The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) essays

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) essays Initiated in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) intended to prevent the academic failures of educational institutions and individual students, as well as bridge achievement gaps between students ( Trolian). This act supports the basic standards of education reform across America; desiring to improve the learning outcomes of Americas youth. No Child Left Behind has left many to criticize the outcomes of the Act itself. Questions have risen concerning the effectiveness of NCLB, as well as the implications to Americas youth. I believe that the No Child Left Behind Act should be revised to allow better accountability of student success, accountability of schools overall progress and better flexibility for teachers. One reason that NCLB should be revised is because students are held to unfair accountability standards. Students should be held accountable for the hard work they put into the entire school year and not by the high performance tests that the government administers. In efforts to boost the countrys academic achievements, the NCLB has mandated high performance testing which is required of all students(Trolian). The problem here is simple; not all students can perform at the same academic level. To add, standardized tests are the only source of understanding the academic achievements under NCLB, which are not an entirely accurate measure of a students performance. Additionally, the testing results are directly linked to awards or penalties of the school performance. Each state establishes their own standards, which must approved by the federal government if participating in NCLB. The tests are predominately multiple-choice style tests. The tests do not take in account their report car d grades or significant individual achievements made by a student. For example, if a student is three levels below their reading grade, but increases their reading by two grades over the course ...

Chemical Dependency essays

Chemical Dependency essays What exactly is chemical dependency? Fortunately, more and more people are coming to believe that chemical dependency is not a sign of moral and psychological weakness. Melenie Mender, a speaker from a drug treatment center, shares the same opinion about addiction as many drug specialists. The disease of chemical dependency can be described; it is primary, progressive, and fatal (McFarland 11). Many people begin covering their problems with drugs or alcohol. Their lives become unmanageable because of their using. Until the drinking or drug use is stopped, the underlying problem cannot be dealt with. Those with psychiatric problems have major emotional problems that become worse as their addiction increases. A progressive disease means that the disease becomes worse and more serious over time. The first change one sees is the behavior of the user. Their behavior becomes more unacceptable to those around them and the user is often very impulsive. Emotional growth is slowed a nd eventually stops. Now, more then ever, young people are showing rapid signs of deterioration. This is due to heavy drug use affecting the body of a young person not fully developed. Alcoholism, along with drug addiction is a chronic disease. Once one becomes an addict, they will always be an addict. It is a disease, it does not go away. The disease is fatal if one does not stop their using. There are three places one ends up if they do not stop using. It has been said those people find themselves in a jail, sanitarium, or in the morgue. Experts agree on some common characteristics shared by chemical dependency: The substance initially triggers pleasure or mood elevation. Also, The body develops a physical tolerance to the substance so that addicts must take even larger amounts to get the same effect(Bender, 59). When one stops taking the chemical, the body goes through painful withdraw symptoms. Finally, addiction ca...

Critical Success Factors (CSF) Analysis

Critical Success Factors (CSF) Analysis Critical Success Factors (CSF) analysis is one of the more difficult strategic management tools to understand, and is even harder to use effectively in real-world management. If properly applied, however, CSF analysis does provide a robust and very practical assessment for strategic planners and can be very effective. As with most management tools, CSF analysis is probably more effective when used together with another, complementary  tool such as SWOT or PEST analysis, because the best use of the CSF analysis is as  a tool for planning and exercising control techniques over processes, rather than as an environmental assessment tool. What Are Critical Success Factors If business and management researchers had an easy answer to that question, perhaps CSF analysis would not be such a challenge to learn to use well. In the most general sense, CSFs are the small number of activities that absolutely must be undertaken effectively for the company to have success. What those specific activities are is a source of confusion, because they are entirely dependent on the unique circumstances of the firm. That has not, however, stopped researchers from trying to develop a definitive, universal list of CSFs that can apply to any company. In a study done about five years ago (K.J. Fryer, J. Antony A. Douglas, â€Å"Critical success factors for continuous improvement in the public sector†, The TQM Magazine, vol. 19, no. 5, 2007), researchers reviewed 29 separate studies on CSFs and interviewed a number of organizations, and came up with a chart that tells us exactly nothing about which success factors are indeed â€Å"critical† (see Table 1): Table 1. CSFs and Their Importance Depending on Business Sector Success Factor Percentage of studies and businesses surveyed which defined the factor as â€Å"Critical,† by business sector: Mixed Sectors Manufacturing Service Public Sector Management commitment 100% 86% 100% 100% Training learning 67% 57% 100% 75% Supplier management 67% 43% 67% 50% Customer management 60% 57% 57% 50% Quality data measurement reporting 47% 14% 33% 50% Corporate quality culture 47% 57% 67% 50% Communication 27% 29% 0% 75% Teamwork 20% 29% 0% 50% Employee empowerment 73% 71% 67% 50% Process Management 47% 29% 33% 75% Organizational structure 47% 57% 100% 50% Product design 27% 29% 0% 25% Ongoing monitoring assessment 20% 14% 0% 50% The problem of choosing appropriate CSFs is immediately apparent; management commitment is an obvious choice, but it seems rather at odds with what we learn in management studies that a factor such as â€Å"Employee empowerment† would be fairly important to many different business sectors, while factors that should complement that – Communication and Teamwork – are not considered very important at all, and somewhat incredibly are apparently completely ignored by service-sector businesses. Wanna know more? Go here: Critical Analysis Writing SWOT Analysis Five Forces Analysis The ADL Matrix and Gap Analysis Buy a Great Paper Online But of course, this single example should be taken with a grain of salt; as they say, your results may vary, and if there is one valuable takeaway  from it, it is the suggestion of success factors that may be considered as a starting point, regardless if they are eventually found to be actually â€Å"critical† or not to a specific organization. It is also important to remember that CSFs are not fixed; they can and probably should change as the circumstances of the business change. For example, other studies have found that it is both common and relatively beneficial for firms facing financial or other crises to shift their CSFs to ones with more short-term effects and change the focus back to a more long-term perspective once the immediate difficulties are resolved. Developing Using the CSF Analysis The interesting thing about using the CSF analysis is that the process of determining what your organization’s critical success factors really are is essentially the whole point. Once the CSFs are identified, steps to see that they are managed properly can be developed using different tools or good old experience and imagination; in many instances, simply identifying what may be a critical success factor and carefully examining why it is indeed â€Å"critical† to the firm suggests the way in which it should be handled. While there are some data management and other analytical tools that can help in selecting CSFs – for example, DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) software applications – the majority of the process is good old-fashioned intuition and discussion. But there are a number of conventions that should be followed to give the selection and analysis process the best chance of success. First, CSFs should be assessed in a â€Å"top-down† fashion; the analysis is not one that is ideally-suited for ‘horizontal’ or ‘collaborative’ organizational structures. Success factors should be judged according to the relevance to the business as a whole, then individual business units or departments, then down to the individual level; if at some level the success factor is not â€Å"critical†, then it needs to be reassessed. The reason for this is that the number of CSFs should be kept to an absolute minimum. This prevents conflicts in objectives and processes and helps to prevent a dilution of effort among too many factors. Second, to avoid overlooking any factors that should be considered â€Å"critical†, potential CSFs should be assessed according to the â€Å"five sources of organizational success†, a methodology developed in the early 1980’s by MIT researcher John Rockart. Industry CSFs are conditions and operational circumstances that are common to firms within the same sector. Peer CSFs are critical success factors for one’s competitors; this obviously requires an accurate and detailed competitive analysis to be done as a prerequisite to the CSF analysis. Environmental CSFs are related to the firm’s political, economic, and market environment, and can be identified by  a method such as a PEST analysis. Temporal CSFs are success factors that are only important at particular times – such as in crisis situations as described earlier – and are most likely to change. And finally, Managerial CSFs are success factors relevant to the management of the fir m at different levels; identifying these may seem to run counter to the â€Å"top-down† process, but in reality actually helps to focus it by revealing internal conflicts in objectives.

Obama Healthcare plan vs. Clinton Healthcare plan Essay

Obama Healthcare plan vs. Clinton Healthcare plan - Essay Example Since Hillary has no mechanism for enforcing the individual mandate she proposes, Obama regards the mandate as a bluff. John Edwards, whose plan includes mechanism for enforcing the individual mandate that he has proposed, supported Obama’s criticism of Hillary and Hillary’s criticism of Obama. In the Edward’s proposal, proof of insurance will be required when income taxes are paid and when health care is provided. Thus, Americans will be compelled to buy health insurance. The Edward’s plans make provision for families without insurance and those that lose coverage. The former will be enrolled in plans such as Medicare and Medicaid while the later will be enrolled in other plans. The issue is not enrolling people in private health care plan but getting people to participate in the plan. Thus, the Obama plan makes perfect sense given that it resist individual mandate, which may be unattractive to a large number of people and may not easily be enforced. The President’s Medicare Plan: A Trojan Horse to Ration Health Care? Medicare, with $30.8 trillion in long term unfunded obligations, could cease to exist if the runaway cost is not reined in. The problem is how Medicare cost should be controlled. Two options are available: changing the structure and culture of Medicare through empowering patients to make health care decisions that lead to best results, in addition to forcing plans and providers to compete for the money; and top-down bureaucratic control of the cost of health care services. Of course, these options will reduce the cost but will simultaneously reduce the quality of health care. The first option, which was taken by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, has been described to give Medicare patients control over cost of services and freedom to choose how they access these services. The result according to Heritage’s Robert Moffit and James Capretta is value in return for the dollars. President Obama opted for th e second option: tightening the top-down bureaucracy and reducing Medicare payment to doctors and hospitals, in addition to reducing providers’ reimbursement rates. This option leads to reduced senior access to doctors. Under the second option, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will be strengthened to rein in cost of Medicare while improving the quality of care. The White House planned to equip IPAB to promote prevention without shifting cost to seniors. Though reducing doctors’ salaries will reduce Medicare cost as envisioned by the second option, according to British Physician Anthony Daniels strengthening IPAB to focus on prevention will be unsuccessful at addressing the fiscal problem The fact that Congress continues to delay in reducing doctors salaries suggests that the second option is not politically attractive. Pursuing health care reforms that put bureaucrats in charges will reduce patient access to care. The second option should be repealed to av oid such outcome. Will Obama’s health care plan mirror the 1994 Clinton failure? Former President Bill Clinton key policy plan in 1994 was a

Ethics assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics assignment - Essay Example have said that this serial has disregarded all forms of ethical values. According to virtue theories, virtuous character traits are developed in one's youth. Adults are responsible for instilling virtues in the young. (Ethics, excerpts from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). What are the serial teaching children It has portrayed a historical leader as a dubious, violent, rude and repulsive character! The character Mohandas thrives on slang! Even cursing has been uplifted by making use of a historical language like Sanskrit. (That is sheer blasphemy!) This view has been strongly supported by the PTA and PTC who specifically condemn the extreme violence. They further argue using Kant's categorical imperative1 which says "Treat people as an end and never as a means to an end" (qtd.in. Ethics, excerpts from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) saying that people's anger and the whole controversy is being used to make the serial popular. Is such a success morally right Duty theories consist of many duties, among which are duties towards others. German philosopher Samuel Pufendorf divided these duties2 into three; among which was-"avoid wronging others". The Indians are being wronged here by insulting their "Father of the Nation". The very fact that the character was named Mohandas Satyagraha in the original memo and made to act violently and regressively shows the deliberate attempt to make Gandhi a laughing stock! "Satyagraha" means the eternal follower of truth, whereas this character does no such thing! Why does the West repeatedly try to undermine the image of Gandhi, whether it is the MTV "Clone High" (Clone High, Wikipedia Encyclopedia) or "The Great Gandhi" Normative ethics says that we should do to others what we would want others to do to us.(Ethics, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Would the West accept one of their leaders made fun of in this way and to this extent Gandhi stood for peace and non-violence. While the whole world admired this quality this serial is denouncing and making a mockery of that principle! India respects him even today and looks up to him. This act will not go unnoticed. People will definitely protest this. Citing the theory of Act-Utilitarianism3 the consequences of this action should have been considered. (Ethics, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). This great leader's memory has been damaged. Who will pay for it The recent list of duties given by British philosopher W.D.Ross, under Duty Theory includes Reparation or the duty to compensate others when we harm them. (Ethics, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Who is going to compensate this moral damage caused This is merely an act of Ethical Egoism4. Only the profit of the production has been considered, completely ignoring people's sentiments. Gandhi is called the "Mahatma" in India. "Mahatma" means, 'the great soul'. People also called him "Bapu" or 'Father'. He was like God to Indians. Is this the way to treat such a revered figure Gandhi's character has been degraded and slurred. The same Gandhi who had introduced the term "Harijans" or 'people of God' to describe the lower caste people and abolish the caste system in India. It is as if, a deliberate attempt of racism. 'The great Gandhi' is like a blemish on the spirit of India! Counterviews 'The New Adventures of the Great Gandhi' is a comedy which revolves around the character Mohandas, based on the real Mohandas

What is meant by the phrase classical contract law To what extent are Essay

What is meant by the phrase classical contract law To what extent are such ideas still relevant in contemporary contractual relations - Essay Example This ranges from the independence of contracts to the bargaining powers through to the formal elements of contracts. We do this examination by looking at various debates and dominant ideas and conceptions as they play out in academia and in practice. The inherent advantage of using the classical model to analyse contracts is one that cannot be overlooked. This is because it makes it easier and more convenient to define the parties of contracts and their expectations. This promotes justice. However, the whole idea has been challenged through the dynamism of the post-world war society. This has led to some important modifications and this is what the paper seeks to examine in-depth through the proposed objectives. The balance between the traditionalist and modern positions on the subject are brought to bear in this paper. Holmes states that law uses deductive systems through which logic can be induced and applied to examine things in a fair manner1. In other words the science of law in itself requires the establishment of frameworks and parameters within which issues and matters can be evaluated justly and deductions made. This is the essence of law. This idea is described as the axiomatic of law by Eisenberg. The classical school of thought used the principle logic and deduction to draw frameworks for different branches of law2. This way, they played a crucial role in setting up a system of justice which ensured that cases were separated into the most appropriate classes and dealt with according to the right principles and the application of correct jurisprudence. Classical contract law developed between the mid-19th Century through to the first part of the 20th Century3. It laid down a framework which defined an airtight genre known as contract law which was strictly adhered to in that era during cases involving contract. Classical Contract Law contained three main elements:

The Perceived Social Impacts of the 2006 Football World Cup Research Paper

The Perceived Social Impacts of the 2006 Football World Cup - Research Paper Example From a general point of view, the authors discussed all the positive and negative impacts that previous authors have associated with sporting events. The article then narrows down to the specific case of the 2006 football world cup. A close analysis at the world cup event reveals the presence of both positive and negative social impacts. These reviews will highlight the key findings from the research conducted by the authors. The article offers an extensive literature review on the perceived social impacts of sports events. This lays a good background for the research conducted by the authors. From the literature review, it emerges that sports events register some critical positive impacts such as a sense of pride, entertainment opportunities, shared experiences, promotional of regional identity, the introduction of new ideas, expansion of cultural perspectives, validation of community pride, as well as increased community participation. On the other hand, sports events present some undesirable negative social impacts such as theft, noise, bad fan behavior, traffic congestion, social dislocation, community alienation, and prostitution. In order to investigate the social impacts registered by 2006 football world cup, the authors adopted the approach of measuring host community perceptions. This method has the potential of identifying different perceptions held by different individuals in the host community . As highlighted by the authors, the subjectivity of this approach is its main disadvantage. The authors relied on face-to-face structured interviews with selected Munich residents. They made use of questionnaires, which were filled in by the interviewers. Random sampling was used to identify the participants from different suburbs of Munich. The authors identified 180 responses, but only 130 interviews occurred. Notably, the researchers ensured that the participants were from different age groups.