/nature should be. They treat nature with divinity and respect. Romantics were attracted to rebellion and revolution, especially concerned with human rights, individualism, and freedom from oppression. Since change is the main reason for Romanticism to upsurge, rebellion and revolution is evident in their works. For example, Flake's The Chimney Sweeper talks about the abuse experienced by children who were chimney sweepers during that time.The lines â€Å"That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned and Jack, Were all of them locked up in coffins of black† shows that children who were chimney sweepers suffered a lot of harm and their only escape was dea th. Flake's work was an effective eye opener of what was happening during that time especially when it comes to child labor. Somehow, it ignites the fire of revolution but the thing about this poem was Blake ended it not with revolutionary kind of movement but with some sort of faith in God.Still, he managed to emphasize the oppression that was happening during that time which may call and did call for upheaval. There was emphasis on introspection, psychology, melancholy, and sadness. Since the Classics tend to feature the theme of mock heroic epic (which was said to be a craft and â€Å"forced†), the Romantics deviate away from it. One of the emphases of the Romantic writers' works was melancholy. For example, Wordsmith's The Solitary Reaper has a tone of mystery, loss, nostalgia and loneliness. It was shown in the lines â€Å"Some natural sorrow, loss or pain, that has been ND maybe again? . Sadness was featured on the Romantic works because it was (somehow) the inspiratio n of the writers for not all of them lived Joyfully and vibrantly. Sadness was also one of the keys for an effective Romantic literary piece. Romantics were interested in the Medieval past, the supernatural, the mystical, the â€Å"gothic,† and the exotic. These things were also featured in the Romantic works. Authors were very interested in the supernatural, the mystical, the â€Å"gothic,† and the exotic. Most of the literary pieces do contain these things. For example, ColeridgeRime of the Ancient Mariner highlighted these things. The lines â€Å"Her lips were red, her looks were free, her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was white as leprosy. The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, who thick's man's blood with cold† clearly depicts a mysterious woman who appeared out of nowhere aboard in a ship which was already wrecked. These lines (and this poem) lucidly depict the mystery that the Romantic poets' aim to show the readers the beauty behind mystery and biza rre things which were part of their aim for change. II. Analysis of Romantic and Victorian PoemsVictorian period, which encompasses the optimism and progress of Englishmen, was the perpetuation of the Romantic period's success in fulfilling its aim to obtain change and transformation. Romantic period was the time where the Englishmen perpetuated movement for literature, characterized by reliance on the imagination and subjectivity of approach, freedom of thought and expression, and an idealization of nature. This was also a call for drastic difference and divergence from what was ordinary and normal. This was also a way for the authors to show the reality behind the blindness of oppression and abuse.One good example is Flake's The Chimney Sweeper. The poem encompasses the details of the truth behind child labor and the cruelty experienced by the children who were employed in this Job. One can see that the poem shows how helpless the children were and there was no escape for them but death itself. It has a tragic and melancholic mode for children who should be given the right to have a good life and a chance to study and improve their condition were exploited and deprived. Flake's approach was effective for the poem will surely catch the reader's attention and emotion regarding the focus of the poem.But even though he was successful in establishing these moods for the reader, his ending does not seem to fit the aim of Romantics for change because his ending was stated like â€Å"there would be angels who would open the coffins of these poor children and would accompany them to the Heavenly Father†. Nonetheless, the poem showed what should be changed in his society during his time and somehow, it is an eye-opener and it calls for a revolutionary change. A lot of poems during that time also embody this kind of theme. They, during their time, wanted freedom and transformation.These literary pieces were their weapon, their defense. Movements made for change during Romantic era was successful. Freedom of expression was propagated, change was established. The Englishmen had the chance to grasp the power they were aiming for. They believed they were invincible and this led them to the Victorian period. Victorian period was the period of optimism. Since the Englishmen had the power in their hands, they will do everything to maintain the power that they have. Their craving for improvement, industrialization and education was fulfilled.This is clearly en in some of the Victorian poems created during that time. Kipling Gung Din is a very good example. A lot of analysis given regarding this poem was focused on Gung Din, who was an Indian bassist or water carrier who serves water for British Soldiers. But one aspect that I saw regarding this poem was it entails the power that the Englishmen have. The poem shows that they were superior and even an Indian was very submissive to them even they were Just soldiers (disregarding the ending of the poe m wherein the soldier says mire's a better man than I am, Gung Din).All throughout the poem, Gung Din was described as a poor, low and abused slave and this also indicates that these British soldiers have the power over Gung Din and they can do whatever they want to do on Gung Din and they can ask him to serve them wherever and whenever. Although what I analyzed regarding the poem when relating it to the power and optimism that the Victorians have was negative, still, it exemplifies such. This poem also shows appearances which the Englishmen is trying to do during Victorian period. The soldiers in this poem show power and prudish, unceasing their weaknesses in use of Gung Din.

Cell Phone Usage While Driving

Cell Phone Usage While Driving The cellular phone has brought many services and many different ways of communicating. It has definitely made communication so much easier. However, when it comes to road safety, the cellular phone may be considered a risk especially when text messages and calls are received. On January 11, 2009 I got in a serious accident because of using the cellular phone while I was driving. I was driving to my friend’s house and I just received a text message.I was driving 45 mph in 35 mph zone and texting the same time. As soon as I looked up I passed a stop sign and collided to the car that was in front of me. My car was damaged and my insurance went up. Ever since the introduction of text messages, society has grown aware of the dangerous of texting while driving. Even though all people understand how it affects their life and the other people’s life, they still use their cellular phone.I was reading the Gazette newspaper the other day and accordin g to the national highway traffic administration, 16% of all fatal crashes in 2008 were caused by driver distraction. One of the most obvious things that happen when a driver is texting while driving is that the driver would avert his eyes form the road for around five seconds. This is more than enough time for a person to run in front of the vehicle or for the vehicle in front of you to make a sudden stop or to miss seeing the light change.The Washington Post news paper edition of June12, 2010 talks about a study that was done by University of Utah psychologists using a driving simulator under four different conditions: with no distractions, using a handheld cell phone, talking on a hands-free cell phone, and while intoxicated to the 0. 08 percent blood-alcohol level, 40 participants followed a simulated pace car that braked intermittently. Researchers found that the drivers on cell phones drove more slowly, braked more slowly and were more likely to crash. In fact, the three parti cipants who collided into the pace car were chatting away.None of the drunken drivers crashed. Now laws have been enforced to prevent accidents from happening on roadways. States such as California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington D. C. have passed laws that prohibit the use of hand held cell phones while driving. Maryland becomes the seven states to pass the cell phone use while driving. A 2003 Harvard study estimated that cell phone distractions caused 2,600 traffic deaths every year, and 330,000 accidents that result in moderate or severe injuries but Americans have largely ignored that research.Instead, they increasingly use phones, navigation devices and even laptops to turn their cars into mobile offices, chat rooms and entertainment centers, making roads more dangerous to other drivers. District of Columbia require drivers who talk on cell phones to use hands-free devices, but research shows that using headsets can be as dangerous as holding a phone because t he conversation distracts drivers from focusing on the road. Older drivers were slightly less likely to get into accidents than younger drivers; they tend to have a greater following distance.Their reactions are impaired, but they are driving so careful they were less likely to smash into somebody. Also new drives are especially on the top list to have an accident when they use a cell phone while driving. The reasoning for this is that new drivers have less experience in focusing on driving during distractions. Also teen drivers send text messages while driving. Since text messaging involves the hands and the eyes, this is thought to be more distracting and dangerous than when drivers use a cell phone while driving only for speaking and listening.Now days most of the new cars has phones that is already built in the car and using that is would be dangerous as picking up the phone and dialing. Overall, if drivers feel they cannot use a handless device or if they are easily distracted on the road by their conversation, then they should not be driving, because they are a danger to others on the road. Also if they need to talk or text they should pull up to the side and finish their business before they get back to the road and driving. Cell Phone Usage While Driving It's an even greater challenge if I don't have my eating glasses on I never wear them while driving. It takes two hands to type. My 20-something children can do it one handed, rarely looking at the keyboard. The light changes. I'm almost finished. â€Å"Hurry, Hurry,† I tell my self, pulling into the intersection while pressing â€Å"send†. Boone. L. (2009, August 10). Cell phone usage while driving should be banned completely in the US do to all hazards it creates on a daily basis on US roads.As a professional driver (truck driver) he sees it everyday, drivers with a cell phone in hand testing while driving, or on the phone talking to someone, completely unaware of their surroundings, swerving, slowing down, ten, twenty, and even thirty miles an hour from the posted speed limit, not thinking for one second the dangerous situation that they are putting themselves and others in.He doesn't understand how can drivers despite of all the advertising campaigns on television, radio, billboards, newspapers, and magazines, drivers still go a head and use that cell phone while driving. But one of the worst thing he sees on a daily basis, is the people that are supposed to be enforcing this laws (the cops) are the first to be breaking them. Just every cop he sees driving on the road is talking on the cell phone. Wright, like they say â€Å"lead by example†.Just the other day while driving on the highway as he was approaching an off ramp, he looks to the right and see a car with a young woman driving and a baby in the rear seat, she is on the phone, not looking to the left for one second to check the on coming traffic, and Just as she is at the point were the off ramp meets the highways, she takes a look to the left, and realizes that she has no room to go in to the highway and has to force her self to the shoulder and into the rays, almost crashing into the trees.How can she be so careless? What kind of person puts a baby and them self in that situati on? Mansfield, S. (2000, Mar. )† A report by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that driving while using the cell phone probably is hazardous, but wouldn't speculate how great the risk was, nor what other mitigating factors might be involve†. Now the numbers are staggering, Schroeder, P. , Meyers, M. & Stinkbug, L. 2013, April) the statistics for 2011 on cell phone and driving say it's estimated that at least 23% of all car accidents ACH year involves cell phone use – that's 1. 3 million crashes, 3,331 people were killed and 387,00 were injured, and in 2012, 24% of all car accidents each year involves cell phone use, 3,328 people were killed, and 421,00 were injured. With this type of statistics, and as we can see, on the rise every year, what are the law makers or the government waiting for, to establish a ban on cell phone use while driving.States have proposed bans on cell phone use while driving, for example: Excerpt by Mansfield, S. (20 00, Mar. ) in Arizona, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a Agway while using a cellular telephone, a computer, headphones or earphones, excluding hearing aids or other devices for improving the hearing of the person, and any other electronic device not installed by the manufacturer an that is not essential to the operation of a motor vehicle.In Colorado, â€Å"mobile communications device† means a cellular phone, citizen's band radio, or other device that enables a person in a motor vehicle to transmit and receive audio signals†¦ No person shall use mobile communication device while operating a motor vehicle unless the device is pacifically designated to allow hands-free operation. Like the states mention above, in 2000 there were seven more states, that propose bans on cell phones while driving and nothing has come out of this proposals.From the year 2000 to present, the numbers on this surveys and studies that are been conducted by this government entities and private companies are still on the rise, and drivers don't seem to want to change their habits while driving, and all the debates between state legislators don't seem to be getting them no were, and at least for the moment don't for see any hangs in the laws any time soon. What can we, as responsible adults, and drivers do to help minimize this hazards that are been created by irresponsible drivers everyday.How can we get this so called legislators, to change their minds and finally approve bans that we so desperately need to make our roads much safer than what they are now. Have we not seen enough? How many friends, family members, families, and children, or loved ones need to be killed or affected, before someone does something about this absent minded killer. Cell Phone Usage While Driving It's an even greater challenge if I don't have my eating glasses on I never wear them while driving. It takes two hands to type. My 20-something children can do it one handed, rarely looking at the keyboard. The light changes. I'm almost finished. â€Å"Hurry, Hurry,† I tell my self, pulling into the intersection while pressing â€Å"send†. Boone. L. (2009, August 10). Cell phone usage while driving should be banned completely in the US do to all hazards it creates on a daily basis on US roads.As a professional driver (truck driver) he sees it everyday, drivers with a cell phone in hand testing while driving, or on the phone talking to someone, completely unaware of their surroundings, swerving, slowing down, ten, twenty, and even thirty miles an hour from the posted speed limit, not thinking for one second the dangerous situation that they are putting themselves and others in.He doesn't understand how can drivers despite of all the advertising campaigns on television, radio, billboards, newspapers, and magazines, drivers still go a head and use that cell phone while driving. But one of the worst thing he sees on a daily basis, is the people that are supposed to be enforcing this laws (the cops) are the first to be breaking them. Just every cop he sees driving on the road is talking on the cell phone. Wright, like they say â€Å"lead by example†.Just the other day while driving on the highway as he was approaching an off ramp, he looks to the right and see a car with a young woman driving and a baby in the rear seat, she is on the phone, not looking to the left for one second to check the on coming traffic, and Just as she is at the point were the off ramp meets the highways, she takes a look to the left, and realizes that she has no room to go in to the highway and has to force her self to the shoulder and into the rays, almost crashing into the trees.How can she be so careless? What kind of person puts a baby and them self in that situati on? Mansfield, S. (2000, Mar. )† A report by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that driving while using the cell phone probably is hazardous, but wouldn't speculate how great the risk was, nor what other mitigating factors might be involve†. Now the numbers are staggering, Schroeder, P. , Meyers, M. & Stinkbug, L. 2013, April) the statistics for 2011 on cell phone and driving say it's estimated that at least 23% of all car accidents ACH year involves cell phone use – that's 1. 3 million crashes, 3,331 people were killed and 387,00 were injured, and in 2012, 24% of all car accidents each year involves cell phone use, 3,328 people were killed, and 421,00 were injured. With this type of statistics, and as we can see, on the rise every year, what are the law makers or the government waiting for, to establish a ban on cell phone use while driving.States have proposed bans on cell phone use while driving, for example: Excerpt by Mansfield, S. (20 00, Mar. ) in Arizona, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a Agway while using a cellular telephone, a computer, headphones or earphones, excluding hearing aids or other devices for improving the hearing of the person, and any other electronic device not installed by the manufacturer an that is not essential to the operation of a motor vehicle.In Colorado, â€Å"mobile communications device† means a cellular phone, citizen's band radio, or other device that enables a person in a motor vehicle to transmit and receive audio signals†¦ No person shall use mobile communication device while operating a motor vehicle unless the device is pacifically designated to allow hands-free operation. Like the states mention above, in 2000 there were seven more states, that propose bans on cell phones while driving and nothing has come out of this proposals.From the year 2000 to present, the numbers on this surveys and studies that are been conducted by this government entities and private companies are still on the rise, and drivers don't seem to want to change their habits while driving, and all the debates between state legislators don't seem to be getting them no were, and at least for the moment don't for see any hangs in the laws any time soon. What can we, as responsible adults, and drivers do to help minimize this hazards that are been created by irresponsible drivers everyday.How can we get this so called legislators, to change their minds and finally approve bans that we so desperately need to make our roads much safer than what they are now. Have we not seen enough? How many friends, family members, families, and children, or loved ones need to be killed or affected, before someone does something about this absent minded killer.

Production and operation management Essay

Part One: Multiple choices: 1. Production and Operations Management concerns itself with the conversion of: a. Outputs in to inputs b. Inputs in to outputs c. Outputs in to outputs d. None of the above 2. Continuous Production is a. The last operation to the finished product b. The first operation to the finished product c. The mid operation to the finished product d. None of the above 3. Independent demand is a. Demand that is controlled by the company b. Demand that is controlled by the customer c. Demand that is not controlled by the company d. All of the above 4. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has been defined as a a. Complete Enterprise wide business solution b. Complete Enterprise narrow business solution c. a & b d. None of the above 5. CAD stands for a. Computer Architecture Design b. Computer Aided Design c. Computer Aided Drafting d. All of the above 6. Delphi method is the most widely used and accurate method of a. Demand forecasts b. Exponential forecasts 1 IIBM Institute of Business Management Examination Paper of Production and Operations Management c. Technological forecasts d. All of the above 7. JIT/Kanban systems help eliminate a. Increase the number of products b. Increase the amount of raw materials c. Increase the amount of energy d. All of the above 8. PPSCS stands for a. Project Planning Scheduling & Control System b. Project Planning Sequencing & Control System c. Production Planning Scheduling & Control System d. None of the above 9. Process layout is also known as. a. Group layout b. Line layout c. Product layout d. Functional layout 10. Time study is a technique for recording the times and rate of  working a. Standard times b. Work measurement c. Allowances d. None of the above Part Two: 1. Define Job Shop Production. 2. What do you understand by „Quality Control‟? 3. What do you mean by materiel handling? 4. Define ABC analysis. END OF SECTION A Section B: Caselets (40 marks) This section consists of Caselets. Answer all the questions. Each Caselet carries 20 marks. Detailed information should form the part of your answer (Word limit 150 to 200 words). 2 IIBM Institute of Business Management Examination Paper of Production and Operations Management Caselet 1 Company Background The Bronson Insurance Group was originally founded in 1900 in Auxvasse, Missouri, by James Bronson. The Bronson Group owns a variety of companies that underwrite personal and commercial insurance policies. Annual sales of the Bronson Group are $100 million. In recent years, the company has  suffered operating losses. In 1990, the company was heavily invested in computer hardware and software. One of the problems the Bronson Group faced (as well as many insurance companies) was a conflict between established manual procedures and the relatively recent (within the past 20 years) introduction of  computer equipment. This conflict was illustrated by the fact that much information was captured on computer but paper files were still kept for practical and legal reasons. File Clerks  The file department employed 20 file clerks who pulled files from stacks, refilled used files, and delivered files to various departments including commercial lines, personal lines, and claims. Once a file clerk received the file. Clerks delivered files to underwriters on an hourly basis throughout the day. The average file clerk was paid $8,300 per year. One special file clerk was used full time to search for requested files that another file clerk had not been able to find in the expected place. It was estimated that 40 percent of the requested files were these â€Å"no hit† files requiring a search. Often these â€Å"no hit† files were eventually found stacked in the requester‟s office. The primary â€Å"customers† of the file clerks were underwriters and claims attorneys. Underwriting Company management and operations analysts were consistently told that the greatest problem in the company was the inability of file clerks to supply files in a speedy fashion. The entire company from top to bottom viewed the productivity and effectiveness of the department as unacceptable. An underwriter used 20-50 files per day. Because of their distrust of the files department, underwriters tended to hoard often used files. A count by operations analysts found that each underwriter kept from 100-200 files in his or her office at any one time. An underwriter would request a file by computer and work on other business until the file was received. Benson employed 25 underwriters. Management Information System Upper management was deeply concerned about this problem. The MIS department  had suggested using video disks as a possible solution. A video disk system was found that would be sufficient for the companies needs at a cost of about $12 million. It was estimated that the system would take two years to install and make compatible with existing information systems. Another, less attractive was using microfilm. A microfilm system would require underwriters to go to a single keyboard to request paper copies of files. The cost of a microfilm system was $5 million. Questions: 1. What do you recommend? Should the company implement one of the new technologies, if yes, why? IIBM Institute of Business Management Examination Paper of Production and Operations Management 2. An operations analyst suggested that company employees shared a â€Å"dump on the clerks† mentality. Explain. Caselet 2 Harrison T. Wenk III is 43, married, and has two children, ages 10 and 14. He has a master‟s degree in education and teachers junior high school music in a small town in Ohio. Harrison‟s father passed away two months ago, leaving his only child an unusual business opportunity. According to his father‟s will, Harrison has 12 months to become active in the family food-catering business, KareFull Katering, Inc., or it will be sold to two key employees for a reasonable and fair price. If Harrison becomes involved, the two employees have the option to purchase a significant, but less than majority, interest in the firm. Harrison‟s only involvement with this business, which his grandfather established, was as an hourly employee during high school and college summers. He is confident that he could learn and perhaps enjoy the marketing side of the business, and that he could retain the longtime head of accounting/finance. But he would never really enjoy day-to-day ope rations. In fact, he doesn‟t understand what operations management really involves. In 1991 Kare-Full Katering, Inc. had $3.75 million in sales in central Ohio. Net profit after taxes was $ 105,000, the eleventh consecutive  year of profitable operations and the seventeenth in the last 20 years. There are 210 employees in this labor-intense business. Institutional contracts account for over 70 percent of sales and include partial food services for three colleges, six commercial establishments) primarily manufacturing plants and banks), two long -term care facilities, and five grade schools. Some customer location employs a permanent operations manager; others are served from the main kitchens of Kare-Full Katering. Harrison believes that if he becomes active in the business, one of the two key employees, the vice president of operations, will leave the firm. Harrison has decided to complete the final two months of this school year and then spend the summer around Kare-Full Katering – as well as institutions with their own food services – to assess whether he wants to become involved in the business. He is particularly interested in finding out as much as possible about operations. Harrison believes he owes it to his wife and children to fairly evaluate this opportunity. Questions: 1. Prepare a worksheet of operations activities that Harrison should inquire about this summer. 2. If you were Harrison, what would you do? Why? END OF SECTION B Section C: Applied Theory (30 marks) This Section Consists of Applied Theory Questions. Answer all the questions. Each question carries 15 marks. Detailed information should form the part of your answer (Word limit 200 to 250 words). IIBM Institute of Business Management Examination Paper of Production and Operations Management 1. What do you mean by Tactical Planning? What are the mathematical approaches to aggregate planning? 2. What is the concept of forecasting in operation? List the different types of forecasting methods.

Speech to inform Outline Rubric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Speech to inform Outline Rubric - Essay Example . I tend to behave differently when I visit my parents’ households. In my opinion maintaining one’s culture is a crucial part of life, it sort of gives any individual an identity unique from others. In my family, my mother is African while my Father is from Saudi Arabia. This definitely makes me multiracial. Nonetheless, I tend to be more with my father’s culture since we reside with them and I have stayed with them longer than my mother’s family. The discourses can be diverse but at some point similar in terms of values. Following all these, I also have been affected in school since I come from different races. I will therefore take you through my experiences from both cultures for a better understanding of their discourse. I will explain the similarities as well as differences between the two, and the impact they both have had in my life especially when I was growing up. Transition: Despite the many differences with the two discourse cultures, they share a number of similar values which in my opinion make them compatible to intermarry, as my parents did. Here are some of the similarities. Transition: As I have explained, Discourse culture basically brings out the difference in the culture of communities. My Saudi Arabian and African discourses have their differences and similarities also they have had some negative effects on me. It is my hope that through my multiracial identity you now comprehend what discourse culture is. The two cultures are different in some way especially when visiting other people but have similarities. Respect for family unity is a similar in both of my races. I have been discriminated but have survived it all since I love both my mother and father so dearly. My challenge to all of you is to stop racism, if anyone of you still believes in discrimination upon race then this is a reason on why you should see the world and the people in it differently. We cannot all be the same and

The Depression of the 1930s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Depression of the 1930s - Essay Example The proposals of NBS was for the largest ever tax increase, distend tariffs, massive welfare economics of public works projects, controlling of wages and prices and hiking bank reserve requirement. This lead to worse economic problems for the country than was expected. The economic depression of the 1930s was due to the emergence of managerial capitalism and the mass consumption. The Americans thought that the recession was caused by a myriad of issues among them ;the crash of the stock market, failure of the banks, reduction in the purchasing across the block ,the American economic policy with Europe which had direct constraints to their well being in economic matters and the drought conditions in the Mississippi The Sherman Antitrust act and other Antitrust laws The antitrust law faced a lot of backlash especially for the big businesses leading to the continuing of the monopolistic and oligopolistic characteristics of the big businesses. The antitrust laws did not spell out the cle ar business conducts and stipulate the regulations of the businesses. The antitrust laws allowed for the formation of mergers of the co operations into single and multinational entities which developed and became great entities in the 21st century creating great stumbles to other players in the sector of the related businesses globally. Despite the antitrust laws there were numerous mergers in 1899 and the 1901 .This lead to great effects into the future of big businesses in the USA in the later centuries. The antitrust laws lead to the creation and the development of organizational management and management capitalism to deal with the running and managing of large businesses and cooperation coming as a result of the formation of big business mergers. The question of whether the antitrust laws were a failure or not has left a lot of debate on the issue whether it was a failure or not. Most of the players in the market and within the economy believe that it was never a failure. Polit ical, business and economic historians believe that it was not a failure. The laws did not fail in achieving their intended purposes in the regulation of the market and the economy of the USA. The antitrust laws however increased and enhanced the degree at which companies became concentrated and became more monopolistic and oligopolistic hence affecting the rate of equity and fairness in the running of big businesses within the economy of the state. From this law the people of America learnt to live in an environment of big businesses and imperfect completion within the market set up in their economy. Emergence of Managerial capitalism and the Visible hand of the Market The development of the management as explained by Chandler meant that the management had shifted from that which was organized and decentralized to individuals to an approach that is centralized and one which is centralized to few individuals in an organization with numerous managerial and decision making structures. The management is thus taken into the hands of accountants and managers which are answerable to the shareholders and their specific interests. The managements of the GM adopted a vertical and horizontal integration approach in the running of the organization in the early years without much planned and prepared strategies as a way out of the economic constraints

Why is ethically correct to criticize competitors through comparative Essay

Why is ethically correct to criticize competitors through comparative advertisement - Essay Example Ever since its approval, comparative advertisements has been compared to a double edged sword in which it promotes one product whereas demotes the other. An ideal comparative advertisement provides the customers with honest and sincere information in order to compete with a product so that the consumers can make a better choice while purchasing the commodity. Various researches proved that comparative advertisements help to create awareness among consumers, hence, the less popular brands become popular and the market for the popular brands tend to decrease. Comparative advertisement is considered unethical when the comparison provides the consumer with fake information and misleads the customer on purpose. Hence unethical comparative advertisements may also result in lawful proceedings. In accordance with one court any oblique remark, any indirect proclamation or any suggestions that may mean more than one thing are considered unethical. It is also considered wrong if an advertisemen t flatters their product in comparison to other. Furthermore, any sort of name calling, insulting and finger pointing are considered wrong and should be avoided at all possible costs when indulging in comparative advertisements. To keep a check and balance on comparative advertisements and to keep it within limits various organizations in the United States such as American Association of Advertising Agencies, the National Association of Broadcasters and the FTC have issued do’s and don’ts of comparative advertisements. One such example is of NBC, which says that the companies should not discredit, disparage or attack the competitors, products or industries in an unfair way (BoveÃŒ e & Arens, 1982). A list of guidelines by The American Association of Advertising Agencies is made up of ten points which ensures that a comparative advertisement remains within the ethical boundaries. The first point

Organizational Diagnosis in MBA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organizational Diagnosis in MBA - Assignment Example The survey also found that â€Å"RIMs BlackBerry smartphone was the leading choice in Canada, outpacing the Apple iPhone.† (News 7). Market research firm Comscore Canada gave following important figures from the results of the survey of 5,000 people. The Comscore found that the â€Å"top smartphone platform in Canada was RIM (42 percent), followed by Apple (31 percent) and Android (12.2 percent).† (Paul Sakuma 7) The Associated Press reported in USA TODAY that the â€Å"Palm sales figures showed it's having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys. The company shipped 960,000 smartphones to stores and distributors in the quarter that ended Feb. 26, 23% more than in the previous quarter. However, the number of phones that were actually bought by consumers was 408,000, down 29% from the previous quarter. By comparison, Apple sold 8.7 million iPhones in its most recent quarter.†(Svenson 8) The product and services of Palm Inc. were revised last year by introducing a new phone operating system, webOS. Its the basis for a new line of phones, led by the Pre, that have won critical praise but haven't turned the company's fortunes around. A reinforcing loop is â€Å"one in which an action produces a result which influences more of the same action thus resulting in growth or decline. The reinforcing loop is one of the two foundational structures of systems thinking, the other being the Balancing Loop.† (Bellinger 7) The reinforcing loop of Palm Inc. illustrated in figure 1 show that uncompetitive products are returned back with the diminishing sale. The major line of products of Palm Inc. is smartphones which have a tough competition with Apple iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry and now Google’s Android. â€Å"Some analysts have said the window of opportunity for Palm may be closing."

Discuss the role of the courage of children in both Little Woman and Essay

Discuss the role of the courage of children in both Little Woman and Treasure Island - Essay Example â€Å"Treasure Island reflects a deep anxiety about the power imbalance that complicates the adult author-child reader relationship†¦ Stevenson worries that the authors of adventure stories aim to indoctrinate and exploit youngsters like his impressionable boy hero† (Gubar, 2009, pp126-127). Furthermore, both Treasure Island and Little Women were written in the 19th century, which has been labelled the â€Å"Golden Age† of children literature (Gubar, 2009). In considering the novels in their historical context, Gubar’s observation underlines the changing approach of authors to children’s literature towards the end of the nineteenth century in portraying childhood and growing up. A central element of this is through the subversion of societal norms associated with children with the use of strength. For example, in Treasure Island, the novel’s central protagonist Jim Hawkins relays the journey of pirates and hidden treasure and the narrative is rich with action of childhood adventure, which is infused with adult themes such as morality, alcoholism and murder (Jones, 2003). Moreover, it is submitted that Jim’s character arguably fuses the universal quest for adventure conventionally associated with childhood with serious issues impacting child development, development in growing up. This is exemplified by the characterisation of Jim as a boy man in taking the Hispaniola to get the buried treasure: â€Å"the scheme had an air of adventure that inspired me, and the thought of the water breaker beside the fore companion doubled my growing courage† (Stevenson, 1883, p.196). Similarly, Alcott’s â€Å"Little Women† also subverts the contextual norms associated with children growing up, which is arguably attributable to Alcott’s difficult childhood (Clark 2005, p.213). Indeed, Alcott utilises the familiarity of domesticity associated with girls and subverts this to underline the complex issues impacting children’s lives, which was contextually

Franks Lordships In Syria's Diplomatic Landscape Essay

Franks Lordships In Syria's Diplomatic Landscape - Essay Example The most famous instances are to be found in Usama Ibn Mungidh’s, a Shayzar knight, memoirs. In detail, he describes the many pleasant encounters between the Frankish Lordships and the Muslims out of the battlefields, especially the templar order members. He betrays a sense of moral superiority and Islamic intellectual as instanced, by a polite refusal of an offer, to take Usama’s son to France for studies by a Frankish knight (Kohler, 2010: p76). However, the fact that this type of offer was developed in the first instance and the fact that Usama was not worried that the son would be converted is a telling item of evidence concerning the relationship texture. The Muslim natives, Usama included, knew the Frankish lordships well, visited major towns run by the crusaders, and entertained them often. Muslims of lower social classes, particularly the artisans and merchants, travelled to Frankish territories often for personal or professional reasons (Kohler, 2010: p79). Man y descriptions of Muslims from Frankish towns by the Muslim Arabs who visited them exist. While it is true that the first crusade was, in deed, an atrocious campaign, it was not very different to the usual permanent skirmishes that dominated Syria throughout the 11th century, continuing into the 12th century between the Muslims in Syria. Beyond the human, and quite friendly, relationships, the two groups maintained political alliances for long periods. The political alliance between the Frankish lordships of Antioch and Emirs Shayzar is the most celebrated of these alliances. The entente between the Latin kingdom in Jerusalem and the Atabeks in Damascus was important as... This paper stresses that As can be gleaned from the activities in the 12th century, better knowledge of others is not necessarily a beginning of sympathy; rather, it may breed contempt. It is not that the Muslim natives of this time were not aware of the crusade movement’s institutional aspect. Especially as the Pope’s role in its proclamation; indulgence that was promised to those who took part, recapturing Jerusalem as the main goal, and propaganda spread by monks and priests in Europe, as well as contributions made to maintain morale in the Syrian battles all pointed to this. However, all this is presented not to understand better the enemy but to create a religious zeal among the Muslim natives such as that which had been instilled in the crusaders. Therefore, Muslim leaders in Syria invoke the role of the Pope in many letters in this period asking for help in isolating the crusaders and the Frankish lordships in particular. This report makes a conclusion that the absence of any real dialogue between the Muslim natives and Frankish lordships was impressive; especially considering that there was continued disputes with Oriental Christians, which were held in public sometimes throughout the 12th century. The warfare climate that dominated relationships between Muslims and Franks was not conducive to any meaningful dialogue with the notion of superiority by the Franks also as much to blame as the same feelings harbored by Muslim natives. Indeed, at theological level, this diplomatic disconnect led to a lack of idea exchange.

Self-esteem and Respect Essay Example for Free

Self-esteem and Respect Essay â€Å"Respect permeates every aspect of you life. † As Joe Clark said in this quote, respect takes charge of everything in a persons life. The dictionary definition of respect is â€Å"a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something, elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. † Being respectful may come natural to most people, but for others its a difficult task. Having respect can be taught from a young age. Being respectful requires, having self respect, listening to others, and earning and giving respect to other people. Self respect is having appropriate sense of ones own dignity and integrity. If a person does not respect themselves then they probably will never respect other people. If a person notices that another person does not take care of themselves by proper hygiene, letting people run over them, or having low self esteem, then people will mostly likely not respect that person. If a person practices good psychological health, physical health, and recreational health, then they respect themselves and are a good example of self respect. On the other hand if a person never exercises, smokes, drinks all the time, and hangs out with criminals, then they do not have self respect. People who have self respect will care enough about their bodies, and will not put themselves in those type of situations. Self respect is a trait that everyone should develop at some point because it will determine how the rest of your life will turn out, and is required for having a happy and satisfying life. Parks 2 Respect is listening to other people. When a person truly respects someone they will listen to their opinions and values, even if its something that does not interest you. When listening to someone you give them your undivided attention. When a person sits down and put away all of their distractions (cell phones, computers paperwork) away that shows that they care and respect that other person. When listening to other people, try to stay present with what the speaker is saying, and do not let your mind wonder. When the person that is speaking is finished speaking, pause before you reply. Pausing shows that the listener respects what the person just said, and is carefully thinking of a respectful way to reply. If people are great listeners, this opens up doors for a lot mutually respectful relationships. Respect is not a right. Its not just given to a person just because they want it. Respect is earned. Someone who wants to be respected should carry out actions suitable enough for people to take notice of and have positive worth to the world. Respect is earned by the way a person carries themselves and the way a person treats others. If a person does not respect a persons, feelings, values, and opinions, then other people will not respect their, feelings, values, and opinions. Respect is earned by a person, by making it crystal clear that that persons care about themselves. That also sets standards for how other people should treat that person. Respect is also earned by standing up for what you believe in, even if that person is the only one standing up for that belief. Living a life with respect may be hard to do, but once other people are respectful to a person it often becomes an instinct to give that respect right back. Respect permeates every aspect of a persons life. Respect is the foundation of every aspect in a persons life and it is important to possess this trait. Being a respectful person to others and yourself opens up many doors and relationships.

An Analysis Of Agatha Christie

An Analysis Of Agatha Christie Britishs literature is one of the biggest treasures of literary, poetry, play that famous around the world. The place that all the name like William Shakespeare, William Golding , and Philip Larkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ come from. Love story, romantic story, fantasy and fairytales are some topics that many author/writer want to write about, usually based on their personal life. Therefore, when people talk about literature, its only a small amount of people interested in mystery and murder stories and one of the reason is because mystery and crime stories as we know them today did not emerge until the mid-nineteenth century when Edgar Allan Poe introduced mystery fictions first fictional detective, Auguste C. Dupin, in his 1841 story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue. The acknowledged father of the mystery story, Poe continued Dupins exploits in novels such as The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842) and The Purloined Letter (1845). (Mystery Time Line Group). Even though appeared really late in litera tures history but it coming popular quickly. And many authors became famous by writing this type of stories like Edgar Allan Poe, Dorothy L. Sayers, and according to Hack, a woman spent her entire life writing about mystery and murder Stories Agatha Christie. It truly began in 1841 when Edgar Allan Poe introduced Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin in the short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Two women were brutally murdered in a baffling an grotesque manner, the police appear baffled, Dupin leads his own investigation and succeeds were regular authorities have failed, so getting in stone the basic of countless detective fiction novels to come (R.D Collin). After that, many other stories, novels appeared as mystery fiction and became very famous. According to Mystery Time Line Group, Dickens Charles became popular by Bleak House (1853). The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870), a prolific writer, Collins wrote The Woman in White (1860). The Moonstone(1868),and a brilliant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who we know as Sherlock Holmes. Many people wonder that why crime fiction became popular so quickly. Most writer novel usually write their story, they based on real story and it difference from all other category of writing, it include many difference small stories in one big story in order to find the final answer. While reading, reader feels like they are the main character and wants to find the puzzled as soon as possible, its mysterious mixing with reality because it based on things that surround us. By the 1920s British mysteries had become extremely popular, particularly the cozy, a style of mystery usually featuring a small village setting, a hero with faintly aristocratic family connections, a plethora of red herrings and a tendency to commit homicide with sterling silver letter openers and poisons imported from Paraguay.(Murder Ink) From a regular novel of finding puzzle, it spread out in to other category, involved more violation and sex one of them are I, The Jury which became one of the best selling mystery books back in those days, sold over 6 million copied and most of them are mal reader. Heavy gut and bloody mystery are interested many people too parallel with love mystery. It became more and more successful and that why mystery fiction became so famous in a short period of them. Not stopping there, crime fiction step in television and theater. TV has provided mystery lovers with a seemingly endless stream of colorful characters over the years and into the present. Characters such as Perry Mason and Simon Templar (The Saint) were extremely popular during the early years of TV, followed more recently by the likes of Lieutenant Columbo (Columbo), Jim Rockford (The Rockford Files), and Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote), among many others. (Mystery Time Line Group). Consequently, mystery keeping it own pos ition of strength and dot not losing any sign of abating. Many new novels had published and it not only convinces British but fan all over the world. And speaking of famous, Christie Agatha is woman that famous by her writing and nonpareil skill. Agatha Christie, full name was Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller. According to Janet Morgan, Agatha came from a middle class family in Torquay. In April 1878, Frederick Miller married to Clara Miller, they had three beautiful daughter together, into this well equipped house hold, Agatha was born on September 15, 1890, she was much-loved after through ; her mother was thirty-six and her father was forty-four and there was a gap of eleven years between Agatha and Madge and ten years between Agatha and Madge( Morgan, 8)which mean Agatha had two older sister and she was the youngest of all. By Morgan, we know that Agatha was educated when she was young and only educated at home (19). Agatha proved that she really intelligent, interesting in book, good at cooking and singer and in her early life, Agatha dreaming of becoming nurse, Agatha said, during her school day that she wanted to be a nurse but Mr. Miller had other ideas. She would deadly have loved her daughter become a concert pianist or a professional singer, perhaps in grand opera.(Hack 24). When Agatha was young, she wrote short stories and composed a collection of poems which were later publishes by Geoffrey Bles in 1925 and called The Road of Dream (Robyns 27). Confo rm to Richard Hack; Agatha worked at a hospital as a nurse in the First World War. This is the point when Agatha came up with an idea to write crime fiction novel while nursing for her patients. August 1914 she met an an aviator name Archibald Christie, its happen to be her future husband, surprised everyone when they got married in a Christmas Eve 1914 in a local church without any preparing , Agatha remembering the memory, wrote no bride could have taken less trouble about her appearance. No white dress, no veil, not even a smart frock. I was an ordinary coat and skirt with a small purple velvet hat.'(Hack 59). A baby girl was born in August 5, 1919 is a result of this married, Agatha gave birth to a baby girl in her own bed room and name it Rosalind (69). According to Richard hack, Archibald Christie only came home to see the baby and Agatha for a couple hours a day and left after that. Agatha felt depressed and sad when her body changed after pregnant and the loneliness while M r. Miller usually away from home, looking at the sad corner in her house, Agatha decided to continue her novel that she started when she was a nurse in World War 1 (70). The book names The mysterious Affair at Styles, it was a bid success, and The New York Times was really impressed with this book: The only fault this story has is that it is almost too ingenious, they wrote: Though this may be the first published book of Miss Agatha Christie, she betrays the cunning of an old hand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You must wait for the last-but-one chapter in the book for the last link in the chain of evidence that enabled Mr. Poirot to unravel the whole complicated plot and lay the guilt where it really belonged. And you may safely make a wager with yourself that until you have heard M. Poirots final word on the mysterious affair at Styles; you will be kept guessing at its solution and will most certainly never lay down this most entertaining book. (New York Times) Agatha keeping up with her writing career and thinking that this is what she love to do, she published: The Secret Adversary which appeared in 1922, Murder on the link(1923) the man in the brown suit ( 1924) (Robyns 48). Richard hack informed that Archie asked for a divorce in late 1926, he claims that he was falling in love with another woman and asking Agatha for a quit. Disappointing and painfully, while she still in a pain of the lost of her mother not too long ago (95). In December 1926, Agatha disappeared, the Monday morning paper wrote an article for Agathas manhunt: Missing from home, the Styles, sunning dale, Berkshire, Mrs. Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, age 35; height 5 feet 7inches; hair, red, hinged part grey; complexion, fair, built slight, dressed in grey stockinet skirt, green, jumper, grey and dark cardigan and small velour hat; wearing a platinum ring with on pearl; no wedding ring; black handbag with purse containing perhaps L5 or L 10. Left home by car at 9:45 P.M. Friday leaving note saying that she was going for a drive ( Robyns 66) Fifteen thousand fans join police from four counties looking for Agatha ( Robyns 67), she appeared three week later in Swan Hydropathic Hotel in Harrogate, she claimed that she has loss her memories and do not remember anything happen before. According to Gwen, the doctor had diagnosed her as suffering from amnesia, typical case of mental reprisal, a person got hurt from someone or some impact event that affected them. In this case, it might be the depressing of losing her mother and the betrayed of her husband that made Agatha decided to disappear for a short period of time. Its difficult for Agatha Christy to recovery after all things happen so she decided to take a long holiday and choose the West Indies( Robyns 91) to distress and find a new source of inspiration for her next book. On this trip, she met Max Mallowan, an archaeologist, who Agatha spent the rest 45 year of her life with. On September 11, 1930, Mrs. Agatha Christie and Professor Max Mallowan were married quietly in Edinburgh to avoid the sensation that it would have caused in London press. The ceremony took place at St. Cuthberts church in the district of St. Giles with her daughter and two secretaries, Charlotte and Mary Fisher, as witness. ( Robyns 94). After married Agatha Christie returned to write book and success after success. Agatha got ideas from things she saw and turned to novels, masterpieces. Christie wrote the first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles , got an idea when she was a nurse in a hospital in World War I, and the plot of the story was base on World War I. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was finish during the death of her mother and a divorce with her ex husband. She translate her sadness in to the story and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd became one of the most selling book in Agatha Christie career, it place Agatha Christie at the top of her professionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the un disputed Queen of crime(Robyns 53). Agatha love it and know this is what she love and something that she will keep doing till the rest of her life. 12 January 1976 In St. MARYS CHURCHYARD, Cholsey, Berkshire, forty seven miles west of London, lies Lady Mallowan- Dame Agatha Christie- who was known to millions of people throughout the world as the Queen of Crime, as she prefer, the Duchess of Death.(Robyns 3) According to Gwen Robyns, Agatha Christie has the most unique style of writing story, she doesnt base on and literature rule and still turn it into many wonderful novels. A lot of professor study about Agatha Christies writing. Like Professor Behr proved that the way her character say maybe misleading or false but on the other hand, it real and true, really inevitable (189). People wonder if she used that character from real life. Agatha replied: No, I dont. I invent them. They are mine. Theyve got to be my character- doing what I want them to do, being what I want them to be- coming alive for me, having their own ides sometimes, but only because Ive made them become real. (Robyn 190) Like she said she Agatha Christie had no ambition to create a literary style, she uses her own world as her own strength. Her stories use easy language, easy to understand, that helps reader have a way to connect to the character and make it real. She put so much effort in to whats she doing. In order to write a book, she has to work through all winter, and spring to be able to publish in September. Agatha said: you must decide what kind of style you want to work in and then read book that have a same style. (Robyns 197) People think that writing is much easy for me. It isnt. Its murder. (197). Even though Agatha think she cant write but the fans still cannot find a small mistake in her ingenious writing. Mr. Max Mallowan shard with reader about his wifes writing style: My wife always wrote the last chapter first. In this way she was able to gather up all the clues and nearly tie parcel. It was only after she had done this that she went back to the beginning and worked her way through.(Robyns 195) Agatha unique writing style is incredible, she thought of some ideas that people would never thought of. Like Murder on the Orient Express, the victim got murder while walking to the gas station and the last seem reader knew before he death that he was looking at a back of the woman wearing kimono ( Christie 38). In Murder with Mirror by Christie, she created many character in order to trick viewer by thinking there would be a multiple choice of murderer. Most of the time the answer will review in the very end of the story and it always surprise fans. Creative, ingenious, incredible still not a word that we can describe Agatha Christies works. People got blow away while reading to her books, follow every step that Mr. Hercule Poirot make who is an imagine character made by Mrs. Christie. According to Janet Morgan, he appeared in 33 of Christies novels and 54 short stories (108) became the most famous character made by the Crime Queen. She named her detective Hercule Poirot for no particular reason. (Hack 64). Even though Agatha Christie is a very famous writer, but she still read and discovered about crime fiction by looking up other famous author. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the them, Agatha read and learn that if she want her book to be famous and unique, she need to created some one that creative and as smart as the most famous detective of the day, Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John H. Watson, and that is how Hercule Poirot was born (64) go along with his friend Captain Hasting. Poirot was Agatha biggest child, followed her through her life. According to Hack, in 1975, Agatha released the held Poirot manuscri pt titled Curtain( 229) to make an end for Poirot, it sold more than one hundred twenty thousand copies. Fans of Hercule Poirot were visibly moved by the book which found him now crippled with pain ,and, on the last page of the novel, he said farewell to his friend Captain Hasting.( Hack 229) Another famous character that created by Christie is a woman name Jane Marple. According to Hack she Miss Marple was introduced in the short stories, The Tuesday Night Club establishes 1928; Murder at the Vicarage in 1930, she name Miss Marple after the Maple Hall during visited her sister and this character was dedicated to her only daughter Rosalind (131). Agatha never forgot the graceful decay she saw at this once fine house and name Jane Marple in its honor.The Tuesday Night Club, Murder at the Vicarage gave Agatha a critical success goes along with some book like: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), Murder on the Orient Express (1934), and Death on the Nile (1937). ( Mystery Time Line group). In Miss Marple, Agatha found a spirit whose observations she enjoy creating. The character herself was a spin-off from Caroline Sheppard, a spinster in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Agatha Christie had fun and interested with this character, Miss Marple gave Agatha many success in short stories category. Like Poirot, Agatha gave Miss Marple an end in the book Sleeping Murder and it was a gift for her love Max, while Rosalind was given Curtain, the final case for Hercule Poirot. (Hack 163) Agatha Christie wrote ninety-four books all told and was translated into 103 languages, 14 more than Shake Speare. She wrote eighty-three detective stories, six straight novels (under the pseudonym of Mary Wesrmacott), one book of reminiscences, two of poems, and her autobiography. Four hundred million copies of her book have already been sold and there is no sign of a decline in sale. (Robyns 3)Agatha is truly a legend of crime fiction, the queen of crime like people use to call her. Murder/crime fiction come a long way and still developing itself. Agatha Christie, a name that well never forget she gave her all and never want much for herself. She left behind so many great novel and wonderful art work and she will always be the most popular mystery writer of all time. Because like she said: I did not have to be polite when saying that I could see no limit to the popularity of my story ( Robyns 200)

Micro-finance in Rural India: Challenges for the Future

Micro-finance in Rural India: Challenges for the Future Submitted by: Aishik Chakraborty Aritra Datta Shubham Chowdhury Snehashish Saha INTRODUCTION Rural India is home to about two-thirds of the Indias 125 crore population. This population is mostly engaged in agriculture that contributes 17.2 percent to Indias GDP. However, this dependence on agriculture is gradually diminishing with small-scale cottage industries and self-help groups gaining prominence in rural economy. This is clearly reflected by the contribution of industry in rural economy which has grown to 30.2 percent in the recent years. However the self-help groups and cottage industries often have to depend on the local moneylenders for financing of its activities with most large scale banks yet to make a foray into rural markets. In such circumstances, micro-finance gains prominence in financing activities of such industries. Micro-finance is a critical factor in uplifting rural economy. However this sector suffers from various challenges. It is imperative that the challenges are studied in order to ensure the Indian growth story to continue. This study will analyze the prevalent challenges and recommend strategies to overcome these bottlenecks. LITERATURE REVIEW Micro-finance refers to small scale financial services provided by financial institutions to the financially backward classes. These services include savings, credit, insurance, etc. The conditions for a financial service to be termed as micro-finance is that the transaction should be small and the customers should be financially weak. Jeffrey Sachs, the renowned economist once claimed that â€Å"The key to ending extreme poverty is to enable the poorest of the poor to get their foot on the ladder of development.† The concept of micro-finance was introduced in India during the 1990s. The country is home to about a third of the world’s poor, most of who do not have access to commercial banking services. The key problem areas in rural financial markets included a lack of credit in rural areas, absence of modern technology in agriculture, low savings capacity in rural areas and prevalence of usurious moneylenders. In such circumstances, micro-finance provides financial inclusion to the under-privileged sections of the society. In absence of micro-finance, the poor in rural India would fall prey to the money-lenders who charge a very high rate of interest on credit and thereby rob the poor of their savings. Micro-finance differs from conventional banking as unlike conventional banks, micro-financing lays more emphasis on the principles of co-operation, equality and mutual self-help. Micro-finance targets mostly the women of rural India, with more than 90% of its customers being women belonging to self-help groups. Micro-credit is mostly used for direct investments by self-help groups and facilitates access to credit by clients who need small amounts of credits but are less credit-worthy for larger loans. However, MFIs in India are susceptible to a number of challenges including political interference. They compete with both politicians and government backed lending programs for the same target segment. The ability of the Indian MFI industry to mitigate this risk is a crucial factor in determining its success. An example of a crisis in the micro-finance sector was when Andhra Pradesh found itself at the center of a debacle thatwas triggered by a the highly successful MFI, SKS Microfinance, which tactfully covered up cases of suicides among MFI borrowers. While it has not been clearly established whether indebtedness or coercive MFI tactics triggered the suicides, the political backlash was intense. In order to counterbalance the political criticism, the state government hastily pushed through a legislation that effectively crippled the MFI industry in the state. RBI established a committee, headed by Y.H. Malegam, to review the various issues and to recommend regulatory steps needed to prevent these incidents from recurring. Released in January 2011, we the recommendations will have wide ranging impacts on the industry. Some of the key impacts include: Creation of entry and operational barriers through higher net worth, capital adequacy, loan portfolio allocation requirements with a possibility of some banks absorbing some of the MFIs. Implementation of industry specific corporate governance standards, greater oversight by the RBI, tailoring NPA definitions in accordance with industry standards will improve corporate governance and transparency . Establishment of a fully fledged credit bureau, limitations on the number of loans to each household, conditions on procedures for loan sanctioning and repayments will reduce the incidence of over-borrowing and multiple-lending . The World Bank has also taken major steps in the sector of micro-finance. Formation of Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) in 1995 as a consortium of 33 Public and private development agencies and establishment of Microfinance Management Institute(MAFMI) in 2003 are significant landmarks. Regional multilateral development banks like Asian Development Bank also champion the cause of commercial micro-finance. Nationalization of existing private commercial banks, massive expansion of branch network in rural areas, mandatory directed credit to priority sectors of the economy, subsidized rates of interest and creation of a new set of rural banks at district level and an Apex bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD20) at national level are some of the organizations working in micro-finance. The initial micro-credit innovations in Bangladesh, Bolivia and Indonesia demonstrated the success of micro-lending. However the popularity of micro-finance in India stemmed from its ability to reach the poor without collateral and near full recovery rates. Micro-finance is contributing significantly to the financial activities of the poor. Various initiatives and programs have been launched to fortify the position of micro-finance in India. The speed of enforcement and the degree to which these recommendations are implemented will determine how much the industry will change and how likely it is to succeed. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Microfinance suffers from various challenges from its competitors and also from the issues stemming from the mismanagement of various micro-finance companies. The study will enable us to recommend the future strategies and build the way forward for MFIs in India by addressing the following issues. What is microfinance and how does it impact rural India? What are the challenges faces by MFIs in India? What are its implications on the various stakeholders (villagers, money-lenders, banks, Govt. and the MFI institutions) What are the possible solutions to these challenges? Action plan for the recommendations. RESEARCH DESIGN The research will be based on the following methodologies. Identification and interpretation Identify the major issues and challenges. Formulate relevant questions keeping in mind these issues. Gather information from primary and secondary sources. Interpret the solutions to the issues Support and supplement the findings from research data. Data Analysis Gather data from self help groups and find whether they are involved in Micro Finance, and how micro finance has contributed to their business and rural India in general. Challenges that they face while getting the requisite loan from the Micro Finance Institutions. What are the viable alternatives to Micro Finance. The strategic importance of Micro Finance Institutions to their organization. How Micro Finance has impacted their lives and whether the impact is positive or negative. EXPECTED CONRIBUTION The study will consider all the dimensions of Micro Finance in Rural India and provide the following value additions to the field. Appreciate the importance of Micro Finance in rural India and explain their significance. Understand the perceptions of the rural population about Micro Finance in India. Remove the apprehensions about Micro Finance and communicate the benefits of Micro Finance to the rural population. Understand and comprehend the challenges that Micro Finance Institutions face in rural India. Elucidate how the challenges impact the MFI’s. Analyze and evaluate the challenges critically. Develop strategies for overcoming the current challenges and sustaining them. Analyze the competitors and their strategies. How can MFI’s handle the challenges and maintain their customer base. Design the future path of development for Micro Finance in India. Existing micro-finance models in India The following micro-financing models are prevalent in India. Each of these models have their own advantages and disadvantages. SHG-Bank Linkage Model: In this model the SHGs get credit directly from the co-operative banks, regional rural banks, NABARD, etc. This model provides credit to SHGs at lower rates of interest. However this model reduces the credit worthiness of the SHGs and increases the risk of default for the banks. Bank-MFI Linkage Model: In this model, the MFIs act as intermediaries and guarantors for the SHGs and receive financing from banks for further lending it to the SHGs. This model helps in improving the credit worthiness of the SHGs and reduces the risks for the banks. However the SHGs have to pay a higher rate of interest to MFIs in this model. Challenges faced by the Micro-finance sector in India Through extensive study and discussions with relevant stakeholders, the following have been identified as being the foremost challenges to the micro-finance sector in India. There is extreme skewness in distribution of micro-finance services in India. 52% clients of micro-financing come from southern India while 23% come from eastern India. The share of micro-finance beneficiaries from North, West, Central and North-East India stand at an abnormally low level of 9%, 12%, 3% and 3% respectively. This disparity clearly shows that micro-financing services are unevenly spread and is not available to many people who need it. Micro-finance is mostly concerned with micro-credit to SHGs. However other financial services such as insurance, savings schemes are not provided. Also it serves the SHGs, individual businesses don’t benefit through micro-finance. Micro-finance is considered as a social/charitable business rather than a profitable one. Consequently, almost 90% MFIs are dependent on subsidies and suffer from a high debt-equity ratio. The loan sizes are generally small and involves high transaction and processing costs. Consequently the interest rates are higher. There is high turnover of MFI employees. The reasons are poor salary, lack of incentives and working mostly in rural areas with limited opportunities. The employees also lack in financial and technical training. The MFIs lack control over how efficiently the money is used after lending. This often leads to bad investments by SHGs and results in default. MFIs are aware of this risk and keep the interest rates high in absence of a collateral. Micro-finance has reached only a small fraction of the people who need it. The micro-finance sector lags behind from technological perspective that would allow it to disburse loans more effectively. Absence of best practices norms in the industry often leads to coercive recovery of loans. The poor in urban areas cannot avail micro-finance services. Hence these services should be extended for the urban poor as well. Micro-finance institutions have a very low rate of customer retention. This is because clients are not properly educated about the services available from the MFIs. Recommendations Based on the findings, the following steps are recommended for reviving micro-finance sector in India and turning it into a tool for poverty alleviation and financial inclusion. Micro-finance reaches a very small fraction of the people who need it. Hence an overall scaling up of micro-finance sector is imperative. The initiative can be in form of public ventures, private banks or PPP model. The MFIs and NBFCs are to be brought under a regulatory authority to ensure standardization and enforce best practices. The micro-finance sector should diversify its portfolio from being a money-lending entity into an sector that provides holistic financial services such as insurance and savings to its clients. It should also try to widen its client base from SHGs in rural areas to the deserving urban poor who require financial inclusion. Greater use of technology and analytics can negate some issues that arise out of asymmetric information while sanctioning a loan and provide better risk analysis. This will allow MFIs to lower the risk of default while the poor will benefit from lower interest rates due to less chances of default. There employees should be provided with better incentives and given proper training to educate the rural people with the benefits of services provided by the MFIs. They should also be provided with technical and financial training to better assess the credit worthiness of the client. The perception of MFIs should change from being social or charitable organizations into being sustainable and profitable organizations. This would allow MFIs access into financial markets and investments and end their dependency on subsidies. Appendix The following questions were asked to hostel and mess staff and security guards of IMI who were likely to have been exposed to the Micro-finance sector. The questionnaire and responses are as follows. Are there any SHGs operating your native village? Do you have any close relative associated to SHGs? Which part of the country your native village is situated at? Are you aware of the services that micro-finance institutions provide? Do you have access to micro-finance institutions in your village? What is the preferred source of credit in your village? Has micro-finance institutions uplifted the rural class? REFERENCES Microfinance in India: Empirical Evidence, Alternative Models and Policy Imperatives Rajaram Dasgupta Access, Use and Contribution of Microfinance in India: Findings from a National Study Frances Sinha Microfinance in India K.G. Karmakar ISBN: 978-0-7619-3626-8 Microfinance in India: Mission or Misery? Jaideep Singh Panwar The Microfinance Sector in India: Which Way Now? Savita Shankar and Mukul G. Asher Issues and Challenges Relating to Microfinance in India Dr. Sandeep Bansal Microfinance in India: Contemporary Issues and Challenges Sibghatullah Nasir

The Evolution of Ichthyosaurs- Large Aquatic Reptiles Essay -- Anthrop

The Evolution of Ichthyosaurs- Large Aquatic Reptiles In the early 1800’s, a new discovery that left paleontologists in awe was the fossil finding of the immeasurable amount of species of reptiles, Ichthyosaurs. Greek for â€Å"fish lizards†, these fossils were found all over the world. Because these large aquatic reptiles migrated just as whales do today, paleontologists have had the amazing advantage of collecting fascinating bone fragments throughout the past 177 years. Ichthyosaurs swam the ocean life from about 245 million until about 90 million years ago- approximately the same time dinosaurs ruled the land. The earliest Ichthyosaur fossil findings were in parts of Canada, China, Japan, and possibly Thailand. Countless fossils came from coatings of limestone produced out of the ocean-floor ooze that was predominantly superior at preserving very well facts of the creatures it digested (Perkins 2). Andrea Fildani and Michael Shultz, graduate students in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, uncovered the bones of an Ichthyosaur near the southernmost tip of Chilean Patagonia. These rock layers were initially deposited at the floor of an ocean more than 100 million years ago. In their findings of the Chilean boulder, they were fortunate enough to find 17 vertebrae along with neural arches that encircle the spinal cord as well as some ribs. Paleontologists firmly agreed with Fildani’s notion that the bones had been 8 to 9 feet long and had existed around 140 million years ago (Mason 1). As time progressed, Ichthyosaurs transitioned their body like features from a lizard-shaped body plan to a fish-shaped one through the early and middle Triassic periods. In 1927, the first bone fragments were foun... ...tyles in Jurassic ichthyosaurs†. Journal of Vertebrae Paleontology 21 (No. 1): 61-73. Mason, Betsy. â€Å"Ichthyosaur find may challenge notions about prehistoric migrations†. Stanford Report.com 7 February 2003. 20 March 2004. < http://news service.stanford.edu/news/2003/february12/ichthyosaur-25.html> Motani, Ryosuke. â€Å"Rulers of the Jurassic Seas†. ScientificAmerican.com 19 December 2000. 22 March 2004. Perkins, Sid. â€Å"Sea Dragons†. Science News Online 162 (No. 8): 1-11. 24 Aug. 2002. Pickrell, John. â€Å"Ichthyosaur’s Turtle Supper Causes Extinction Debate†. National Geographic News.com 5 August 2003. 22 March 2004.

These Truths, Self-Evident :: Voting Personal Narrative Election Essays

These Truths, Self-Evident Yesterday†¦ Election Day†¦ Like many virtuous and civic-minded citizens I cast my ballot—our quirky little tradition, overthrowing the government every two years—yet despite my best efforts the Republican Party swept the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. I want to use a rude word right now. I don’t understand Republicans, and I don’t understand their policies; this isn’t to say that I don’t understand their aims and objectives—I do. However, I cannot stomach what they stand for. I cannot stomach those who would deny women control over their bodies, deny homosexuals the right to legally recognized love. I cannot fathom those who would cut taxes on the superrich, creating Jazz Age class divisions that separate citizens with insurmountable walls of money. But despite my disgust for most things conservatives stand for, I cannot bring myself to dismiss them. President Bush currently holds a 63 percent approval rating from the American public, and I do not choose to believe 63 percent of the citizens of my country are stupid. And despite the way I complain, I really sit down here to rant. My problem stems from the fact that everything these religious zealots hold sacred radically conflicts with every belief I hold sacred and dear. Salman Rushdie knows a little something of religious zealotry. After the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, the Indian novelist got a bit more than the usual outcry from the extreme religious right. Objecting to the negative portrayal of the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and the Koran, Islam’s holy book, Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran called on all righteous Muslims to execute the writer as well as the publisher of the book. For more than ten years, Rushdie hid from publicity and assassination, all on account of his slander of so-called â€Å"sacred† texts. It is reasonable to surmise that Rushdie has a pretty strong opinion of that which is declared sacrosanct. In 1990, the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London invited the Booker Prize-winning novelist to deliver the prestigious Herbert Reed Memorial Lecture; those protecting him decided that he should not go in person. Perhaps not being â€Å"able to re-enter [his] old life, not even for such a moment† (Rushdie 340), fueled Rushdie’s rhetoric; for whatever the cause, the occasion birthed a lecture of rage: â€Å"Is Nothing Sacred?† In this discourse, Rushdie discusses his views on the vitality and importance of literature, and whether it is, supposedly like religion, inherently sacred.

History of Childcare Essay

History of Childcare Institutions and Qualifications During this essay I will be outlining the history of childcare institutions and qualifications and how they have developed in relation to the needs of the country, family needs and society. I will be looking at the following occupations wet nurses, governesses, nannies and nursery nurses and how qualifications have developed within these roles. I shall them to the qualifications of the present day and how gender and social class have impacted on these professions. Also I shall consider how the curriculum content has changed to meet the demands of the ever changing role of the childcare worker and how it relates to my teaching practice currently and in the future. When focusing on childcare a fundamental starting point is considering the role of the wet nurse and why she was popular and in demand. Wet nursing can date back as far as Moses. When the princess found baby Moses floating down the Nile she asked Miriam to find a wet nurse. In Ancient Egypt poor women used to supplement their income by becoming wet nurses for the upper class citizens or mothers who could not produce enough milk. Contracts were drawn up between them to â€Å"ensure the wet nurse provided good milk; preventing the wet nurse from nursing other children, having sex, or becoming pregnant† (history-wet-nursing, 2011). In many cultures wet nurses were an ancient tradition, for example within the Chinese culture, before the Second World War, wet nursing was common practice. The Communists tried to outlaw the practice but in the 21st century it has become a status symbol and due to the melamine milk scandal this ancient profession has seen a revival. Wet nurses in China today – must leave their own children, maintain a special diet, and undergo training in certain cases. Furthermore, if the babies that they nurse do not grow 20 grams each day, the wet nurses are fined by their employers. † (history-wet-nursing, 2011) During the Victorian era it was common place for the upper classes to employ a wet nurse as once more this was seen as a status symbol. Other reasons were that women of this era were usually married to authoritarian husbands who believed that breast feeding interfered with sex and the women themselves assumed that it would disfigure their breasts. Furthermore, during this time infant mortality was high and upper class families were encouraged to have large families to ensure the survival of an heir. Breast feeding provided a form of contraception and prevented ovulation thus, spacing out pregnancies. It wasn’t uncommon for babies to be sent to a wet nurse’s home for 18 to 24 months in order for the mother to become pregnant again. Often a wet nurse could be feeding many children including their own (sometimes to their detriment) and was either paid as well as a labourer or received nothing at all. Morisot, The Wet Nurse (1880) According to Valerie Fildes there were three types of wet nurses â€Å"the parish nurse who took in parish infants and was usually receiving poor relief herself; the nurses of the London Foundling Hospital who worked under the supervision of inspectors; the privately employed nurse, for whom wet-nursing was a significant and continuing occupation for which she received a good wage both in money and in kind: often she was cared for by her nurse-children in later life and received the occasional bequest from them. † (Fildes, 1988, p. 43) The qualities required for a wet nurse by the Victorians were worked out in enormous detail. She should have an attractive face, clear eyes, well made nose, red mouth, white teeth and a deep chest. The shape of her breasts was very important and their size shape and colour were all taken into account. She should also have a good personality, speak well, not be pregnant or desire the company of her husband. The reasons for these specific qualities were that it was thought that they would be transferred through the breast milk to the child (Fildes, 1988). By the middle of the 19th century wet nurses had virtually disappeared although isolated examples still existed (Churchill had a wet nurse). Surprisingly, wet nursing is making a reappearance in society today, there are wet nursing agencies where mothers can employ a wet nurse. Within society today, a woman may choose this option due to health reasons for example extreme illness or disease such as AIDS, an inability to produce breast milk or multiple births. What is more, this privilege is still confined to the upper and middle classes of society who have the means to pay. However, during the Victorian era this may have been seen as common practice but during this century it is quite often seen as a taboo subject,as pregnant mothers are given information about the benefits of breastfeeding from health professionals who actively encourage new mothers to conform with this practice. Alongside this there is the pressure from government initiative and more detailed research, that are changing the ideology of society thinking dismissing the Victorian idea of wet nursing as a status symbol. When comparing the person specification of the wet nurse in the 19th century to today’s wet nurses, it appears that there are some similarities such as being in good health, not smoking or consuming alcohol. Today, they are also vetted and tested for transferable diseases due to the fact more is understood about these by society and health professionals. Furthermore, wet nurses need to have a baby of a similar age in order for the milk to be of the right constitution and they would usually live or work in the employer’s home whereas previously they would have been taken to the wet nurses home. Following on from the wet nurse there is the emergence of nannies. The history of nannies can be traced back as far as the seventeenth century. The English nanny was an institution and was most popular during the 18th century. She is often portrayed in books and films as a kind, gentle woman who children adored; in fiction such as Jayne Eyre, Mary Poppins and more recently Nanny McFee. Before training developed nannies were often what were known as â€Å"gentlewomen† who had fallen on hard time and had to support themselves. They saw being a nanny as a solution to their predicament. Not all nannies were kind, some were extremely cruel. The nanny usually had a great deal of power and responsibility within the home; she had her own quarters to look after the children usually at the top of the house. The upper classes, employed nannies in order for them to continue their leisurely life style. Children at the time were also viewed as they should be â€Å"seen and not heard† and parents left it to the nanny to have total care and responsibility for their upbringing. Parents only spent a short time in the day with them accompanied by the nanny. The nanny would usually have a nursery maid to assist her who would do the menial tasks such as preparing meals and laundry. On the whole, nannies learned from other nannies and progression was usually nursery – maid, nursemaid or under nurse, sometimes a period of working as a second nanny, and then finally a nanny in her own right. In 1892 the first training college was set up by Emily Ward. She ran a school for young children in Norland Place and recognised the need for training. She was one of the earliest advocates of the Froebel system of teaching which was based on the approach â€Å"that all children are born good, and that to help them develop, adults need to provide the right environment and activities. These protect the child from learning bad habits of â€Å"evil tendencies†(Tassoni, 2006, p19). Emily Ward found that many of the students who went to her for training were not academic and found the Froebel examination too difficult despite her students being very practical and having a great love of children. Emily Ward recognised that if the students could be trained, not only would it benefit the children but would provide a new profession for girls of the educated classes. Students were charged a fee of thirty six pounds which covered six months training. The students were also expected to wear a uniform which Emily Ward thought would identify them as professionals and not have them mistaken for housemaids. This leads me to believe that originally the role the nanny was seen for women to earn a respectable living when they found themselves to be in a financial predicament rather than needing a formal qualification. However, during the latter stage of the 19th century the introduction of a formal qualification and fee for training transformed nanning into a profession, but still only allowed educated middle class, girls the opportunity. The students training was broken down into the following:- â€Å"Three fortnights for cooking, laundry, and domestic work, and six weeks spent in the Norland Place School, looking on at lessons, and giving help to the teachers. † (Gibbs, 1960, pg 178) Lectures given in the morning and the afternoons were spent exercising (walks in the fresh air), the evenings were for learning needlework. The second three months were spent in hospital training and the students were then given one month’s holiday before taking a post in a private family as a children’s nurse. If the employer was happy with the student she would continue for another three months and only then would the Norland Certificate be awarded. By today’s standards training was centred around domestic science rather than understanding the child and how they develop, which would confer with the ideology of woman’s role within society at that time as the traditional housewife. However, at a glance nanny’s of today are still required to fulfil domestic duties such as cooking and laundry but this is not curricular based but, has more emphasis on the development of the child. By 1904 the training changed slightly as it was realized that students needed to gain practical experience to do their job and a small nursery was set up overseen by experienced children’s nurses with the students acting as under-nurses. This practice was highly regarded by employers when the students obtained posts, and is seen favourably and useful by employers today. By 1924 fees had risen to eighty pounds and the college expanded. During the Second World War the college and nursery evacuated to Devon, but many of the students gave up their training and joined the women’s services. After the war the college relocated to Chislehurst and students began training again. The course itself was extended from six months to twenty one months and included â€Å"domestic science, educations training, residential nursery training and a hospital nurse course. Students were also taught story-telling and games for the under-fives. (Gibbs, 1960, pg 180) Great emphasis was placed within the training on the needs of the small child, students gained experience of this from working in the nursery attached to the college and nursery schools and infant welfare centres outside of the college. An examination was also introduced at the end of the twenty one month’s – the National Nursery Examination Board qualification or NNEB. However, the Norland Certificate was only awarded to students who had completed one year’s satisfactory work in post which had been agreed by the Principal. Only two years were allowed from the end of training to obtain the full certificate. The college also encouraged students to stay in touch with them for at least three years after completing their certificate. They did this to ensure they could follow the career of each student and ensure that the standard of the college could be maintained. Norland nannies were well respected and there was a constant demand in private posts, nurseries and for posts as school matrons. Norland College was the first training college to open in 1892 and later other colleges began to appear. The Princess Christian Training College for Nursery Nurses opened in Manchester in 1901 under the direct patronage of the Princess Christian (third daughter of Queen Victoria). She suggested that instead of hospital training, a course of home nursing should be introduced. She also felt very strongly that a nurse should be forbidden to punish children herself. The need for training colleges was recognised by the Gentlewomen’s Employment Association (1891), Princess Christian was one of its patrons. Like the Norland College it provided employment for gentlewomen who needed to earn a living at a time when it was not generally acceptable. The Princess Christian College’s training duration was nine months unlike Norland’s six months and was hard and rigorous. Students had to be on duty at six and complete washing and cleaning before breakfast at seven. They had evening lectures and sewing after supper, no holidays and half a day off each week. The college also had testimonial books which recorded each nurse’s career, including a principal’s report and at the end of her training and a reference from her last employer. There is a stark contrast to the training that was provided in 1904 to the qualification we see today. Although there is still a strong emphasis on work based training the standard of the qualification is not as robust as in the 19th and early 20th century and this could be because students are being accepted onto courses with a required level of education and the demands of the role have changed. During the First World War The Princess Christian College ran into financial difficulties and in May 1918 closed. The college reopened again in 1919 in new premises but closed again at outbreak of the Second World War in order for children to be evacuated. After the war the college reopened and reorganised its syllabus and training to cover the changes in social conditions. Training was extended to eighteen months and covered the NNEB requirements (Gibbs, 1960). At the time Mary Ann Gibbs wrote her book â€Å"The Years of the Nannies† (1960) the fees for the eighteen month course at Princess Christian College was ? 270 for a resident student and ? 140 for a non-resident student. Bursaries and local authority grants were available for less well off students. The syllabus in 1960 included:- daily nursery work with babies and small children, instruction in the planning and preparation of infant diets, training in the milk kitchen, general cookery and nutrition, laundry and housewifery, needlework with design and care of children’s clothes, hygiene and physiology and the model nursery. † (Gibbs, 1960, Pg 190) The college awarded three certificates to students the first being a Probationers Certificate on completion of satisfactory training and a Nurse’s Certificate for two years satisfactory work, dating from the ranting of the Probationers Certificate. Finally, the student would be awarded The Special Certificate with Badge for three year’s satisfactory work, dating from the granting of the Nurse’s Certificate. After a student had completed her training she had quite a wide range of employment opportunities such as working as a nanny, working in day and residential nurseries, working with disabled children, school matron, nursery nurses on maternity wards and in passenger liner nurseries. A Night Nurse at The Princess Christian Training College Students who completed their training at the training colleges usually found employment through the college or through advertisements in women’s journals, or professional journals. One of those journals was â€Å"Nursery World† which was first launched in 1925 and is still used by our students today. The other was â€Å"The Lady† first published in 1885 which advertised many employment opportunities for nannies. Nannies are still very much in demand today, their role has changed in that they work closely with parents respecting their views and wishes and are more usually employed by working parents. They are required to be trained to Level 3 and most will have had experience with babies. In contrast, nannies back in the eighteenth century would always live with the family, whereas nannies now can live out. They also have the opportunity to work for families abroad and can command high salaries and additional benefits such as holidays and use of a car. [pic] Advertisements’ from Careers and Vocational Training 10th Edition The role of the nanny was important but you cannot overlook the role of the governess in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. She is portrayed in fiction as a lonely, somewhat stern figure yet many women entered this profession. She would have been a well educated middle-class woman who like the nanny had to provide a living for herself. In Victorian times women were seen as the responsibility of men – her husband, father or brother. When they were unable to provide financially for her, working as a governess was seen as socially acceptable. There was a high demand for governesses in he Victorian era (despite the expansion of public school education for boys and public school for the masses) especially if they were competent in teaching math’s and science. â€Å"The census of 1851 showed that there were 24,770 governesses in England and Wales. † (Hudson, 1970, p45) The greatest qualification of the governess was having a good background fitting in with the correct social class. She was required to write a letter of application in order for the family to consider her suitability. Many fa milies listed subjects they required their governess to teach. â€Å"Wanted, a Governess, on Handsome Terms. Governess – a comfortable home, but without salary, is offered to any lady wishing for a situation as governess in a gentleman’s family, residing in the country, to instruct two little girls in music, drawing, and English; a thorough knowledge of the French language is required. †( Advertisement, The Times. (London: 27 June, 1845). The upper class families still continued to educate their children at home and it was down to the family to decide when their children would enter the school room. In order to ensure their employability they sought to improve their education and this lead them gaining a footing in higher education. During the nineteenth century, professional books and journals were printed for governesses to use. These were read among other teachers and concerned parents to share educational practices and lessons, and keep The Governess them informed of the changing educational reform in the Victorian era. In 1843 The Governesses’ Benevolent Institution was formed and it helped educate governesses and provided aid for retired or out of work governesses in and around London. It also provided a registry for governesses and families seeking a governess to place their information. This was similar to an employment agency today. Along with this and pressure from the governesses the institute expanded and included a college for governesses to study and improve their education. A donation from the Prince and Princess of Wales enabled funding for free night classes. The Queens College was founded in 1848 and its goal was to provide qualifications for governesses, it provided â€Å"Lectures for Ladies† from which at the end of study they received a Diploma. Almost all the lectures were given by men from Kings College, and older women known as â€Å"Lady Visitors† attended to act as chaperones to the female students. It is clear that despite considerable changes from the era of the wet nurse there is still a vast divide between what is considered beyond the realms of the woman as it is the man that is considered able to lecture in the core subjects whilst the woman is only expected to understand and deliver to her charges. The Queens college was seen as an institution offering higher education for women. In the last decade of the nineteenth century the Queens College and The House of Education developed a curriculum specifically for the training of governesses and this saw a drastic change in the profession of the governess. Families now wanted to employ governesses with certificates and training in education rather than, be qualified solely by their family background. We must take into account that at this time education for girls was seen as less important and it was not until the 1900 that attitudes changed when girls started to enter public high school and boarding schools and this resulted in the decline of the governess. Governesses are still employed today but their role has changed. Today they need to hold a degree and at least two years experience as an educator. They may live with the family or live out. They usually have sole charge of the children’s education although in some cases they may just supplement the child’s education. This could be coaching a child to obtain their eleven plus, or providing additional help for specific subjects, or in all subjects, with the goal of preparing students to apply to and be accepted into good colleges. They may also be employed if a family moves to another country so that children can learn the language or maintain the education that correlates to their native country. The profession is still largely female orientated despite the pay and conditions being good. This could be due to several factors such as living in the employer’s home and societies view of a male in a governess role. The Second World War saw an increase in day nurseries as men went away and women were called upon to take over the work left to do at home. The Ministry of Health organised and supervised this provision. In view of this more nursery nurses needed to be trained and in January 1944 The National Nursery Examination Board was formed and they established an examination for all nursery nurses. The first examination was taken in 1946. The syllabus and training has changed considerably over the years, notably in 1965, the age range was extended to seven years of age, before this students trained to work with children up to five years. This decision was prompted by the increase use of classroom assistance in primary schools and the Plowden Report’s (1967) recommendation that nursery nurses should be used for this position. â€Å"In 1975 the Bullock Report, A Language for Life made the same recommendation that nursery nurses should be used as trained assistants and work alongside teachers in helping language development in young children. (Herrman, 1979, p. 21). After the Second World War provision that was put in place for childcare was not expanded further. This was partly due to men needing jobs that women had done in the war, and society’s view that women should be in the home looking after their children. The 1950’s saw the beginning of Playgroups, these were parent co-operatives formed in private homes or community halls. They started in order to fill the gap in nursery provision for three and four year olds. â€Å"In 1961 Belle Tutaev wrote to the Guardian offering help to anybody who wanted to start up a playgroup. She received letters from all over the country and playgroups burgeoned and grew. † (Dean, 2005, Pg 13) The Pre-School Playgroup Association (PPA) was set up in 1962, â€Å"the aims of the organisation at first were two-fold: mutual support for those running groups and also the lobbying of government to emphasise the importance of pre-school provision and to seek the withdrawal of Circular 8/60 which prevented state nursery expansion. † (PLA Factsheet) Playgroups relied heavily on voluntary staff and on mothers to provide play activities for the children. Many of these volunteers were untrained due to lack of funding. This restricted their work opportunities and workers were given little recognition. An additional reason for unqualified staff was that until the Children’s Act 1989 playgroups had little statutory guidance or regulation. Those playgroups that were affiliated with the PPA did have access to training (short courses in play work) if they were able to fund it. The PPA in 1991 established themselves as training providers under the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. Other childcare provision between 1946 and 1990 such as private nurseries and local authority nurseries continued to employ NNEB qualified staff or equivalent. In 1990 there were various childcare qualifications that students were able to study. The main qualifications for nursery nursing were the NNEB, BTEC National Diploma and the Certificate in Post-Qualifying Studies (CPQS). The NNEB being the longest established and well known was still a requirement for some posts but it did not give a valid entry into higher education. However, the BTEC National Diploma was thought to be more academic and allowed students to progress onto more advanced education and training being the equivalent of â€Å"A† Levels. When you look back at the history of the NNEB it was not set out to be a qualification that would allow progress to higher education although comparing it to today’s CACHE Level 3 Diploma it was a lot more rigorous. The selections of qualifications were many and in 1991 a system of National Accreditation was introduced to link qualifications. NVQ’s were introduced in 1991 in attempt to give experienced staff without a qualification a chance to achieve a Level 2 and 3. The NVQ syllabus involved students showing competence in the workplace through assessment whilst building a portfolio of knowledge evidence. This qualification in theory did fill a training gap but funding still remained an issue along with adults having to study around family commitments and also if they had the academic confidence to study. Due to the Start Right Report of 1991 by Bell in which he identified numerous routes into teaching, this was an attempt to provide a standardized route into comprehensive training and also of helping workers to progress through the qualification system. Up until 1999 qualifications remained unchanged in what were available and it left employers and students confused as to what qualification was at what level. In 1999 a new training framework was introduced (QCF) and this mapped out the levels of each qualification. This gave clear guidance for students, employers and training establishments to assess their current qualifications. In 2002 the new NVQ Level 4 was introduced *they were to provide a route for those working in senior management level or advanced practitioners† (Pugh,2001, P. 190) they were academically and practically demanding qualifications and carried 120 CATs points. This was a way of gaining entry to the Early Years Foundation Degree. In 1994 CACHE was established and merged with The National Nursery Education Board and The Council for Early Years Awards. In 2001 the National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare (NAMCW) merged with CACHE, and Her Majesty the Queen became the patron. CACHE at this point became the awarding body and offered various Childcare qualifications from Entry Level to NVQ 4. Since joining Canterbury College in February 2006 the qualifications have changed twice, with a third change is about to take place. The delivery of the courses has not changed in that students still attend placements and have to show competence. The only difference to the NNEB is that the students don’t work with children attached to the college. We have placement visitors that visit the student in their placement who assess their competence and report back to their course tutor. Level 3 students up until 2007 still had to sit an end of course exam in order to qualify as well as passing unit assignments. The qualification carried UCAS points to allow entry to university depending on the overall grade achieved. It was quite clear at the time that the grades students achieved were quite low and very few went onto university. I believe this to be for the following reasons (a) students were not properly assessed at interview and were on the wrong level of course, (b) there was a high level of turnover of staff which affected the teaching of the students and causing disaffection. There was also a big drop out rate. I remember well, my first day in the classroom, being bombarded with complaints. In 2007 CACHE reviewed the content of the syllabus as the previous syllabus was quite dated and childcare practice had changed considerably. The new syllabus carries the same format of placement and academic work and still continued to carry UCAS points. The grading of the assignments changed into a point system instead of the previous system of pass or refer. The students also have to complete a research task and a short seen scenario exam. This I feel has led to students achieving higher grades and more have gone onto university. The department has been running this Level 3 Diploma for the past three years but last year we were advised that the qualification would hange along with NVQ’s being discontinue. This has had a big impact on the department as a whole. The introduction of the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young Peoples Workforce will be the only qualification available for students to study to become childcare workers. The delivery of the course is very much based on the NVQ delivery of observed assessment and a knowledge portfolio. We have started to run a pilot group for this new qualification an d it has involved various changes in the department and in the teaching. Students now have to be allocated an assessor who has an A1 qualification and students only attend three days a week every other week. Already, this has posed problems in that the course is designed to be taught holistically and not unit led as the previous qualifications. It is designed so that the assessor and tutor work closely together. This does not work in our department as assessors are constantly out observing students leaving little time for feedback to the tutor. This makes it very difficult to support students and ensure that they are progressing. However, we have recently been informed that due to the qualification not meeting the needs of the employers and students the previous qualification will continue running for at least another year while they review the course. In conclusion, childcare and qualification has developed in line with the needs of the family and society starting with the wet nurse through to nannies and governess. It has also developed in line with government policy and the social and economic needs of the country along with current thinking of child development at the time. Childcare roles have not disappeared but still exist in a modernised way as can be seen in the reappearance of the wet nurse. The status of childcare however still remains low and this is reflected in pay and conditions. Many nurseries still don’t pay above minimum wage or provide sick pay, and often only the minimum holiday requirement. Until this is addressed the status and moral of childcare workers will not rise. There is still a culture of thinking that â€Å"anyone can look after children† and it is still a predominantly female role despite campaigns to attract male candidates. The calibre of students that is seen during interviews are on the whole, students from lower class backgrounds which could have contributed to the introduction of EMA. The fact that students don’t have to pay fees for childcare courses and its workplace element, adds to the perception that they are easy courses. The college funding system makes it very difficult to decline students who we feel not appropriate to the course, and the system makes it difficult to withdraw students who prove to be unsuitable. This does not lead to providing the best possible care for young children. Significantly and in contrast to this is that to train as a Norland Nanny today requires a student to pay full fees and this only attracts the more affluent students who want to train in the profession. Also, to employ a Norland Nanny, is seen as a status symbol by families, thus highlighting social status despite it’s qualification being the same as achieved at college. The only difference being that the Norland Certificate is achieved at the end of the course on top of the qualification and seen as a â€Å"stamp of excellence† The old range of qualifications enabled students to access the qualification that best suited their learning and training needs such as on the job training or a full time college course. The new qualification does not take these needs into account. The new qualification does not fit with young students who have no experience. This is one of the issues that has been highlighted along with the course only being a year in duration. It is quite worrying that a sixteen year old could become a fully qualified level 3 in a supervisory position with only one year of training. There are also wider issues in that the government has reduced funding, (currently there is no funding for over nineteen’s) along with the demise of EMA, making access to college less accessible for less well off students which causes a social divide. The next year will provide interesting times in childcare qualifications and a review in our own department in the teaching and delivery will provide its own challenges in that e-learning is being introduced along with apprentiships. This will mean training in the use to technology as well as new assessment methods. Staff will have to adapt their delivery of lessons as well as developing a closer working partnership with assessors, which at the current time is fragmented. There will need to be changes in the current systems in place and this will no doubt cause frustration to some staff who find adapting to change difficult. On a more positive note the updating of skills for staff will only improve the range of teaching techniques available to them, hopefully providing better outcomes for students.