Consequences And Effects Of The No Child Left Behind Act

In 2002, the No Child Left Behind act, was made into a law by President Bush. The Act required states to develop assessments in basic skills, and to turn these assessments over to the government to receive funding for their school. This law implemented standardized test that all students needed to take. Many teachers felt that their teaching ability was being based off these test scores. Teachers should not be evaluated on their students performance on exams. The No Child Left Behind act emerged as a result of a massive increase in the costs of schools, while failing to show an improvement in their students performances. (Paterson 32) Since these standardized test have been in effect teachers have been judged off them. The problem is that†¦show more content†¦(Popham 8) Standardized test provide a misrepresentation of how effective a teacher is. (Popham 8) Standardized tests were established to help determine what level a student is on, so they can focus on his or her difficulties and help them become better students. (Popham 9) The way they accomplish this is by comparing each students grade to the national sample of students of the same age and grade level. (Popham 9) These tests are most useful in determining a students strengths and weaknesses, but should not be used to judge the teacher on their effectiveness. (Popham 10) A main issue why you cannot judge a teacher based off their students test scores is because some factors are out of their control. In any classroom across the world there are some students who are smarter than others. (Popham 13) Some can be excellent at math, while others can exceed in science. (Popham 13) A teacher can give over a lesson in a clear and succinct way but there will always be students who do not do well. (Popham 13) Recent thinking among leading educators suggest that there are various forms of intelligence, and a child who is born with less classroom skills may possess other abilities that will not be shown by a test. (Popham 13) For a student as such, a teacher is limited in finding a successful approach to help them gain a high test score. A portion of the standardized test material, is testing what is learned outside of a classroom. (Popham 13)Show MoreRelatedThe Ramifications of Government Reform on Education Essay1354 Words   |  6 Pagesan education in America. However, government acts like No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Common Core curriculums have been put into effect in order to reverse America’s position. They are best understood as tools to bridge the achievement gap regardless of what a child may look like, sound like, or what part of the nation they come from. These programs are designed to help all children excel in school no matter what. Even though the No Child Left Behind Act significantly increased the average performanceRead MoreEssay On No Child Left Behind1333 Words   |  6 PagesHook: â€Å"I used to love teaching,† said Steve Eklund, a retired California teacher. â€Å"Four words drove me into retirement—No Child Left Behind. I could no longer tend to the needs and wants of my students. All I was supposed to do was to get them ready to take tests.† Intro (with thesis): The surviving NCLB mindset of standardized tests being an accurate measure of a students achievement is a problem because it affects our student’s education and increases performance pressure on teachers. WhatRead MoreNclb Political Issues1439 Words   |  6 Pages Political issues involved in No Child Left Behind Performance Task 1 In Partial Fulfillment of AP Seminar Exam Introduction The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was introduced March 22 2001, and enacted January 8th 2002. NCLB was enacted after the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 was determined to be out of date, and underperforming by the majority of US legislatures. The goal of NCLB was to improve the overall success rate of students in The United StatesRead MoreSpecial Education Policy. Morgan Gill. Grand Canyon University.1284 Words   |  6 Pageshad an influential effect on policy in special education. Some of these changes have left a positive legacy for future education legislators to build from while others have been detrimental to a student’s educational success. All having positive and negative outcomes, some of these changes impacting education include the National Institute of Child and Human Development, Education for All Handicapped Children Act, No Child Left Behind Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Act. The reforms listedRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Act80 9 Words   |  3 PagesThe No Child Left behind Act (NCLB) has not had a positive impact on students school age students throughout senior year. â€Å"The Waiver means that schools will not be required to have 100% of students pass the state exams by 2014†. This allows studets o continue on to the next grade level without suffient test scores and compleion. (f the student is not excelling and grasping the information they should not be passed on to the next level . This is how so many developmental delays are missed, the systemRead MoreThe No Child Left Behind Act 2001880 Words   |  4 PagesThe Intent of the No Child Left Behind Act 2001 The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act aim was to ensure all children receive fair and equal access to a high-quality education. It aims was to establish common standards that bridge the achievement gaps between students with disabilities, disadvantaged — high-and-low performing students and ethnic minority, and more advantaged students— non-minority students in reading, math, and science by the year 2014 (Angervil, 2015). It had a strong emphasis on statesRead MoreNo Child Left Behind Act Of 20011019 Words   |  5 PagesNo Child Left Behind- Is It Working Veolia White English 1302 Professor: Sandy Jordan February 27, 2015 The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed into law by President Bush on Jan 8, 2002, was a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education act, which included Title 1, the government’s flagship aid program for disadvantage students. Many educators were excited about NCLB when it was first signed into law. Test scores were improving. The test scores of minority students have improvedRead MoreThe Importance Of Testing For Children s Learning Essay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesof students’ capacity and then attaches huge consequences to that limited information. Testing used as a diagnostic or summary instrument for children’s learning can be a helpful tool. It is harmful, however, to use students’ test scores as a lever to drive educational improvement. This use of testing is ill-advised because, as described below, it has demonstrably failed to achieve its intended goal, and it has potent negative, unintended consequences. Since NCLB became law in 2002, students mayRead MoreNclb America s Achievement Gap1347 Words   |  6 PagesNCLB America’s Achievement Gap The No Child left Behind Act was intended to close the achievement gap in elementary and secondary schools by allowing each and every student the opportunity to have the best education possible. This law was signed by George W. Bush in 2001 who described it as a law that will, â€Å"Ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education†(Neill 2). The No Child Left Behind Act was only intended to help the students, butRead MoreEssay on Is NCLB Necessary?1369 Words   |  6 Pages The No Child Left Behind act is a nationwide legal system that is considered to improve our education system. The NCLB act improves our education system by setting a standard for each school to meet (a required academic standard), hire high quality teachers, improve communication with parents, and provide a safe environment for the students. However after the NCLB act took effect, not much was accomplished. Now many question whether the NCLB is really necessary. The No Child Left Behind’s purpose

Creative Writing Term Paper Dumb Luck By Kartikeya Kumar...

Creative Writing Term Paper (A Short Story) Dumb Luck By Kartikeya Kumar Jain (2014B4A7913G) It was a steamy, blazing hot day of July. The sun was beating down on the pedestrians like an angry vengeful god. Allen dreaded the heat. His clothes were wet with sweat from perspiration. It was the worst time to be stuck on a highway with a broken car. But oddly enough he was quite happy. He almost decided to just sit there for the rest of day. A hot day of summer was a welcome paradise from the days of hell he spent in jail. He contemplated walking to his home. It was still early and he would reach his home by night. â€Å"Well then, take the route passing through the next freeway. It is a busy road and the only route from the north to the city of New York† the cab driver instructed Allen. If lucky enough you can hitch a ride to the city.† â€Å"Lucky,† he smirked, whispering to himself. â€Å"With my dumb luck†. Born into poor a farming family, Allen’s life has always been one struggle after another. â€Å"It’s a family curse† Allen’s father often lamented in his increasingly infrequent moments of sobriety. â€Å"You can’t escape it†. Those words stuck with Allen for all his life. But he was a stubborn man. He never let those word get to him. He fought it, persevered and finally attained a life he could be proud of. He found work in a prestigious firm and married a caring and understanding woman. When he loosened his guard his luck struck again. He got arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. His

Domestic Terrorism free essay sample

Domestic terrorism is a real threat to this country. This type of attack is nothing new to this country but until the threat of international terrorism became prominent, there was not a large focus on domestic terrorism. With a look at history, domestic terrorists are a greater threat to security than international terrorists. Some of these threats are easily preventable and others are more difficult to see coming. The Department of Homeland Security needs to focus on domestic terrorist threats with the same effort as they do for international threats. The official definition of terrorism according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation is â€Å"the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social goals†. (Smith, 1994 p6). This definition guides how the FBI takes defines possible terrorist organizations and takes action against them. Terrorists may be left or right wing, from any religious background or any race. This is what makes identifying these groups of people very difficult. While law enforcement would like to say that a typical terrorist is a young, affluent, white male, for example, it is impossible to make that distinction. There is no profile that would fit terrorists in their entirety. It is possible for a terrorist from a certain group to fit a certain profile. A white supremacist group would have a certain type of person as a member. A black militant group would have a totally different type of person. With this being the case, it is important to identify the group of people rather than the individual. Some groups focus on a single issue such as anti-nuclear power or anti-fur trade while others call for greater changes in politics or ideology. A single, lone terrorist or small cell is the most difficult to detect and stop. In the history of this country, there have been numerous cases of domestic terrorism. Most people were unfamiliar with domestic terrorism until the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995. This is because most cases of domestic terrorism do not involve such a large loss of life. In many cases, the loss was financial and casualties were low, if any at all. Animal-rights groups have targeted fur dealers by setting fires in vehicles and buildings to destroy these businesses. The Ku Klux Klan may have killed people but the tended to do so one at a time. This does not create as much of a media buzz as a bombing that kills dozens. By doing this, some of these groups may stay out of the spotlight but in reality, they are more deadly than a single bomber. When unions were forming early in the twentieth century, there were incidences of terrorism on both sides. Strikers were attacked and factories were sabotaged. Some of these incidents resulted in the loss of life and almost all involved financial losses. Sometimes, these conflicts are taking place today. Political change is the aim of some of these groups. Communist organizations wanted to make the United States a Marxist country. Organizations also united under a common cause such as in 1981 when the Weather Underground (WU), the Black Liberation Army (BLA) and the Black Panther party united to form the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO). (Smith, 1994). This group robbed armored cars to fund operations that resulted in the deaths of security officers. A crime that is in the headlines may actually be a terrorist attack used to gain money. Law enforcement must investigate fully to find out why the crime took place. A look back in history may show that terrorists were active even during the Revolution. The Boston Tea Party was staged by colonists who were protesting taxes imposed by the English. (Les Benedict, 2006). This incident, along with others, like the burning of a revenue ship in Rhode Island, was done to effect a change in English policy towards the colonies. The English would have viewed these acts as terrorism by today’s standards. Terrorism has also taken place during the Atlanta Olympics and at an abortion clinic when Eric Rudolph planted bombs that killed and injured people. Only an alert security guard at the Olympics prevented a tragedy. A current threat of terrorism is through the use of gangs by international organizations. Al-Qaeda has been closely working with the gang Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13. MS-13 has many ways of passing security at the Mexican border and wants to make money. Al-Qaeda can use them to provide resources and people to use. (Starita, 2009). MS-13 also wishes to have an international presence and a cooperation would give them prestige. Gangs in general present a threat to homeland security and this gang is one of the largest. According to some sources, there are as many as 96,000 members and many sympathizers. (Starita, 2009). This presents a large threat with the potential of many operatives and resources in place already. As with other terrorist groups, these gangs can come together if there is a common cause that suits all of them. Responsibility for preventing terrorist incidents starts with the average citizen. Law enforcement agencies have many types of incidents to respond to and anti-terrorism is only one of them. If a person notices something suspicious such as a person buying many weapons and ammunition, looking for information on bomb-making and materials or becoming radical in their ideology, it would be extremely helpful to notify an agency for an investigation. Many times the first signs of an impending attack would be noticed by a civilian. This could be a friend, family member, coworker or a store clerk. A bystander may also notice an unattended package or suspicious person in an area. This may be just enough to ward off the attack if the police are notified promptly. A major difficulty facing law enforcement in the prevention of these incidents is working within the justice system of the United States. The police have to follow procedures and rule laid out in the Bill of Rights and subsequent laws. These laws restrict the rights of law enforcement and protect the rights of the citizens. The First Amendment gives the freedom of religion and speech and of the press. A person can go to a mosque or church that may be radical in their teachings. They may voice their radical opinions as long as it is not an outright threat. Even printed materials about their views are legal. According to the Second Amendment, a person can buy arms and ammunition legally. In order for police to obtain a search warrant, probable cause must be present. (Les Benedict, 2006). Just because a person goes to a radical mosque, a search for bomb-making materials cannot be obtained without probable cause that the materials are there. A person cannot be persecuted based on loose suspicions.

Microsoft Corporation

Introduction Founded by Gates, Microsoft Corporation is renowned as a global company specialized in the manufacture and improvement of software and computer appliances (Business day). It not only produces various software packages but also offer a wide range of computer services. Video games, operating system, personal computers and other computer applications are some of Microsoft’s products. As part of its services, the corporation educates and endorses software developer and also offers consultancy services.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Microsoft Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 1. Based in Washington, Microsoft is divided into different subdivision i.e. customer, Microsoft commerce, server and tools, online, entertainment and devices (Microsoft Corporation). Matters pertaining to consumers such as complain or comments are handled by the consumer division. Client division ensures that con sumers are well handled by carefully addressing their concerns thus maintaining satisfaction. It is responsible for making deliveries of Microsoft products to customers all over the globe. Online division plays a significant role in advertising and providing basic information about the company’s goods and processes. In addition, it links the corporation to its customers, partners and the outside world i.e. by email and web messages. The construction and marketing of hardware and entertainment devices such as video games and zune digital music is produced under entertainment and devices division (Microsoft Corporation). Server and tools sector is specifically responsible for manufacture and endorsement of products and processes. The handling of the overall business problems i.e. by providing overall business elucidation, whether financial or company’s productivity are handled by the business division. 2. In as much as the company is divided in different organizational s egments, it also has different parts with their own structures. The parts include manufacture, marketing, finance/accounting and HR. Marketing as part of the company, has different offices to begin with marketing manager followed by three underlying offices i.e. Sales manager, marketing research manager and product manager. The above three offices work alongside committed teams that ensure effectiveness and efficiency of these offices. Finance/accounting as a component of Microsoft, is headed by a finance manager followed by two offices i.e. management accountant and finance accountant in conjunction with a strong workforce.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More HR and production elements of Microsoft are headed by a HR manger and production manager respectively. The overall company’s structure takes a tree shape thus making it a hierarchical configuration. This is indicate d by many level of administration with different offices working under each level. 3. The ultimate decision makers of the company are the directors. The board is made of ten members, approved by shareholders in the company’s yearly common assembly. The team is responsible for making every final approval on actions that impact on the general company. Approvals are divided among different board committees in relation to the kind of activity i.e. auditing committee handles matters pertaining accounting, finance committee handles matters pertaining finances of the company and so on. For the management of global activities a team of sixteen bureaucrats that include persons who are responsible for sales, marketing and HR in the global perspective. Additionally, there is a staff council that handles all affairs of the company at corporate level. Management of Microsoft also includes heads of each department who are responsible for different activities at departmental level (producti on department, marketing department and so on). Production departments are specialized in the production of software and other hard ware computer products while marketing in charge of advertising Microsoft products. Finance/ accounting offices maintain records of transactions performed by the business and ensure that they are updated and safely kept. Conscription and vetting of employees are managed by the HR department which ensure that the company’s workforce meet the required standard. Microsoft uses both centralized and decentralized methods of production. This is because production of some products requires technical skills and advanced technology that can only be available in certain specific regions. On the other hand, products which do not demand technical skills and technology are produced in different locations. 4. The organization has a structure in the form of a tree commonly known as a hierarchical structure (John Dunning and Sarianna, Lundan, 238). This is becau se of its different management levels that spread through from a global level to corporate level. It adopts a hierarchical structure due to the various factors surrounding the business i.e. size, complexity, diverse products and geographical coverage. The company has many levels of management ranging from board level to corporate level i.e. management runs from the global level to continental and finally corporate level.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Microsoft Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 5. Vital decisions that affect the whole company, are decided by the board of directors in Washington based headquarter. The company has centralized staffs that perform different types of functions that affect the overall functioning of the company. Centralized staffs decide on strategy to be used in future expansion of the company i.e. introductions of new branches, new products and services. Centralized staf fs dictate on the company’s income expenditure i.e. they decide on the amount of dividend for shareholders and the amount ploughed back to the company. Additionally, they decide on the overall budget of the company; they influence the amount to be distributed in the running of their branches and the amount used in running different activities of the company. Centralized staffs manipulate and also draft rules that govern the company and also have the capacity to impose penalties on indiscipline employees. In as much as running the branches is left to branch managers, centralized staffs do approve crucial activities that directly affect the company of which I consider a fair deal. 6. Some of the decisions made by the entity are centralized while some decentralized. Decisions that affect the overall company such as budget expenditure are centrally made while the ones with fewer effects are decentralized. Decisions regarding management of the company’s branches are mostly decentralized i.e. decisions are made by branch managers. Managers and their teams can set a meeting and discuss matters concerning their branches with final decisions made. Less important decisions such as recruitment of new subordinate staffs are decentralized at corporate level. On the other hand, important decisions such as how to spend revenues, expansion of the corporation, decisions on how to raise finances and decisions on rules that govern the company is centrally made. Centrally made decisions are always carefully made since they directly influence the company’s performance either in the short run or long run. Even though, most of decentralized decisions may not be made carefully, some decisions prove to be important and should be carefully handled such as recruitment of new staff whether unskilled or skilled. Whether in the line of work or at field (companies activities), the same rules in applies in decision making. 7. Various factors including technology, strateg y, environment, life cycle and company size have profoundly influenced the company’s organizational structure (Cliffsnotes). Microsoft is an exceptionally large organization, in fact, among the world greatest companies thus making it a complex organization that can only perform under a hierarchical structure. This is because hierarchical structure subdivides a complex company to a manageable level.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Considering life cycle, Microsoft just like people, evolves and undergoes various life cycle before maturity i.e. birth, youth, middle-life and adulthood (Cliffsnotes). Microsoft like any other company was also given birth i.e. the time it was founded (1975). The second stage of growth is the youth stage, a stage where a company (Microsoft) begins to grow by expanding its operations. At this point, a company operates in a flat structure since the company’s simplicity. Youth stage is followed by middle-life, a stage where company experiences changes in its operations i.e. from a small company to a larger and more complex company. Additionally, the company experiences a change in its organizational structure by switching from a flat structure to hierarchical structure. The company also realizes a significant increase in revenue which is as a result of increased sales from an expanded business. At maturity, the final stage of growth, a company becomes less innovative with minima l expansion. This is because of the company’s exhaustion of its industry and the only remaining activity is to maintain the status in the market. At this point, a company is expected to operate in a hierarchical structure due to its complexity and. Environment, as a contingency factor, is the surroundings in which a company/organization operates (Cliffsnotes). It can either be stable or unstable/dynamic. A stable environment is considered free from environmental factors such as politics, natural calamities, socio-cultural concepts and technology. A company or organization operating in a stable environment will experience be very much productive which will influence its organizational structure from flat to hierarchical. However in an unstable environment, the business surrounding is occupied by natural calamities and politics thus rendering it unfavorable to organization. Microsoft operated in a stable environment that made it experience rapid growth in its productions and op erations making forcing it to change its organizational structure from flat to hierarchical (Snellen,  Wim and Donk, 264). Another contingency factor that affects an organization’s structure is technology. A company operating in an advanced technological environment will experience efficiency and effectiveness in its operations thus increasing its production and sales. On the contrary, an organization in a poor technological environment will be ineffective thus experience minimal production and sales. By the fact that Microsoft began its operation in United States, a country with advance technology, provided a suitable technological environment. This made Microsoft grow rapidly creating a shift of its organizational structure from flat to hierarchical. 8. For smooth running of an organization, there must be rules that govern the institution. Microsoft is a large organization, operates under legislations that should be obeyed by employees and management. The lengthiness of P rocedures in Microsoft organization depends on the nature of activities in place. Activities such as investments, expansion may undergo many procedures as opposed to ones which are less vital that undergo less procedure before approval. For example, for a merger or acquisition to be approved, it must undergo many procedures to check the viability project. Programmed robots are some of the devices that are use in the coordination of different activities of the company especially in production of computer devices. Telephones also provide a better means of communication in the company, thus maintaining the smooth running of the business. 9. Microsoft organization carries out different activities either within or without their area of operation. Although, most of its activities are specialized, it also performs other different activities such as conserving the environment. This came in handy after being rated poor in environmental conservation. Some of its environmental driven activitie s are to pioneer for tree planting and also minimize the use of plastic package. Whether the use of teams or an individual in the running of any activity will all depend on the nature of the work involved. This is for the reason that some activities are involving and demands a team for their effective running as opposed to the less involving activities. 10. Most organizations or companies under software industry operate internationally with their branches and outlets in different countries. This is because of increase in the use of computers thus leading to an increase in enterprises operating under this industry. In developed countries, enterprises operating under this industry are nationally distributed because of equal development in all regions of the country. In such countries electricity, infrastructure, technology and skill that are required in the use of computers are evenly distributed thus creating ready market for software; however, in underdeveloped countries enterprises are regionally located since most the software markets are restricted to only developed areas. This goes by the fact that development in such countries are unequally distributed rendering some areas incapable of using computers i.e. by lack of electricity, infrastructure and skill that limits software markets. Conclusion Credit must be attributed to Bill Gates as the founder of this incredible company that developed the world technologically. It is fortunate that Microsoft was formed in a suitable environment that facilitated its growth. As a result, it experienced rapid changes in its production, organization structures and operations. Though faced some criticism of not being competitive and also by being insensitive to environment, Microsoft established itself to become the greatest software producer around the globe by outshining its competitors such as apple. Works Cited Business day. Microsoft Corporation. New York Times. 2010. Web. Cliffsnotes. Factors affecting organizationa l design. Cliffsnotes. 2010.Web. John Dunning and Sarianna, Lundan. Multinational enterprises and global economies. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008 (2) 238. Microsoft Corporation, full description, Reuters, 2010. Web. Snellen Th.M. and   Van de Donk, Wim. Public administration in an information age: a  handbook. Amsterdam: IOS Press 1998 (6) 264. This essay on Microsoft Corporation was written and submitted by user Tianna Lopez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Red Flag Laws Definition

Red Flag Laws Definition Red flag laws are gun violence prevention laws that allow courts to order the temporary confiscation of firearms from persons deemed to pose a risk to others or themselves. Key Takeaways: Red Flag Laws Red flag laws are state gun violence prevention laws which allow police to confiscate firearms from persons deemed by a court to pose a risk to others or themselves.As of August 2019, 17 states and the District of Columbia had enacted red flag laws.After deadly mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Trump and a bipartisan group of Congress members have indicated their support for red flag laws. Along with gun control proposals, such as universal gun-buyer background checks, raised in the aftermath of shootings like those in Sandy Hook, Parkland, El Paso, and Dayton, demands to enact â€Å"red flag† laws have become common. As of August 2019, 17 states and the District of Columbia had enacted red flag laws. Red Flag Law Definition and Mechanics Red flag laws permit police or family members to ask a state court to order the temporary removal of all firearms from persons believed to present a danger to others or themselves. In deciding to issue such orders, known variously as Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) or Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), the courts consider the past actions and statements- including those posted on social media outlets- made by the gun owner in question. If the court decides to issue the order, the gun owner must surrender all firearms to the police for a specified period of time. In addition, the person named in the order is banned from buying or selling guns during that period. Refusing to fully comply with a red flag protective order is a criminal offense. Guns seized under the order are returned to the owner after a set period of time unless that period is extended by the court. Examples of evidence required by the courts to justify granting gun confiscation orders include: A recent act or threat of violence (involving a firearm or not)Evidence of serious mental illnessHistory of domestic violenceReckless use of a firearmEvidence of substance abuse or alcoholismSworn testimony by witnesses The specific legal provisions of red flag laws and how they are enforced vary from state to state. Are Red Flag Laws Effective? Connecticut was one of the first states to enact a red flag law in 1999. According to a 2016 study published in the journal of Law and Contemporary Problems, the 762 gun removals under Connecticuts â€Å"risk warrant† law from October 1999 through June 2013 resulted in one suicide prevented for every ten to eleven gun seizures executed. The study concluded that â€Å"enacting and implementing laws like Connecticut’s civil risk warrant statute in other states could significantly mitigate the risk posed by that small proportion of legal gun owners who, at times, may pose a significant danger to themselves or others.† Are Red Flag Laws Constitutional? Many gun-rights advocates say that red flag laws infringe on gun owners’ Second Amendment right to â€Å"keep and bear arms,† as well as their right to due process of law as provided by the U.S. Constitution. Guns, they argue, are personal property, and both the Fifth and 14th Amendments specifically provide that the government- including the courts and police- may not deprive citizens of property without due process of law. The argument is based on the fact that the court hearings held to decide if an individual poses a threat are held ex parte, meaning that the person whose guns might be temporarily confiscated is not present at the hearing. This, critics say, violates the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of the right of accused persons to a face-to-face confrontation with witnesses against them.   However, hearings on all types of restraining and protective orders are typically held ex parte out of concern for the safety of the complainant and witnesses.   Red Flag Law Debate A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in April 2018 found that 85% of registered voters nationwide support laws that would â€Å"allow the police to take guns away from people who have been found by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others.† States with red flag laws have reported similar levels of public support for the legislation. In March 2018, the National Rifle Association (NRA), which had helped defeat red flag legislation in Utah and Maryland, suggested it might be open to such laws under a strict set of conditions, including a court finding by â€Å"clear and convincing evidence that the person in question poses a significant risk of danger. Despite this statement, the NRA went on to help block red flag legislation in Arizona in 2019. In Congress, virtually all Democrats and a few Republicans are receptive to red flag laws. The day after the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, killed 31 people, President Donald Trump urged states to implement red flag laws to remove guns from â€Å"those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety.† In televised remarks from the White House on August 5, 2019, Trump stated, â€Å"We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process.† States With Red Flag Laws As of August 2019, red flag laws had been enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Twelve states enacted red flag laws after the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, left 17 dead. The states of California, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon, and Washington, had enacted red flag laws prior to 2018. The 17 states and District of Columbia (in red) that had enacted red flag gun violence prevention laws as of August 2019. Creative Commons With only slight variations, all current red flag laws allow family members and law enforcement to petition a state judge to issue ERPOs directing the confiscation of all guns from the individual they believe poses a threat to their safety. In all cases, the petitioner must present evidence of why the gun owner poses a threat to others, as well as to himself or herself. If the ERPO is granted, the named individual’s guns are confiscated and held by police for a set minimum period, after which the gun owner must prove to the court that he or she no longer poses a risk in order to get their firearms back. Here is a list of who is allowed to request the issuance of an ERPO gun removal order in each state: California: Family, household members, and law enforcementColorado: Family, household members, and law enforcementConnecticut: One state attorney or any two police officersDelaware: Family, household members, and law enforcementDistrict of Columbia: Family, household members, mental health professionals, and law enforcementFlorida: Law enforcement onlyHawaii: Family, household members, teachers, medical professionals, coworkers, and law enforcementIllinois: Family, household members, and law enforcementIndiana: Law enforcement onlyMaryland: Family, household members, certain health professionals, and law enforcementMassachusetts: Family, household members, and law enforcementNevada: Family, household members, and law enforcementNew Jersey: Family, household members, and law enforcementNew York: Family, household members, school administrators, and law enforcementOregon: Family, household members, and law enforcementRhode Island: Law enforcement onlyVermont: State attorneys or the off ice of the state attorney general only Washington: Family, household members, and law enforcement As of August 2019, the state legislatures of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina were considering red flag legislation. Federal Red Flag Gun Control Legislation In February 2019, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, introduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (S. 506), which would offer grants to assist states in developing red flag laws and make possessing a firearm in violation of a state red flag law a felony violation of federal firearms law. On August 5, 2019- the day after the El Paso and Dayton shootings- conservative Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that he would propose bipartisan legislation to encourage more states to adopt red flag laws. Sources and Further Reference Williams, Timothy (August 6, 2019). What Are Red Flag Gun Laws, and How Do They Work? New York Times.Parker, George F. (2015). Circumstances and Outcomes of a Firearm Seizure Law: Marion County, Indiana, 2006-2013. Behavioral Sciences the LawLaGrone, Katie. (July 30, 2018). More than 450 people in Florida ordered to surrender guns months after gun law took effect. WFTS Tampa Bay.Dezenski, Lauren. Trump backs red flag gun laws. What do they actually do? CNN. (August 5, 2019).Lindsey Graham pushes red flag bill to curb gun violence. Politico. (August 5, 2019).

Information and Facts About Elephant Babies

Information and Facts About Elephant Babies Elephants are interesting animals. Their size is awesome, and their strength is incredible. They are intelligent and affectionate beings. Amazingly, even with their large size, they can walk silently. You might not even notice them passing by! Fast Facts: Baby Elephants Gestation period: 18 - 22 monthsBirth weight: about 250 poundsHeight: about 3 feet tallAbout 99% of calves are born at nightCalves are born with curly black or red hair on their foreheadsCalves drink about 3 gallons of milk a day Facts About Baby Elephants A baby elephant is called a calf. It weighs about 250 pounds at birth and stands about three feet tall. Calves cant see very well at first, but they can recognize their mothers by touch, scent, and sound. Baby elephants stay very close to their mothers for the first couple of months. The calves drink their mothers milk for about two years, sometimes longer. They drink up to 3 gallons of milk a day!  At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, like adult elephants, but they continue to need as much milk from their mother. They keep drinking milk for up to ten years! At first, baby elephants dont really know what to do with their trunks. They swing them to and fro and sometimes even step on them. They will suck their trunk just as a human baby might suck its thumb. By about 6 to 8 months, calves begin learning to use their trunks to eat and drink. By the time they are a year old, they can control their trunks pretty well and, like adult elephants,  use their trunks for grasping,  eating, drinking, bathing. Female elephants stay with the herd for life, while males leave to begin a solitary life  at about 12 to 14 years of age. Elephant Babies Coloring Page (Print the PDF): Color this picture while you review the facts youve learned.   Species of Elephants For many years scientists thought that there were two different species of elephants:  Asian elephants and African elephants. However, in 2000, they began classifying African elephants into two distinct species, the African savanna  elephant and the African forest elephant. Elephant Vocabulary Worksheet (Print the PDF): Discover more about elephants by  with this vocabulary worksheet. Look up each word in a dictionary or online. Then, write the correct word on the blank line beside each definition. Elephant Word Search (Print the PDF): See how well you remember what you learned about elephants. Circle each word as you find it hidden among the letters in the word search. Refer to the worksheet for any terms whose meaning you dont remember.   African savanna  elephants live in the area of Africa below the Sahara desert. African forest elephants live in the rain forests of Central and West Africa.  The elephants that live in the African forest have smaller bodies and tusks than those that live on the savannas. Asian elephants live in the scrub and rain forests of Southwest Asia, India, and Nepal. Elephant Habitat Coloring Page (Print the PDF):  Review what youve learned about elephant Habitats. Distinguishing Between Asian and African Elephants There are many similarities between Asian and African elephants, but there are simple ways to distinguish one from the other. African elephants have much larger ears that seem to be shaped like the continent of Africa. They need large ears to cool off their bodies on the hot continent of Africa. Asian elephants ears are smaller and more rounded. African Elephant Coloring Page (Print the PDF) There is also a distinct difference in the shape of Asian and African elephants heads. Asian elephants heads are smaller than an African elephants head and have a double-dome shape. Both male and female African elephants can grow tusks, though not all do. Only male Asian elephants grow tusks. Asian Elephant Coloring Page (Print the PDF) The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant. Asian elephants live in jungle habitats. Its entirely different than the deserts of Africa. Water and vegetation are more plentiful in the jungle. So Asian elephants do not need wrinkled skin to trap moisture or large ears to fan their bodies. Even the trunks of Asian and African elephants are different. African elephants have two finger-like growths on the tip of their trunks; Asian elephants only have one. Elephant Family Coloring Page (Print the PDF): Do you think you can tell African and Asian elephants apart? Are these African elephants or Asian elephants? What are the identifying features? Elephant Diet Coloring Page (Print the PDF): All elephants are plant  eaters (herbivores). Adult elephants eat about 300 pounds of food a day. It takes a long time to find and eat 300 pounds of food. They spend 16 to 20 hours a day eating! Updated by Kris Bales

Trends in Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trends in Organizational Behavior - Essay Example Ben Bernanke, the famous economist and current chairman of the board of governors of the Fed is constantly pursuing his current strategy (Lowenstein, 2008). He hasn’t considered the potential threat to the country of facing a major break down in terms of a great depression as was in the horrible recession of 1970s (Fortune, 2008). Several other economists challenge Bernanke on his loose monetary policy and are of the view that the opportunity cost of maintain this trend far much a higher than if we accept to sustain a small tightening to fight back the hikes in inflation and to avoid a shocking recession of the economy (Lowenstein, 2008). The various indices and statistics have further depicted a picture acknowledging a similar result that might be faced by America, if this continues. The dollar has been facing constant depreciation against various currencies of the world including Euro as the most threatening element in terms of trade. The purchasing power is reducing, though export s show a positive growth, the prices of import continue to climb up, thus burdening the foreign reserves day by day. This issue is not only the cause of the rising oil prices but due to the change in priorities and trends in spending. People are hesitant to save and thus consume more than they can and/or they should. This in turn is gradually rusting the economy and exhausting its credit line. The Fed is now considering the threats and is now putting controls on the dollar to regulate and fix its devaluation and monitor the soaring inflation. The article is relevant to the organizational behavior in term of the effects that it has on the economy. With such unproductive conditions, the employees are confused and face the threat of losing their jobs. They want to have more in terms of salaries/wages and/or compensations due to the

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's speech Research Paper

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's speech - Research Paper Example   The present research has identified that the goal of Dr. King’s speech is to unite his African American audience with the dominant culture thereby implementing cultural change. In the 17 minutes speech delivered by the Nobel peace prize winner, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; he called for the end to racial segregation and discrimination. The word ‘negro’ in the second paragraph is associated with a history of slavery, discrimination, and injustice. When he refers to the state of Mississippi, which is the worst example of racism, he is identifying with his African-American audience. The South again is infamous as slavery was institutionalized there. When Dr. King says †I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the word red creates the image of blood, implying pain, hurt and suppression. â€Å"Quest for freedom†-again for the African American community to identify with- so that a new day/hope dawns. â€Å"Battered by the s torms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality† and â€Å"Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one† are easily identified by the â€Å"America’s citizens of color†. â€Å"The veterans of creative suffering† also refer to his African American audience. The masterpiece speech is the best example of rhetoric in the twentieth century. Dr. King calls the dominant culture ‘whites’.  

Imperialism from 1700 to 1900 Essay Example for Free

Imperialism from 1700 to 1900 Essay From 1700 to 1900, the world was expanding. Many countries took on a expansionism type known as imperialism. Countries such as England used the British East India Company to conquer parts of Asia. America used imperialism to spread their rule westward, known as Manifest Destiny. They both used this tactic as migration. During these encounters, many factors stayed the same, but also differed in some ways. In the 19th century, the Americas were finally free of British control, and decided to spread their nation westward, past the Appalachian mountains to the pacific ocean. These people who traveled were called pioneers, exploring the frontier of America. Along the way, they came across Native American civilizations and tribes. Although the Native Americans were welcoming, the pioneers took advantage of them, through their resources. They eventually lead to the endangerment of the buffalo. They depleted many other of their resources, which caused the Native Americans and pioneers to attack one another. Battles such as Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee massacre are just two known ones. The pioneers ended up killing off many of the natives, which was known as the French and Indian war, and although many Native Americans still survived those attacks, to this day most of them are force to live on reservations. The Americans then started giving away land in the midwest, that used to be owned by these tribes. The Homestead Act encouraged people to go out west and take land given by the government. The land was typically 100 plus acres. The British initially entered India in the 18th century with the East India Company with the sole thought of its trading and financial benefits. By the beginning of the 19th century, however, ulterior motives started to appear. The British were, technically, the ruling governors of India, but before then, had only been concerned with making money. Now, however, the British began trying to expand their territory and the idea of responsible trusteeship came about. The British, along their conquests, destroyed much of Indian culture and replaced it with their own. The British did however, like the idea of the caste system in separating the people, and so let that remain in tack to remain in control of the population. India became a major trade hub in Asia due to this. British rule also modernized India, bring new  technologies and such there, known as cultural diffusion. And so, the Natives had to stay on their reservations while America expanded. America continued their idea of Manifest Destiny all the way to the Pacific. As for the British, the Indian culture was destroyed and changed to the British way of life.

Fifth Generation Computers :: Technology Computer Essays

Fifth Generation Computers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ever since computers first came into production, they have been evolving. The Commodore 64 and Apple computers have dominated the very first computer market. Today, there are many companies in the computer industry fighting for technology supremacy. And since the beginning, every new generation of computers has dominatedover the old ones. When they first came out, each jump in technology took awhile, but nowadays, the technology changes daily. Fifth generation computers are overall much better than the previous generation. The computer has progressed in many ways, but the most important improvement is the speed and operating capabilities. It was only around 6 years ago when a 386 DX2 processor was the fastest and most powerful CPU in the market. This processor could do a plethora of small tasks and still not be working to hard. Around 2-3 years ago, the Pentium came out, paving the way for new and faster computers. Intel was the most proficient in this area and came out with a range of processors from 66 MHz-166 Mhz. These processors are also now starting to become obsolete. Todays computers come equipped with 400-600 Mhz processors that can multi-task at an alarming rate. Intel has just started the release phase of it’s new Pentium III-800MHz processor. Glenn Henry is quoted to say â€Å"Megahertz is all people care about† and this is too true. Sys Technology recently came out with what they claim as the â€Å"fastest commercially available PC†. This computer runs at an astonishing 1000 Mhz or 1 Ghz. This computer is appropriately named the Cold-Fusion 1000 due to the KryoTech refrigeration unit that runs coolant through a pipe over the CPU to keep it at a cool -40 degrees Celsius. This computer is made for graphics creators and â€Å"ultra serious gamers†. This super computer will be available at the end of November for a steep price of $4299 American. Even as we speak, a new form opf processor is coming out that uses an Itanium chip made by Intel. But don’t expect it anytime soon, â€Å"Itanium won’t be relevant for PC’s until 2003 at the earliest, more likely 2005.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next major improvement is the memory of a computer. This includes the hard drive and the RAM. During the same generation as the 386, there was also the hard drive and RAM. But these two components were not much then. The hard drive was about 100-300 megabytes and the RAM was about 4 megabytes.

Health Status and Health Care Services in the United Kingdom

Health Status and Health Care Services in the United Kingdom with comparison to the United States HSM-310 Introduction to Health Services Management Course Project Date submitted: 10/18/2009 Table of Contents Executive Summary Population and Health Status†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Demographic characteristics of population Mortality, Infant mortality data, causes of death *Availability of Health Services* Basic organization/general description of services institutions, providers of care Issues related to access Utilization of services (data, if available) Other related information/analysis Expenditures How are health services paid for; any roles for the government here Data on total expenditures *Macro environmental influences on the health care system* Public Private *Summary comments* Problems Opportunities Other related comments regarding this country's health care services Comparison to the United States: what works better, what is not working as well†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Concluding comments: Lessons learned for the U. S. , other countries†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Bibliography (required)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Executive Summary The United Kingdom’s population is growing and the people are living longer, this could be due to the fact that healthcare is free and people are using it when they need it and not waiting to see a doctor when they can afford it. However, with the growing size of the population the cost of healthcare is rising and the need for funding the tax financed health plan needs to be reformed. Hopefully by seeing what other countries use to have a successful health care plan the UK can implement some of their ideas with their own and ucceed at having an efficient and effective health plan that delivers the highest quality of health care. Population and Health Status in the United Kingdom The Office of National Statistics reported that the population in the United Kingdom (UK) was 61. 4 million people in mid-2008, which is a 408,000 increase from the year before. The rise in population over the past 12 months is not due to migration but to the increased number of birth s and the decreased number in deaths (ONS, 2008). It seems that the people in the UK are living longer and leading healthier lifestyles than in the past. The life expectancy at the time of birth for males is 76. 52 years and 81. 63 for females, and the infant mortality rate is 4. 85 deaths per 1000 births (Flag Counter, 2009). Below are the top ten leading causes of death in the United Kingdom: Ischemic heart disease Lower Respiratory infections Cerebrovascular disease Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Colon and rectum cancers Breast Cancer Alzheimer and other dementias Prostate Cancer 10. Lymphomas, multiple myeloma (WHO,2009) Here in the US we share many of these leading causes except for Lymphomas and Prostate cancer, we add traffic accidents and diabetes mellitus. I would assume this is because Americans drive more than the British and that the general population of the US is overweight, which is a leading cause of diabetes. The US and the UK share nearly the same life expectancy and the infant mortality rate is a bit higher here in the US. Overall the US and the UK share little difference when it comes to life expectancy, infant mortality and the leading causes of death. Availability of Services The UK has a National Health Service (NHS) that is a publicly funded health care service. The NHS is divided into two different sections: primary and secondary care. The primary care section consists of General practice physicians, dentists, optometrists and pharmacist, the primary care section is referred to as the Primary Care Trust (PCT). The Secondary section is made up of acute or elective healthcare options, such as emergency and urgent care, ambulance and surgery, these acute services are referred to as NHS trusts. The PCT oversees around 29,000 GP’s and 18,000 dentists, there are around 175 acute NHS trusts, 60 mental health NHS trusts and 1600 NHS trusts hospitals. Emergency vehicles are also provided by an NHS ambulance services trusts; there are 11 of these ambulance services trust in England (NHS, 2009). The healthcare facilities are basically the same as they are here in the US; there are hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. The main concern with the access of healthcare in the UK is the waiting times to be seen by a specialist after being referred by a primary physician. In England the wait time is around 18 weeks to see a specialist. Many patients in the UK have said that there is difficulty in accessing GP on the weekends or after-hours as well. As with other nations the UK also has a shortage of healthcare workers which increases the wait times and the quality of care that patients are receiving. The main focus of the NHS is to provide the highest quality of care as well as decreasing the wait times and adding more healthcare facilities. Expenditures The NHS was built on the ideal that healthcare should be provided to everyone regardless of wealth. With the exception of charges for some prescriptions and optical and dental services, the NHS remains free at the point of use for anyone who is resident in the UK. It covers everything from antenatal screening and routine treatments for coughs and colds to open heart surgery, accident and emergency treatment and end-of-life care. The NHS is a tax financed healthcare system, the public pays a higher tax for their healthcare to be free. The Department of Health much like that in the US, oversees the NHS. All employees of the NHS are government employees and are by paid by the government. There is a very small private sector of healthcare in the UK and if you either be seen by an NHS physician or by a private physician whom you would pay out-of-pocket to see. The responsibility for health legislation and policy rests in the hands of the government at the Parliament of Westminster. The treasury/finance ministry set a budget and that determines what share of government receipt will be used to finance the healthcare system. The budget is done in three year cycles. In 2004 the total healthcare expenditure in the UK was 101 billion pounds the funding for NHS alone was 86. 6 billion pounds. The expenditure on healthcare is continually rising. Here in the US the healthcare system is privately funded through grants, donations and fees for service. We pay insurance to cover our healthcare costs or we pay out of pocket for the services. There has been some concern on whether or not the UK NHS system will continue to work, taxes will need to increase and there will need to be more funding. There is a push to have a mixed system that is both private and public. *Macro environmental *Influences There is a common problem with the migrant jump to the UK to take advantage of the healthcare and the citizens are footing the bill. The need for funding for NHS is rising and there is concern on how they are going to continue to pay for the services. The UK is in need of a plan to implement a privately funded healthcare service alongside the tax financed service. Implement co-pays on some of the services that are provided and take into consideration the benefits of including the private sector. Summary Overall the UK has a well implemented plan for their healthcare services, the problems that they face are the same that are faced by many other countries, from funding to the quality and the accessibility of services. In comparison to the US the UK faces many of the same issues, the shortage of healthcare professionals to the need for reform. The universal health care plan has worked for the UK and the private plan has worked for the US in the past but now there needs to be changes made because of the rising cost of healthcare in both countries. The UK is learning that there is a need for change and that by seeing other countries such as the US use private health insurance plans they can create some kind of balance. Bibliography

Monologue for Aunt Reed on her deathbed

How dare she turn up? This is my house. My house! She just appears as though nothing had happened. Out of pity perhaps. Maybe out of guilt. The return to Gateshead Hall can only be out of pity. It is the only logical reason. Why else would she return to me? She is mocking me. I cannot stand for this. I must get rid of her. I cannot let Jane see me like this. I am weak and she is strong. Yet I am still the ruler of this house. I ought to send her to the Red Room. She has not contacted me for several years and turns up as I am lying on my deathbed. It is a mockery. She wants to see me die and suffer. I do not feel guilty for what I did to her when she was younger and why should I? I should only feel guilty for the death of my beloved son John. Maybe I should call for Eliza or Georgiana to remove my husband's niece from the premises. I want nothing to do with Jane. And surely she is only here to confirm my death and try to stake a claim in the Gateshead Hall! Jane Eyre is a money grabber. She only wants the inheritance. But I will leave it all to Eliza and Georgiana. Jane Eyre is devious. She can barely remember my face and features. She wants to see a familiar figure but she is not welcome here. It is a happy feature that time quells the longings of vengeance and hushes the promptings of rage and aversion. She had left me in bitterness and hatred, and she came back to her now with no other emotion other than pity for her great sufferings, and a strong yearning to forget and forgive all injuries – to be reconciled and clasp hands in amity. My stern eyes can not be taken of that cunning woman, Jane Eyre. I closely watch her movements as she tries to engage in conversation with me. I want nothing to do with it. She must hate me after I used to lock her in the Red Room which she is terrified of. Then maybe she has come to pay her respects to me and just to see me one last time, before I have gone away to a better place, where we rich and religious people go. At least I can finally clear my conscience of Jane Eyre. I took my hand away, and, made my face turn rather from Jane; I made a remark that the night was warm. Again I went to regard Jane so icily, I felt at once that my opinion of Jane – my feeling towards her – were unchanged and unchangeable. I know by my stony eye – opaque to tenderness, indissoluble to tears – that I am resolved to consider Jane bad to the last; because to believe Jane good would give me no generous pleasure: only a sense of mortification. I had to think that Jane had a dreadful life away from Gateshead and that we are the best thing that has ever happened to her. Jane has only returned to see me swallow my pride and take a step back. She may have come to see Eliza and Georgiana but that is far from the truth. There is more to it. She is hiding something. She is not telling us what she wants. She has not told us where she has been these past several years but she only wants to know about us. I must keep Eliza and Georgiana away from Jane. Poison, she is. That rat has returned for herself. She is trying to keep her conscience clean, but is far from it. Her violent behaviour made her seem as though she is an animal. We do not tolerate animals in this household. She belongs under a rock. I have such a passionate hatred for Jane Eyre. Although this is now perhaps the time to forgive and forget as these are my last few moments with her. I shall engage in conversation with her for one last time before I leave this world and enter the next for I am surely going to Heaven as I have never sinned and am the model citizen. I opened my mouth. The dry crust around my mouth crumbled and dropped to the floor, my voice was crackly, my breathing thin and my mouth extremely dry for I could barely swallow my own saliva. My crackly voice came out, and there was a pin drop silence across Gateshead. Jane is trying to listen and etched closer towards me. Saliva crawled out of my mouth, almost as if it had more life than me. Jane screeched the chair across the wooden floor. I went to lash out at her, an uncontrollable fit. Eliza came into the room to control me. She pinned me down and forced water down my throat. Georgiana entered the room and stood on the side of my bed. She looked disgusted with me. Eliza had a firm look in her eye. She was upset with Georgiana. They began screaming at each other. They could not even look each other in the eye. How could I leave my family like this? They will be frowned upon by God and they will separate themselves from each other. My time is to surely be up within the next few days. If it is not the feud between my own daughters, Eliza and Georgiana, that killed me, it would be the fact that my husband's favourite niece was sitting beside me, acting all innocent, not actually caring if I die or not. I had to get Eliza, Georgiana and Jane away from me. It is torture. The squabbling is driving me mad. The lamp faded as did the life within me. I am getting weaker. The flame is slowly dying out. I decided to drown out the sound of the women and began to think of John. Oh, if he is here right now, it would make me feel much better. He is the light in my life. The fabric of the family. And how this family has collapsed without him. I am now leaving this all behind. I shall meet my husband and begin my new life.

The Renaissance essays

The Renaissance essays Lives of Women in the Renaissance The renaissance began a momentous time in the history of Western Europe. Many new forms and styles of arts, literature, and customs emerged during this period. Economic, social, and cultural changes affected the lives of everyone. Particularly the role of women in society was affected. There were four categories that women were labeled to, wives, mothers, widows and daughters. Within each of these branches, certain duties were always expected of them. Jacob Burckhardt once wrote, to understand the higher forms of social intercourse in this period, we must keep before our minds the fact that women stood on a footing of perfect equality with men.. It is a widely known fact that this in no way was true. Inequalities between men and women have always affected society. Men were constantly gaining up on women and spoke of them with contempt. They believed that woman was more sinful than man. This belief goes back to original sin when Eve had been seduc ed by the devil. Eves actions made men assume that women deserved to suffer. However, the Renaissance helped to narrow the gap between the two sexes. All women whether they are of noble blood, a shopkeepers sister, or a farm workers daughter, were placed on a higher pedestal then they had expected during this time. Womens positions in society had effects on the Renaissance period just as great as any mans. Noble women dont appear to have a hard life, but when you look between the lines they have it just as rough as any other women of that time. From the beginning, young women were required to learn the basic household skills that they would be expected to execute as wives and mothers. These women did perform textile work, but they did it for luxury, they did not actually need the items they would make. They would use gold thread in their tapestries instead of common cotton. Other domestic skills consisted of embroid...

Teenage Pregnancy Pact - Teens Choose to Become Pregnant

Teenage Pregnancy Pact - Teens Choose to Become Pregnant Adult women old enough to have teenagers dont get it. But their teenage daughters do. Teen pregnancy has evolved from a shameful situation to a symbol of status in many high schools in the US, and moms of teenage daughters have seen this happen in their lifetimes. The June 2008 allegation that a teenage pregnancy pact may have existed at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts - resulting in 17 pregnancies in a school of 1200 students - rocked a town that counts among its residents a large Catholic population. The previous year, the school had only 4 student pregnancies in comparison. Of the girls who were pregnant at the time, none were older than 16. TIME magazine, which broke the story on their website on June 18, 2008, reported: School officials started looking into the matter as early as October after an unusual number of girls began filing into the school clinic to find out if they were pregnant. By May, several students had returned multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and on hearing the results, some girls seemed more upset when they werent pregnant than when they were, Sullivan says. All it took was a few simple questions before nearly half the expecting students, none older than 16, confessed to making a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together. Then the story got worse. We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy, the principal says, shaking his head. Teenage pregnancy is only part of the issue. Another more complicated aspect touches on legal and criminal issues - statutory rape and Romeo and Juliet laws (consensual sex between older and younger teens.) Engaging in sex with anyone under the age of 16 is a crime in Massachusetts. And as a June 2008 Reuters story revealed, a handful of the fathers are adults: ...[L]ocal officials said at least some of the men involved in the pregnancies were in their mid-20s, including one man who appeared to be homeless. Others were boys in the school.Carolyn Kirk, mayor of the port city 30 miles northeast of Boston, said authorities are looking at whether to pursue statutory rape charges. Were at the very early stages of wrestling with the complexities of this problem, she said.  But we also have to think about the boys. Some of these boys could have their lives changed. They could be in serious, serious trouble even if it was consensual because of their age not from what the city could do but from what the girls families could do, she told Reuters. And the teen pregnancies at Gloucester High School raise yet another hot-button topic - the idea of schools providing contraception. The Reuters article indicated that during the course of the school year, Gloucester High administered 150 pregnancy tests to students but, in a phone interview with Greg Verga, chairman of the Gloucester School Committee, discovered that the administration resisted efforts to prevent pregnancy: The school forbids the distribution of condoms and other contraception without parental consent a rule that prompted the schools doctor and nurse to resign in protest in May.But even if we had contraceptives, that pact shows that if they wanted to get pregnant, they will get pregnant. Whether we distribute contraceptives is irrelevant, said Verga . As parents agonized over what had happened in their town to their teenage daughters and were puzzled by a large number of pregnant girls, others understood why what was once a shunned condition now seems glamorous. Part of it may have to do with teen pregnancy films such as, which some have said glosses over the very real problems teenage moms face in favor of a hip Hollywood version of life as a baby mama. And part of it is rooted in the socialization of young girls and teens. Books, films and music bombard teens with the message that being loved are what really matters. For teens unsure about themselves and their relationships, the desire for some form of unconditional love leads many to think motherhood will satisfy that longing. As the TIME article observed: Amanda Ireland, who graduated from Gloucester High on June 8, thinks she knows why these girls wanted to get pregnant. Ireland, 18, gave birth her freshman year and says some of her now pregnant schoolmates regularly approached her in the hall, remarking how lucky she was to have a baby. Theyre so excited to finally have someone to love them unconditionally, Ireland says. I try to explain its hard to feel loved when an infant is screaming to be fed at 3 a.m. Sources: Kingsbury, Kathleen. Pregnancy Boom at Gloucester High.TIME.com, 18 June 2008.Szep, Jason. Teen pregnancy pact shocks Massachusetts city. Reuters.com, 19 June 2008.

Australian organisations must adopt sustainability reporting in the 21 Essay

Australian organisations must adopt sustainability reporting in the 21 century - Essay Example However, the companies do not need to follow any standard reporting frameworks. Each industry faces varied external issues which are considered as significant to its operations (Hubbard, 2011). It can be stated that the companies are pressurised to disclose the non-financial information because of several market mechanism. These market drivers are found in numerous ethical, social as well as environmental investment funds that have given rise to sustainability reporting (Vormedal & Ruud, 2009). There are many reasons behind the companies’ disclosing sustainability reporting. They intend to persuade the non-stakeholders regarding the impacts of the performance of the company and strategies applied by it to stimulate the performance. The objective of sustainability reporting is to inform the shareholders regarding the fact that how well the company is handling with non-financial as well as financial risks. It also permits the company to recognize the areas of potential risks and evaluate its performance. Most of the companies prefer mandatory reporting since it sets up methods and structures for comprehending influences and risks which were not stated previously by the other organisations. It also offers institutional investors with the capability to avail the information on non-financial risks which further permits them to have better knowledge regarding the overall firm. Transparency and accountability to the stakeholders is promoted when companies tend to disclose sustainability reporting (Kolk, 2004). According to the views of Kolk, the main reasons behind sustainability reporting are to increase a company’s capability to keep track of the developments against particular targets. It tends to help in the proper implementation of the environmental strategy. It is proper sustainability reporting that creates awareness regarding the environmental issues in the organisation. Most of the companies try to focus more upon the sustainability reporting since it

Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example This type of leadership employs the principle of "management by exception", which simply means that if something is operating to expectations, it needs no further attention. However, when expectations are exceeded, a citation is conferred; disciplinary or corrective sanctions are applied for performance below expectations. Transactional Leadership is therefore a contingency-based management style where reward or punishment is dependent on performance (Changing Minds.org, 2009). Transformational leadership on the other hand presupposes leadership by inspiration. Vision and passion are incumbent upon the leader in order to engage followers. Enthusiasm and energy are the fuel by which the leader-follower relationship thrives on. Transformative leaders create followers, by carefully building trust through personal integrity, which is a decisive element of the relationship. "Transformational leaders sell themselves as well as the vision." (Changing Minds.org, 2009) The great English statesman, orator and journalist Winston Churchill exhibited the dominant traits of a transformative leader. His fortitude and resolve helped propped the British nation and the Allied forces in the face of relentless and aggressive of the German-led Axis alliance during the Second World War.

Concerns Regarding Both the Understanding and the Use of Culture Essay

Concerns Regarding Both the Understanding and the Use of Culture - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the world economy has grown in recent years. International trade has been the motivating force behind it. But with the more recent technological developments as well as reduced trade blockades, growth in trade is definitely on the rise. Developing countries have also stepped on this bandwagon, extracting the best out of their own respective economies through trade internationally as well as locally - within the country. The integration of trade into the world economy has really proved helpful for the developing countries as they can promote economic growth, development as well as poverty reduction within themselves. Further, the companies which are ready to use upgrade their human resources regimes are thus the ones who have found success in all relevant quarters of their business. With this necessary incorporation, they have been able to look at the ethical side of things as well since the moral grounds have been set in a proper manne r and there are as such no apprehensions to state the least in the present times. A business can move from a position of stability to one of a complete unstable stance as it acquires different means of gathering the market and its driving factors that come along with it. The firm has to change its position with the changing times otherwise it will literally vanish away from its competitors and more so the customers, for which it actually exists.

Irish Free State And The Irish Civil War

Irish Free State And The Irish Civil War The Irish Civil War lasted from the 28 June 1922 to the 24 May 1923. It was a conflict based between two opposing Irish nationalists. One of which was the Provisional government in which supported the idea of Ireland as a free state, the other side being the Republicans which opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and wanted Ireland to still be part of the United Kingdom. In the end the war was won by the Free State forces, following under the Provisional government. The results of the civil war left Ireland divided for many decades afterwards and claimed many casualties. One factor which is believed to have been the biggest impact on the uprising of the Irish civil war is the Anglo-Irish Treaty which established Ireland as a Free State. The idea of the treaty arose after the Irish War of Independence, between Irish separatists and the British government, ended after 2 years in 1921. A truce was declared and a treaty was being negotiated. The idea of independence from the UK was after a massacre occurred in Ireland as retaliation to the fall of the British Secret Service in Ireland. Attacks like this turned the Irish against the English and therefore independence was asked for. However instead of creating an independent republic, Ireland had to sign an oath which would only give it the opportunity of freedom to be a self-governing authority within the British Empire with the British monarch as head of state. However at the same time, the treaty that was offered to the Irish also gave opportunity to countries in Ireland to give back its control to the UK within the following month after the treaty was agreed upon. In the end the treaty provided a self-directed Irish state, only in 26 of the 32 countries part of Ireland. Even though, originally, the treaty was greatly appreciated throughout Ireland, it created a split in opinion of government. The countries in the northern region of Ireland didnt agree to the Partition of Ireland from the UK and so with this the Home Rule and the Government of Ireland Act of 1920 were passed. These gave Ireland two different parliaments, each with its own Prime Minister. One was given for the Unionists and the other for the Nationalists. The citizens of six northern countries under the leader of the unionist group voted as part of a referendum for the creation of a Northern Ireland in May 1921. The Northern Ireland was run under a Prime Minister which followed the Unionist belief. The British always expected that the northern region of Ireland would comply with the party of the treaty which gave power and authority back to the British. However the expectancy grew even more certain when Sir James Craig, the PM of Northern Ireland announced during October 1922 that we will have to make the choice either to vote out or remain within the Free State hence showing that he was not with southern Ireland. He later then said that as soon as Northern Ireland is given the opportunity to make a decision it is important that it is made instantly, so to show the world that any decision made came with no hesitation. Eventually, in a written agreement with Britain, Northern Ireland gave back any agreement which they acquired in the treaty and was under the ruling authority of the UK. Afterwards the UK was renamed to The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to reflect the new ruling. Thus the separation in state due to the treaty was yet the beginning of the civ il war between Northern and Southern Ireland. As a part of the treaty, Ireland was given the right to its own army. At first when the British government was ruling Ireland, the IRA was but a rebellious guerrilla force that was dedicated to the establishment of Irish as a republic. The IRA -Irish Republican Army was the army that fought against the British in the war of independence. However afterwards, the war split the army into two; those that continued their support for the treaty, who then became the first official Irish army, and those that were anti-treaty, those that wanted complete freedom. Due to outrage from some citizens about the fact that the treaty was signed, which to them seemed treacherous; rebellious protest and conflicts arose. In April 1922, the anti-treaty IRA seized control of the Dublin Four-Courts and other key buildings. Gaining some control over what occurred in Ireland. However the actions and rulings that the anti-treaty IRA had produced were seen as unacceptable. At times the government tried to mediate with the IRA to make an agreement on some level rather than having unnecessary tension. However after the IRA made no budge, it then led to the government becoming impatient with dealing with the situation as the power was unbalanced. This then led to the command that the now official Irish Army Pro-treaty IRA was to then bomb the Four-Courts. This succeeding in the sense that it got what the government wanted, which was the IRA out of Dublin. The bombing led to however the aggression and battle of the Irish Civil war. Not only were there disagreements in military, but also voting and opinions of the citizens became a major impact on the governments actions. In Northern Ireland people were starting to become more and more with the treaty, as evident in votes. Yet another example of how the disagreement of the treaty impacted the occurrence of the Irish Civil war. Eventually, the disagreements and battle became a topic of religion. The Irish army on numerous counts attacked Northern Ireland when crossing the military border. They mainly attacked Protestants in the area, thinking they were main people who were against the treaty. Eventually the Protestants in Northern Ireland turned towards the Catholics thinking they were the ones to blame, as to why the IRA had started attacking them in Northern Ireland and started to abolish them from their homes and started to take over their land. As a result the Protestants began to attack the Catholics in the area. This was done so with a great rise in violence and rioting. Even though the violence from the IRA began to decrease with the dawning of the war, the revenge on the Catholics became serious. Because of disagreements about the treaty of Ireland as a free state, and military response and revenge, the Protestants began to then use military attacks on the Catholics killing 257 of them between July 1920 and July 1922. About 11,000 Catholics were forced to leave their jobs in factories due to attacks from Protestant colleagues. The government of Northern Ireland attempted to restore order by trying to set up a police force which was dedicated to making harmony between the Protestants and the Catholics, however this only yet intensified the violence rather than maintaining any form of order. Eventually the police were given the power to imprison people who they thought to be at fault without the need for a trial, due to the special powers act of 1922 and the offences against the state act of 1924. The establishment of Ireland as a free state from Britain had a great impact on the cause of the civil war. Due to dispute and unsettled disagreements, anyone that had an opinion on whether or not the situation at hand should be carried out to allow Ireland to become free or to keep it under British rule, voiced it for whatever consequence. From the beginning of the treaty, there was always a dispute as to whether the independence was one on a national agreement, since from the very start it was believed to be certain that the entire nation wouldnt agree upon the partition. It led to the separation of Ireland into two states. Two states with different opinions and directions in mind for what would happen with Ireland, and what results should be acquired from agreements with Britain and the UK. This led to radicals and desperate matters where the military and rebellious groups did what they thought was necessary to make sure that even though it would lead to other reasons of argument, it will ensure that everyone had an equal voiced opinion. Ireland desired to became a free state, however even though part of it had its own rule, and others received what they wanted as to be under British rule, the misunderstanding and unfortunate events, such as guerrilla attacks and religious attacks, turned the wish to fulfil the establishment of a free state into a battle which didnt allow much freedom within the nation. It turned into a battle between government, military forces, and religion. So the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Irish state vs. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was a great impact in influencing the cause of the Irish Civil war.

Paleontological Audio Technology :: Geology Science Research

Paleontological Audio Technology In very recent years the advances in science and technology we have made have been incredible; from cloning sheep and human tissue to almost completing the human genome, the scientific community has taken great steps with the help of technology. One such area in this community is the study of geology. Computers aid geologists in determining the best places to drill for oil and natural gas, along with trying to determine mineral deposits and the compositions of rocks. Now, computers have the capacity to infer information from limited data collected in the field. Now, in the paleontological sense, we have the technology to simulate the sounds that prehistoric creatures might have produced so long ago. In August 1995 Thomas E. Williamson and his crew discovered a fossil that makes computer simulation of ancient dinosaur sounds possible. Since then, there has been increased excitement throughout the geologic community and with those infatuated with dinosaurs. Two years later on December 5th the ancient sounds of a long extinct dinosaur could be heard throughout the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Later this excitement spilled over into the entertainment industry when Steven Spielberg came out with â€Å"Jurassic Park III† which showed this experimentation. The fossil found was the most complete skull of a duck billed dinosaur called â€Å"Parasaurolophus† meaning the â€Å"trombone dinosaur†. The hollow crest atop the skull is what scientist believed produced a sort of mating call or warning sound. Before computer technology there were many different views offered as to what was the purpose, if any, of this large hollow crest. Some believed it could have been a way to shed heat like an internal radiator or aid in the recognizing of those in its own pack or even just to warn others away. Others were just not sure what to think. Paleontologists had noticed the passageways inside the crest but had no way of knowing how intricate these tubes and chambers were until computers were used to scan the insides of the crest and differentiate between what was actual fossil and what was clay and sandstone. Computer Scientist Carl Diegert used a CT Scan (Computer Tomography, i.e.; CAT Scan) and scanned the skull at intervals of 3mm to produce 350 cross sections.

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography Virtues Essay

In his late 20’s, President Benjamin Franklin listed 13 virtues that he felt were an important guide for living. The following virtues can be divided in personal and social behavior: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility. Despite the fact that he tried to follow these guides in his life and went away, consider this being worthwhile in your own life. Temperance, eat not to dullness. Franklin states some associate temperance with eating and drinking, but wasn’t his intentions. My reasoning for why I feel this is one of the most important virtues is because one should always keep cool no matter what situation. Conquering your primal urges for food and drink, you’ll have the confidence to start making improvements in other areas of your life. As being taught in different ways in today’s time, order is another important virtue. Let all your things have their places. A man must fight against these natural laws if he wishes to do well in the world. I feel that it’s most important because being organized and properly creates a well rounded individual. Cleanliness, Sincerity, Fragility and Resolution is what influence the children’s childhood. Having the confidence to allow your actions speak for themselves, Franklin considered humility to be something worth acquiring and I agree with him. Men have pride in themselves showing the sign of strength and courage to mark a true person. They think of their abilities than they really are and honesty. The majority of the list of virtues is also valuable. Benjamin Franklins issues weren’t important but society has changed and that’s mainly are cause in the 20th century. Learning about Franklin’s experience, I find him as an intelligent man who has influenced the immature process of children before and today.

Graduation speeches Essay

A good speech for an elementary graduation would depend on who is going to be doing the speaking. For a teacher, you’ll want to make sure you thank the students for all of their hard work and wish them the best in the next grade they move up to. For kids, they can thank their teacher for a good year and thank their parents for their support.This page contains a funny sample speech for Middle School or Elementary School graduations for principles, teachers or other key note speakers. The speech template can be customized for graduations from preschool, 8th Grade, Junior High School, clubs, high school or other graduation events as well. This speech is humorous but also talks about dedication and personal commitment. We hope this graduation speech for keynote or guest speakers is helpful. Let me begin by welcoming all of you to today’s event and thanking (NAME OF PERSON WHO INTRODUCED YOU) for that kind introduction. I’m very pleased to have been invited to speak here today on what I know is a very special day. It’s special for the graduates, for their proud parents and grandparents, and for their very relieved teachers. Just wait until these students are graduating college. Then their parents will be the  relieved ones. As I begin, I have to say, I think the best speeches are those that have a great beginning, a memorable end, and not much in between. I will try then to make a great speech. Today is one of those great occasions when we get to celebrate our young people – their achievements, their perseverance and their successes as they grow up. It’s one of the times you can take a break and reflect, feeling good as a parent or a mentor, knowing that the kids you care about are doing just fine and they’re on the right path. Graduates, you should know that your moms and dads are very proud of you today. They have high hopes for you, and they believe in you, and you are making them proud by showing what you can do. Take a look at them now, and you can see them smiling and snapping photos so they can record this moment forever. Today is an important day for you and for them. Today they are very, very proud of you. (PAUSE) Today would be a good day to ask for money. Today would also be a good day to hug them and thank them for supporting you, because as much as this is your achievement, this is also the achievement of the people who care about you. That means your mom, your dad, your step mom or step dad, your grandparents, your sisters and brothers, and all the other people who care about you. They want you to be your best and to live up to your potential. Graduations can be seen as a coming of age, a sort of official way to recognize when a person steps into the next stage of life, and graduates, you are stepping into a new stage. With every year, you have become a little more independent. I bet you can still remember your first day here – it might have been exciting and a little intimidating too. I bet when you look at the (INSERT LOWEST GRADE IN SCHOOL HERE, 1ST GRADERS, 6TH GRADERS, ETC) going to class you think, Wow! They look so little! I can’t believe I was ever that young! Get used to it. You’ll be thinking that for the rest of your life. But when you she younger students, you can tell how much you’ve grown up, how much you’ve learned and how much you’ve matured. Think back on some of the exciting things that happened this year, all the things you learned. This year, you†¦ (ADD SOME INFO ABOUT THE CLASS OR SCHOOL HERE. TALK TO TEACHERS OR WHOEVER INVITED YOU FOR SOME IDEAS. IT CAN BE FIELD TRIPS, TOPICS STUDENTS LEARNED, ETC. YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME FAMILY-FRIENDLY HUMOR ABOUT WHAT KIDS LEARNED). You had some great time this year, and maybe you had some tough times, but you did it and you succeeded. You’re ready for that next step. I ask you as you prepare for this next step to do a few things. First, stop texting your friend about how you wish the speaker would hurry up and finish talking so you could go to (INSERT NAME OF LOCAL PARTY PLACE, MALL OR RESTAURANT POPULAR WITH STUDENTS). Secondly, I ask you to take this chance to dedicate yourself to making the next year even better. Remember that you don’t have to follow the crowd. Do the right thing, even if no one is looking. Study hard and remember that you’re investing in yourself with every test you take and every book you read. And finally, don’t be in too big of a hurry to grow up. These are some great times in your life. Don’t rush past them. There are great things coming, and just as your parents are proud, each one of you should feel proud of yourself. So congratulations to all of the graduates, congratulations to the parents, and finally, congrats to the teachers and everyone else who helped our graduates reach here today. I’ll leave you with this final quote, from a great author with whom I imagine you are all familar, by the name of Dr. Seuss. â€Å"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.† Congratulations again, and thank you for your attention. 2 Welcome to today’s ceremony and thank you for attending. I’m honored to be speaking with you today on such an important occasion. We’re here today to honor our service members and to remember their sacrifices they have made and the courage it take to defend honor, duty, country. The writer Michel de Montaigne once said, â€Å"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.† We’re here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices. Thinking of the heroes who join us in this group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can’t help but feel awed by the enormity of what we encounter. We stand in the midst of patriots and the family and friends of those who have nobly served. I’d like to ask the service members and veterans who are here to stand. Thank you for answering the call to duty. You have made our armed forces the most respected in the world. [Lead applause] Please be seated. Now I’d also like to ask the family member of any service member to stand. We know you have lived through difficult times and often taken the heavy load to keep the home fires burning. Thank you for what you’ve done. [Lead applause] Please be seated. The service members we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity – all the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self. Many of them didn’t ask to leave their homes to fight on distant battlefields. Many didn’t even volunteer. They didn’t go to war because they loved fighting. They were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect a nation which has given them, us, so much. Since the first shots at Lexington and Concord were fired and our Revolutionary War began, American men and women have been answering the nation’s call to duty. Millions of Americans have fought and died on battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedoms and way of life. Today our troops continue to make the ultimate sacrifices, and even as we lose troops, more Americans step forward to say, I’m ready to serve. They follow in the footsteps of generations of fine Americans. Veteran’s day, originally called Armistice Day, was originally designated as a day to celebrate the end of World War I. The first World War ended November 11, 1918 and the legislation that created Veteran’s Day was, and I quote, â€Å"dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.† As time went on and we engaged in further conflicts during World War II and Korea, veterans’ groups lobbied for a change. Rather than honoring the armistice and only those who served in World War I, the holiday would now honor all veterans from every war and conflict the United States had encountered. We’ve honored our troops and their service and sacrifice ever since. We have awarded medals to many Soldiers, added their names to monuments and named buildings for them, to honor them for their bravery. But nothing can ever replace the hole left behind by a fallen service member, and no number of medals and ribbons can comfort the ones left behind. Today, people throughout the country will gather together to remember, to honor, and to pay gratitude to those who have served our country. Our gathering is just one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across the nation today and every day. It’s not a lot, but its one small way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom. Your presence here today and that of the people gathering all across America is a tribute to those lost troops and to their Families. It is a way to say we remember. From the Soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the muddy trenches of France to the platoon who patrolled the hazy jungles of Vietnam and the young man or woman patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan, we remember and honor them all. Thank you for attending today. God bless you and your families, God bless our troops and God bless America.