Reaction Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Reaction Paper - Essay Example This disregards the claims that African slaves were resilient to tropical diseases and harsh climates.1 The enslavement of Africans was cultural based, and the name was associated with people from a particular race. The Europeans did not enslave their fellow Europeans. The means through which Europeans acquired slaves had an impact on the way different communities understood the meaning of slavery. In some communities, those who deserved slavery were non religious groups. Also, it had problems in the way Muslims in North Africa understood and in the same Christians had different perceptions of the meaning of slavery.2 Therefore, although some people believed that slaves were supposed to be black Africans this was not true because the term slave meant different things to different communities. Eltis’ argument seems more logical because it dismisses the claim that the reason for enslaving Africans were because of â€Å"cheap labor for their plantations† this is very interesting because the European populace was greater than that of Africans and due to shipment expenses Native Americans and Europeans would provide cheap labor for the

Preservation vs Conservation Essay Example for Free

Preservation vs Conservation Essay John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and Aldo Leopold are three influential figures responsible for shaping the foundations of the ideologies of the modern environmental movements. However, although Muir, Pinchot, and Leopold represented the grave environmental concern, they also represented the rift between preservationists and conservationists. This ideological divide among environmental groups arose from widely-differing assumptions, beliefs, and attitudes on how nature and the environment should be seen in the one hand, and how human role in relation to nature and the environment should be defined. Thus, despite the fact that Muir, Pinchot, and Leopold were among the most important environmentalists of their time, irreconcilable ideological differences kept them from successfully working together for environmental causes and initiatives. In â€Å"The Mountains of California,† John Muir provides a detailed description of the mountainous features of the Sierra Nevada and natural formations in the Yosemite Valley, including the animals and plants that are found in these habitats. Muir informs the readers not only of his impressions of the play of light on the slopes of the mountains but also describes his awe of the beauty of nature found in the California mountain range. In this sense, Muir advances the idea that human beings should not be allowed to destroy the things created by nature. Along this line, Muir suggests that wildlife and other things in nature should not be subject to human activities that aim to make a profit out of natural resources. Meanwhile, Aldo Leopold uses the descriptions of his encounters and experiences with nature in â€Å"A Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There† to illustrate the fact that modernization and industrial development has alienated human beings from the biotic community. He further argues that human intervention and activities in the aim of making nature more profitable or less hostile to human beings, such as killing deadly predators, have managed to offset the natural balances which have had catastrophic results for animal and plant life in many habitats. Leopold therefore advocates for human beings to establish a harmonious relationship with nature based on the â€Å"land ethic,† which emphasizes the human obligation to preserve the dignity of the earth and everything found in it and not to do anything that would degrade and harm the natural environment. In an essay excerpt from his work â€Å"The Fight for Conservation,† Gifford Pinchot states his concern about the impact of environmental devastation on business activities and human life and argues for greater state intervention in managing natural resources to ensure sustainable use and to deter unscrupulous exploitation of these resources. In essence, Gifford advocates for a reform not only in how modern American society viewed its natural resources to be inexhaustibe but also for a concrete reform in natural resource policy to implement measures to manage forests and other resources. Hence, Gifford argues for the implementation of management programs in the aim of averting future natural resource depletion crises that would have adverse effects on the national economy and private enterprise. Gifford’s framework for his advocacy was based on the premise that the imports of raw materials were often costly and therefore unpractical for many businesses, which made state management of resource materials more cost-efficient and cost-effective. It is clear from these selections that all three authors were against the wanton expoitation of natural resources. Likewise, Muir, Pinchot, and Leopold acknowledged the role of human activities in the degradation of the environment. For instance, Muir’s descriptive essay of Sierra Nevada and its surroundings is very much similar to Leopold’s musings on the diversity found in nature and how human beings should work to preserve the integrity of their natural environment. In the same manner, all three authors called attention to increasing environmental problems wrought about by the reckless use and abuse of ecological resources such as forests and grasslands. However, a deeper look at the writings of Muir, Pinchot, and Leopold’s present the distinctive ideas and assumptions that inform the arguments and positions of the three authors. It is in these details that the critical reader ultimately sees the clash in the preservationist and conservationist stance of the three authors. For instance, Pinchot’s conservationist perspective is emphasized by his focus on the management of resources to maximize the benefit to humans, based on the assumption that nature and the things or beings found in nature existed for human use. Likewise, most of Pinchot’s arguments are premised on the idea that human beings are the center and the goal of conserving nature and its bounty. In contrast, Muir’s preservationist belief is characterized by the view that nature and wildlife should be kept in the same state of being pristine and untrammelled by humans. Similar to Muir’s perspective, Leopold suggests that humans should see themselves as part of the biotic community instead of seeing themselves as the center of all creations. The writings of both authors are influenced by the basic assumption that nature and wildlife, as living beings, have innate rights and accordingy, humans have the obligation to ensure that these rights are enjoyed or protected. Thus, the basic and most significant difference between the preservationist and conservationist camp stemmed from the belief and attitude towards nature wherein the former believed that nature should be protected for nature’s sake, while the latter espoused the protection or management or nature for human being’s sake. The three author’s basic arguments and underlying assumtions are further revealed in their narratives. Both Muir and Leopold clearly write from the perspective of someone who has experienced a close connection with nature. This is evident in the ability of these authors to describe the scenes of nature and the wildlife found in it down to the minute details, to recall their most personal feelings in their encounters of the beauty and wonder of nature, and in their reflections and thoughts about these encounters. Pinchot, on the other hand, writes in a manner that is devoid of any sentimentality about the intrinsic characteristics of nature but calls forth self-serving human interests for continued survival and societal development to argue for natural resource management. Clearly, the three authors represent the major strains of thought in environmental preservation and conservation. Muir, with his emphasis on the total preservation of nature and wildife and his insistence on distancing human life from the works of nature, represents the ecological rights perspective in environmental preservation. In the same manner, Leopold’s argument about seeing the bigger picture in terms of wildlife and nature preservation encapsulates the basic premise of the ecosystem approach in natural resource management. Meanwhile, Pinchot’s focus on the conservation of nature through efficient use and the maximization of available resources is at the heart of sustainable resource management approaches. Therefore, it is not surprising that despite being contemporaries as significant environmental theorists and activitists of their time, Muir, Pinchot, and Leopold were kept apart by basic differences in their assumptions and viewpoints. This is because the basic assumptions that underlined their beliefs in either preservation or conservation not only determined their stance on the environment but also addressed the crucial question of how nature should be used—or if it should be used at all—for continued human development. References: Leopold, Aldo. (2008). Excerpt from ‘A Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There. ’ In Environmental Studies, 2nd Edition (pp. 10-12). United States: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Muir, John. (2008). Excerpt from ‘The Mountains of California. In Environmental Studies, 2nd Edition (pp. 5-7). United States: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Pinchot, Gifford. (2008). Excerpt from ‘The Fight for Conservation. ’ In Environmental Studies, 2nd Edition (pp. 8-9). United States: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Violent Video Games Raise Aggression Essay -- Gaming

Throughout history man kind has always searched for ways to entertain himself, each time developing new activities and games. Video games have become a very popular way to spend time and have fun from the 1970’s up to now. With new developments appeared different video game genres from adventure to racing, but the violent video games appear to be the most popular ones (Shin, 2003), for example: shooters, fighting and video games where you have to eliminate, destroy, or kill your enemies. Video games have become very influential on children and adults (Stafford, 1999). With violent video games humans are more prone to act aggressively, to have aggressive thoughts and become numb towards violence (Harding, 2009). Apart from these they are prone to develop antisocial behavior, depression and addiction. This means that future generations will be more violent and less sensible towards violence. Is this type of entertainment really worth a more violent world and future? B. The IT background of the issue Back in time input devices for video games were analog this means that data was very short ranged and limited like for example movements in the x-axis only, like in â€Å"Pong†. This is one of the reasons why before there were very few and not that violent video games such as â€Å"Space Invader†. But as technology developed so did the video game industry (Reynolds, 2004) and input devices became each time more complex. With more option in the input devices people can do more actions in the video games like for example combo moves or kill enemies in many other different ways (Stafford, 1999). Another development that has caused the appearance of violent video games is the increase in quality of the output. Before, the only VDU’s were C... ...1/2008. CNN. 24/05/2010 â€Å"Insert Coin: Part 5-Violence in Video Games†. Brent Stafford. Internet. Youtube, 02/11/2006 Shaky egg. Brent Stafford. 2004. Shaky Egg Communications Inc. 24/05/2010 Red3d. Craig Reynolds. 22/07/2007. None. 24/05/2010 About.com. Jennifer Rosenberg. 2003. The New York Times Company. 24/05/2010 Gamezero. Salamander. 08-09/1992. Game Zero Magazine. 24/05/2010 Tgorski. Terence Gorski. Unknown. GORSKI-CENAPS Team. 24/05/2010

Assignment Organizational Behavior Essay

Situational Leadership provides a simple and logical framework with four basic decision-making styles – authoritative, consultative, facilitative, and delegative. Briefly describe these styles and describe when they are appropriate to use. Our textbook states that authoritative decision-making style, â€Å"applies in situations where the manager has the necessary experience and information to reach a conclusion and followers do not possess the ability, willingness, or confidence to help† (p. 295). This would be appropriate when you are the only source of information or expertise. According to p. 296 of our textbook, consultative decision-making styles are a â€Å"valuable strategy when the manager recognizes that the followers also possess some experience or knowledge of the subject and are willing but not yet able to help†. This style is appropriate when there is more time to make a decision on important issues and requires input from people who can be directly impacted by those decisions. Facilitative decision-making, as stated on p. 96 of our textbook as well, â€Å"is a cooperative effort in which manager and followers work together to reach a shared decisions†. This approach would be useful when dealing with an able, but not confident follower. Delegative decision making, covered on p. 297 of our textbook, is used â€Å"when follower high in readiness who have the experience and information needed to make the proper decision or recommendation†. This style is appropriate when â€Å"the manager can look forward to a high level of performance by saying, ‘You know this subject. Work on it and let me know what you come up with’† (p. 297).

El Nino Phenomenon

El Nino has been a reoccurring phenomenon for centuries. What exactly is El Nino? â€Å"The term El Nino refers to a massive warming off the coastal waters of Peru and Equador that frequently extends more than 90 degrees of longitude. It is related to the Southern Oscillation, the atmospheric component of this phenomenon†¦ † (Gottschalk, 1998). Because El Nino and Southern Oscillation are often coupled, the term ENSO is used. (Garrison, 1999) This event usually last up to a year but can last up to three years. El Nino occurs every several years. The areas that are most affected by this event are all ocean areas at tradewind latitudes in both hemispheres. (Garrison, 1999) El Nino has been linked to flood and droughts all over the world. El Nino causes significant changes in biology and weather when it occurs. During an El Nino cycle there are many biological changes. During an El Nino thermocline is low and therefore there is less photosynthetic activity following in a decrease in the primary life forms. The warmer waters that are brought by El Nino hold less oxygen demanding the fish to go somewhere else. Cook 1998) â€Å"Although upwelling may occur during an ENSO event, the source of upwelled water is nutrient-depleted water in the thickened surface layer approaching from the west†(Garrison, 1999). This does not help the fisherman to make money or eat during an ENSO event. This biological decrease also hurts the economy because the fishermen in the areas affected are not catching the right amount of fish to make money. Biological change is due to the climate and weather change during El Nino. The surface winds that move the ocean currents are a major controller in weather. During El Nino when the easterlies weaken and retract eastward during the early stages, the upwelling slows and the ocean warms along with the moist air above the ocean. The change in the ocean temperatures causes a major rain section over the western Pacific to move eastward. In this way small changes in the ocean and wind currents continue to magnify each other until a full-blown El Nino occurs. † The increased evaporation intensifies coastal storms, and rainfall inland may be much higher than normal†(Garrison, 1999). The impacts of El Nino upon climate in temperature show up most during wintertime. Most El Nino winters are not that cold over western Canada and parts over the United States, and wet over the Southern United States and from Texas to Florida. (Whipple, 1998) According to Helvarg (1998), El Nino occurs at irregular intervals ranging from two years to a decade, and no two events are ever exactly alike. The 1982-83 El Nino was a surprise because it was not proceeded by a period of stronger easterlies on the Equator. It also occurred late in the calendar year. The economic impact was large. The Equador and Peru fishing industries suffered heavily. Up to a hundred inches of rain fell in Equador and Peru. The new vegetation swarmed grasshoppers, which increased the toad and bird population. Further west they found abnormal wind patterns and this shifted typhoons and sent them to Hawaii and Tahiti, which was unaccustomed to severe weather. The total amount of damage was $8 billion. â€Å"This years El Nino [1997-1998] has been the strongest ever recorded† (Helvarg, 1998). This El Nino drought had more of an impact than its rains. El Nino also infuriated tornado and storm activity in the Southeast. † In Alabama 34 people were killed and some 5,000 acres of trees knocked down in April when deadly tornadoes struck† (Helvarg, 1998). This record braking tornado event was spawned by the collision of warm, moist air that lingered over the warm Pacific and a polar front that had dropped from the north. (Garrison, 1999) In parts of Northwest U. S. there where massive clear-cut logging operations have to take place on mountain slopes, El Nino†s rains and big surfs contributed to what has become a pattern of landslide and flooding. In the Hawaiian Islands El Nino weakened the tradewinds that normally bring rain, resulting in a three month long winter drought. This damaged crops and sparked wildfires that depleted hundreds of acres of endangered native species. (Helvarg, 1998) Conditions from this year El Nino did not return to normal until late spring of 1998. (Garrison, 1998) â€Å"Estimates of worldwide 1997-1998 damage exceeded $25 billion†(Garrison, 1999) According to Garrison(1999), the contrasting colder events that occur are known as La Nina. As conditions to the east cool off, the ocean to the west warm rapidly. The renewed thrust of the trade winds piles this water upon itself, depressing the upper curve of the thermocline too more than 100 meters deep. According to Whipple (1998), weather from El Nino and La Nina are not symmetrical. Scientists have only recently recognized La Nina events. Since World War II there have been only one La Nina for every three El Ninos. Delivered along with El Nino†s wrath has been increased emphasis on the need to understand this often destructive weather phenomenon† (Gottschalk, 1998). If we understand El Nino we can better prepare and find better equipment to predict it. Buoys were arranged in the ocean to understand and predict ocean currents better. These buoys were placed between New Guinea and the Galapagos Islands. Each buoy measures surface wind, air temperature, humidity, sea surface temperature and subsurface temperature down to 500 meters. The data is then transferred to weather centers all over the world. The data is then analyzed and used for climate forecasting. Scientists are also trying to predict El Nino by National and Oceanic Administration weather satellites. From these satellites they have been able to track shifting patterns of sea surface temperatures. NASA satellite images also help us to see the shifting patterns of storms over the equator. NASA†s EOS provides ocean sea-surface vector winds. This will be launched in the year 2000. This is called SeaWinds microwave radar. â€Å"Adding to the El Nino data pile will be MODIS with its sea-surface temperature and ocean color sensors, Jason 1 for sea-surface height, and TRmm for tropical rainfall. On the ground, the EOS Data and information System (EOSDIS) ground will focus on processing, analyzing, and disseminating information gathered by this orbiting army of satellites† (Gottschallk, 1998). Over the years, several NASA missions have studied the effects associated with El Nino. Earliest efforts at mapping sea surface temperatures and cloud cover were done using two different satellites in 1978. Since then there have been many improvements made. The number of channels was increased from 4 to 5. These channels allow the instruments to view in parts of the electromagnetic visible and infrared spectrum. This increases the amount of readily available information on El Nino. All these things above help to better predict El Nino and to allow the countries the will be affected to prepare for it. This is important for the developing countries because the economy is very sensitive to climate change. Rice and cotton are two primary crops of Peru and are highly sensitive to rainfall (Encyclopedia). Therefore, if the farmers were told that El Nino were coming they would know whether to plant more rice or cotton in a year. Tropical countries have the most to gain from predictions but non-tropical countries require a more accurate prediction of El Nino. Countries such as Japan and United States will benefit in the strategic planning in areas such as agriculture, the management of water resources and the reserves of grain and fuel oil. Scientists and governments are working together to design and build a global system for predicting El Nino and other irregular climates. Governments should make climate predictions available daily like they make weather forecasts available to the public today. The ability to prepare how climate will change leads to better management of agriculture, water supplies, fisheries and other resources. By doing all these things people are going to become better adept to all irregular rhythms of climate.

Free Essays on Comparison Of Don Quixote, Sir Gawain, And The Confucian Gentleman

Quixote, Sir Gawain, and the Confucian gentleman are examples of the imperfections of mankind. No matter how hard each of them tries there is always a fundamental flaw that keeps them from perfecting their inner self. I chose to analyze Chapter 3 of Book 1 in Don Quixote. This chapter is important to the novel as a whole because it shows that Don Quixote is truly insane and not just faking being mad. In chapter 3 Don Quixote and Sancho Panza come across an inn that Don Quixote imagines being an enormous castle. The chapter begins with Don Quixote begging the keeper of the inn to formally knight him with an elaborate ceremony at his castle. The innkeeper then realizes that Don Quixote is insane so he plays along with his act and agrees to knight him. The innkeeper goes on to tell Don Quixote that he was once a brave knight errant who traveled the world seeking adventure. The places the innkeeper describes are low-life parts of towns in Spain. If Don Quixote had been truly a sane person he would have realized at this point that the innkeeper was lying because no knight errant would be in the slum parts of towns. But he did not realize that the man was lying because he is insane at this poi nt of the novel. The innkeeper and Don Quixote then have a conversation in which Don Quixote reveals that he carries no money because he has never read of a knight errant carrying money. The innkeeper tells Don Quixote that money is not discussed in the books because it is such an obvious thing to have. Having no money on a trip is another fact that shows how insane Don Quixote really is. After this brief talk Don Quixote finally realizes that money is a necessity that must be carried at all times. He then goes to the courtyard to complete his vigil, but ends up knocking a man unconscious simply because he moved Don Quixote armor. Before knocking the man out he says a quick prayer to his lady Dulcinea, who does not love Don Quixote in ... Free Essays on Comparison Of Don Quixote, Sir Gawain, And The Confucian Gentleman Free Essays on Comparison Of Don Quixote, Sir Gawain, And The Confucian Gentleman Quixote, Sir Gawain, and the Confucian gentleman are examples of the imperfections of mankind. No matter how hard each of them tries there is always a fundamental flaw that keeps them from perfecting their inner self. I chose to analyze Chapter 3 of Book 1 in Don Quixote. This chapter is important to the novel as a whole because it shows that Don Quixote is truly insane and not just faking being mad. In chapter 3 Don Quixote and Sancho Panza come across an inn that Don Quixote imagines being an enormous castle. The chapter begins with Don Quixote begging the keeper of the inn to formally knight him with an elaborate ceremony at his castle. The innkeeper then realizes that Don Quixote is insane so he plays along with his act and agrees to knight him. The innkeeper goes on to tell Don Quixote that he was once a brave knight errant who traveled the world seeking adventure. The places the innkeeper describes are low-life parts of towns in Spain. If Don Quixote had been truly a sane person he would have realized at this point that the innkeeper was lying because no knight errant would be in the slum parts of towns. But he did not realize that the man was lying because he is insane at this poi nt of the novel. The innkeeper and Don Quixote then have a conversation in which Don Quixote reveals that he carries no money because he has never read of a knight errant carrying money. The innkeeper tells Don Quixote that money is not discussed in the books because it is such an obvious thing to have. Having no money on a trip is another fact that shows how insane Don Quixote really is. After this brief talk Don Quixote finally realizes that money is a necessity that must be carried at all times. He then goes to the courtyard to complete his vigil, but ends up knocking a man unconscious simply because he moved Don Quixote armor. Before knocking the man out he says a quick prayer to his lady Dulcinea, who does not love Don Quixote in ...

Chinese Customs essays

Chinese Customs essays China is a land with unique traditional customs. Through the late early twentieth century China was fairly isolated which hindered cultural diffusion from the rest of the world. This meant that its culture was very distinct. Chinas distinct traditional customs included birth and birthday, wedding, and death customs. Birth traditions played an important role in Chinese life. When a child turned one month old, his or her parents would notify the gods. It was also though of that the birth of a girl was unlucky while the birth of a boy was lucky. The Chinese also celebrated birthdays with special customs. The birthdays that they thought were important were twenty-one, thirty-one, fifty-one, sixty-one, seventy-one, and ninety-one. At the age of fifty-one, it is a tradition for a person to receive, from his children, a multipaneled wood screen decorated with symbols of longevity. At the age of sixty-one, a person was to receive the prized gift of a coffin, from his children. When a person reached the age of seventy-one, he was permitted to wear an official robe and cap affixed with a copper button. At this age they are also allowed to use a special walking cane featuring a dove or pigeon carved into its jade handle. When a person turned eighty-one, which was very rare, the village elder notified th e emperor, who ordered the construction of a memorial arch in the honor of the person. An even rarer occasion was the reaching the age of ninety-one, when a person was honored with greetings four times a year by the district magistrate (Traditional). Marriages were arranged by a persons family, usually before they reach the age to marry. The families arranged the marriages with the matchmaker through negotiation, exchanging birth information in the process. The father of the groom wrote a formal proposal of marriage to the father of the bride, which the matchmaker delivered, along with gifts and things such as cakes....

80 Idioms with the Word Time

80 Idioms with the Word Time 80 Idioms with the Word Time 80 Idioms with the Word Time By Mark Nichol Considering that time is such a critical element in our lives, it’s no surprise that the word time should crop up so often in English idiomatic usage. Here’s a list of phrases that refer directly to time. 1. a devil of a time: said of an ordeal 2. a legend in one’s own time: one who gains renown within his or her lifetime (also inspired â€Å"a legend in (one’s) own mind,† referring to an egotistical person who believes himself or herself to be more significant than he or she actually is) 3–4. a matter/question of time: said in reference to a state that will soon change 5. a rare old time: an enjoyable experience 6. a race against time: said of trying to accomplish something critical in a short time frame 7. a stitch in time: the first half of a proverb (ending with â€Å"saves nine† and with an obscure origin) that refers to the wisdom of taking precaution 8. a whale of a (good) time: an especially exciting or fun experience 9. ahead of time: before the agreed time 10. ahead of (one’s) time: said of someone or something that has an innovative approach or style or one that the world is not ready for 11. all in good time: an expression that encourages patience 12. all the time in the world: an unlimited amount of time 13. all the time: in addition to referring to habitual or continuous occurrence, can refer to knowing about something throughout a given period 14. at a set time: at the agreed time 15. at all times: always 16. at no time: never 17. at the appointed time: at the agreed time 18. bad time: an inconvenient moment or an unfortunate experience 19. before (one’s) time: said of something that existed or occurred before one was born or when one was too young to recall that thing, or said in reference to someone’s unexpectedly early death 20–21. behind its time/the times: late, not keeping up, or obsolete 22. bide (one’s) time: be patient 23. big-time operator: someone who is or thinks he or she is important or influential 24. big-time spender: one who spends a lot of money, or said ironically about a frugal person 25. borrowed time: an uncertain amount of time, at the end of which something will no longer exist or occur 26. buy time: postpone an event for one’s advantage 27. by the time: said in reference to a time after something else has occurred 28. caught in a time warp: unchanged in an antiquated or obsolete way 29. crunch time: a critical period 30. face time: time spent in someone else’s company 31. for the time being: for now 32. from time to time: occasionally 33. do (the) time: serve time in jail or prison 34. down time: rest period 35. get the time: become available 36. give (one) a hard time: be critical 37. good-time Charlie: one who seeks pleasure 38. good times: pleasant experiences 39. hardly have time to breathe: said when one is busy 40. have a time of it: experience difficulty 41. having quite a time: having a pleasurable experience, or having difficulty 42. have time on (one’s side): don’t have to hurry 43. I’ll catch you some other time: I’ll talk to you later when it’s more convenient for you 44. in next to no time: almost instantly 45. in the fullness of time: after enough time passes 46. in the right place at the right time: in a figurative sense, fortuitously prepared for some eventuality; also, literally, located in a position that is advantageous or fortunate 47. it’s about time: said to express impatience, or relief that something has finally occurred (usually accompanied by an exclamation point) 48. it’s high time: it is the appropriate time; one has waited long enough 49. keep time: maintain the beat in music 50. lose no time: do something immediately 51. make good time: proceed quickly or in a reasonable amount of time 52. make time for: set aside a period of time to accommodate someone or something 53. make up for lost time: catch up on time wasted or as a result of going slowly or not going at all 54. mark time: wait 55. not able to call (one’s) time (one’s) own: too busy 56. old-time: old-fashioned 57. on time: punctual 58. once upon a time: long ago 59. out of time: said in reference to no longer having time to do something 60. pass the time (of day) with: chat with 61. pressed for time: lacking enough time to do something 62. run that by me one more time: say that again 63. sands of time: a poetic reference to the passage of time as represented by sand in an hourglass 64. the big time: said in reference to achieving prominence in some endeavor 65. the time has come: the occasion is appropriate 66. the time of (one’s) life: a memorable experience 67. time and tide wait for no man: the world makes no allowance for one being late 68. time bomb: something that will inevitably result in a negative consequence 69. time flies: a reference to the fleeting nature of time 70. time is money: time is important because using it wisely or unwisely affects one’s ability to earn money 71. time on (one’s) hands: spare time 72. time out: in sports, a short period when play ceases; by extension, a break from activity (also used as the announcement of a request for a time out, as is time by itself) 73. (stuck in a) time warp: said in reference to observing something that or someone who appears outdated 74. time was: there was a time when 75. time’s a-wastin’: time is running out 76. time to hit the road: time to depart 77. time works wonders: the passage of time resolves problems 78. when the time is ripe: when the time is appropriate 79. withstand the test of time: endure 80. wouldn’t give (one) the time of day to: ignored Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:36 Adjectives Describing LightTaser or Tazer? Tazing or Tasering?Preposition Review #1: Chance of vs. Chance for

Understanding Inclusive Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Understanding Inclusive Education - Essay Example Hence, according to Ferguson, the biggest challenge of the time is to have learning opportunities available to every one and all the time, no matter where the learner resides and what kind of physical fitness he possesses. Thomazet (2009) discusses, in his research, the important of inclusive education. According to him, inclusive education means providing learning opportunities to students with special needs in ordinary institutes. He asserts that inclusive education tends to integrate such differentiating practices that â€Å"allow children and adolescents, whatever their difficulties or disabilities, to find in an ordinary school an educational response, appropriate in its aims and means, in ways that do not differentiate between them and the other pupils of the school† (2009: 563). Such practices make the school inclusive, and benefit the students in a myriad of ways. All special needs are catered to, as the school and the educators take the responsibility of including the student in every activity and learning process. Inclusiveness is the next step to integration, states Thomazet (2009). Forlin et al. (2009) conducted a research regarding demographic differences in changing pre?service teachers’ attitudes, sentiments and concerns about inclusive education. The researchers conducted their study on an international data set of 603 pre?service teachers to determine how their demographics changed their attitudes toward inclusive education, and found that inclusive classrooms have raised the need for teachers of regular schools to get prepared to teach diverse student population. The researchers emphasized the importance of teacher training, because they thought that teachers were the primary initiators of inclusive educators. According to them, it is... This paper approves that dyslexia is a learning disability, and teaching dyslexic children in mainstream schools involves specially designed teaching strategies. It is important to understand the problems of such children in classroom, in order to plan lessons accordingly. Such children with special needs require special support with their learning styles. This essay makes a conclusion that it must be said that children with special needs require the same level of attention, or perhaps even more, as their normal peers. They must be given the same level of educational services, and must be provided necessary modification in their instructional process, so that their learning may be enhanced. Including children with special needs or with learning/physical disabilities in learning and performing in classrooms can be a very challenging task for teachers. It is crucially important to encourage inclusive education, in which the classroom is converted into such a learning environment where students with special needs are encouraged to learn and develop self-confidence, without having to face ridicule. Holistic environment in classroom setting and learning style assessment are the most important inclusive practices that must be ensured in order to provide equal learning opportunities to students belonging to all age and capability categories. In short, this paper pondered upon the concept of inclusive education in great detail, and focused on the fact that inclusive education must be ensured in order to improve the level of education of a country. This paper can prove to be very helpful as a guide toward inclusive education for educators, students, and parents.

Nursing Shortages Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Shortages - Research Proposal Example Some other studies have also shown that if patient: nurse ration is more then there is a poor performance of the staff as well due to a number of factors including work load the most important one. If one staff is attending more than one patient then along with more work which is going to be obviously more exhausting for the staff that will lead to decline in the quality performance it also adds to the spread of infection. Hospital is full of contagious organism and the nursing staff mainly is the vector for the transfer of them so, if one staff is attending three patients at a time the staff will be mixing the formal flora and even pathogenic flora lying with one patient with the other one which will be leading to hospital acquired infection that are more resistant to be treated and most of the times lead to fatal results so, this way patients will have a long hospital stay with increased morbidity and a high number of patients will die. I would be working on the project to find out scientifically if patient nurse ratio really has an impact And if it is then in which setting This issues is very important because nursing staff is the primary heal care professional this is in touch with the patient most of the time so if work is carried out at this area it will be very easy to be adjusted and the outcome will be very rewarding. In order to carry this research study out we can take patients hospital stay, in patient and out patient mortality in the first month after getting discharged, patient's satisfaction will be constant variable and we will be seeing the impact of nurse: patient ration on them while nurse: patient ration is going to be kept constant. We need a number of observations like there has to be standardization of a few parameters in order to avoid different types of biases like the experience and qualifying degree of this nursing staff should be the same. The study should be carried out at one health care center at a time the patient population should be exactly or almost nearly the same age, with same co-morbid status, and same ethnic or social group ideally so in short basically patient's and nurse' factors should be normalized. Hospitals should ideally be tertiary care with some part of the study at intensive care unit as well so that the impact of this ratio can also be studied depending on the seriousness of the primary illness. We need all these observations because health care system is very intricate and these entire factors influence each other directly or indirectly through different ways. This study needs to be a cohort study ideally though it is going to be a long time consuming stuffy but the results will be more promising. Data needs to be both on in-patient and out patient basis mainly on telephone or at consulting clinics on there follow up visits. As an in patient records will be the souse of our data and as an out patient the patents their self or the next kin will be the source of data for us. There should be a written record system that

Western Worldview on Environment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Western Worldview on Environment - Research Paper Example For example, greenhouse gases that diminish the ozone affect the weather system which in turn affects the lives and homes of people. A hurricane can put out electrical power for several weeks leaving thousands without the ability to heat their homes, store food, and function in the ways they have become accustomed to. People need to stop thinking of only themselves and realize that each one of us is a part of a larger whole. To that whole we each have a responsibility as a member, but it also may turn out that by being environmentally conscious our own lives are also improved. One part of subscribing to the western worldview is the expectation of acquisition. One is reminded of this expectation especially at this time of year when the dominant image is of shopping and acquiring goods. At one time I subscribed to the idea that buying stuff was good: good for me who got stuff, and good for the economy because it helped to keep jobs and move money around. When the economy recently slowe d down, I heard a lot of people talking about getting by with less by recycling and reusing. I started thinking of ways I could participate. Chris Johnstone of the Deep Ecology Institute explains it as â€Å"a holistic approach to facing world problems that brings together thinking, feeling, spirituality and action. It involves moving beyond the individualism of Western culture towards also seeing ourselves as part of the earth. This leads to a deeper connection with life, where Ecology is not just seen as something 'out there', but something we are part of and have a role to play in† (Johnstone). Reusing and/or recycling as a system depends upon and affects the economy as a system and so forth. Admittedly my motive was to save money, but that motive grew as I started thinking of ways to stretch my dollar by being environmentally savvy. For instance, I found out that I actually prefer to wear jeans dried on the clothes line over jeans dried in an electric dryer. However, when I have to use my dryer, I leave the kitchen door open so it helps to heat my kitchen. I also cut down on the use of both my washer and my dryer by wearing my jeans more than once before I wash them. Besides saving money and energy using my dryer and my clothes line, I also stopped driving my car to the store and started riding my bicycle. I have to make more trips more often, but I am not using an energy source other than the one I generate, and by moving about under my own steam instead of some dead dinosaur’s, I am improving my health and my physical appearance. So, the health of the earth’s inhabitants as a system depends upon the environmental system. Last year I started a compost pile in my yard, so when spring rolled around I had some free fertilizer which I added to some dirt. Then I planted tomatoes, green beans, and some peppers in the pile of dirt and compost. I got to eat fresh veggies all summer. Again my health is improved by improving the soil (the earth ) and the interrelated systems of the natural world demonstrate dependence on each other. Some people believe that they are excluded from being a part of the whole when it comes to environmental consciousness. These people are Christians. As a child I was taught that Jesus was going to return to earth and take all the believers to heaven with him. This was supposed to happen at any moment, so there was no reason for preserving the natural resources because the world would not be around much longer. I no longer believe that, but many people do and that causes these people to discount the importance of preserving the environment. Unfortunately, if anyone dares to speak out against this policy, others would accuse them

Production Scheduling and Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Production Scheduling and Control - Essay Example A simulation is a made-up world run by a user (student) within the conditions and parameters set by the programmer (instructor) (Saskatoon Public Schools). It is designed to allow students to think critically and practice their decision making skills with very minimal risks involved. The simulation offered an insight on the benefits that batching could do for a business, particularly a restaurant business like Benihana. Batching or letting clients in by groups or â€Å"batches† (Shim & Siegel, 1999) is greatly effective during the peak hours. This is so because restaurant space is maximized by having clients stay at the bar and wait to be seated until there are enough to be seated on a free table. Because of this practice, all the seats for a particular table are used and no excess space is wasted. When this happens, costs for running two to three separate tables are reduced because one table would be enough for two to three small groups of diners. In addition, clients would not wait too long, lessening the chances of them walking out of the restaurant. All these would eventually translate to higher throughput, or sales per hour (Meredith & Shafer, 2007). On the â€Å"human† side of the experience, clients get to meet new people as they may be seated with diners whom they do not know at all. Still, computer based simulation, particularly the Benihana simulation system, is a great way t o practice one’s theoretical learnings in operations management.

HREEOC (Case Study) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HREEOC (Case Study) - Essay Example The last held position was supervising teller. As the company requires teller, here the past experience of her can be neglected as it was not completely comprises of supervising tellers. Jake worked for part time in a fast food centre and completed his accountancy certification. This proves his dedication to his study and the nature of the work he prefers. As he was proved enthusiastic in the pre employment testing it is advisable to hire Jake instead of Mary. The employment law or case law does not hold for this type of cases and these types of rejections does not fall under EEOC practices. Pre-hire testing is considered as an effective risk management tool that has been proven to significantly improve productivity. Despite the widespread use of pre-employment testing, anxiety continues to surround the use of these tests due to legal issues, which are largely complicated and difficult to understand. Care should be taken in avoiding the adverse impact. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is "unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his . . . employment, because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." With regards to pre-employment testing, Section 703(h) of the Act provides that "notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, it shall not be an unlawful practice for an employer . . . to give and to act upon the results of any professionally developed ability test provided that such test . . . is not designed, intended or used to discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin." Obviously, Title VII does not prohibit employers from the use of intelligence, skills or integrity tests in the workplace. There has not been a single case that found an employer's use of personality testing in the workplace resulted in the adverse impact of protected groups. As this case of Mary and Jake comes under the test of integrity and not under other cases, it cannot be considered under any of the criteria mentioned under the law which covers personality testing and brings legal tangles to employers. The employer can be free to select Jake avoiding the presence of se ntence stained Mary. 3. What would be the implications of either decision The consequences that are supposed to arise can be categorized into two types after the recruitment. 1. The sequences those are due to the work culture of the person recruited. 2. Possible legal tangles due to suing of the company by the rejected candidate, when he/she feels that he/she was rejected in unjustifiable manner. In the first case of consequences it is easy to suspect or predict that if Mary was recruited the embezzlement may take place even in this organization. As it is a bank and the misappropriation that takes place will leave a stain on its reputation. One cannot stand guarantee for a sentenced and bankrupted personality, that too when he/she was sentenced for willfully committed cheating or fraud. The same fraudulent practices cannot be ruled out if Mary was recruited. In the case of Jake as he was a fresher the company may think about his experience. But the specialization in accountancy makes him different from Jake and gives him an advantage

Production Scheduling and Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Production Scheduling and Control - Essay Example A simulation is a made-up world run by a user (student) within the conditions and parameters set by the programmer (instructor) (Saskatoon Public Schools). It is designed to allow students to think critically and practice their decision making skills with very minimal risks involved. The simulation offered an insight on the benefits that batching could do for a business, particularly a restaurant business like Benihana. Batching or letting clients in by groups or â€Å"batches† (Shim & Siegel, 1999) is greatly effective during the peak hours. This is so because restaurant space is maximized by having clients stay at the bar and wait to be seated until there are enough to be seated on a free table. Because of this practice, all the seats for a particular table are used and no excess space is wasted. When this happens, costs for running two to three separate tables are reduced because one table would be enough for two to three small groups of diners. In addition, clients would not wait too long, lessening the chances of them walking out of the restaurant. All these would eventually translate to higher throughput, or sales per hour (Meredith & Shafer, 2007). On the â€Å"human† side of the experience, clients get to meet new people as they may be seated with diners whom they do not know at all. Still, computer based simulation, particularly the Benihana simulation system, is a great way t o practice one’s theoretical learnings in operations management.

Organization Development and Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organization Development and Change - Assignment Example Organizational development entails harnessing individuals’ personality traits that identify them as members of a team and using these characteristics to bolster the group’s potential and performance. Realizing the importance of OD is the key to effective and efficient problem solving within any department in an organization. Ortiv Glass Corporation encourages and practices participative organizational design where the company’s branches and departments are encouraged to determine and implement their own designs. The company’s newest plant recently put together a top management team that was to act as a problem-solving apparatus. The group consisted of competent, qualified and talented person who had demonstrated the ability to deliver quality results in their respective areas of expertise. Despite the group members’ professional qualifications, the group demonstrated difficulties and inability to execute their mandated duties and responsibilities. All of the group’s members perform exceptionally on their professional duties, yet their role as an elite problem-solving group with minimal or no results. The top management meetings are unproductive, and there is no follow up on agreements made at meetings (Cummings and Worley 104). Through the application of the core components of the group, the design would work towards improving the group’s status, which would improve relationships among team members. Incorporating task structure strategies into the group’s work design by delegating each member a specific task within the group’s responsibilities would improve their relationships. This would enable better coordination by individual members and give them more autonomy in terms of behavior and reactions to different situations within the group. Regulating group composition has the ability to effect significant changes to the group.  

Teen pregnancy Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Teen pregnancy Research Paper Essay Since 1997 the federal government has invested millions of dollars in Abstinence Only Education programs which have been proven to be ineffective programs. Even though abstinence is the best option for teens not to get pregnant, most teens tend to experiment with sex at young ages. Teens naturally have a sense of curiosity about their bodies and the opposite sex, not to mention that their bodies are going through hormonal changes (puberty). After the Obama Administration created a budget for sex education programs, teen pregnancies have been declining further than with just the contraception movement. As Molly Hennessy-Fiske reported in the Los Angeles Times, â€Å"Sex education in schools has helped teens decrease teen pregnancies by 52% in states like California† (LA Times). Not all states are cooperating with teaching this new curriculum to kids, as shown by Dr. Brian Carr who has said about abstinence only programs, â€Å"†¦the birthrate among Texas teens is the 3rd highest in the nation (63.4 per 1,000) with the repeat teen birth rate being the 2nd highest in the nation† (Carr). This topic is talked about in today’s times because the teen pregnancy rate has dropped drastically in the U.S., but there is still a need for it to drop it down even further. I propose that not only sex education should be taught in every state, but should also start to be taught to younger age ranges. In the US there are more teen pregnancies than in any other country. Marjorie Valbrun states, â€Å"Despite the decline, the U.S. teen birth rate is still much higher than in other developed countries, including Canada, where the rate averaged 14.1 per 1,000 in 2002-2011; Germany, where it was 8.9, and Italy, where the rate was 6.8. The US numbers are 31.3 births per 1,000 girls ages 15-19 in 2011† (Valbrun). There has been a decline in the U.S. in teen pregnancies, most of which is a result of contraceptive use. The other big reason there is a drop is because of sex education programs. Advocates of Abstinence Only Education programs argue that their programs are responsible for the recent dramatic decline in teen pregnancy since 1991. As Marcia Clemmitt finds, â€Å"A study showed that improved contraceptive use, to prevent HIV/AIDS, is responsible for 86 percent of the decline in the U.S. adolescent pregnancy rate between 1995 and 2002† (Clemmitt). In 2012,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There were 29.4 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 305,388 babies born to females in this age group† (U.S. Department of Health Human Services). This is the lowest level in teen pregnancies in seven decades for the U.S. See figure below. This information does not tell the whole story in every state though. Carr has found why a state like Texas is on the opposite side of the drop, â€Å"†¦a survey found that a ‘quiet revolution’ was underway in Texas with abstinence-only instruction being replaced by abstinence-plus sex education programs (although abstinence-only programs continue to be the predominant approach in the state)† (Carr). Titania Kumeh writes, â€Å"Unlike in Texas, California’s schools teach comprehensive sex education (29 births per 1,000 teen girls)† (Los Angeles Times, 2013). Prevention works by teaching teens how and why to delay sex and the steps that they need to take if they bec ome sexually active. The program that has been shown to work is sex education. In a survey that my classmates and I conducted for the ACE Program, we found that the public has shown 71% interest for sex education to be introduced to ages 7 to 14. 93% of the surveyed believe that sex education is a need in our classrooms. Sex education is important for helping teens to understand the changes in their bodies and in their relationships before and during the teenage years. Sex education helps teens to make healthy choices about relationships and sex. There is research to prove that comprehensive sex education programs give young people the tools they need to protect themselves from negative sexual health outcomes. Within our survey we found that the people who mainly learn about sex from their friends are more likely to have sex at an earlier age, whereas if people learned from a teacher or a parent they were more likely to wait and also to use contraceptives. Sex education should be started well before the teenage years. Starting with children, parents should have age appropriate discussions with them about love, relationships, values, and physical anatomy. It is more appropriate to be open and honest while talking to children and teens than to keep the information from them. Boys and girls should know what a penis, scrotum, and vagina are without using substitutes like calling them wee-wee or pee-pee.† Parents should not be afraid to answer their kids questions about their bodies or the opposite sex. Withholding the information results in ignorance and, with something as purely natural as sexuality, there is not really a reason not  to teach about it. Parents should answer their kids more in-depth questions when they are asked (i.e. â€Å"Where do babies come from?†) regardless of the age. If the honest answer is good enough, or the kid is a little confused but wanders off satisfied with the answer, which is great. If children continue to ask more questions, the answers should continue to be honest and presented in a way the kid can understand. If parents make sex education an open topic with their children, the kids will feel more comfortable talking and asking questions about sex and their body changes when they turn into teens. If parents discourage talking or answering questions, teenagers will be looking for answers from their friends and the media. In our survey we found, in the filtered information, that teens are twice as likely to have unprotected sex at younger ages when taught by their friends. It is an important factor to make sure that are kids our taught properly to prevent teen pregnancies. Our country can reduce teen pregnancies by requiring sex education programs in schools and making sure that these schools teach them. My team’s research has shown that sex education will work by teaching kids about their bodies, contraception, and making healthy choices. If sex education is started at earlier ages, parents and teens will have a better understanding towards one another and will make healthier choices. I believe that someday, if our country works toward these goals, we all can benefit from the outcomes of fewer teen pregnancies. Works Cited Dr. Brian Carr; http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013- 08-02/blind-facts-sex-education-texas-public-schools. Web. Marjorie Valbrun; Document APA Citation — See Alternate Citation Style Teen sex. (2013, June 15). CQ Researcher. Retrieved from http://0- library.cqpress.com.library.cabrillo.edu/cqresearcher/ . Web. Marcia Clemmitt. (2010, March 26). Teen pregnancy. CQ Researcher, 20, 265- 288. Retrieved from http://0 library.cqpress.com.library.cabrillo.edu/cqresearcher/ Molly Hennessy-Fiske. The Los Angeles Times 2/1/2011. Web. Titania Kumeh. The Los Angeles Times 2013. Web. Advocates for Youth. http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/409-the-truth-about-abstinence-only-programs. Web. U.S. Department of Health Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov. Web. Graph: Birth rates per 1,000 females ages 15-19, by race/ethnicity, 1990-2012. Source: Hamilton, B. E., Martin, J. A., Ventura, S. J.(2013). Births: Preliminary data for 2012. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Web

Importance of Womens Empowerment in India

Importance of Womens Empowerment in India Abstract- In India, The realities of rural life in India are difficult to comprehend. We are now witnessing a steady improvement in the enrolment of women in schools, colleges and even in profession institutes. Their health is better as compared to earlier decades. In this decade, women are entering into the job market in increasing numbers field showing their skills even in non-traditional sectors like police, defence, administration, media and research fields. In the political field, the reservation for women is a significant step forward towards their political empowerment. When thirty-three percent reservations for women in Parliament becomes a reality, womens voice will be heard in the highest forum of democracy. The day, women of India will reach zenith in their empowerment. People were not allowed to share own property, they did not have a Share in the property of their parents, they had no voting rights, and they had no freedom to choose their work or job and so on. The prese nt seminar has been planned with a view to discuss the various issues related to the Empowerment of Women and to suggest measures for achieving this end. In India population according to the 2001 Census, the percentage of female literacy in the country is 54% up from 9% 1951. In order to help women to be in popular, they necessary to be empowered. There is a condition for empowerment of women is to the transform a developing country into a developed country. In this paper we are highlighting that in India country womens strength is critical and we explain the critical value of women how improve their value status for some ways. Keywords- Economics, Status, NGO, PEP, Improving, CEDAW, Introduction In the empowerment of women include many things economic opportunity, social equality, and personal rights. Women were deprived of those human rights, often as a matter of tradition. In rural areas, women are generally not perceived to have any meaningful income generation capacity, and hence, they are relegated mainly to household duties and cheap labour. We are now witnessing a steady improvement in the enrolment of women in schools, colleges and even in profession institutes. Their health is better as compared to earlier decades. In this decade, women are entering into the job market in increasing numbers. They are showing their skills even in non-traditional sectors like police, defence, administration, media and research fields. Twenty-six laws have been enacted so far to protect women from various crimes [7]. In particular define empowerment is depend just like that power cannot change if power cannot be change. If this is inherent in neither positions or nor people, then empo werment impossible, nor is empowerment conceivable in any meaningful way. Bookman morgen et.al [5] in 1984 defining that empowerment status of women level on that time, women level on that only born child and work at home [4] VARA LAXMI is definition in an article way by A Sustainable approach for Women Empowerment through Micro-finance, the micro-credit or micro-finance has got much avowed attention among government circles, voluntary sector and the academia. More importantly after the success of Bangladeshs Grameen Bank started by Prof Mahammad Yunus who bestowed with the Nobel Peace prize for 2006, for the efforts to create economic and social development from below. There is also mounting evidence to show that the availability of financial services for poor households such as micro-finance -can empower the rural people to achieve their goals and enhance their lives accordingly. It is assumed that womens control over income will lead to increased well-being for women and their children. This individual economic empowerment is also assumed to lead to wider social and political empowerment. [8] NGO plays an important for role for improving empowerment. This Asian-foundation organization two running program MDG-3 (Gender, Equality and women empowerment) the convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for women empowerment. CONCEPT In India, the empowerment process has already begun. For centuries women were not treated equal to men in many ways. While a small minority of people in major cities have benefited from the information revolution of the past decade, the lives of most people in rural India (over 650 million) have hardly improved. Now that we have come out of those dark days of oppression of women there is a need for strong movement to fight for the rights of women and to ensure that they get all the rights which men have or in other words a movement for the Empowerment of Women. Twenty-six laws have been enacted so far to protect women from various crimes. These are very positive signs which imply that women can be leaders. Though some women have shown their mettle yet a large number of them have to sharpen their leadership qualities in various ways. The recent law on the protection of women against domestic violence satisfies the long pending demand of the women activities. But a lot of work has to b e done as there is a category of women (who consider themselves highly educated) that proudly accepts that they dont have digital literacy even though they own a computer, they cannot even operate bank accounts or make travel arrangements for family or handle hospital admissions even during emergencies. Even for a simple task like social visits or shopping generally they need the company of their husbands. Women should remember that they are also rational, intelligent and thinking human beings. Dependent women are not empowered women. If modern women think that they are empowered, its a myth for them. Empowerment means to inspire women with the courage to break free from the chains of limiting beliefs, patterns and societal or religious conditions that have traditionally kept women suppressed and unable to realize their true beauty and power. Different Levels of Empowerment In line with most theorists on empowerment the one has to view empowerment as taking place on different levels and that change on all levels is necessary if the empowerment of women is really to occur. We have to relate empowerment at three levels: empowerment on the individual, group, and societal/community level and the interaction between these. The individual level deals with individual womens abilities to take control over their lives, their perceptions about their own value and abilities, their abilities to identify a goal and work towards this goal. The group level deals with the collective action and sense of agency that woman experience together, in a group. The societal level deals with the permissiveness of the political and social climate, the societal norms and the public discourse on what is possible and impossible for women to do, how women should behave etc. The different levels are seen as connected and mutually reinforcing, e.g. when empowerment on individual level occurs, this will have effect on the group and societal level. Women who are empowered on an individual level will most likely go on and affect the other levels. Empowerment on a group level e.g. women organizing around a particular need is likely to have effect on the individual empowerment of the women in the form of increased self esteem and sense of agency. Historical Background of Women Empowerment in India The status of Women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millenniums. In early Vedic period Women enjoyed equal status with men. Rigved Upanishads mention several names of women sages and seers notably Gargi Maà ®tre. However later the status of women began to deteriorate approximately from 500 B.C., the situation worsened with invasion of Mughals and later on by European invaders. Few improvement movements by Guru Nanak, Jainism, Raja ram Mohan Rai, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Pandita Ramabai and others did give some relief. It is not that Britishers didnt do anything for improving the condition of women. Some laws were enacted such an Abolition of practice of Sati, Widow Remarriage Act 1856 etc.Feminist activism picked up momentum in India during later 1970s. Later on many groups and NGOs have been working for the Empowerment of women. We are proud that in India Women got voting right much before USA and some other European countries. Empowerment of Women in Rural India Today The realities of rural life in India are difficult to comprehend. While a small minority of people in major cities have benefited from the information revolution of the past decade, the lives of most people in rural India (over 650 million) have hardly improved. A majority of villages do not have sustainable economies, and only through oppression of women and lower castes can the landlords, upper castes, and government officials support a better life for themselves. Private initiatives are lacking as the government, to preserve its power, has placed obstacles and disincentives at every step. For example, modern healthcare for all of rural India is a free government service, but the reality is that the delivery of primary health care has failed miserably. A number of charitable institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a positive role, often assisted by government grants and foreign donations [2]. NGO, s and civil society at large in order to use the research document as a springboard to launch a sustained advocacy strategy to achieve the MDG-3 target of 33% of women in parliament. Our operating premise is that improving, economic and political opportunities for women improve societies as a whole. The foundation seeks to identify change agents build constituencies for reform around key issues affecting womens states and promote internal efforts to identify and solve problems [8]. Empowerment of women involves many things economic opportunity, social equality, and personal rights. Women are deprived of these human rights, often as a matter of tradition. In rural areas, women are generally not perceived to have any meaningful income generation capacity, and hence, they are relegated mainly to household duties and cheap labour. Without the power to work and earn a good income, their voices are silenced. Even in matters of sex and child bearing, women often do not have the ability to oppose the wishes of their men. Birth control and reproductive health of women are behavioural issues affected mostly by economics, access to health care, and education. Until this reality is accepted, the desired changes may not be attainable in the foreseeable future. In a society where men control the destiny of women, how is it possible to empower women? Simply encouraging women to resist the wishes of men would not only fail, but would create mistrust of any goodwill attempts from the outside to help rural communities. Women will gain power only when both men and women begin to respect and accept the contribution of women. Developing womens capacity for income generation without threatening men is key. Two Stories (First story) First story based on The George Foundation placed in Bangalore, India and founded in 1995, was established to help alleviate poverty, promote health and a clean environment, and to strengthen democratic institutions and values in India. We have come to know of the following two events, among many others, in the course of our work with the families of the children in our boarding school, Shanti Bhavan. The first case involves a young pretty mother who was living with her son in a small hut. Her husband had earlier abandoned her, and she was not able to return to her parents as they considered her unworthy. One morning, she accompanied two men from the city who promised employment for her in the Middle East following an interview at an office somewhere, only to be gang raped and then returned to her village after a few days. Her absence was noticed by her neighbours, who blamed her for the outcome and accused her for the separation from her husband. Feeling shame, and finding that she could no longer live in the community, she set herself on fire with kerosene. Second story The second story is about a middle-aged woman whose husband had more than one wife, a common practice in rural India though not officially allowed. One of his wives contracted AIDS somehow, and while her illness had become generally known, he continued to have sexual relationship with his other wives. He made no effort to medically test or to take adequate protection measures for himself or his other women, and soon all involved contracted the disease. These two real life stories represent the endless number of lives lost from ignorance, the low status of women and their inability to control their destiny. Some example work improving reason for failure Dharmapuri District in Tamil Nadu State, India, has been identified as one of the most backward districts in the nation in terms of health and development. This District is remote and the project described below is carried out in an area about 24 kilometres from the nearest city, Hosur. Infrequent and irregular public transport hinders quick access to government emergency health services. Education facilities are limited to government primary schools of poor quality, and the nearest high school is located 10-15 kilometres from many of the villages served by The George Foundations projects [1]. Reason: In Dharmapuri District the Foundation has attempted to facilitate the development of a model community consisting of several villages that prosper from sustainable and integrated economic activities. Health and education facilities are being renovated, and economic opportunities are being shared, especially among the socially disadvantaged castes and women [1]. In this article Transitioning from a command and control culture to employee empowerment requires a commitment to long-term change. Too often, management fads and quick fixes in the name of empowerment have been implemented rather than relevant changes in management systems, structures, and cultural values. To be successful, empowerment must be seen as a long-term program of employee participation and involve-ment.but this type of program cannot run for long time [10]. Why is there still a Need for Women Empowerment? In spite of the various measures taken up by the government after Independence and even during British rule the Women havent been fully empowered. We may be proud of women in India occupying highest offices of President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition or women like Ms. Chandra Kochar occupying highest positions in the Corporate Sector but the fact remains that we still witness dowry deaths, domestic violence and exploitation of women. Some create history in space sport like Sunita Williams Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza Anju Bobby George The female feticide is common phenomenon. The male female ratio though improved over last few years is still far from satisfactory. It is 940 women per 1000 men for India in some states it is as much lower as 877. These are the states where female feticide is maximum. The female literacy rate is also lower than the male literacy rate. The ground reality is deprivation, duration and exploitation of women sp ecially women from rural areas and those belonging to deprived sectors of the society. The Urban à ©lite class women have no doubt been benefitted by the efforts of women empowerment. IV. Way of Improving Empowerment of poor women in India The World Bank has been the major source of external funding through loans to governments (never directly to private institutions) for specific projects. Very few projects have ever met their goals; in fact, most rural projects have been dismal failures. Unbearable bureaucracy, terrible inefficiency, and corruption at all levels of the government have wasted much of the money allocated to rural development. Furthermore, the local officials who manage projects that target women do not themselves believe in the potential of women. Yet the process continues, without an alternative. International agencies continue to pour money into these programs, only to benefit the middlemen. Clearly, a new approach is required to have an impact on the lives of women in rural India, and to ultimately help stabilize population growth [1]. In this article the people empowering People (PEP) program uses the definition of empowerment to connect research, theory and practice. The PEP program builds on theo ry of critical adult education developed by Friere (1970), Horton (1989), and others. The focus is on the connection between individual action and community action encourages individual change through training sessions and discussions and supporting action through participants give people the opportunities, resources and support that they need to become involved themselves [7]. Nanette Page review in own article about PEP, empowerment as a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. In PEP as in we strive to teach people skills and knowledge that will motivate them to take steps to improve their own lives-to be empowered [3]. President Pratibha Patil said that women empowerment is of utmost importance if we want womens progress. He said Creating the environment which imparts equal status to women in family, society and country is the sole motive behind various facets of programmes being run for women empowerment. We have to work towards maki ng them able to take their own decisions, .Stressing on the importance of education, the President said, Education is the first tool of empowerment. Right to Education, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan have ensured that education is available to children between the age group of six and 14. Be it a boy or girl, every child must get education. It is these educated women who can in turn educate other women and teach them independence and self-confidence [9]. In this report develop the empowerment improving mater from Financial Inclusion. MasterCard embarked on an initiative to further the process of womens empowerment in the country in partnership with SEWA (Self Employed Womens Association). SEWA is a leading Indian organization that works towards helping women in securing employment opportunities, empowering them to be self-reliant with supportive services. I had the unique privilege of participating in SEWAs activities and witness their success first hand at the recent inauguration of the se venth Rural Urban Development Initiative (RUDI) processing centre at Bodeli, near Vadodara, Gujarat supported by MasterCard. Through this program we will provide full-time employment opportunities for women in 100 adjoining villages to begin with and will expand to a catchment of 300 to 500 villages in Gujarat. This will help benefit approximately 2,000 farmers and 400 SEWA members [11]. Womens Economic Empowerment through Co-operative Farming, Vocational Training Business Development Due to the lack of specific implementation plans and faulty representations, local communities have not adequately accepted government and private schemes for the upliftment of women. Women have not actively participated in their own emancipation due to their lack of economic independence and rampant illiteracy. Therefore, The George Foundation decided to address this important issue of womens empowerment in India by raising the status of women in Hosur Taluk through economic empowerment and education. Krishnagiri District is the most backward district in Tamil Nadu. In the geographical location selected, there are no high schools, no private schools, inadequate primary health sub-centres, and no NGOs. Roads, water supply, drainage and communication network are inadequate to augment economic development. Fragmented land holdings are not conducive to commercial farming. Child labour is rampant in this socially backward area. Population statistics of our country clearly indicate that quality education is out of the reach of the poor and marginalized irrespective of their innate potential. Women are often exploited by their communities. They have very little voice and no knowledge or means of improving their social and economic status. In the villages of the area, the caste system is deeply entrenched. The lower caste colonies are ostracized and basic facilities are denied to them. Female infanticide is a common practice and women are punished socially for bearing girl Children Gender biases are very evident in the preferential treatment given to the male child. Rain-dependent agriculture, home-based animal husbandry, silkworm rearing and brick making are the main income generating activities. Fisheries, horticulture and industries have been established in a few select areas such as Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and House. Rural folk find it difficult to travel to these cities in search of jobs. The average family income level is below the poverty line. One of the popular schemes employed by several NGOs, and supported by some international and bilateral agencies, is the so-called micro-finance or small loans that usually range up to $100 (Rs. 5,000) per woman to start some form of business. Notable successes have been recorded, and the program has received considerable world attention. Most poor women entrepreneurs are said to have been able to make their businesses successful, and repay the loan. However, our experience in this area with lower caste poor women has been somewhat different. Poor women, especially from backward communities and lower castes, are mostly illiterate, untrained, and have very little social and economic status. In India, there are over 350 million such people, mainly in rural areas. The unemployed are nearly 200 million people, a great majority of them belonging to these deprived sections of the society. Without meaningful skills, social status, and economic power, they are unable to do any business on their own even with financial assistance. To start even a small rural business, it takes no less than $500. According to some studies conducted by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmadabad, the average capital need for a one-person small business is in excess of Rs. 1 lakh ($2,000). Further, the chance of making any business successful is very small the odds are barely 1 in hundred for an educated person. Uneducated lower caste rural women find it almost impossible to starting any such entrepreneurial work without adequate capital, proper training, and on-site daily support. Based on our understanding of the problem faced in our rural community, we have devised a scheme for empowering poor and socially deprived women. The key ingredients of this program can be summarized as follows: Adequate training in an area where the women have natural abilities and understanding (for example, farming and cattle rearing) Use of superior technology to obtain better output and higher profits (modern farming techniques, such as use of proper fertilizers, deep ploughing, drip irrigation, etc.) Creation of financial assets through savings (from profits generated from sale of produce, over and above wages received) Ownership of physical assets (use of financial assets to buying cultivable land  ½ acre per family) Sharing of resources such as wells, tractor, etc. among several farmers Provide a support system that addresses concerns, difficulties, know-how, etc. Access to information and markets (knowing what high-value crop to grow and when, which markets offer higher prices on a given day, tie up export contracts, etc.) Only when these requirements can be met, we believe poor illiterate rural women can be expected to turn into entrepreneurs. The George Foundation has purchased/least 250 acres of land. An executive committee composed of representatives of The George Foundation, village panchayats, and agricultural consultants has been formed. Under its direction, the soil is being prepared for crop cultivation. Superior seeds of selected crops have been purchased. The panchayats members are highly motivated about this project.People from the surrounding villages is participating in the preparation of the land for farming. This program will be expanded to cover the neighbouring state of Karnataka in its later stages. Members of the village panchayats, the village administrative officer and the block development officer have been with the project from its planning stage. The geographic community and the community of beneficiaries, particularly poor rural women, were involved in planning and implementation of the project. Changing Social Institutions to Improve the Status of Women in Developing Countries Figure 1 highlight how social institutions affect the economic role of women, i.e. their chances to have access to the labour market and to better paid and more qualified jobs such as professional workers, technicians, administrators and managers. Social institutions can exert their influence in two ways. Traditions, customs and social norms can constrain womens activities directly by not allowing them to start their own businesses, by refusing them jobs that involve contact with or managing men, or by simply not allowing them to leave the home alone. All these direct factors lead to an exclusion of women from entrepreneurial activities that are often the first step towards independence, self-esteem and liberty of choices. Morrison and Jutting (2004) analyse empirically the relationships between social institutions and the economic role of women. They measure the depth of discrimination caused by social institutions with economic (ECO) and non-economic (NON-ECO) indicators (for expl anation, see Box 1). They find that the higher the value for ECO and NON-ECO variables the lower the probability that women will play an active role in the economy. A further econometric analysis puts into question the widely believed view that a rise in income will generally facilitate womens access to the labour market [2]. Figure-1 Conclusions The Empowerment of women has become one of the most important Concerns of 21st century not only at national level but also at the international level. Efforts by the Govt. are on to ensure Gender equality but Government initiatives alone would not be sufficient to achieve this goal. Society must take initiative to create a climate in which there is no gender discrimination and Women have full opportunities of Self decision making and participating in the Social, Political and Economic life of the Country with a sense of equality. Then only the Vedic verse Wherever Women is respected, God resides there would come true. The best gift parents today can give to their daughters is education. If women choose to be ignorant then all the efforts taken by the Government and women activists will go in vain. Even in twenty-fifth century, they will remain backward and will be paying a heavy price for their dependence, so, it is a wake-up call for women to awake from their deep slumber and unders tand the true meaning of their empowerment. In the end I would like to conclude with the following words, Women as the motherhood of the nation should be strong, aware and alert. Despite the difficulties that are likely to be encountered, we believe it is possible to bring about major improvements to the lives of women in rural India. Well-planned and properly managed private initiatives can succeed in empowering women, provided the approach taken is sufficiently holistic. The time has come to go beyond small pilot projects that hardly ever lead to major undertakings. There has been much needless suffering for too long by a majority of the worlds population. It would be a noble and worthwhile effort to prove the concept on a large scale, probably for several million people in an area. That would require considerable organizational skills and management talent, with a clear focus on accomplishing set goals in a time-bound fashion. The success of such a program would be the model that international funding agencies and philanthropic institutions can build upon, and serve as a departure to the failed policies and programs of the past.

Evaluating National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) Performan

A mission statement is what defines an organization’s reason for existing and is the foundation for everything they do (Aguinis, 2009). Furthermore, the vision statement is where the organization desires to be in the future (Cady, Wheeler, DeWolf, & Brodke, 2011). Therefore, it is important to make sure that the organization has a good mission and vision statement that is clear and concise. According to Aguinis (2009), an ideal mission and vision statement booth have eight different characteristics. The mission statement must describe what they do, their market, their unique benefits, what technology they use, concern for their survival, managerial philosophy, what public image they want, and their self-concept of business (Aguinis, 2009). In contrast, the vision statement must be brief, verifiable, bound by a timeline, current, focused, understandable, inspiring, and not easily attainable (Aguinis, 2009). The National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) mission statement is â€Å"to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all† (NEHA, 2011,  ¶ 1). In addition, NEHA does not have a vision statement. Instead, they have a strategic direction that focuses on directions and not destinations. It is the organization’s belief that by focusing on directions, it will allow them to change course quickly should a change be appropriate. In addition, NEHA’s strategic direction includes training, education, credentialing, advocacy, and organizational capacity (NEHA, 2011). Therefore, based on Aguinis’s criteria, NEHA’s mission statement is missing seven of the eight elements and only really addresses who their customers are, the environmental health and ... ...ization is, where they are going, and how they plan to achieve it (Cady, Wheeler, DeWolf, & Brodke, 2011). Unfortunately, NEHA is lacking a real strategic direction since their mission statement is too vague and they have no vision for the future. While they have a strategic direction statement, it is not tied to a clear mission or vision so it is also not very useful in aligning the organization. For an organization to realize their full potential and to stay competitive, they must have a strong mission and vision statement. â€Å"A vision alone is only a dream. Coupled with a mission, the vision is a destination† (Dossenbach, 2001). NEHA must have a destination if they want to continue to be the association that the environmental health and protection specialist turns to for education, professional advancement, and knowledge of the environmental health field.

Parental Pressure

By: Kristin Brenner Parental Pressure = Late nights, Health risks, Confusion Why this may be occurring and strategies for elimination†¦ Some Parents Expectations: ? Adolescents should spend all or most of their time studying, instead of being able to socialize with their friends ? Adolescents should start producing good grades even at an early age of nine (Murphy, 2005) ? Adolescents should begin building Harvard-quality resumes Risks ? Mental Risks: ? Suicide The constant pressure to succeed leads to the contemplation of committing suicide o A study from Penn State University shows that out of 421 students, (227 females and 194 males) 19. 4%, contemplated committing suicide due to the enormous pressure from their parents to produce exceptional grades o Females are four times more likely to attempt suicide or a form of self-harm (Nutrition Heath Review, 1999). However, males are more likely to follow through with the act ? Identity & Self-esteem o When parents exert too much pre ssure the adolescent has limited time to explore possible furture options.Exploration is necessary to develop a healthy identity o If adolescents select their college major or future career based on parental pressure, the adolescent can develop a foreclosed identity. Foreclosure can lead to dissatisfaction during adulthood o Parental pressure can lead to lowered self-esteem, a lowered sense of assertiveness and less competence in school skills (Adams, 2001) ? Physical Risks: ? Sleep Deprivation o Parental pressure leads to physical exhaustion due to late night studying to produce good grades (Hung, 1999) ? Cheating o Parents apply a significant amount of pressure for good grades, ot knowledge, which can lead to cheating o In a survey done by Donald McCabe of over 2,100 students on over 21 campuses, one-third of adolescents attempted serious cheating on tests with half of the adolescents cheating on written assignments o Causes: Forced course load and a mentality of the need to succe ed that is instilled by some parents o Why: It is easier to cheat than continuously bear the pressure of handling the course load Where Parental Pressure Stems From: ? Parents anxiety, competitiveness, and cultural pressures (Murphy, 2005) ?Households where control is a central focus (Adams, 2001) ? Parental pressure increases as an adolescent gets older (Adams, 2001) Who Parental Pressure Affects: ? American children, parents are giving more directed academic guidance, support, and have higher educational aspirations and expectations for their children (Vernal, Campbell, & Beasley) ? Parents of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to expect their children to attain a higher education and higher level jobs than parents of lower socioeconomic status (Social System Influences) ?Affects children as early as age nine, with a greater number of parental pressure placed on males than females, but females are more likely to respond to the pressure (Vernal, Campbell, & Beasley) Strate gies For Adolescents To Eliminate Parental Pressure: (Price) ? Get conversation started by asking parents how their day was ? Make eye contact to show respect and make a serious impression ? Stay calm and do not overreact or interrupt, but stay open and objective ? Do not appear defensive ? Let your parents know that you feel that you can start to make some of your own decisions about your future endeavors ?Say â€Å"Thank you† no matter how the conversation ends. You need to remember that you and your parent are unique individuals and you may not always see eye to eye, so it may take numerous conversations for your point to be heard Adams, G. (2001, March 28). Pushing kids to excel often backfires, study fines. University Guelph on the web. Retrieved from http://www. uoguelph. ca/mediarel/archives/001135. html Hung, J. (1999). Surviving a year of sleepless nights. Newsweek, 134(12), 1. Moseman, J. (1999). My parents expect too much. Campus life, 58(3), 22-29. Price, S. , (n. d). How to talk to parents.Retrieved February 25, 2005, from http://www. channelone. com/news/exchange/news/2004/02/26/se_parental/ Social Systems Influences. Retrieved March 23, 2006, from http://faculty. tamucommerce. edu/crrobinson/512/socsys. htm Verna, M. A. , Campbell, J. R. , Beasley, M. (1997). Family processes, SES, and family structure differentially affect academic self-concepts and achievement of gifted high school students. American Educational Research Association Convention. (2003). Parental Pressures and Suicidal Thoughts. Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer's Medical Journa,l (85), 18.

Brain Development And Early Childhood Education Essay

Babies begin to learn about the world around them from a very early age. Children’s early experiences – the bonds they form with their parents and their first learning experiences – deeply affect their future physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Learning starts in infancy, long before formal education begins, and continues throughout life. A young child’s brain needs certain types of stimulation to develop properly. Without that stimulation, certain types of learning will not be possible when the child enters school. Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don’t begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten. This is why Early Childhood Education is so important. Infants and toddlers learn about themselves and their world during interactions with others. Brain connections that lead to later success grow out of nurturing, supportive and predictable care. This type of caregiving fosters child curiosity, creativity and self-confidence. Young  children need safety, love, conversation and a stimulating environment to develop and keep important synapses in the brain. During the first 3 years of life, children experience the world in a more complete way than children of any other age. The brain takes in the external world through its system of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. This means that infant social, emotional, cognitive, physical and language development are stimulated during multisensory experiences. Infants and toddlers need the opportunity to participate in a world filled with  stimulating sights, sounds and people. Before children are able to talk, emotional expressions are the language of relationships. Research shows that infants’ positive and negative emotions, and caregivers’ sensitive responsiveness to them, can help early brain development. For example, shared positive emotion between a caregiver and an infant, such as laughter and smiling, engages brain activity in good ways and promotes feelings of security. Also, when interactions are accompanied by lots of emotion, they are more readily remembered and recalled. The primary giver, when providing consistent and predictable nurturing to the infant creates what is known as a â€Å"secure† attachment. This is accomplished in that rhythmic dance between infant and caregiver; the loving cuddles, hugs, smiles and noises that pass between caregiver and infant. Should this dance be out of step, unpredictable, highly inconsistent or chaotic an â€Å"insecure† attachment is formed. When attachments are secure the infant learns that it is lovable and loved, that adults will provide nurture and care and that the world is a safe place. When attachment is insecure the infant learns the opposite. As the child grows from a base of secure attachment he or she becomes ready to love and be a friend. A secure attachment creates the capacity to form and maintain healthy emotional bonds with another. Attachment is the template through which we view the world and people in it. The brain grows from the bottom to the top. Each of the core strengths is related to a stage and site of brain growth. In infancy attachment bonds are acquired and lay down emotional signals deep within the brain. At the same time the brain stem is seeing to it that bodily functions can be self-regulated. Later on in childhood the emotional centers of the brain come under increasing control so temper tantrums disappear and the child controls their emotional life. In mid-childhood the child’s brain begins to develop the capacity to think and reflect on the external environment. It is at this stage when the frontal areas of the brain begin to mature and it is at this stage in brain growth when the core strengths of affiliation, attunement, tolerance and respect can mature as well. Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read. Babies show excitement by widening their eyes and moving their arms and legs when looking at a book with pictures of babies or other familiar objects. Babies learn from conversations even when they cannot understand what you are saying. When babies hear the same words over and over, the parts of the brain that handle speech and language develop. Talk to them as you are changing their diaper or feeding them. Get down on the floor with them when they are playing. Use this opportunity to talk about the different toys they have. You can talk about the color of the object or make noises, such as a car goes vroom, vroom. In infancy and early childhood, play is the activity through which children learn to recog- nize colors and shapes, tastes and sounds‚ the very building blocks of reality. Play also provides pathways to love and social connection. In early childhood, play helps children develop skills they can’t get in any other way. Babbling, for example, is a self-initiated form of play through  which infants create the sounds they need to learn the language of their parents. Likewise, chil- dren teach themselves to crawl, stand, and walk through repetitious practice play. At the preschool level, children engage in dramatic play and learn who is a leader, who is a follower, who is outgoing, who is shy. They also learn to negotiate their own conflicts. Study after study explicitly and unambiguously documents that what happens during the early years is critical to a child’s long-term cognitive and behavioral development, physical growth in childhood, and health in adulthood. Modern brain and child development research supports the need to provide nurturing, educationally stimulating, safe environments and experiences in the early years. A strong and nurturing relationship between children and adults is the most basic ingredient for growing up healthy. Supporting the whole child – physically, socially, and emotionally – provides a baseline for positive experiences from which the child can learn, grow, and thrive. These experiences shape a child’s life and create a strong, foundational web of support that positively contributes to their future.