Monday, September 30, 2019

Just the Unjust for Martin Luther King Jr.

When Martin Luther King Jr. was detained for having organized peaceful protests for the Negro community in Birmingham, he felt compelled to write the white clergymen who criticized the protesters instead of defending them from the immorality of segregation.   His letter accused the white clergy of not only ignoring the moral laws of God but also enacting against it because of their own prejudicial principles.   He explained the difference of just and unjust laws to show that he was merely giving his highest accordance to what is morally right. First, he said that any law that degrades human personality is just but one that degrades human personality is unjust. Western civilization created laws to put order and respect to humanity.   However, segregation, according to King, distorts the soul and damages the human character because it gives the white people a false sense of superiority to degrade the dignity of Negroes. He argues that segregation makes whites treat blacks as objects instead of considering them as people with feelings and rights like their own. Considering other people as inferior and not worthy of having the voice to speak out their needs is immoral because Christians are supposed to treat each other as brothers and not objects. In today’s American society, the woman’s right to abort her baby, I believe, is also a law that degrades the human personality.   Although women are given property over their bodies and have the right to protect their lives from problems, this does not mean that they can degrade another person – the fetus inside of them. Like the blacks that King was defending, babies have yet to find their voice in society.   It is even more inhumane to kill these babies because doing so murders the right they could have had to give their own opinion someday. Another clarification made by King on the subject of just and unjust laws refers to the implementation of a majority group’s rules over a minority.   King believes that is unfair if a majority group forces a minority to obey but does not make the rules binding on itself. Western, specifically American laws, provided that each man must have the right to vote. However, during his time, blacks were not considered as part of the American society with legal rights and therefore had no privilege to elect nor implement and revise the legal system. King believes that this is totally wrong because the laws that were being executed stepped on the human dignity and rights of the Negroes.   What the whites wanted, they got – even if it was hurtful to the lives of colored people. The law protected the white people but did not take the plight of the blacks in consideration. This still happens in America today, although it does not necessarily just encompass the Negro community.   After the fatal attack on the World Trade Center, the Bush administration has decided to go full force against terrorism without enough consideration for the human rights of the Iraqi people. The American military operations in Iraq have caused grievous insults to the dignity of the Iraqi civilians and even death.   Being the democratic majority globally, the American government has led other nations to invade another country and decided to impose its presence to â€Å"prevent† terrorism.   However, the cultural identity and traditional beliefs of the Iraqi people have been ignored greatly which I feel is very unjust. King also pointed out that sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. He cited that the clergy and government were one-sided in enacting the First Amendment especially when it came to the parades and peaceful assemblies King’s organization was organizing.   He reminds the readers that all citizens must have the right to freedom of expression even if it means going against the government’s policies. He believed that legally binding laws do not always protect what is morally right.   He also mentioned that Hitler did everything legally but the results were terribly wrong and unjust to the Jews. Laws, like most things, have advantages and disadvantages. Great care and analysis must be taken to understand what can be appropriately done for the gray areas.   American immigration laws, for example, can also be hurtful in its application if simply implemented without enough thought. U.S. deportation policies have become hurtful to many illegal immigrants who have lost their rights because they were not given enough consideration. There are many illegal immigrants who desired that better democratic life that Americans have.   Many of these do not know how to speak English well and are victims of wrong criminal accusations causing their deportment. Many of these were not able to defend themselves properly and have had to carry the burden of being separated from their children who were already born in the U.S. King’s Birmingham letter addresses the clouded and prejudiced vision of the white clergy but his clarifications on the justice of laws are classical principles that should guide every good citizen who wishes to follow any legal system.   In truth, laws are structures that help keep peace and order but one must consider everything from the view point of what is morally right and wrong.   Laws are merely man-made but the rule of God and nature should always be everyone’s primary guide.   

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Internet Based Home Control System Essay

We viewed development as a process of change and a continuous learning.. Technological and institutional change or capabilities are at the heart of this process. Technology is much more than an ingredient in development strategies; it is a conditioning element of their viability. As technology rapidly changes, it sets the condition that generates development opportunities. Development becomes one of the learning that benefit from such changing opportunities. While learning is within a single technological revolution, a new technological revolution would constitute major discontinuities and shifts in the direction of change, providing new opportunities for learning and catching up. Technology is at the heart of the innovative process, and it has become a tool for amplifying brainpower. It further brings about changes within and among institutions and accelerates the rate of innovation. Steve Ballmer[1], CEO of Microsoft’s Corporation stressed that the number one benefit of technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do, letting people be creative and productive Thus, through new technology, a little creativity, and a lot of thinking, we have begun to produce home appliances control system that makes anything possible for the people especially elderly and handicapped to live by themselves and meet their potentials. The recent drive in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry toward new wireless communication devices and systems and their utilization in addressing a wide variety of real-world problems have resulted in several new areas of active research and wireless home automation being one such hot topic. Home appliances control system designates an emerging practice of increased automation of household appliances and fixtures in residential dwellings, particularly through electronic means. This allows impracticable, overly expensive or simply not possible things in recent past decades to be implemented. Home Automation Technology is a relatively new field and the home automation products available currently in the market are expensive, and not everybody can afford these devices. However, looking at the increasing popularity of home automation, most manufacturing companies are trying to develop products that will be affordable to the middle class customers. Hence, the proponents through this study design and develop a system of controlling home appliances remotely via the Internet. With this project, a user can control his home appliances across country away from home. Background of the Study Home appliances and lighting are major source of electricity consumption. Commercial public sector buildings and residential houses account for 95% of the electricity used for home appliances. There are common problems that home owners encountered in relation with home appliances system. One of this is due to some negligence like leaving the lights ON that result to having greater power consumption. This additional power consumption that can be wasted varies directly to our electric bills. Another problem is that those busy home owners who arrive at home late at night; they want to have immediate access to turn on the lights to have preventive measures against robbery and crimes.[2] For effective management and protection of homes, operational monitoring of home appliances conditions is a necessary tool. Fixed control system contributes significantly in monitoring the entire home appliances network. The past decade has seen significant advancement in the field of consumer electronics. Various â€Å"intelligent† appliances such as cellular phones, air-conditioners, home security devices, home theaters, etc. are set to realize the concept of a smart home. They have given rise to a personal area network in home environment, where all these appliances can be interconnected and monitored using a single controller. Busy families and individuals with physical limitation represent an attractive market for home automation and networking. Thus, a unifying solution started with the emergence of the first home automation product known as the Model 1503 which was introduced in 1988 and was meant for fire and burglar protection, home lighting and appliance control.[3] Moreover, a technology called X-10 was developed by Jeff Denenholz,[4] which allows your computer and your appliances to communicate over the existing power lines in your home. Among the many possibilities that this technology provides is the possibility for a fully automated and responsive home. One of the basic systems on the market is made by iControl and is easy to install and expandable. The system uses the 802.11 wireless protocol to transmit signals from the various devices to a control box which is connected to the internet. Some of the devices the company offers specifically for elderly care include: cameras, window/door sensors, motion sensors, water sensors, freeze sensors, panic pendants/wristwatches, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, lamp modules, and thermostats. All of the devices are connected wirelessly to the control box which then allows the devices to be monitored and controlled using the company’s website. The system is perfect for the elderly because it is easy to use and it allows family members to monitor the house to ensure that their relative is safe, it is portable and can easily be installed in an existing home. Another key project is ongoing at The University of Florida. They have built a 500 square foot smart house that is designed assist and to provide medical care to users. The house implements devices including a microwave that recognizes entrees and automatically determines how long to cook them and devices to track the individuals location within the home. The house also uses devices to detect water on the floor and a camera that allows the person to view who is at the door and let them in using a cell phone. The smart house at the University of Florida relies on a centralized computer network to deliver electronically coordinated assistance. However, the aforementioned projects pose problems on the implementation of such systems. The major drawbacks of these systems are that it requires the use of several costly technologies to operate. The concept of a smart home requires a user to have internet access available as well as router to install the control box. Thus, the introduction of home automation in the 1970’s failed to improve the lifestyle of users because determining the economic benefits of home automation technologies is difficult. The cost of implementing smart home technology must be justified by the effects brought about by their installation. There is a need for home automation technologies to be cost-effective and easy to install and flexible with many network infrastructures and appliances. Therefore, the study Microcontroller-based Home Appliances Control System via Internet aims at developing a module for home appliance and control system combining embedded system and web technology. The goal of this project is to design a system that communicates with the web in controlling the user’s home.. This approach will provide an easy way to operate and is cost effective approach to benefit the elderly and those with disabilities to function as normal as possible. Statement of the Problem The main problem of this study is to design and develop a prototype of a microcontroller-based home appliances control system using the internet that will demonstrate power automation of home appliances. The proposed system is web-based in nature which will replace physical control and provide automation with regard to the home appliances.

Friday, September 27, 2019

How did the psychological disorders, such as shell shock, in World War Essay - 1

How did the psychological disorders, such as shell shock, in World War I impact on the societal, cultural, and political level in West European countries such as Britain and France - Essay Example But the impacts were for a fact a concern. The impact can be seen from the aftermath prompt cure; cognitive re-structuring of various traumatic experiences (i.e. avoiding the past thoughts) and interacted with the therapist in the seeking for a cure. On social front many were unable to fit well into the society as a lot had changed during the cause of the war. Many of the soldiers were psychologically ill affecting their lives and individual families. After the war many traumatized soldiers from France and Britain soldiers shared several common symptoms – from twitches, anxiety, speech difficulties and digestive complications to more complex nervous indispositions. These affected the economic frontier of their countries since many were incapable to appropriately fit into the society. For instance, while doctors found it strange that these symptoms many times often never present in these countries until the solder was back in the original confines of civilian life. These psycho logical disorders in World War I impact on the societal level of Britain and France. The soldiers were largely unable to culturally transform in these European nations and unable to conform to the cultural expectations. The post psychological impacts such as shell shock have gone a long way in impacting on cultural aspect of the British and French societies. World War 1 can be considered as one of the hinge moment in the culture of the Britain and France. This can be largely attributed to the psychological experiences that were evident. Together the path of cultural effect was set one that set all the difference. Most notable was the impact was in cultural values such as traditional ideologies. The nature of the treatment become more integral part of the cultural heritage and later changed the cultural expectation and behaviors in Britain

Too Many Derivatives from Which to Choose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Too Many Derivatives from Which to Choose - Essay Example The latter two methods are called as derivative markets. In this case the management does not take into account hedging using forward currency contracts as the banks have increased the charges for these services manifold. Hedging using forward contracts simply transfers the risk from the firm to the bank and hence the bank charges a large amount for these services. Now the management has to decide between currency future and options. The future currency contract is a legal contract between a buyer and a seller in which they agree to buy or sell the currency at a future date, at an exchange rate that is fixed or agreed upon today. Though the future contract looks very similar to forward contract, the futures contract brings in more liquidity it is traded in the futures market. It is similar to share market. The most important benefit of futures contract is that firm can release itself from the futures obligation by buying the contract even before the contract expires. Other benefits include liquidity, leverage and convergence of the futures price and spot price on the day of expiration of the futures contract. A currency option is a contract between a buyer and a seller where the buyer of the option enjoys the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the currency at a specified exchange rate before a specified date. There are two types of options. They are call option and put options. Call option gives the buyer the right to buy and the put option gives the buyer the right to sell the currency. Options minimize the risks to a great extent. This hedging option is not of significant importance to our book firm as the option is mainly beneficial for firms bidding for overseas projects. Options are highly flexible and offer a wide range of strategies. But they are more expensive when compared to forwards or futures contract. Hence the most suited derivative for the book firm is futures contract. The best

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Essay Example Lacks died of cancer but her cells live on. Henrietta Lacks’s story holds great importance because of the fact that there are several ethical issues that raises concern. The ethical issues raised in those times, exist even today in some places; however there are certain legal procedures and laws that lay down guideline for the ethics to be followed by researchers. The first ethical issue that comes to my mind is that of â€Å"confidentiality†. The ethical issue of confidentiality in research means that the identity, privacy and all information about the patient must be treated as highly confidential in nature. The identity of people being used for a particular research or study should never be revealed. It is the researcher’s responsibility to protect the identity. However, in Lack’s case, confidentiality was not maintained. The researchers did not reveal only her name but also revealed her race to the world. In those times, there were no binding laws that called for confidentiality on part of the researchers. Today, it is mandatory for researchers using human tissues to respect the privacy of the subjects and safeguard their identity. One of the most popular to keep things confidential is the use of pseudonymisation or use a code in place of real identification of the human subjects (Kalra et al, 2006) The next ethical issue worth that I would like to discuss is that of â€Å"informed consent†. Human tissues and cells are of great importance to the research world however these tissues and cells need to be procured from people with appropriate consent. People have the right to know how their cells are being used for research. In Henrietta’s case, she was not informed about her doctor’s decision of tumorous cell extraction. She was not even asked for consent. In the 1950’s, issues about informed consent was still in infancy stages, so Dr.Gey was not compelled in any way to ask Henrietta Lacks’s consent for

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Using a word processor of your choice, such as Word, produce a Essay

Using a word processor of your choice, such as Word, produce a 1000-1500 word report on the subject of Obesity - Essay Example As argued by Kopelman (2007), the prevalence of obesity in the United Kingdom for example and the world at large is on the rise. The statistics indicate that a huge percentage of the adults in UK are obese (Kopelman, 2007). An analysis of the future would reduce over a half of the world populace being obese (WHO, 2001). This increase in obesity is one that revolves around lifestyle and societal factors. With these alarming statistics, it is important that the entire society work collectively to ensure that the issue is resolved on a societal level. Up to date, there has been an integrated approach towards dealing with obesity, especially through mobilization on marinating a healthy diet and encouraging continuous participation in physical activity (Eggar and Swinburn, 2002). Eggar and Swinburn (2002) indicate that one of the major causes of obesity results from an individual in-taking excessive foods and drinks as they are supposed to. In the long run, this causes a lot of energy imbalance, as opposed to the daily 60 calories in a day. Some foods have been indicated to contain lots of fats and sugars, especially snacks. Persons with the habit of consuming such foods are likely to be obese (Rolls, 2007). However, it is vital to note that some individuals are likely to be obese from their biological make-up (Kopelman, 2007). On the other hand, Kopelman (2007) says that some people are less active unlike others. These persons are likely to be obese especially if they have a habit of snacking and consuming excessive fatty and sugary foods. An individual’s early life also determines the obese rate of individuals (WHO, 2001). Right from the mother’s womb to the parental feeding habits to the infants, obesity can be determined. The adult life of this child is likely to be affected, an aspect that Kopelman (2007) terms as an inter-generational constituent of obesity. Weaning is, therefore, of

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Mind and body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mind and body - Essay Example Freud believed that the mind is structured into two parts: the conscious and unconscious mind. The conscious mind represents the things which can be brought into awareness easily or those we are aware of while the unconscious mind represents the things outside our awareness but influence our behavior (Cherry, nap). Out of these parts, personality is formed which comprises of three components: id, ego and superego. Id is part of the unconscious mind; it is the most primitive and source of all libidinal energy (life instincts) and death instincts. It operates on pleasure principle hence seeks immediate gratification of needs. The ego mediates between the id and superego and operates on reality principle. Its work is to ensure demands are satisfied in acceptable ways hence delayed gratification is preferred (Austrian 15). The superego on the other hand, acts according to the moral standards. The ego in its mediation works encounters difficulties leading to anxiety. This prompts it to de velop defense mechanisms such as rationalization, repression and denial to protect itself from anxiety. Freud also believed children develop in stages (psychosexual stages) with energy focused on different parts of the body at each stage and failure to progress to next stage leads to fixation while success leads to healthy development. For example, getting fixated at phallic stage can lead to Oedipus for boys and Electra complex for girls. These include: oral, anal, phallic, latent and genital stages (Cherry, nap). Freud also developed a theory of dreams to explain the unconscious mind. For him, dreams are â€Å"a royal road to the unconscious† (Austrian 14). They reveal repressed memories from childhood desires unfulfilled. He emphasized on the role of instincts especially sexual instincts in driving people to dream. He interpreted dreams through free association whereby women would narrate their experiences revealing their hidden truths. He enumerated

Monday, September 23, 2019

Pros and cons to open a small business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pros and cons to open a small business - Essay Example This discussion illuminates the many advantages and disadvantages of opening a small business then briefly discusses the merits involved in the purchase of an existing business as opposed to starting one from the ground up. For a person that embodies the true entrepreneurial spirit, the chief goal and appeal of opening a small business is to create something novel, not simply in managing someone else’s conception. Because of this, beginning a business of one’s own construct is an appealing notion (Helfand, 2007). Operating one’s own business can be advantageous in many ways. First, and probably foremost is that a person can be their own boss. They are therefore able to make their own decisions and set their own hours. Nobody admonishes the owner for being late or taking an extra day’s vacation. No one tells the boss where to be and when to be there. The owner of a small business answers to no one besides the customer and even this is a choice. Unreasonable clients can be fired. The owner is not involved in petty organizational politics. No one is trying to undermine your authority or accomplishments so as to ‘climb the corporate ladder’ quicker. The owner of a s mall business is and always will be at the top. There is no ceiling on earnings potential to the owner of a small business. It is the best way to realize the ‘American dream.’ The more the business succeeds, the more profit is made and the owner decides how to distribute the earnings. Gone are the days of working for a pre-determined salary knowing that efforts made were probably making money for invisible investors who didn’t have a clue about the business nor appreciated the tremendous sacrifices that allowed it to profit. The owner of a small business has the ability to develop particular skills and knowledge needed for the growth of that business instead of having to focus on only the constrained

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Research has been done to determine Essay Example for Free

Research has been done to determine Essay A lot of research has been done to determine whether short-term memory works better in the morning or afternoon. In a study, 16-18-year-olds (sixth form students of Battersea park school) were administered to take part in a word test to assess their short-term memory. Results of this were analyzed. Null Hypothesis: learning in the morning is more effective Alternative hypothesis: learning in the afternoon is more effective. Introduction To learn new things, to store experiences and to adapt to new circumstances these characteristics of the brain enable us the daily survival . This special flexibility of the brain is reached through constant making and breaking contact between nerve cells. Whenever we learn something, the connections between nerve cells, (synapses) change. At this point, the Axon of a nerve cell and the Dendrite of the neighbouring cell meet. The centre for brain research of the medical University of Vienna is currently involved in two researches that contribute to the clarification of the processes in memory. They had tested the article (of researchers at the Harvard Medical School), which is called a key experiment. It was found that a Micro RNA and the accompanying messenger RNA exist at the contact point of synapses. What are Micro- and messenger RNA? It is a different form of the Ribonucleic acid. As a messenger RNA (mRNA), one is already more familiar with for a long time: It functions as a messenger, transports a message of the DNA often, but not always from a gene out of the cell nucleus into the cytoplasm. There the message is translated often, but not always into a protein. One knows micro RNAs for the least in time: They consist only of 21 bases respectively, and they are not translated into proteins. They rather check an mRNA in that they cause or prevent that the mRNA is translated into a protein. So they are regulators. For example just at a synapse, as long as there a micro RNA on a certain mRNA, it is not translated into a protein. If the micro RNA falls away, the protein emerges and the synapse changes its form and also the signal forwarding. In other words we can say that the nerve cell learned something. In the journal of Cell Biology (172, p. 221) Kiebler describes a second factor that is necessary, with a synapse function: Staufen 2: That is a protein that is responsible for the carrying of mRNA along the cell skeleton to the synapse. It brings RNAs to where they are needed. Neurons which are missing the protein Staufen2 have less synapses, and the signal transmission between them is disturbed. An important notice on that, is that Staufen 2 for the education of functioning Synapses is crucial, says Kiebler ( researcher). If what we have learned is forgotten, long-term connections become out of contact of the connection points. German Neurobiologist worked on the correlation between the outgrowing of the connections of cells, the so-called thorns and the building of functioning synapses. In order to be able to follow the outgrowing of thorns, the cells in the near surrounding area of the stimuli were observed using a high resolution two-Photon-microscope. An electron microscope was used in order to review whether the variations in the nerve cells actually led to the origin of new synapses. Within few minutes after the current impulse, the encouraged nerve cells opened the gate to a new discovery. These thin thorns do not grow spontaneously (as they thought), but rather grow towards possible contact partners. Within the first eight hours no piece of information can be exchanged between the newly emerged cell contacts. Not until the following hours it is decides whether a connection remains exist or disappears. For sure, those contacts, that are still available after 24 hours, have fully functioning synapses which can transfer information and have a good chance to exist after several days. Then the reconstruction in the brain is locked evidently. Which parts of the brain remember which type of memory?

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Recommendations and Scope for Further Research Essay Example for Free

Recommendations and Scope for Further Research Essay This research was broad based, involving multi dimensional study of all possible factors influencing the Personal Market in general and Small Car Market in particular. There are very important findings related to influence of socio-economic issues of Indian middle class, infrastructural issues like development of roads, government policies, price and cost of running and maintaining the car etc. Performance of Tata Motors Nano car, which is the smallest car, in the small car segment, and was positioned to meet the requirement of a spatial segment of Indian buyer was also studied extensively. 6. 1 Findings and Conclusions Major findings and conclusions drawn from the study are listed below -1. 71 percent of respondents have shown their preference towards low engine capacity cars to get higher fuel efficiency. It shows that in future only cars giving higher fuel efficiency will be preferred by Indian consumers. . 73percent of the respondents have shown their preference toward small cars as due to increased traffic and congestion on roads. As vehicle population is increasing continuously and size of city roads started appearing narrow, it can be concluded that small cars will prove sustainable in the future. 3. 74 percent of respondents have shown their preference towards small cars due to parking convenience of roads. In cities due to phenomenal increase in number of vehicles, parking is proving to be a big problem. Parking of small cars is a bit easy and therefore, in future people are likely to prefer small cars. 210 4. In recent past car manufacturers have launched a number of models of small cars with comparable features of big cars, consequently small car owners can now enjoy all these features in small cars also. In all 73 percent of respondents have expressed their happiness due to this reason endorsed the purchase of small car. 5. In India still personal disposable income of majority of respondent is not so high that they can afford to buy a big car and therefore, 71 percent of the total respondents have expressed their opinion that their disposable income permit them to buy only a small car and thus small cars are going to be sustainable in Indian car market. 6. In India due to increase in literacy rate and also desire to lead a comfortable life have induced the people to observe small family norm, which can easily be accommodated in small cars, the of choice people is, therefore, shifting towards small cars. 0 percent of total respondents have expressed the view that small car is good for them as they have small family. 7. 70 percent of the total respondents have expressed their opinion that they prefer the small cars as repair facility is available easily and next to their door for the repair of the same. 8. In past few years the number and percentage of women in employment is increasing staidly. Such women employee prefers the small cars due to variety of reasons. 76 percent of the total respondents have expressed their agreement to the fact that increased women employment has boost the sale of small cars. As this trend is going to persist, the future of small car is bright. 9. Increased affluence and easy availability of loans and finance facilities have led to many two wheeler users to buy their first car which is normally a small car. This has made the small cars sustainable in Indian car market. 78 percent of total respondents have endorsed this fact. 10. In past few years urban as well as rural affluence has increased. This has boosted the trend of urbanization. This in turn induces the people to buy 211 ars. In all 77 percent respondents are of the opinion that growing urban population has boost the market of small cars in India. 11. In past one decade a phenomenon improvement has taken place in the road network. This has induced the sale of small cars in India. 81 percent of the total respondents are of the opinion that improved conditions of roads even in small cities have led to increase in demand of small cars. 12. Government of India has formulated such policies which stimulate the sale of small cars. 2 percent of total respondents are of the opinion that favorable government policy has boost the sale of small cars. 13. Price of the cars as well cost of spares, parts and component also govern the choice of a car. Normally price of small cars as well cost of spares, parts and components are comparatively low and affordable. Therefore, people prefer to buy small cars. This fact was endorsed by 74 percent of the total respondents. Thus it appears that small cars are going to be sustainable in Indian market. 14. The cost of repair and maintenance is comparatively very low in case of small cars. This also remains one of the considerations in forming the decision to buy a car. 83 percent of the total respondents are of the opinion that lower cost of repair and maintenance has influenced their decision to buy a small car. 15. Government levies taxes on small cars by low rate and rate of insurance of small cars is also very low as compare to big cars which are higher priced, therefore large number of people opts for purchase of small cars. A majority (68%) of the respondents have shown their agreement towards this. 16. About 3/4th of the total respondents are of the opinion that small cars are still preferred choice of Indian consumers therefore, it can be concluded that small cars will be sustainable in Indian car market. 17. 77 percent of the respondents are of the opinion that constantly rising costs of inputs and fuel prices will contribute to the sustainability of small cars. 18. Small cars prove sufficient to meet the family needs of Indian middle class and therefore, small cars remain preferred choice of Indian middle class. 212 This fact was endorsed by 82 percent of the total respondents. Therefore it can be concluded safely that small cars are going to be sustainable in Indian car market. 19. Over the years a status consciousness has developed among Indian middle class and to fulfill this need they prefer to buy small car as most of them can not afford to buy a big car. Therefore, small cars remain a preferred choice of Indian middle class. 82 percent of the total respondents have endorsed this view and therefore it can be concluded that small cars will be sustainable in Indian automobile sector. 20. Indian middle class consumer is buying a car for either as a necessity or for comfort. The financial constraint therefore does not permit him to have the luxury of expensive, out of reach big cars. 82 percent of the total respondents of this study are of the same opinion. Looking to large base of middle class population in India, it can safely be concluded that small cars are going to be sustainable in Indian car market. 21. Parking of cars at residence is proving a difficult proposition now-a-days. Indian middle class resides normally in compact houses, parking space is in these houses is limited or non existent. In such conditions Indian middle class finds it is more comfortable with small cars. 83 percent of the total respondents acknowledged this fact and endorsed that the parking convenience at residence induces middle class to buy a small car. Thus it is concluded that small car will be sustainable in Indian car market. 22. Family and peer pressure often plays an important role in making buying decision of a vehicle . In case of Indian middle class this pressure induces them to buy small car. 68 percent of the total respondents were of the opinion that this pressure nduces the Indian middle class to buy the small cars. Therefore, small cars will remain a preferred choice of Indian middle class. 213 23. Working women in general and from middle class in particular prefer to buy a small car due to driving and parking comforts offered by such cars. Therefore, small car is a preferred choice of Indian Middle class working women. About 84 percent of total respondents have endorsed this fact. As the number of middle class women employees is on increase continuously, it can be concluded that small cars will sustain in the Indian automobile sector. 4. The focus of current middle class families is more on spending and enjoying life. Their personal disposable income has also increased substantially. The desire to lead a conferrable life is motivating them to buy a car, and with the financial constraint more then often it is small car. Therefore, popularity of small cars is increasing. 80 percent of respondents have shown their agreement that desire to lead comfortable life among middle class will contribute to the sustainability of small cars. 25. Of late Indian middle class has become status conscious. One of the simple ways to exhibit the status consciousness is to buy a car. Therefore, more and more middle class people are embarking upon the decision to buy a car. This fact is going to contribute to the sustainability of small cars in Indian automobile sector. 83 percent of the total surveyed respondents have expressed their agreement to this. 26. Number of middle class people is on continuous increasing in Indian, since small car is a preferred choice of this segment, it can be concluded that small car will sustain in Indian market. This view has been endorsed by 81 percent of the total respondents. 7. A very small car launched by Tata Motors is not sustainable in Indian automobile sector as 82 percent of the respondents have expressed their opinion against Nano it is perceived as not safe and stable. 28. Tata Motors Nano is not preferred by Indian consumers in spite of being low price and more fuel efficient, as almost 97 percent of the respondents have 214 expressed their agre ement to this. Thus price of car and fuel efficiency of it, are not only the factors taken into consideration by Indian consumers while making purchase decision for cars. Their decisions are governed by other factors also like safety, features, driving comfort, status, convenience, etc. 29. Nano is not even preferred by Indian consumers as suitable for â€Å"† Only for City use† car.. 91 percent of the respondents have expressed this view. 30. Nano is not a preferred choice of Indian consumers, neither as a first car nor as a second or additional car. 88 percent of respondents have disown it as their choice as a first car and 93 percent of respondents have disown it as their choice as second or additional car. 31. Tata Motors Nano car was positioned as a better alternative for two wheeler. However those who are using two wheelers for their personal and family use and can afford to buy at least a small car are also having hesitation in buying Nano. 93 percent of the respondents have that they would not like Nano to take out their family instead of scooter or a motor bike. Thus it can be concluded that Tata Motors Nano has lost it’s initial charm and hype created in Indian car market. 32 Out of the total surveyed respondents (1500) , 1271 respondents have acknowledged that they are using small car ,remaining of respondents said they are not using a small car. This implies that Indian car market scene is still dominated by small car. 33. 79 percent of the respondents those using small car have expressed their satisfaction with a small car. Remaining 21 percent of respondents were not satisfied by with the small car. This very high satisfaction level with the users, is clear indication of sustainability of small car in Indian market. 34. 83 percent of the total respondents have acknowledged that they would like to recommend the car currently being used by them to the prospective buyers. This again shows that most of the car users are satisfied with their 215 present car, whether big or small, and they would like to recommend the same to the prospective buyers. This study has already established the fact that the sale of small car is dominating, this response further support the sustainability of small car in Indian market. 35. This study also reveals that 73 percent of the respondents have expressed their opinion that small car will be the preferred choice of Indian Middle Class and will sustain in Indian car market. 6. For this study the questionnaire was so designed to get a clear idea about the preferences, choices, socio- economic issues, financial constraints, influencing factor of government actions and policies, consumer profiles etc. Since the study covers interest of all stake holders of Indian automobile sector, the recommendations are grouped under the following†¢ Recommendations for the car and auto component manufactures. †¢ Recommendations fo r auto finance organizations. †¢ Recommendations for policy planners- †¢ Recommendations for prospective car buyers. One important finding coming out of this study, which can change significantly the dynamics of Indian business, is shift in the consumer profile. Though the urbanization is taking place at a very high rate, it is the consumption of Rural India which is increasing at faster rate then Urban India. There for the recommendations for the basis of shift in consumer profile are grouped together, for the four segments of stake holders as specified above. 216 6. 2. 1 Recommendations for the car and auto component manufactures1. The fuel efficiency is one of the prime concerns of the car users and therefore it is recommended that the future car engine designee should be based on fuel efficiency and note on high horse power. 2. The availability of repair facility is having influence on buying decision, and therefore it is recommended that the car manufacturer should address this requirement before introducing any high technology based models of small cars for Indian market. 3. The study reveals that the small car is preferred by working women. Introduction of some variance of the car models having â€Å"Women friendly accessories† will attract the women customers. 4. The cost of the spare parts is of concern of car users. To boost the sale of their product it is suggested that the auto component manufacturers, open their dealer networks and service outlets to meet customer’s requirements directly. This is already in practice for car batteries, tyers etc. The Auto electrical segment can also use this. 5. The study reveals that there is shift in consumer profile. The consumer in he rural area is having more stakes in consumption. Currently the car designs are for the urban users. It is recommended that to take advantage of this shift some variance of car models can be designed to attract rural customers. 6. The Tata Motors Nano car is having low price and fuel efficient engine, but as the study reveals it is not accepted by consumers due to various issues like safety, durability, not suitable for long distance travel etc. It is recommended that car manufacture should take a note of this in designing the future models. They are advised to conduct the extensive survey of consumers, particularly, of Nano users, that why a small car launched in Indian car market with a big fan fare could not pick-up and lost its charm in a very short span of time, so that they can revive Nano as per expectations of public and can make it a great success in Indian car market. 217 7. Although 79 percent of the small car users have expressed their satisfaction with the small car being used by them, but 19 percent of the respondents have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the small car which can not be termed as insignificant from any yardstick. Small car manufacturers are advised to develop a suitable mechanism to identify such dissatisfaction and must take concrete steps to overcome their dissatisfaction. 6. 2. 2 i. Recommendations for auto finance organizations. One of the findings of the study is that financing of car purchase is key driver of auto industry. In the discussions it is felt that, as the disposable income is low in the beginning of the career and increases with the passes of time the initial Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) are proved heavy and burdensome on the purchasers. ii. It is therefore, recommended that auto finance companies can adopt a model of financing in which monthly payment in the initial period can be low, with a gradual increase afterwards. 6. 2. 3 Recommendations for government and policy planners(i) The constantly increasing fuel prices on the one hand support the choice of small car but on the other hand the cost conscious consumer may stop shifting from two wheelers to car. The government, therefore, can take suitable policy decision to offset the impact of increased fuel price by reduction of other taxes and duties on fuel. ii) The study reveals the concern of the parking and traffic congestion on roads. It is recommended that â€Å"Town Planers† and policy makers in the government should suitably address these problems. Looking to the shortage of parking area in the city following solutions can be considered(a) Providing high-rise parking setups with lifts. 218 (b) Parking plazas out side city, with rapid transport system conne ctivity to business areas. (c) Making it mandatory to use roof tops for parking, like basement is used of high-rise buildings. (d) The traffic congestion on road, especially in cities, is often because of non adherence to the driving discipline by users. The traffic management system, therefore need to be made more efficient, active and accountable. (iii) To further boost automobile sector, more reforms in this sector are required, Since the Auto Policy published in 2002, is already more then a decade old a working group of experts should be asked to come out a new policy frame work, taking into consideration the current status and challenges. 6. 2. 4 Recommendations for prospective car buyers. (i) From this study one fact has come out clearly that, currently many models with many variances in each model, are available for a buyer. It is therefore recommended that in selecting a car the buyer should carefully evaluate the technical specifications, and match, the same with his needs. (ii) There are different schemes with different auto finance organizations. With a careful study of the schemes available at the time of car purchase, substantial saving in car financing can be obtained. (iii) Tata Motors Nano car is not favored by majority of the respondents, due to their perceptions, related to safety, stability, status symbol etc. However the manufacturer is continuously working to rectify these concerns. For the buyers having low disposable income, it is therefore recommended that at least considering the very low price of this car, the current model available at the time of purchase can be once again technically evaluated (iv) The government policies for protection of environment are also influencing the engine type and the fuel used in a car. It is therefore 219 recommended that buyer should select a model which is having futuristic technology engine. This study reveals the fact that the ‘Rural Market’ of India is growing more rapidly then ‘Urban Market’. The perception of car manufacturing industry as well as policy planers with the government in India has considered car as a commodity for urban population. This sift in the consumer profile if taken into serious consideration can lead to following recommendations6. 2. 5. 1Recommendations for the car manufacturesi. The interior design of the cars for the future models can be reviewed, and new models or at least some variants of new models can have features suitable for rural buyer. To give examples the long front seat of retro models can be reintroduced, the capacity of petrol tank can be increased etc. ii. The topographic requirement of rural area can be considered for technical specifications, of the cars e. g. wheel size, road clearance etc. to make it more acceptable in rural India. It is necessary to provide additional protection against dust to the vital elements, like fuel injection systems, carburetors, ignition system etc. iii. It is recommended that car manufacturers explore the possibility of introducing â€Å"Four Wheel Drive† system in small car as well. iv. The Personal car sales- net work currently focuses more on urban India, a shift is recommended in this approach. v. It is recommended that, after sale service net work is to be extended to rural area. Since the area to be serviced will be very large, a module having a central workshop with mobile service vehicles attached to it can also be considered. 220 vi. For the manufacturer like Maruti having major stake in small car segment, it is recommended that they can develop a system through which some selected fuel outlets can be used for providing authorized repair service by tanning the staff of fuel outlet. . 2. 5. 2 Recommendations for auto finance organizationsi. The current system of Equated Monthly Installments, is meeting the requirements of urban consumers which are generally fixed monthly income employees. The earning pattern of the rural consumers is different as it is seasonal. Therefore it is recommended that schemes where the option of repayment in unequaled installments, with a rider to make the complete repayment in a predefined period can be introduced. ii. The cooperative banks are generally very strong in rural India. It is recommended that captive auto finance companies can start exploring the possibilities of working with these banks. 6. 2. 5. 3Recommendations for policy plannersThe growth in auto industry segment works as a catalyst for the entire manufacturing sector. This growth is meeting the two very important key objectives of the government e. g. Improved GDP and more employment. It is therefore recommended that the policy planners in government should design the policies which can boost the sale of cars (small cars) in Indian ruler market.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Causes of Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

Causes of Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Understanding the cause of an individuals social, emotional and behavioural difficulties is essential before you can make a successful intervention. Critically assess this assertion in the light of an activity you have undertaken as part of this module. Introduction Delinquents, moral imbeciles and maladjusted children are just some of the labels historically attributed to individuals presenting the difficulties later termed as emotional and behavioural difficulties (Ministry of Education 1995). In this essay the importance of understanding the causes of an individuals social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) is explored in relation to whether this understanding is critical for the implementation of successful interventions. This essay primarily considers individuals within the UK educational system which covers children/young people between the ages of 4 and 16. In the study and education of individuals with SEBD there seems to be a lack of uniformity in how the label is interpreted and applied; the descriptors and definitions of SEBD will therefore be considered along with current trends in the number of school age individuals diagnosed as SEBD in order to give context to this area of discussion. Another key area of disparity is the theoretical perspective adopted when assessing and treating an individual with SEBD. The theoretical perspectives each present a different approach to aetiology and interventions, these will be considered in relation to importance of cause in the basis of each and how they lead to interventions. The key argument will then focus on the importance of understanding cause and examine evidence from published literature, research and policies to support this followed by discussion of why understanding cause may not be essential in order to implement successful interventions. The overall aim is to ascertain whether interventions are mainly based on consideration of the aetiology of behaviour and whether there is evidence to indicate their success. Indeed Harden (2003) concluded that there was insufficient evidence for strategy effectiveness in behavioural difficulties. The subject of cause and interventions was discussed with fellow professionals in a web based discussion (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori discussion group October 2010 November 2010) and reference will be made to the two fictional case studies which formed the basis of these virtual discussions. In the first a boy, Ronnie, no information was given on his background so the focus was on the observed disruptive behaviour in school and the teacher believing he has SEBD. In the second an 11 year old girl, Vicki, far more detail was given including her recent transfer to secondary school; above average reading skills, parents separated and with new partners, the possibility of epilepsy, refusal to do homework and getting into trouble at school. These discussions elicited a range of views on aetiology, the need for information possibly relating to cause and the nature of assessment and interventions. In general the contributing professionals showed a desire to have more information about each child and to interpret the impact of background factors on the difficulties being observed although there was little acknowledgement of why this information was needed (Farrugia, 2010). What is understood by social, emotional and behaviour difficulties (SEBD)? One of the overriding issues in the field of SEBD is the ambiguity in understanding and identification of individuals who may have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties with those who have less severe discipline problems (Evan, Harden, Thomas 2004). This introduces the first difficulty as the decision to classify an individual as having SEBD is with the person who identifies some aspect of behaviour as problematic and is reliant on that persons constructs. Government publications have provided several descriptions of which two are considered in this essay. In Circular 9/94 (DfE 1994) Emotional and Behavioural Difficulty (EBD) is described as being between: behaviour which challenges the teacher but is within normal, albeit unacceptable, bounds and that which is indicative of serious mental illness. The distinction between normal but stressed behaviour, emotional and behavioural difficulties arising from mental illness is important because each needs to be treated differently. (p.4) The definition focuses on the behavioural aspect rather than emotional and indicates it is a problem for the teachers thereby restricting the difficulties to educational settings. Interpretation of what may be considered unacceptable is therefore likely to result in inconsistent identification of the types of children teachers identify as having EBD (Soles, Bloom, Heath, Karagiannakis 2008). In The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice (2001), the definition was amended to incorporate social difficulties and so expanded to social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD), the code defines those with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) as: Children and young people who demonstrate features of emotional and behavioural difficulties, who are withdrawn or isolated, disruptive and disturbing, hyperactive and lack concentration; those with immature social skills; and those presenting challenging behaviours arising from other complex special needs ( Paragraph 7:60) This description describes a range of characteristics associated with this disorder and recognises that such behaviours can evolve from other special educational needs. This presents a broader spectrum of behaviours linked with emotional and social difficulties and remains open to the personal interpretation of those interacting with such children. The lack of clarity of the descriptors could be linked to the increasing number of children diagnosed as having SEBD being recorded in English schools. In 2008 149,040 children had a need of EBD on school action plus or statemented at primary, secondary and special state funded schools, this was an increase of 6.98% year on year (DCSF 2008), EBD represented the second highest need after moderate learning difficulties. This could be due to an actual increase in the number of children experiencing difficulties or to the wider interpretation of the definition leading to more children being recorded with this difficulty who might otherwise hav e remained at a school action stage. Whichever the reason, it is apparent that increasing number of children within the UK education system are being identified as having a need of SEBD and this in turn has led to increasing focus on interventions in particular for behavioural difficulties as seen in the recent white paper (DfE 2010). The descriptions given in Circular 9/94 (DfE 1994) and the SEN Code of Practice (2001) make no direct reference to aetiology or the necessity to acknowledge this although The SEN Code of Practise (2001) recognises that SEBD may have co-morbidity with other biological or medical conditions (7.52, 7.53, 7.58) and links with mental health (10.27) yet guidance for specific assessment and interventions is not detailed. This could be seen as indicative of the lack of unity on the understanding of causes and interventions for those with SEBD. Which theoretical perspective of cause of SEBD? In 1829 a 20 year poet wrote these lines: From childhoods hour I have not been As others were-I have not seen As others saw-I could not bring My passions from a common spring- From the same source I have not taken My sorrow-I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone- And all I lovd-I lovd alone (from Alone by Edgar Allen Poe 1829) The poet was Edgar Allen Poe. Poe was taken into foster care at the age of 3 following the death of his parents and at the age of 6 his foster family moved to London. Poe was said to be talented academically yet a difficult character (Poe Museum n.d.); the poem Alone suggests a troubled child who considers himself to be different. In todays educational climate he may well have been identified as a child with SEBD. Would an understanding of his early life have been important in development of successful interventions? From a behavioural perspective it could be suggested that only his observable difficult behaviour was of importance and thus treatable. The causes could not be speculated upon as they could not be scientifically measured. Bowlby, from a psychodynamic approach might have disagreed; Poes early childhood experiences, most notably the death of his parents and being taken into foster care, may have suppressed his inner desires and drives leading to internal conflicts. Bowlby might have been interested in the repression of Poes feelings following the death of his parents (Bowlby 1988). An ecosystemic perspective may have considered the effects of the changes of the family systems and the move to a different society in England as impacting on his interactions with the systems around him. In a same vein, the web based discussions of Ronnie and Vicki (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori discussion group October 2010 November 2010) led to similar questions. In the case of Vicki, fellow professionals mostly concurred on the adoption of an ecosystemic perspective for assessment based on the information given concerning the breakdown of the systems in her life; some believed that a psychodynamic approach to establish her unconscious processes and a biological perspective to examine the possible epilepsy should also be considered. However, the intervention strategies proposed were based on a humanistic approach rather than linked to the diagnostic perspectives. As noted earlier for the Ronnie discussion there appears little acknowledgement of why the information was needed and how information may link to interventions. In the case of Ronnie, discussions indicated that more information on areas such as his family background, his learning difficulties, incidences of observed be haviour at school and the relationships within his family would be valuable in order to make a more informed recommendation for intervention strategies. This desire for more information showed an amalgamation of perspectives including social learning, psychodynamic and behavioural. Most interesting is that fellow professionals adopted a behavioural approach to interventions in the absence of further information about Ronnie. It could be that this was within the realms of their experience of available strategies in education. The question of which theoretical understanding of cause is the correct one cannot be fully answered. Professionals in the field of educational research tend to support a particular perspective; there are differences of opinion between psychological, medical and sociological perspectives, this is further compounded by newer perspectives such as eco-systemic and humanist which have evolved from earlier theories. As Visser (2000) notes most do acknowledge that it is a mixture of perspectives which can provide insights into understanding and explaining that behaviour. (p.33). The trend for which cause can be seen in the changing descriptors given for SEBD as noted previously (DfE 1994 SEN Code of Practice 2001) and also in approaches to behavioural difficulties adopted by schools. The trend towards a behavioural psychology approach of operant conditioning and behaviour modification as a strategy for treating children with SEBD has been seen since 1975 (Cooper 1999). Children are seen a s making a choice not to behave and through use of behavioural approaches such as consequence and reward they can be taught to want to behave so a new behaviour is learnt (Greene 2008). From this perspective, aetiology is not a considered factor and emphasis is on implementing a system of rewards and consequences which aim to reduce unacceptable behaviour and encourage a re-learning of acceptable behaviour. The blanket approach of many behavioural policies, in part dictated to schools through government directives, suggest that policy makers and educationalists do not consider there is a need to understand causes of SEBD. Behaviour is assumed to be within the control of the child and the school is assumed to be able to influence and change the behaviour. Recent years have seen a change in approach with prominence given to systemic approaches taking into account the interaction of systems and environments surrounding the child as key factors impacting on their social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (Evans, Harden and Thomas 2004). From this perspective there is a need to understand cause in terms of the environments of the individual. This was evident in the web based discussion on Vicki (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori November 2010) where contributors were mostly united in adoption of an ecosystemic approach and attributed the cause of the difficulties to disruption in Vickis home and school life. Understanding the cause of the SEBD is essential before making a successful intervention. In the previous section a number of theoretical approaches to identifying cause were examined and it is concluded that there are difficulties in finding consensus on one approach and one understanding of cause. Despite the difference of opinions of the likely origins of the SEBD, there is widespread support of the need for understanding the cause. Visser (2005) is opposed to a prescriptive approach to dealing with behavioural difficulties and thus supports the case for recognising that each child with SEBD may have a different cause of SEBD although he previously acknowledged that there are still gaps in understanding of both causes and of approaches used in children with EBD (Visser 2002). Others in this field also advocate the benefits to teachers having understanding of pupils with SEBD; Cole, Visser and Daniels (1999) in a paper examining effective EBD practices in mainstream schools promote the need for school staff to understand the complex causation and the varied aetiology of EBD in order to be able to match apposite interventions. Another way of considering cause is to examine underlying difficulties which may be causing SEBD, not from a theoretical perspective but from a possible medical or other difficulty so the behaviour is not directly linked to a psychological or systemic root but rather from some other difficulty which leads to the behaviour emerging as a symptom. Cross (2004) believes that a relationship exists between communication difficulties and emotional and behavioural difficulties. Communication difficulties may arise from biological causes such as Pervasive Development Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or from environmental factors such as child abuse and neglect, or from learning difficulties. Cross maintains that whatever the origin, it is the communication difficulty which must be addressed as a priority as weak communication skills can have a negative impact on a childs ability to interact and socialise, this can aggravate emotional and behavioural difficulties. In this sen se the observed behavioural difficulties could be masking underlying communication difficulties which, if not treated, will not improve the behaviour. In the web discussion on Ronnie (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori discussion group October 2010) fellow professionals concurred that a link was likely between his possible learning difficulties and his behavioural difficulties and that this should form a key part of any interventions. In his book, Lost At School, Greene (2008) maintains that teachers cannot know what to do with challenging behaviour unless the reasons for it are understood, referring to these reasons as lagging skills; those skills which are lacking irrespective of diagnosis. Staff need to identify and understand the skill lacking as this is pivotal to implementing a successful intervention. Greene (2008) lists many lagging skills, including difficulties with maintaining focus, considering likely outcomes, managing emotional responses, which professionals may attribute to a range of disorders such as learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, cognitive difficulties, or anxiety. It is identification of the specific lagging skills which are of more importance than the actual diagnosis as the diagnostic label does not in itself indicate which skills are lacking. Emphasis should therefore be on identifying the specific aspects which are lacking; the lack of a skill alongside an environment whi ch demands these skills is the trigger to there being a problem (Greene 2008). This is in line with an ecological perspective as the behaviour is an outcome of the lagging skill conflicting with the environment. Support for the importance of understanding aetiology is also found in educational guidance; the School Discipline and Pupil Behaviour Policies (DCSF 2010) advises that it is essential to ensure correct assessment of possible reasons for children not behaving appropriately and acknowledges that behavioural difficulties may be caused by learning difficulties, environmental factors or other cognitive, social or emotional difficulties (paras 3.9.29 -3.9.33); yet a subsequent subheading is Pupils who can behave but choose not to (p.58). This takes the school back to the descriptors of SEBD and places interpretation back in a subjective framework where the school has to distinguish between the former and the latter. In much the same way as seen in the SEN Code of Practice (2001) there is a lack of clarity in how cause should be identified and how this knowledge should guide interventions. A recent report entitled Not Present and Not Correct (Evans, 2010) examined the efficacy of fixed term exclusions in curing behavioural problems. The report concluded this was not an effective strategy based on the number of fixed term exclusions having increased by 5.4% since 2003-4. Persistent disruptive behaviour was the reason for the majority of fixed term exclusions (23.3%) and permanent exclusions (29.6%) in 2008-9. These numbers have not shown significant change year on year indicating that current interventions are not effective. The report recommends that a trigger is needed to prompt a needs assessment where fixed-term exclusions are used continually. Yet, in the SEN Code of Practice (2001) this trigger should be happening for pupils who do not respond to standard behaviour management strategies or individualised behaviour management programme moving them to a School Action Plus stage. This could suggest that either appropriate referrals are not taking place or, if they ar e, the resulting interventions are not successful. If the latter is the case then it may indicate that either causes are not being considered or, if considered, are not leading to successful interventions. The American based Assertive Discipline approach to managing behaviour in schools is rooted in a behavioural perspective. A study by Jones and Smith (2004) concluded that the this approach was effective in improving minor mis-behaviour and led to overall benefits for teaching and learning in the school at the centre of the study; yet, a small but significant group did not benefit from the approach. This group may therefore have required further personalised assessment of the cause of their SEBD with individual strategies being put in place. This lends support to the necessity of understanding cause in those specific situations where the standard strategies employed in mainstream schools are not resolving social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. It also suggests that the importance of cause is not essential at initial stages of identification of behavioural difficulties, but may need to be understood if current intervention strategies are not achieving the desired outcome. A key factor in identifying the cause of the SEBD lies in the choice of the perspective adopted. As seen in the web based discussions for Vicki (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori November 2010) causes could be attributed to several aspects of the individuals life. Depending on the approach taken, the diagnosis and intervention will vary which means that successful intervention cannot be guaranteed. Overall, whilst there is much debate and research on causality and at the same time growing emphasis on the rise in behavioural difficulties in the classroom, classroom based research for children with SEBD tends not to link theory to identification, policy and effective interventions (Maras and Kutnick 1999). Understanding the cause of the SEBD is not essential before making a successful intervention. All perspectives consider cause to some extent although a behavioural approach is founded mainly on observed behaviour. There is little research advocating that identifying cause is not essential or important in terms of implementing interventions. The argument against the value of understanding cause is mainly one of whether knowing the cause can actually lead to a specific and effective intervention. Whilst Visser (2002) advocates the importance of understanding cause, it has proved difficult to find evidence which gives clear guidance for a link between cause and effective intervention strategies. In discussing the Individual, Medical or Deficit Model (IMD), Macleod and Munn (2004) suggest that the implication of causation should be rejected which is the reverse of the consideration of disabilities with a bio-medical root. This view is based on the belief that the biggest difficulty in identifying cause is the lack of agreement in what SEBD actually is, as seen in the earlier disc ussion on the interpretations of definitions. It could be argued that focus should be on strategies and not on cause as interpretations of the cause are too subjective. The web based discussions on Ronnie and Vicki, despite consisting of differing views for diagnosis and cause, saw a commonality in the recommendations for a multi agency approach. This is also seen in Diagram 8 model (Cole, Visser and Daniels1999) in which consultation with the Local Education Authority (LEA) and relevant agencies, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), is seen as an important factor in schools which are successful in the inclusion of children with SEBD. Whilst Visser (2005) has been cited earlier as an advocate of the need to understand aetiology, in a talk based on a term he encountered in his professional work, eternal verities, he looked at factors which may be universal in implementation of successful interventions for SEBD (Visser, 2002). Understanding cause of the SEBD was not a factor given which lends support to the view that, whilst understanding cause may be desirable and informative, there are more important factors necessary for suc cessful intervention. Only a third of secondary schools were deemed as effective in meeting the needs of pupils with SEBD (Ofsted 2004), which suggests that focus should be on identifying effective strategies. Research carried out by Evans, Harden, Thomas (2004) concluded that there was a limited evidence base of recommended strategies which were effective for children with EBD and they recommended a focus for more strategic commissioning of future primary research (p.8). In the case of Ronnie (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori discussion group October 2010), there was a quest to know more from those assessing the situation. Was it not enough that his behaviour was disruptive and so class room based behavioural strategies should be put in place to make Ronnie learn appropriate behaviour? The answer in this case seems to lie in the understanding of cause. If Ronnie had a learning difficulty, there was support for this being addressed first/or in conjunction with the behaviour interventions. If it then emerged that Ronnie was having problems at home, such as parental conflict or neglect, this may have required another form of intervention. In the case of Vicki (Vygotsky, Skinner and Montessori discussion group November 2010) there was more information on her background situation; this meant some probable causes could be explored which could then lead to a range of possible interventions. Having more information still led to a discussion on which perspect ive may be more applicable and in fact the interventions proposed were mostly similar to those for Ronnie. Although the participants suggestions for interventions for Ronnie tended to be school based whereas those discussed for Vicki were both within school and outside with a wider multi agency approach. Professionals such as teachers, educational psychologists, CAHMS practitioners and behaviour support specialists will all bring their own approaches to the SEBD table. It could be that attempts to understand the cause through a multi-agency strategy may lead to disjointed and confusing interventions at worst and a prolonged period of assessments and treatments at best, neither of which presents an ideal situation for a child (Rayner 1999). The range of interpretations, social constructs and perspectives makes a case for a scientific approach to developing interventions for children with SEBD. The aetiology is acknowledged but it is the present symptomatic patterns which are the key to successful interventions. Conclusion Is it essential to understand the cause of an individuals social, emotional and behavioural difficulties making a successful intervention? In seeking an answer to this question, much of the published research advocates the need to establish the cause of SEBD before implementing intervention thereby assuming the intervention will be more successful. The difficulty in this belief is twofold; firstly the definition of what constitutes social, emotional and behaviour difficulties and in particular at what point the severity requires specific interventions and secondly, which perspectives should be adopted to correctly identify the cause(s) and thus which interventions are most suitable. With the definition of SEBD including a wide range of characteristics, it seems most likely that there is also a wide range of causes and thus a wide range of interventions. Most evidence supports the desire to investigate and define the cause; this is also reflected in government and SEN policy and guidelines. Yet evidence to support the importance of this in securing successful intervention is sparse. Overall, whilst the need to understand the cause seems to be supported in research and advocated in government guidelines, the interventions put in place within educational settings are predominantly based on a behavioural approach where it is the observable behaviour which is addressed, measured and evaluated; this is where an anomaly exists. Over time, more responsibility and accountability has been awarded to schools and local authorities for children with SEN including SEBD. This in itself appears to have reduced the focus on understanding cause as schools have to manage this responsibility alongside government directives for improving behaviour in schools. With increasing emphasis on schools primary accountability being for student achievement in academic terms and the move to reduce the number of statements, there is likely to be less emphasis on aetiology in favour of interventions based on controlling children with SEBD certainly in mainstream education. The current governments support of academies may also magnify this as the removal of local authority involvement means that schools can decide whether there is economic value in seeking input from agencies that may have more concern with aetiology. It may be that there are other factors necessary in implementing successful strategies aside from understanding cause such as the necessity for a positive ethos within the school itself (Cole, Visser, Daniels 1999). It is concluded that understanding the cause of an individuals SEBD is part of the equation for successful intervention but unless the adults responsible acknowledge the cause and seek to promote appropriate and differentiated solutions which can be proven to be successful, then understanding on its own is not sufficient.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Henry Matisses Madam Matisse: The Green Line Essays -- Art Analysis

Madam Matisse: The Green Line Henry Matisse, one of the most influential members of the Fauve movement, was responsible for much of the attention brought to it and its respective members. One of his works, Madame Matisse: The Green Line, more or less serves as an excellent example of what he was trying to accomplish in art: the use of color to express and convey emotions. The composition of the work consists of a portrait of Madame Matisse in the foreground and a background divided into several distinct areas of color. The division in the background is apparent in the juxtaposition of the mauve, orange and blue green, with the foreground divided primarily by the green strip itself, which runs down the middle of Madam Matisse’s face and separates the painting along a vertical axis. The background and foreground, however, are rendered almost completely flat, so that they seem to become part of one another, and Madame Matisse seems to become somewhat of a portrait within a portrait. The space in the portrait is more or less two dimensional, with only a slight hint of depth illustrated by a dark area of shading above Madame Matisse’s left shoulder. The perspective is entirely frontal with her torso angled to the left and her head slightly to the right. Color, along with the subject of Madame Matisse, is the focus and most important element of the work. Matisse has used color here to illustrate a sense of the emotions he feels for his wife. These colors are primarily bright, striking colors such as orange, red, yellow, mauve and bright green accompanied by the use of a cooler, calmer blue-green and black. The combination of these colors is non-naturalistic and provides a contrast that is readily apparent t... ...began his professional career as a lawyer and did not discover painting and art until he bought a set of watercolors at some point before 1892. After he did discover his love of art he began to study in Paris in 1892 and spent much time in the south of France, which vastly affected the style of his work. In conclusion, the painting Madam Matisse: The Green Stripe is an embodiment of everything that Matisse himself and the Fauve movement stood for: the lyrical use of color to create â€Å"an art of balance, purity, and serenity.† He was able to use the initial ideas created in the Fauve movement and advance them beyond what any other artist in the period had done previously or after. In fact, one might say that Matisse was the artist who ensured the lasting impression of Fauvism on artistic expression and that it would not be what it is today without his influence.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Masculinity, Femininity and Simone Benmussa’s Singular Life of Albert N

Masculinity, Femininity and Simone Benmussa’s Singular Life of Albert Nobbs The semiotics of traditional theatrical form reinforce an oppressive patriarchal system. The physical body becomes the catalyst by which gender is assigned and expected. This emphasis on the body is amplified in the theater. Simone Benmussa’s play The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs, adapted from the short story by George Moore, deals with issues of femininity and masculinity and how these are portrayed within the theater as well as how theater is formed by the traditional patriarchal gaze. This play also deals with issues of class and how class status is intrinsically tied to gender, gender performance and sexuality. Through the example of this play it is seen that a form of theater which creates and maintains the woman as subject rather than object (as Sue-Ellen Case proposes) cannot be truly realized until the performative nature and many issues inherent in masculinity are acknowledged and processed. Here also is an excellent case study of how the politics of the theater are deeply rooted in body politics and gender essentialism. All of these factors contribute to the play’s overall complexity in matters surrounding and pertaining to the performative nature of masculinity and the manner in which masculinities are brought forth on stage and how that differs from femininity on stage. One of the central themes of theatrical form is identity and the catalyst by which identity is formed is the body. In using the body as the site of formation of individual identity, women are â€Å"uniquely identified with their anatomy† and specifically the parts of their anatomy that differ from that of men (Callaghan 30). Because women are thus defined by their relation ... ... femininity and female masculinity are brought under scrutiny. Works Cited: Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble. New York, Routledge. 1990 Callaghan, Dympna. Shakespeare Without Women: Representing Gender and Race on the Renaissance Stage. New York, Routledge. 2000 Case, Sue-Ellen. Towards a New Poetics. from Feminism and Theater. New York, Methuen. 1988 Gardiner, Judith Kegan. Introduction. from Masculinity Studies & Feminist Theory. (also ed.) New York, Columbia University Press. 2002 Halberstam, Judith. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. from Masculinity Studies & Feminist Theory. ed Judith Kegan Gardiner. New York, Columbia University Press. 2002 Hopkins, Patrick D. Gender Treachery: Homophobia, Masculinity, and Threatened Identities. Kano, Ayako. Acting Like A Woman in Modern Japan: Theater, Gender, and Nationalism. New York, Palgrave. 2001

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Board Resolution Sample

B and B Communications Philippines Incorporated RESOLUTION NO: ____, S-2012 A resolution to open a Current Account with the SECURITY BANK, CUBAO BRANCH was placed before the Board for conducting its day-to-day financial transactions. After discussions, the Board unanimously: WHEREAS, B AND B COMMUNICATIONS PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED is a company duly organized and existing in accordance with law, rules and regulations with postal address at ____________________________________________________ Barangay __________________ District _____________, _____________ City;WHEREAS; the said Bank be instructed to accept and act upon any instructions relating to the account kept in the name of the Company or relating to any transactions of the Company with the Bank, provided the instructions are signed by the authorized signatory(ies) of the Company in the manner mentioned as above. WHEREAS; the said Bank be instructed to accept receipts for money, deeds, securities or other documents or papers or property or any indemnities given on behalf of the Company provided they are signed by the authorized signatory(ies) of the Company in the manner as mentioned above.WHEREAS; the bank be furnished with a list of the names of Directors of the Company and a copy of the Memorandum & Articles of Association and be from time to time informed by notice in writing under the hand of the Directors/Authorized Signatory of the Company of any changes which may take place therein and be entitled to act upon any such notice until the receipt of further notice under the hand of any Directors / Authorized Signatory. WHEREAS; the resolution be communicated to the Bank and remain in force until duly rescinded and notice thereof in writing be given to the Bank by ny of the Directors of the Company. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE B AND B COMMUNICATIONS PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED During its last regular meeting to authorize as it hereby authorizes the opening of Current Account of the company with t he SECURITY BANK CUBAO BRANCH. â€Å"RESOLVED FURTHER THAT the aforesaid power entrusted to the following official shall be valid and effective unless revoked earlier by the Board or shall be exercisable by them so long as they are in the concerned to the Company. †Name of Principal RepresentativePositionAddressContact No. Henry HinatePresidentAntipolo City09333398883 Name of Alternate RepresentativePositionAddressContact No. John Lesther MercaderVice PresidentQuezon City09165948435 For Operations â€Å"RESOLVED FURTHER THAT all acts, deeds, things, matters, etc. as foretasted shall be deemed to be valid and enforceable only if they are consistent with the instant resolution as may be relevant in this case and that the Board shall not be responsible for any acts beyond the scope of the foretasted powers done by Mr.Henry Hinate / Mr. John Lesther Mercader and such invalid, illegal acts, and acts done beyond the scope of powers granted in this Resolution shall not bind the Com pany against any third parties or before any authorities in any manner and that the Board shall not be answerable in that behalf. † â€Å"RESOLVED FURTHER THAT a certified copy of the resolution be given to anyone concerned or interested in the matter. † ADOPTED NOVEMBER , 2012 Mr Henry Hinate Board Chairperson/ PresidentMr, John Lesther Mercader Executive Vice President for Operations Board of Directors Ms. Jeane BetitoMr. Rogelio ReyesMr. Ed CunananMs. Jenny Amador Secretary CERTIFICATION This is to certify that the foregoing resolution was approved on _______________, 2012 by the majority of the members of the Board of Directors and Members of the Organization present in a meeting Called for the purpose, there being a quorum. Done in Quezon City, this _________________, 2012 MS. JEANE BETITO SECRETARY

Monday, September 16, 2019

Camera shots english Essay

A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film’s setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film. Reviewing the examples on the right hand side of this page should make the different camera shots clearer. An extreme long shot (animation on right) contains a large amount of landscape. It is often used at the beginning of a scene or a film to establish general location(setting). This is also known as an establishing shot. A long shot (animation on right) contains landscape but gives the viewer a more specific idea of setting. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place. A full shot (animation on right) contains a complete view of the characters. From this shot, viewers can take in the costumes of characters and may also help to demonstrate the relationships between characters. For more information on costumes and acting refer to Chapter 4. A mid shot (animation on right) contains the characters or a character from the waist up. From this shot, viewers can see the characters’ faces more clearly as well as their interaction with other characters. This is also known as a social shot A close-up (animation on right) contains just one character’s face. This enables viewers to understand the actor’s emotions and also allows them to feel empathy for the character. This is also known as a personal shot. An extreme close-up (animation on right) contains one part of a character’s faceor other object. This technique is quite common in horror films, particularly the example above. This type of shot creates an intense mood and provides interaction between the audience and the viewer. When analysing a film you should always think about the different camera shots and why they are being used. The next time that you are at the cinema or watching television see what camera shots are being used. Important: These camera shots are used in all forms of visual texts including postcards, posters and print advertisements. Camera angles It is important that you do not confuse camera angles and camera shots. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of setting, themes and characters. Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters. These are very important for shaping meaning in film as well as in other visual texts. The following examples will help you to understand the differences between the different camera angles A bird’s eye angle (animation on right) is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot, to establish setting. A high angle (animation on right) is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character. The example above demonstrates to us the perspective or point of view of a vampire. As a viewer we can understand that the vampire feels powerful. An eye-level angle (animation on right) puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters. A low angle (animation on right) is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character’s point of view. As with camera shots, you will be able to see many examples of camera angles in any film or visual text that you view. The next time that you watch television or see a film, take note of the camera angles and think of how they affect your perception (idea) of different characters. Another camera angle that you might come across is a Dutch angle. A Dutch angle (animation on right) is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character. The example above should disorientate you. Camera movement Composers of films also use camera movement to shape meaning. The following are some examples of common camera movements and how they can be used to shape meaning in films. A crane shot (animation on right) is often used by composers of films to signify the end of a film or scene. The effect is achieved by the camera being put on a crane that can move upwards A tracking shot and a dolly shot (animation on right) have the same effect. A tracking shot moves on tracks and a dolly shot is mounted on a trolley to achieve the effect in the example above. This camera movement is used in a number of ways but is most commonly used to explore a room such as a restaurant. By using a tracking shot or a dolly shot the composer of a film gives the viewer a detailed tour of a situation. It can also be used to follow a character. Panning (animation on right) is used to give the viewer a panoramic view of a set or setting. This can be used to establish a scene Others An Evangelion shot (animation on right) is derived from the popular anime series ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’. This camera movement begins as an extreme close-up and zooms out abruptly, creating a blurring effect to emphasise the speed and size of the object Lighting Lighting is a very important aspect for shaping meaning in films. What kind of atmosphere is created in a room lit by candles? Have you ever heard of mood lighting? A room that is brightly lit by neon lights might seem to be sterile or a shadowy room might be eerie or scary. The lighting technicians in a film crew have the task of creating lighting to suit the mood and atmosphere of each scene in a film. Consider the animations Lighting example one, Lighting example two, Lighting example three and think about what type of atmosphere is created in each. For each example, do you think the lighting suits the characters in the frames? For instance, in Example Three the two people are very happy and the scene is lit brightly. What would be the effect on the atmosphere if the lighting were dark and shadowy, similar to Example Two? Remember that lighting is used in still image visual texts as well as in films. Cinematography Cinematography is the combination of the techniques described in this chapter. This includes camera shots, camera angles, camera movement and lighting. Use the term cinematography to group all of these together, for example, ‘The cinematography in that film was exceptional. ‘ Mise en Scene Mise en scene refers to all the objects and characters in a particular frame. More specifically, it refers to the composition of the frame. When you use the term mise en scene, you are discussing where the composer or director has placed all the elements of the scene within the frame.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Sociology 100 Final Exam

Chapter 8 Sex Distinction – the biological distinction between females and males. Incest Taboo – a norm forbidding sexual relations or marriage between certain relatives. 1960 Birth Control – New technology also played a part in the sexual revolution. The birth control pill, introduced in 1960, not only prevented pregnancy but also made sex more convenient. Premarital Sex – sexual intercourse before marriage – among young people. Sexual Orientation – a person’s romantic and emotional attraction to another person.Homophobia – discomfort over close personal interaction with people thought to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Prostitution – the selling of sexual service. 90k Reported Rapes – more than 90,000 women each year report to the police that they have been raped. Uneven Enforcement – enforcement of prostitution laws is uneven at best, especially when it comes to who is and is not likely to be arrested. Abor tion – the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. Chapter 9 Decent Values – Elijah Anderson explains that in poor urban neighborhoods, most people manage to conform to conventional or â€Å"decent† values.Stigma – a powerfully negative label that greatly changes a person’s self-concept and social identity. Social Inequality – who or what is labeled deviant depends on which categories of people hold power in a society. Corporate Crime – the illegal actions of a corporation or people acting on its behalf. *Arrest of Women – couldn’t find a fact to define this one! Victimless Crimes – violations of law in which there are no obvious victims. High Risk – people with high arrest rates are also at higher risk of being victims of crime.Due Process – the idea that the criminal justice system should operate under the rule of law – guides the actions of police, court officials, and corrections officers. Decline of Executions – as a public concern about the death penalty has increased, the use of capital punishment has declined, falling from 74 executions in 1997 to 37 in 2008. No Elimination of Crime – criminal justice system cannot eliminate crime. Chapter 10 Structural Social Mobility – a shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts.Ideology – cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality. Socioeconomic Status – a composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality. Conspicuous Consumption – buying and using products because of the â€Å"statement† they make about social position. Davis-Moore Thesis – states not only that social stratification is universal but also that it is necessary to make society highly productive. Chapter 11 Median Income – a recent survey of families by the Federal Reserve found that median wealth for minority families.Upper Class – many upper-class people are business owners, executives in large corporations, or senior government officials. Marriage Age: 26/28 – the average age at marriage has moved upward four years (to 25. 6 years for women and 27. 5 years for men). Feminization of Poverty – the trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor. Homeless Mentally Ill: 25% – One-third of homeless people are substance abusers, and one-fourth is mentally ill. Chapter 12 High-Income Countries – the nations with the highest overall standards of living.Global Stratification – the full extent of global stratification reflects both differences among countries and internal stratification. 100 Million Kids Black-market – 100 million of the world’s children are orphaned or have left their families altogether, sleeping and living on the streets as best they can or perhaps tryi ng to migrate to the US. Modernization Theory – a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations.