An Analysis of Jamacian Fragment Essay

The Jamaican Fragment is a story about a man, who during his regular walk to and from work encounters an irregularity he views as an act of inferiority. We can assume that the Jamaican Fragment is a real life experience, rather than a piece of fiction due to first person writing style. In the first paragraph the author uses visual imagery by describing the colors of the houses as well as the bungalow style house, which presents as the setting. We can start to conclude that the author is ethnic himself or very familiar with differentiating ethnic characteristics. In psychology we learn that the race we are born of, makes us better able to distinguish features and characteristics amoung our own culture. People often struggle distinguishing key characteristics in other races, ethnicities, and cultures. So when Hendricks refers to the one little boy as a â€Å"little Jamaican†, he is presenting us with the idea that he is ethnic. It is important to take notice of the fact that Hendricks may be of Jamaican descent as in the next line in the above mentioned sentence he calls the little boy a â€Å"strong Jamaican† and this sets the tone for the writer’s stance. Hendrick outlines his passion for his race as a â€Å"strong† race as opposed to weak and inferior. The definition of prejudice according to the Merriam Webster dictionary is as follows â€Å"a (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2): an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge . † Prejudice is a very controversial topic in our society that often incites anger and defensiveness in people. Hendricks essay Jamaican Fragment is a well written personal descriptive essay that addresses the idea of prejudice employing irony and humour so that the reader remains open-minded. Hendricks’ simple, relaxed style helps assist the reader through the story without preconceived notions or prejudices towards other ethnicities. There are several figures of speech used to entice the reader and the reflective mood of the essay allows us to reflect on our own thoughts and hopefully come to the same conclusions around prejudice. Hendricks’ style of the essay is very important in terms of what he wants the reader to experience and how he wants them to experience the story. Words that I would use to describe the tone would be casual, curious and ironic. The author uses everyday language to create the casual tone such as â€Å"The other little fellow was smaller, but also sturdy – he was white, with hazel eyes and light-brown hair. † (362) This casual tone permits everyone to read this essay; there is no prejudice against an educated or uneducated audience. The sentence structure used is also simple and casual. â€Å"For a whole day I puzzled over this problem. †(363) This excerpt from Jamaican Fragment is an excellent example of the curious tone that utilizes in this essay. He is taking the reader on a journey of self-discovery. The reader is also curious as to the game the children play, could it really be a game of inferiority? There is also a strong sense of irony throughout the entire essay, it is my belief that the author uses an ironic tone to further his argument around prejudice enable the reader to learn a moral lesson. â€Å"The exercise is good for me and now and then I learn something from a little incident†(362), is an example of Hendricks’ using foreshadowing as a literary technique. We know that he is going to learn something and we know by the end of the essay that â€Å"little† is very much an understatement. â€Å"How silly grown-ups we are, how clever we are, how wonderfully able we are to impute deep motives to childish actions! How suspicious we are when have been warped by prejudice! â€Å"(364) This illustrates the ignorance that Hendricks employs and the relationship between ignorance and prejudice. He also uses exclamation marks to emphasize the enormity of his misjudgment. Syncrisis is a figure of speech in which opposite things or persons are compared. (the free dictionary). Hendricks’ uses syncrisis throughout the essay â€Å"young vs old† and black vs white†, this technique is used repetitively because Hendricks has a us vs them defence. He believes that he has been wronged by judgement and â€Å"them†. â€Å"Was there really some difference between a white man and a black man? Something that made the white superior. †(363) This is a good example of the author using a literary device called pathos . Hendricks wants to incite passion into the reader, he feels incredibly passionate about his feelings around prejudice. â€Å"Were we as a race really inferior? So inferior that even in our infancy we realized our deficiencies, and accepted a position as the white man’s servant? † (363) The author is asserting his own point of view here, wresting with their world perspective on injustice. There’s a sense that the author feels inferior as a black person due to the last sentence, even if he doesn’t want to feel that that way, perhaps because of his light tone? In the last paragraph Hendricks reveals the truth around the game to a white man standing on his porch, he soon discovers that the man is the father of both boys and a partner in an interracial marriage. Obviously some humor here, the author makes assumptions (of course which is one of the toxic elements in racism, prejudice, stereotypes, and injustice) about another person’s point of view (which is what he did with the boys) and although he has good intentions, he is again surprised because the thought of a racially mixed family (the next step toward an egalitarian and tolerant society) had not crossed his mind. Irony strikes again. Assumptions and ignorance is what encourages prejudice and although this is what he is passionate against he becomes the bearer of such conclusions. Through Hendricks’ self-discovery around the â€Å"game† we are able to see how quickly people are apt to jump to conclusions feeding prejudice. What is social equality and how does this change come about? Education is the key to this problem and Hendricks urges the reader to become educated and learn a very important moral lesson.

Our Individual Identity Is Determined by What Others Think of Us

â€Å"Identity and belonging† – Expository Essay Our individual identity is determined by what others think of us. Our identity is comprised of inner qualities and outer representations of self. It consists of innumerable defining characteristics that make up the whole of who we are in any given moment. These fragments of self include our sexuality, gender, and sense of belonging to a particular culture, nation, religion, family, or some other group. Our identity includes our looks, personality, beliefs and fears.Each individual in society assigns themselves a particular role, whether it be as a mother, brother, retiree, performer, sportsman or as a part of their occupation, a doctor or lawyer. Often one’s entire sense of self is consumed by pursuit of fulfilling such a role in society. Our identities are constantly growing, changing, and adapting to our everyday lives. This emphasizes the overriding link that one’s sense of belonging influences, or often dictates, individual identity. One’s assigned role in society may be as part of a family unit, a daughter.Agheare/Alice in Unpolished Gem emphasizes this, as she often struggles under the burden of the role she has self-assigned. Identity can both be influenced by, and influence, the work we do, our education, financial and class status, the car we drive, the home we live in and the clothes we wear. Identity is also determined by perspective. Our self-image can be entirely different to the way we are seen by a colleague, partner, friend, child or parent who all have their own lens of perception through which they view us.One definition of identity is â€Å"those images and masks† many of us wear, the persona we project out into the world. We don't have as much choice over our identity as we think we do because a lot of the time things we do or say are impacted by what others think of us. For example, we might like a certain type of music but might often find ourselves mentally saying ‘what would so and so like or would so and so listen to this or would so and so like me if I listened to this. ‘ Basically saying we mold ourselves, and are molded by others, in response to whatever is currently popular and accepted in today’s society.Today more than ever we are being increasingly conditioned, influenced and bombarded by a multitude of messages and experiences about who to be and how to be. Current forms of social communication processes, particularly mainstream media, advertising, television and film, along with family, friends, teachers, political agendas, religion, society’s rules, our perceptions, perspectives, interpretations and assumptions, and those of others, all play a part in creating our identity. ?We seek and create our identity through these external influences, we all wear these masks and cloaks, so that we fit in with the world around us.The degree to which we choose our identity, versus having it imposed on us via external influence, is arguably a matter of consciousness and awareness. When we are unaware of the power of external influence we are akin to pieces of clay, being unconsciously molded to fit into the accepted or preferred norms of someone else’s reality. When we are aware we can take responsibility for the creation of our identity. We can make empowered choices that best serve our selves, rather than serve people and systems outside of ourselves.In Unpolished Gem, society plays a daunting role on Alice as she tries to change her way of thinking from a Chinese-Cambodian way of thinking to a very different Australian way of thinking. As Alice starts her new school her beliefs are tested as she tries to determine whether to fit in as an Australian or a Chinese-Cambodian. By trying to decide this she is under massive pressure because of our society’s stereo types. Gender and race are two of the most important factors to take into consideration when looking at an i ndividual's identity, as they are the very first two things you notice about a person when you meet them.Race is a very strong influence on one's identity. This can cause issues with racism; people affiliating themselves, therefore their identity, with groups that feel a certain way about another race or group. Just as with gender, people will make assumption about a person based on their race. If one is white people might assume they listen to country music or rock n roll; or if one is black people might assume they listen to rap or hip hop. These tie in with stereotypes, which sadly, are a part of our community today.There are a higher number of certain races in certain places, with also leads to how culture affects one's identity. Something that relates closely with race is language. A person's language is part of their identity too. It can show where they were raised because of the slang you use. For example, there is the Spanish language, and off of that original Spanish langua ge there is branches of adjusted languages. Some of these include Mexican Spanish or North Mexican Spanish. All of these are based off the standard Spanish language, but depending on where one was raised they may speak one of these ifferent variations of Spanish. This helps us identify people too, based on which one they speak, shows where they are from which is part of your identity. In Unpolished Gem the stereo typical view on people from an Chinese-Cambodian background is to excel at school and this weighs Alice down by putting enormous pressure on her because that is what is considered acceptable in a tight knit community. Culture: Culture is the combination of values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group.The culture each person lives in shows them how to dress, talk, and act, acceptable behavior, and gives a guideline of what is considered acceptable and normal. As a child grows up in a particular culture they absorb the beliefs, and practices, then begin to use them in everyday activities. The culture a person is surrounded by will then play a role in the development of their identity. Identity is essentially a set a characteristics and traits that are attributed to one specific person. One of the main things your culture affects in shaping your identity is your morals.Morals are a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. These morals shape our identity as they shape how we live our lives as well as how we make an impact of society. In Unpolished Gem, Alice has a strong sense of what can be tolerated in both cultures from an Asian oblique migrant perspective even though throughout the book she starts to lose her ability to think in Chinese. This is an example of how even though a person may be proud of their cultural background this still out weights trying fit in or adapt to a new way of life.For example, Alice and her family migrate to Australia to peruse the â€Å"Australian dream† which indicates that even though they have a different cultural background to Australian they have to adapt to the Australian culture in order to survive. In conclusion our individual identity is determined by many different factors like media, society, culture and race. These factors shape who we are and whom we grow up to be and how other people see us from day to day. Do we really know ourselves because our subconscious is ever changing to try and fit in to society on a daily basis and we only ever see what we want to see?

Development of Morality According to Nietzsche Essay

Development of Morality According to Nietzsche - Essay Example Moralitat or Morality for Nietzsche is the state of ‘higher’ consciousness for humankind where false conceptions about it vanish. According to him, it is a wrong morality if people would think that the things they do are good for them, instead, it should be done to transform other people and society as a whole (Mencken 65). Hence, it can be understood that Nietzsche’s moral philosophy is intended for a broader scope rather than for a personal-level of inculcation. An anti-Realist, Nietzsche objected the commonly-held view that morality is derived from the authority of religion and the statements of powerful people. He conjectured for a Morality in the Pejorative Sense (â€Å"MPS†) that encompasses his radical rationalization of the subject. The development of morality in people, consistent with Nietzsche’s writings, is fundamentally dependent on the voluntary application of ‘good’ thoughts and values. Happiness, Altruism, Equality, and C ompassion are extremely important virtues in the Nietzschean morality, while worldliness, selfishness, and cruelty are abhorred (Mencken 35-38). The moralist elucidated his moral viewpoint via his three theses on human agency. First, Nietzsche argued that human beings possess a certain power that enables them to make a free and autonomous choice (Free Will). In addition, Nietzsche warned for a regression of morals in society when free will is insufficient among people in their performance of responsible actions, if motives are not well evaluated, and if people do not agree on the interpretation and application of moral codes (Deleuze 60). His books entitled The Gay Science (2001), Thus Spoke Zarathustra (2005), Beyond Good and Evil (1966) and On the Genealogy of Morality (1994) speaks volumes of the natural proclivities of the human species to transgress their own ethics, he thus aptly deemed ‘positively intrinsic values.’ In essence, a better appreciation of Nietzsche’s unusual moral doctrine can be pulled through by examining closely his very popular, yet often mistaken, the idea of ‘people creating themselves’ (Mencken 72). Hence, it should be considered that morality is not a question of who makes the laws or codes, but a question of how these laws and codes are applied successfully to renew a seemingly evil-oriented world.

Is Concept Of Social Science Inherently Utopian Essay

Is Concept Of Social Science Inherently Utopian - Essay Example UTOPIAN APPROACH TO SOCIAL SCIENCES Deductive: The Philosophy to Social Sciences is an a Priori or Deductive method, which moves from the general to the particular, aiming at speculation and laying down what ought to be. Abstract: It is more often than not, characterised by abstract thinking and a more ideal setting; wherein the pragmatic perspective if steered cleared of, and a more idealistic set-up is conjured and pictured as the desired end. Universal Principles: The philosophy to the social sciences relies heavily on general universal principles, and does not move from the conventional notion of what should be the end and the means to achieve the end. It takes for granted, the truth of the conventional thinking pattern. Methodology: A scholar engages himself in laborious theorising and abstract thinking, to explain the nature of social sciences from a philosophical perspective, which is again based on excogitated principles. Ends: The purposes and ends of the state and other social sciences are drawn up from an ethical and philosophical perspective, rather than from an pragmatic or practical perspective. This summarizes the manner in which philosophical approach to the social sciences is formulated. ... y to the social sciences relies heavily on general universal principles, and does not move from the conventional notion of what should be the end and the means to achieve the end. It takes for granted, the truth of the conventional thinking pattern. Methodology: A scholar engages himself in laborious theorising and abstract thinking, to explain the nature of social sciences from a philosophical perspective, which is again based on excogitated principles. Ends: The purposes and ends of the state and other social sciences are drawn up from an ethical and philosophical perspective, rather than from an pragmatic or practical perspective. This summarizes the manner in which philosophical approach to the social sciences is formulated. PROS AND CONS OF THE APPROACH: THE POSITIVES Perceiving the social sciences from the utopian perspective helps in evolving great principles for whose realization, the state and the social bodies are meant to exist and function towards. This also is a eye-opener to the fact that the social scientist should not get lost in the world of mere facts and experiments, and must look towards the realization of the larger good of the society. It has been asserted time and again, by great social thinkers, that the primary purpose of social sciences is to envisage and work towards 'what ought to be'. THE NEGATIVES The approach also does have some drawbacks, mostly because it is impractical and too lofty to be carried out by bringing about a consensus in the entire society. This is inclusive of the

How to engage all parents into my classroom Research Paper

How to engage all parents into my classroom - Research Paper Example In a child's education, it is beneficial for all parents to be actively involved. Communicating with Parents Communication is a fundamental aspect when it comes to engaging parents in the classroom. This is because parents need the information concerning their children for suitable advice or action. Therefore, the school should set up appropriate ways that will ensure communication flows from the school staffs to the parents. Establishing various communication channels will ensure clear communication between the teachers and the parents. These channels include; formal and informal conversations through individual meetings, parents-teacher meetings, seminars and school events, agenda books that allow the teachers to write comments about the student’s behavior and academic performance and flyers bearing the teacher’s contact information. Phone calls can be made directly to the parents to inform them of their children’s academic performance and behavior. ... The school should organize these educational opportunities but let the parents manage them. Parents can alternate roles and duties thus attracting more parents to contribute in the classes. This will provide an opportunity for the parents to interact with their children and the school staffs thus helping them engage in constructive activities. The classes can be organized in collaboration with relevant community organizations for example, if the topic is on health, community health organizations can be mobilized to offer insight (CDC, 2012). Parents can be involved in workshops and seminars on similar topics. Decision-making is a crucial role in a school, therefore, involving parents in it shows that the school’s leadership wants to invest in the parents. The parents see it as a partnership urging them to encourage their children and participate more in their schoolwork. Therefore, parents will be actively involved in the school’s activities after finding out that they are the decision makers (School Learning Support Program, 2010). Offering Volunteer Opportunities The school should organize volunteer activities and invite parents to participate in them by providing suitable positions. These activities assist in fostering free communication and interaction between the parents, the children and the school staff. Through these fun activities, parents can casually engage the teachers in conversations that would seem inappropriate for formal events. Some of the activities include; weekend games, environmental walks or tree planting events, feeding programs for the disabled or the homeless, after-school activities like aerobics, karate and cheerleading. Activities that can help enhance the skills of the students can also be incorporated for

Weight management -Health Assessment Project Essay

Weight management -Health Assessment Project - Essay Example This report, therefore, facilitates a very clear understanding of the above concept and the relevance it has in health education and practice. The concept of self-efficacy is examined with its relationship with maintaining health status and practice. The review focusses mainly on weight control and exercise behaviours. The maintenance progress is highlighted for the given period through self-efficacy and experimental manipulations. Various methods are required to modify the health practices diverging from all sources (Hsu &Blandford, 2014). Too much consumption of high calories food contents and without regular checkups results into conditions like obesity. This is because these foods for instance, junky foods may have more fat contents and, as a consequence, many fats get deposited in the adipose layers of the body and results in weight increase. Genetically modified foods have been proven to contain many chemicals and therefore are harmful to the health of a person. As a result of it, apart from resulting in obesity, diseases like cancer come in (Zunker et al., 2011). The prevalence of this condition spreads from any person regardless of age, sex or even occupation. When nutritional balance is not observed and maintained in the body, adverse effects like obesity comes on board. Energy balance should be retained at all times as this maintains proper basal metabolic rate which checks up the energy balance of a person (Lytle et al., 2014). The benefits of managing weight include good health free of non-communicable diseases. Good practices like regular exercises are vital to maintaining this management and, as a result, the body is well maintained through consistent burning of extra calories. Moreover, when a person maintains good lifestyle through eating what is required then lifespan is increased. More chemicals are in foods that are genetically modified and therefore knowing what is to be eaten should be

Cleaning Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cleaning Assignment - Essay Example coli (Food Safety, 2014; FDA, 2013). The effects that are related to the risks to food safety include: having an unpleasant working environment where the staffs would not feel comfortable to work in an environment that is unclean as it poses a risk to their health. This would also be a propagator to low staff morale. Other effects are related to the daily business operations of the meat processing company as well as their reputation to the general public. The manufacturing company in this instance is responsible in the process of producing cook chill meat products. As such, the chain of production involves a number of sensitive processes all of which need to be monitored closely as they can be the source of food poisoning from common pathogens such as E. coli 0157. E. coli 0157 has been noted in many cases of food poisoning and outbreaks and its presence is facilitated by compromised hygiene practices in the chain of food production. The procedures in the manufacturing of the cook chill meat products include: vacuum processing – which was determined to be subject to microbial contamination by E. coli 0157. The next processes were labelling, packing and distributing of the products to the food outlets. As noted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2013), periodic cleaning as well as sanitation of the meat processing facility and equipment is a critical task in ensuring that Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) have been adhered to. Based on that, the benefits (positive effects) of cleaning the factory processing areas mentioned above include: The cleaning was conducted using detergents, disinfectants and sanitizers. Detergents were used since they simply required the use of water regardless of whether it was hard or soft water. Secondly, detergents had fewer reactions to minerals that were contained in water; hence, the detergent

The Theoretician and the Experimenter - Eugenics and Francis Galton Essay

The Theoretician and the Experimenter - Eugenics and Francis Galton - Essay Example He tried to apply this concept in understanding heredity and in the future prospect of manipulating it to gain social goals. And the basic premise of his theory was that the environment of a human being had no influence on his character or intelligence (Cowan, 516). Marks has described Eugenics as an attempt to interpret, â€Å"cultural history in fundamental biological terms† (650). Galton’s thought is further explained by Marks by introducing Galton’s belief that â€Å"cultural ‘progress’ was driven principally by the birth rate of geniuses regardless of any other social processes† (650). Between 1910 and 1930, Eugenics had dominated all research works and beliefs in the field of genetics and biology but after this period, the entire concept was questioned and almost discarded (Marks, 650). Galton had conceptualized Eugenics as the science of cultivating â€Å"better men and women,† on the similar lines of cultivating â€Å"better plants and animals† (Farrall, 111). Farrall has observed that for Galton, Eugenics was â€Å"the basis of a scientific religion, which could lead to the Utopian situation where problems such as alcoholism, criminality, disease and poverty had disappeared† (111). Galton thought that once he could find out the exact ways in which intelligence and behavioural characteristics transmitted from parents to children, such social engineering will be made possible. The motivation for Galton to develop Eugenics was a belief that â€Å"statistics would solve the problem of heredity and that heredity, once understood, could be used to resolve the political and social contexts that plague the race of men† (Cowan, 510). Thus Galton wanted to create a â€Å"perfect Eugenic state† (Cowan, 510). The first question that he started with, was, â€Å"can extraordinary intellectual gifts be inherited?† (Cowan, 510). He started his work by â€Å"counting the number of men listed in a biographical dictionary who were relatives of someone else on the list† and then based on this, he published the book, â€Å"Hereditary Talent and Character†.  Ã‚  

My Hobby Essay Example for Free

My Hobby Essay Practically every person has his or her own hobby; whether it‘s a sport, collecting certain items, or something one takes their time practicing. Personally, I never thought I ever had a hobby. As a matter of fact I wasn’t even sure what a hobby actually was. Then I got to thinking and I finally realized that my hobby was dancing. Yes, I know that to some people dancing is not considered a true hobby; but the way I see it, if I enjoy dancing and spend my precious time doing it, then I have every right to consider it as my special hobby. As far as I can remember about my childhood, I have always loved to dance. Dancing was just my thing. I remember attending ballet classes when I was five years old. I would learn the routines so quickly that the instructor would sometimes ask me to help her teach the other students. The greatest part of being in ballet was attending the ballet recitals. That was when each of us let ourselves shine in front of our family and friends. I always thought that the crowd was watching my every move and thinking, â€Å"Wow, that girl dances so gracefully. † Just thinking that made me try even harder to be the b est I could. I would practice every day after school and right before bedtime, too. It didn’t even matter to me if there was no music playing, I just kept on dancing. Becoming a famous dancer was one of my greatest childhood dreams. I believed that one-day I would get the

My Thoughts On Ethnicity and race Essay Example for Free

My Thoughts On Ethnicity and race Essay Race and ethnicity is a very interesting topic to think about. The distinction between race and ethnicity is not always clear to a lot of people. To me race is your physical appearance and ethnicity is your cultural background. My race is white but my ethnicity is Irish and scottish. Although my race is white and someone who is polish might also be white our cultures are not the same. When you are asked to specify race/ethnicity on a form i think it is not fair because there are thousands of things you could potentially be that dont neccesarily fit into the small choice of boxes they give you. I think a lot of people dont know the difference because race and ethnicity are often listed together leading people to think that they are the same thing I dont think race and ethnicity should be an issue. Any one person no matter what background they are from was born and will die just the same. It is natural for people to want to group themselves with others who look, speak or behave in similar patterns. Essentially humans are animals and most animals are more comfortable with the familiar. Athough it is natural to group ourselves organically in this way, i dont think having to catogorize yourself into a group on forms and surveys is ever going to help anything. Throughout my life Ive had a lot of contact with many different ethnicities and races. I went to school where the i was not part of the majority. I was one of the few white people in my class and it was a big issue for me then because being the minority i was treated differently. I was frequently called the white girl by my classmates. At first it bothered me but I became more comfortable. I think being the minority in school helped me learn how to get along with people from different backgrounds. My ability to get along with almost anyone i can attribute to my experience in school. I have also gained a soft spot for anyone getting treated differently for their race or ethnicity. I have heard friends and family make remarks about race but it isnt often that they are positive. A nearby neighborhood is going through a gentrification. The rents in the area have incresed leading people in the area to move into my neighborhood. The people moving in are mostly black and hispanic. Many people are attributing the rise in crime in the area to the people that have been migrating in. Before this migration the neighborhood was mostly Italian, Irish and german. I dont know what to think about this development but i hear a lot of predjudiced things being said that i dont agree with. I think most negative comments come from learned steriotypes. These things can be learned from family, friends or even the media. Many people have the potential to be predjudiced to a certain degree but for the most part i think it is a learned behavior. I believe in the future as races and ethnicities become more and more mixed that prejudice will decrese drastically. Any advantages of stressing these racial and ethnic issues i believe is to try to be fair. One of these advantages is the government requires some companies and schools to hire/accept a certain quota of minorities. This is good because it gives a lot of people opportunities that they might not have gotten because of someone being prejudiced against them. I also think it could be a litte unfair because someone more qualified might not get a spot because of these quotas. I think how you turn out socially, economically, and morally is attributed to your family. If you are from a rich family you are born knowing what having money is like and how to manage it. If you are born poor it is much more difficult to move out of the cycle of poverty. It is because of this that some people see minority communities in a bad light but i just think they are stuck in the cycle of povery. Minority families not so long ago were kept down by racism. Most politicians are prodominantly white at the moment. Once politics become more diverse i think the balance of wealth will begin to shift and ethnicity/race will become less important. Ethnicity and race is a topic of great interest to many people. It affects our laws, advertizing and a plethora of other things. I personally dont feel like it should matter at all what you are on the outside or what culture you have. We are all people and i hope one day that everyone can just treat everyone the same regardless of race or ethnicity.

The Maternity Leave Benefits

The Maternity Leave Benefits The governments of every high-income economy in the world take measures to support parents in their efforts to care for newborn children. These policies reflect the national interest in promoting the health and well-being of infants and young children as well as societys recognition that the first months and years of a childs life require substantial and sustained attention from parents. THE LEGAL BACKGROUND OF MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS IN THE PHILIPPINES The words of the law itself, as guaranteed and embodied in no less than the highest and fundamental law of the land, affords utmost protection and safety to women, taking into high consideration their maternal functions. The exact provision avowingto such intention can be found in Article XIII, Section 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution  [2]  , which states that: Section 14. The State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. Such intent of the law is further reiterated and emphasized in the provisions of Article 133 of the Labor Code of the Philippines as it expressly recognizes the need for, and grants to women employees Maternity Leave Benefits. The exact provisions of said Article 133 are as follows: ART. 133. Maternity leave benefits.  [3]   Every employer shall grant to any pregnant woman employee who has rendered an aggregate service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months, maternity leave of at least two (2) weeks prior to the expected date of delivery and another four (4) weeks after normal delivery or abortion with full pay based on her regular or average weekly wages. The employer may require from any woman employee applying for maternity leave the production of a medical certificate stating that delivery will probably take place within two weeks. The maternity leave shall be extended without pay on account of illness medically certified to arise out of the pregnancy, delivery, abortion or miscarriage, which renders the woman unfit for work, unless she has earned unused leave credits from which such extended leave may be charged. The maternity leave provided in this Article shall be paid by the employer only for the first four (4) deliveries by a woman employee after the effectivity of this Code. Another statutory provision which further upholds the governments intent in providing women employees certain benefits in relation to the exercise of their maternal functions is Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161 (An Act to Create a Social Security System Providing Sickness, Unemployment, Retirement, Disability and Death Benefits for Employees), better known as the Social Security Law. It more specifically provides for the conditions on how such benefits can be availed of. Section 14-A. Maternity Leave Benefit.  [4]   A covered female employee who has paid at least three monthly maternity contributions in the twelve-month period preceding the semester of her childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage and who is currently employed shall be paid a daily maternity benefit equivalent to one hundred per cent of her present basic salary, allowances and other benefits or the cash equivalents of such benefits for sixty days subject to the following conditions: That the employee shall have notified her employer of her pregnancy and the probable date of her childbirth which notice shall be transmitted to the SSS in accordance with the rules and regulations it may provide; That the payment shall be advanced by the employer in two equal installments within thirty days from the filing of the maternity leave application; That in case of caesarean delivery, the employees shall be paid the daily maternity benefit for seventy-eight days; That payment of daily maternity benefits shall be a bar to the recovery of sickness benefits provided by this Act for the same compensable period of sixty days for the same childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage; That the maternity benefits provided under this section shall be paid only for the first four deliveries after March 13, 1973; That the SSS shall immediately reimburse the employer of one hundred per cent of the amount of maternity benefits advanced to the employee by the employer upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality thereof; and That if an employee should give birth or suffer abortion or miscarriage without the required contributions having been remitted for her by her employer to the SSS, or without the latter having been previously notified by the employer of time of the pregnancy, the employer shall pay to the SSS damages equivalent to the benefits which said employee would otherwise have been entitled to, and the SSS shall in turn pay such amount to the employee concerned. The aforementioned provision was amended in the year 1992 by Republic Act No. 7322 entitled, An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sector, Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as Amended, and for Other Purposes. The exact words of the law as taken from the said statute are as follows: SEC. 14-A. Maternity Leave Benefit.  [5]  -A covered female employee who has paid at least three monthly maternity contributions in the twelve-month period preceding the semester of her childbirth, abortion or miscarriage and who is currently employed shall be paid a daily maternity benefit equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of her present basic salary, allowances and other benefits or the cash equivalent of such benefits for sixty (60) days subject to the following conditions: That the employee shall have notified her employer of her pregnancy and the probable date of her childbirth which notice shall be transmitted to the SSS in accordance with the rules and regulations it may provide; That the payment shall be advanced by the employer in two equal installments within thirty (30) days from the filing of the maternity leave application: That in case of caesarean delivery, the employee shall be paid the daily maternity benefit for seventy-eight (78) days; That payment of daily maternity benefits shall be a bar to the recovery of sickness benefits provided by this Act for the same compensable period of sixty (60) days for the same childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage; That the maternity benefits provided under this Section shall be paid only for the first four deliveries after March 13, 1973; That the SSS shall immediately reimburse the employer of one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of maternity benefits advanced to the employee by the employer upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality thereof; and That if an employee should give birth or suffer abortion or miscarriage without the required contributions having been remitted for her by her employer to the SSS, or without the latter having been previously notified by the employer of the time of the pregnancy, the employer shall pay to the SSS damages equivalent to the benefits which said employee would otherwise have been entitled to, and the SSS shall in turn pay such amount to the employee concerned. It is necessary to point out that the maternity leave benefits granted in the aforementioned provisions are applicable only to women employees working in the private sectors. The proper and applicable statutory basis for maternity leave benefits granted to employees of the public sector is Commonwealth Act No. 647.  [6]  Such act which provides the female workforce employed in public and government offices and agencies with benefits similar to those employed in the private sector explicitly states that: SECTION 1. Married women who are permanently or temporarily appointed in the service of the Government, or in any of its branches, subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including the corporations and enterprises owned or controlled by the Government, shall, in addition to the vacation and sick leave which they may enjoy now, be entitled in case of pregnancy to a maternity leave of sixty (60) days subject to the following conditions: Permanent and regular employees who have rendered two or more years of continuous service shall be entitled to maternity leave with full pay; Permanent and regular employees who have rendered less than two years of continuous service, shall be entitled to half pay; and, Temporary employees shall be entitled to maternity leave without pay and shall be readmitted to the service at the end of their leave. No employee shall be refused readmission to the service on the ground of absence on account of maternity Awarding such benefits to women employees is unmistakably a considerate and sympathetic initiative of the Philippine government. However, there might be a necessity to look into the sufficiency of the sixty (60) days and seventy-eight (78) days of leave, periods of time for which the law providessuch leave benefit. In determining the adequacy of leave duration, it is but basic to consider (a) how long thebody needs to fully recover from delivery, either through a normal vaginal delivery or through a Caesarean birth considering that it is free from complications; and, (b) the motherly needs of a new bornchild immediately after birth. THE MODES OF CHILDBIRTH Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (NSVD) is the most common and safest mode of child delivery. It is the process wherein fetal expulsion is accomplished when the baby passes through and out of the vaginal canal. It usually requires minimal medical intervention as it is the normal and natural method that humans deliver an offspring. Naturally, due to factors such as uterine muscle stretching, hormonal changes, and placental age, the uterus is stimulated and begins to contract. Also, the babys head which puts direct pressure on the cervix causes its effacement and dilatation the process by which the cervix shortens in length and thins out while enlarging or widening the opening of the cervical canal. With the subsequent intermittent contractions of the uterus and the effacement and dilatation of the cervix, together with frequentfetalposition changes to keep the smallest diameter of the fetal head always presenting to the smallest diameter of the maternal pelvis, and with the natura l pull of gravity as well, the fetus is propelled through the birth canal and out of the mothers system.  [7]  However, in some instances and due to some abnormalities in the dynamics of childbirth, the fetus cannot efficiently and effectively propel itself out of the birth canal. In such cases, the use of assistive devices such as a vacuum or forceps is necessary to guide and draw out the child from the mothers womb safely.  [8]   It is not in all instances that a vaginal delivery or childbirth is possible. Some occurrences necessitate and require the assumption of alternative methods of childbirth. Problematic occurrences such as,(a) multiple gestation; (b)unusual fetal position and presentation in relation to the vaginal passage; (c) cephalopelvic disproportion -either the fetus is too big for the maternal passage, or the diameter of the maternal pelvic, cervical, or vaginal opening is too small for the fetus to pass;(d)a dysfunctional labor such as an ineffective uterine contraction force, uncoordinated contractions, uterine rupture, or inversion of the uterus;(e) anomalies of the placenta or the umbilical cord such as placenta succenturiata, placenta circumvallata, vasa previa, the prolapse of the umbilical cord, the presence of a two-vessel cord, and an unusual umbilical cord length; or (f) an emergency situation causing severe fetaldistress, prohibit the fetus from being born safely and normally through a vaginal delivery and are thus, among the reasons for which such alternative options need to be implemented.  [9]   A Caesarean delivery or birth is the most common alternative intervention medically advised when a Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery is gravely hazardous and threatening to the mother or the child, or both. This method can also be voluntarily selected by women who do not want to go through the pain and discomfort of the normal processes oflabor and subsequently, childbirth. Caesarean Delivery is the mode of birth accomplished through an abdominal incision into the uterus. It is always slightly more hazardous than vaginal birth. But, rest assured, it is one of the safest types of surgeries and among those with few complications.  [10]  A Caesarean Section (CS) surgery is accomplished by making an incision on the abdominal area which cuts open the uterus and allow for the child to be drawn out of the mothers body. As opposed to a normal vaginal delivery where the medical team waits for the natural expulsion of the placenta, the procedure of Caesarean birth includes the manual rem oval of the placenta. Afterwhich, the internal cavity of the uterus is inspected and the membrane fragments, together withcoagulated blood components and other foreign matters are taken out before the incision is closed. The healing period of this surgical procedure is dependent on several factors including the womans general health condition, her age, nutritional status and fluid and electrolyte balance. However, a major determining aspect is the type of incision made during the operation. A Caesarean section is done by performing either a classic caesarean incision (vertical incision) or a low segment incision (transverse incision, also known as the bikini cut). Between the two aforementioned incisions, the latter is more preferred as it cuts through the non-active portion of the uterine muscle, thus, it allows for a subsequent vaginal birth of future pregnancies. Another advantage of the low segment cut is its faster healing time than a classic incision, and a decreased risk for post-delivery complications.  [11]  Due to its being surgical in nature, a Caesarean birth method usually necessitates more attention and takes a longer recovery period than that of a vaginal delivery. The postpartum, peurperium, or post-partal periodis the time after the delivery of the new born up to the full recovery of the mother wherein psychological and physiological changes occur to restore the womans mind and body to its pre-pregnant state. This progression is applicable to both vaginal delivery and Caesarean birth methods. Physiological changes in the post-partal period relate both specifically to the reproductive system and to the systemic physical condition as well. In the post-partal phase the uterus shrinks and reverts to its approximate pre-pregnancy size and position, the inner membranes and uterine lining slough off and develop into the discharge of lochia a vaginal excretion composed of blood, membrane fragments and mucus, the cervix and the vagina contract and revert to its pre-pregnancy size and diameter. All these events are encompassed in the course of involution, the hallmark process of the postpartum period. Together with involution, changes in the hormonal, circulatory, urinary, gastrointestinal, and integumentary systems also occur to entirely bring back the womans pre-pregnancy physiologic condition.In general, the immediate post-partal period for both vaginal and Caesarean modes of delivery ranges from six (6)to eight (8) weeks or more, putting into consideration that the mother does not develop any postpartum complications. Though, it must be emphasized that a womans body is not fully restored to its pre-pregnant physiology until six (6) moths after delivery.  [12]   NEEDS OF A NEW BORN CHILD During the labor and delivery process, the focus and attention fully belongs to the mother, the childbearer. Conversely, after the delivery process, such focus and attention is shifted to the new born child. Newborns undergo profound physiologic changes at the moment of birth as they are released from a warm, snug, dark, liquid-filled environment that has met all of their basic needs into a chilly, unbounded, brightly lit, gravity-based, outside world.  [13]  As the child is incapable of providing its needs, it becomes fully dependent on the caregiver who, in most instances, is the mother. In viewing the new born holistically, such needs can be classified into two categories the physiologic and the psychological necessities. Encompassed in the new born childs physical needs is: (a)the imperative need for breastfeeding -it is universally agreed that breast milk is the preferred methodof feeding a new born because it provides numerous health benefits to both the mother and the child, unless there are existing contraindications such as infant galactosemia, herpes lesions on the mothers nipples, maternal exposure to radioactive compounds, breast cancer, maternal active and untreated tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C, etc.; (b) the adherence to a feeding-on-demand scheme a new born child should be fed anytime, most preferably breastfed, whenever such is demanded; (c) the observance of a consistent sleeping pattern a newborn sleeps an average of sixteen (16) of every twenty-four (24)hours, an average of 4 hours at a time; (d) maintenance of a proper sleeping position a newborn should be positioned on theback for sleep as this has shown to decrease the incidence of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asudd en, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age; (e) on-time vaccination and screening tests; and, (f) proper diaper area care proper diaper area care and preventing diaper dermatitis is a practice that parents usually tend to neglect. Another aspect of the new born childs needs is the psychological part. According to a study aided by the UNICEF, between the ages of zero and five years, critical aspects of childrens physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual developments take place. The events which take place in a childs early life can impact upon their development over the rest of their lifespan.  [14]  A new born childs psychological needs are just as important as the physical ones. Babies need touch and attention from their caregivers to thrive. Cuddling, singing, talking and reading to the baby are all ways to cement the bond between newborn and caregivers. Letting a newborn know he is loved will help him grow into a secure child.  [15]  Erik Erikson, one of the pillar theorists of Psychology, identified the eight (8) stages of Psychosocial Development that a person goes through from birth to death. Stage one (1) of which involves the psychological developmental conflict of a newborn from bir th to one (1) year, and this is trust versus mistrust. According to Erikson, the baby will develop a sense of trust only if the parent or caregiver isresponsive and consistent with the basic needs being met.Babies who are not securely attached to their mothers are less cooperativeand are more aggressive in their interactions. And as they growolder, they become less competent and sympathetic with peers. They also tend to exploretheir environment with less enthusiasm and persistence.  [16]   Evidently, the aforementioned needs of a new born child entail a structured play of events which progress from the moment of birth. It is logical to infer that it takes a much longer period of time when the crucial mother-child interaction is considered than it takes plainly for the recovery from the labor and delivery processes. MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS IN OTHER COUNTRIES For purposes of comparison, the Huffington Post Canada shows a chart which indicates the duration of time for which the government of other countries grant maternity leave benefits to women employees.  [17]   The United Nations, as an international organization not subject to the jurisdiction of any single country, have their own legislation on granting maternity leave benefits. According to its Administrative Instruction  [18]  on such matter, an expectant mother shall be entitled to sixteen (16) weeks of paid leave benefit. Six (6) weeks of which is the pre-delivery leave and the remaining ten (10) weeks as post-delivery leave. A shorter period of pre-delivery leave may be granted at the request of the concerned staff member on the basis of a certification from a licensed medical practitioner. However, she shall not be allowed a post-delivery leave of less than ten (10) weeks. As in the case of the United States of America, there is no federal law which specifically grants women employees such paid maternity leave benefits. Instead, what exists is the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) which provides certain employees, subject to certain eligibility conditions, with up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for the following reasons: (a) for the birth and care of the new born child; (b) for the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care; (c) to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or, (d) to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.  [19]  However, according to a report of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a large share of working parents is either not covered or not eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  [20]  The same report stated that, the United Sta tes has the least generous parental leave policies among the twenty-one (21) high-income countries studied countries included aside from the United States were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. That, with the exception of only a handful of states, the U.S. law provides no rights and benefits to paid parental leave. In a much closer view, the fellow-Asian countries of the Philippines, except for a few, have also adopted and appreciated the significance of a longer duration of maternal leave. CONS AND PROS OF LEAVE EXTENSION To fairly appraise the necessity of extending the duration of maternity leave in the Philippines, here are a few grounds for which one may argue on why or why not such an appeal should or should not be granted. Some of the contentions aimed against an extended maternity leave as cited by the National Network for Child Care, are: (a) companies may find it costly to pay such employee while holding the job position open for a long period of time there will be an imbalance in the money paid to the person on maternity leave with the amount of work she has provided; (b) possibility of lesser work opportunities for women with a lengthier duration of maternity leave, companies may favor a more homogenous profile of male workers as undoubtedly, there would be minimal occurrences for excusable and compensable work interruptions; and, (c) there might exist a conflict between expectant mothers and non-parent employees the duties and responsibilities, dependent on the position left behind by the employee on leave, needs to be filled in by another worker for the effective and efficient operation of the company, such situation may imbue in the minds of the non-parents an inequity and unfairness in the grant of benefits.  [21]   On the other hand, the obvious advantages of extending the duration of paid maternity leave are as follows: (a) it affords ample time for the full recovery of the mother, especially those who have undergone a Caesarean delivery; (b) it reduces unnecessary stress as the employee adjusts to her role as a parent this supports the contention that such employee will return to work free from the tension and troubles of motherhood; (c) it allows for the fulfilment of maternal responsibilities in response to the physical needs of the new born it is a principle of human nature that there is no better person to provide care and attention to a child than the mother herself ; (d) it promotes mother-child bonding and attachment for purposes of satisfying the psychosocial needs of the new born.  [22]   A MOVE FOR THE EXTENSION OF MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS With the details and specifics aforecited, it appears that there is indeed a need to extend the 60-day and 78-day durations of maternity leave benefits granted to Filipino women employees. An extension of 10 days each would be adequate to apportion a reasonable time allowance and ensure that once the employee resumes work, she is a hundred percent ready and prepared, thus, assuring a more effective, efficient and competent performance. This would constitute aseventy (70)-day leave period for normal vaginal delivery instead of 60 days, and aneighty-eight (88)-day leave duration for those who had a Caesarean delivery. Such contention is based on the following grounds: (a) the 60-day period granted for those who have undergone a normal delivery is insufficient so as to enable the mother to completely recover from the effects of the birthing process before getting back to work; (b) the 78-day period granted for those who have undergone Caesarean birth is gravely insufficient as such is b oth a birthing process and a surgical procedure, it requires a much longer healing time; (c) that a longer leave duration would greatly advance the benefits afforded to the youngest generation of the country in terms of their physical and psychosocial development; and, (d) that the Philippines, as a country, has long been left behind by other nations in realizing the pressing need for a longer maternity leave. It seems as though such need has actually been recognized by the members of the Philippine Congress as evidenced by the passing of House Bill No. 3973, also known as An Act Increasing Maternity Leave Benefits from 60 Days to 120 Days or Four Months. Such House Bill was initiated by Liza Maza and LuzvimindaIlagan, representatives of the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (GABRIELA) Partylist. House Representative LuzvimindaIlagan said that, Extending the period for maternity leave will not only give mothers the opportunity to fully recover, it will also give them the chance to breastfeed infants during the first four months. She also added that, the proposed legislation would also help address the maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.  [23]   Such matters regarding the definite and suitable length of time for which maternity leave benefits should be granted are, as of the moment, still left hanging and undecided. Thus, it is entirely within the control of the Philippine Legislature to resolve such concerns, in the effort of balancing and equalizing the interests of the concerned employee and the employers, for the greater benefit of the general public.

The Gift Tax Essay -- Accounting

The Gift Tax   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the taxes that we went over in class was gift taxes. This is a tax that is implied when property, personal items, or money with a value of over 10,000 dollars is given from one person to another. There are a few exceptions to this law such as giving to non-prophit organizations or the donation is going towards an education or tuition. I feel that this is a good tax to have because it will keep greedy people from transferring their money around to evade paying taxes on it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gift tax is will make sure that all citizens pay their fair amount of taxes which is decided by their income. This tax is collected and responsible to the donor. This person must file a gift - tax return with the Internal Revenue Service. There are little ways to ex...

A look a Pratical Magic :: essays research papers

Practical Magic was released October 16, 1998. The story is about two sisters who break a curse that had been placed on their family for over 200 years, by their ancestor Maria. Throughout the movie the theme is magic. Practical Magic helps to break the false images placed on witches and magic throughout time, but at times, the movie, still upholds some of the negative views of witches. There are many stereotypes that are set upon modern witchcraft and magic in today’s society that Hollywood has helped to maintain. In society there are people that are the selected voice of the general public in critiquing movies. I will be looking at Practical Magic’s use of magic to see how they break or perpetuate the following stereotypes: physical appearance of a witch, the witch as an outcast, and the types of magic and how they were shown throughout the movie. When looking at the main characters: Sally, Gillian, Jet and Frances, the viewer will see different physical appearances of how Hollywood views the possible appearance of a witch A witch throughout history is usually a hag, old, poor, handicapped, or ugly (Guiley 371). In the movie, the Owens women are what most people would consider quite beautiful. They are just like normal people with the exception of the fact that they have a gift. The aunts: Jet and Frances in the movie would be considered to follow the typical stereotype of a witch that is old but even though they are typical old woman that lives on the outskirts of town they break the stereotypical medieval image of a witch being ugly and a hag but they also perpetuate other stereotypes by dressing in lavish 19th century clothing. Their style screams â€Å"I’m different†. The aunts seem to be aging quite well. They appear to look young for their age. In one scene, when the detective goes in to town to ask about t he Owens’ sisters, he gets an ear full about how the aunts don’t age. Many in the town believe this is due to the fact that they are witches. There is one more image of a witch portrayed in history. This image is from the other end of the spectrum. Instead of being a hag or ugly, she is beautiful and a seductive woman. Sally destroys the image of both of the stereotypes of what a witch looks like.

Educational Preparation in Nursing Essay

With a consistent change in modernizing medicine, along with the continuing advancement in technology, continuing education in nursing is essential for a variety of reasons. The nurse’s main concern is providing safe, efficient, and effective patient care with positive patient outcomes. This paper will examine the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at an associate-degree level versus a baccalaureate-degree level, in order to provide an evidenced-based understanding of the variation in the educational preparation of nurses. An associate-degree nursing program usually takes place over the course of a two year period, providing the nurse with the confidence in skills and knowledge to be placed in an entry-level position upon graduation. These types of programs focus on preparing nurses for care settings including community hospitals and long-term care facilities—and were traditionally designed to compensate for the nursing shortage. A bachelor-degree nursing program typically takes place over a period of four academic years; and is intended to prepare its graduates to practice nursing in leadership and management positions in a number of care settings (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, pp 25-27). A bachelor-degree program in nursing provides a further understand of not only the scientific and clinical nursing education, but also a more in-depth overview of specialized skills including: critical thinking, decision-making, communication, leadership, case management, and health promotion (The Impact of Educati on on Nursing Practice, 2012, para. 1). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing describes evidenced-based recommendations that explain that in order to â€Å"respond to the demands of an evolving health care system and meet the changing needs of patients, nurses must achieve higher levels of education (Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, 2012, para. 5).† The professional nurse holding a baccalaureate-level degree is prepared for a broader role in patient care with a higher understanding of holistic treatment, community health, clinical research, and nursing leadership and management. The added course work provided in a baccalaureate program is designed to prepare the nurse for a broader scope of practice and a better understand of issues that affect patients and their health care, including: cultural, economic, political, and social issues. â€Å"Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today’s nurse (The Impa ct of Education on Nursing Practice, 2012, para 1).† Patient outcome are the principal for continuing education. The level of educational preparation required by a baccalaureate-degree nurse allows for more equip decision-making in approach to patient care situations. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, In the October 2012 edition of Medical Care researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that surgical patients in Magnet hospitals had 14% lower odds of inpatient death within 30 days and 12% lower odds of failure-to-rescue compared with patients cared for in non-Magnet hospitals. The study authors conclude that these better outcomes were attributed in large part to investments in highly qualified and educated nurses, including a higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses. (Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, 2012, para. 9) With â€Å"Magnet† indicating a higher portion of baccalaureate nursing staff, it is determined that the nurse prepared at a bachelore-degree level is better prepared to approach a patient care situation with the capability of taking immediate action to provide better patient outcomes, than that of a nurse prepared at the associate-degree level. This goes to show that higher education has a strong impact on nursing practice. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, a better educated nursing workforce will improve patient safety and enhance nursing care, decreasing mortality rate—as there is a significant correlation between nurses educated at a bachelor-degree level and lower patient death rates (Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, 2012). Through this research it is apparent that there is a significant connection between patient health care outcomes and the educational preparation of nurses. It is now established that the nurse prepared at a baccalaureate level is more readily capable of caring for critically ill patients; working in situations requiring critical thinking, leadership, and decision-making; and also taking roles in clinical aspects relevant to non-hospital settings. â€Å"Researchers have identified improved patient safety and lower rates of patient morbidity and mortality; lower levels of medication errors and procedural violations; and fewer disciplinary actions for BSNs (Altmann, 2012, para 4).† The need to continue education in nursing is on-going in order to continue to keep up with the changes in technology, advances in medicine, and to provide the best patient care. The Grand Canyon University Philosophy for nursing education explains: Baccalaureate nursing practice incorporates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, providing care, teaching, and leading. The caring professional approach includes the values of autonomy, altruism, human dignity, integrity and social justice with unconditional regard for all people. Nursing practice includes health promotion, disease prevention, early detection of health deviations, prompt and adequate treatment of the human response to acute and chronic illness, and compassionate care for those experiencing death. (Philosophy, n.d., para. 8) It is essential to maintain competency in nursing practice through the pursuit of continuing education. The difference between educational levels involves clinical competencies in a variety of settings, decision-making skills, leadership roles, job opportunities, and most importantly overall patient outcomes. In order to provide the best care for patients, a higher education, and continuing increase in knowledge is essential. References Altmann, T. K. (2012). Nurses’ attitudes toward continuing formal education: A comparison by level of education and geography. Nursing Education Perspectives, 33(2), 80-4. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1009642651?accountid=7374 Creasia, J. L., & Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice [5] (VitalSource Bookshelf), Retrieved from http://pageburstls.elsevier.com/books/978-0-323-06869-7/id/B9780323068697100029_p0150 Fact sheet: Creating a more highly qualified nursing workforce. (2012, October 24). Retrieved November 8, 2012, from American Association of Colleges of Nursing:

Plans After Graduating Essay

My primary purpose of applying for the distance learning program is to further my studies by undertaking a Master’s degree course which is in line with my Bachelor’s degree. As a graduate of sociology I am aware that my expertise is in line with studying society in general and also studying specific aspects of our society. However since this is only a Bachelor’s degree it is imperative for me to pursue further studies and I feel that a more focused degree like MPM can benefit me the more as it has more theories in a specific strata of society. My secondary goal is to assure me of a long-term career in education as I am currently a college instructor in STI College Santa Rosa. It is a prequisite for any budding educator to always pile up on one’s credentials to attain not just the knowledge but also an assurance of better opportunities both in the academic world but also in government agencies as well. Upon completion of said degree I see myself continuing in the academe and also go into research on government policies and possible ways of improving the country’s state in terms of governance. My background in sociological studies is a tool that can help me be effective in research and MPM will enhance my skills and my knowledge in terms of public management. I also plan to take up my PHD inside the next 5 years depending on how long it would take to finish up my master’s degree. I am also looking forward for a possible opportunity to work for my alma mater if not Open University perhaps UPLB either a researcher or a professor. It is also my goal that through the program that I am applying for I could impact the lives of my students by sharing with them what I have learned both from the program and also from whatever research materials are already available. If I would be able to do this, the impact will be tremendous both intellectually and also in the lives of my students. From their ranks are future leaders of this country or perhaps citizens that would help improve the lives of their countrymen their different contributions.

Current competitive strategies of Samsung and Apple Essay

            Both Samsung and Apple are the largest manufacturers of smart phones in the world. Combined, the two technology giants’ account for more than half of the Smartphones sold world wide. Traditional cell phones had very limited computing abilities. Many of them were designed to offer basic services like making and receiving calls. As time went by, the need for mobile devices with superior computing abilities increased as technology became a major part of modern life. More importantly, there was demand for mobile phones that could offer the same services as a computer. Although the mobile phone market was traditionally ruled by companies like Nokia and Motorola, Apple took over the market when it launched its iPhone Smartphone in 2007. This product became very popular with customers due to its large touchscreen and multi-touch user interface. Even though the company dominated the Smartphone market for some time, it has come under increasing competition from Samsung through its Samsung galaxy product line (Apple, 2013). Through massive advertising coupled with unique features, the Samsung galaxy has overtaken the iPhone to become the most popular Smartphone brand in the world. This fierce competition between these two technology giants has resulted in endless court battles in the United States and Europe, among other places. This paper will look at the current competitive strategies used by each company and what each of them needs to do to improve their competitive position in the future. More importantly, there was demand for mobile phones that could offer the same services as a computer. Although the mobile phone market was traditionally ruled by companies like Nokia and Motorola, Apple took over the market when it launched its iPhone Smartphone in 2007. This product became very popular with customers due to its large touchscreen and multi-touch user interface. Even though the company dominated the Smartphone market for some time, it has come under increasing competition from Samsung through its Samsung galaxy product line (Apple, 2013). Through massive advertising coupled with unique features, the Samsung galaxy has overtaken the iPhone to become the most popular Smartphone brand in the world. This fierce competition between these two technology giants has resulted in endless court battles in the United States and Europe, among other places. This paper will look at the current competitive strategies used by each company and what each of them needs to do to improve their competitive position in the future. The current competitive strategy of each company            On top of being bitter competitors in the Smartphone market, Apple and Samsung use different competitive strategies. As the pioneer producer of Smartphones, Apple uses the blue ocean strategy. In the early 2000s, the cell phone market was mainly made of phones with basic applications. This meant that companies assessed what their competitors were doing and strived to improve on it so that they could gain a competitive strategy. Such a strategy was not good for business because it meant trading off cost and value (Mourdoukoutas, 2012). However, Apple decided to create a new demand in a market that no any other company ventured into. This was done through the use of the blue ocean strategy. As noted above, there was no any other company that was producing Smartphones at that time Apple was in total control of the Smartphone market. Within a short time, Apple became one of the most profitable companies in the United States and the world at large (Gustin, 2012). However, Steve Jobs and other senior managers at the company were well aware of the fact that the company was under threat of new entrant due to its profitability. This strategy made the company immune from the porter’s five forces. The main competitive strategy of Apple Inc is developing new and innovative products that blend technology and art.            Unlike Apple Inc, Samsung uses the red ocean strategy. In this type of strategy, a company gains competitive advantage by venturing into an existing market and building on the weaknesses of its competitors. As noted above, Apple was the pioneer company in the manufacture of Smartphones. Through its flagship iPhone product line, Apple rose to become the largest cell phone company in the world. Unlike Apple, the main competitive strategy of Samsung is flooding the market with many products that are developed within a short time. This is very different with Apple which takes a lot of time before it launches a new product into the market. This strategy has been made possible by the fact that Samsung develops many of the components that are used in making its Smartphones. This gives it a huge cost advantage over Apple which relies on external suppliers. However, the red ocean is disadvantageous because it makes a company vulnerable to the porter’s five forces. What each company is doing to improve its current competitive position               There are a number of steps that both Samsung and Apple are taking to improve their current competitive strategies. As noted earlier, Apple Inc dominated the Smartphone market for many years before it was eventually overtaken by Samsung. The loss of market share to Samsung has forced the leaders at the company to come up with ways of improving its competitive strategy. The first step that Apple is taking to improve its current competitive position is focusing more on improving the existing products compared to coming up with new ones (Gustin, 2012). In the past, Apple invested huge sums of money in research aimed at coming up with new and unique products. Moreover, it would take a lot of years before the company released any new products into the market. However, the company pays more attention to improving its existing products. For example, the iPhone 5 did not have any tangible innovation. Instead, the company improved iPhone 4 by increasing its size among other innovations (Travlos, 2012). In addition, the company is investing in developing its components instead of buying from external suppliers. This will help Apple come up with products with unique features compared to their competitors.                  As noted above, the main competitive strategy of Samsung is building on the weaknesses of its competitors. In this strategy, the company waits for its competitors to come up with a product after which it develops its own with improvements on the one of its competitors. The first step that Samsung is taking to improve its current competitive position is investing more money in research. Compared to Apple Inc, Samsung invests 5.7% of its total revenues in research. This strategy is aimed at ensuring the company comes up with unique products so that it may not be seen as a copycat. The second action that Samsung is taking to improve its competitive advantage is investing heavily in advertising. As noted earlier, the main competitive strategy used by Samsung is flooding the market with different types of products that are targeted at different types of consumers. This is a huge contrast to Apple Inc. which releases few but highly anticipated products. To impr ove its current competitive advantage, Samsung has raised its advertising budget to $401 this year compared to $78 last year. This is $68 more than Apple Inc. Likely moves or strategy shifts that Samsung and Apple Inc will make                In the coming years, both Samsung and Apple Inc. are likely to witness shifts in their competitive strategies. Such changes will mainly be necessitated by heightened competition in the Smartphone market and the dynamic natures of the mobile phone market. As noted earlier, the main competitive strategy of Apple Inc. is developing new and innovative products that blend technology and art (Stein, 2012). The company controls the release of new products into the market unlike its main competitor, Samsung. Although this strategy helped the company rise to dominance of the Smartphone market in the early 2000s, there is need to institute a strategic shift. On top of investing heavily in research and coming up with unique products, Apple is likely to start developing a variety of products to meet the needs of different types of consumers. One of the main weaknesses of the current competitive strategy used by Apple Inc. is that it results in products for the rich in th e society. This makes the company miss on the remaining portion of the cell phone market. Moreover, Apple will also need to invest more in advertising.                  Samsung has overtaken Apple Inc. as the largest Smartphone manufacturer in the world. This growth can be attributed to the company’s competitive strategy of flooding the market with many products that are developed within a short time (Haydn, 2013). Moreover, the products of the company are relatively cheap compared to those of its main competitor, Apple Inc. As pointed out earlier; the other main competitive strategy of Samsung is building on the weaknesses of its competitors. In this strategy, the company waits for its competitors to come up with a product after which it develops its own with improvements on the one of its competitors. However, this strategy may backfire in the future because it will make the company to be seen as a copycat. With this in mind, Samsung is likely to shift its competitive strategy from playing second to its competitors to a dominant force in research as well (Powell, 2001). This means that the company will need to i nvest more in research and come up with products that are revolutionary and game changing. However, measures should be put in place to ensure that products don’t take long before being released into the market. Where each company is most vulnerable                The first major weakness of Samsung as a company is lack of innovation in its products. As noted earlier, Samsung thrives by waiting by for its competitors to come up with a product after which it develops its own with improvements on the one of its competitors. This strategy makes the company vulnerable because in future, people may begin to see it as a copycat. The technology industry is very competitive and customers love companies that develop new technologies compared to those that improve on what is already in the market (Powell, 2001). However, this should not be confused to mean that Samsung does focus on innovation, instead it means that the company is less proactive in coming up with new products. The other vulnerability of Samsung is that serves a mass market compared to Apple Inc. which caters for a niche market. The need to attract a large market forces it to set low prices for its products compared to Apple Inc. and this pricing strategy makes the company vulnerable. Although low pricing has helped Samsung win over a large share of the market, it makes the company vulnerable to being seen as offering low quality product by some customers. Many customers, especially in the United States and other developed countries, usually perceive low priced products as of low quality. Finally, lack of creativity makes the company vulnerable (Haydn, 2013). Many of Samsung’s Smartphones do not have a user friendly interface compared to those of its competitors. This may make consumers in places like the United States demand for lower prices therefore affecting the profitability of the company.               As noted earlier, Apple Inc, Apple Inc. does not target the mass market but rather a niche market. The majority of the company’s products are mainly meant for the affluent in the society. Based on this, the first weakness of Apple Inc. is lack of product diversification. Apple has only one product line, the iPhone. This makes the company vulnerable to saturating its small market. Moreover, the failure by the company to segment its market also makes it vulnerable. Some of the most successful companies in the world have products for every segment of the market including the wealthy and the poor. What competitive moves will provoke the greatest and most effective retaliation by each company?               As pointed out earlier in the paper, both Samsung and Apple Inc. have unique competitive strategies. The competitive strategy used by a company is important because it determines its position in the market as well as its profitability. The first move by Apple Inc. that would provoke the largest retaliation by Samsung is the production low end products. As noted earlier in the paper, Samsung has mainly survived by producing different products for different sections of the market (Powell, 2001). Based on this, any move by Apple Inc. to come up with products for the low end market would provoke retaliation from Samsung. The second move by Apple Inc. that would provoke retaliation by Samsung is lowering the prices of its products. Apple Inc. is famous for producing innovative products that blend technology and art. These products are sold at a premium price.               On the other hand, any move by Samsung to come up with revolutionary and game changing products is likely to provoke retaliation from Apple (Haydn, 2013). As pointed our earlier, Apple Inc. has been depending on this strategy since the time it was founded. Any move by Samsung to invade this territory would attract a serious technological retaliation from Apple Inc. Moreover, Apple survives by serving a niche market. Based on this, any move by Samsung to do away with its mass market strategy and adopt a niche market strategy is likely to provoke a serious retaliation from Apple Inc.               My recommendation on whether the two companies should continue with their current competitive strategies or should modify them             The current competitive strategies used by both Samsung and Apple Inc. have both advantages and disadvantages. As noted earlier in the paper, Apple Inc. was the largest producer of Smartphones in the world before being overtaken by Samsung. Based on this I would suggest that Apple Inc. modifies its current competitive strategy so that it can retain its rightful place in the Smartphone market. First, Apple Inc. should consider conducting market segmentation to ensure that they serve all segments of the market (Mourdoukoutas, 2012). Currently, the company only serves one section of the market. My second recommendation for Apple Inc. is that it should consider instituting product diversification. At the moment, the company offers the iPhone product line only. Finally, the company should invest in producing its own components so that it can shorten the time it takes to develop new products.               Likewise, Samsung should consider modifying its current competitive strategy. This is despite the fact that it has propelled the company to the position of number one Smartphone manufacturer in the world. To begin with, Samsung needs to modify its current strategy and lay more emphasis on innovation. If nothing is done, the current strategy puts the company at risk of being seen as a copycat by customers. Secondly, Samsung should modify its current competitive strategy and revise its prices upwards because some customers associate low prices with low quality. References Erica Olsen (2012). Strategic Planning Kit for Dummies, 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Gustin, Sam (2012). Why Apple Is Winning: Innovation, Opportunity and Execution.  TIME.com. TIME, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. . Haydn, Shaughnessy (2013). What Makes Samsung Such An Innovative  Company? . Forbes. Retrieved from < http://www.forbes.com/sites/haydnshaughnessy/2013/03/07/why-is-samsung-such-an-innovative-company/ > .Web Mourdoukoutas, Panos (2012). Can Microsoft Adopt Apple’s Business Model?  Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 10 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Powell, Thomas C. (2001). Competitive advantage: logical and philosophical considerations. Strategic Management Journal 22 (9): 875–888 Stein, Scott (2012). IPhone 5 Review: Finally, the IPhone We’ve Always Wanted.†Ã‚  CNET. CNET, 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. . Travlos, Darcy (2012). Apple: Product Commoditization?  Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 15 May 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Source document

Picasso Art

Washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. † – Picasso I believe this statement to be completely true, and those who do not clearly misinterpret the true definition of art. Every individual has something that brings them comfort, whether that be painting, exercising, writing, or performing. These can all be considered acts of art, and by partaking in such activities you are truly purging yourself from the dust of everyday life. I don't paint, draw, write, or involve myself in anything that could be considered traditional art.There are however many seemingly insignificant things I do throughout the day that help maintain a positive state of mind. Actions that I do for myself to benefit only myself, personal art in a sense. I believe it is truly important to set time personal time aside in order to express yourself to yourself, thus maintaining the positive state of mind that is crucial to a productive lifestyle. If Macbeth had a burning passion for knitting inst ead of murder, our grade 1 g's would likely be studying a much more uplifting novel. Although everyone has a unique perception of art, true art plays a crucial role of each of our everyday lives.In fact many of us complete numerous works of art in a single day. Things that we may not perceive as traditional art but instead things that we feel an intense passion for and as a result partaking in these acts clear your mind, calm your emotions, and make you feel at ease. Take a look at our school community; we have athletes, artists, writers, musicians, and more all doing what they love, passions that wash away the dust of our everyday lives and give them the strength to persevere through the dullness of secondary school education. That is art in its truest form.

An Analysis of the Anti-Utopian Notion in “Notes from Underground”

An Analysis of the Anti-Utopian Notion in â€Å"Notes from Underground† Notes from Underground, completed in 1864, is considered one of Dostoevsky’s most deviously insightful works, famous for its gloomy description of not only the dark historical period but also the dark environment in which the protagonist lives. This is a novel that attacks moralism, rationalism, utilitarianism and utopian idealism. After a thorough reading, one can locate abundant clues and evidence to support that one of the core themes of Notes from Underground is the fight against the world that people would call civilized, i.e. the ideal world that people are longing for, and the world that â€Å"I†, the protagonist of the story, will deny. The opening paragraphs of the story clearly convey the protagonist’s view of life, personality and the status of his rationality. Almost immediately, we learn that the protagonist is afflicted by illness but refuses to receive medical treatment. He says, â€Å"My liver hurts; well, then let it hurt even worse†(3). He interprets medical treatment as â€Å"harming only myself and no one else.† This reveals how clearly he understands his illness. That he chooses not to see a doctor proves the protagonist’s advocacy for free will and the power of this free will could make him choose to tolerate the pain rather than seek a cure. Well-being and happiness are desirable goals, and also the features of the utopian world, but he chooses to deny these notions and suffer in order to prove his views. Furthermore, his monologue also implies his championing of rationality over morality and how he escapes from the control imposed by morality. He says: â€Å"What was the main point about my wickedness? The whole thing precisely was †¦ that I was simply frightening sparrows in vain, and pleasing myself with it.†(4) This excerpt shows how powerfully moral judgment suppresses a person’s anger. It changes a person in rage into a timid sparrow.Moreover, simple comfort like a doll or sugar could assuage him. Closely following the above quote is the protagonist’s confession, â€Å"an intelligent man of the nineteenth century must be and is morally obliged to be primarily a characterless being; and a man of character, an active figure – primarily a limited being† (5). When everybody is calling for a higher standard of morality, the protagonist expresses the idea that morality makes people characterless. When morality is considered a social progress towards utopian idealism, the protagonist chooses to avoid it and live out his life outside of this movement, behaving in a way that society would deem wicked. He dislikes s ociety, so he stays away from it, and he remains â€Å"wicked† so as not to become characterless. The protagonist clearly knows that he could not blend in with society because of his wickedness, but upon facing their derision, he could do nothing but fight back in protest. This is illustrated by his encounter with an officer in the street. In thinking about how to deal with the superior officer, he says, â€Å"it tormented me that even in the street I simply could not be on an equal footing with him.† (48) He thought it humiliating and unequal that he would have to step aside in deference to the officer even though the man had no authority on the street. He even imagines, â€Å"what if I meet him and do not step aside? Deliberately do not step aside, even if I have to shove him?† (48) The key word here is equality, in that the protagonist does not want to exist in a system where an officer is perceived to have more value than the common man. He just would not swerve to obtain his sense of being treated equally, and all the theory of equality comes from western enlig htenment. As an intellect influenced by it, he becomes oversensitive after he spends too much of his energy focusing on it.Equality is a concept that exists in the description of ideal interpersonal relationships and, crucially, in the utopian world. It is a social state that everybody desires. However, that he emphasizes the notion of equality with such vehemence indicates that it has influenced and changed his personality and social behavior, which implies that he is a rebel of idealism. Ultimately, the narrator rejects blending in with society, and does not seek the same sense of happiness that others yearn for. His love affair with Liza is another example that proves he avoids the notion of happiness as interpreted by others. In chapter six, he says, â€Å"I grew up without a family: that must be why I turned out this way†¦feeling† (84). This personal judgment of himself prepares him for his later escape from Liza. His emotional confession of his situation touched his sensitive nerve to love, but as his confession echoes Liza’s misfortune, Liza started to pay special attention to him. However, after â€Å"seeing her suddenly blush† for what could happen next, he abruptly starts to defend himself by saying, â€Å"I am not ashamed of my poverty,† â€Å"I look upon my poverty with pride† (106) Poor but noble this is his self-evaluation which reveals his sensitiveness. Then he â€Å"jumped up and ran to Apollon,† and he t hinks he â€Å"had to vanish somewhere† (106). His sudden departure finally ends his love of Liza, which also proves that he is not only sensitive but also lacks confidence. He is poor, but he finds reasons and defends his poverty, which proves that he is afraid of his future with Liza. Because love is considered a blissful thing and a symbol of an ideal world, he chooses to avoid it and escape. The Underground Mans failed relationship with Liza, when considered together with his attitude of his life and his social behavior helps to conclude that he staunchly refused to pursue what others would perceive as an ideal world. Everything that marks idealism and betterment he choose to escape from in order to preserve his worldview of free will over happiness. As a philosophical and psychological statement, Notes from Underground expresses an anti-utopian tendency. Work Cited: Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Notes From Underground. New York: Bantam. 1983

Fix Them or Fire Them Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fix Them or Fire Them - Case Study Example In this case, based on the fact that employee training and development programs are expensive to sustain especially if the business has a short employee turnover rate. To the company, regular expenses aimed at training employees make it a problem for employers to fire their employees rather than fix them. Fixing an employee involves the provision of counselling and motivation to do their work. During counselling, the author describes a situation where an employer meets with an employee to discuss the employee’s performance. Based on the employee’s input and output, the employer can compare the performance of that particular employee against the standard acceptable levels (11). The employee is then asked to provide a detailed self-analysis regarding the poor performance. If a clear set of reasons is established, the employer is able to make an informed decision to manage the employee such that he/she is able to deal with the factors influencing poor performance to ensure that the employee retains his work and the training and development costs of hiring new employees are managed. In the counselling of employees, employers or managers are required to remember various things among them the nature of the job, the performance record of the employee, the current and desired employee motivation, role of management in influencing good or bad performance, and the general welfare of the employee. With reference to employee motivation, managers or employers are required to remember that poor performance may not be caused by the employee. As a matter of fact, employees may lack job satisfaction at the current workplace based on their capabilities and how much they utilize their potential. Additionally, when the company thrives at ensuring that employees meet specific business goals. However, to ensure that the goals are achieved, and development is sustained, employers or managers must ensure that their employees have access to information and resources that