Teaching Ethics State-level Employees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Teaching Ethics State-level Employees - Essay Example A tremendous interest in regards to research is identifying borderline children in elementary schools. Many children in the public school system are clearly performing below the state standard but do not qualify for special education. As a result, they persistently fail classes but are moved to the next level. It would be ideal if there existed a program that could be developed to help the borderline children pass. Whether this is something that would result in dividing the class into sections is something that should be researched, because it is a viable alternative which would allow the child to maintain the curriculum with a better chance of success. Funding, however, is always an issue and of course, the state is reticent to expend resources on research when children are passing state standards. There does not appear to be any legislation within the state of California as applied to research. On July 12, 1974, the National Research Act (Pub. L. 93-348) was signed into law, thereby creating the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. One of the charges to the Commission was to identify the basic ethical principles that should underlie the conduct of biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects and to develop guidelines which should be followed to assure that such research is conducted in accordance with those principles. In carrying out the above, the Commission was directed to consider: (i) the boundaries between biomedical and behavioral research and the accepted and routine practice of medicine, (ii) the role of assessment of risk-benefit criteria in the determination of the appropriateness of research involving human subjects.

Dropping Out of One’s Future Essay Example for Free

Dropping Out of One’s Future Essay We need another series of milk cartons: one that shows the faces of students who drop out of school. After all, isn’t a kid who has dropped out of school a bit like a kid who has been kidnapped? The circumstances have more in common than one might imagine: there is a moment that finally comes during which one’s life is inexorably altered, and if that moment comes and no one is around to help, the consequences are life-long and most likely devastating. Whether one is taken by force and tossed into a van or one is removed by a force from the basic educational system of society, the result is still a kid whose life will never be the same. There are as many reasons for a student’s dropping out of school as there are for a criminal’s behavior, but ultimately, the reason a kid drops out comes down to one of three things: a lack of support, a lack of success, or a lack of money (â€Å"Youth Who Drop Out†). Educational success or failure is often a result of a support system or lack thereof, and no race, gender, or socio-economic group is immune; however, there is a common factor when it comes to evaluating the reasons behind students’ dropping out: â€Å"No one at home, at school or in the community had established relationships with [those who dropped out], set high academic expectations [or] given them the tools to achieve them† (â€Å"Youth Who Drop Out,† Sacchetti). It appears that those who lack a reliable support system are unable to stick with the rigors of school—rigors that are complicated by the mere act of growing from child to adolescent to adult. Trying and failing is no fun for anyone, and the constant pressure on students to perform based not a personal scale but a fixed one can be overwhelming. â€Å"Recent research suggests that, even for students who have difficult home lives, dropping out has much to do with [both] how schools operate and the educational experiences students have within them (Jerald 3). The relationship between a student’s success and his willingness to continue seems profound, and while there is no doubt that school is supposed to be challenging, the challenge is too great for some. This is a cyclical event: the student who does not understand something on Monday does not wake up on Tuesday understanding it; however, Tuesday comes, and so does more information built upon the prior day’s lesson. Now, the student who was behind one lesson is behind two (Jerald 5). There is a reason most students have a favorite subject along with one or more that they hate, and the reason is generally success-based. Money is perhaps the greatest threat to the continuation of an education, but ironically, it is also the biggest burden over the long-haul. Consider the student who lives at home, pays no rent, is responsible for no bills, and who suddenly gets a job. Even a minimum wage salary creates a false sense of financial security for that individual, and there are plenty of high school students who find work that pays a better wage. Suddenly, the new wage-earner considers just how much more he’d make working full time instead of part time, and because he has not had to budget realistically, it seems clear that the time he sits in a classroom is time wasted as he could be earning more money. Education professor Russell Rumberger of UC Santa Barbara found that, â€Å"A dropout earns an average of $18,826 a year, far less than the $27,280 a high-school graduate makes [. . . and] dropouts pay less in taxes and are more at risk of going on welfare, experiencing health problems or getting into trouble† (qtd. in Sacchetti). Students who lack a support system and who are not successful in school can easily become enthralled by the potential to make an amount of money that seems substantial at the age of sixteen. These students are not likely to consider the dead end they face later when the earning potential they have acquired isn’t sufficient, and lacking a support system, they are certainly unlikely to receive alternate advice. No one blames a kidnapping victim for behavior that might have resulted in the accosting; however, society is quick to judge those who drop out without taking the time necessary to evaluate whether or not the drop out simply didn’t get what she needed in terms of the life education—a type of learning that can’t always be taught in school. Works Cited Jerald, Craig D. â€Å"Identifying Potential Dropouts: Key Lessons for Building an Early Warning Data System: A Dual Agenda of High Standards and High Graduation Rates.† Achieve, Inc. June 2006. Carnegie Corporation of New York. 30 Sept. 2006. http://www. achieve. org/files/dropouts. pdf. Sacchetti, Maria. â€Å"Why Do Students Drop Out of School? † The Orange County Register. 31 Oct. 2004. 29 Sept. 2006. http://www. ocregister. com/ocr/2004/10/31/sections/news/ news/article_294717. php. â€Å"Youth Who Drop Out. † Focus Adolescent Services. 2000. 29 Sept. 2006. http://www. focusas. com/Dropouts. html.

Primary Education In The UK Education Essay

Primary Education In The UK Education Essay Primary Education is an important topic to be discussed and analysed, since it is the basis of our societys formation, being thus decisive for our childrens future. This essay is entitled Primary Education in the U.K. and Spain: a comparison and it focuses on explaining some of the main matters concerning both systems. It is first of all focused on explaining some topics related to primary education in the United Kingdom including two paragraphs. The first one a historical background, proves to be the base of todays structure which may help us clarify todays structure, which the topic of the second paragraph. This is followed by two clone paragraphs applied to Spanish primary education. The last two paragraphs concentrate on the use and importance of ICT in primary education in both systems. The essay is concluded establishing an overall comparison between both systems. According to Denis Haye in his book Primary Education: the Key Concepts, British primary education and its structure find its roots deep in history, in the middle ages. It has been stated by some historians that English education began in AD 597 with the establishment of the cathedral of Canterbury by St Augustine. In the end of the seventeenth century education belonged to the church which promoted Christian knowledge, by creating its own schools. At the same time there were pioneers such as Robert Raikes, Charles Gordon and the welsh Charles of Bala, who believed in a connection between social action and education. The first publicly funded schools appeared in the mid-nineteenth century and aimed to offer Christian education to poor children. From this time on, the control of education starts switching little by little from the church to the state. Furthermore, between 1846 and 1848 in Wales, the Welsh Education Committee and the Cambrian Society both evolving into national schools , were formed. In the nineteenth century it is important to highlight the education act of 1872, since it lead to many advances in primary education, not only affecting the labouring classes as was happening in other parts of the country. The 1944s education act was decisive because from this time on, education was free of charge and relied on voluntary provision. It is known by the introduction of three kinds of schools: grammar schools, modern schools and Technical schools. The year 1988, saw the introduction of the nation curriculum including a selection of subjects such as maths, science English and religious education. From 2010, teaching foreign languages is also a compulsory part of the curriculum. In order to explain the base of todays primary education in the UK, it is necessary to go back to the twentieth century, when there were many important changes in primary education. Among these, stands out the introduction of the national curriculum in English mainstream schools. In this author words, during the twentieth century, it was also thought to be decisive an agreement about the need for a general education for children up to the age of 11, this being followed by a subject-specific teaching up to the age of 16 and a selection of specialist subjects thereafter. Due to the national curriculum, from the beginning of the 21st century most primary schools in the UK currently accept children from 5 to 11 years old. As Denis states, there is also a tiny number of schools designated deemed middle (ages 8 to 12 or 9 to 13) and first when they educate children from 5 to 8 or 9. To explain todays structure it is also important to focus on the types of schools that can currently be found in the UK. As the Department of Education reports, they can be divided into 3 main groups: mainstream state schools, specialist schools, state schools with particular characteristics and independent schools. To the first group belong Community schools, which are often run by a local authority and aim to develop strong links with the local community, providing services  like childcare and adult learning classes. Trust schools as well as Voluntary-controlled and voluntary-aided schools are owed by a charitable foundation, which employs the staff and sets the admissions criteria. Academies, faith schools, city technology colleges, community and foundation special schools, grammar schools and maintained boarding schools can be found in the second group. The third group is formed by Independent schools which have their own admission policies and curriculum. Spanish primary education, as the rest of the developed nations, it finds its roots in the XIX century. Many factors can be identified as those which influenced the rise during this century of specifically educative establishments aiming to reach a growing proportion of the population. The Apparition of the national states is indeed the most notorious factor, since it puts the Old Regime to an end while at the same time instruction is seen as a mean reinforcing its unity. Thus, education is considered to be from this time on, a public affair that has to be organised and controlled by the state which regulates its legal and administrative processes. To understand the current Spanish primary education, it is important to focus on three relevant education laws, well-known for their impact on the system. The commonly referred as the Moyano Law was decreed in 1857 in a context of socio-economic crisis, This law consisted on a legislative initiative carried out by the politician Carlos Moy ano whose main aim was to improve the deplorable condition of education at that time, decreasing thus the analphabetism average in the country. Education was divided in two stages: elementary (6-12 years old) and superior (9-12). Primary education was compulsory until the age of 12 and free of charge for those who could not afford it. According to the web page State Univeristy.com, it also marked the foundation of privet schools in Spain at that time owned by the Catholic Church. Just one year after the 1944s British education act, the 1945s law was decreed in the historical context of post-war and in the ideological context of national Catholicism. Its main objective was to orientate the student in accordance with their aptitudes to the working life. Born in the context of democracy, the 1990s law of education aimed to impart an equal instruction in order to allow pupils to acquire basic cultural elements, to wit: oral expression, reading, writing and arithmetic calculi. It divided education into tree periods: the first stage (from6 to 8 years old), second (8-10) and third (10-12). To explain the structure of todays primary education in Spain, it is important to go back to the year 2006, when the fundamental law of education also known as LOE or Ley Organica de Educacià ³n was decreed. This law established a compulsory education from 6 to 16 year-old children. While in the UK children start their primary education at the age of 5, Spanish children start going to school at the age of 6. Also it is important to mention that most pupils attend pre-schools from 3 to 5 years of age. Most of these nursery schools in most cases belong to the same centre of education. According to the famous online encyclopedia known as Wikipedia, primary education in Spain can be divided into three cycles: the first cycle includes pupils from 6 to 7 years of age, the second 8-9 and the third 10 to 11. Focusing on the Spanish national curriculum, compulsory subjects are: Spanish language and Literature, Art, Mathematics, Physical Education, Natural and social sciences both included in a subject called Conocimiento Del Medio and English or French. Many state schools have an agreement with the British Council making the study of English compulsory from the age of 6. Although in the United Kingdom there a several types of schools, in Spain most of them can be grosso modo divided into three groups: public or state schools, privet schools or semi-privet schools also referred in Spanish as concertado schools. As happens in the UK, state schools are funded by the government and therefore they are free for those living in the country. These cannot be freely selected, as the children are allocated the closest school to their home. According to Maurice Hamlin in his web page practicalspain.com, semi-privet or concertado schools are similar to the Britishs grant maintained schools since they receive subsidies by the government being education thus, provided free of charge. Most of them are run by a religious order e.g. the Salesians of Don Bosco, and pupils usually wear un iforms. Privet and International schools in Spain are becoming more popular. According to the Article Living and Working in Spain they provide a more relaxed environment offering a wider range of subjects and an international approach. Another important aspect to be analysed, is the use of the information and communication technologies in British and Spanish Schools. According to the British Department of Education, information and communication technologies (ICT) in schools can improve the quality of teaching, learning and management in schools and so help raise standards. In order to evaluate the use of ITC in primary schools The Education and Training inspectorate published in 2002 a report in which some of the main strengths of the use of new technologies are highlighted. As this report states, integrating the ICT in the national curriculum supports both teaching and learning. The quality of planning for ICT is proved to be satisfactory or better in 70 % of the schools inspected and in most schools the quality of teaching and pupils experiences are proved to be satisfactory, including a wide range of ICT applications among which stands out the use of word processing. Learning to use Microsoft Words spell check, digital cameras, create an maintain a web page, sending a forwarding e-mails, burning a cd, as well as learning how to control multi-media and database software are indeed but a few other applications in schools. As this study proves, ICT has also a very positive reaction on children by increasing their motivation towards learning in general; as the report states children have high levels of interest and enthusiasm in their work in ICT being motivated by the inclusion of ICT in their lessons. It is a fact that there are an increasing number of schools that are incorporating ICT not only as a subject in the national curriculum but as a way to make the other lessons lighter and more amusing to children. According to an article written by Sophie Borland and published in the newspaper The Daily Mail there are even some schools in the UK who have decided to turn a P.E. lesson into a Wii class in order to motivate and boost their enthusiasm for sport. To do this, Borland says, the newly approved by Department of Health Wifit Plus is used in the class involving a variety of fineness activities. Even though this article received very positive reviews there are some people like the spokesman of the Department of Children, Schools and Families who states there is always a place for innovative exercises if they do not replace traditional ones. Another school in the UK, according to the education editor Graeme Paton, is to include the use of the so-called social network Twitter as pa rt of their curriculum. All children, the author states, will be taught how to use webcams, podcasts as well as blogs. Pupils in this school will be expected develop an understanding of different ways to communicate online. Improving keyboard skills, using websites such as the online dictionary Wikipedia and learning how to employ spell-checkers will also form part of the biggest overhaul of lessons for 20 years. As happens in the United Kingdom, Spanish new generation of children are marked by the information and communication technologies which are gaining each year a greater importance in the education policy. The inclusion of the ICT in Spanish education system finds its roots in the European initiative e-Europe which motivated the creation of the Special committee of study for the Development of the Information Society in Spain (CDSI) by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Some of the conclusion of the CDSI can be applied to education. According to this committee the use of the new technologies should be present in all subjects as part of the national curriculum and in the relationship between teachers and pupils and all the members of the educative community. The presence of ICT in Spanish primary schools can be clearly perceived in the autonomous community Extremadura which is considered to be a pioneer in this field. According to the secretary of ICT in the education polity of the autonomous government of Extremadura Junta de Extremadura, this region started the project of including the information and communication technologies in education in the year 1999, when the Strategic Plan for the development of technology in society was presented and the educational sector was considered to be the main pillar of that development. This moment marks the appearance of ICT in Extremaduran classrooms. What is probably the most outstanding fact is that, this region decided to develop free software equally configurable and adaptable. A new operative system called gnu/LinEx which would offer an enormous variety of applications in order to fulfill the necessities of all kind of users and a great diversity of tools for its use inside the classroom. Furthermore, in the academic year 2002/2003, an initiative was carried out in all Extremaduran high schools which consisted on transforming regular classrooms into technological classrooms by introducing a computer for each two s tudents. Also, todays schools in the region have at least one electronic blackboard, together with a projector, a computer and an interactive pad. The creation of the specific operative system LinEx must be adapted to a didactic and pedagogical extent. This is why a new variation of this operative system has been installed in all the schools of Extremadura. According to the autonomous communitys government LinEx Schools as it is called, offers the pupil an friendly and motivating environment adapted to their intellectual development. Together with LinEx, it is important to highlight the development of the educative platform Rayuela. As if it was a social network, this platform is an advanced system of information that allows a real-time communication between teachers and parents by using the Internet. It also has a database with allows all Extremenian students to have a single Digital Academic Record until they finish high school. Thus, teachers are able to access all the informatio n about the educative course of their pupils (calcifications, assistance and observances) in order to offer them an individualized treatment. To conclude this essay, I must say that as both educational systems belong to a globalised world and concretely to the European Union, they share indeed some similitudes and the two last paragraphs are an example of this statement. Among other minor differences British primary education probably differs from the Spanish one in what in my opinion, is its main strength: the diversity of schools offered which allows parents to have a greater choice. 2.500 words.

William T. Sherman Essay examples -- essays research papers

William T. Sherman SHERMAN, William Tecumseh (1820-91). Ranked second only to General Ulysses S. Grant as the greatest Northern commander in the American Civil War, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was a master of modern warfare. Like Grant, Sherman was born in Ohio when it was a frontier state. He was named Tecumseh for the Shawnee Indian chief who had terrorized that region a few years earlier. Sherman was born on Feb. 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio. His father died when he was 9 years old. Most of the 11 children in the family were distributed among the relatives and friends. He was adopted by Thomas Ewing. After attending an academy at Lancaster, Sherman entered West Point. During the Mexican War he saw service in California. In 1853 he resigned his commission for a business, legal, and educational career. When Louisiana seceded from the Union, he was head of the state military academy (now Louisiana State University). He resigned his position and rejoined the army in May 1861. He was commissioned a colonel of volunteers and commanded a brigade in the first battle of Bull Run, on July 21, 1861. Three months later he was given charge of the Department of the Ohio (River). On taking over his new command he reported that 200,000 men would be needed to carry on a successful campaign in that region. Newspapers said that Sherman was crazy. Time proved him right, but popular protest cost him his command. Sherman's military genius was so outstanding that he could not long be k...

Concrete Industry Should Exploit the Upscale Market

Meanwhile, gold slang can also be made into a new wall tiles after Jaw crusher crushing, and vibration screen screening, which not only supply building materials, but also avoid environmental pollution concrete mixing plant, it greatly conform to the national energy conservation and environmental protection theme. Henna Daschle Machinery Co. Ltd,is a professional manufacturer and trader specializing in the research, development and production of construction machinery for nearly 30 years. Our main products are as follows:portable Diesel Concrete Mixer,portable attach plants,We will provide you with the best product and service. In order to realize the recycle of gold slang, there are many crushing equipment for slang small concrete mixer, but gold slang contains acidic substances, which has extreme causticity, so we must choose special crusher.Jaw crusher ,cone crusher, and Impact crusher made by Henna Honoring adopt international advanced technology and high quality materials, ,whic h have strong crushing capacity, high efficiency and corrosion resistance, and are widely used in iron ore, cooper ore, gold and silver ore, and other materials. They are the optical crushing equipment for dealing with gold slang, are widely recognized by the market.In the near future, Honoring will research continuously crushing equipment, grinding equipment and Improve old equipment, we actively comply with national sustainable development path and contribute their efforts to develop energy saving and environmental protection economy. Meanwhile, gold slang can also be made Into a new wall tiles after Jaw crusher crushing, and vibration screen screening, which not only supply building materials, but also avoid environmental pollution concrete mixing plant, It greatly conform to the national energy conservation and environmental protection theme.Henna Daschle Machinery Co. , Ltd,l's a professional manufacturer and trader specializing In the research, development and production of co nstruction machinery for nearly 30 years. Our mall products are as follows:portable Diesel Concrete Mixer,portable batch plants,We will provide you with the best product and service. In order to realize the recycle of gold slang, there are many crushing equipment for slang small concrete mixer, but gold slang contains clad substances, which has extreme causticity, so we must choose special crusher. Jaw crusher ,cone crusher, and Impact crusher made byHenna Honoring adopt International advanced technology and high quality materials, ,Welch have strong crushing capacity, high efficiency and corrosion resistance, and are widely used In Iron ore, cooper ore, gold and silver ore, and other efforts to develop energy saving and environmental protection economy. Causticity, so we must choose special crusher. Jaw crusher ,cone crusher, and impact widely recognized by the market. In the near future, Honoring will research continuously crushing equipment, grinding equipment and improve old equ ipment, efforts to develop energy saving and environmental protection economy.Meanwhile, old slang can also be made into a new wall tiles after Jaw crusher crushing, and environmental pollution concrete mixing plant, it greatly conform to the national Co. , Ltd,is a professional manufacturer and trader specializing in the research, main products are as follows:portable Diesel Concrete Mixer,portable batch mixer, but gold slang contains acidic substances, which has extreme causticity, so we must choose special crusher. Jaw crusher ,cone crusher, and impact crusher made by Henna Honoring adopt international advanced technology and high quality materials, ,which have strong crushing capacity, high efficiency and corrosion

Hangover Movie Review

I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in a long time. When I saw this movie in theater for the first time I came out with my face hurting I was laughing so much. Everything about this movie just clicked. Perfect cast with great chemistry, great direction, great music, and most importantly a fun script with hilarious dialogue and characters. The movie starts where its two days before Doug’s wedding, himself and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a crazy bachelor party they'll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can't remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom, and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can't find is Doug, the groom. With no clue as to what happened that night and little time to spare, the three of them must retrace their steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L. A. in time to walk down the aisle. The four main actors in this movie are; Bradley Cooper as Phil Wenneck, the groom's best friend, a school teacher who is bored with married life. Ed Helms as Dr. Stuart â€Å"Stu† Price, a dentist stuck in a bad relationship, friend of the groom. Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner, the socially awkward, soon to be brother-in-law of the groom, and Justin Bartha as Doug Billings, the soon-to-be groom. I personally think that they all did a great job acting out their characters personality and made everything work quite smooth. The movie followed a regular predictable story line, it was very easy for me to predict what was going to happen next. It was very easy to watch the lighting was perfect, and the director, Todd Phillips did a great job with all the shots. The movies music was composed by Christopher Beck. The movie had a few featured artists in this film, such as Kanye West, The Donnas, Usher, T. I. , Mickey Avalon and The Dan Band. For the closing credits the song â€Å"Right Round† by Flo Rida was played. The Hangover might not appeal to those seeking a more disciplined, focused comedy, but the film represents the best of what comedy can provide — pure, unadulterated, slaphappy entertainment. And there's nothing wrong with that.

The Dangers of Genetic Engineering essays

The Dangers of Genetic Engineering essays Chances are you have already eaten genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Look at the ingredient list on any packaged food in your cupboard. Any food with ingredients from corn, soy, canola, or cottonseed is likely to be made with GMOs. Thousands of products on supermarket shelves are made with GMOs. There are already over 50 million acres of GMO crops growing in the U.S. These foods contain genetic material that has never before been part of the human diet, from crops that have not evolved in any natural environment. Genetic engineering is not traditional breeding. A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal or microorganism that is created by means that overcome natural boundaries. Genetic engineering can involve crossing species which could not cross in nature. For example, genes from a fish have been inserted into strawberries and tomatoes. It can also involve putting chemicals into food. Almost all GMOs grown today are in one of two varieties: "insect resistant" and "herbicide tolerant" crops. The crop produces an insect toxin as it grows, in every cell of the plant throughout the entire growing season. When you eat GMO insect resistant corn you are eating a pesticide. Despite these alarmingly unnatural modifications, you won't find "genetically engineered" on the label of any of these products. The industry doesn't want you to know that it has embarked on an experiment unique in human history, an experiment that doctors and scientists around the world are warning may not be safe. One area of concern is biological pollution. While chemical pollution has been the scourge of the 20th century, biological pollution from GMO crops poses even more hazards as we enter the new millennium. Unlike chemicals that are released into the environment, GMOs are living beings that will reproduce and spread uncontrollably, with no possibility of containment or clean-up. Another consequence of GMOs is the increased use o...

8 interview questions when applying to a call center -The JobNetwork

8 interview questions when applying to a call center -The JobNetwork Whether they take orders or offer customer service, call centers are all fairly similar. So there are a number of common questions you can expect to be asked when interviewing for a call center job. Here are 8 to anticipate, along with some suggestions for how to answer them. 1. â€Å"Can you tell me about yourself?†How to Answer It: Emphasize your people skills, since call center work involves talking to people all day. If you’ve ever done volunteer work, now would be a good time to talk about how much you love it. Just be sure to give a fleshed-out answer. The interviewer wants to know more than the kind of information that is already on your resume. Go deeper than your basic statistics.2. â€Å"What do you think a call center is like?†How to Answer It: Stay positive! Maybe taking calls all day is not your ideal job, but if you really want this one, you need to describe a call center as an environment of excellent customer service with employees who are flexibl e, cheerful, and extremely helpful.3. â€Å"What do you know about our company?†How to Answer It: Before going on your interview, do a little research about the company for which you are interviewing. Being able to rattle off a few details about the company in very positive terms reveals an attention to detail, a team-player spirit, and a willingness to do your homework. Not having a substantial response signals that you don’t take getting this job very seriously.4. Question: â€Å"Why do you want to work here?†How to Answer It: Explain that you have the people skills necessary for call center work. If you don’t have call center experience- and you probably won’t if you are asked this particular question- describe your other work or life experiences relevant to call center work. If you’ve ever worked with customers or clients before, or ever had to defuse potentially explosive situations, you should mention such experiences in your response. 5. â€Å"What is quality customer service?†How to Answer It: There’s really only one answer to this question: â€Å"Going above and beyond expectations† is quality customer service.6. â€Å"What are your strengths and weaknesses?†How to Answer It: This is a common question in any job interview. If you’re trying to get a call center job, your strengths should include patience, problem-solving, excellent communication skills, fast learning, and friendliness. Discussing your weaknesses can be a sly way to further emphasize your strengths. For example, you can offer â€Å"I tend to work myself too hard† as a weakness. Just don’t mention anything too negative.7. â€Å"What is the salary you expect to make here?†How to Answer It: Ideally, you would just request the standard salary for someone with your qualifications rather than a specific figure. If the interviewer asks for a specific figure, keep it reasonable without aiming too lo w or you may end up making less than you deserve. Do some research to find out how much someone with your qualifications should earn at a call center.8. â€Å"Where do you see yourself in five years?†How to Answer It: This common question is a way to find out if you plan to stick around or regard the job as a temporary steppingstone. A company is not going to want to hire you if you plan to move on quickly, so tell the interviewer that in five years you see yourself working for this very company†¦but promoted to a more powerful position!

Teenage crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teenage crime - Research Paper Example ams and support especially for children in poverty stricken regions, employment and educational opportunities for youth, recreational activities and correction programs which will prevent them from engaging in further criminal activities. The changing lifestyle and social relations is having a dramatic effect on the young children and especially those who are in the transition phase from childhood to adolescence. Teenagers in the present day world are left to deal with changing family structures, stress of education and career choices and peer pressure in addition to effect of poverty and social status of their families. This changing environment has been a major contributing factor in the rising youth crime rates around the world. Children, especially teenagers, who are exposed to poverty, disintegrated family structures and peer and social pressures are more prone to commit crime at a young age (Juvenile Delinquency). In addition studies have also linked juvenile crime to substance abuse and constant use of drugs is also connected with re-offending resulting in a drug-crime cycle (Hodgdon). Substance abuse by teenagers is a growing social malady in the United States. Despite bans on the use of illicit drugs by teen agers, the percentage of adolescents using these substances since the 1990s is steadily rising (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; Juvenile Delinquency and Substance Abuse). Many studies have also shown that drug trafficking involving youth is associated with violent criminal activities. Thus both the consumption of drugs and its trafficking involve violent and criminal activities; with juveniles hailing from lower socioeconomic backgrounds being targeted in a majority of the cases. In many cases teenagers addicted to drugs engage in violent or criminal activities in order to get money to support their substance addiction (Juvenile Delinquency; Juvenile Delinquency and Substance Abuse). Various measures are being undertaken by several

Article Review for Graduate Level Educational Research Class Essay

Article Review for Graduate Level Educational Research Class - Essay Example Maslow’s understanding is that ‘if one is to transform the performance of an average person in any field , then one has to study the peak performers, understand the way they work and think and then impart the same skills to the performer who is average to reach the peak’. This understanding was a driving force for Smith and Strahan who chose to study three experts in the field of teaching, watch them in an active environment and collect the information which can help them to create a set of personality traits that makes expert teachers. The study, although was very minute, extensive and thorough, seems to be little rigid. There are many ways and aspects of the study where the researchers could have taken a broader path. This study was undertaken to create a model which can be a tool for beginners in teaching field to understand what makes an expert teacher and how to become one. The aim of the study was to make American Public schools a centre of excellence by helping the teachers of average quality to learn from the experts. Now, when we talk of development of whole country where thousands of schools are involved, is it really valid to create a prototype based on the study of just three teachers? I think that the study should have been conducted nationwide and not just in one state. Teachers with different backgrounds, different cultures and different states should have been studied as we all know that everything changes with difference in the state. This not only would have helped to gain more insight into understanding the expertise in teaching but also would have generated more and more central skills as

Thirteen Days Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thirteen Days - Research Paper Example He is facing world war 3 in the near future. They have to come up with a quick plan on how to stop the war heads from being operational. President Kennedy does not want to invade Cuba, though the chiefs of staff really think that invading Cuba would be the best solution at the moment. He says the same course of events led to the break out World War 1. This time the risks were high because nuclear weapons were involved. They settle on blockade as the first measure which technically is an act of war that would help remove the missiles from Cuba as well as avoid war. They agree not to call it a blockade but quarantine. This is where the US navy ships will stop any ships that enter Cuban water for inspection to make sure they are not carrying any lethal weapons into Cuba. Cuban ambassador to the US at first assures president Kennedy that there are weapons in Cuba but they are only for defensive but not offensive purposes, which the president sees as lies and sends US ambassador to the UN Mr. Aldai Stevenson to a council meeting where he roughs up the Cuban ambassador with questions to categorically state if whether there are nuclear weapons placed in Cuba by the Soviet Union or not. The ambassador avoids the questions and says that the American government was spreading malicious information to incite nations. Throughout the entire process president Kennedy is pressurized by the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staffs, General Maxwell Taylor to hasten an invasion before the whole chance of removing the missiles from Cuba become impossible. The president does not wish to subject innocent American citizens to an act world war 3. But all the same information starts spreading fast across all the American states about the possibility of a world war 3 which drives a major panic to the people who now shop for food stuff and other things in plenty just case a war breaks

Critically analyse the effectiveness of United Nations Security Essay

Critically analyse the effectiveness of United Nations Security Council - Essay Example nal law is not an empty promise.† His rhetorics, however, were met with critical remarks from President Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica, who said that the United Nations had failed in its mission to make the world a safe place to live in. He accused the UNSC of continuously turning â€Å"a blind eye† to arms proliferation, as well as to countries that refused to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. He added that it was not possible for the world to be safe, if arms proliferation was not given top priority on the international agenda. His sentiments were echoed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who observed that Iran and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea , who were â€Å"right in front of us,† had violated Security Council resolutions to stop the testing of ballistic missiles (Security Council SC/ 9746, 2009). He stressed the need for all Council decisions to prove effective by producing positive results. Fore most on the minds of the Heads of State, however, was how the permanent five (P-5) members of the UNSC, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), propose to work together to solve the intractable nuclear issues that had existed since the Cold War. This essay seeks to analyze: i) politics within the United Nations Security Council, ii) reform in the United Nations Security Council, iii) the Security Council today - 21st Century, and iv) the role of the Secretary-General. The first major setback that paralyzed the United Nations Security Council from managing and handling international security issues effectively, was the use of vetoes by the five permanent members (P-5)(P. Wallensteen, P. Johansson, 2004: 20). During the Cold War period, a total of 193 vetoes were casted. Of these, forty-four were concerned with electing a new Secretary-General, fifty-four concerned the election of new members to the organization, while the rest of the vetoes were used as a show of rejection of draft resolutions

Analyze the Conventional Wisdom Regarding the Iliegal Immigration Essay

Analyze the Conventional Wisdom Regarding the Iliegal Immigration Debate - Essay Example Besides, the arguments on illegal immigration deeply influence the development of conventional wisdom on the same subject. Thesis statement: The conventional wisdom regarding the illegal immigration debate in America is deeply influenced by the arguments in favor of and against illegal immigration and the related problems. Arguments in favor of illegal immigration The scope of the policy of amnesty and illegal immigration As pointed out, the arguments in favor of illegal immigration deeply influenced the conventional wisdom regarding the illegal immigration debate. To be specific, the people of America are aware of the fact that their lineage is rooted in immigration from European nations, African continent and some parts of the Asian continent. One can see that the native population of the American continent consists of the American Indians. Almost all the other racial groups in America are related to immigrant population. Therefore, those who are in favor of illegal immigration arg ue that illegal immigration must not be considered as illegal because economic disparity is the main reason behind it. Steiner opined that â€Å"More likely, illegal immigration rose because the United States economy demanded it, and illegal immigration would have risen even if amnesties had not been granted† (41). Those who try to immigrate to America are not aware of the problem of illegal immigration. ... They believe implementation of laws and regulations related to illegal immigration can reduce the problem in future, and the current laws cannot solve the problems faced by the illegal immigrant in America. In addition, those who are not in favor of illegal immigration argue that the illegal immigration must be considered as an international problem, not as a regional or national problem. Humanitarian consideration/ human rights and illegal immigration Those who are in favor of illegal immigration argue that deportation or similar actions against the so-called illegal immigrants are a violation of human rights. The liberal humanitarians including the working class in America consider that the government must take apt measures to reduce the problems faced by the illegal immigrant population in America. Hill stated that â€Å"It is little wonder that these kaleidoscopic overlaps and divergences lead some to argue that the real divide in the immigration debate is between educated and d efenders of the U.S. poor and working class† (196). Besides, those who are in favor of illegal immigration argue that illegal immigrants face marginalization in the American society. They argue that governments must try to amalgamate the illegal immigrants into the core of the mainstream society. At the same time, the strict implementation of laws related to illegal immigration/human trafficking can reduce the scope of problems related to illegal immigration. Arguments against illegal immigration Barbed-wire fences and border security As pointed out, the conventional wisdom regarding the illegal immigration debate is influenced by anti-illegal immigration arguments. The history of

Equity and trust law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Equity and trust law - Essay Example However, as Pettit3 argues, equity operates on the conscience of the owner of legal interest and so in the case of a trust; the conscience of the legal owner of the estate is required to carry out that purpose for which it was intended, or which the law obliges him or her to do. This is because English law is based on formalities which must be fulfilled in order for a transfer of trust to be considered as complete. These formalities are achieved in different processes, but all include some form of official government document which the donor of an estate must sign as an indication of the transfer of the estate. In English trust law, these formalities are considered as the absolute way to determine the absolute owner of an estate, without having to consider so many factors. The main issue with regard to the requirements of these formalities is that many property owners die before they have made a formal will and this leaves room for conflicts among the people who were related to them in different ways. While at times the court can find that there was intent by the diseased to place his or her trust to another person even if the said person is not an obvious heir to the diseased and in the interest of an express will or effectuation of transfer of interest, the law still depends a much as is possible on formalities and only considers other avenues where formalities have not been met. Even in such as the Paul v Constance [1977] 1 WLR 527 case in which the judge depended on other sources of evident to decide the case in favour of the plaintiff who was claiming property rights against the legal wife of the diseased person, the court had to gravitate towards any available formalities or the evidence of intended will to meet these formalities. The case indicates that being the natural heir to property is not enough for the court to decide in your favour. For instance, in the above case, Mrs Constance who was the defendant was the natural heir to the estate of Mr Const ance’s estate because they were still legally married by the time Mr Constance died. Conversely, Mrs Paul was only a live-in partner to Mr Constance and her rights in Mr Constance’s estate were very limited or even non existence. Yet, regardless of that, the court jugged in favour Mrs Paul. This only goes to show how complicated trust law can be. How such a case goes also depends on whether the judge(s) will choose to use technicalities or not. Regardless of the nature of this case and the unexpected outcome, it is clear that the court made the decision while keeping in mind the need for formalities in completion of transfer of trust as well as equity in such cases. To look at both sides, the court had to look at the faintest of evidence for intent by Mr Constance to transfer the will, and at the same time wanted to deliver a judgement that offered equity. The intention of the case is to deliver justice with the available evidence available. In the present case, it is clear that there is some evidence that the two aunts had received from Lady Meera the intention of transfer of trust. In the first case with regard to aunt Jemima, Lady Meera had left her the papers to the shares. In the second case, she had showed Aunt Beatrix the estate. These facts are important in the case and can determine the way the judge will decide to end the case. As a result, in trying to get custody of these property which the two aunts are

Critically analyse the effectiveness of United Nations Security Essay

Critically analyse the effectiveness of United Nations Security Council - Essay Example nal law is not an empty promise.† His rhetorics, however, were met with critical remarks from President Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica, who said that the United Nations had failed in its mission to make the world a safe place to live in. He accused the UNSC of continuously turning â€Å"a blind eye† to arms proliferation, as well as to countries that refused to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. He added that it was not possible for the world to be safe, if arms proliferation was not given top priority on the international agenda. His sentiments were echoed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who observed that Iran and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea , who were â€Å"right in front of us,† had violated Security Council resolutions to stop the testing of ballistic missiles (Security Council SC/ 9746, 2009). He stressed the need for all Council decisions to prove effective by producing positive results. Fore most on the minds of the Heads of State, however, was how the permanent five (P-5) members of the UNSC, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), propose to work together to solve the intractable nuclear issues that had existed since the Cold War. This essay seeks to analyze: i) politics within the United Nations Security Council, ii) reform in the United Nations Security Council, iii) the Security Council today - 21st Century, and iv) the role of the Secretary-General. The first major setback that paralyzed the United Nations Security Council from managing and handling international security issues effectively, was the use of vetoes by the five permanent members (P-5)(P. Wallensteen, P. Johansson, 2004: 20). During the Cold War period, a total of 193 vetoes were casted. Of these, forty-four were concerned with electing a new Secretary-General, fifty-four concerned the election of new members to the organization, while the rest of the vetoes were used as a show of rejection of draft resolutions

Equity and trust law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Equity and trust law - Essay Example However, as Pettit3 argues, equity operates on the conscience of the owner of legal interest and so in the case of a trust; the conscience of the legal owner of the estate is required to carry out that purpose for which it was intended, or which the law obliges him or her to do. This is because English law is based on formalities which must be fulfilled in order for a transfer of trust to be considered as complete. These formalities are achieved in different processes, but all include some form of official government document which the donor of an estate must sign as an indication of the transfer of the estate. In English trust law, these formalities are considered as the absolute way to determine the absolute owner of an estate, without having to consider so many factors. The main issue with regard to the requirements of these formalities is that many property owners die before they have made a formal will and this leaves room for conflicts among the people who were related to them in different ways. While at times the court can find that there was intent by the diseased to place his or her trust to another person even if the said person is not an obvious heir to the diseased and in the interest of an express will or effectuation of transfer of interest, the law still depends a much as is possible on formalities and only considers other avenues where formalities have not been met. Even in such as the Paul v Constance [1977] 1 WLR 527 case in which the judge depended on other sources of evident to decide the case in favour of the plaintiff who was claiming property rights against the legal wife of the diseased person, the court had to gravitate towards any available formalities or the evidence of intended will to meet these formalities. The case indicates that being the natural heir to property is not enough for the court to decide in your favour. For instance, in the above case, Mrs Constance who was the defendant was the natural heir to the estate of Mr Const ance’s estate because they were still legally married by the time Mr Constance died. Conversely, Mrs Paul was only a live-in partner to Mr Constance and her rights in Mr Constance’s estate were very limited or even non existence. Yet, regardless of that, the court jugged in favour Mrs Paul. This only goes to show how complicated trust law can be. How such a case goes also depends on whether the judge(s) will choose to use technicalities or not. Regardless of the nature of this case and the unexpected outcome, it is clear that the court made the decision while keeping in mind the need for formalities in completion of transfer of trust as well as equity in such cases. To look at both sides, the court had to look at the faintest of evidence for intent by Mr Constance to transfer the will, and at the same time wanted to deliver a judgement that offered equity. The intention of the case is to deliver justice with the available evidence available. In the present case, it is clear that there is some evidence that the two aunts had received from Lady Meera the intention of transfer of trust. In the first case with regard to aunt Jemima, Lady Meera had left her the papers to the shares. In the second case, she had showed Aunt Beatrix the estate. These facts are important in the case and can determine the way the judge will decide to end the case. As a result, in trying to get custody of these property which the two aunts are

Primary School classroom Essay Example for Free

Primary School classroom Essay These Poets write Honestly about their Experiences. Explore the Memories Expressed in their Poems and consider what Views they are sharing about Growing Up  Carol Ann Duffy expresses her views and gives her true experiences to do with childhood and growing up. She uses a range of techniques in her poems, like similes to emphasize her feelings and emotions and imagery, where she uses metaphors to help create the picture and mood of the atmosphere of each poem. For example, the Primary School classroom. Simon Armitage also writes about everyday experiences, childhood, growing up, changes and regrets. He uses less imagery than Carol Ann Duffy, but in one particular poem Kid, he uses a great more rhyme. They both include experiences towards school life, where Carol Ann Duffy writes about the younger years and Simon Armitage writes about the older years at school. These two poets are similar in some ways, but can be quite different in others. For example, in Duffys Stealing it shares the feelings of a child who steals for no reason and Duffy adds comments from her own experiences. It can make the reader feel quite depressed and sad, whereas in I am very Bothered by Simon Armitage, it is again about a child with regret for something he did at school, but instead of being sad it uses black humour and is more horrible stench of branded skin In Mrs Tilschers Class, Carol Ann Duffy starts with you, which makes it personal and sets the scene travel up the Blue Nile.  She identifies things like Primary School aspects very well with your finger, tracing the route This is a good reminder to what children do when they are little. She creates the picture of the blackboard chalky Pyramids rubbed into dust. This suggests break time and the laugh of a bell swung by a running child creates a jolly, happy time that all the kids look forward to. This gives a comparison between home and school. This was better than home. There are more interesting things to be found at school, like enthralling books, which is obviously what she doesnt have at home.  She uses similes to describe the classroom. The classroom glowed like a sweet shop. This creates the idea of colour that a sweet shop would have.  She tells of a negative memory Brady and Hindley, which faded, like the faint, uneasy smudge of a mistake. School has so many good memories that it is able to make the bad ones disappear. She uses emotion Mrs Tilscher loved you, and alliteration good gold star, which makes the poem flow easier. It also sounds a bit like a childs expression.  A xylophones nonsense gives the impression of tuneless playing, which kids do in Primary School, they dont care about accuracy, just about having fun. It also appeals to the senses by using sounds as well as visual images.

India One Of The Most Richest Civilizations History Essay

India One Of The Most Richest Civilizations History Essay India is home to one of the richest and the most ancient civilizations in the world, which existed over 5,000 years ago. This civilization originated in the Indus River Valley, hence the name given to it was Indus Valley civilization. It is the origin of many of the ideas, philosophies and movements which have shaped the destiny of mankind. The civilization with its main cities Mohenjadaro and Harappa flourished for over eight centuries. Its people thought to be Dravidians, whose descendants still inhabit the far south of India. The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE, was the first major civilization in India. A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE. This Bronze Age civilization collapsed before the end of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Iron Age Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plain and which witnessed the rise of major polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born in the 6th or 5th century BCE and propagated their ņºramanic philosophies. Almost all of the subcontinent was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. It subsequently became fragmented, with various parts ruled by numerous Middle kingdoms for the next 1,500 years. This is known as the classical period of Indian history, during which India has sometimes been estimated to have had the largest economy of the ancient and medieval world, controlling between one third and one fourth of the worlds wealth up to the 18th century. Much of northern and central India was once again united in the 4th century CE, and remained so for two centuries thereafter, under the Gupta Empire. This period, witnessing a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, is known among its admirers as the Golden Age of India. During the same time, and for several centuries afterwards, southern India, under the rule of the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pallavas, and Pandyas, experienced its own golden age. During this period, aspects of Indian civilization, administration, culture, and religion (Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much of Asia. The southern state of Kerala had maritime business links with the Roman Empire from around 77 CE. Islam was introduced in Kerala through this route by Muslim traders. Muslim rule in the subcontinent began in 712 CE when the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab,setting the stage for several successive invasions from Central Asia between the 10th and 15th centuries CE, leading to the formation of Muslim empires in the Indian subcontinent such as the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Mughal rule came to cover most of the northern parts of the subcontinent. Mughal rulers introduced Middle Eastern art and architecture to India. In addition to the Mughals and various Rajput kingdoms, several independent Hindu states, such as the Vijayanagara Empire, the Maratha Empire, and the Ahom Kingdom, flourished contemporaneously in southern, western, and northeastern India respectively. The Mughal Empire suffered a gradual decline in the early 18th century, which provided opportunities for the Afghans, Balochis, Sikhs, and Marathas to exercise control over large areas in the northwest of the subcontinent until the British East India Company gained ascendancy over South Asia. Beginning in the mid-18th century and over the next century, India was gradually annexed by the British East India Company. Dissatisfaction with Company rule led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, after which India was directly administered by the British Crown and witnessed a period of both rapid development of infrastructure and economic decline. During the first half of the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and later joined by the Muslim League. The subcontinent gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, after being partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan. WHAT ARE THE ARTIFACTS ? An artifact or artefact is any object made or modified by a human. Artifact is the usual spelling in the US and Canada, artefact in the UK and Australasia (see spelling differences). In archaeology, where the term is most commonly used, an artifact is an object recovered by some archaeological endeavor, which may have a cultural interest. Examples include stone tools such as projectile points, pottery vessels, metal objects such as guns, and items of personal adornment such as buttons, jewellery and clothing. Other examples include bone that show signs of human modification, fire cracked rocks from a hearth or plant material used for food. Imported Mycenaean stirrup vase found in the acropolis of Ras Shamra (Ugarit), 1400-1300 BC Artifacts can come from any archaeological context or source such as: Buried along with a body (grave goods). From any feature such as a midden or other domestic setting Hoards Votive offerings Artifacts are distinguished from the main body of the archaeological record such as stratigraphic features, which are non-portable remains of human activity, such as hearths, roads, or deposits and remains, and from biofacts or ecofacts, which are objects of archaeological interest made by other organisms, such as seeds or animal bone. Natural objects which have been moved but not changed by humans are called manuports. Examples would include seashells moved inland or rounded pebbles placed away from the water action that would have fashioned them. These distinctions are often blurred: for instance, a bone removed from an animal carcass is a biofact, but a bone carved into a useful implement is an artifact. Similarly there can be debate over early stone objects which may be crude artifacts or which may be naturally occurring phenomena that only appear to have been used by humans. Head of the Buddha, Gandhara style, Stucco, 5th Century Around five thousand years ago, an important civilization developed on the Indus River floodplain. From about 2600 B.C. to 1700 B.C. a vast number of settlements were built on the banks of the Indus River and surrounding areas. These settlements cover a remarkable region, almost 1.25 million kilometers of land which is today part of Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western India. The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were well-organized Pot shards from Harappa and solidly built out of brick and stone. Their drainage systems, wells and water storage systems were the most sophisticated in the ancient world. They also developed systems of weights and trade. They made jewelery and game pieces and toys for their children. From looking at the structures and objects which survive we are able to learn about the people who lived and worked in these cities so long ago. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization also developed a writing system which was used for several hundred years. How ever, unlike some other ancient civilizations, we are still unable to read the words that they wrote. The excavations at Mohenjo-daro Mohenjo-Daro (English: Mound of the dead) was a city of the Indus Valley Civilization built around 2600 BC and is located in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. This ancient five thousand year old city is the largest of Indus Valley and is widely recognized as one of the most important early cities of South Asia and the Indus Valley Civilization. Mohenjo Daro was one of the worlds first cities and contemporaneous with ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. It is sometimes referred to as An Ancient Indus Valley Metropolis. Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and their civilization, vanished without trace from history until discovered in the 1920s. It was extensively excavated in the 1920s, but no in-depth excavations have been carried out since the 1960s. The excavations at Mohenjo-Daro Mohenjo-Daro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most extensive recent work at the site has focused on attempts at conservation of the standing structures, undertaken by UNESCO in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums, as well as various foreign consultants. In December 1996, preservation work at the 500-acre site suspended after funding from the government and international organizations ran out, according to a resident archaeologist. However in April 1997, the UN Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO) funded $10 million to a project to be conducted over two decades in order to protect the Mohenjo-daro ruins from flooding. This project has been a success so far. UNESCOs efforts to save Mohenjo-daro was one of the key events that led the organization to establish World Heritage Sites CONCLUSION: India is home to one of the richest and the most ancient civilizations in the world, which existed over 5,000 years ago. This civilization originated in the Indus River Valley, hence the name given to it was Indus Valley civilization. It was the origin of many of the ideas, philosophies and movements which have shaped the destiny of mankind. Its people are thought to be Dravidians, whose descendants still inhabit the far south of India. Above articles shows that the real picture of indian culture and its value. Artifacts and indian texts like (MAHABAHARTA, RAMANYANA etc) shows the indian culture and society in the ancient time.we can easily find out our indian history with the help of artifacts and indian text. Many historians had found the history of taj mahal or all other monuments with help of artifacts or as well as texts , it also found that how many years ago can monuments was built? What was the structures? Artifacts are mainly as simple indicators to give us the knowledge about past. Jewelry  is an important part of Indian culture and these artifacts are insightful into the lives of the previous owners. For example, it is known in part through jewelry that before European settlement it was not uncommon for Native tribes to trade amongst themselves as the materials used in the jewelry are interchangeable. Not only were the materials such as beads, shells, copper, silver, ivory, amber, and  turquoise  traded but it is also likely that  designs  and patterns were intermingled due to similarities in the pieces. Jewelry artifacts from Indians were typically either metalwork or beadwork. The styles were often constructed by hammering and etching to create  pendants  as well as stitching countless beads together. It is also of interest that these artifacts were not only used for decoration but may also have served religious purposes. According to my analysis , Indian artifacts are responsible our indian ancient culture.

holes Essays -- essays research papers

I.S.228   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Justin Havens 703  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12/24/04 Holes Louis Sachar Fiction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Holes is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley has been sent to camp green lake (a juvenile center). He was arrested, and later guilty for stealing a pair of shoes. Back at school, there was a bully named Derrick Dunne. Derrick used to torment Stanley. The teachers never took Stanley’s complaints seriously, because Derrick was so much smaller than Stanley. Some teachers even seemed to find it weird that a little boy like Derrick could pick on someone as big as Stanley. On the day Stanley was arrested, Derrick had taken Stanley’s notebook and after a long game of come and get it, Derrick finally dropped it in the toilet in the boys’ restroom. By the time Stanley retrieved it he had missed his bus and had to walk home. It was while he was walking home, carrying his wet notebook, with the job of having to copy the ruined pages that were messed up, that the sneakers fell from the sky. He didn’t know what they were or whom they were fro m so he kept them. Then Stanley heard sirens and ran, he didn’t know why he ran but he kept on running. Later Stanley found out that the shoes belonged to Clyde Livingston A.K.A sweet feet, his favorite pro athlete. He also found out that the shoes were going to a homeless shelter. So Stanley was in trouble. The judge gave him a choice. â€Å"You can go to camp green lake, or to jail†. Stanley never had been to camp before so he chose camp. Stanley then was on the bus for 8 hours. When he got to camp green lake there was no lake, there wasn’t any grass all there wasn’t anything but empty space. Then Stanley went to the Warden; the rules were presented to him there. He was to do dig a hole 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet deep. But there really was one rule don’t mess with the warden. He was introduced to his tent then he started digging hole first thing every morning af... ...when Stanley did the same thing that Madame Zeroni said he broke the curse. They ate onions and drunk water while they were up there, remember yellow spotted lizards don’t like onions. When Stanley put all of the clues together he remembered the hole he found the tube of lipstick in and dug around it and found the treasure. Yellow spotted lizard was all around it but still they ate onions. The warden caught them and thanked them for there help, and Mr. Pendanski pointed out that Stanley’s lawyer came the day before and found out that he was innocent. The next morning the lizards still haven’t made a scratch but then Stanley’s lawyer came to get Stanley. As soon as Stanley came out because the Warden lied on him, and after that the warden wanted they treasure but she couldn’t because it said his name on it and it was his property but Stanley couldn’t leave zero so they were looking for his file but the warden threw it out he ran away. So w hen there wasn’t a file it was a little weird to the lawyer so they just took him and he hired a team of private investigators to find her. When they did they lived next to each other and that’s the story of holes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Mike Roses I Just Wanna Be Average Essay -- Report French Commission

Comparing Mike Rose's I Just Wanna Be Average and the â€Å"Report of the French Commission on American Education, 1879' Mike Rose's I Just Wanna Be Average essay sheds light on troubled youth within the public school system. It makes you long for the days of American pride and service. Students placed in â€Å"tracks'; to utilize overcrowded and faulty test systems. Identity lost due to poor instruction and lack of motivation. The influx of shattered images brought forth by the â€Å"Report of the French Commission on American Education, 1879'; reminds us of a time long ago when education was for every child, not select few. Stoic instructors molding young minds in the quest to advance America as a whole. Civic pride and duty were influencing every aspect of American education. Both essays draw from the influence of education into the societal path into American mainstream society. Each school system is influenced by thoughts of bettering youth, but in much opposite ends of the spectrum. The French commission stated that the youth of America were offered the same curriculum in the hopes to form a united, equal society. America, as seen by the French, was a land of golden opportunities available to every child regardless of social standing. It was the basis for our country to survive. It safeguarded our standing in the world. Mike Rose’s school offered quite the opposite. It was a haven for long standing views on school being selective as to whom actually deserved the educa...

Report on Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited Essay

Introduction 1.1 Preface: Generally by the word â€Å"Bank† we can easily understand that the financial institution deals with money. But there are different types of banks like; Central Banks, Commercial Banks, Savings Banks, Investment Banks, Industrial Banks, Co-operative Banks etc. But when we use the term â€Å"Bank† without any prefix, or qualification, it refers to the ‘Commercial banks’. Commercial banks are the primary contributors to the economy of a country. So we can say Commercial bank is a profit-making institution that holds the deposits of individuals & business in checking & savings accounts and then uses these funds to make loans. For these people and the government is very much dependent on these banks as the financial intermediary. As banks are profit -earning concern; they collect deposit at the lowest possible cost and provide loans and advances at higher cost. The differences between two are the profit for the bank. Banking sector is expanding its hand in different financial events every day. At the same time the banking process is becoming faster, easier and the banking arena is becoming wider. As the demand for better service increases day by day, they are coming with different innovative ideas & products. In order to survive in the competitive field of the banking sector, all banking organizations are looking for better service opportunities to provide their fellow clients. As a result, it has become essential for every person to have some idea on the bank and banking procedure. Internship program is essential for every student, especially for the students of Business Administration, which helps them to know the real life situation. For this reason a student takes the internship program at the last stage of the BBA Program, to launch a career with some practical experience. The Banking Companies Ordinance was promulgated on the 7th June 1962. This has been adopted in Bangladesh and is applicable to the banking companies only. Nothing of this ordinance shall apply to a co-operative Securities Act (1912). Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited has a vision and mission to improve the financial sector of Bangladesh i.e. economic condition of Bangladesh by providing effective and innovative banking and financial product in financial market. However, in every economy of the world financial sector is highly regulated sector. Therefore, financial products of every bank are almost same as same law & regulations regulate them. Commercial Banks, as the very name indicates, function primarily as deposit takers and lenders to trade and commerce. But through a historical process, these Banks are now also engaged in long medium and short term industrial lending, agricultural financing including development financing. Commercial Banks are of three types Nationalized, Local Private and Foreign Commercial Banks. 1.2 Background of the study The BBA program (Stamford University Bangladesh) is designed to focus on theoretical and professional development of people open to take up business as a profession as well as service as a career. This internship provides the students to link up their theoretical knowledge into practical fields. This report is prepared for the internship program consisting of a major in depth study of the â€Å"overall activities of Shahjalal Islami Bank in banana branch†. This program enables a student to develop his analytical skill and scholastic aptitude. 1.3 Rational of the study In today’s modern and globalization world, business sector is competitive. Theoretical knowledge is not enough for a business student because there is a gap between theoretical knowledge and practical field. It is more competitive in the financial institution like bank. Now a day’s local banks are playing a key role for economic growth and development of the country. In that case Shahjalal Islami Bank is playing a pioneer role for structural development of the country. This study mainly covered the areas of performance of Shahjalal Islami bank, its services, types of deposits, remittance, loans & advance, recovery system and its growth. 1.4 Objective of the study 1.4.1 General objectives: The General objectives of the study are: ââ€" ¡ To fulfill the requirement for the completion of (BBA) program. ââ€" ¡ The general objective of this report is to fulfill the requirement for the completion of (BBA) program through internship report. ââ€" ¡ To acquire practical experience in different banking services of Shahjalal Islami bank. Understand the Islamic Sharia Based General Banking, Foreign Exchange and Investment Management of Shahjalal Islami Bank. 1.4.2 Specific Objectives: The Specific objectives of the study are: †¢ To make a bridge between the theories and practical procedures of banking day-to-day operations. †¢ To gather knowledge about the transaction of different department of the branch. †¢ To familiar with banking environment, clients, working hours, values, conditions and other things related to bank †¢ To understand present an overview of Shahjalal Islami bank 1.5 Scope of the study An infrastructure of the organization has been detailed, accompanied by a global perspective and look into the future. The scope of this report is limited to the overall description of the company, its services, and its position in the market and its marketing strategy. The scope of the study is limited to organizational setup, functions, and performances for customer satisfaction. The study would focus on the following areas: ââ€" ª General Banking of Shahjalal Islami bank Ltd. ââ€" ª Remittance and clearing section of SJIBL. ââ€" ª Credit operation of Shahjalal Islami bank Ltd. ââ€" ª Foreign Trade of Shahjalal Islami bank Ltd. Each of the above areas would be critically analyzed in order to identify the service quality of the bank. 1.6 Methodology of the study: Different data and information are required to meet the goal of this report. Those data and information were collected from various sources, such as, primary and secondary which is showed below: Data Analysis: For the analysis purpose I have basically undergone some financial analysis and also judged some qualitative factors responsible for the Shahjalal islami bank position in banking sector. To continue the study, I have collected the useful data by two methods: 1) Conceptual approach. 2) Empirical approach. These two data analysis techniques provided independently derived information that could be crosschecked, thus enhancing validity. Sources of collecting data: The information incorporated in this report has been gathered from primary and secondary sources. Apart from this, a review of related circular and office circular as well as face-to-face interview of the executives, officials and clients were carried out. 1.7 Limitation of the study There is a certain boundary to cover this study. It was not possible due to shortage of time to cover each and every activity performed by the bank. So the study has covered only the General banking Activities of Shahjalal Islami bank Limited. Like any other articles and theories, this study is not free from limitations. I have tried my level best to overcome these limitations through extensive study, hard and sincere devotion to the assigned duty. The major limitations are: †¢ I complete my internship in a small town branch, Banani branch. So I don’t get the proper information which I need. †¢ The bank personnel and officials were very busy with their occupational activities. Hence it was little bit difficult for them to help within their high schedule. †¢ Relevant data and document collection were difficult due to the organization confidentiality. Chapter: Two Overall Banking System 2.1 Banking Environment: During 2008, Bangladesh witnessed higher inflation that affected life of common people, labor unrest in garments sector- the highest contributor in export sector affected economic activities and business operations. Higher import cost of commodity prices, price hike in international oil market as well as money and credit growth resulted in higher inflation. As a result, the economy of the country showed every sign of recession. Despite this numerous adversities, closed the balance sheet of the Bank with an enormous per-tax profit of TK. 1216 million with excellent growth rate of 54.44% while the whole financial sector faced a slowdown. This credit worthy achievement has been possible due to our professional smoothness and confidence. 2.2 Global banking: In the 1970s, a number of smaller crashes tied to the policies put in place following the depression, resulted in deregulation and privatization of government-owned enterprises in the 1980s, indicating that governments of industrial countries around the world found private-sector solutions to problems of economic growth and development preferable to state-operated, semi-socialist programs. This spurred a trend that was already prevalent in the business sector, large companies becoming global and dealing with customers, suppliers, manufacturing, and information centers all over the world. Global banking and capital market services proliferated during the 1980s and 1990s as a result of a great increase in demand from companies, governments, and financial institutions, but also because financial market conditions were buoyant and, on the whole, bullish. Interest rates in the United States declined from about 15% for two-year U.S. Treasury notes to about 5% during the 20-year period, and financial assets grew then at a rate approximately twice the rate of the world economy. Such growth rate would have been lower, in the last twenty years, were it not for the profound effects of the internationalization of financial markets especially U.S. Foreign investments, particularly from Japan, who not only provided the funds to corporations in the U.S., but also helped finance the federal government; thus, transforming the U.S. stock market by far into the largest in the world. Nevertheless, in recent years, the dominance of U.S. financial markets has been disappearing and there has been an increasing interest in foreign stocks. The extraordinary growth of foreign financial markets results from both large increases in the pool of savings in foreign countries, such as Japan, and, especially, the deregulation of foreign financial markets, which has enabled them to expand their activities. Thus, American corporations and banks have started seeking investment opportunities abroad, prompting the development in the U.S. of mutual funds specializing in trading in foreign stock markets. Such growing internationalization and opportunity in financial services has entirely changed the competitive landscape, as now many banks have demonstrated a preference for the â€Å"universal banking† model prevalent in Europe. Universal banks are free to engage in all forms of financial services, make investments in client companies, and function as much as possible as a â€Å"one-stop† supplier of both retail and wholesale financial services. Many such possible alignments could be accomplished only by large acquisitions, and there were many of them. By the end of 2000, a year in which a record level of financial services transactions with a market value of $10.5 trillion occurred, the top ten banks commanded a market share of more than 80% and the top five, 55%. Of the top ten banks ranked by market share, seven were large universal-type banks (three American and four European), and the remaining three were large U.S. investment banks who between them accounted for a 33% market share. This growth and opportunity also led to an unexpected outcome: entrance into the market of other financial intermediaries: nonbanks. Large corporate players were beginning to find their way into the financial service community, offering competition to established banks. The main services offered included insurances, pension, mutual, money market and hedge funds, loans and credits and securities. Indeed, by the end of 2001 the market capitalization of the world’s 15 largest financial services providers included four nonbanks. In recent years, the process of financial innovation has advanced enormously increasing the importance and profitability of nonbank finance. Such profitability priory restricted to the nonbanking industry, has prompted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to encourage banks to explore other financial instruments, diversifying banks’ business as well as improving banking economic health. Hence, as the distinct financial instruments are being explored and adopted by the banking and nonbanking industries, the distinction between different financial institutions is gradually vanishing. 2.3 Overall Banking Sector: Financial sector reforms to strengthen the regulatory and supervisory framework for banks made headway in 2006 although at a slower than expected pace. Overall health of the banking system showed improvement since 2002 as the gross Non-performing Loans (NPL) declined from 28 percent to 14 percent while net NPL (less Provision) reduced to 8 percent from 21 percent. This led significant improvement in the profitability ratios. Although the Private Commercial Banks (PCB) NPL ratio registered a record low of 6 percent, the four Nationalized Commercial Banks (NCB) position are still weak and showed very high NPL at 25 percent. The NCBs have large capital shortfalls with a risk-weighted capital asset ratio of just 0.5 percent (June 2006) as against the required 9 percent. For the PCBs risk-weighted capital asset ratio stood at 10 percent. Bangladesh Bank issued a good number of prudential guidelines during the year 2006 and the first quarter of 2007 which among others relate to (i) Rationalization of prudential norms for loan classification and provisioning, (ii) Policy for rescheduling of loans, (iii) Designing and enforcing an â€Å"integrated credit risk grading manual†, (iv) Credit rating of the banks, and (v) Revisions to the make-up of Tier- 2capital. Besides, recent decision of the Government to corporatize the remaining three NCBs along with the initiative to sale the Rupali Bank are bound to usher in changes in the banking sector competitiveness aspect. Bangladesh Bank has also taken up the task of implementing the Basel II capital accord. Further, the recent enactment of the Micro-credit Regulatory Authority Act (MRAA) for the regulation of the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) has been a major development in the year 2006. Since 1998 CAMEL rating of banks gradually improved and in 2006 Bangladesh Bank updated this rating model by incorporating the market risk and the new model is known as CAMELS. 2.4 Banking System of Bangladesh The banking system at independence consisted of two branch offices of the former State Bank of Pakistan and seventeen large commercial banks, two of which were controlled by Bangladeshi interests and three by foreigners other than West Pakistanis. There were fourteen smaller commercial banks. Virtually all banking services were concentrated in urban areas. The newly independent government immediately designated the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan as the central bank and renamed it the Bangladesh Bank. The bank was responsible for regulating currency, controlling credit and monetary policy, and administering exchange control and the official foreign exchange reserves. The Bangladesh government initially nationalized the entire domestic banking system and proceeded to reorganize and rename the various banks. Foreign-owned banks were permitted to continue doing business in Bangladesh. The insurance business was also nationalized and became a source of potential investment fun ds. Cooperative credit systems and postal savings offices handled service to small individual and rural accounts. The new banking system succeeded in establishing reasonably efficient procedures for managing credit and foreign exchange. The primary function of the credit system throughout the 1970s was to finance trade and the public sector, which together absorbed 75 percent of total advances. The transformation of finance priorities has brought with it problems in administration. No sound project-appraisal system was in place to identify viable borrowers and projects. Lending institutions did not have adequate autonomy to choose borrowers and projects and were often instructed by the political authorities. In addition, the incentive system for the banks stressed disbursements rather than recoveries, and the accounting and debt collection systems were inadequate to deal with the problems of loan recovery. It became more common for borrowers to default on loans than to repay them; the lending system was simply disbursing grant assistance to private individuals who qualified for loans more for political than for economic reasons. The rate of recovery on agricultural loans was only 27 percent in FY 1986, and the rate on industrial loans was even worse. As a result of this poor showing, major donors applied pressure to induce the government and banks to take firmer action to strengthen. 2.5 Perspective of Islamic Banking System: Banking plays a pivotal role in the development processes of a country. It helps accelerate the pace of development by securing uninterrupted supply of financial resources to people engaged in numerous economic activities. The tremendous development that the present world experienced in the last few decades was contributed by several factors among which growing institutional supply of loanable funds must have played the pivotal role. The role of banking is comparable to what an artery system does in human body. Banks both commercial and another development financial institution provide short, medium and long -term credits to businessperson and entrepreneurs who usually take the lead in ventures of economic development. Institutional supply of credits has been made possible by a system of financial intermediation organized in a way where conventional banks collect small saving from the public by offering them a fixed rate of interest and advancing the loanable funds out of the deposited money to enterprising clients charging relatively higher rate of interest. The margin between these two rates is bank’s income. Bank provides many other services to the people against service charges as well. Despite the outstanding contribution of conventional banking system (interest-based), several ancient and modern economists are critical about its efficiency level. Some economists consider role of interest in the conventional banking mechanism as a major destabilizing factor that contributes to cyclical fluctuations in the economy. Specifically, the ineffectiveness of interest rate as a stabilization tool during the period of Great depression is a case to note. Thus most of the economists called for urgent reform of the World Economies Order. In response though not exactly to that exigency but for quite a few other reason, a new system of banking known as Profit-Loss-Sharing has emerged in as many as 45 countries of the world. Another study provides a list of 248 Islamic financial institutions that are now in operation in different parts of the world. The second half of the twentieth century witnessed a distinctly separate line of thinking on banking. The thought later on got institutionalized at the end of third quarter and subsequently emerged as a new system of banking called Islamic Banking. At this stage, it is important to note the factors responsible for the emergence of profit-loss-sharing (PLS) system of banking. There are religious as well as economic reasons that have contributed to the emergence of PLS-banking as an alternative to its conventional counterpart. It is the prohibition of ‘riba’ in the Holy Quran that, according to the proponents of the PLS-system, was the source of inspiration for es tablishing Banks in line with Islamic shariah.

El salvador

This case was written by Susan Bartholomew based on personal interviews. Names, dates, and details of situations have been modified for illustrative purposes. The various economic, political, and cultural conditions described are presented as perceptions of the individuals in the case; they do not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the region. The events described are presented as a basis for classroom discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of a cross- cultural situation.December 10, 1998: The Job Offer John and Joanna Lafferty had Just opened a bottle of wine to share with friends who had come to see their new apartment in Toronto when the telephone rang. John, a lanky, easygoing development economist, excused himself to answer the phone in the kitchen. Recently married, John and Joanna were excited to be building a life together in the same city at last. As a development economist specializing in Latin America, John Laffertys work had taken him to Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala on a series of three- to four-month assignments over the previous three years.While he loved the challenge and adventure of this fieldwork and had come to love the people and culture, he also wanted a home base and steady presence in Toronto, where Joanna worked as a human resource management consultant. Just before their wedding six months earlier, John accepted a position with a Toronto-based NGO (non-government organization) focused on research, fund-raising, and government lobbying on issues related to Central American political refugees.Throughout the 1980s, tens of thousands of refugees had fled political persecution and human rights abuse in war- orn Central America to seek political asylum in Canada; John's field experience in Guatemala and his natural diplomacy were invaluable to the Canadian organization. He was passionate about his work and quickly gained a reputation for being a sa'. n. y and politically astute advocate of refugees' c ases. As Joanna went to get some wineglasses from the kitchen, she could overhear her husband speaking in Spanish on the phone.Joanna had studied Spanish in college but had difficulty following the rapid, one-sided conversation. However, one phrase, â€Å"Me allegre mucho,† and John's broad grin as he said it, was impossible to isinterpret. Joanna returned to her guests in the living room: â€Å"It sounds like good news. † John's work with refugees in the Canadian NGO had caught the attention of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, headquartered in Geneva, and he had recently returned from a one-week visit and series of interviews. While John had not been searching for a new Job opportunity, the Geneva invitation had been too exciting to resist.John walked back into the living room with a huge smile: â€Å"Forget the wine, I think we should open some champagne. The U. N. has Just offered me the most incredible Job. † â€Å"In Geneva? Joanna asked ex citedly. Decision The El Salvador assignment would be for two years, as a Program Officer responsible for organizing the repatriation of Salvadoran refugees from various refugee camps back to El Salvador and developing programs to ensure the protection and well-being of such refugees in their return to Salvadoran communities. The position would report to the Charge de Mission of the El Salvador office.While this office was based in the capital city, San Salvador, the Job would also require frequent travel to various field offices and refugee camps throughout El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The challenge of the assignment excited John tremendously; he also believed that this was an exceptional opportunity for him to make a real difference in the lives of the refugees of Central America. He certainly wanted to accept the Job; however, he would only go if Joanna would be willing and happy to go with him.Two questions would weigh heavily on Joanna's mind: 1 . â€Å"Wha t about the political instability of the area? † The politics of El Salvador were complicated and difficult to understand, and the story seemed to vary depending on the source. As Joanna gathered, the civil war in El Salvador had come to an end in 1992 with a U. N. -brokered peace treaty between the conservative government of the Republican Nationalist Alliance (Arena) and the Marxist-led Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Throughout the war, the U. S. ad apparently spent more than $4 billion to support the government and military, while the Soviet Bloc supported the FMLN. Human-rights groups alleged that right-wing death squads had murdered 40,000 of the 70,000 people killed during the 12-year war. However, the peace agreement had significantly reduced the size of the rmy, disbanded corrupt police forces, purged the country of the most notorious human-rights abusers, and disarmed the FMLN, allowing it to become a legal political party. The country appeared to h ave made substantial progress toward peace and democracy.The information and briefings they received from Salvadorans and other expatriates who had recently returned from the country suggested that life in the capital, San Salvador, was quite safe. Economically, the country was becoming more internationally open, with establishment of large export factories, increasing rivatization, and reforms aimed at stimulating foreign investment. While certain precautions were required, and the area was still heavily patrolled by armed forces, Joanna was told she could expect a relatively normal lifestyle. They would live in a highly secure part of the city, in the area populated by all the foreign embassies.They would also be living and traveling on a U. N. diplomatic passport (â€Å"Laissez- passer†), which would afford them excellent protection. 2. â€Å"What about my career? † Moving to El Salvador was the last thing Joanna had imagined when she married John Lafferty six month s earlier. Joanna had worked in Toronto for three years as a human resource consultant after graduating with an MBA. She was bright and ambitious, and her career was advancing well. While she was very happy to be married, she also enjoyed her professional and financial independence.Besides, Toronto was not only professionally rewarding, it was also home, friends, and family. However, Joanna was also ready for a change; secretly, she had always envied John the sense of adventure that accompanied his work. Maybe this was an opportunity for her to develop her After much discussion, they decided that John would accept the assignment. January-March 1999: Predeparture Arrangements When John confirmed with the Geneva office that he would take the assignment, it was arranged for him to move to San Salvador at the end of March and for Joanna to follow one month later.It was often recommended in assignments of this kind to send married staff ahead of time to get settled into the Job before th eir spouse and/ or family arrived. This option made sense to the Laffertys and had several advantages. First, it would give Joanna more time to finish off her current consulting rojects in Toronto and make a graceful exist from her present firm. She had a strong professional reputation and wanted to ensure she was remembered favorably by her corporate clients when she returned to Toronto two years later. Second, John would be able to get the housing arrangements settled before Joanna's arrival.John's employer would provide ample financial and logistical supports to staff in finding housing; however, John also knew from past experience that dealing with local real estate agents and utility companies in Central America could be highly frustrating. Tasks that were quite simple in Toronto, such as having a lease drawn up and getting a telephone installed, Just didn't seem to follow any system or set of procedures. â€Å"Tomorrow' could mean next week or even next month. Patience, flexi bility, and a good deal of charm were usually required; getting angry rarely helped.While John was used to the inconvenience and unpredictability of local services in Central America, he was uncertain how Joanna would react initially. John held a deep affection for the Central American people and felt hopeful that Joanna would develop an affinity for the culture as well. However, he hoped to at least have the majority of the living arrangements worked out before she arrived to make her transition to El Salvador as smooth as possible. Finally, the extra time gave Joanna more opportunity to prepare herself for the transition.Joanna had taken a course on international human resource management as an MBA and was familiar with the phenomenon of culture shock in international assignments. She recalled from her course that predeparture preparation and cultural orientation made a significant difference in helping employees and their families adapt to the foreign environment. Joanna was dete rmined to read and learn as much about Salvadoran history and politics as she could. She was also keen to improve her Spanish before she arrived and as soon as the decision was made that they would be going to El Salvador, she enrolled in night courses for six hours a week.As Joanna walked home from her Spanish class one evening, pleased with her results on her comprehension test, she recalled with amusement a conversation she had had with Joan Taylor. Joan was the wife of a senior executive with Altron, a Canadian firm with offices throughout Latin America. The Taylors had Just returned rom a two-year assignment in Guatemala City, and Joanna had contacted Joan to get some insight on the practicalities of living in the region. â€Å"My dear Joanna,† Joan began, â€Å"you will have a very fine life in Central America, or in most developing countries your husband will be sent to, for that matter.You will â€Å"Just watch out for the ‘gilded cage syndrome. †  "The what? † Joanna had asked. â€Å"As corporate executives or diplomats in third-world postings, we live a pretty high life, certainly a standard of living far beyond what we could have in our own countries. Everything is there for you and everything is done for you. It's like living in a gilded cage. Some people love it, and get pretty spoiled; after a while you cant imagine even making a sandwich for yourself†¦ .† Humph, Joanna thought to herself at the time. That would certainly never happen to me.I am a professional. This is an incredible learning opportunity and I am going to make the most of it! May 1999: Joanna's Arrival Joanna arrived on a balmy afternoon, grateful for the warm breeze after a cold Toronto winter. She was excited to see John and only slightly disappointed that their first drive into San Salvador would not be alone, but accompanied by a young Salvadoran named Julio Cesar, who had been assigned as their driver. On the drive from the airport, Joanna tried hard to follow his rapid banter as he pointed out the sights to her.She had felt confident in her Spanish in the classroom in Toronto, but now she could barely understand a word Julio Cesar said. John, sensing her frustration, began to translate, and by the time they reached the house, Joanna was exhausted and discouraged. John was proud of the house he had found, next door to the Mexican embassy and only a block from a tennis club where most of the members were expatriates. He hought this might provide a good social base for Joanna if she got homesick for North American lifestyle. The large 12-room house was certainly impressive, with its shining terrazzo floors and two large gardens.Joanna wondered what to do with all the space. It was also quite secure, with metal bars on all the windows, and surrounded by 12-foot walls. â€Å"This isn't a house, John, it's a fortress,† Joanna said in amazement. mieah . I know it's a bit much,† said John. â€Å"But thi s is the one area of the city we are strongly advised to live in, for security reasons. Smaller homes or apartments Just on't exist. Most of the families living here are either expats or very wealthy Salvadorans. Most have live-in help and need the space. † â€Å"But I don't want anyone else living with us †¦ † . I want you to meet Maria. † Joanna followed John out to the back of the â€Å"Come .. house, and was introduced to a small, brown woman, vigorously scrubbing clothes. â€Å"Maria worked for the family who lived here before; it only seemed right that she should stay. She only lives a few blocks away, though, so she will go home each evening. † After a week, Joanna soon learned Maria's work patterns. Maria would hand wash all their clothes in the cement tub and hang them to dry outside, a chore that would take all day long, as Maria would often wash things three times.The following day she would return to do the ironing, which would take anothe r full day. As Joanna sat in her study upstairs, reading her books and newspapers, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt thinking of Maria, hand washing every last item of their clothing in the own clothes in a washing machine. Then, when Joanna found out that John paid Maria $6. 00 per day, she was furious. John explained to Joanna that this was the ustomary wage for the women from the â€Å"barrios marginales† who worked as domestic help for wealthy Salvadorans and expatriates.These â€Å"marginal communities† were small groupings of tin shacks located in the ravines that surrounded the city. A few had electricity, but many of the communities, including Maria's, still cooked their meals over fires and lit their homes with candles. Joanna began to slip more money into Maria's pay envelope. Joanna hoped to make a friend of Maria and looked forward to having lunch each day with her and learning more of the local way of speaking. Joanna realized now hat the formal Span ish she had learned in school was vastly different from the language she heard each day on the streets of San Salvador.However, Maria refused to eat at the same table as Joanna and insisted on serving Joanna first in the dining room, and then eating her own lunch on the stone steps in the back room. Joanna was deeply uncomfortable with this and began to eat lunch at the restaurant in her nearby tennis club instead. Other things began to irritate Joanna as well. For example, one day, she started to wash the car in the driveway. Suddenly, Maria's son appeared and insisted that he do he Job for her, horrified that â€Å"la Senora† would undertake such a task herself.Another time, Joanna began to dig up some of the plants in the garden for replanting; the following morning, a gardener appeared at the door, saying that he was a cousin of Maria's and would be pleased to take on additional gardening work. Joanna resented this intrusion into her daily life. If she was going to be spe nding so much time at home, she wanted privacy to read and study. It was going to be a while, she realized, before she found a Job. Joanna was disappointed with the Job prospects among local and even international companies. Most available positions were clerical, for which she was vastly overqualified. l didn't get an MBA to work as a file clerk! † she would think to herself angrily. Then, she would think sadly, â€Å"My Spanish probably isn't even good enough to get a Job as a file clerk. † One day, in frustration, Joanna called her two closest friends in Toronto, colleagues from her old firm. â€Å"l can't win! † Joanna complained. â€Å"l feel guilty all the time. I feel guilty because I don't do anything myself. And I feel guilty if I don't hire local people to the housework. They need the money so much. Then I feel guilty that we pay them six dollars a day. We can afford so much more.I feel guilty that I have a maid and she lives in a tin shack in a ravine two blocks from my house. But John says we can't pay her more than the going rate because it would upset the whole balance of her community. He says they have their own economic structure and norms and we have to respect that. My Salvadoran neighbors tell me that if I pay Maria or the gardener more they won't respect me. But I do anyway, and then I feel guilty because I don't tell John. And then our driver, Julio Cesar . The sarcastic response was the same from both. Gee, Joanna, sounds tough.Beautiful house, a maid, gardener, and driver, afternoons at the tennis club †¦ n wonder you're so miserable. † been a big mistake? She knew how much this Job meant to John, and it was a great step forward for his career. But what about her career and her own happiness? This had been a mutual decision. Something was going to have to change or they would be on a plane back to Toronto very soon. The question was †¦ what? Questions For discussion 1 . Is Joanna suffering from cultu re shock? What elements of the Salvadoran culture seem most difficult for her to adapt to? 2.Should Joanna have done anything differently in terms of her preparation for moving to El Salvador? What do you think she should do now? 3. How could Joanna further her career as a human resource consultant while living in El Salvador? What skills could she develop? Would these skills be transferable if she moved back to Toronto? To another country? 4. If you were John, would you have taken the Job in El Salvador? If you were Joanna, would you have agreed to go? 5. Do you think international careers are feasible for dual-career couples? What issues are important to consider for the individuals involved? What can companies do to make foreign assignments more successful for couples and families? Is the happiness of the employee's spouse the responsibility of the company? 7. What recommendations would you make to international organizations and companies sending employees to politically unstabl e regions? Do companies have a responsibility for the physical safety of expatriate employees? Does this responsibility extend to locally hired staff as well? 8. Do you think Joanna should pay her cleaning lady and gardener more than the standard $6. 00 per day? Why or why not?