Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy Essay

Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789 and 1792 - Essay Example By late 1792, the rule of monarchy was overthrown and replaced by the first French Republic. The vision of an ideal society in which the government worked for the good of the nation and not for individual interests was the driving force behind the political ideas of the French revolutionaries (Hanson, 2004: 4). This paper proposes to account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789-1792 during the French Revolution. Further, the extent to which the attitude and behaviour of the king were damaging to the monarchy, and the significance of the development of a more radical strand of politics will be determined. Until 1789, hereditary monarchy which is also known as absolute monarchy was the norm in France, as in other parts of Europe. Though there were no constitutional restraints, every ruler operated within certain constraints. However, several difficulties were commonly experienced by thr rulers such as poor communications, lack of information, absence of a trained civil service which made reforms difficult to implement, resistance to change by vested interests, etc (Simpson, 2000: 11). The representatives of the third estate who took the new title of National Assembly, demanded that France should have a constitution, a set of rules by which it would be governed, and which even the monarch would have to obey. A large part of the first National Assembly’s legislation became incorporated in the Constitution of 1791. It was agreed that the monarchy should remain, which was to be a new constitutional monarchy, stripped of former absolute control over government, legislation, army and justice. Actual power would lie in the hands of the National Assembly itself, with unlimited powers over taxation, authority in all legislative matters, limited only by the requirement to hold elections every two years. The new constitutional

French and Indian War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

French and Indian War - Essay Example The Construction of fortresses in the Ohio valley was also a cause of the war. In 1750, a group of Virginian businessmen secured themselves about 500,000 acres in Ohio valley for settlement. This same piece of land had earlier been claimed by Joseph Celeron for France; the French did so to prevent the British from further expanding into the French colonies and, therefore, begun to construct fortresses on Ohio valley, which made, the British suspicious (Santella 45). This move made the British suspicious and they begun constructions of fortresses and army preparations to counter the French. These army preparations can be regarded as the main cause of the war. Different religious affiliations were also a key concern. The French who had earlier settled in America were Catholics, and they felt threatened since the many violent Indians were non Catholics. The Britons had religious freedom and also felt threatened by the French catholic. This was an ideological difference rather than political; it contributed to the war. Economical differences between France and the British also led to the war. Since both the French and the British were traders, need arose to increase the market base. As a result, the two countries fought to acquire more space for trading and also a market to sell their commodities (Calloway 41). Dispute of the confluence of the Allgney and Monongahela River caused the war. The two rivers situated in the present day Pennsylvania and, Pittsburgh were a main concern for the two colonialists; each wanted to take full control. Consequently, a war erupted between the Native American soldiers and the French soldiers. The French lea ders from Quebec sent the military to discourage the Indian from trading with the British people in that region. Massacre of some French by the Indians also contributed to the war; the Indians were colonies of the British. Their soldiers got directions from George Washington to kill the French. This massacre forced George to surrender and withdraw from further fighting (Calloway 43). The British had not formally declared war on France. The British military, leader Duke organized a series of campaigns designed to cease the French rule in North America. The Generals led attacks against the French in the regions where the French had built fortresses; this was done

Does Music Have Any Effects On The Brain?

Does Music Have Any Effects On The Brain? Music can have a very strong influence; is it strong enough to affect your brain? Music is an art of sound that expresses ideas and emotions through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and colour. The power and influence of music on individuals is a psychological process involving the human ears, body, brain, and nervous system. Besides its pleasing effects to the ears, it has been established that music can have an influence on our emotional state of being. People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. In recent years, however, a question has been raised with regards to music and its effects on the brain: Does listening to music help improve our physical and mental abilities? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (the most popular American Poet in the 19th century, 1807-1882) wrote Music is the universal language of mankind. It brings us together as a society and unites people of different cultural backgrounds. It is a very important element which can be used for many purposes such as entertainment, sleeping aid, pain relief, relaxation tool, eliminate stress, emotional purposes, provide means of self-expression, aid develop the skills necessary at workplace, home or general environment and so much more. It is also used for special occasions such as funerals, weddings, graduations, soldiers marching off to war, sporting events, prayer, romantic dinners and parties. Music is mostly used in these types of events because it has the influence to change our atmosphere and provide us with a sense of pleasure, comfort and happiness. It also enhances teamwork skills and discipline in churches and in bands where all team members involvement and participation is required to produce a good song. Research shows that certain types of music such as classical music, yoga music or nature music creates a calming effect on us which helps reduce our heart rate. This may enable us conquer anxiety and gain self confidence. Music can help us communicate with each other when languages are different. Before the invention of mails and telephones, certain tribes use to contact each other with drumbeats. Sound travels at about 350 meters per second in dry air at 20 C (68 F) and this was quicker and efficient in getting a message across to each other in the Ancient times which required some skills and knowledge. There was a sender and a receiver who would interpret the me ssage to the Leader of the village. This was mostly practised in Africa and Asia and is still practised in some parts of the world. The drawbacks were messages could be interpreted wrongly by the receiver or conveyed wrongly by the sender which caused inconvenience. There are many uses and benefits of music which are yet to be discovered. In recent years, scientists have been astonished by the effects music has on children. Babies are mostly lulled to sleep with lullabies due to its known calming effects on the brain and body. Experiment has proven that introducing toddlers to good music genres such as classical at an early age enables them become more creative, increase their level of imagination and their ability to obtain and develop different skills in later life. During childhood we are all expected to learn nursery rhymes reason being music is known to be a kick-start to learning and known to offer long life benefits. Also as individuals we all need diversity in our lives to broaden our knowledge and develop strong relationships in life. On Sunday, 21 February 2010, one of the major British newspapers The Guardian, which has a certified average daily circulation of 358,844 copies, published an article on music and its power to shape a chil ds mind. (Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/music-has-the-power-to-shape-a-childs-mind-1905967.html).The article discusses some of the profound effects of music on the nervous system and encourages schools to make it a core subject. Schools which fail to make music a core subject are making a mistake, because it has advantages for the growing brain and would help all children, including those with dyslexia and autism, neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus said. Professor Krauss team at North-western University in Chicago, Illinois, have shown that the nervous system responds to the acoustic properties of speech and music with sub-millisecond precision. The effectiveness with which the nervous system interprets sound patterns is linked to musical ability. Scientists have been amazed by some of effects of music can be have individuals. This has led to the establishment of a field of health care known as Music Therapy. Therapists use the benefits and positive effects of music to improve and maintain their patients emotional, physical, aesthetic, mental, social, and spiritual well being. Those who practice music therapy are finding it very useful and effective which enables them live a normal life. It is used to help patients with cancer, neurodevelopment disorders such as dementia, children with ADD and autism. A National Autistic Society spokeswoman explained how many children with autism respond well to music. It helps children in communication and interaction. It also creates a calming effect on the patients which enables them express some level of emotion. This has resulted in many patients overcoming certain illnesses. Hospitals are also beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management. In some hospital theatre s such as Bay Medical Center located in both Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (America), music is used to help ward off patients depression and ease muscle tension. Many patients reacted positively to especially classical music as it generated a comforting environment and calmed patients which enabled doctors progress during operations. However, it could be argued that music can be an addiction and if not constantly played to these patients could cause further depression in some cases. Scientist have conducted further research and found that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking to the listener. Slower music genre such as classical helps promote a relaxed and meditative state (source: http://www.brainskills.co.uk/MusicTherapy.html ). Over the years scientist have been looking at some other benefits music can offer. Athletes such as cyclist and marathon runners are known to find music very useful during training sessions. Most of these athletes consider music as a motivation and a relaxation tool which helps prepare the body and mind for a lengthy workout. There are believes that fast music can help athletes train faster and better during training, leading to a good workout. To determine the actual effects of music on the performance of athletes, Scientists at St. Scholastica College in Duluth, Minnesota conducted a test with six men and five women on a 15 minute treadmill at 5.5 mile per hour on each runner. The runners were categorised into a group of three. Group1 and 2 consisted of two males and two females and group 3 consisted of two males and one female. Group 1 were made to listen to a fast pace beat, group 2 were made to listen a slow beat and group 3 listened to no music. This was observed for 15 minutes and in the study, it was discovered that group 1 burned 10 extra calories over 15 minutes, an extra 40 calories per hour. This may seem a small gain but if practised constantly over just three hours a week, you may be capable of burning an extra 2 pounds of fat in the course of a year. This will help towards the individuals stamina and be of great advantage to his/her mental health. This research also suggested that music if combined with appropriate imagery can have either a calming effect on the individual during physical training which helps improve the cardiovascular system by maintaining adequate circulation of oxygenated blood around the vascular network of the body. However, there is no firm evidence that suggest that the tranquilising effects of music can promote better performances when athletes listen to the music before performing. The research, however, implies that listening to music during training sessions can certainly improve workout quality. (Effect of Up-Beat Mus ic on Endurance Performance, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, volume 27(5), Supplement, #853, p. S151, 1995 and The Impact of Music and Imagery on Physical Performance and Arousal: Studies of Coordination and Endurance, Journal of Sport Behaviour, volume 15(1), pages. 21-33, 1992) Music is mostly divided into genres and subgenres. Some of the main genres are Rock/Pop, Jazz, Hip hop, World, Nostalgia, Blues, Country, Easy Listening, Folk, Ethnic, Metal and other subgenres. Classical music is one of the oldest genres encircling a broad era from roughly 1750s to date (source: http://www.musiclessonsonline.co.uk/ClassicalMusic.html ). It has inspired and influenced other genres such as hip hop and RB. It is accepted by nearly every generation ever since its establishment. Researchers have come across some rather amazing benefits of classical music. It holds one of the largest listeners due to its calming effects which aid the mind and its ability to inspire its listeners. Amongst the results it was found that classical music has the ability to reduce crime. British Transport Police supplied classical music into London Underground stations in 2004 in some of the areas most dangerous neighbourhoods. After playing the music for six months, robberies were cut by 33 percent, staff assaults decreased by 25 percent and vandalism went down 37 percent. This was not the first time classical music had been used in preventing crime. In 2001, police in West Palm Beach, Florida installed a CD player and speakers on an abandoned building in a crime-ridden neighbourhood. After playing classical music mostly Mozart, Bach and Beethoven 24 hours a day for about three months, shootings, thefts, loiterers and drug deals decreased. (Source: http://hypography.com/forums/music-studies/14554-help-me-describe-why-music-education-5.html ) It was also discovered that if you walk into a store thats playing classical music you are likely to spend more. It is used as an instrument to get you to purchase more items, as consumer advocate and columnist Brian Vaszily entertainingly explains in How Stores are secretly using music to lure their customers. Music can help shape customers time perception, lower sales resistance and increase willingness to spend, says James Kellaris, a marketing professor at the University of Cincinnati. The complexity of classical music makes your brain work harder, causing it to overcompensate and make you feel like youve been in the store for less time than you actually have. Meanwhile, the music can make it more difficult for shoppers to use critical thinking in deciding whether to buy a product. The end result is spending more time in the store, buying more, and spending more money. (Source: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/10/05/how_classical_music_can_reduce_crime_benefit_your_mood_and_ increase_your_spending.htm) All these events reveal that music can control our brains and has the capability to change our live style and behavioural patterns. Scientists wanted to prove scientifically how listening to a song helps develop the brain. Several experiments were conducted to find out which side of the brain is activated and improved when we listen to music. Mozarts music and baroque music, with a 60 beats per minute beat pattern, activates the left and right brain. The simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention of information. Reading activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain. Also, activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, causes the brain to be more capable of processing information. According to The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, learning potential can be increased a minimum of five times by using this 60 beats per minute music. For example, the ancient Greeks sang their dramas because they understood how music could help them remember more easily. A renowned Bulgarian psychologist, Dr. George Lozanov, designed a way to teach foreign languages in a fraction of the normal learning time. Using his system, students could learn up to one half of the vocabulary and phrases for the whole school term (which amounts to almost 1,000 words or phrases) in one day. Along with this, the average retention rate of his students was 92%. Dr. Lozanovs system involved using certain classical music pieces from the baroque period which have around a 60 beats per minute pattern. He has proven that foreign languages can be learned with 85-100% efficiency in only thirty days by using these baroque pieces. His students had a recall accuracy rate of almost 100% even after not re viewing the material for four years. Music has also been used by Doctors to heal the human mind and also cure diseases. It has been used as a means of overcoming depression and reducing chronic pain. Music can be described as a tool used to capture and transmit emotions. One of the advantages of music is its ability to achieve more than one objective at a time. Elevating music can divert the mind and revive the soul. Sad and soulful music can offer solace, encourage and support psychological work and set free emotions. When exposed to the worlds dilemmas, some depend on drugs and others relate to music to help overcome these obstacles. Some of these dilemmas can lead to Depression which reduces the activities that occur in our brains and obstructs the minds capability to arrange and carry out responsibilities. The lack of the neurotransmitter and Serotonin leads to a depressed state of mind. It has been discovered by scientist that listening to music could help reduce chronic pain and depression by a quarter (http://www .sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060524123803.htm). People react to music in different ways. Singing and dancing to your favourite music is known to help increase the flow of serotonin in the brain by bringing about pleasure and excitement to the individual. I was greatly astonished by some of the experiments and discoveries mostly carried out by scientists, therapist and authors involving this topic. This influenced me to create a questionnaire to discover how music influences its listeners and what music genre generates the most effects. This is a summary table of the research questionnaire I created and handed out to a sample audience of fifty. To obtain varied and reliable results I decided on a 50 percent male audience and 50 percent female. i.e. Every bar in this graph is out of a 100%. This is because I designed my questionnaire so people could tick many answers for a particular question. I then counted the number of people who listened to music for entertainment purposes out of number of audience I have and multiplied it by 100%. This enabled me convert all my figures into percentage. I decided on a 50 sample audience as it is large enough to obtain varied results, to help structure my graph and in order not to obtain decimal figures when converting to percentage. This was prepared to achieve reliable results. The data also indicates that 46 (92%) of the sample audience listen to more than 1 type of music. This proves that music is universal and its effects are not limited to one genre of music. As seen in the graph 82% of my sample audience listened to music for entertainment purposes. This proves that music provides stimulation and entertainment at the most fundamental level. 60% of my sample audience listened to music to help eliminate stress. This shows that music helps takes your mind temporally away from problems and it has the effect of eliminating tension from the mind. 30% of my audience listen to music for emotional purposes. This proves that music can help provide solace to its listeners. Four of my sample audience listened to music whilst studying and two suggested it helped improve their grades at school. Finally one person suggested it helped them gain confidence. My questionnaire also generated a link between music for entertainment purposes and stress elevation. Majority of my sample audience who listened to music for entertainment purposes also suggested it helped in eliminating stress. As shown in figure 2 above, modern music genres such as Hip hop and Rock/Pop is the most listened to probably due to its relatable lyrics. An analysis of the data by age groups also shows that 71% of the under 18s age group listen to music for entertainment purposes. 91% of the 18-21 age group that is 10 out of 11 people also listened to music for entertainment purposes. Of the 22 years and above age group, 17 out of 31 representing 55% listened to music to help eliminate stress. An analysis on gender shows that out of 25 females the influence of music is high amongst 5 representing 20% of the sample audience, 6 of them (25%) found the influence of music to be low. However, majority of them that is 12 (48%) indicated the effects of music to be medium. Out of 25 people in the male group, 5 representing 20% found the effects of music to be high and 12 representing 48% found it to be medium. This shows that music on an average has a medium effect on both male and female. Of the unemployed group of 4, three indicated the effects of music to be low. This may suggest that they need more than just music to entertain them and relieve stress. Writers mostly consisting of neurologist have published several books on the subject of music and its effects on the brain. Musicophilia is a highly recommended book, a New York Times bestseller. Written by Oliver Sacks (Author) and published by Picador on the 2nd of November 2007. It has been awarded one of the Best Books of 2007 by the Washington Post and the editors of Amazon.com. According to Oliver Sacks, Music can move us to the heights or depths of emotion. It can persuade us to buy something, or remind us of our first date. It can lift us out of depression when nothing else can. It can get us dancing. But the power of music occupies more areas of our brain than language does humans are a musical species. In this book Oliver Sacks tells interesting tales of individuals affected with the worse case of neurological conditions but are perfectly capable of memorising and composing songs on the piano. This has in effect changed the way we view the human brain. In Musicophilia, he cautiously explores the influence of music through the individual experiences of patients suffering from Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers or amnesia, stroke and many more. It also involves musicians, performers and normal individuals who have been greatly affected by music. There are also scenarios of people struck by lightning and are suddenly motivated to become pianist, to an entire group of children with Williams syndrome who are hyper musical right from birth. Oliver Sacks scientifically explains why music is at times haunting, memorable and irresistible. The extraordinary neural robustness of music is also brought out in the following letter I was sent, about a well-known pianist. The pianist is now 88 and has lost language but he plays every day. When the Mozart is read, he points back and ahead well in advance of the repeats. Two years ago he recorded a complete four-hand repertoire of Mozart that he had recorded in the 1950s (Page 336). Whiles his language has began to fail him, I love his recent playing and conception even more than the earlier recording a colleague stated. Another letter was written to Oliver by one man briefly explaining how his wife was diagnosed with a brain disorder but still plays the piano on a daily basis. Although my wife has Alzheimers diagnosed at least seven years ago-the essential person miraculously remainsShe plays piano several hours daily, very well. Her present ambition is to memorize the Schumann A-minor Piano Concerto (Page 337). Alzheimers is a progressive and fatal brain disease. Alzheimers destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behaviour severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimers gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Alzheimers disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. And yet this woman who is, in most other spheres, grossly forgetful and disabled memorises plays full songs on the piano. Music can survive the most devastating brain damage. A herpes infection left Clive Wearing, a musicologist and musician, with a memory span of no more than a few seconds. His entire life form was overturned. But, confronted with a piece of music, he would first insist he had never played it before and then play it flawlessly. The process of making the music overcame his handicap. His wife wrote to Sacks of Clives at-homeness in music . . . where he transcends amnesia and finds continuum. Or there is the case of Tony Cicoria, a man struck by lightning in a telephone box. A few weeks later, he was overcome by an insatiable desire to listen to piano music. He bought CDs and sheet music and began to resurrect his childhood piano lessons. Then, involuntarily, he began to compose music in his head. A torrent of notes came, he said, from heaven. Cicoria now lives in music. Oliver Sacks concentrates on stories written or told by the victim or the victims relative rather than theory; he does not come to a definite conclusion about music in his book but our intuition is reinforced by elaborate analysis of particular situations. Music genres such as hip hop, rock and pop has been known to help promote crime. Violence, racism, homophobic behaviours or sexist lyrics in much of todays popular music could have an impact on impressionable young people who are just developing a sense. Numerous studies indicate that a preference for heavy metal music may be a significant marker for alienation, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, suicide risk, sex-role stereotyping or risk-taking behaviours during adolescence. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, 1999) In conclusion music is a very powerful tool that creates a connection to the human soul, body and mind. As shown in my work music is used to entertain, as therapy in hospitals to relieve stress, help in communication, express emotions, enhance concentration and maintain alertness and vigilance. It is also used in stores to promote sales and to motivate the workers.

Common Sense Essay example -- essays research papers

In Common Sense, by Thomas Paine writes that America cannot recon ciliate with Great Britain. Paine gives many examples in this document of why America cannot reconsolidates with Great Britain. One of them is there is no advantages to being connected to Great Britain; only disadvantages can come out of the connection and the second idea is British government must sooner or later end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first point about the connection with the British, Paine states that America can benefit much more if it was not connected to the British for many reasons. One of them is trade with other European countries will decline or even go to ruins because if Europe breaks out into a war other countries will not trade with America because of the connection with the British. Second is the fact that the British does not protect us unless its in there interest or benefit to do so. Paine states that when the British fought off Spain and France, it was to protect Great Britain’s interest not Americas. He states this because if America was not benefiting Great Britain with trade and money or anything else; the British would not protect America. Paine’s third point is the fact that Britain is a monster. In this point he states that England brings tyranny to America because of the persecutions of emigrants that came to America in the first place and that Britain still pursues the descendants of the first emigrants.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Thomas ...

Programming and Commercial Effects on Children Essay

Many parents are not aware that commercial programming can have the same effect on child’s cognitive learning as the programming the children are watching. The Merriman-Webster (2012) dictionary defines cognitive as, â€Å"Of relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (as thinking, reasoning, or remembering). † Research has been done on children’s programming as well as commercial television to show the effects on today’s youth. Even though suggestive adult humor can be found in children’s programming, the impact commercials have toward children is just as important to watch. Television can provide opportunity for children to learn however it should not be a teacher or babysitter for today’s youth. Questions like, â€Å"If a program is scheduled at all hours of the day and into the night, does this make it appropriate for younger children to watch? † should be just one of the many parents should ask when allowing children to watch specific television programming. Intentional or not, programmers use television to influence today’s youth. With today’s ability to view children’s programming on a multitude of different stations and different channels for each station, it is amazing on how much of today’s programming for young children have hidden layers of adult humor. Television writers put subtle instances of adult humor in to children’s programming which allows for them to draw in ratings from a wider range of viewers. Rice (2009) conducted a study on popular children’s cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants in which it states the show is directed toward an age group of approximately 2 to 11 year olds, however research shows that it has a variety of audiences in all age groups. Nearly a quarter (22%) of the viewers ranged from ages 18 to 49. Along with this research, Rice also notes on the schedule of the show to emphasize how it is directed toward a large range of viewers. The show was slotted to air between early morning hours to even later hours, up until close to midnight which by then most of the targeted age group would ave been in bed for a few hours by the time of airing. Rice also recorded subject analysis data for several age groups. In information collected from high school students, the majority of them seem to identify with the shows side kick known as Patrick Star. â€Å"A large majority of respondents say they watch the show because it is â€Å"funny,† â€Å"entertaining,† and â€Å"hilarious† (Rice, 2009, paragraph, 46). On the other hand, when college students were polled they more or less chose to watch because it helped them unwind from a stressful day, possibly like a treat for their bran after a hard day of class work. If a show that is targeted for a much younger age group has a relaxing type of effect, it would be interesting to see how it influences the target age group. When children’s programming is actually aimed towards a large range of viewers how adults choose what their children should watch could have an important impact on how they develop. In recent, years television networks an writers have taken a more proactive approach in educating youth through television programming. Some of this can be seen by the creation of junior channels. Channels like Nick Jr. or Disney Jr. ave created programming geared toward preschoolers and toddlers that use colors and characters to peak their interests. One of the more influential television stations that support child develop has been the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). PBS has had constant influence in child development with shows like Sesame Street and Barney & Friends and now offer new programming like Bob the Builder, Teletubbies and Thomas & Friends. These shows focus on learning in the early stages of a preschoolers development by reaching the alphabet, numbers, dancing, singing and even emotional responses. According to â€Å"The Journal of Media Literacy† (2012), â€Å"To capture and hold viewer attention, each Dora episode features a linear narrative shaped around a high-stakes adventure with serious consequences. It calls upon viewers to interact with the television to help Dora overcome a series of structured challenges. When children hear that they did a good job or a positive response, they tend to want to interact more and thus keeps them interested in the programming. Along with current programming on television, networks have started developing DVD’s to sell to parents when current programming might not peak a child’s interests. Big Companies like Disney, the Brainy Baby Company and Sesame Workshop have started developing age specific programming. When a large company starts to invest in developmental programming, it gives a better sense of satisfaction as the brand is well known. DVD series like Baby Einstein, Brainy Baby and Sesame Beginnings all have their own niche and targeted age range however all promote development and learning. Kikorian, Wartella, and Anderson (2008) state shows like Baby Einstein target viewers from as young as one month old and covers a wide range of topics such as music, art, language and poetry while Sesame Beginnings targets children starting at six months of age. This show features younger versions of the Muppets of Sesame Street and promote interaction between children and their caregivers. Kikoran et al. (2008) also discussed the unique effect of television on children under the age of two and suggests that some research shows that exposure to television during the first few years of life may be associated with poorer cognitive development. This question could be geared toward the overall television experience which includes commercials and the actual programming. With the importance of what is appropriate for children to watch in television, parents seem to be more concerned with actual programming then what is played in between. However, studies have shown that these commercials can be just as influential to our youth. With promotion of movie trailers, current television shows and video games violence is in pure view for children to see and it is less monitored then the actual program. In order to track this data, the authors in an article in the Journal of Advertising had to define how children and their parents viewed violence. For the children defining violence was much more broad as one child responded with, â€Å"Violent is fighting with weapons, with swords, blood, and gore† and another stated, â€Å"Violence is bleeding really bad. Sometimes it’s when somebody falls down and they’re scratched or bleeding really bad† (Brocato et al. 2010). Parents were more unified with defining violence with violence consisting of blood, gore and death. Children seem to think that it is the mother that stresses the importance of them not watching while the fathers feel it is alright as long as they are watching it with them. Both parents shared a common theme in that the commercials are not the issue but the actual programming. Parents also shared that by being present they could address sensitive issues like violence when it happens. Reading through the study it was surprising to see possible limitations that could have address more issues. Parents could have been asked while being present when the issue arose how did the child react to the situation. Another question that might have been asked is how did the child react to the actual discussion about the topic. Was the child more interested in the programming or on what the parents had to say. Ultimately the article had a good basis for what were the more glaring issues and how both the parents and children valued what was played in commercials. Intentional or not, programmers use television to influence today’s youth. This could be from how they act from watching their favorite television program, to desiring a new toy or video game that was currently seen on a commercial. Parents should take the time to watch what their children are watching. One way to see how a child’s favorite program can affect them is to watch the program without the child and then with the child. When watched alone write down instances that might be inappropriate or that draw questions. As the child sits through the program watch how they react to certain situation and then discuss with them on what is positive and what is negative. With correct supervision and discussions, parents have the ability to be a part of the education process with today’s youth.

Jim Jarmusch: Reflecting the History of Independent Films in America Essay

Films, just like people, possess colorful history. Its origin can be rooted as early as 1860s when devices to capture motion pictures were invented. The year 1888 marked the making of the world’s earliest film—the Roundhay Garden Scene—by Louis Le Prince. But early filmmakers felt no contentment in silent and black-and-white films. Thus, the succeeding movies slowly gained narratives, followed later on by musical scores, inserted with sound effects, and then became colored. However, the evolution of film never ended there. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, another milestone in filmmaking took place—the birth of independent films. One of the most- acclaimed and popular indie film directors in the United States who made a great impact during that time is Jim Jarmusch. Until now, his films are regarded, not only in America but also in European and Asian countries, as some of the finest independent films ever made. His life and works became an inspiration and model for other filmmakers and film critics, which probably caused Juan Suarez’ to write his biography. About the Book Jim Jarmusch ( Contemporary Film Directors), the title of Juan Suarez’ book, in a biographical sketch of the American director Jim Jarmusch, not merely narrating the latter’s life, influences, works, and achievements, but analyzing as well the content and themes of his films by relating them to history and socio-political issues present during these films were created. Summary: A Stranger Here Myself The introductory paragraphs of the book talk about the salient characteristics of Jim Jarmusch’s films. Jarmusch is known for his unique style— emphasizing slow- movements, minimalistic space, characters’ exploration, intimate scenes, cynical humor, blank effect, and art cinema during 1960s to 1970s. His characters are often distant from the spectators, alone and aloof, but not necessarily sad or tragic. His plots, on the other hand, are based more on non- dramatic situations rather than on conflicts. In addition, Jarmusch focuses on the visual and aural aspects of film. Meanwhile, the themes of Jarmusch movies are based on postmodern politics, specifically on issues of transients and immigrants. He is also fascinated in exploring ethnicity, nationality, and social classes. Juan Suarez then enumerates his objectives in writing the book. First is to analyze what makes Jim Jarmusch’s films distinct, and second is to analyze those films in a larger context, separate from the director, using them in understanding historical developments, such as the New York vanguards, rock n’ roll, punk, hip hop, Beat literature, postwar art and cinemas, structural films, European surrealism and others. Akron/ The Cinematheque/ Lightning over Water This particular section discusses about the early life and works of Jim Jarmursh, as well as his early influences. The above keywords—Akron, The Cinematheque, and Lightning over Water—all played a vital role in his life. Jarmusch was born in Akron, Ohio in 1953, which by then is an important industrial point. Here, he was immensely exposed to rock n’ roll, radio DJ’s, and cars that eventually became appeared in his films. After studying college in Columbia, he went to Paris where he was exposed to Henri Langlois, founder of the art gallery Cinematheque. Langlois was also one of Jarmusch’s influences and who was known for his participation in the French New Wave. When he went back, Jarmusch enrolled at New York University where he was appointed as a student assistant to Nicholas Ray. With this, Jarmusch was exposed in Ray’s ongoing film The Lightning over Water. Right after this, Jarmusch made his first film, Permanent Vacation. His early influences were reflected in this particular work—â€Å" classical American cinema, European art, and downtown experimental culture † ( Suarez, p. 9). Downtown Post-Pop The section tackles downtown New York being a topic in Jarmusch’s films, particularly during the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Experimental art during such times was still a combination of pop, minimalism, and performance; experimental cinema, on one hand, focused more on narratives and social contextualization. In addition, Suarez included in this section the status of experimental art in various fields, as well as the people concerned (i. e. The Kitchen). Punk The author particularly discusses in this section Jirmusch’s contribution in the blurring of boundaries between experimental art and mass art. His made his works through the punk or new wave culture, particularly focusing on the role of music. Punk filmmakers introduced again the use and role of content in experimental films by utilizing â€Å" pastiched film noir, thrillers, exploitation and television serials † (Suarez, p. 17). Most of these films were rooted on the themes tackling trash culture and rock n’ roll: the 1960s underground. Venues of these films, on the other hand, were taken inside downtown clubs such as Mudd, Club 57, and Max’s Kansas City. With the loud sound offered by the nightclubs, experimental films became known for the following characteristics: encouraging spectators to be distracted by loud music, dancing, drinking, and socializing, rather than to be in full concentration when viewing. Similarly, the characters were mostly punk musicians such as John Lurie, leader of Lounge Lizard, for the film The Offenders. Jim Jarmusch, in fact, was a member of the band Del Byzanteens. Pretty Vacant Although Jarmusch tried to disconnect punk scenes from his films Permanent Vacation and Stranger than Paradise, he nevertheless acknowledged the influence of punk culture in his filmmaking. Permanent Vacation was made possible through the money granted to him by the Louis B. Mayer Foundation. Because of its length, the film was turned down when Jarmusch presented it as his graduation project. The movie explores the life of Allie, â€Å" a tourist on a permanent vacation † (Suarez, p. 21). The story was told in first-person point- of- view. Allie was recounting his remaining days in New York before leaving for Paris. Here, he narrated his intentions for his girlfriend Leila, visited his mother Ruth who is in psychiatric hospital, met several friends and acquaintances, and stole a car. The movie is said to be an early manifestation of Jirmusch’s navigation towards magic realism that will be evident in his future films, infusing fantasies and dreamlike features in the story. For example, Allie first speech was: â€Å" I can’t get any sleep†¦I have my dreams while I am awake. † ( Suarez, p. 22). This statement clearly shows the blurring of reality and dreams in the said film. Even the music used in this particular film was somehow eerie and creepy, composed mainly of Javanese gamelan music. In addition, most scenes were static takes and focused on minimalistic details. This style presented in the Permanent Vacation is truly characterized by Jirmusch’s unique way of blending minimalism, stories of outsiders, downtown themes, and â€Å" stylized narratives that subtly blend the real and the unreal †(Suarez, p. 27). Work Cited Suarez, Juan Antonio. Jim Jarmusch Contemporary Film Directors. USA: University of Illinois Press, 2007

Smallpox Vaccination essays

Smallpox Vaccination essays Should we or should we not vaccinate for smallpox? That is one of the many questions that have gone unanswered pertaining to the potential war situation with Iraq. I personally believe that the U.S. should be vaccinated for smallpox because it would be one less threat to our country. The first step should be to educate people on what we are dealing with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Smallpox was feared for centuries because it caused serious illness, scarring and sometimes death. After a successful public health vaccination campaign, it was eradicated in 1980. However concern about smallpox is rising again because of its possible use as a bio terrorist weapon. CDC and its partners are leading efforts to meet this threat. Basically we are in danger of another outbreak if the terrorist launch this disease on our country. Thousands of people could die. It makes sense to vaccinate to me. The next step should be to ask the question, when do we plan to deploy the vaccine? Logically I think we should do it as soon as possible. The sooner we vaccinate the sooner we can feel safe and move on to address other problems that are threatening our nation. It makes no sense to live in fear of the Smallpox disease when all we have to do is vaccinate for it and eliminate the problem. The longer we wait, the greater the risk we take of being caught off guard and all of us, Americans, remember what happened the last time we were caught off guard . . . September the eleventh. Lets not be caught sleeping again, lets do everything that we can to keep this country safe, we should vaccinate for Smallpox now! Now the question would naturally be how should we go about vaccinating our nation? My suggestion is to do it the same way that Nashville handled the recycling effort. The City had recycling bens delivered to every house hold. Thats the way we should do thi ...

Dance of Legislation essays

Dance of Legislation essays The Dance of Legislation is what an idea has to go through before it becomes a law. Legislation may be introduced in the House or the Senate, or even in both at the same time. The only exception is when dealing with financial issues, in which case the legislation has to start in the House. An example would be the issue of free tuition. Any member of Congress, voting or non-voting, can introduce any idea into the Congress. Once the idea has been introduced, it has two years to get through the Congress. If it does not succeed within the two years, it has to start all over again. This is due to the two year cycle of the House. On average, around 13,000 ideas are proposed in Congress each year; and of these 13,000 only about 400 actually become law; less than 5%. The House committees are usually made up of around 20 to 50 representatives whilst the Senate committees are made up of 10 to 20 senators. The chairman of any committee is typically the majority-party member who has served the longest on the committee. The idea that has been submitted is sent to a committee who handles the idea. In the case of free tuition, the idea would be sent to the Education and Labor Committee. From here, it is delegated to a sub-committee of the Education and Labor Committee, most likely the Higher Education Committee. In the sub-committee, the idea, or bill, has to go through three stages; the hearing, the mark-up and the vote. At the hearing stage, a speaker is called in to explain the idea, or sell the idea to the committee. In the mark-up stage, the bill is then written down line by line. Then it goes to the voting stage. Here it needs a majority vote to be successful, otherwise the idea is dead. Typically a majority vote would be 218 of 435 votes. Between 80 to 90 percent of bills introduced to Congress die at this stage. If the bill is successful, it is the sent back to the full committee (Education and Labor Committee). The full comm...

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Performance management is a concept essential in the field of human resource management involved with the continuous process of identifying, measuring and developing person performance and aligning the same with strategic goals of organizations. The executive and the middle-level management are tasked with the responsibility of making decisions in the increasingly plex and petitive pharmaceutical industry. The performance management in such organizations must be innovative, flexible, cohesive, and customer focused. In achieving his, panies need o establish a balance between customer, the organization and operating factors focused on meeting organizational goals. In this case, panies can reconfigure their performance management to reflect and deliver a real strategic and global offering for the market.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beta Pharmaceuticals symbolizes a good state of mind which drives the business purpose of the organization aiming at making individuals feel beer from heir sicknesses. From its inception, the pany has always strived to deliver to the customers by distributing products to the drug stores as well as maintaining its production. Since establishment, the firm holds an integral leadership position in the pharmaceutical industry. We perceive enterprise as a means to the wellbeing of employees, investors, and the munity through revenues and ethical consideration in business.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mission is the provision of innovative and quality products produced through an ethical work environment that provides benefits to the consumers and stakeholders. All the functions in the interplay are played by different individuals with several departments existing towards the improved functioning. The agencies ensure proper munication with the employees for an efficient and productive training to their employees as well as pensation matching and promoting their skills. The departments include the sales and marketing, accounts division, purchase, and maintenance division, transport and distribution, the finance and audit, lab, IT department, and the human resource department.   The units work together towards the wholesome productivity of the firm. The internal and external environments matter a lot to the productivity standards of the firm. The firm is keen in operations within the organization such as the distribution channels, goal setting, recruitment and selection, and pensation strategies towards success and petitive advantage (Cummings & Worley, 2014). The external factors to the organization such as markets, the audience, raw materials, technology, and information on the trends in pharmaceuticals department matter a lot to the organization. In response to the factors, the team carries out several activities towards increasing the performance of the workers and subsequent attraction of consumers to the product of the pany. According to Ramlall (2004), it is necessary to carry out proper appraisal training in increasing organization performance, to assess the skills and qualification of employees towards achieving the overall goals of the organization. There is a need for the employees to understand the diverse needs expressed in the appraisal for an effective use that projects the actual picture of the workers to guarantee success. In this respect, the firm offers training opportunities to the employees on the procedures followed and the need for the appraisal. Thus, it makes clear that the appraisal is for quality performance measurement aimed at identifying the weak points in the section and ing up with the results to tackling employees issues in the organization (Al Ariss, Cascio & Paauwe, 2014). At the same time, the appraisal activities aim at empowering and appreciating employees through promotions to boost their morale towards production and development. To begin with, employees are tasked with the role of conducting a self-appraisal process where each employee analyzes themselves and e out with necessary feedback on the areas for improvement as well as the strong points to enable a smooth flow in operations (Van Dooren, Bouckaert & Halligan, 2015). The appraisal form entails several aspects of measurement where an individual follows while recording the level of strength and weaknesses thus enabling the management to determine the areas for improvement. Apart from the self-appraisal provisions, the firm has the overall assessment conducted by the human resource department where the human resource department sends individuals to various areas of the operation to monitor and record the performance standards of the individuals according to their ability to deliver the goals and visions of the pany. The higher their levels and ability to achieve the same determines the extent to which an individual is beneficial to the firm. Therefore, it is important for the appraisal to be conducted in the two categories where a parison is made to determine areas up for improvement. The recruitment aspect of the firm remains petitive with the human resource department creating a pool of candidates to the selection team. The group advertises widely depending on the need for fresh employees where marketing is done on the social media, the media stations, as well as the print media and training schools to attract the best-placed persons to drive success to the firm (Buckingham & Goodall, 2015). The pany uses the external recruitment in cases where there exist limited internal options and thus utilizes advertisements, employment agency sources, and special referrals. The pany understands the important of in-sourcing as a measure to strong performance. In the process of working, employees undergo training activities where they improve their overall strengths while being watched and appraised by the human resource department. In the case of a vacancy in any of the departments, the firm first looks at the options presented by the internal team and decides whether to weigh in on the option of internal selection or the exterior option. The internal recruitment has the benefit of cost reduction since the workers already know the goals and visions of the firm thus needing little training towards the new position acquired (Knies, Boselie, Gould-Williams & Vandenabeele, 2015). At the same time, it acts as a motivation tool for the workers towards hard work leading to success and posterity.  Ã‚   The firm values the employees as vital contributors to the economy of the enterprise thus continually measure their ability in production and overall development. The first means that the firm uses involves setting the performance management goals whose indicators are well explained to the workers (Aguinis, 2013). For instance, an increase in the profitability of the firm is determined at the level of every worker to discover the standard of petence of each employee and how it achieves the productivity levels leading to a steady revenue stream (Mone & London, 2014). The firm uses seven categories while evaluation the overall performance of workers in its appraisal system. Productivity begins with the level of mitment an individual gives to an organization based on the time spent in production (Aguinis, 2013). Therefore, ing late to work says a lot about the productivity standards of individuals and their level of mitment to the same. Employees with regular lateness cases or frequent absenteeism are more unlikely to produce more to the firm (De Waal, 2013). Hence, training on the essence of observing time allocated for productivity must be done to encourage individuals towards better production and activeness in the organization. Such an issue is important to the wellbeing of the firm. The category is equally important as it measures the type and level of work done by individuals towards the overall goal of the firm. The aspects focus on the time taken in production as pared to the average requirements, mitment to work, the ability to take more hours in production, and the rate at which one meets their set targets (DeNisi & Smith, 2014). The aspects guide an assessor towards determining the level of productivity for individuals. The personal habits of individuals can either boost or decrease their performance in an organization. The category focuses on observing the patterns of people during work hours such as relaxation during work, unnecessary breaks, and the use of firm resources for personal reasons. In preventing the spread of such behaviors, it is proper to set the overall guidelines to the limit of the same in the workplace to create a positive environment for growth (Bernardin & Wiatrowski, 2013). Employees observed to be carrying out the practices ought to be reprieved and advised on the best practice that initiates change to organizations. Employees with special attributes and mitment can be assessed through a similar mirror that projects their engagement and success. The appraisal team shall carry random checks on the employees to determine their performance and level of mitment. The category is essential in establishing the performance standards of individuals when alone and in the absence of their respective supervisors. At the same time, it shall be used to assess the personal presentation such as the dressing styles, professional engagement with the clients, and public relations (Dusterhoff, Cunningham & MacGregor, 2014). Besides, it shall be used to check on their attitudes in the workplace. Poor attitudes demonstrated by workers leads to poor performance and the unlikely nature of individuals meeting their targets. The aspects are carried out on a continuous basis to cover all the areas and avoid the possibility of bias during assessment and project the actual image of individuals in the society. At the same time, it is used to ascertain the ethical levels of individuals during operations.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Employee performance measurement is used to determine an employee’s pensation, promotion, and future benefits and thus have to be done with utmost integrity and fairness. In this case, the management establishes the expected performance standards first before selecting the method to be used. According to Aggarwal & Thakur (2013), the method is ideal for the production department where it consists of a rating scale of different duties and performance standards on a rating scale of 1-5. The supervisor’s base on the performance measurement objectives stated above to rate workers according to the different categories. The ratings allow for an overall putation that indicates the level of success for the organization and the type of benefits realized through their productivity (Jenter & Kanaan, 2015). The rating scale is fair as it gives the management a true picture especially if the rating is done by different people in the organization. This, the method shall feature in the performance management. The method is useful in the organization’s performance measurement where it is used in the management positions that identify the goals of the organization and the level at which the workers in the several departments achieve their success (Javidmehr & Ebrahimpour, 2015). Another category indicates the time taken by individuals to plete tasks related to their respective duties. Here, the performance of an employee is measured against the time taken to a plish a given task within the time set by the organization.  Ã‚  Ã‚   A proper munication plan featuring direct and group munication shall be done on a departmental basis to air out the issues raised. The munication plan shall be characterized by supervisors talking directly to the workers at the group and individual level to have them understand the results of the assessment (Noe, Wilk, Mullen & Wanek, 2014). Once the human resource assesses employees within Beta Pharmaceuticals based on their skills, it shall embark on munication process where employees shall receive feedback on their performance margins to pare with their self-assessment. At this stage, each employee shall receive information from their respective supervisor based on the considerations of the results observed and have a one on one talk to air out issues for improvement (Elnaga & Imran, 2013). The performance management shall enable individual to understand their weaknesses and gain the ability to raise themselves towards the expected standards of the organization. There are cases where employees feel information bias and thus need to appeal on the results of the discussion. In such a case, the firm sets an appeal procedure to resolve the disagreements arising from the performance evaluation process. The first step granted to employees involves a written submission within one week with the employee having duly signed the document to the human resource department (Richard, 2014). In response, a member of the human resource shall conduct a confidential investigation while gathering information from the immediate supervisor and the employee through discussions and develop a r mendation to the team. The information shall be considered with the evidence given and a r mendation given within five working days to address the grievance and opt for another assessment at the management’s discretion.   In solving the performance issues raised or observed from the workers, the firm shall initiate a set of measures to address the problems to a better employee performance standard (Sung & Choi, 2014). Training is an essential way of looking into the employee issues and addressing their concerns. Aguinis (2013) suggests that the necessity of training assists in fostering success through workshops focused groups, and mentoring processes that drive knowledge and necessary skills in operation management. On the other hand, education is important, where workers demonstrating the need for development and ability can be given scholarships to respective fields and have them e back to incorporate the knowledge received to the organization (Shuck, Twyford, Reio & Shuck, 2014). At the same time, induction programs assist in fostering knowledge as well as hands-on training and mentoring processes that assist employees in determining solutions to their weak points. Morale boosting is necessary to articulate issues within the organization and ways to ove e the same. According to (Aguinis, 2013), performing employees are supposed to be appreciated through group recognition, promotion, bonuses, and improved salaries based on their performance. The step encourages the employees towards career growth where internal recruitment exists for their benefit and that of the organization (Kulkarni, 2013). All the development programs aimed at assisting individuals to focus on the goal and vision of the organization and improve the existing culture through deeper engagement and participation. The performance management at Beta Pharmaceuticals is well planned towards improving employee engagement. The different methods used to aim at giving unbiased reports on individuals with rooms existing for change in case of an appeal. In response to the evaluation, the firm has several channels of improving employee performance and development as well as a reward scheme that not only uses the monetary system but also non-monetary options touching on employee motivation. Consequently, the method if implemented successfully benefits the firm. Aguinis, H. (2013). Performance management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN-13:9780132556385 Aggarwal, A., & Thakur, G. S. M. (2013). Techniques of performance appraisal-a review.  International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT),  2(3), 617-621. Al Ariss, A., Cascio, W. F., & Paauwe, J. (2014). Talent management: Current theories and future research directions.  Journal of World Business,  49(2), 173-179. Bernardin, H. J., & Wiatrowski, M. (2013). Performance appraisal.  Psychology and Policing,  257. Buckingham, M., & Goodall, A. (2015). Reinventing performance management.  Harvard Business Review,  93(4), 40-50. Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2014).  Organization development and change. Cengage learning. De Waal, A. (2013).  Strategic Performance Management: A managerial and behavioral approach. Palgrave Macmillan. DeNisi, A., & Smith, C. E. (2014). Performance appraisal, performance management, and firm-level performance: a review, a proposed model, and new directions for future research.  Academy of Management Annals,  8(1), 127-179. Dusterhoff, C., Cunningham, J. B., & MacGregor, J. N. (2014). The effects of performance rating, leader–member exchange, perceived utility, and organizational justice on performance appraisal satisfaction: Applying a moral judgment perspective.  Journal of Business Ethics,  119(2), 265-273. Elnaga, A., & Imran, A. (2013). The effect of training on employee performance.  European Journal of Business and Management,  5(4), 137-147. Javidmehr, M., & Ebrahimpour, M. (2015). Performance appraisal bias and errors: The influences and consequences.  International Journal of Organizational Leadership,  4(3), 286. Jenter, D., & Kanaan, F. (2015). CEO turnover and relative performance evaluation.  The Journal of Finance,  70(5), 2155-2184. Knies, E., Boselie, P., Gould-Williams, J., & Vandenabeele, W. (2015). Special issue of International Journal of Human Resource Management: Strategic human resource management and public sector performance. Kulkarni, P. P. (2013). A literature review on training & development and quality of work life.  Researchers World,  4(2), 136. Mone, E. M., & London, M. (2014).  Employee engagement through effective performance management: A practical guide for managers. Routledge. Noe, R. A., Wilk, S. L., Mullen, E. J., & Wanek, J. E. (2014). Employee Development: Issues in Construct Definition and Investigation ofAntecedents.  Improving Training Effectiveness in WorkOrganizations, ed. JK Ford, SWJ Kozlowski, K. Kraiger, E. Salas, and MS Teachout (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1997), 153-189. Ramlall, S. (2004). A review of employee motivation theories and their implications for employee retention within organizations.  Journal of American Academy of Business,  5(1/2), 52-63. Richard, M. A. (2014).  Employee assistance programs: Wellness/enhancement programming. Charles C Thomas Publisher. Shuck, B., Twyford, D., Reio, T. G., & Shuck, A. (2014). Human resource development practices and employee engagement: Examining the connection with employee turnover intentions.  Human Resource Development Quarterly,  25(2), 239-270. Sung, S. Y., & Choi, J. N. (2014). Do organizations spend wisely on employees? Effects of training and development investments on learning and innovation in organizations.  Journal of organizational behavior,  35(3), 393-412. Van Dooren, W., Bouckaert, G., & Halligan, J. (2015).  Performance management in the public sector. Routledge.

What are the benefits of using simulation to teach nursing Essay

What are the benefits of using simulation to teach nursing - Essay Example Additionally, simulation display actions, conclusion and important opinion through techniques like role playing, use manikins and videos to enhance confidence and clinical skills at multiple levels of nursing practice. There are diverse benefits of using simulation to teach nursing. For instance, simulation training practice enables nursing students develop accuracy in diagnosis and treatment of patients. This helps students to develop their ability to learn and retain knowledge therefore, enhancing patient safety as theoretical and conceptual learning are practically implemented allowing student apply learned concepts. Jeffries (2005) infers that skill performance, critical thinking, satisfaction and knowledge are addressed though simulation and in turn competence among the practicing nursing students is developed. The underpinning factor therefore, is that simulation training offers student opportunities to practice interventions in a safe and sound environments, observe consequences when incorrect conclusion are made and with new developing trends in the nursing profession where time, accuracy and due diligence form the key pillars to service delivery, healthcare providers need better understanding to foster smooth transition to clinical experiences and through simulated practices adaptability to clinical environment is reached as consistent practical approaches are used to engage student (Schmidt & Brown, 2007). Simulation practices are used to challenge and support students develop and learn prioritization, teamwork, delegation, communication and leadership and in so doing transforming clinica l environment by providing institutions with the flexibility to create specific and unique learning experiences not duplicable in real clinical environment. In adapting to simulation as a style to teach nursing several challenges present themselves therefore hindering full adoption of the style by various institutions.

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Planning personal finance - Essay Example The traditional lifecycle investing theory that was authored by Modigliani and Miller, holds that every individual will pass through several lifecycle stages, within which then needs for investment are different (Brigham & Houston, 200, pp. 73-4).   The first stage is when younger, exists the ‘accumulation phase’ (between 20’s and 30’s age periods), when the person is capable of investing in greater risk assets as well as follow an aggressive strategy of investment, designed to attain maximum longer term growth.   The second stage of lifecycle, is known as the ‘consolidation phase’, a middle life stage (between 40’s and 50’s age periods), during which the person has stopped working and is depending on the income as well as capital accumulated during the first two stages of life. The third and final stage is the ‘gifting phase’, (between 80’s and 90’s age periods) within which persons who have already accumulated a greater amount of wealth than they require for their own lifetimes, make a decision to of passing on some of their assets to others – maybe as a charitable donation or an inheritance (Brigham & Houston, 2001, pp. 74-5).   According to this theory, individuals go through these phases of life, their investment objectives and needs change significantly and, even though they were capable of holding mostly risk carrying assets in their youthful years (the theory depends mostly on equities, for maximizing long-term growth), the person needs to eradicate most investment peril as they age up.

MET329 Fluid Power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MET329 Fluid Power - Research Paper Example The course was inspired by the long time application of fluid power dating back from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia where water was used for irrigation (Hill 143-152). Fluid power course includes various engineering and science modules, which covers topics such as dam design, pipe flow, pumps, hydropower, flow measurements, turbines, erosions, and river channel behaviors (Eckert 20). The accredited person with a fluid power degree can find an opportunity in various industries such as mining to operate mining machineries, in the real estate industries to offer services such as lift maintenance. The experience related to fluid power can also be applied in motor vehicles, agriculture, and in any other engineering projects where power is generated from gas and fluids. In conclusion, the MET329 Fluid Power course is rooted in ancient civilizations where it was used on irrigation, boats, among other applications. It started as technological advancements, but today is studied as a career subject, which can assist one to be employed in various industries such as water supply, irrigations, and hydraulic motors amongst others. The course will shape the world’s technological scope in the future by offering special research algorithms of automating all machineries through fluid

Introduction to Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Introduction to Marketing - Essay Example , branding, modifying and  influencing customer behavior and buying decisions.  All of such strategies are used to increase sales of products and services. Marketing has a lot of definitions. One of them defines marketing in a way such that it relates marketing to the way society promotes spending on  particular products and services. Marketing generally targets a specific consumer segment depending on the type of merchandise or service. It is very important for marketing initiatives to focus on customer needs and wants of the specific target audiences. Marketing is such a topic that covers a wide range of  aspects, which includes advertises, public relations, sales, and product promotions. Many people confuse sales with marketing, when the truth is the two are a lot different from each other. Sales involves activities which aim at getting a product or service  into a market, promoting the product, influencing the behavior of consumers, and influencing the consumer buying b ehavior. The actual function of a Sales division is to transfer the ownership of the products or services from the produces to the customers. The marketing and financial results of the companies depend on a number of interrelated internal and external factors. The analysis of these factors has been a constant concern for academicians and practitioners. The very complexity of this subject requires indulging into more narrow aspects of research of the issue. One of the many possibilities is that while seeing through the glass of marketing initiatives of a company, while assuming that such possibilities predetermine any contact between the company and the target market. These initiatives significantly influence overall growth and success of the company. However, the span of marketing initiatives as well as their influences are extremely wide and can hardly be analyzed at once as a single entity. One way to cover logically a part of such a broad picture is through analysis of the marketing division

MET329 Fluid Power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MET329 Fluid Power - Research Paper Example The course was inspired by the long time application of fluid power dating back from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia where water was used for irrigation (Hill 143-152). Fluid power course includes various engineering and science modules, which covers topics such as dam design, pipe flow, pumps, hydropower, flow measurements, turbines, erosions, and river channel behaviors (Eckert 20). The accredited person with a fluid power degree can find an opportunity in various industries such as mining to operate mining machineries, in the real estate industries to offer services such as lift maintenance. The experience related to fluid power can also be applied in motor vehicles, agriculture, and in any other engineering projects where power is generated from gas and fluids. In conclusion, the MET329 Fluid Power course is rooted in ancient civilizations where it was used on irrigation, boats, among other applications. It started as technological advancements, but today is studied as a career subject, which can assist one to be employed in various industries such as water supply, irrigations, and hydraulic motors amongst others. The course will shape the world’s technological scope in the future by offering special research algorithms of automating all machineries through fluid

Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science Essay Example for Free

Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science Essay Preface Executive Summary Preventing Reading Failure: A Top Priority for Education Where We Are: Taking Stock of Teacher Preparation in Reading The Difficulty of Teaching Reading Has Been Underestimated / 11 Why Have Teachers Been Left Unprepared? / 11 The Knowledge Base for Teaching Reading Is Hidden, Extensive, and Complex / 11 Meaningful Professional Standards Are Absent / 12 Good Information Is Hard To Get / 14 Classroom Instructional Programs Are Uninformative / 14 Can We Do Better? /14 Toward a Curriculum for Teacher Preparation and Inservice Professional Development Knowledge of the Psychology of Reading and Reading Development / 16 Basic Facts About Reading / 16 The Characteristics of Poor and Novice Readers / 18 How Reading and Spelling Develop / 18 Language: The Foundation for Reading Instruction / 20 Practical Skills of Instruction in a Comprehensive Reading Program / 21 Opportunities for Supervised Experience / 21 Use of Validated Instructional Practices / 21 Assessment of Classroom Reading and Writing Skills / 24 Where We Need To Go: Changing Teacher Preparation and Professional Development in  Reading In Sum End Notes References Appendix A—Knowledge and Skills for Teaching Reading: A Core Curriculum for Teacher Candidates 5 7 9 11 16 25 28 29 30 33 TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 3 Teaching reading is a job for an expert. Preface R eading is the fundamental skill upon which all formal education depends. Research now shows that a child who doesn’t learn the reading basics early is unlikely to learn them at all. Any child who doesn’t learn to read early and well will not easily master other skills and knowledge, and is unlikely to ever flourish in school or in life. Low reading achievement, more than any other factor, is the root cause of chronically low-performing schools, which harm students and contribute to the loss of public confidence in our school system. When many children don’t learn to read, the public schools cannot and will not be regarded as successful—and efforts to dismantle them will proceed. Thanks to new scientific research—plus a long-awaited scientific and political consensus around this research—the knowledge exists to teach all but a handful of severely disabled children to read well. This report discusses the current state of teacher preparation in reading in relation to that research. It reviews and describes the knowledge base and essential skills that teacher candidates and practicing teachers must master if they are to be successful in teaching all children to read well. Finally, the report makes recommendations for improving the system of teacher education and professional development. In medicine, if research found new ways to save lives, health care professionals would adopt these methods as quickly as possible, and would change practices, procedures, and systems. Educational research has found new ways to save young minds by helping them to become proficient readers; it is up to us to promote these new methods throughout the education system. Young lives depend on it. And so does the survival of public education. The urgent task before us is for university faculty and the teaching community to work together to develop programs that can help assure that all teachers of reading have access to this knowledge. TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 5 To understand printed language well enough to teach it explicitly requires disciplined study of its systems and forms, both spoken and written. Executive Summary T he most fundamental responsibility of schools is teaching students to read. Indeed, the future success of all students hinges upon their ability to become proficient readers. Recent scientific studies have allowed us to understand more than ever before how literacy develops, why some children have difficulty, and what constitutes best instructional practice. Scientists now estimate that fully 95 percent of all children can be taught to read. Yet, in spite of all our knowledge, statistics reveal an alarming prevalence of struggling and poor readers that is not limited to any one segment of society: s About 20 percent of elementary students nationwide have significant problems learning to read. At least 20 percent of elementary students do not read fluently enough to enjoy or engage in independent reading. The rate of reading failure for AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, limited-English speakers and poor children ranges from 60 percent to 70 percent. One-third of poor readers nationwide are from college-educated families. Twenty-five percent of adults in this country lack the basic literacy skills required in a typical job. s s ameliorated by literacy instruction that includes a range of research-based components and practices. But, as the statistics testify, this type of instruction clearly has not made its way into every classroom. Indeed, a chasm exists between classroom instructional practices and the research knowledge-base on literacy development. Part of the responsibility for this divide lies with teacher preparation programs, many of which, for a variety of reasons, have failed to adequately prepare their teacher candidates to teach reading. Fortunately, this situation is being corrected, thanks in large part to recent basic research on reading that has allowed the community of reading scientists and educators to agree on what needs to be done. This new information about language, reading, and writing is just beginning to shape teacher preparation and instructional programs. This knowledge must also form the basis of high-quality professional development for practicing teachers. s s What Does the Research Say About Effective Reading Instruction? Well-designed, controlled comparisons of instructional approaches have consistently supported these components and practices in reading instruction: s Research indicates that, although some children will learn to read in spite of incidental teaching, others never learn unless they are taught in an organized, systematic, efficient way by a knowledgeable teacher using a  well-designed instructional approach. And, while many students from high-risk environments come to school less prepared for literacy than their more advantaged peers, their risk of reading difficulties could still be prevented and Direct teaching of decoding, comprehension, and literature appreciation; Phoneme awareness instruction; Systematic and explicit instruction in the code system of written English; Daily exposure to a variety of texts, as well as incentives for children to read  s s s TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 7 independently and with others; s Vocabulary instruction that includes a variety of complementary methods designed to explore the relationships among words and the relationships among word structure, origin, and meaning; Comprehension strategies that include prediction of outcomes, summarizing, clarification, questioning, and visualization; and Frequent writing of prose to enable a deeper understanding of what is read. Changing Teacher Preparation and Professional Development in Reading If higher standards and substantive courses of preparation are adopted now, the two million new teachers projected over the next decade may be equipped to minimize reading failure in all but a small percentage of students. To achieve that goal, a range of initiatives needs to be considered: s s s s Research should guide the profession. Core requirements and standards for new teachers should be established. Teacher education programs should be aligned with standards for students and licensing requirements for teachers. Professional development institutes should be created for professors of education and master teachers. Developers of textbooks and instructional materials should be encouraged to improve their products. High-quality professional development must be available for teachers. An investment in teaching should be made to attract and retain high-caliber teacher candidates. Toward a Curriculum for Teacher Preparation and Inservice Professional Development Because classroom instruction, more than any other factor, is crucial in preventing reading problems, it is a primary focus for effecting change. A comprehensive redesign of teacher preparation in reading instruction, founded on a core curriculum that defines the knowledge and skills necessary for effective practice, is vital to improved classroom instruction. Such a research-based core curriculum would provide much more extensive, demanding, and content-driven training to inform classroom practice. Specifically, a core curriculum for teacher preparation must include components for: s s s s s s Understanding reading psychology and development; Understanding the structure of the English language; Applying best practices in all aspects of reading instruction; and Using validated, reliable, efficient assessments to inform classroom teaching. s s s This core curriculum can also serve as the basis for inservice professional development for the vast number of current teachers who have not been exposed to the research-based knowledge. The fact that teachers need better training to carry out deliberate instruction in reading, spelling, and writing should prompt action rather than criticism. It should highlight the existing gap between what teachers need and what they have been given. It should underscore the obligation of teacher preparation programs to provide candidates with a rigorous, research-based curriculum and opportunities to practice a range of predefined skills and knowledge, as well as the need for licensing authorities to assess that knowledge. The knowledge and skills inherent in effective reading programs must be part of every teacher’s reading instruction repertoire. Good, research-based teacher preparation programs, coupled with high-quality professional development for classroom teachers, can assure that this is so. 8 / AFT TEACHERS Preventing Reading Failure: A Top Priority for Education I n today’s literate world, academic success, secure employment, and personal autonomy depend on reading and writing proficiency. All children who are capable of reading must be taught how to read; such is the fundamental responsibility of schooling. Although educators have long understood the importance of literacy, a series of recent studies goes a long way in elucidating the chain of cause and effect that supports the development of literacy. Convergent findings of high-quality research have clarified how children learn to read and what must be done to ensure that they do. Beyond doubt, reading early links one benefit to another. Enjoyment of reading, exposure to the language in books, and attainment of knowledge about the world all accrue in greater measure to those who have learned how to read before the end of first grade. Difficulty with the first steps of reading, in contrast, eventually undermines vocabulary growth, knowledge of the world, mastery of language, and skill in writing. Once behind in reading, few children catch up unless they receive intensive, individual, and expert instruction, a scarce (and expensive) commodity in most schools. 1 Far too many children have trouble reading and writing. About 20 percent of elementary students nationwide have significant problems learning to read; at least another 20 percent do not read fluently enough to enjoy or engage in independent reading. Thus it should not be surprising that, according to the United States Office of Technology, 25 percent of the adult population lacks the basic literacy skills required in a typical job. 2 Among those who do not make it in life—school dropouts, incarcerated individuals, unemployed and underemployed adults—are high percentages of people who cannot read. 3 Such realities have prompted the National Institutes of Health to regard reading development and reading difficulty as a major public health concern. For poor, minority children who attend low-performing urban schools, the incidence of reading failure is astronomical and completely unacceptable. AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, limited-English speaking students, and those from impoverished homes fall behind and stay behind in far greater proportion than their white, middle-class counterparts. The rate of reading failure in these groups is 60 percent to 70 percent according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 4 This figure alone explains much about the poor academic achievement of minority students and why they are under-represented in professions that depend on higher education. Environment, however, does not explain all. Many children from more advantaged, literacy-rich environments have trouble learning to read, and many children from high-risk environments do indeed learn to read. 5 California recently initiated a series of laws to reform reading education after 49 percent of students of college-educated parents scored â€Å"below basic† on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. One-third of poor readers nationwide are from college-educated families who presumably encourage literacy in the home. The tragedy here is that most reading failure is unnecessary. We now know that classroom teaching itself, when it includes a range of research-based components and practices, can prevent and ameliorate reading difficulty. Although home factors do influence how well and how soon stu- TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 9 Learning to read is not natural or easy for most children. Reading is an acquired skill. dents read, informed classroom instruction that targets specific language and reading skills beginning in kindergarten enhances success for all but a few students with moderate or severe learning disabilities. Scientists now estimate that 95 percent of all children can be taught to read at a level constrained only by their reasoning and listening comprehension abilities. 6 It is clear that students in high-risk populations need not fail at the rate they do. 7 When placed into schools with effective principals and well-prepared and wellsupported teachers, African-American, Hispanic, or students who are economically disadvantaged can learn to read as well as their more advantaged peers. 8 Further, students who lack the prerequisite awareness of sounds, symbols, and word meanings can overcome their initial disadvantage if teachers incorporate critical skills into lessons directly, systematically, and actively. 9 Thus, while parents, tutors, and the community can contribute to reading success, classroom instruction must be viewed as the critical factor in preventing reading problems and must be the primary focus for change. Ensuring effective classroom instructional practice is well within the purview of educational policymakers. 10 / AFT TEACHERS Where We Are: Taking Stock of Teacher Preparation in Reading The Difficulty of Teaching Reading Has Been Underestimated Teaching reading is a job for an expert. Contrary to the popular theory that learning to read is natural and easy, learning to read is a complex linguistic achievement. For many children, it requires effort and incremental skill development. Moreover, teaching reading requires considerable knowledge and skill, acquired over several years through focused study and supervised practice. Consider what the classroom demands of the teacher. Children’s interest in reading must be stimulated through regular exposure to interesting books and through discussions in which students respond to many kinds of texts. For best results, the teacher must instruct most students directly, systematically, and explicitly to decipher words in print, all the while keeping in mind the ultimate purpose of reading, which is to learn, enjoy, and understand. To accommodate children’s variability, the teacher must assess children and tailor lessons to individuals. She must interpret errors, give corrective feedback, select examples to illustrate concepts, explain new ideas in several ways, and connect linguistic symbols with â€Å"real† reading and writing. No one can develop such expertise by taking one or two college courses, or attending a few one-shot inservice workshops. Although reading is the cornerstone of academic success, a single course in reading methods is often all that is offered most prospective teachers. Even if well taught, a single course is only the beginning. Without deeper knowledge, the specific techniques of lesson delivery cannot be acquired, let alone knowledge of language, reading psychology, children’s literature, or the management of a reading program based on assessment. The demands of competent reading instruction, and the training experiences necessary to learn it, have been seriously underestimated by universities and by those who have approved licensing programs. The consequences for teachers and students alike have been disastrous. Why Have Teachers Been Left Unprepared? Why are the stringent demands of teaching reading and writing unrecognized in the design of preparation programs? In reading, at least, misunderstanding and lack of knowledge may play as big a role as institutional politics and budgetary constraints. What drives the mind of the reader is neither self-evident nor easy to grasp, and, consequently, many years of scientific inquiry have been necessary to expose the mechanisms of reading acquisition. Only recently has basic research allowed the community of reading scientists and educators to agree on what needs to be done. This new information about language, reading, and writing is just beginning to shape teacher preparation and instructional programs. This knowledge must also form the basis of inservice professional development for practicing teachers. The Knowledge Base for Teaching Reading Is Hidden, Extensive, and Complex Reading education is a field more vulnerable than many to faddish practices that TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 11  later prove to be untenable. Such is the risk whenever a human trait that becomes the subject of education is poorly understood. To appreciate why reading is one of psychology’s more mysterious phenomena, we must consider the nature of the linguistic communication that reading requires. Skilled reading happens too fast and is too automatic to detect its underlying processes through simple introspection. We read, but we cannot watch how our minds make sense out of print. The linkage of sounds and symbols occurs rapidly and unconsciously. The linguistic units that compose words, the single speech sounds (phonemes), syllables, and meaningful parts (morphemes), are automatically matched with writing symbols so that attention is available for comprehension. 10 Because our attention is on meaning, we are not aware of the code translation process by which meaning is conveyed. Until we are faced with a class of children who are learning how to read symbols that represent speech sounds and word parts, we may never have analyzed language at the level required for explaining and teaching it. Similarly, we may not know how a paragraph is organized or how a story is put together until we teach writing to students who do not know how to organize their thoughts. Thus, to understand printed language well enough to teach it explicitly requires disciplined study of its systems and forms, both spoken and written. When adults are evaluated on knowledge of language, even those who are educated exhibit rudimentary or cursory familiarity with concepts about our writing system that are insufficient for teaching children. Surveys measuring experienced teachers’ ability to identify speech sounds, spelling patterns, and word structures reveal confusions that are typical of most adults. 11 For example, the concept that a letter combination can represent one unique speech sound (ch, wh, sh, th, ng)—is unclear to a surprising number of elementary teachers. Many identify these units by rote but are unable to differentiate conceptually between these spelling units (digraphs) and two letters that stand for two distinct sounds (consonant blends such as cl, st, pr) or silent letter spellings that retain the sound of one consonant (kn-, wr-, -mb). Few adults can explain common spelling patterns that correspond to pronunciation and word meaning, such as why we double the consonant letters in words like misspell, dinner, and accommodate. A deeper, explicit level of knowledge may not be necessary to read the words, but it is necessary to explain pronunciation and spelling, where the words came from, and how spelling is related to meaning. 12 Some children learn language concepts and their application very easily in spite of incidental teaching, but others never learn unless they are taught in an organized, systematic, efficient way by a knowledgeable teacher using a well-designed instructional approach. Children of average ability might learn enough about reading to get by, but may not develop the appreciation for language structure that supports learning words from context, organization of the mental dictionary, comparing words, or precise use of language. 13 Yet teachers are seldom asked to study the language they teach or how its form carries its message. In addition, teachers are not born knowing the relationships among the basic skills of reading and reading comprehension. They may see that children read poorly in the middle and upper grades, but may not understand that proficiency in basic reading skill must be taught before students will progress. Without instruction and practice, teachers are unlikely to develop the questioning techniques and discussion strategies that promote thoughtful reading by groups of children. 14 Meaningful Professional Standards Are Absent Other complex and demanding professions insist on much more stringent training and preparation than that required of teachers. Pilots, engineers, optometrists, and art therapists, for example, must learn concepts, facts, and skills to a prescribed level, must conduct their practice under supervision, and must pass rigorous entry 12 / AFT TEACHERS examinations that are standardized across the profession. Continuing education to stay abreast of proven best practices is mandated. The public interest is protected by professional governing boards that monitor the knowledge base and oversee the competence of these licensed professionals. We, the consumers of these professional services, should be able to trust that any person holding a license has demonstrated competence and is accountable to his or her professional board of governance. No such rules or standards assure that teachers who instruct children in reading have mastered the relevant knowledge base and acquired the necessary skills. Even within large universities that prepare hundreds of teachers every year, there may be no curricular specifications or standards. What a teacher candidate learns depends on the professor he or she selects. What the professor teaches is determined solely by what the professor may know or believe. Courses in reading, which are typically limited to three credit TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE / 13 hours, are often taught by adjunct faculty who are accountable to no one. 15 Thus, preparation for teaching reading often is more grounded in ideology than evidence. 16 While the academic freedom that professors often invoke has a place in teacher education, its claim is not as absolute as it may be in the humanities. 17 Professional preparation programs have a responsibility to teach a defined body of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are based on the best research in the field. This is no less important in reading18 than it is in medicine or the law. Good Information Is Hard To Get Few of today’s popular textbooks for teacher preparation in reading contain information about the known relationships between linguistic awareness, word recognition ability, and reading comprehension. Few discuss in any useful detail how the English writing system represents speech. Basic concepts such as the differences between speech sounds and spellings, the fact that every syllable in English is organized around a vowel sound, and the existence of meaningful units (morphemes) in the Latin layer of English (about 60 percent of running text) are rarely explained. Few texts contain accurate information about the role of phonology in reading development, and few explain with depth, accuracy, or clarity why many children have trouble learning to read or what to do about it. Teachers are often given inaccurate and misleading information based on unsupported ideas. For example, in the recent past, one of the most common misconceptions has been that knowledge of the phonic system can be finessed with awareness of sentence structure and meaning. 19 Textbooks for teachers must attain a much higher standard of accuracy, currency, depth, clarity, and relevance if teachers are to be wellprepared to teach reading. 20 learn about spoken and written language concepts and to generate strategies for teaching students to read. Major classroom textbooks in language arts omit systematic teaching about speech sounds, the spelling system, or how to read words by sounding them out. 21 The most popular programs being used today are appropriately strong on literature, illustrations, cross-disciplinary thematic units, and motivational strategies for children, but very weak or simply wrong when it comes to the structure of English and how children actually learn to read the words on the page. 22 A recent review of major classroom reading programs shows that they continue to lack the content necessary to teach basic reading systematically and explicitly. 23 Can We Do Better? Comprehensive redesign of teacher preparation and inservice professional development is possible, but it must begin with a definition of the  knowledge and skills necessary for effective practice and demonstration of how these are best learned. Fortunately, leaders in the field— including the National Research Council panel on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children and the member organizations of the Learning First Alliance—have reached consensus regarding the agenda for change. 24 They agree that new teachers require much more extensive, demanding, and contentdriven training if discoveries from the reading sciences are to inform classroom practice. Specifically, teachers must understand the basic psychological processes in reading, how children develop reading skill, how good readers differ from poor readers, how the English language is structured in spoken and written form, and the validated principles of effective reading instruction. The ability to design and deliver lessons to academically diverse learners, to select validated instructional methods and materials, and use assessments to tailor instruction are all central to effective teaching. Classroom Instructional Programs Are Uninformative Inadequately prepared novice teachers often find themselves dependent on the information given in teachers’ manuals to 14 / AFT TEACHERS Only recently has basic research allowed the community of reading scientists and educators to agree on what needs to be done. Toward a Curriculum for Teacher Preparation and Inservice Professional Development core curriculum for teacher preparation and inservice professional development can be divided roughly into the following four areas: s A. Understanding knowledge of reading psychology and development; Understanding knowledge of language structure which is the content of instruction; Applying best practices in all aspects of reading instruction; and Using validated, reliable, efficient assessments to inform classroom teaching. s s s This core will, of course, be supplemented and honed in time, but its goal is to bring continuity, consistency, and comprehensiveness to preservice teacher education and to focus the content of continuing education and graduate programs. (For specific details on the curriculum content in these four areas see Appendix A. ) Knowledge of the Psychology of Reading and Reading Development Basic Facts About Reading If the findings of research psychologists, educators, and linguists were better known, the risk of unfounded and even harmful teaching practices would be reduced. Learning to read is not natural or easy for most children. Reading is an acquired skill, unlike spoken language, which is learned with almost any kind of contextual exposure. If learning to read were as natural as acquiring spoken lan-guage, many more societies would have written languages; human beings would have invented writing systems many thousands of years before we did; and everyone would learn reading as easily as ducks learn to swim. The prolonged, gradual, and predictable progression of skill in print translation attests to the difference between processing spoken and written language. Although surrounding children with books will enhance reading development, a â€Å"literature-rich environment† is not sufficient for learning to read. Neither will exposure to print ordinarily be sufficient for learning to spell, unless organized practice is provided. Thus, teachers must be reflective and knowledgeable about the content they are teaching, that is, the symbol system itself and its relationship to meaning. Research has shown that good readers do not skim and sample the text when they scan a line in a book. 25 They process the letters of each word in detail, although they do so very rapidly and unconsciously. Those who comprehend well accomplish letter-wise text scanning with relative ease and fluency. When word identification is fast and accurate, a reader has ample mental energy to think over the meaning of the text. Knowledge of sound-symbol mapping is crucial in developing word recognition: the ability to sound out and recognize words accounts for about 80 percent of the variance in first-grade reading comprehension and continues to be a major (albeit diminishing) factor in text comprehension as students progress through the grades. 26 The ability to sound out words is, in fact, a major underpinning that allows rapid recognition of words â€Å"by sight. † 16 / AFT TEACHERS Language knowledge and language proficiency differentiate good and poor readers. Before children can easily sound out or decode words, they must have at least an implicit awareness of the speech sounds that are represented by symbolic units (letters and their combinations). Children who learn to read well are sensitive to linguistic structure; recognize redundant patterns; and connect letter patterns with sounds, syllables, and meaningful word parts quickly, accurately, and unconsciously. 27 Effective teaching of reading entails these concepts, presented in an order in which children can learn them. The Characteristics of Poor and Novice Readers. Experts agree that reading and writing call primarily on deep linguistic processing, not on more peripheral auditory or visual perceptual skills. Language knowledge and language proficiency differentiate good and poor readers. As they begin to learn, poor readers are not less intelligent or less motivated; they are, however, less skilled with language, especially at the level of elemental linguistic units smaller than whole words. For this reason, they benefit from instruction that develops awareness of sounds, syllables, meaningful word parts, relationships among word meanings, and the  structures of written text. The language skills that most reliably distinguish good and poor readers are specific to the phonological or speechsound processing system. Those skills include awareness of linguistic units that lie within a word (consonants, vowels, syllables, grammatical endings, meaningful parts, and the spelling units that represent them) and fluency in recognition and recall of letters and spelling patterns that make up words. Thus, skilled reading presents a paradox: Those who can most easily make sense of text are also those who can most easily read nonsense. For example, children who comprehend well when they read also do better at tasks such as reading words taken out of context, sounding out novel words, and spelling nonsense words. 28 Intelligence and verbal reasoning ability do not predict reading success in the beginning stages as well as these specific linguistic skills. Although the purpose of reading is to comprehend text, teachers should also appreciate the relationships among reading components in order to teach all components well—in connection to one another and with the emphasis needed at each stage of development.