Kipp free essay sample

Teacher With our public education schools failing, there are alternatives offered, such as private and parochial schools. Another popular unconventional education system is a charter school. A charter school is defined as a tax-supported school recognized by a charter between a permitting body (as a school board) and an outside group (teachers and parents) which operates the school without most local and state educational guidelines to achieve goals set by the administration (Merriam Webster dictionary). However, a school’s charter is reviewed intermittently (typically every three to five years) and can be annulled if guidelines on curriculum and management are not followed or if the standards are not met (U. S. Department of Education 2000). One of the popular charters is The Knowledge is Power Program also known as KIPP. The Knowledge is Power Program was inaugurated in 1994 with the ideology to create a classroom that helps students develop abilities that would be necessary to succeed in college and their career. We will write a custom essay sample on Kipp or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ultimately, this philosophy of education was to provide the students with the tools to build a better future for the communities they lived in. Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, the two founders of the school, started up their charter in Houston and New York in 1994 and before the turn of the new millennium, the original charter schools were amongst the uppermost preforming schools in their communities. Mike and Dave merged a partnership with the co-founders of Gap Inc. , in the year 2000. This trust was to ensure that the leaders of the schools were provided with sufficient training to emulate the success of the founding schools. Today, KIPP changed the lives of over 41,000 students in over 20 states, including Washington, D. C. One of the main views of this distinguished charter school is their commitment to excellence for every student that walks into the school. It requires a partnership among parents, students, and teachers that put learning first. Before a student can start at KIPP all three parties (The student, teacher, and parent) must sign a learning pledge called the Commitment to Excellence, which ensures that each will do whatever it takes to help the student learn. An agreement segment of the student conduct states that he/she will always work, think, and behave in the best way they know how, and will do whatever it takes for the student and their fellow students to learn. (KIPP â€Å"Commitment to excellence†) This ensures that the charter school has full confidence in the student to fulfill the goals and achievement set before them. The obligations of the parent include making sure the students homework is complete every night, to have communication with the teachers if there is a problem with the student and to read with their child. Also they must make themselves available to their child and the school, and bring up any concerns they might have. When it comes to attendance they must notify the school why the child was absent. This commitment makes the parents more attentive when it comes to the education their child is receiving and any modifications they wish to peruse at the charter. The KIPP schools are successful in my opinion due to their ‘Five Pillars of Success’ educational structure, which was the operational principle in which the school was based on. These five pillars include: High Expectations, Choice amp; Commitment, More Time, Power to Lead, and Focus on Results. The first pillar, ‘High Expectations’ is one of their philosophies which â€Å"concentrate on clear and assessable high expectations for academic achievement and behavior that make no excuses based on the students backgrounds. †(KIPP website) Parent’s students, teachers, and staff generate and strengthen a culture of achievement and support through a range of formal and informal rewards and consequences for academic performance and behavior. The first pillar enables the students to reach a higher level of assertiveness throughout their time at KIPP both in and out of the classroom. The succeeding pillar, ‘Choice amp; Commitment’, expresses the obligation of every student, teacher and parent to contribute to the KIPP community. There is no required pre-requisites to join however, everyone must make and uphold a commitment to the school and to each other to put in the time and effort required to achieve success. This way of learning and participation creates a student who attains the knowledge of time management and work ethic. The next pillar, ‘More Time’ is a clear precise statement regarding the time spent in the classroom. KIPP has elongated school days, weeks, and years, where students will have have more time in the classroom. The more time that is spent educating the students, the greater advantage they have to acquire the academic knowledge and skills that will prepare them for competitive high schools and colleges. This also allows them to engage in extracurricular activities that could spark a diverse interest in various fields. The following pillar,’ Power to Lead’ is aimed towards the principals rather than the students at KIPP. The principals of KIPP schools are effective academic and organizational leaders who understand that great schools require great school leaders. They have control over their school budget and personnel. They are also free to analyze their finances or make staffing substitutions, allowing them full efficiency in helping students learn. This pillar puts the school and its success in the hands of the principal and government funding rather than the state getting involved with regulations and financial policies. The final pillar, ‘Focus on Results’ relentlessly concentrates on high student performance on standardized tests and other objective processes. There is zero-tolerance on failing. â€Å"I will always work, think, and behave in the best way I know how, and I will do whatever it takes for me and my fellow students to learn. This also means that I will complete all my homework every night, I will call my teachers if I have a problem with the homework or a problem with coming to school, and I will raise my hand and ask questions in class if I do not understand something. Students are expected to achieve success in all of their studies that will assist them when the time comes to move on to college and their respected careers. Statistics have shown that the KIPP schools, specifically in Washington DC have out preformed when it comes to student achievement, when compared to public schools. In 2001, a team of dedicated educators established KIPP DC’s first school, in a church basement in Anacostia. The school started out with 80 fifth graders and has grown to one of the largest accomplishing middle schools in the district. Due to Susan Schaeffler (Founder of KIPP DC) success with her first school, KIPP DC braches out to over 3,000 students at ten schools on three campuses in D. C. ’s Marshall Heights, Anacostia, and Shaw neighborhoods. KIPP schools in Washington D. C and across the country have been a prime example of the success in under development communities and have given under-privileged students the tools they need. One of the primary advocates of this program is Pedro Noguera, a professor of sociology at New York University, is the  author of â€Å"City Schools and the American Dream†. Pedro states that â€Å"theres no doubt to me that charter schools are being used to undermine public education in many communities, but its also clear that public schools in many communities are in need of change and renewal. The biggest threat to public education doesnt come from charter schools; it comes from the loss of confidence and support from parents† (Charter Schools Role in Stren gthening Public Education, Pedro Noguera) I agree whole-heartily with his statement. The main problem with our public education failing is that the parents do not give enough effort in supporting their child through the education process. This problem is even greater in an urban setting, where crime and poverty are on the rise; in these urban areas, families have less human capital then those who live in a weather neighborhood and struggle to survive in today’s economy. In summary, the effects of poverty on children matter in regards to student achievement. Without these charter schools, children in urban areas would stand less of a chance to have higher levels of educational accomplishment, in high school and college. We need every child of America, no matter what setting they were raised in, to attain the knowledge and work ethic that will make them successful in their career for years to come. Demographics do not define the success of a child, and every day KIPP is proving that by breaking the standards of inner city statistics. In my opinion KIPP is one of the better alternatives to the public schools. They provided a passionate approach to furthering the needs of the students, and direct them on a pathway to education success.

He Worlds Largest Company Essays

He Worlds Largest Company Essays He Worlds Largest Company Essay He Worlds Largest Company Essay Apple Inc. He worlds largest company, which had introduces a serious of consumer products during the past years. Apple managed a global supply chain with creative development in the United Stated. The outsourced manufacturing of Apple Inc. Is in Asia and components sourced from suppliers around the world. With its development, the stock of Apple was increasing continually. This situation was clear to Jessica that Apples product range would get more complex in the next few years. Therefore, she wanted to take a look at the companys supply chain (Mark, 2014). The content of this paper includes the description of Apple Inc. The new product development, how the company manages the global supply chain and its supply chain security. This paper will focus the analysis on the compliance in supply chain management and some issues about security of Apply Inc. Supply Chain Planning New Product Development Company reviewable is a brand that we are familiar with. It is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and computer software products. The companys best-known hardware products include computers, the pod and the phone. Apple software includes the Mac SO X operating system and the tunes media browser. Besides, Apple provides customers who are professional musician that a suite of professional audio and a suite of audio tools (Mark, 2014). According to the news of Apple, for the full-year results, Apple generated a massive $171 billion in revenue and $37 billion in profit. Why Apple has been widely successful? Firstly, its distinctive advertising campaigns. Apples advertising always full of creative ideas and inspirational. Secondly, its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic gives us a deep impression. Furthermore, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry (Mark, 2014). New Product Developmentally chain planning at Apple is the classic example of new product development. Its the integration of R;D, Marketing and various functions under supply chain management. As we know, the high technology products always have a short product development cycle. Apples phone lifestyle was closer to one year. The time period between phone 4, phones, phone and phones launched almost one year. So the innovation and creativity play a significant role in Apple Inc. The researchers in Apple should come up the new ideas continually to catch up customers steps. From the case, the new product development department in Apple coordinated a wide variety of stakeholders, including internal groups such as hardware, software and production. Apple preferred the entire supply chain internally to control instead of outsourcing its manufacturing to third- party supplier (Mark, 2014). The distance between designers and suppliers in Apple is closely. Unlike other electronics manufacturers, they might use the outsourcing for the entire production, management and their supply chain to a third-party service provider. On the contrast, the designers in Apple even spent months living out of tool rooms in order to be close to suppliers and manufacturers. They intended to help to adjust the process of industrial. During this process, when the designers came up the new ideas and need to change, the manufacturers can get the information at the same time, and then complete the final products. The creative designing department of Apple is in California, where Apple developed the new technologies. At meantime, Apple put forward the idea that makes full use of acquired technology firms, whose products could be used in Apples development of products and services. Besides of that, Apple conducted improve the market research ND product testing to refine the upgrade being considered. Apple put the cost data together includes a list of parts and names of suppliers. In this condition, the potential quality defects were identified and decrease the risk (Mark, 2014). Apple s technology competitors typically have separate R;D departments and separate profit and loss accountability for each product segment. For this management, the manager cannot focus on one thing. In contrast, Apple was highly integrated. It has the centralized R;D and accounting for the entire company. The centralized organization makes the entire company become a whole part. This can be easy to control and managers could find and solve the problems timely. If one department has requirements, another organization will follow up new methods. It was an effective strategy for Apple Inc. After the supply chain planning, Apple Inc. Needs to manage its supply chain and improve its security supply chain to solve some risk issues. Apply Inc. Global Supply Chain Management and Security Supply Chain According to the textbook, A supply chain is Just that. It is a chain of interconnected links that facilitates the movement of supplies, or in other words, cargo, goods, material, products, etc. (Airway, 2010). An effective supply chain management is an important step that needs to be taken by companies to increase the profits and avoid making mistakes. Apply Inc. Is the technology company belongs to the U. S. However, the supply chain of Apple is global. Apple gathers the research and development base in the United States. Besides, it has 156 suppliers, assembly operations in China and retail stores in its supply chain. During the management, there are many security issues will occur. The following content will introduce some key parts of Apples global supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing, logistics and detail experience to explain how Apple Inc. Solves security issues combine the supply chain management. Prestidigitations to the case, the key components of Apple products contained were often sourced from single and stable manufacturers. The reason is that the different mobile phone firms often used the same components. Due to the huge volume of products, the materials form popular suppliers were out of stock sometimes. To counteract this potential risk of supply chain issue, Apple was required to make sure the steady supply of key parts by procuring parts from suppliers production capacity in advance of need. Furthermore, in order to achieve cost targets and supply assurance, Apple had a program that allowed it to buy capital equipment for suppliers (Mark, 2014). It is an effective method to make double insurance for Apple and its suppliers. Apple purchases the sourcing of materials and normal components are from various suppliers in different countries. The main countries are United States, China, Other Asian countries and Europe. All main components for the Apple products are manufacture in the United States and exported to other countries for assemble final products. The United States is not only he worlds largest electronics consumer base country, but also the main market of Apple products. It has too many opportunity and customer demand. Europe is the best development mainland in the world. This country has advanced transportation such as railway and waterway. It is very convenient for Apple to purchase material and components. Apple want to make sure of its security supply chain. So Apple considered the country that has the high technology companyJapan. The components from Japan always have high quality. It makes sure the quality of material. Overtime, Apple established a formalized list of expectations for suppliers ND developed relationships with suppliers. It helps Apple expand the scale operations to increasing the customer demand for existing and new products. Moreover, Apple makes full use of its deep pockets to place high volume pre-orders with suppliers in order to ensure the profitable production capacity. This strategy can prevent competitors from get the same manufacturing resources. The sourcing is so important for the supply chain, so Apple Inc. Make sure the sourcing is never shortage. The authors analysis report shows that the motivation behind the addition of a new supplier is to diversify supply chain risks. The advantage of additional new supplier will provide a greater flexibility to Apple. In addition, Apple can make faster react to supply chain disruptions. However, there might be a potential security issue will be appeared. The new supplier maybe has safe and ethical manufacturing practices. For example, the new supplier provides the materials that have toxic element or it maybe damage the environment. Apple needs to be in a position to sever ties with any supplier that does not comply with its Code of Conduct. If the new supplier does not obey the ethical rules, it may lead to some potential problems, such s pose a threat to the quality of sourcing. Therefore, a good procurement is a base of supply chain management. ManufacturingAccording to the textbook, Many clients have or own their own plants, mills, etc. And ship to their own places of manufacture or assembly, or ship to their customers who utilize that material (Airway, 2010). After Apple Inc. Purchases raw materials from various sources then get them shipped to an assembling plant in China. Foxing is an original design manufacture for clients such as Apple, Sony and Black Berry. Foxhounds headquarter is in Taiwan, it was the rods largest electro nics manufacture with too many employees in 2012. In addition, Foxing has factories in Asia, Europe, Mexico and South America (Mark, 2014). Why Apple Inc. Has sent the components and materials assembled in China? The common reason is China has cheaper labor cost and the environment relax. Besides that, Apples executives think the foreign workers flexibility; diligence and industrial skills have outpaced the American workers. The labor cost in China is lower than America. Although Apple has put the labors environment and benefit in the first place, this many occurred a security problem about the materials during the assembly process. Labor is an important element during the supply chain security. They provide the service and benefit for company. It is the responsibility for company to treat them well. The personal safety concerns the security issues of supply chain. There was news before 2009 that it claims that Apple used the materials that include toxic chemicals from its supply chain. Both poisonous are still in use at Chinese factories. According the case, almost 137 workers at an Apple supplier in China were exposed to the toxic chemicals. When they assembled the product, they inhaled the toxic substance into their lung. As time passes, after two years later, some workers felt their health getting worse and worse. They wanted Apple to help pay for treatment. When this situation happened, the process of manufacturing will be delay and the companys reputation will be ruined. In addition, the company will lose much money to compensation. To solve this problem, Apple bans two chemicals from product assembly and concluded the more safety alternatives will be excised. Moreover, the two chemicals also ban use as cleaning agents in the final assembly recess. Apple Inc. Pays more attention to recover this security issues. In June 2014, Green America with some organizations wrote a letter to Apple, and let Apple know the chemicals must be more transparent at its manufactures. Furthermore, the groups also asked Apple to create a fund to treat factory workers who have injured for making Apple products. There is another event that Apple should pay attention. According to Apples supplier responsibility progress report, the standard labor policy of company states that workers maximum working time is 60 hours per week and to get at least one day off per week. And yet, more than 50 percent of their workers of its suppliers exceeded these low limits. The employees have too much pressure when they work. In fact, working conditions at Foxing, Apples partner for final assembly and some core components, have been bad enough that Apple has gotten a bit of reports of accidents, suicides, and labor strife (Mark, 2014). This condition was too bad for one Technology Company. Apple has been working to improve labor conditions throughout its supply chain, including improve workers salary and better oversight over the factory conditions. Apple must focus on this issue and avoid it room happening again. Apples Green Supply Changing the supply chain management, a significant issue cannot be ignored, which is environment protection. Due to Apples manufacturing factories usually in China, where the labor cost are low and environment standards are lax. So Apples Supplier Code of requires that during the manufacturing processes, they should put the environmentally responsible in the first place. There is question, how does Apple really know that contract manufacturers and their suppliers meet such requirements? Apple Inc. Really adopted measures to let them meet these requirements. Apple says it audits all of its suppliers, and that this information is made public on its Web site. Then summarizes those auditing efforts to its company reports. Here is an example from the case, Apple representatives physically inspect manufacturing facilities, talk with senior management, and even conduct confidential interviews with randomly selected employees from the line (Mark, 2014). As mentioned before, Apple used the environmentally sourcing instead of sourcing with toxic chemicals. That was one of the effective methods to recover this issue. This measure help Apple earned more petition and increase responsibility to employees. Logistics logistics is an integral part of supply chain for every company, especially the technology company. Logistics includes the transportation, storage and inventory. For the transportation, air appropriate for lighter, smaller, and higher priority items. It is the fastest mode of transportation. On the contrast, water transportation is extremely slow and let the products suffer damage easily. Most of technology products have high value and cost. In addition, the customer demand increase rapidly when the new product launched, especially the holidays. Therefore, in order to satisfy customers demand at first time, Apple orders products by air instead of sea. This is because shipping products by ship takes a lot compared to airfreight. Shipping by air has another advantages that it is safer than water. When the package was broken and leaking the seawater, the products will be damaged totally. In this particular case, Apple will suffer great losses. If customers have ordered the product online, Apple need to give them an account why the deliver time has been delayed. So air transportation is the best choice. In addition, Apple had a reverse logistics system, including the management of warranty claims, trade-ins and Apples recycle and reuse program. The reverse logistics system contributed to Apples success. Not only saving the cost, but also improving the customer service experience. Traditionally, when customers intend to return a product, they should have to bring the receipt back to Apple store. The employees would take the item and issue a refund. Then hold the defective item until delivered back to the manufacturer. In order to make sure the purchase details, Apple allowed customers to enter data about the defect on the Apple website and he each products serial number. After that, Apple would send email to customers within half a day to let them know if the product sill under warranty and the information about return. After these steps complete, the box with addressed and stamped would send to customers by express parcel service. Of course, the shipping label and receipt for the return were in the box. Apple would ask the UPS, Feeder or DEL to pick up the package. Through this reverse logistics system, Apple has improved the customer satisfaction and eliminated the likelihood of customer error when processing a return (Mark, 2014). The storage and inventory management are key elements to Apples success. The storage for Apple is spacious and safer cause Apple products have high value that need security measures to protect. In addition, the storage of Apple has monitoring system. The manager can control the inventory through the camera. Apple has much storage distribute in different countries and cities. The inventory is another essential parts. If asked, what has made Apple an iconic brand, the answers would be its innovations and sleek design. Almost everyone would forget another important factor that has helped in catapulting Apple eight to the top, which is its properly managed inventory. According to an article, Apple averages Just 5. 3 days worth of inventory on hand at any given time, which means that every five days, Apple needs to replenish its inventory to prevent out of stock. For Apple Inc. , why is it so important to keep as little inventory on hand as possible? The reason is that company needs spent too much money to store products in their warehouses everyday. The company need budget for inventory. In addition, with the technology always improving, high -tech manufactures cant afford to keep o many products in stock. That because if an announcement from a competitor or a new innovation will change everything suddenly, the company have no time to deal with the inventory, so the value of their products will be decreased and the company will under much pressure. Therefore, remaining flexible is so important for companies (Clara, 2014). As we know, Apple has plenty of customers and need huge numbers of products, however, instead of keep too much inventory, Apple intend to short its inventory. Apple realized that control over their inventory is necessary. It is also the secret to Apples success. Theyve discovered the best way to control costs and meet their customers needs that is to find the right balance of inventory in locations across the country and the world. After realized this situation, Apple build many locations to balance the inventory. Thus, Apple increased the inventory turnover by decreasing average inventory. If Apple keep more stocks, these are more likely to be obsolete or damaged. In addition, due to Apples product life cycle is longer than seasonal items, so that Apple is not easily affected by seasonal factors. After the inventory management, the distribution and customer service also important for Apple supply chain management issues. We know that Apple relied on intermediate warehouses at UPS and Feeder and had its own warehouses in California. Apple had to make sure it has many sales outlets, includes online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, wholesalers and retail network. They need to manage the product stock according to the demand forecast (Mark, 2014). Forecasting is necessary tool to Apple. The forecasting method can help Apple keep inventory balance in order to reduce risk of out of stock or excess inventory. For the customer service, the company had a reverse logistics system as well. It includes encompassing the management of warranty claims, trade-ins and Apples recycle and reuse program. Managing reverse logistics effectively contributed to Apples success, both on a cost level and on a customer service experience level (Mark, 2014). We are familiar with Apple customer service. It has 30 warranty that if the products has some problems, customer need to bring the receipt to Apple store and exchange new one. Besides, after Apples new product launched, customers can add a little money o trade-ins. That is a good deal for Apple fans. Through its reverse logistics, the customer service system become integral and rapidly. Apple has improved customer satisfaction, and lowered the number of calls to its technical support services. In addition, it has eliminated the likelihood of customer error when processing a return. For example, using an incorrect address. Apple focuses on every part of its logistics system. It was monitoring every handcuff point -? loading dock, airport, truck depot and distribution center -? to make sure each unit was accounted for (Mark, 2014). Apple has many employees in the retail store in order to make sure every customer can be serviced. According to many former employees, executives at suppliers, and management experts familiar with the companys operations, Apple has built a closed ecosystem where it exerts control on nearly every piece of the supply chain, from design to retail store. Above all, Apple has considered the security issue and control every part of its supply chain. Through this management, Apple ensured that every part would avoid make mistakes during supply chain process, including transportation, inventory and customer service. Retail ExperienceApple has about 424 retail stores in 16 countries around the world. Additionally Apple stores was available in 39 countries (Mark, 2014). The companys retail stores were typically located at high-traffic locations in quality shopping malls. One of the Apples goals is make sure a high-quality buying experience and attract new customers. The stores were designed to simplify and enhance the explanation and marketing of the companys products and related solutions. In the Apple store, the employees have rich experience and knowledgeable personnel who provided product advice, service ND use other accessories to make presentation to explain or answer customers question (Mark, 2014). Every time I go to the Apple store, I always get intimacy from its employees even I return or exchange products. There is another strategy for Apple to forecast its production and inventory on a daily basis. Apple monitored product sales by store by the hour and it relied on this information to complete this task. Apple Inc. Has a wonderful supply chain management to keep away from the risk. Information Electrification leakage also plays a significant role in supply chain security. When the information of one company is leaking, it will lead to risk issues, such as customer demand decrease; competitor will take place your position and occupy the market. Although Apples supply chain has tight control, the information leaking also happened to Apple Inc. Apple adopted many measures to prevent information leaking. What is different about Apples launch planning is the extreme secrecy attached it. To ensure the secrecy was maintained throughout the assembly process, Apple places electronic monitors in some boxes of components to track them room Apples headquarters in Cupertino (Mark, 2014).

Overloading While

Overloading While Overloading While Overloading While By Maeve Maddox Because English is blessed with so many subordinating conjunctions, there’s no need to overuse any of them. The conjunction while, for example, tends to pop up in contexts in which a different conjunction may be the better choice. The first and most obvious use of while is as a temporal conjunction to introduce a clause that has something to do with time: While I was sleeping, the cat ate the canary. (Here while means â€Å"during the time that.†) While is used to introduce clauses that express opposition: While she was quite attractive, she believed that she was ugly. (Here while means â€Å"despite the fact that.†) While is also used to introduce a clause that provides a contrast: Mary dressed in princess clothing, while her brother dressed in cowboy costume. It is this use of while that leads to ambiguity. Does the while clause express contrast, or does it express time? The sentence could be interpreted to mean that Mary dressed as a princess during the time that her brother dressed as a cowboy. If contrast is intended, the conjunction whereas would make the meaning clearer. Sometimes while is used as if it were a coordinating conjunction like and, as in this description of a motorcycle: New, soft palm grips provide nice comfort, while broad mirrors are neatly placed for clear rear vision. Here are some â€Å"adversative† conjunctions that you may wish to substitute for while when appropriate: even though although though whereas where Here are some additional temporal conjunctions to use when while is not quite what you want: until after before when since once whenever as soon as as long as by the time Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Useful Stock Phrases for Your Business Emails60 Synonyms for â€Å"Trip†Using "zeitgeist" Coherently

Sustainbility and Renewable Technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Sustainbility and Renewable Technologies - Essay Example Discussion The Benefits of Sustainable Construction According to the UK’s Strategy on Sustainable Construction published in June, 2008, sustainable development can only be achieved if the construction industry also engages in sustainable construction practices. The strategy laid down several initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable construction. It focused mainly on effort that would ensure the United Kingdom construction sector engages in long-term sustainability efforts that would ensure the UK meets its sustainability targets. It emphasizes on the need to build new homes that are free from carbon and new commercial buildings that are rated, zero carbon. It proposes amendments to the regulations that govern building and construction which will see CO2 emissions from new homes reduced significantly. The policy requires those new houses are constructed in such a way that they are water efficient and have standards for minimum efficiency. It also emphasizes on the use of rene wable energy and effective management of wastes by encouraging reuse and recycling. Being a joint government and industry policy to ensure sustainability in construction, it is imperative that the company considers sustainable construction. This will be within the regulations of the country and local authority. The benefits of sustainable construction to an ISO 14001 certified insurance company that is committed to meeting high environmental standard are many. This discussion aims at explaining these benefits and their implications to the business at large. As opposed to standard building approaches, sustainable construction employs practices that give emphasis to efficiency, quality and long-term affordability. The quality of life and comfort increases as a building is developed using sustainable construction best practices. This leads to a decrease in the negative effects on the environment and a substantial increase in the projects ability to sustain itself. Less raw materials, w ater, land and energy are consumed if a building is sustainably constructed. The negative impacts on the environment by the building and construction sector are far reaching. This severely damages the earth’s ecosystem that is currently at a critical stage. The damages are irreversible and rob the ecosystem of its critical life supporting function. It is a known fact that more than more than 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions globally, 40% of energy used, 40% of generated solid waste and 30% of used raw material are due to building and construction in OECD countries. Sustainable construction reduces these adverse effects on the environment by a much greater percentage. It helps minimize pollution, waste and energy use. Re-cycling and reuse is also maximized thus reducing costs. This helps preserve the earth’s ecosystem that is currently threaten. Most people spent about 90% of their time in buildings. This has seen the rise in sickness related to buildings thereby inc reasing the cost related to treating such sicknesses. Sustainable construction practices emphasizes use of less toxic paints for indoor paintings and construction of big, wide windows that allow natural light and fresh air into buildings. This ensures confortable and healthy indoor environments. Such environments significantly contribute to human well-being and health. Diseases and sicknesses caused by poor and unhealthy indoor env

Chicano 310 - Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chicano 310 - - Essay Example From the onset, the song La Huasanga involves profound play of guitar accompanied with five sequences of strings. This effect offers the rhythmic basic melody of the music and creates the unique appeal to the ears. In addition, the exceptional jarana instrument provides tighter sound and higher pitch. This in turn brings out the special and needed rhythmic variant which most songs lack. To add, the violin instrument offers primary source of essential ornate inventiveness at the pinched out instrumental fragments of the song. Into the lyrics La Huasanga is embraced with more worldly lyrics such as love, nature and longing as compared to holy lyrics. At some point singer Monroy Martà ­nez highlights that add a little chili in the stew if you dislike it, meanwhile the prime instruments produce the indispensable components which make the song more enjoyable. Generally, it is the presence of high falsetto vocal that make the song more distinctive. In conclusion, La Huasanga serves to provide knowledge about the characteristic foundations that make up the past and modern society. While listening to the song, it is imperative to understand the cultural and social implication of the music. Largely, La Huasanga differ with and also apply the lively melodies therefore, it is a unique piece of

Critical Social Work Theoretical Frameworks Social Work Essay

Critical Social Work Theoretical Frameworks Social Work Essay Introduction The essay shall explore and analyse the theoretical underpinnings and key elements of critical social work. The account shall then describe assessment in social work practice contexts and consider how critical social work theories like Marxism, Feminism, Radical Social work and Post Modernism have shaped practice. A range of values ranging from personal, professional, institutional, organisational or agency, political, religious and cultural inevitably feature and must be dealt with in practice. Over and above this lies the social justice, emancipatory agenda vehicle by anti-oppressive approaches. Empathy is required and the social worker must be in the clients shoes (Egan, 1998). Theoretical bases and approaches enable practitioners to cross social divides and be with the client in a supportive way in an accountable and ethical manner. Vast energy must be invested to dispel and challenge both the personal and the structural dominant forces of oppressive practices. The author shall a ttempt to demonstrate how theories have shaped the response approaches to service delivery and contributed to professional practice. Critical Social Work Theoretical Frameworks The emergence of Socialism, Marxism, Liberalism and Conservativism shaped the emerging social professions at the turn of the twentieth century totally and reshaped the manner in which life was understood. How the social, political, economic shaped that reality became core in conceptualising reality and the way humans reacted to the world around them. In most cases socially constructed realities could be explained through the material realities if one was to look at the world through a Marxist perspective. The 1960-70s interpretation of social problems, described as the rediscovery of poverty. Marxist principles understood the world as socially divided by class, rendering some classes more susceptible to poverty than others as economically determined by having no control of the means of production. Marxist theory locates class struggle as a means of redressing this kind of socio-economic imbalance and the inequality The core elements in this phase were modes of production and power, t he equality that came with the package and the desire for change, social change could only be achieved through class struggle. The human position could thus be understood as driven and controlled by the external, in this case the poor as the oppressed group desired change. Social works role involves working with peoples lives, social problems centred on poverty and disadvantage and the core business involves establishing balance, social stability and social justice. Intervention without challenging social exclusion, inequality and poverty has proved to be insufficient yet traditional social work pathologised the individual. At the early phases social work was more about maintaining public order and suppressing civil unrest and class struggle rather than getting down to the core issues of poverty alleviation and challenging the sources and reasons for the differences that affected the people. Norms of behaviour and lifestyle for the people were determined by the eligibility criteria as the beneficiary elements of philanthropic interventions more than rights driven determinants. Radical social work emerged to instil that it was in fact a political activity. Social work should be about supporting those in need, challenging inequality and social change, not social control dealing with material realities. With radical social work emerged the community element in social work, conscious raising approach, gradual incremental change in the process and oppositional activism. As the profession developed critical social work begins to understand oppressive forces and work to reconstruct power imbalances (Thompson, 2007; Dominelli, 1988; Braye and Preston-Shoot Radical social work had been too minimalistic and was criticised for over focussing on class and paying no attention to other forms of inequalities. Bhatti- Sinclair (2011) argues that social workers remain committed to human rights, ethics and values and continuously seek a sharper understanding of how to apply theoretical concepts found in universal humanitarian principles, professional ethics and national law, policy and procedure. (xii) Inclusivity and citizenship are the main targets in critical social work practice as opposed to viewing people as collective groups (Glaister, 2008). Anti-oppressive practice thereby pursues social justice and challenges practice discrimination and oppression bluntly. Engagement with social reality must involve critiquing of social systems and structures, and set platforms for social change and difference. The approach has an ethical commitment to social justice by exposing inequalities and challenging unequal power dynamics in society. The manner in which society functions has structures that can either oppress or liberate some social groups. As the practitioner works, there is undoubtedly the challenge of professionally compliant. Social Work Practice Approaches Critical social work practice at all times engages with how other people on the other social, cultural, religious divide are understood by us. Understanding diversity and how personal views and values are located must be a constant reflective professional commitment. Personal or societal perceptions are shaped over time or driven by historical and socio-political realities/environments must be understood. Where stereotypes have been shaped over time in individuals; a professional operational base must be adopted. Braye, S Preston-Shoot, M (2003) challenge hypocritical professionalism by arguing that personal values and attitudes will always be there, the issue is that they should not affect effective service delivery. This is the heart of critical social work practice; being able to transcend the personal and being a professional. Social work can challenge or maintain status quo and that social workers are invested with power to care and control. In the context of what shall be discussed later about assessments, Braye Preston-Shoot (2003) state that, Preparation for and review of practice requires workers to understand themselves, their relationship with and impact on others, and their strengths and weaknesses in relation to maintaining a professional role (2003:135). Respect is necessary both when working with service users and fellow colleagues. As explored in Thompsons model PCS, Social work must explore the personal, cultural and structural dimensions of discrimination, and how these come together, and can be challenged in different ways (Dominelli, 2009). Social work must not reinforce oppression, discrimination or any inequality. Social work can reinforce patriarchal and other oppressive systems and power relations. There are social realities that social work either challenges reinforce, statistically ethnic minority groups generally experience higher rates of unemployment, live in poorer housing, have poorer health, lower levels of academic achievement, higher rates of exclusions from schools and are over-represented in prison statistics. Families who are from black and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be referred to childrens social work services, receive support services later, and children are more likely to go into the care system. There are other forms of prejudice, inequality and discrimination which can intersect, and these can affect people in many different ways. In light of these objective realities, what could be the drivers of such realities? What ideas are generated about the social group and how could this impact on a practitioners judgement when dealing with an individual from BME groups. The same applies when working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, awareness of professional responsibility and a social justice approach when conducting an age assessment must be the practice base. The Human rights and child rights must be appropriately accorded without discrimination. Another example is that of mother blaming in a child protection cases. Feminist theory has challenged this gendered approach to problem solving where the female is mostly at the centre of the problem yet ignores the men from the social causal matrix. As a result of critical social work a shift has developed where the whole domestic environment and people must be part of the issue at hand. If all are not challenged this practice reinforces the interests of some groups over others and oppresses women. Assessment Process Middleton (1997) describes assessment as part of the planning agenda involving gathering and interpreting information in order to understand a person and their circumstances. It involves making judgements based on information. (Middleton, 1997:5). The process here involves respect for the individuals values, their core identity and judgements are made without being judgemental. Selective and stereotypical considerations must be avoided, labelling and categorising people and overlooking their individuality and can allow elements of discrimination to permeate the process which must otherwise not be affected by individual values and perspectives. As argued by Clifford (1998) it is important that social workers check their individual biases and ensure that these do not affect the manner in which they undertake assessments. In direct link with critical social work, assessments must be informed by critical theory to enhance a balanced, just and anti-oppressive assessment process. Personal views held by the social worker must not occupy any space in the assessment process for the sake of justice, fair access to services anti-discriminatory practice. Parker and Bradley (2005) argue that a balanced approach of an assessment involves wisdom, skills, appreciation of diversity and systematically applied knowledge in direct practice. Service users must feel that they benefit from the assessment process for it to be effective (Addock, 2001) and the social worker and family members must collectively contribute to the process. This involvement enriches the process and eliminates subjective approaches to the assessment. Social work practice and critical approaches intersect; the worker must be conscious of their personal beliefs and values and strike a responsible, ethical and professional balance in the manner the assessment and intervention is conducted and be honest and explicit with service users. (Parker Bradley, 2005: 7). Extensive knowledge of the service users environmental and living systems and the wider systems that impinge on them must be key determinants in assessments (Parker Bradley 2005:13) .Service user involvement is empowering and demonstrates citizenship and self driven responsibility as human worth. Understanding power dynamics in assessments Power relations inherent in the social work process must be carefully managed and ensure a balanced contributory approach whereby an exchange model would can adopted to acknowledge that the service users are experts of their situations. Service users and social workers exchange ideas, information and ways forward to make a difference and find alternative ways of approaching as collective partners (Parker Bradley, 2005:14). In terms of skills this involves actively listening to service users being available for them, a professional and non-judgemental or non directive approach, straight and honest talk and social justice pursuit. (Parker Bradley, 2005). Child centred assessments must be informed by child development theories, ecological approaches, ensuring equality of opportunity, involvement of families and an interagency approach ensures collective creative interventions. When working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children for example, Culturegrams help in analysing the impact of culture in the lives of those individuals and families being assessed (Parker Bradley, 2005:50-53). This can be very useful when working with BME groups as well as refugees and asylum seekers in a broader context. Values of the families and individuals are explored and these help shape the nature of the intervention where the individual shapes the course of the intervention as opposed to it being driven by the powerful professionals. Multiculturalism and social work Multiculturalism is a 21st Century challenge as citizenship recognition and integration a modern society characteristic. Critical multiculturalism suggests that social workers need to intellectually engage with the issues of difference and citizenship, in a manner that detaches practice from monoculturalist norms (Powell, 2001:146). Social workers are practically challenged to interrogate the value assumptions of their approach and assess principles and values they use in practice. If social workers are to avoid narrative repression, they need to be capable of challenging discursive hierarchies of meaning in their practice. (Powell, 2001:146). This becomes the reflexive component in the intervention. This involves challenging the very systems that they use and lobby for the change in structural elements that could be oppressing the very people they would be working with. Feminist social work engages in redressing gender inequalities, this could be the mother blaming attitude that it challenges. Critical social work engages a need for awareness by practitioners, a transformation of cultural attitudes around race relations, gay rights and the relationship between sexuality, culture and power and of the need for anti-discriminatory practice (Powell, 2001:149). In order to meet the professional demands of the profession, social workers must seek guidance and close the gap between personal values and professional practice. This must make constant reference to human rights, equality, discrimination and racism (Bhatti- Sinclair, 2011). Fook (2000) argues that expert critical social workers are able to create critical knowledge which challenges and resists all forms of domination. Anti-racist practice Dominelli (2008) points out that anti-racist practice beyond that presented in Thompsons (2007) PCS model by emphasising on its interactional nature. For Dominelli (2008) racism is a multidimensional form of oppression over and above discrimination Institutional and Cultural racism are structurally associated and viewed as less evil than the personal racism which society frowns upon, yet the is no better racism. If practitioners hand over responsibility of BME issues to BME staff this may be problematic as it may result in a lack of obligation by white social workers to anti-racist practice and reinforce difference. Institutional practices must be professionally compliant (Bhatti- Sinclair, 2011:128) at their own level. Treatment of black families/children hits them every day and there are challenges that the social workers have to deal with in the face of these ingrained stereotypical views of the good white family and the bad black family. Dominelli (2008) argues that challenging how white people perceive black families is only possible within positive trusting relationships. Nomadic settlers fall into the same category where as the minority ethnic groups where stereotypical assumptions exist that can influence the social work process. To work with individuals on the autistic spectrum requires knowledge and understanding of autism. Knowledge of the conditions characteristics, the basic understanding of the triad of impairments is necessary for use in the social work process. The individuals must not be viewed as unwilling to engage due their limited social interaction skills but must be understood and appropriate communication systems used. For example, instead of talking through an assessment; picture boards, games of their interest, familiar environments and using their preferred mode of communication would help to involve them, engage them and remove a possible stereotypical view that they cannot make decisions. If this process does not involve them, the likelihood is that anti-oppressive practice would have been failed. Good practice recognises individuality and this permeates through the social work process. Assessment process in practice The authors work experience with a forty year old autistic man in Coventry stands as a unique example of the complexity of service user involvement and creativity aimed at raising the level of positive outcomes in reviewing a care plan. The only established access point for his contributions was when he was away from home, on the bus. During any travel by bus, he livened up and opened up, expressed his views about the service he was receiving and it was the best time to evaluate the support care plan, conversationally in a bus. Working around the individuals world helped the social care provider to reach out to the very important needs that an office based assessment could not achieve. The bus environment had no powerful/powerless unequal binary dynamic in it. It was his comfort zone. Failure to recognise individual likes, obsessions and sensory issues in autistic individuals can hinders the social work process. Effective assessments can only be achievable when the service user is lo cated at the centre of the process by use of approaches that promote social change and justice. Challenging discrimination in practice Children are often described as vulnerable, innocent, in need of protection and lacking experience. If not carefully approached the child may be sidelined from the assessment process and overshadowed by adult ideas. If it is around abuse in the home, it is the childs experience and not the adults experience that must take precedence with the child as the expert. The Lamming Report emphasised the need to see the world through the eyes of the child. The role of the social worker in practice is to challenge discrimination, exclusion of socially excluded groups like children. Children have been looked at as subjects and the critical approach locates them as able to shape and voice. Failure to recognise children and the social workers relatively powerful position practitioners reinforce oppression. The critical practitioner engages service users to facilitate the telling of their stories in the assessment process. Law is used to counter oppressive practice and sets out operational parameters for professionals to deal with racism and be aware that discrimination is unlawful (Race relations Act 1976 Equality Act 2006, Bhatti- Sinclair, 2011).To overcome the practice challenge, social workers have looked up to anti-racist advocates for guidance on methods and models which respond ethically, effectively and efficiently to daily challenges and dilemmas (Bhatti- Sinclair, 2011). Training and existing regulatory bodies like the HCPC enable practice to be justice based by requiring professionalism by the workforce through compliance and guidance. The Professional capabilities Framework requires the worker to Recognise and manage the impact on people of the power invested in your role (PCF 33) and standards of proficiency calls on the need to recognise the power dynamics in relationships with service users and carers and be able to manage those dynamics appropriately (SoPS 2.8). Formalised assessments aid in injecting consistency Crisp et al (2005) argues that the absence of a formalised assessment framework results in subjective assessments. Professionally trained and skilled workers enhance a fair assessment. Assessments must not just look at behaviour, but also the cause of the behaviour in a holistic way in order to make correct judgements and this is achieved through service user participation in the process. Milner Byrne, (2002) postulate that the assess ment there is need for mapping before planning the assessment journey. This involves knowing the child, engaging them and drawing their strengths in order to shape appropriate support (Dominelli Payne, 2002). Involvement Effective anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice must be drawn from practice intelligence, applied research and service users involvement. Empowering practice has an involvement and integration component as opposed to exclusion practice approaches by lack of appropriate language and culture awareness (Bhatti- Sinclair, 2011).Structurally, well planned and coordinated assessments and interventions involve the service user and must respond sensitively to their needs. Awareness of our own prejudices and past experiences and ideas must be non-threatening to clients (Lindsay, 2010) .Interactive polarisation between the social worker and client can undermine social work effectiveness whereupon families and individuals are pathologised either as unreachable or resistant. Positive communication enhances the relationship building (Kaprowska 2010:5) which is the key to an accurate assessment. Individuals with disabilities often argue that social workers assessments of them emphasise more on impairment and less on being seen as human, instead assessments must explore their individual abilities. In addition when working with individuals who use minority languages it can become a barrier for an accurate assessment hence the need to plan assessments for these individuals with full awareness of this key communication element in order to ensure the service users involvement. This could be necessitated by translators or minority language speaking social workers. Similarly, when working with the elderly, assessments must detect abilities and not reinforce ageist stereotypes, shared power and agreed direction principle. Conclusion The concept of critical practice locates the social worker as an active participant in a process of interpreting and understanding relationships and communication that must cut across difference. Over and above assumptions, prejudices, personal beliefs, structural frameworks; the critical practitioner must be reflexive and engaged in an empowering way whilst being aware of personal and socio-cultural origins and belief systems and challenging all forms of oppression. Appropriate skills and knowledge must be incorporated for the social work process to be effective.

Ender’s Game Good vs Evil

Ender’s Game – Good vs. Evil Writing In an epic saga capturing the struggle between two brothers, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Ender and Peter are constantly at each other’s throats. Ender is the better of the two brothers as throughout the book he displays noble deeds and a strong mindset. Thus being said, Peter is the lesser of the two who throughout the book is doing something of malcontent, whether it is threatening to kill, killing, or fighting.Peter the older, power hungry brother is the evil to Ender’s good. From the beginning of the book, Anderson and Graff are, â€Å"Afraid of what (Peter) will do to (Ender). † (Card, 9). Later in the book, around the same time as when Ender is in Flight Commander school, Valentine is disgusted with Peter when she finds a squirrel’s dead carcass, â€Å"half – skinned, spiked by its little hands and feet with twigs†¦ She pictured Peter trapping it, staking it†¦how long ha d it taken the squirrel to die?And all the while Peter sat nearby, leaning against the tree where perhaps the squirrel had nested, playing with his desk while the squirrel’s life seeped away† (Card, 123) Peter is a ruthless killer who even tosses the idea of, â€Å" â€Å"whether to kill (Valentine) or what. † † (Card, 124) What other 12 year old child would commit such cruel acts? An evil one, one who skins animals to watch them die, one who threatens to kill it’s own sister, and one who torments all nearest to him, while acting under a blanket of innocence to hide his misgivings.Peter is a demon of a child with a lust for evil and wrong things to commit and threaten with. Ender the good to Peter’s evil, is the â€Å"better† of the two brothers. Ender does not want to, â€Å" (hurt) people again, just to save (himself). † (Card, 115) Ender does not have the same lust to kill or eradicate as Peter. For instance, Graff had to tri ck, â€Å" â€Å"(Ender) into (Commanding human forces to exterminate the buggers)†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It had to be a trick or (Ender) couldn’t have done it†¦(They) had to have a commander with so much empathy that he would think like the buggers, understand them and anticipate them. † (Scott Card, 298) Ender had to be tricked into doing something that was against his morals for the greater good of his society, for the greater good of human existence. Even if that meant going against his personality, morality, and even his own human nature. With that the reader can promptly assume that Ender is the face on a TV ad trying to sell good. He is understanding, kind, but also will defend himself if provoked with an attack. Not to attack for the sake of attacking or attack for bloodlust, but simply as a reaction instilled in humans through the ages by the name of fight or flight.After the comprehension and understanding of Ender’s Game the reader finds that there are tw o polar opposite characters, Peter and Ender, who differ from each other more and more throughout the book, Peter the evil, and Ender the good. Peter the cold, heartless, killer and Ender his brother, who is, nothing like him at all. Kind, compassionate and understanding are all choice words when describing Ender. There is an old saying that reads, â€Å" Where there is good, there is also bad, and where there is bad, good will always triumph for it is fate. † (Anonymous)