Thursday, December 26, 2019

Support Center For Student Veterans - 883 Words

Transfer of Learning The goal of this program will be to develop a support center for student veterans that will enhance the veteran’s cognitive development for achieving success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address their academic, financial, physical, and social needs. Caffarella and Daffron (2013) stress the importance of reasons for the planning of transfer of learning, the following will show how the veteran’s center developed the program to fulfill the reasons/needs for the center and program (p.215). The first reason being the ad hoc organization and the veteran students will ask for learning outcomes that apply practical knowledge to make a difference in the veteran’s efforts to balance the many personal, professional, and academic responsibilities in their lives. The veteran’s center and program provide this practical knowledge as shown in Table 1. The second reason the center and program will be developed is to help the veterans develop solut ions that will create a balanced approach to the responsibilities in their lives. The transfer of learning plan will be constructed to allow the veteran students to apply their learning to balance the difficult demands of their lives as previously stated (Caffarella Daffron, 2013, p. 215). Finally, the transfer of learning plan will assist the veterans to transfer their learning to reflect the changes they themselves need to make to translate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) (See AppendixShow MoreRelatedThe Gi Bill And How It Effected Student Equity1451 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Prior to this assignment student veterans were a portion of the student population that I had no prior experience or knowledge of interacting with outside the scope of my history of higher education course reviewing the components of the GI Bill. The assignment allowed me to get an in depth historical analysis of the GI Bill and how it effected student equity in higher education from its establishment. I have come to understand the services students veterans possess but as well as some of theRead MoreEssay On Veterans956 Words   |  4 Pagesof this past year the Veterans Success Center (VSC) has made huge strides in being more visible and more involved with other areas across campus. I wanted to concentrate on reaching the incoming student-veterans so that when they encountered the veterans program it appeared to be far more established than it was, and interaction with it being perceived as a daily opportunity. This meant that we would need to be far more involved with the early processes of becoming a student such as: Premiere NightRead MoreThe Funding Of Trio Programs1488 Words   |  6 Pagesserve students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of higher education. TRIO Programs specifically serve students who identify as low income, first generation, and/or disabled (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). Eight different programs fall under the umbrella of TRIO Programs: Upward Bound (sometimes referred to as Classic or Regular Upward Bound), Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, theRead MoreCollege Should Offer Learners Not Only A Strong Academic Awareness Essay1448 Words   |  6 Pagesfriendly, helping and nurturing place for students. Concern of scholar’s personal and academic well-being should always be in a center of Institution’s mission. The student service program I would like to offer would be called â€Å"Arizona Hope and Help† or â€Å"AHH†, and it would be focused on providing non-academic support for all â€Å"at-risk† students. The services, of course, would be provided free of charge to meet the unique and various needs of a large group of students at risk. In a highly competitive globalRead MoreAnne Arundel Community College ( Aacc )1348 Words   |  6 PagesHanover; the Glen Burnie Town Center; the Sales and Service Training Center in Arundel Mills mall; the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute in Glen Burnie; and the Center for Cyber and Professional Training across from Arundel Mills in Hanover; as well as offices at the Fort Meade Army Education Center. AACC also offers classes at more than 90 county locations including schools, churches and senior centers. The Arnold campus has many resources available for their students and surrounding communitiesRead MoreVeterans Of The United States1386 Words   |  6 Pages Veterans are heroes in the eyes of many citizens of the United States. There are over 20 million veterans who have risked their lives at young ages to help give this nation a fear free life. They serve and protect the land for their children, spouses, parents, family, and neighbors. Yet they are not treated with the love and respect they truly deserve. Those who have served took a devastating loss when the, â€Å"House Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the 2016 Veterans Affairs funding bill, andRead MoreAmerican Higher Education Of The Deaf And Dumb At Columbia University1413 Words   |  6 Pageschanges in federal civil rights protections for students with disabilities while facing both internal and external pressures on how to deal with persons with disabilities. The establishment of students with disabilities in an A merican higher education context found its start with the admission of students with sensory disabilities, primarily deaf and blind students. Changes because of the world wars poured federal funding into programs to assist veterans with acquired disabilities return to the workforceRead MoreVeterans : Veterans And The Veterans1426 Words   |  6 Pages Veterans are heroes in the eyes of many citizens of the United States. There are over 20 million veterans that have risked their lives at young ages to help give the nation a fear free life. They serve and protect the land for their children, spouses, parents, family, and neighbors. Yet they are not treated with the love and respect they truly deserve. The veterans took a devastating loss when the â€Å"House Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the 2016 Veterans Affairs funding bill, and slashed moreRead MoreTheu.s. Housing And Urban Development Essay1461 Words   |  6 Pagesin the number of homeless veterans. In fact, the U.S. H ousing and Urban development (H.U.D.) reports there are over 39,000 members of the armed services living on the street (2016). The main causes of homelessness among veterans include lack of housing, jobs, and access to healthcare (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, n.d.). Veterans run a higher risk of becoming homeless if they are: suffering from a mental illness or substance abuse problem; do not have a support system; or have a disabilityRead MoreObp Case Study919 Words   |  4 PagesObjective 2.1 Improve Academic Skills of OPC Participants (Target: 50% of enrolled OPC students will complete two required courses per Fall Spring semesters) In Year 3, the OPC Coordinators implemented the use of individualized service menus that represented an agreement between student and program of the student’s commitment to engaging in various academic success strategies and retention supports. The menus prioritized some activities and allowed greater choice among other others. In Year Four

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

What Is Bipolar Disorder. - 1101 Words

What is Bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a mental disorder. This condition primarily affects your mood and can cause extreme mood swings from elation to depression. Individuals with bipolar disorder can experience serious changes in thinking, energy and behaviour. If you have bipolar disorder you are likely to experience what are referred to as ‘episodes’ or states. The different types of episodes are; †¢ Mania – feeling extremely happiness or euphoria (high) †¢ Depressive episodes, also known as dysthymia (low) †¢ Psychotic states can also be observed with people with bipolar disorder during manic or depressive†¦show more content†¦This type presents itself with serious mood changes from mania and depression. These episodes can last days, weeks or months depending on the individual and how severe their episodes are. †¢ Bipolar 2 disorder – This is a milder form of bipolar disorder. The person still experiences mania and depressive episodes but they are not as extreme as bipolar 1. †¢ Cyclothymic disorder – This type describes a type of bipolar disorder that the person still experiences mania and depression, however, the episodes are short lasting and not as extensive. Diagnosis If you experience any of signs and symptoms above and believe you may have bipolar disorder you need to make an appointment with your GP. To help your doctor make a diagnosis they may ask the following; †¢ What symptoms are you experiencing? †¢ How long do your episodes last? †¢ How the symptoms affect your daily life? The doctor may perform some tests to rule out physical causes for your symptoms i.e. check your thyroid which can sometimes cause mania-like symptoms. If your doctor believes you to have bipolar disorder they will refer you to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, this mental health professional is the only person who can officially diagnose you with the disorder. If you intend to hurt yourself or others they will make this appointment immediately. If youShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Bipolar Disorder?1546 Words   |  7 PagesWhat Is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes uncommon shifts in mood, energy, ability to perform daily routines and another terminology is â€Å"manic-depressive illness†. According to American Psychiatric Association â€Å"Bipolar diagnosed patients can lead full and productive lives†. This isn’t by any means harmful or threatening but can be well managed, controlled and yield positives because it can be treated. How Can Bipolar Behavior Be Recognized? An individual can be inRead MoreWhat Are Bipolar Disorder?1240 Words   |  5 Pagestoday’s society that are diagnosed with mental illness, especially that of bipolar disorder, does not seem to come as much of a surprise to anyone. Yet, why is this? Is the recent over-diagnosis due in part to fault within the definition of what pediatric bipolar disorder actually is? Many believe this to be the case; while others support the notion that bipolar disorder is not over diagnosed and the recent prevalence of the disorder is the result of increased awareness on the part of health professionalsRead MoreWhat Is Bipolar Disorder?2131 Words   |  9 PagesWhat is bipolar disorder? The author of An Unquiet Mind, Kay Jamison, suffers from bipolar disorder a serious mental illness that has made its mark on her. â€Å"Manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder is a disorder of mood that involves recurrent episodes of abnormally elevated mood (mania) and depression.† (Burton pg.123 2009). Every case is different but all cases of bipolar have manic episodes followed by depressed states. From the decreased activity of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotoninRead MoreWhat Is Childhood Bipolar Disorder?2344 Words   |  10 Pages What is Childhood Bipolar Disorder? A Review of the Literature Barbara Diaz University of Houston-Downtown Author Note This paper was prepared for Psychology 4308, taught by Dr. Jennifer Montgomery Abstract Since the 1990s, the amount of children who are diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder have rocketed sky high. Children, like adults can possibly have neurological issues in the brain that does not allow them to function properly. These children are seen as hyperactiveRead MoreWhat ´s a Bipolar Disorder?1800 Words   |  8 PagesBipolar disorder is generally a term that society and the media have stigmatized as something horrid. A mental illness that has labeled the individual as crazy due to the extreme pendulum of mood swings. Where we know the individual diagnosed with the disorder is usually happy, sad, irritated, and depressed all in a short period of time. Often times when typically functioning people cringe at the idea of having the mental illness. For myself, I would have to honestly state that I was once one ofRead MoreWhat Bipolar I Disorder ( Bd )1529 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction When people are asked what bipolar I disorder (BD) is, responses often include, â€Å"Sometimes they’re really normal and then they get super mad,† â€Å"drastic mood swings,† â€Å"they’re psychotic,† â€Å"one can be very happy and excited but can also experience depression,† and the list is endless. Often, individuals who suffer with BD are stigmatized and discriminated. The following piece is part of a poem called â€Å"You and Me† written by Debbie Sesula, â€Å"...If you get angry /You’re considered upset/Read MoreWhat Is Bipolar 2, Well First Of Its A Disorder?969 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Bipolar 2...well first of its a disorder. A mental illness that effects everyone, yes more woman then men, and is world wide. Recently has been know to be heredity in the genes. A form of mental illness that has very few manic episodes and majority down, depressed episodes. Since with people with bipolar 2 never reach the full maniac stage. Yes these are the mood swings up and down, like the brain has a switch and just turns off the high and lows. The person doesn t feel in controlRead MoreUnderstanding Bipolar Disorder and Evaluating the Possible Causes and Treatments1261 Words   |  6 Pagesevery single detail of life is good. In order to understand what it is like to have your emotions throws around like they are in a hurricane, you must first understand what it is to be bipolar. If a person would like to better understand bipolar disorder, he would have to look at the life of a patient with the disorder, and understand the definition, causes, symptoms, and treatments for the disorder. Understanding exactly what bipolar disorder is can be difficult, but it is best described as a mentalRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Treatment854 Words   |  4 Pagesmedical condition known as bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is when a person suffers from severe shifts in mood and energy. In most cases, bipolar disorder can be treated and people with the illness can live normal and productive lives with the help of medication and or therapy. Aiken, C. (2010). Family Experiences of Bipolar Disorder: The Ups, the Downs and the Bits in Between. Retrieved from Ebsco Host. In this book the author discusses her own dealings with Bipolar Disorder. She goes on to say howRead MoreDo People Living With Bipolar Disorder Need Medication?1154 Words   |  5 Pagesliving with bipolar disorder need medication People living with bipolar disorder need medication to help them function at their full potential. Some people feel that people living with bipolar disorder do not need to be medicated to live a healthy fulfilling life. However to say this first a person must know what bipolar disorder is and how a person is affected by the disorder. According to Rachal Pollock PHD bipolar is described as a common recurrent, often lifelong major psychiatric disorder characterized

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Hughes Variety of Poetic and Literary Techniques Essay Example For Students

Hughes Variety of Poetic and Literary Techniques Essay Hughes uses a variety of poetic and literary techniques to communicate his tone. Namely, he utilized figurative language, personification, similes, and metaphors to effectively get his message across. He uses the repetition of Identical or salary vowel sounds; Does It dry up Like a raisin In the sun? . Up and sun do not rhyme, but they have the same uh sound. Rhyme: Poetry having correspondence in the terminal sounds of the lines. Does it stink like rotten meat? Like a syrup sweet? Meat and sweet rhyme. They have the same ending eat sound. Alliteration: The repetition of the same letter at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals. For example, the s sound in syrupy and sweet is repeated. This adds emphasis to the phrase. Imagery/Figurative language Longs Hughes uses a lot of imagery in this poem. Imagery is a specific language that describes sensory details. This gives a very vivid picture of the ideas In the poem. Dream Deferred Is almost all Imagery. An example of that would be; Or crust over Like a syrupy sweet? This sentence portrays a picture In my mind of a old crusty hard candy lying In a gutter covered In mud. Also, In the beginning of the poem, Hughes uses visual imaging/similes to compare a dream deferred to a raisin. Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun? . The once raisin healthy looking grape, has shriveled up to become a raisin. The question remains, why compare a dream deferred to a raisin? For one, the appearance of the raisin isnt emphasized, so the description isnt as significant as the simile. What Hughes is attempting to communicate is that like a raisin, a dream deferred shrivels up and turns dark because the sun has baked it (negative connotation). The comparison of the dream to withered raisin emphasizes how a dream that is postponed changes dramatically and will not turn out as the person originally Intended. Connotations For example, the word Stink has the denotation of having a strong unpleasant smell. Thus, It gives out the connotation of being nasty, ugly, and horrible smelling. Many instances of denotations/connotations are seen throughout this short poem. Personification The dream run(s). The entire poem gives inanimate objects characteristics that are human. Similes/Metaphors These two are seen consistently throughout the poem. For instance, It opens with a ere blatant like simile. This is Just one of many in the poem. In conclusion, Hughes uses a carefully arranged series of images that function as figures of speech to suggest that people should not delay their dreams because the more they postpone them, the more the dreams will change and the less likely they are to come true. Hughes Variety of Poetic and Literary Techniques By nurseryman effectively get his message across. He uses the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds; Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? . Up and sun do not rhyme, but they that describes sensory details. This gives a very vivid picture of the ideas in the poem. Dream Deferred is almost all imagery. An example of that would be; Or crust over like a syrupy sweet? This sentence portrays a picture in my mind of a old crusty hard candy lying in a gutter covered in mud. Also, In the beginning of the poem, and will not turn out as the person originally intended. Connotations Thus, it gives out the connotation of being nasty, ugly, and horrible smelling.

Monday, December 2, 2019

s Syndrome

Understanding and living with a child that has a syndrome is a heart breaking experience. Today over thousands of parents have to live with children that have down’s syndrome. Children are born frequently with this type of disorder. If someone close had a disorder would you understand what was going on or do you even know what I am talking about? In 1866 the study of Down’s syndrome began. Physician John Langdon Down published and essay in England. The essay talked about a set of children who all looked alike and had mental retardation. These children also looked like people from Mongolia. In 1960 the name Down’s Syndrome became know to people. In the twentieth century there was speculation of a case of Down’s Syndrome. In the 1930’s Waardenburg and Bleyer came up with the theory that it might be chromosomal abnormalities. Jerome Lejeune and Patricia Jacobs found the trisomy of the 21st chromosome. Jerome and Patricia worked separately on the project. A chromosome is a â€Å"thread-like structure composed of DNA and other proteins,† stated Len. Chromosomes are in every cell. They carry the gentic information to the cell to develop. â€Å"Genes, which are units of information, are ‘encoded’ in the DNA,† stated Len. A human is divided into mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is were the body grows. In mitosis one cell converts to two cells and has the exact number as there parents. Meiosis occurs in the ovaries and the testicles. The one cell will split into two cells. When this happens cells have half the chromosomes the parents have. Down’s syndrome or trisomy 21 is the most common autosomal trisomy. Mader stated â€Å"trisomy is having three of a particular type of chromosome,† and â€Å"autosomal is any chromosome other than the sex-determining pair.† Chromosome 21 usually has one copy and in Down’s Syndrome it has two. Down’s Syndrome has three copies in chromosome 21. In most cases the sperm had the extra 21 ch... 's Syndrome Free Essays on Down\'s Syndrome Understanding and living with a child that has a syndrome is a heart breaking experience. Today over thousands of parents have to live with children that have down’s syndrome. Children are born frequently with this type of disorder. If someone close had a disorder would you understand what was going on or do you even know what I am talking about? In 1866 the study of Down’s syndrome began. Physician John Langdon Down published and essay in England. The essay talked about a set of children who all looked alike and had mental retardation. These children also looked like people from Mongolia. In 1960 the name Down’s Syndrome became know to people. In the twentieth century there was speculation of a case of Down’s Syndrome. In the 1930’s Waardenburg and Bleyer came up with the theory that it might be chromosomal abnormalities. Jerome Lejeune and Patricia Jacobs found the trisomy of the 21st chromosome. Jerome and Patricia worked separately on the project. A chromosome is a â€Å"thread-like structure composed of DNA and other proteins,† stated Len. Chromosomes are in every cell. They carry the gentic information to the cell to develop. â€Å"Genes, which are units of information, are ‘encoded’ in the DNA,† stated Len. A human is divided into mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is were the body grows. In mitosis one cell converts to two cells and has the exact number as there parents. Meiosis occurs in the ovaries and the testicles. The one cell will split into two cells. When this happens cells have half the chromosomes the parents have. Down’s syndrome or trisomy 21 is the most common autosomal trisomy. Mader stated â€Å"trisomy is having three of a particular type of chromosome,† and â€Å"autosomal is any chromosome other than the sex-determining pair.† Chromosome 21 usually has one copy and in Down’s Syndrome it has two. Down’s Syndrome has three copies in chromosome 21. In most cases the sperm had the extra 21 ch...

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

504 Plans for Students with Dyslexia

504 Plans for Students with Dyslexia Some students with dyslexia are eligible for accommodations in school under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on a disability in any agency or institution which receives federal funds, including public schools. According to the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, students are eligible for accommodations and services, as needed, under Section 504 if they (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) have a record of such an impairment; or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment. A major life activity is one that an average person can complete with little or no difficulty. Learning, reading, and writing are considered major life activities. Developing a Section 504 Plan If parents believe their child needs a 504 plan, they must make a written request to ask the school to evaluate a child for eligibility for accommodations under Section 504. But teachers, administrators and other school personnel can also request an evaluation. Teachers might request an evaluation if they see a student having chronic problems in school and they believe these problems are caused by a disability. Once this request is received, the Child Study Team, which includes the teacher, the parents and other school personnel, meets to decide if the child is eligible for accommodations. During the evaluation, the team reviews recent report cards and grades, standardized test scores, discipline reports and talks with parents and teachers about school performance. If a child has been privately evaluated for dyslexia, this report will probably be included. If the student has other conditions, such as ADHD, a doctors report may have been submitted. The educational team reviews all of this information to decide if a student is eligible for accommodations under Section 504. If eligible, the team members will also offer suggestions for accommodations based on the individual needs of the student. They will also outline who, within the school, is responsible for implementing each of the services. Usually, there is an annual review to determine if the student is still eligible and to review the accommodations and see if changes need to be made. The General Education Teachers Role As the teacher, general educators should be involved in the evaluation process. During the evaluation, teachers are in a position to offer an insider view of the daily problems a student is having. This may mean completing a questionnaire to be reviewed by the team, or you may elect to attend the meetings. Some school districts encourage teachers to be in the meetings, giving their perspective and offering suggestions for accommodations. Because teachers are often the first line in implementing classroom accommodations, it makes sense for you to attend meetings so you better understand what is expected and you can voice objections if you feel an accommodation would be too disruptive for the rest of your class or too difficult to carry out. Once the Section 504 has been developed and accepted by the parents and the school, it is a legal contract. The school is responsible for making sure all aspects of the agreement are carried out. Teachers do not have the ability to decline or refuse to implement accommodations listed in the Section 504. They cannot pick and choose which accommodations they want to follow. If, after the Section 504 has been approved, you find that certain accommodations are not working in the students best interest or interfere with your ability to teach your class, you must talk with your schools 504 Coordinator and request a meeting with the educational team. Only this team can make changes to the Section 504 Plan. You may also want to attend the annual review. Usually Section 504 plans are reviewed on an annual basis. During this meeting the educational team will decide whether the student is still eligible and if so, whether the previous accommodations should be continued. The team will look to the teacher to provide information about whether the student utilized the accommodations and whether these accommodations helped the student within the classroom. Additionally, the educational team will look toward the coming school year to see what needs the student has.References: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities, Modified 2011, Mar 17, Staff Writer, U.S. Department of Education: Office for Civil Rights IEPs vs. 504 Plans, 2010 Nov 2, Staff Writer, Sevier County Special Education Section 504 Handbook, 2010, Feb, Kittery School Department

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Create a Mouseover Color Highlight Using Delphi

Create a Mouseover Color Highlight Using Delphi Have you ever seen a menu or table column or row highlight to a different color when your mouse hovers over it? Thats what our goal is here: to have a row become highlighted when the mouse pointer is within range. The TDBGrid Delphi component is one of the jewels of the VCL. Designed to enable a user to view and edit data in a tabular grid, the DBGrid provides various ways of customizing the way it represents its own data. For example, adding color to your database grids will enhance the appearance and differentiate the importance of certain rows or columns within the database. However, dont be fooled by over-simplistic tutorials on this topic. It might seem easy enough to just set the dgRowSelect property, but remember that when dgRowSelect is included in Options, the dgEditing flag is ignored, meaning that editing the data using the grid is disabled. What youll find below is an explanation on how to enable the OnMouseOver type of event for a DBGrid row, so that the mouse is recorded and located, making the record active so as to highlight the corresponding row in a DBGrid. How to Work With OnMouseOver and Delphi Components The first order of business is writing code for the OnMouseMove event in a TDBGrid component so that it can locate the DBGrids row and column (cell) that the mouse is hovering over. If the mouse is over the grid (handled in the OnMouseMove event handler), you can use the MoveBy method of a DataSet component to set the current record to the one displayed below the mouse cursor. type THackDBGrid class(TDBGrid);...procedure TForm1.DBGrid1MouseMove (Sender: TObject; Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);var gc: TGridCoord;begin gc: DBGrid1.MouseCoord(x, y); if (gc.X 0) AND (gc.Y 0) thenbegin DBGrid1.DataSource.DataSet.MoveBy (gc.Y - THackDBGrid(DBGrid1).Row); end;end; Similar code can be used to show which cell the mouse hovers over and to change the cursor when its over the title bar. In order to correctly set the active record, you need to hack a DBGrid and get your hands on the protected Row property. The Row property of a TCustomDBGrid component holds the reference to the currently active row. Many Delphi components have useful properties and methods that are marked invisible, or protected, to a Delphi developer. Hopefully, to access such protected members of a component, a simple technique called the protected hack can be used. With the code above, when you move the mouse over the grid, the selected record is the one displayed in the grid below the mouse cursor. Theres no need to click the grid to change the current record. Have the active row highlighted to enhance the users experience: procedure TForm1.DBGrid1DrawColumnCell (Sender: TObject; const Rect: TRect; DataCol: Integer; Column: TColumn; State: TGridDrawState);beginif (THackDBGrid(DBGrid1).DataLink.ActiveRecord 1 THackDBGrid(DBGrid1).Row) or (gdFocused in State) or (gdSelected in State) thenbegin DBGrid1.Canvas.Brush.Color : clSkyBlue; DBGrid1.Canvas.Font.Style : DBGrid1.Canvas.Font.Style [fsBold]; DBGrid1.Canvas.Font.Color : clRed; end;end; The OnDrawColumnCell event is used to handle the need for a customized drawing for the data in the cells of the grid. You can use a little trick to differentiate the selected row from all the other rows. Consider that the Row property (integer) is equal to the ActiveRecord (1) property of the DataLink object that the selected row is about to be painted. Youll probably want to disable this behavior (the MoveBy method in OnMouseMove event handler) when DataSet connected to a DBGrid is in Edit or Insert mode.​

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Democracy - Essay Example The entire organization will then implement the alternative choice that has the most number of votes. This is the normal situation in a corporation or partnership. This is also further exemplified by the yearly high school class election of officers. Democracy, in general, means that the government is run by people elected by the people within its territorial jurisdiction. Therefore, indirectly, the people control the government. The present day democracy has the three pillars of democracy. The three pillars are Initiative, Referendum and Recall where the government leaders go directly to the people to ask their opinions and approval of some national issues. Democracy comes from the Greek word meaning "rule by the people". Democracy has been accepted as the origin of democracy because it started when they right of democracy to a few minority of the adult inhabitants in the city. The three famous Greek philosophers, Plato, Aristotle & Thucidides, depicted democracy as the government of the ignorant or government of the poor. In the Federalist, James Madison assumed that democracy involved direct rule by the people and stated "democracies have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths (Hamilton et al., 1908) Democracy then was concentrated on the male voting population. ... Democracy has its advantages but it also has its disadvantages. On the other hand, there are countries where the people believe that their form of government is far superior in the democratic form of government. According to Sartori, Modern man wants a different kind of democracy (Santori, 1987) The Communist party of the Soviet Union has recently changed its stand on democracy. From its former stand of saying that democracies are a kind of sham where the workers are told that they could improve their economic position in life through the election ballot. Its new stand is that The Soviet Union, in its 1936 constitution, described itself as DEMOCRATIC institution. The regular election of the people's government representative is done in order to the elected officials to wake up to the reality that they owe their position to the people electing them. Henceforth, these people's representatives must do everything in their power to voice out and accomplish what their constituents want accomplished within the time period that they are in. The Americans formerly called democracy as REPUBLICAN form of government.But if democracy is the right for the people to vote either directly thru plebiscite.., or indirectly through electing their government representatives, is it still democracy when only a small sector of the entire population is allowed to vote or elect their representatives This is very evident in the African countries where the small population of whites is governing a largely black and colored population.Well, the answer depends on who is answering the question. For an white person, this is a democratic process but to a black and colored person, there is no democracy because they have no

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Human Resource Management-Research Project Research Paper - 1

Human Resource Management- Project - Research Paper Example Global organizations should engage in the best practices with regards to the people side of the organization because they can be a source of competitive advantages that can help them survive the mounting pressures of the fast-changing global business environment. Following a promotion that put me in charge of a junior employee at the City Bank, I have been tasked to recruit a replacement to my former Head of Finance position and to oversee the new recruit in discharging bank’s goals and objectives. After a thorough job analysis, I have developed a detailed job description, recruiting plan, Selection strategy (including testing and interviewing), performance evaluation, motivation, employee training, and development. Job Description City bank is a leading financial institution that seeks to recruit a self-driven and experienced Head of Finance; the successful candidate will take charge of the financial management function of the bank ensuring the establishment of appropriate fi nancial plans that will secure the bank’s assets from potential loss. The individual will be responsible for ensuring the bank has appropriate policies and processes and their optimal controls, and carrying out analyses and financial projections in support of the bank’s strategic growth, generate the annual financial budgets and monitoring of the bank’s progress versus these goals. The job also entails maintaining comprehensive yearly cash-flow forecasts, carrying out strategic financial analyses, ensuring the bank’s compliance with regulatory laws, maintaining good relationships with suppliers and other service providers, and supporting external auditing processes. In addition to that, the individual will develop and execute investment plans to ensure maximization of outcomes, continually review and upgrade the accounting systems and procedures in line with the bank’s operating systems, manage and optimize the IT platform to ensure efficiency in d ata keeping and retrieving. Recruitment Plan The key guidelines for the recruitment plan are the specific skills and competencies that are desirable for the position of the Head of Finance position in the bank, advertising mechanism, and the applications evaluation criteria. Applicants must have a Degree in accounting or financial management and at least 10 years’ worth of experience in financial services; desirable skills for the job include financial accounting, planning, and management expertise. Apart from that, prospective candidates must also be experienced in the development of banking policies and procedures, budgeting and budgetary controls. Knowledge of tax laws and regulations, excellent IT skills and in-depth knowledge of accounting software and staff management, development and discipline skills will be an added advantage.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sexual discrimination Essay Example for Free

Sexual discrimination Essay Sexual discrimination still happens in the workplace even if it has been outlawed many years ago through the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (The U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2002). While a firm may not be expressly vocal about it, certain cultures prevail that snobs sexual diversity. Conley and OBarr put it that the pension funds and other financial services industries are among those that are generally intolerant to gays or lesbians. This is the dilemma facing George Campbell, an executive at financial advisory firm Kirkham McDowell Securities. George has to make a decision concerning one of its employees decision to bring his partner to a major company social event. Adam Lawson, a 29-year old associate at Kirkham, has been with the firm for two years. During this period, Adam has proven his mettle by bringing in lucrative businesses for the company, a fact that is to be acknowledged in Kirkhams silver anniversary banquet. Adam is gay and has been living with a lawyer for five years. He told George that he intends to bring Robert to the banquet. George is fearful of how the firms clients would react to the action and how it would impact the business reputation and its bottom line. Problem Identification In this situation, Georges main problem lies with how certain groups of people would react to homosexuality. First, senior management may not approve of Adam announcing to the entire assembly that he is gay. Being traditional, these people may think that being gay is unacceptable and this could hurt Adams career. Second, the companys clients include those that are also conservative and traditional, and Adams bringing of his partner to the banquet could cause them to bring their business to another firm. Third, George is worried that Adams coming out would negatively impact Kirkhams reputation in the industry. Georges fears are well founded. He knows the corporate culture as he has been with the company for many years. Even in other industries, openly supporting gay and lesbians could harm customer relationship. As example, McDonalds partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has been met with criticisms from traditional sectors (The Traditional Values Coalition, 2008). This is the kind of issue that George wants to avoid. Supporting Facts, Assumptions and Analysis Workplace diversity is becoming the trend in many industries (McInnes, 2000). Even a conservative one such as the banking sector recognizes the benefits and advantages of encouraging and nurturing a diverse workforce. Bank of America has a very good diversity program in place that serves the company well. This is a fact that George Campbell should face with alacrity. This is an opportunity for the firm to be a catalyst of change in an industry that is discriminating to people because of their sexuality. By allowing Adam to bring Robert to the banquet, it would give Kirkham a reputation of being a fair employee. Treating its employees fairly translates to the company being fair in its other dealings, certainly a plus factor with any client. As Woods has said, choosing the ethical way would prove beneficial to the company in the long run. While George assumes the worst, he should not discount his own reaction to Adams disclosure. He did not find it repulsive to be working with a gay person. Taking this as an example, it is highly probable that their clients and the senior management would also have the open-mindedness to accept the fact and respect Adams private issues. Being a responsible manager, Georges consideration of all issues is called for. He is weighing the issue from all angles. But as Adam puts it, the matter wont be an issue if no one would make it so. Adams talking with George about it implies that he trusts the manager to be a fair and open-minded person. It also implies that Adam knows his worth as an employee and wants to be recognized and valued for his work and not because of his private life. Best Possible Solution The obvious solution to this problem is for George to support Adams decision. It would affirm Adams trust in him and lift the worry from the associates shoulders. It is high time for Kirkham to adapt to the changing dynamics in the workplace. Losey asserts that the best managers would take this action. Adam is a valuable asset to the company and Kirkham should not let his sexual orientation get in the way. Besides, Adams five-year partner is a respectable lawyer who could probably send clients their way. Also, if Adam wont be allowed to bring Robert, he would feel the discrimination deeply and this could result to his resignation from the company. Since Adam had come to Kirkham at 27, it is likely that he left his previous employer because of sexual discrimination. If this will be the ending, Adam could move to another company and bring with him his clients. Feasibility of Solution George is definitely taking a risk by openly supporting Adams sexuality. There are two probable results to the solution. The first one would make Georges fears come true. The firms most conservative clients would frown at the change and bring their business elsewhere. However, other firms could also be shifting their paradigms to embrace diversity, forcing the conservative clients to adapt. The second result would allay Georges fears. The clients would not mind dealing with a company that chooses to be legally and ethically correct. Should this happen, Kirkham would be bringing change not only to its offices but to other companies as well. Between the two, the second is more likely to happen as managers and companies understand the need to empower the workforce. One way of doing this is to encourage diversity in whatever form. The traditional and conservative clients may not be a hundred percent sold to the idea but it would be willing to tolerate a firm that produces good results.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Factors Affecting Research Culture at Universities in Pakistan Essay

Abstract— Research is an integral part of the higher education. Teachers and students spend weeks to find a good topic related to the field of study, data collection and analysis and finally in writing papers. Conducting research and writing papers creates a healthy activity amongst faculty and students which results in knowledge creation and emergence of research culture. Faculty at universities could be divided into two broad categories of teachers and researcher. These categories are good in their preferred field only. The challenges faced by the faculty related to research vary between private and public sectors too. However, this research shows that the leadership, curriculum, people, external environment and research experience are important factors for a research culture at universities. Keywords— research, university, higher education, leadership, faculty and inter-personal collaboration I. INTRODUCTION Research could be described as the first step in knowledge creation, which starts with search, passes through the steps of learning, teaching and ends at knowledge creation. Academia has an important role in the dissemination of knowledge to the wider society through direct and indirect interaction. A product of an individual, group or society of intelligent beings is known as culture, showing that culture is learnt through research. Therefore, the research culture can be defined as the act of knowledge creation, sharing and translated into action [1]. The term research culture is a combination of two words research and culture. The word research means â€Å"a careful or diligent search† or â€Å"the process of collecting information about a particular subject†. On the other hand the word culture could be explained as â€Å"the act ... ...ding for such activities are respected for their work as well as the funding that they attract [9]. Universities have two basic purposes of existence - teaching and research – both of which are public trust, therefore, the universities have to prove worthy of it. Universities in the developing countries are not allowed to perform independently. Furthermore universities lack resources if the government support is withdrawn. Therefore, they need to find necessary resources to be able to survive. This can be done by becoming innovative and accessible to as many as possible [11]; [12]; [13]. While studying the research culture in Caribbean universities, [14], it was mentioned that the research culture is one of the pre-requisites for a country to be able to find solutions to their problems rather than importing and adapting the knowledge created in other countries.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

With specific reference to the EU’s doctrine of direct effect, critically assess the extent to which EU law concerning commercial activities are enforceable within member states.

Introduction The extent to which EU legal rules and principles, concerning commercial activities, are enforceable within member states will be critically assessed in this essay. This will be done by reviewing certain aspects of EU law and considering the extent to which EU law can be invoked under the principle of direct effect. It will be shown that whilst individuals and businesses will be capable of invoking EU law through national courts, this will always be subject to restrictions to ensure that the market is not being distorted in anyway. Main Body The ‘direct effect’ principle is used to confer rights or impose obligations upon individuals in accordance with European Union (EU) law. National courts are bound under this principle to recognise and enforce certain EU legal rules and principles (Dashwood, 2008: 229). If EU law is inconsistent with a law of a member state, the doctrine of supremacy seeks to ensure that EU law prevails. Direct effect was first established in Case 26/62 Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen [1963] ECR 1 when it was held by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that individuals rights, as enshrined under the Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, were capable of being invoked before the courts of EU member states. This case demonstrated how EC Treaty provisions were directly effective against members states, and was a welcoming development in ensuring that member states complied with their Treaty obligations. As a result of this doctrine, EU law is enfor ceable within all member states, which has an overall impact upon many commercial activities. This was recognised by Moens and Trone who pointed out that; â€Å"the importance of this unique feature lies in the fact that it is futile for business people to seek to invoke a legal act of an EU institution which could not be relied upon in a national court† (Moens and Trone, 2010: 367). Firstly, in order to be able to rely on a legal act of an EU institution, it is necessary to establish whether the act is directly effective. If the act is not directly effective, then its provisions cannot be relied upon in a national court (Moens and Trone, 2010: 367). The ECJ in Van Gend en Loos formulated a test to determine whether a treaty provision has direct effect. In doing so, it was noted that a treaty provision will be directly effective where â€Å"a) its text is clear and unambiguous; b) it imposes and unconditional prohibition; and c) its implementation does not depend upon any further legislative action by the Member States† (Moens and Trone, 2010: 367). It was made clear in Case 2/74, Defrenne v SABENA [1974] ECR 631 that there exists two different types of direct effect; vertical and horizontal. Vertical direct effect is the relation between individuals and the state, whereas horizontal direct effect is the relation between individuals (Kaczorowska, 2013: 264). The ECJ in Belgische Radio en Televisie v SV Saban (127/73) [1974] ECR 51 held that the competition rules enshrined in Arts 101 (1) and 102 (previously Arts 81 (1) and 82 EC Treaty (TEC)) â€Å"tend by their very nature to produce direct effects in relations between i ndividuals†. National courts consequently have a duty to ensure that the relations between individuals are being adequately safeguarded. Arguably, individuals can not only seek protection under EU law against the state, but they can also seek protection against private individuals. Horizontal direct effect is generally used as a way for individuals to invoke EU legal rules and principles in respect of commercial activities. An example of this can be seen in Walrave v Association Union Internationale (36/74) [1974] ECR 1405; [1975] 1 CMLR 320 where the Court found that a measure, which affects a relationship between individuals, may be directly effective. Here, the prohibition of discrimination on the ground of nationality was deemed to have horizontal direct effect in respect of a relationship between individuals (employer and potential employee). Since the principle of direct effect was first established, citizens and undertakings have benefited substantially because of the fact that individual rights have been conferred upon them which the national authorities and courts must safeguard under EU law (Europa, 2013: 1). For example, Arts 101 and 102 TFEU are designed to ensure that competition within the EU is not restricted or distorted. This protects businesses and consumers from unfair competition and commercial practices by producing direct effects in relations between individuals. Art 101 (1) prohibits agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings or concreted practices which may affect trade between EU member states and which have as their object or effect their prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the EU as identified in Case C-41/90 Hofner and Elser [1991] ECR I-1979. Art 101 thus protects competitors and customers against dishonest behaviour, which is imperative in en suring free competition within the EU. The application of Art 101 has been subject to much controversy on the basis that it has been applied to broadly, thereby catching agreements that were not actually detrimental to competition (Whish, 2012: 115). This rendered Art 101 exorbitant and demonstrated the need for courts to apply it more rigidly (Bright, 1996: 535). Three categories of exemptions now apply to Art 101, namely; 1) commercial activities that are beneficial to consumers; 2) agreements of minor importance, and 3) block exemptions for different types of contract, such as vertical agreements (Bright, 1996: 535). As a result of these exemptions, the extent to which Art 101 is enforceable within member states is unclear and it is likely that consumers and businesses will have difficulty demonstrating that certain commercial activities fall within the ambit of this Article and subsequently invoking EU law against a private individual. EU competition law does not intend to stand in the way of legitimate commercial activities, but to instead promote and maintain fair competition within nation states (Europa, 2013: 1). Whilst this is often deemed necessary to prevent unfairness and to regulate anti-competitive conduct, unnecessary restraints are capable of being placed upon commercial activities (Rodger, et al; 2009: 103). Arguably, it is imperative that some exemptions do exist so that the application of Article 101 is not exorbitant. This ensures that any positive benefits stemming from an agreement are balanced against the restrictions that apply to Art 101. Article 102 TFEU is primarily aimed at preventing those undertakings who hold a dominant position in the market. Through the principle of direct effect, individuals will be capable of invoking this Article by showing that an undertaking who holds a dominant position in the market has abused its position as highlighted in Case 27/76, United Brands Continental BV v Commission (1978) ECR 207. Such abuse may include; unfair purchase selling prices, unfair trading conditions, restricting production and applying different provisions to similar transactions (Kennedy, 2011: 237). A degree of uncertainty surrounds the scope of Art 102 because of how serious a finding of infringement would be, which renders the extent to which Art 102 is being enforced in member states unclear. For a firm to be dominant, it is not necessary for there to exist no competition at all and instead it merely needs to be shown, as identified in Case 85/76 Hoffman-La Roche v Commission [1979] ECR 461, that the firm has an â€Å"appreciable influence on the conditions under which the competition develops†. It is likely to be extremely difficult for a private individual to establish that a firm has an appreciable influence on the conditions under which the competition develops and as such it is again questionable how far Art 102 will go in protecting private individuals and businesses through the principle of direct effect. Regulations are also subject to direct effect, meaning that they will be directly applicable in all EU member states, as provided for by Art 288 (ex Art 247 T EC). This was illustrated in Case C-253/00 Munoz [2002] ECR I-7289 when it was stated that â€Å"regulations operate to confer rights on individuals which the national courts have a duty to protect†. EU decisions and Directives are also directly effective in member states, as signified in Foster v British Gas (1990) C-188/89. This case exemplified the courts willingness to confer horizontal direct effect upon individuals and signified how EU law concerning commercial activities are enforceable within member states. Conclusion Overall, whilst there are some restrictions in place to regulate the application of EU law, it is evident that many EU rules and regulations will be capable of being enforced within all member states. This is necessary when it comes to commercial activities as it is important that some form of protection exists to prevent the market from being abused. The extent to which EU law applies will always be subject to some controversy because of the fact that certain exceptions will apply. Though this is necessary in preventing abuse and ensuring that a balance is being maintained. The extent to which this balance is achieved is likely to be open to much debate though it is evident that member states have made some attempt to invoke EU law provisions concerning commercial activities. References Bright, C. (1996) ‘EU Competition Policy: Rules, Objectives and Deregulation’ Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, Volume 16, Issue 4, 535-559. Dashwood, A. (2008) ‘The Principle of Direct Effect in European Community Law’, Journal of Common Market Studies, Volume 16, Issue 3, 229-245. Europa. (2013) ’50 Years of Direct Effect of EU Law Benefitting Citizens and Companies’ Press Release Database, [Online] Available: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_CJE-13-56_en.htm [27 August, 2014]. Rodger, B. MacCulloch, A. and Galloway, J. (2009) Cases and Materials on UK and EC Competition Law, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Kaczorowska, A. (2013) European Union Law, Routledge: London. Kennedy, T. P. (2011) European Law, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Moens, G. and Trone, J. (2010) Commercial Law of the European Union, Springer Science & Business Media: London. Whish, R. (2012) Competition Law, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Cases Belgische Radio en Televisie v SV Saban (127/73) [1974] ECR 51 Case 85/76 Hoffman-La Roche v Commission [1979] ECR 461 Case C-41/90 Hofner and Elser [1991] ECR I-1979 Case 27/76, United Brands Continental BV v Commission (1978) ECR 207 Defrenne v SABENA [1974] ECR 631 Foster v British Gas (1990) C-188/89 Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen Case 26/62, [1963] ECR 1 Walrave v Association Union Internationale (36/74) [1974] ECR 1405; [1975] 1 CMLR 320

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi Essay

Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi were peacefully resistant social activists who used their views and outlooks on how life should be to change the world around them. While Aung San Suu Kyi lived in Burma and fought for a democracy in her country, Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for equal rights in America. During the movements they were leading and participating in, both Suu Kyi and King wrote exceptionally touching writings that are still seen as huge pieces of history today. Their writings touched people by showing them how extremely flawed their societies really were. During Martin Luther King, Jr.’s time in jail, he wrote a letter that is titled, â€Å"The Letter from Birmingham City Jail,† which explained that he was in Birmingham Jail because injustice was there, and he tells about how there should not be segregation. By contrast, in Aung San Suu Kyi’s writing, â€Å"In Quest of Democracy,† she wrote about her views on democracy and he r efforts to create one. They both wanted equality and more rights through non-violent means, and the way they wrote about those desires for justice was stirring to their people because each told familiar stories that related to personal experiences that their people had. Throughout all of King’s anti-segregation efforts, he was the head of many movements that impacted thousands. For instance, King was involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Albany Movement, Birmingham Campaign, March on Washington, the Chicago Housing Movement, and a few others. While King was in jail, he wrote a letter addressing the wrong things that were done to him and how he thought it was unjust. In his letter he wrote, â€Å"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere† (204). By saying this, he showed that the reason he was in Birmingham fighting for civil rights was because equal rights has to start somewhere, and once it starts, it will spread. Martin Luther King, Jr. shows how the States are hypocritical bec ause they claim, â€Å"The goal of America is freedom,† but yet they are being governed by Jim Crow Laws (215). King used the power of words and non-violent resistance to start a movement that changed the world. Aung San Suu Kyi was a woman that lived in Burma,  and after she studied abroad for a while, she returned to see how isolated her country was. She then made efforts to speak out against her dictator, U Ne Win, and start a movement toward a democracy and human rights. When Suu Kyi’s efforts started reaching other people and a movement was started, she was put under house arrest and all ties to the outside world were cut off. Aung San Suu Kyi wrote the piece, â€Å"In Quest of Democracy† to try to spread her efforts to make Burma a democracy. Suu Kyi explains how the government is at fault for a country’s despairs by saying, â€Å"The root of a nation’s misfortunes has to be sought in the moral failings of the government† (221). Suu Kyi also used her religion to help spread her movement of a democracy. For example, she use non-violence, which is the eighth of The Ten Duties of Kings. Finally, since Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest, her movement ended with her isolation. Next, Aung San Suu Kyi and Martin Luther King Jr. were able to express their beliefs non-violently in their countries. Throughout both of their lives they followed Gandhi’s non-violence movement. While King stated, â€Å"Nonviolent campaigns aimed at ending racial segregation across the South† (202), Suu Kyi also â€Å"peacefully used democracy to reverse the process of decline† (222). While Christian was the main religion in America, Buddhism was the main religion in Burma. King and Suu Kyi used allusions to the scriptures of their religions to touch their people. Both King and Suu Kyi were extremely passionate about their movements and were determined to do anything they had to in order to reach their goals. Suu Kyi explains how, â€Å"In Burma, distanced by several decades of isolationism from political and intellectual developments in the outside world†. (220) Finally, they both had similar morals in the fact that they wanted equal rights for all humanity even though Suu Kyi was on house arrest and King was suppressed from being a different ethnicity. All in all, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi were social activists who created movements from their own views that changed many peoples’ lives. Both supported and acted in a non-violent way. Therefore, Aung San Suu Kyi fought against the dictator of her country in order to form a democracy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for anti-segregation, so that all Americans, no matter what ethnicity, would be treated equally. Each of them showed the people of their country how flawed their nation was by  writing pieces while imprisoned for committing no crime. For instance, in Amnesty International, it stated â€Å"She had committed no crime† (Amnesty International) describing how Suu Kyi was imprisoned for doing nothing wrong. Finally, both Aung San Suu Kyi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were persistent activists who aspired and conquered their goals and ambitions to the best of their ability. Works Cited Austin, Michael, and Karen Austin. Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007. Print.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How To Measure Mass Using a Balance

How To Measure Mass Using a Balance Mass measurements in chemistry and other sciences are performed using a balance. There are different types of scales and balances, but two methods can be used on most instruments to measure mass: subtraction and taring. Key Takeaways: Measure Mass Using a Balance A balance or scale is an instrument used to measure mass in the science laboratory.One common method of measuring mass is to tare the scale and measure the mass directly. For example, this is how people weigh themselves.The other common method is to place a sample into a container and measure the mass of the container plus sample. The mass of the sample is obtained by subtracting the mass of the container. Proper Use of a Balance Before using a balance, its important to take some preliminary steps. This will help ensure you get the most accurate and precise measurement. Be sure you understand how to use a balance before taking mass measurements.The balance should be clean and free of debris.The balance should be on a level surface.Never place a sample directly on the balance. You should use a weighted boat, weighing sheet, or another container to hold the sample. Some chemicals you may use in a lab could corrode or otherwise damage the surface of the weighing pan. Also, make certain your container will not chemically react with your sample.If the balance has doors, be certain to close them before taking a measurement. Air movement impacts the accuracy of mass measurements. If the balance does not have doors, make certain the area if free of drafts and vibrations before measuring mass. Mass by Difference or Subtraction If you place a container full of sample and weigh it, youre getting the mass of both the sample and the container, not just the sample. To find the mass: mass of sample mass of sample/container - mass of container Zero the scale or press the tare button. The balance should read 0.Measure the mass of the sample and container.Dispense the sample into your solution.Measure the mass of the container. Record the measurement using the correct number of significant figures. How many this is will depend on the particular instrument.If you repeat the process and use the same container, do not assume its mass is the same! This is particularly important when you are measuring small masses or are working in a humid environment or with a hygroscopic sample. Mass by Taring When you use the tare function on a scale, you are making certain the reading starts from zero. Usually, there is a labeled button or knob to tare the balance. With some instruments, you need to manually adjust the reading to zero. Electronic devices do this automatically, but require periodic calibration. Zero the scale or press the tare button. The scale reading should be 0.Place the weighing boat or dish on the scale. There is no need to record this value.Press the tare button on the scale. The balance reading should be 0.Add the sample to the container. The value given is the mass of your sample. Record it using the proper number of significant figures. Sources of Error Whenever you take a mass measurement, there are several potential sources of error: Air gusts may push the mass up or down.Buoyancy can affect measurements. Buoyancy is directly proportional to the air volume that is displaced and is affected by air density changes due to temperature and pressure fluctuations.Condensation of water on cold items may increase apparent mass.Dust accumulation can add to mass.Evaporation of water from damp items may change mass measurements over time.Magnetic fields may affect components of the scale.Temperature changes can cause components of the balance to expand or contract, so a measurement taken on a hot day may differ from one taken on a cold day.Vibration may make it difficult to obtain a value, as it will fluctuate. Is It Mass or Weight? Remember, a balance gives you a mass value. The mass would be the same whether you measured it on the Earth or on the Moon. On the other hand, the weight would be different on the Moon. While its common to use the terms mass and weight interchangeably, they are only the same values on Earth! Sources Hodgeman, Charles, Ed. (1961).  Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 44th Ed. Cleveland, USA: Chemical Rubber Publishing Co.  pp.  3480–3485.Rossi, Cesare; Russo, Flavio; Russo, Ferruccio (2009). Ancient Engineers Inventions: Precursors of the Present. History of Mechanism and Machine Science. ISBN 978-9048122523.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

When the Standard Deviation Is Equal to Zero

When the Standard Deviation Is Equal to Zero The sample standard deviation is a descriptive statistic that measures the spread of a quantitative data set. This number can be any non-negative real number. Since zero is a nonnegative real number, it seems worthwhile to ask, â€Å"When will the sample standard deviation be equal to zero?† This occurs in the very special and highly unusual case when all of our data values are exactly the same. We will explore the reasons why. Description of the Standard Deviation Two important questions that we typically want to answer about a data set include: What is the center of the dataset?How spread out is the set of data? There are different measurements, called descriptive statistics that answer these questions. For example, the center of the data, also known as the average, can be described in terms of the mean, median or mode. Other statistics, which are less well-known, can be used such as the midhinge or the trimean. For the spread of our data, we could use the range, the interquartile range or the standard deviation. The standard deviation is paired with the mean to quantify the spread of our data. We can then use this number to compare multiple data sets. The greater our standard deviation is, then the greater the spread is. Intuition So let’s consider from this description what it would mean to have a standard deviation of zero. This would indicate that there is no spread at all in our data set. All of the individual data values would be clumped together at a single value. Since there would only be one value that our data could have, this value would constitute the mean of our sample. In this situation, when all of our data values are the same, there would be no variation whatsoever. Intuitively it makes sense that the standard deviation of such a data set would be zero. Mathematical Proof The sample standard deviation is defined by a formula. So any statement such as the one above should be proved by using this formula. We begin with a data set that fits the description above: all values are identical, and there are n values equal to x. We calculate the mean of this data set and see that it is   x (x x . . . x)/n nx/n x. Now when we calculate the individual deviations from the mean, we see that all of these deviations are zero. Consequently, the variance and also the standard deviation are both equal to zero too. Necessary and Sufficient We see that if the data set displays no variation, then its standard deviation is zero. We may ask if the converse of this statement is also true. To see if it is, we will use the formula for standard deviation again. This time, however, we will set the standard deviation equal to zero. We will make no assumptions about our data set, but will see what setting s 0 implies Suppose that the standard deviation of a data set is equal to zero. This would imply that the sample variance s2 is also equal to zero. The result is the equation: 0 (1/(n - 1)) ∑ (xi - x )2 We multiply both sides of the equation by n - 1 and see that the sum of the squared deviations is equal to zero. Since we are working with real numbers, the only way for this to occur is for every one of the squared deviations to be equal to zero. This means that for every i, the term (xi - x )2 0. We now take the square root of the above equation and see that every deviation from the mean must be equal to zero. Since for all i, xi - x 0 This means that every data value is equal to the mean. This result along with the one above allows us to say that the sample standard deviation of a data set is zero if and only if all of its values are identical.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Education to Children of Illegal Immigrants Essay

Education to Children of Illegal Immigrants - Essay Example At the height of immigration to North America, the country coined the title â€Å"land of opportunity.† Denying free education to children of illegal immigrants defies the American dream and the hopes that people had for the new country (Schrag, 2010). Free education for all was the main factor that differentiated America from other European nations. American progress and development was based on the government’s ability to create uniformity among its citizens through free education for all. The American legal system recognizes a child as a person who is below the age of 18 years. Such individuals are not entitled to voting or making major decisions concerning their life. In addition, the US is a leading nation in terms of respect for human rights. It is evident that most children are illegal immigrants out of their own choice. Most of the children were born when their parents had already immigrated to the country. Thus, these children cannot be identified as illegal im migrants since they did not make a choice to be in the country. The government should respect their rights to free education until they are old enough to make concrete decisions about their citizenship. The American government should consider the long-term impacts of denying free education to the immigrants. Obviously, most immigrants have hopes of becoming legal citizens of the United States. If the government continuously denies education to its citizens based on their migration status, the country will experience an education gap (Hing, 2004). Education is a major factor in the country’s development, and hence the country should not tolerate illiteracy. Denying education to such children will create long-term economic hardships for the country. Educating children prevents them from... The American government should consider the long-term impacts of denying free education to the immigrants. Obviously, most immigrants have hopes of becoming legal citizens of the United States. If the government continuously denies education to its citizens based on their migration status, the country will experience an education gap (Hing, 2004). Education is a major factor in the country’s development, and hence the country should not tolerate illiteracy. Denying education to such children will create long-term economic hardships for the country. Educating children prevents them from engaging in other social evils such as crime, drug abuse, and terrorism. Therefore, the government should provide free education to the children of illegal immigrants to promote their integration into the American society.America has a global obligation that goes beyond its domestic affairs. However, due to economic constraints, America often overlooks its global obligations. America’s in volvement in global politics and economics has made the country a key factor in promoting stability and development. Since the end of World War II, the United States has been involved in all conflicts around the world. Most of these conflicts create immigrants, most of whom end up in America. For instance, the Cold War forced many people from former Soviet states to immigrate to America for fear of persecution. Lack of proper immigration policies made most of the immigrants end up in America as illegal immigrants.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Three questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Three questions - Essay Example A research was conducted, on managerial communication in hospital nursing, to identify obstacles and strategies to overcome these barriers. The research study involved the use of a qualitative approach that used 19 nurses from a university hospital. Semi-structured and vignette interviews were used as a mode of collecting data, and thematic analysis was employed as the technique of data analysis (dos Santos et al, 2012). The results garnered from the analysis of the participant nurses’ response to the interview questions provided interesting indicators. The results illustrated that there was fragmentation of work processes, work team involvement, work shifts and resistance to change (dos Santos et al, 2012). To counter these difficulties and challenges, training programs and workshops were held, which were meant to impart the basic and necessary communication skills essential to successful nursing practice. The training covered aspects such as formalization of conduct, communi cation and optimization of communication (Dos Santos et al. 2012). The results were able to illustrate the importance of effective communication in the execution of nursing duties. This is because communication affects the way that change is executed; this is in the sense that effective communication makes it easier for people to accept change. ... A negative attitude will negate their efforts in a manner that will diminish their ability or efforts in carrying out their duties. Attitude determines whether an individual is motivated or not towards their job or other responsibilities they are tasked with executing. In a work situation, the motivational levels of employees towards their work are a significant factor that should be considered by those heading human resource departments (HR) (Oldham & Hackman, 2010). This is because employees are highly motivated to improve operations in the workplace that results into better production of goods and services. HR managers should ensure that the job description of any task, which employees are delegated to, has an element (s) that serves to boost their morale, which translates to a positive attitude in the employee towards their work detail. When employees are given jobs that they deem demeaning or oppressive to them, they develop a negative attitude towards their job. This limits the ir performance, which usually manifests in the quality of the work done at the end of the day (Oldham & Hackman, 2010). To ensure that employees are satisfied with the type of work they are delegated, HR managers should adopt mechanisms of involving their employees in job design and implementation. This gives employee the chance to influence and have a say in matters that affect them directly. Involving employees in job design and implementation helps a firm achieve enhanced employee harmony, satisfaction, loyalty and the overall increase in productivity (Oldham & Hackman, 2010). Maslow’s theory states that humans are driven by their needs that predispose them to self-actualization that motivates

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Leadership Philosophy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership Philosophy - Research Paper Example The importance that has been given to this area of research is the importance of leadership on employees, performance and overall success of the organizations. There have been a lot of facts and myths associated with the concept of leadership. In the past, leadership was linked by people with the superhuman characteristics bestowed by God to various leaders. This idea was further developed by Weber and named as Charisma by him. The leadership charisma involved the qualities and special characteristics that leaders posses. The leaders having leadership charisma are Charismatics. The concept of Charisma actually directs towards the special power and influence of Charismatics over the followers (Rickards & Clark, p79). In addition to the concept of charisma in leadership, it has been a point of debate if leadership skills are inborn or they can be taught. Researchers have been struggling to find an appropriate answer to this. However, it is not unjust to say that the answer to this ques tion contains an equal portion of both statements. The answer to this question has been given attention for the reason that it may help organizations have effective leaders. Brainpower is the only thing that requires being in a person naturally. Knowledge can be gained, skills can be learnt but intelligence cannot be generated. A person needs to be intelligent and sharp in order to gain knowledge and utilize it. Leadership requires certain traits in a person. These traits include strength of mind, interest to resolve issues, ready to face challenges, power to proceed with plans, will to succeed, determination and passion (Levicki, 2008). Personal Values of my Leadership Leadership qualities, theories and concepts are valuable and useful when it comes to practical life. The leadership skills are not limited to benefit in businesses but are useful in leading all teams including the political, social, cultural and virtual ones. The leadership techniques, qualities and skills are of par amount importance in successfully handling the followers. Religious and political leaders may be taken as a helpful example of how influential leaders are. My personal experiences helped a lot in learning the concept of leadership in a better way. The theory and practice of leadership differ in some ways. However, the theory and literature on leadership helps in understanding and building a better and more influential personality to handle and motivate the followers. To make my opinion more clear and effective I would describe Managerial work and leadership. Since my personal life involves being a financial manager who directly reports to the president of the company I know quite about the concepts of leadership. The step by step development of my career and promotions helped me in understanding which traits are valued and which ones are not. Managerial work is closely linked to leadership. A leader is a person who carry out plans and knows what to do, whereas, a manager is a person who knows how to do things and how would they actually complete a particular task. For instance, a student who is making a plan to carry out a stage performance on some occasion and take the responsibility to select

Monday, October 28, 2019

Microprocessor Based Water Level Controller Communications Essay

Microprocessor Based Water Level Controller Communications Essay A microprocessor incorporates almost all of the functions of a CPU on a single integrated circuit .The first of the microprocessors emerged in the early 1970 since then they are being used for electronic calculators. Computer were for a long period constructed out of small and medium-scale Integrated circuits containing the equivalent of a few to a few hundred transistors. The integration of the whole CPU onto a single chip helped a lot and therefore greatly reduced the cost of processing capacity. Other embedded uses of 4 Bit 8-bit microprocessors, such as printers, various kinds of automation etc, followed rather quickly. Affordable 8-bit microprocessors with 16-bit addressing also led to the first general purpose microcomputers in the mid-70s. From their humble beginnings continued increases in microprocessor capacity have rendered other forms of computers almost completely obsolete with one or more microprocessor as processing element in everything from the smallest embedded systems and handheld devices to the largest mainframes and supercomputers. Since the early 1970, the capacity of microprocessors have increased which suggests that the complexity of an integrated circuit, with respect to minimum component cost, doubles every two years. In the late 1990s, and in the high-performance microprocessor segment, heat generation due to switching losses, static current leakage. What is a Water Level Controller? It ia a Product which makes you tension free. It Avoids wastage of water, microprocessor based water level controller is technically advanced and simple to use, It switches ON when the water in the over tank drops down below level and puts OFF the pump when the water level rises above level. When the sump reaches valve level the system switch OF the pump automatically and switches ON the pump when the water reaches full level, BASIC INTRODUCTION: The circuit described here control the water level inside a tank. There are two different modes of operation.. The first is empty mode and it will take the water out of the tank, the pump will be used to suck the water until the water level drop below the lower level. The second is fill mode. Here the pump will be used to fill the tank, the pump will be activated until the water level reach the upper limit. Here is the schematic diagram of the water level controller circuit: The circuit uses NOR logic gates, only one integrated circuits package and one transistor is needed for the active components, very simple design. The default position of SW1 is empty mode, just switch to other position to make the water level controller works in fill mode operation. The relay can be used to control almost any type of water pump motors. Please be aware that this circuit works only with water or other electrically conductive liquids. MICROPROCESSOR BASED WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER: The water level Controller is a trustworthy circuit. it takes over the task of checking and Controlling the level of the water in the water tanks. The water level is displayed in the LED graph. The cu probes are used to detect the water level, These are inserted into the tank which is to be monitored. This water-level Controller-cum-alarm circuit is configured around the 8 bit Microprocessor 8085, It continuously monitors the overhead water level and display it and it will automatically switch On and off. All the input and output functions are done through the Programmable Peripheral Interface IC 8255. Basic block Diagram: Features very stable. Easily adjusted for operating requirements. Instant reversion to emergency. microprocessor basePID/Fuzzy controller. Principle The Autonics Water Level Modulating controlsystem is a single element Electro-pneumatic control with a pneumatic Positioner and PID/Fuzzysystem, The system comprises a Transmitter, converter module float chamber, a feedline modulating control valve and an electronicmicroprocessor based PID/FUZZY controllers. LEVEL TRANSMITTER Description The Autonic Water Level Modulating control system is a single element Electro-pneumatic control with a positioner and PID auto tuning system. A Level Transmitter with double-float chamber mounted on the boiler shell, fitted with a coil which can be make according to the requirement. A flanged mount fully stainless steel Control valve, fitted with a positioner and pneumatic actuator, which is mounted in the boiler feedline. A microprocessor-based PID/FUZZY Level controller is mounted on the control panel. An electronic Converter module is also mounted on the control panel. Operation A positive change of water level in the boiler alters the level transmitter inductance value of coil causing an imbalance in the system; This signal is transmitted through the electronic control box and connected to PID controller. Then the microprocessor-based PID level controller transmitted an electrical signal to the pneumatic positioner to position and adjusts the position of control valve. A additional low/high water level alarm or burner cut out contact are also provided in the microprocessor-based level controller with the adjustable setting position. Control valve The V control valve has many different inserts for precision throttling control. The inserts are pinned to the END CAPS and are used in conjunction with any of our standard seats. They are designed to change the flow characteristics of the valve and are offered in different shapes to meet a variety of modulating application. For very low C v applications. a specially designed â€Å"Soft† V insert incorporate both the flow element and the ball seal into one component, and maintains continuous contact with the ball. This arrangement provides excellent low end accuracy (EQ%) and repeatability ADVANTAGES OF WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER: Saves electricity Can be used any type of pumps Protection to the pump, LED Indication to monitor the water level in the over had tank and sump Low voltage and High voltage cut off (Working Range: 160v to 260v) Motor control: Direct switching up to 1 HP, through starters for ranges above. Application of water level controller: Residential buildings, Apartments, Hospitals, Educational Institutions, Hostels, Hotels, etc. In maximum homes water is first stored in an underground tank and from there it is pumped up to the tank located at the roof. People normally switch on the pump when their taps go dry and switch off the pump when the tank starts overflowing, which results in the unnecessary wastage and sometimes non-availability of water in the case of emergency which is to be controlled and corrected. The author used a piece of non-metallic conduit pipe (generally used for domestic wiring) slightly longer than the depth of the overhead tank. The common wire C goes up to the end of the pipe through the conduit. The wire for probes L and H goes along with the conduit from the outside and enters the conduit through two small holes bored into it as shown in Fig. 2. Care has to be taken to ensure that probes H and L do not touch wire C directly. Insulation of wires is to be removed from the points shown. The same arrangement can be followed for the underground tank also. To avoid any false triggering due to in terference, a shielded wire may be used. This water level sensor is good or appropriatefor liquids that have a conductivity of equal to or more than 25m Siemens,not only this It is your best choice for a water level switch. The system is economical. The level probe and the evaluation unit can be connected using a long cable. Two point sensors for independent switching and automatic control of pump TECHNICALLY Housing :aluminium, Weather-proof enamel painted suitable for back panel Cable Entries :3 Nos. of  ½ BSP Mains 110 or 230 Volts AC (-15 to + 10%) 50 Hz. Relay Output 50Hz for non-inductive load Power Consumption 5 VA . Fail-Safe Mode High or Low field selectable Response Time 0.5 secs Switching Delay 0.5 to 20 seconds Indication Red LED for Alarm, Green LED for Normal Operating Temp. : -20 ° C to + 60 ° C Weight ~2 Kg.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Detrimental Effects of Soda :: Coke Pepsi

What is your favorite soda? Coke? Do you know what is in soda? Cutting down on soda can be the geginning of a healthy lifestyle. Studies show that soda, though it tastes good, has many negative effects that outweigh the positive effects. Soda, especially diet, is detrimental to the health of your body. My cousin’s teacher did an experiment with coke. She put a tooth in coke and left it for at least a week. The next time they checked the tooth had disintegrated. The coke had eaten away at the tooth. If this can happen to a tooth imagine what it does to your body. How healthful are these drinks, which provide a lot of sugars, calories and caffeine but no significant nutritional value? And what happens if you drink a lot of them at a very young age? Soda is a sweetened, carbonated, acidic, often caffeinated drink. Forty-five gallons of soda is consumed per person/per year by the average American. Even adults are just as vulnerable to tooth decay, from drinking excessive amounts of soda, even though they have good enamel and well calcified teeth. In America soda manufacturers are the biggest users of sugar. At least ten teaspoons are in each, 12 ounce, can which provides you with the maximum recommended intake of sugar a day. Sugar creates insulin which tells the body to store all carbohydrates as fat. Sugar in soda can cause heightened cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and premature aging. (Mercola) Sugar isn’t the only thing in soda that is bad for teeth, but the acids included in many soft drinks eat away enamel and make teeth more vulnerable. The pH, measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution, of regular and diet sodas ranges from 2.47-3.35, the lower the pH the more acidic it is. The pH in our mouth is normally about 6.2 to 7, slightly more acidic than water. A pH of 5.2 to 5.5 or below can dissolve the hard enamel of our teeth. Phosphoric acid is in all soda and interferes with the use of calcium which can lead to osteoporosis. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes hydrochloric acid and so digestion cannot properly take place. Aspartame is another ingredient in sodas, particularly Diet Soda. Aspartame is a carcinogen and becomes wood alcohol also known as methanol. In large amounts Aspartame can make someone who drinks diet soda, constantly, feel depressed, fatigued, dehydrated, and/or hungry.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Policy Initiatives for Change and Innovation Essay

Contextualisation The education system in Ghana has undergone enormous changes in the last 50 years. Over this period it has gone from being highly regarded among African nations, through a period of collapse and more recently rejuvenation, supported by a donor-funded reform programme (FCUBE). Underlying these ups and downs and, more recently, the recognition of the need for change, are changes more fundamental still: different ways of knowledge and different ideas about the nature, purpose, and scope of school subjects and how to meet the needs of a diverse student population have come to the fore. These remain among the many challenges facing the education system in Ghana. The paper that follows reviews this ‘history’ and the process, and events, which shaped and informed it. It concludes by examining recent developments and what still remains to be achieved. Abstract: Using an historical perspective, the recent history of educational policy making in Ghana, as it relates to the provision of basic education, is examined. Three periods or phases are identified corresponding to the situation prior to Independence, the period between 1951 and 1986 and the reforms instituted in 1987 and the years that followed. Despite the willing cooperation of various donor agencies and the availability of resources, progress has been limited. The policy and contextual reasons for this comparative lack of progress are examined in turn. The paper concludes with what can be learnt from these attempts at reform and suggests that, whilst the issues involved are complex, greater attention needs to be focused on the training and support of teachers in their classroom role rather than focusing on the provision of resources. Helping teachers to understand the desired changes in their practice and the need to make pupils independent learners, coupled with reforms of teacher training and support, and the nature and quality of teacher continuing professional development, can all be seen as key ways in which further progress may be made. Introduction This paper aims to trace some of the major changes which have taken place in Ghana’s education system since the country gained Independence in 1957, ie, almost 50 years. Although Ghana’s education system had previously been regarded as one of the most highly developed, and effective, in West Africa (Foster, 1965), by the 1980s it was in near collapse (Scadding, 1989; Peil, 1995) and viewed as dysfunctional in relation to the goals and aspirations of the country. The academic standards of pupils, support for teachers, instructional materials, school buildings, classrooms and equipment had declined through lack of financing and management. In 1996 the Ghanaian government embarked on a major donor-funded reform programme called the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme which touched all levels of the education system and attempted to address the perennial problems of access, retention, curriculum relevance, teacher training, provision of physical structures, and financing. What follows examines basic education in Ghana by dividing its policy history and practise into three major phases; that of the preIndependence era, the period from 1951 to 1986 and the period from 1987 to 2003. Each of these is discussed in turn in the following sections. Stanislaus Kadingdi Basic education in the pre-Independence era This first phase in the development of basic education policy and practise in Ghana can be described as having been dominated by missionary activities in relation to literacy for trade and the teachings of the Bible. Formal education in Ghana dates back to the mercantile era preceding colonisation. European merchants and missionaries set up the first schools and Christian missionaries are said to have introduced western-style education into Ghana as early as 1765 (Antwi, 1991a; Graham, 1971). Many of these institutions, established by Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries, were located in the south of the country in what became the British Gold Coast Colony. The main aim of these early schools was to facilitate the training of the local inhabitants as interpreters for purposes of trade and as a conversion of Ghanaians to the Christian religion. Thus the curriculum had a narrow focus on basic literacy with the Bible and scripture as the main texts of schooling. Early attempts to improve the quality of primary education in Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast), by Sir Gordon Guggisberg in his role as Governor, took place in the period between 1919-1927. He emphasised a need for better teaching and improved management of schools but the shortage of teachers and inadequate funding meant that his plans for improving primary education were hardly achieved. Most schools in the rural areas were still based in unsuitable buildings, were poorly equipped and staffed or, in some cases, centred under trees! Major policy initiatives in basic education from 1951-1986 The second phase was characterised by instability in governance as a result of successive military takeovers. This political instability coupled with the rise in oil prices in the early 1970s resulted in economic decline in the country. It was a period of a harsh and repressive revolutionary zeal on the part of the military regime of 1981 and resulted in a significant number of trained and highly qualified teachers leaving the country (Nti, 1999). Education was therefore faced with political instability, ad hoc measures, and frequent changes in education policy. Teaching and learning in basic schools had deteriorated to the extent that the majority of school leavers were illiterate, and confidence in Ghana’s once enviable education system was shaken. In 1951 the first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, embarked on a massive expansion of the education system to speed the pace of educational development in the (then) Gold Coast. This was in response to popular demand for education and to the new Africa Government’s intention to organise a planned campaign to abolish illiteracy. This initiative was followed by further developments with Ghana’s Independence in 1957. In fact the next 35 years saw a wide range of developments and reform initiatives taking place in Ghana’s education system. Within this period three significant stages can be discerned. These were the Accelerated Development Plans (ADPs) for Education in 1951 and 1961, the findings of the Dzobo Committee of 1973 and the following, New Structure and Content of Education Plan in 1974. The intentions associated with the new military government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) in 1981 led to further changes. The first of these is discussed in the next section. The Accelerated Development Plans (ADP) for Education of 1951 and 1961 The ADP, launched in 1951, gained legal backing through the introduction of the 1961 Education Act, which sought to provide free, universal and compulsory basic education (of 6 years duration) for all children from 6 years of age. The 1961 Education Act empowered Local Authority Councils to be in control of educational management whilst parents and guardians were expected to make some contribution to the running of schools in their areas. Primary education underwent a rapid and steady growth and the number of schools rose from 1,081 in 1951 to 3,372 in 1952. Enrolment doubled in a period of five years and Ghana was acclaimed as having the most developed education system in Africa (Foster, 1965; Ghana Human Development Report, 1998; Scadding, 1989). Realizing the importance of trained teachers for the expanded system, the 1961 Education Act opened new teacher training colleges, expanded those already in existence and made provision for the training of unqualified teachers in the field through various emergency and short-term in-service training programmes. Teachers’ numbers increased by 1,000 between 1951 and 1953, with the yearly output rising from 420 to 1,108 trained teachers from teacher training colleges. In 1961 the entire basic education system (primary and middle school education) was made free and compulsory, although uniforms and books were not free. However, even though school enrolments increased following the 1961 Education Act, the quality of teaching and learning appears to have remained the same. The changes that were effected to cope with the increased pupil enrolments had been insufficient to create a balance between the quantity and quality of the education provided. The most significant factor that affected the imbalance was an inability to provide schools with trained teachers. With the increase in the number of schools, more teachers were needed and so many ‘pupil teachers’ (ie, untrained teachers) had to be employed to teach, resulting in poor teaching and learning in schools during this period. Following this, the second significant source of policy development, mentioned earlier, arose through the Dzobo Committee of 1973 and The New Structure and Content of Education policy of 1974. The Dzobo Committee of 1973 and The New Structure and Content of Education of 1974 Prior to 1972 the education system had been criticized as being elitist in character built, as it was, on a selective system similar to the British grammar schools. In 1973 the in-coming military government carried out a review of the educational system, and formed the so-called Dzobo Committee to recommend appropriate measures to improve the situation (Dzobo, 1974). This led, in 1974, to the government putting into operation the first major, postIndependence, reform in pre-university education. This reform is generally referred to as ‘The New Structure and Content of Education’ (NSCE) and reduced the length of pre-tertiary education from 17 years to 13 years. The 6 years of primary education remained the same. The four years of junior school was reduced to three years. The five years of senior secondary school, lower stage was reduced to two years, and the period of senior secondary, upper level, remained the same (ie, it went from a pattern of 6-4-5-2 to one of 63-2-2). The aim was to make it possible for school leavers to leave at any point of exit from the system with skills that would enable them to be employable. The reform was expected to raise standards at the various levels so that educational standards would not be compromised as a result of the decrease in the number of years spent in pre-tertiary education. The thrust of the content of the reform programme was to vocationalise preuniversity education in Ghana and to make it more functional and oriented towards contextual demands and challenges. It also constituted a bold attempt to reduce educational expenditure. However, despite its laudable intentions, the NSCE did not have any sustainable impact on the general education system of the country. There were still unqualified teachers in the education system, inadequate resources to support teaching and learning in schools, and challenges for teachers within the context and content demands of the curriculum. This again led to intense unease among parents, employers, academics and some politicians. The significance of the Government’s White Paper on the Committee’s recommendations was the acceptance of 13-years duration of pre-university education for all. It endorsed the introduction of pre-technical and pre-vocational subjects in both primary and junior secondary curricula. The period also marked the establishment of the Ghana Education Service which brought together, for the first time, teachers, educational administrators and education sector workers into a new government agency, under the Ministry of Education, to implement th e new structure of education. The third significant policy development in basic education provision arose from the virtual collapse of the education system and a further military takeover in 1981. The virtual collapse of the Ghanaian Education System and the PNDC of 1981 December 1981 marked the takeover of yet another military government under the name of the ‘Provisional National Defence Council’ (PNDC). By 1983, Ghana’s education system had seriously deteriorated in quality; enrolment rates stagnated and the percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) allocated to education dropped from 6.4% in 1976 to a low of 1.7% in 1983. Government resources were no longer available to construct, complete or even maintain the existing education facilities and the down-turn in the economy resulted in the mass exodus of qualified teachers to other parts of the continent causing a significant fall in the ratio of trained to untrained teachers in the basic education sector. Abdallah (1986), then Secretary for Education, speaking on the state of the education system at the time, had this to say: ‘Over the past decade, there has been a sharp deterioration in the quali ty of education at all levels. There has been a virtual collapse of physical infrastructure in the provision of buildings, equipment, materials, teaching aids etc†¦ To solve these problems, the PNDC has decided to embark upon a comprehensive programme of educational reforms’ (p 1). Arising from the economic constraints that faced the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as the bureaucratic bottlenecks and sheer lack of interest and commitment from administrators, the new programme never went beyond the experimental stage. There was stagnation and near demise of the experimental Junior Secondary School (JSS) system. By 1983 the education system was in major crisis through lack of educational materials, deterioration of school structures, low enrolment levels, high drop-out rates, poor educational administration and management, drastic reductions in Government’s educational financing and the lack of data and statistics on which to base any planning. The Military to the rescue – the 1987 education reforms Moving beyond the events just described, the third phase structuring this historical account embraces the period referred to here as ‘the military to the rescue’ phase and covers the period of major reform from which the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) reform of 1996 emerged. It was characterised by Ghana’s participation in, and endorsement of, international agreements such as Education for All, the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Declaration on Women’s Rights and the Lome Convention. This meant that the Government had to remain committed to her constitutional obligations as a guide to policy and was influenced by the bilateral and multilateral negotiations it had taken part in. Also significant in this period was the strong ambition of the government to reform the education system by leaving no stone unturned in restructuring the nation’s economic base to bring it into conformity with the financial credibility c riteria required by the World Bank. With this condition met, Ghana had the opportunity of negotiating for credits and grants to finance major education reform. Apart from the World Bank credits, several donor agencies came to the aid of Ghana in her reform implementation, a greater part of which was directed to basic education. In spite of the fact that Ghana had successive military governments from 1966, 1987 marked a new phase in government thinking. In 1987 The New Educational Reform Programme (NERP) was introduced with a focus on the total restructuring of the entire pre-tertiary education system and on improving access through the provision of infrastructure whilst making the curriculum more relevant to social and economic needs. According to a Ministry of Education Report (MOE, 1988), the NERP sought ‘†¦to salvage the educational system and make it more meaningful to the individual and the nation as a whole’. It is therefore worthy of mention that, even though similar to the NSCE reform, in terms of structure and content, there was a marked improvement on the latter with a revised curriculum which reflected radical c hanges at the basic education level. The launch of the World Bank supported programme for education infrastructure also led to the building of 3000 pavilions to support the school system. The goals of the 1987 NERP as summed up in the Sector Adjustment Policy Document of the World Bank (World Bank, 1986) included the following: (i) to expand access to education; (ii) to improve the quality of education; (iii) to make education more relevant in meeting the needs and aspirations of the individuals and the socio-economic conditions of the country; (iv) to re-structure pre-university education to 12 years (6-3-3); and (v) to ensure costeffectiveness and cost-recovery. A major thrust of the 1987 NERP reform was the diversification of the formal academic courses offered in pre-university institutions by the inclusion of practical courses. These changes were intended to correct the perceived elitist education that downgraded technical, vocational and agricultural education. This perception was captured in the address of Professor Dzobo, the Chair of the committee which had reviewed previous reforms, at a National Workshop on the 1987 Educational Reforms when he stated that: ‘In spite of the bold educational innovative measures of the 1920s and of the subsequent ones, Ghana’s formal education system remained Western and predominantly academic and elitist. As a result of the Accelerated Development Plan of Education in 1951, the pre-university educational system has become increasingly dysfunctional as it turns out a lot of school leavers who have no marketable skills, neither do they have the mind to go into self-employment ventures. These leavers could see no bright future for themselves and they come to constitute a veritable economic and social problem for our society to solve†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Dzobo, 1987 ).