A History of the Colony of Rhode Island

The colony of Rhode Island was founded between 1636 and 1642 by five separate and combative groups, most of whom had been expelled or left the Massachusetts Bay colony for disputative reasons. The colony was first named Roodt Eylandt by Dutch trader Adriaen  Block (1567–1627), who had explored that area for the Netherlands. The name means red island and it refers to the red clay that Block reported there. Fast Facts: Rhode Island Colony Also Known As: Roodt Eylandt, Providence PlantationsNamed After: Red Island in Dutch, or perhaps after RhodesFounding Year: 1636; permanent charter 1663Founding Country: EnglandFirst Known European Settlement: William Blackstone, 1634Residential Native Communities: Narragansetts, Wampanoags  Founders: Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, William Coddington, William Arnold, Samuel GortonImportant People: Adriaen BlockFirst Continental Congressmen: Stephen Hopkins, Samuel WardSigners of the Declaration: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Early Settlements / Plantations Although the Puritan British theologian Roger Williams (1603–1683) is often given the sole role of founder of Rhode Island, the colony was in fact settled by five independent and combative sets of people between 1636 and 1642. They were all English, and most of them began their colonial experiences in Massachusetts Bay colony but were banished for various reasons. Roger Williamss group was the earliest: in 1636, he settled in what would become Providence on the north end of Narragansett Bay, after he was kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay colony.   Roger Williams had grown up in England, only leaving in 1630 with his wife Mary Barnard when the persecution of Puritans  and Separatists began increasing. He moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and worked from 1631 to 1635 as a pastor and a farmer. Although many in the colony saw his views as quite radical, Williams felt that the religion he practiced must be free from any influence of the Church of England and the English king. In addition, he questioned the right of the King to grant land to individuals in the New World.  While serving as a pastor in Salem, he had a fight with the colonial leaders, because he believed that each church congregation should be autonomous and should not follow directions sent down from the leaders.   Founding of Rhode Island In 1635, Williams was banished to England by the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs in the separation of church and state and freedom of religion. Instead, he fled and lived with the Narragansett Indians  in what would become Providence Plantation (meaning settlement). Providence, which he formed in 1636, attracted other separatists who wished to flee from colonial religious rules of which they did not agree.   One such separatist was the poet and feminist  Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643), another Puritan from Massachusetts Bay, who began Pocasset on Aquidneck Island in 1638, which eventually became Portsmouth. She had been banished for speaking out against the Church in Massachusetts Bay. William Coddington (1601–1678), a magistrate at Massachusetts Bay, settled first in Pocasset but split from Hutchinsons group and settled in Newport, also on Aquidneck Island, in 1639. In 1642, Massachusetts Bay ex-patriot William Arnold (1586–1676) settled on the mainland in Pawtuxet, now part of Cranston. Finally, Samuel Gorton (1593–1677) settled first in Plymouth, then Portsmouth, and then Providence, and finally set up his own group in Shawomet, later renamed to Warwick in 1642.   A Charter Political and religious squabbling was a common feature of these small plantations. Providence evicted people for speaking out in meetings; Portsmouth had to hire two police officials in late 1638 to keep the peace; a small group of people from Shawomet were arrested and brought forcibly to Boston where they were tried and convicted on various charges. William Arnold fell into dispute with Warwick plantation and for a time put his plantation under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay. These disputes were primarily were struggles over religious practices and governing, in addition to boundary issues with Connecticut. Part of the problem was they had no charter: the only legitimate authority in Rhode Island from 1636–1644 was the voluntary compacts which everybody but Gortons group had agreed to. Massachusetts Bay kept intruding into their politics, and so Roger Williams was sent to England to negotiate an official charter in 1643.   Uniting the Colony The first charter was validated by British Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell in 1644 and that became the basis of government in Rhode Island colony in 1647. In 1651, Coddington obtained a separate charter, but protests led to the reinstatement of the original charter. In 1658, Cromwell died and the charter had to be renegotiated, and it was on July 8, 1663, that the Baptist minister John Clarke (1609–1676) went to London to get it: that charter united the settlements into the newly named Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.   Despite the conflict, or perhaps because of it, Rhode Island was quite progressive for its day. Known for fierce independence and the absolute separation of church and state, Rhode Island attracted persecuted groups such as Jews and Quakers. Its government guaranteed freedom of religion for all its citizens, abolished witchcraft trials, imprisonment for debt, most capital punishment, and chattel slavery of both blacks and whites, all by 1652.   The American Revolution Rhode Island was a prosperous colony by the time of the American Revolution with its fertile soil and ample harbors. However, its harbors also meant that after the French and Indian War, Rhode Island was severely impacted by British import and export regulations and taxes. The colony was a frontrunner in the movement towards independence. It severed ties before the Declaration of Independence. Although not a lot of actual fighting occurred on Rhode Island soil, except for the British seizure and occupation of Newport until October 1779.   In 1774, Rhode Island sent two men to the First Continental Congress: former governor and then-chief justice of the Supreme Court Stephen Hopkins and former governor Samuel Ward. Hopkins and William Ellery, an attorney who replaced the deceased Samuel Ward, signed the Declaration of Independence for Rhode Island.   After the war, Rhode Island continued to show its independence. In fact, it did not agree with the federalists and was the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution—after it had already gone into effect, and the government had been established. Sources and Further Reading Bozeman, Theodore Dwight. Religious Liberty and the Problem of Order in Early Rhode Island. The New England Quarterly 45.1 (1972): 44-64. Print.Frost, J. William. Quaker Versus Baptist: A Religious and Political Squabble in Rhode Island Three Hundred Years Ago. Quaker History 63.1 (1974): 39-52. Print.Gorton, Adelos. The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton. Philadelphia, Higgenson Book Company, 1907.  McLoughlin, William. Rhode Island: A History. States and the Nation. W. W. Norton Company, 1986

Juveniles Treated Like Adults Essays - 1330 Words

Everyday a vast number of brutal crimes occur somewhere in America. Teens as young as thirteen commit murder, rape, and burglary to an extent. What can be done about it? The best answer I can think of is to treat juveniles like adults. They have just as much responsibility and knowledge of their actions just as adults do, so they deserve the same punishment if they commit the same crime. Believe it or not, teens commit the same level of crimes that adults commit. Crimes will get even worse in the future if nothing is strictly done about the unnecessary violent actions. An idea to prevent the crimes from continuing is to punish juveniles and adults equally. Juvenile punishments do not provide the harsh consequences juveniles deserve. There†¦show more content†¦A variety of ages are guilty for numerous crimes. Any age of a criminal is a threat to the public. Juveniles deserve to be treated like adults. Many people feel sorry for young people who commit heinous crimes to receive such as harsh punishments as adults do when it comes to a similar crime. What people with such emotional feelings toward juveniles do not think about is the damage a young criminal causes. Of course there are some cases in which young people are treated differently from adults such as getting a job or even voting. In those cases young people are not educated enough to have the ability to do either of those because of the knowledge they are not provided with at such a young age. Juveniles take in the sorrow that people feel for them. They think they stand a high chance of getting out of trouble when they are standing in court being tried as guilty. A great amount of people in the jury look at the young teen and think, â€Å"There is no way a young teen could commit murder or any other brutal crime.† What they do not understand is that there is plenty of evidence when it comes to even accusing a juvenil e as a suspect. Just because someone looks young and harmless, it does not mean there is evil on the inside. Looking deeper into the purpose of the case the juvenile was involved in pays off. Not only does the purpose of the case make sense, it also shows an insight of the society atShow MoreRelatedNot Yet an Adult in the Juvenile Justice System Essay700 Words   |  3 Pageswhich means they define them as an adult. Compare to a teenager, adults are expected to depend on themselves while teenagers depend on their parents. Adults are expected to be responsible for their actions. Teenagers should also be responsible for their actions, shouldnt they? People should not treat teenagers as kids. Teenagers should know that committing a crime is wrong. The Justice Department says that about 10 percent of all homicides are committed by juveniles and almost every year, the FBI arrestsRead MoreThe Juvenile Justice System Essay examples1326 Words   |  6 PagesThe Juvenile Justice System Jodia M Murphy Kaplan University CJ150 Juvenile Delinquency Professor Thomas Woods July 31, 2012 Abstract This paper takes a brief look at the history and evolution of the juvenile justice system in the United States. In recent years there has been an increase of juvenile cases being transferred into the adult court system. This paper will also look at that process and the consequences of that trend. History and Evolution In the early nineteenth centuryRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Juveniles1016 Words   |  5 Pagesthat many juveniles are being sentenced and tried unfairly in the court. Many believed that children as young as twelve should be treated differently than an adult who commit the same crime, but that’s not what’s happening today. Young children are not the same as an adult in many ways, so they should not be put in jail for life if they commit a crime. Nobody really deserve to be put into a jail for the rest of their life, especially a young kid. It is injustice to sentenced juveniles, who committedRead MoreJuveniles And Prisons1313 Words   |  6 PagesJuveniles and Prison â€Å"I used to believe are our future but now I realize that this, sadly isn’t the reality. Through laws that treat kids like adults, the government is throwing away the future of children in this country.† (D. Lee) An estimated 200,000 juveniles are tried as adults. The term juvenile refers to any young person under the age of 18. For most states in the United States, the age of majority is 18. While there are many things that juveniles are unable to do until they reach the ageRead MorePros And Cons Of Juvenile Offenders1024 Words   |  5 PagesJuvenile Offenders or Adult Criminals? The act of participating in a crime by a minor is considered juvenile delinquency. This criminal act may be punished by many different means, designed specifically to deal with those who are under the statutory age of majority, which is the threshold of adulthood in law. However, many people argue that the severity of the juvenile prosecution system isnt high enough to order proper punishment. Therefore, juvenile offenders should be tried under adult laws.Read MoreSimilarities and Differences Between the Juvenile Justice and Adult Criminal System835 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: JUVENILE V. CRIMINAL 1 Juvenile Justice System V. Criminal Justice System Ronda Cauchon CJ150-01 Professor Abreu Kaplan University October 9, 2012 JUVENILE V CRIMINAL 2 Juvenile Justice System V. Criminal Justice System In the earliest of times, juvenile offenders were treated the sameRead MoreShould Juveniles Be Treated As Adults?1268 Words   |  6 PagesSince the Juvenile Justice Court (JJC) was first established there has been a debate on when, and whether or not, Juveniles should be treated as adults when they commit heinous crimes. Prior to the establishment of the JJC, parents were responsible for the actions of their kids under the age of seven; juveniles were tried as adults. By establishing the JJC, teenagers were given privileges they previously had not held; such as being treated as delinquents rather than criminals when committing crimesRead MoreJuvenile Crimes924 Words   |  4 PagesWhen deciding how juveniles should be treated or punished for their crimes, depends on the individual and the severity of the crime they commit. The term juvenile is classified as anyone who commits a crime that is generally between the ages of 7 and 17. There are many critics that argue different ways and ideas on how to handle juveniles and whether or not their age should affect their consequences. Some view that juveniles should be treated more for rehabilitation rather than punishing them. TheRead MoreJuvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act Of 19741625 Words   |  7 PagesA juvenile or â€Å"youthful inmate† as defined by the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is any person under the age of eighteen who is under adult-court supervision and incarcerated or detained in a prison or jail. While PREA defines a juvenile as under the age of eighteen the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA) allows the states to set their own definition of a juvenile (Lahey). This discrepancy in the definition of a juvenile has caused problems and slow progressRead MoreThe Case Of Theft And Simple Assault Essay1212 Words   |  5 Pagesprogram such as aftercare (Kids Legal, 2013). As juvenile offenders, they will go to a juvenile court which is a private civil proceeding just for juveniles. This is more relaxed and will not result in a criminal record. An adult would have to go to a public criminal court with a formal environment and be charged with a crime resulting in a criminal record. Juveniles do not have the opportunity to a jury trial like adults do. Both juvenile and adult’s trials are adversarial and they may choose

Multidisciplinary Approach To Sports Free Essays

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SPORTS With recent advances in science and modern challenges in sports, it has become important for athletes to incorporate breakthroughs and principles from different areas into sports to achieve maximum performance. According to Freisen Orlick (2010), there is indeed a need, due to recent evidence to involve the expertise of different professionals from fields into sports by introducing elements of nutrition and diet, physiology, psychology as well as biomechanics to help in the optimal training of sport men and women in order to achieve maximal output. Dietary management is important for every individual to remain fit and healthy and it is much more important for anyone that engages in sports. We will write a custom essay sample on Multidisciplinary Approach To Sports or any similar topic only for you Order Now The knowledge of the body physiology cannot be overemphasized in maximizing the body. The mental state of an athlete is also in fact as important as the physical state and an understanding of biomechanics is needful to be able to maximize the body system in sports performance. According to Kentta Hassmen (2002), optimum sports performance integrates different components including the physiological, technical, dietary and tactical aspects and it can be concluded from this that an athlete is ultimately a â€Å"Psychosociophyiological System†. There have been different authors and researches that have documented the relationship between different components (such as psychology, physiology, nutrition and biomechanics) and optimal performance of athletes and there is a need to examine the validity of these claims in the face of recent evidences and researches. The Role of Psychology in Performance of Athletes It has become common knowledge that psychological skills are important as they influence the performance of any athlete or team. This has over time led to the evolvement of the field of sports psychology which is aimed at ensuring that the right and optimal mental attitude is inculcated in sport persons. Many teams involved in competitive sports have therefore seen a need to include sports psychologists in their coaching crew. Psychological training and exercise have been used in a wide range of sporting activities to improve the performance of athletes. According to Cox et al (2010), there are some specific parameters that can be used to measure an athlete’s mental or psychological strength and they include the ability to cope with adversity, the ability to be coached, concentration, confidence, goal setting skill, ability to work effectively under pressure and the capacity to deal with worry or stress. Taking baseball for example, Karl Dorfman (2002) observed that when league baseball players, managers and coaches were asked about the quality that sets a great player apart from the rest, they will almost all unanimously affirm that it is the mental aspect of the game that makes the difference. In such a league as the baseball league, many players are at par in their physical abilities but what makes the difference between the winning side and the losing side has been recognized to be the mental attitude. Many successful athletes have been known to often consult personal sport psychologists to help them cope with the stressors and anxiety that accompany the preparation process and influence performance (Jones, 1995). Some studies have been done to validate the influence of psychology in sports performance. Smith Christensen (1995) for example, found a significant relationship between psychological skills and performance in position players and pitchers in the NCAA baseball minor league. They concluded from the study that confidence and achievement under pressure are two potent indicators of batting performance and that climaxing under pressure and boldness can be used to predict the earn run average (ERA) of pitchers. In addition, an investigation was conducted to look into the use of mental training by NCAA division 1 baseball coaches (Clement, 2004). All the coaches that were interviewed agreed that psychological drills and training had positive roles they played on the teams and these coaches adopted some common mental techniques and exercises which include mental meetings, coaching staff modeling excellence, developing routines, specific goal setting and visualization, and relaxation techniques (Clement, 2004). â€Å"Most importantly, this study suggested that sports psychology and mental training might be the difference between success and failure at the collegiate and professional level of sport† (Bronson, 2010). Another recent study by Cox et al (2010) examined the link between psychological strength and performance and it was asserted that psychological skills such as confidence and ability to cope with worry and stress could be predictors of subjective performance of any athlete. Cox et al (2010) also compared their study with similar ones and found related conclusions. There is therefore sufficient evidence to back up Kentta and Hassman (2002) assertion in the psychological aspect of optimal performance because the field of sports psychology has continued to receive acceptance in different sporting activities because of the scientific basis of the benefits that such fields offer young and successful athletes. It will therefore be safe to assert that an athlete that takes time to develop psychological skills and can match such skills with his physical abilities will invariably stand out and show excellence in performance all other things being equal. Sports psychologists have taken time to map out some basic psychological skills that an athlete must be determined to acquire that will amount to a better performance and these skills have been used in different sports with documented results. Goal setting: This is one of the primary mental skills used by athletes (Carr 2006). According to Csikszentmihalyi (1990), goal setting is important in achieving a â€Å"flow† experience which is the experience where an athlete achieves optimal performance. Arousal Control: This is the psychological skill that an athlete will need in order to combat the anxiety that often comes with the game. According to Carr (2006), there are different ways to regulate arousal which are: Breathing: This is useful in stressful situations. The athlete breaths in and out slowly which helps with oxygen intake and accelerates recovery. This is a practice that can help any athlete in times of pressure or dissatisfaction. Muscle relaxation: Anxiety often causes muscles to be tense and tight. Muscle relaxation however helps to reduce this tension. An athlete should therefore learn to control anxiety by learning the technique of muscle relaxation whenever there is a stressful event or situation such as an injury or a loss. A tensed muscle will always inhibit performance because a relaxed muscle is important for physical activity especially for an athlete. Positive Self Talk: This is another important psychological concept that can be used in the field of sport. Hardy et al (2001) tried to look into the what, where, why and when of self talk among athletes and it was observed that self talk is used during practice and competition. They further asserted that self talk can be used positively to increase motivation as well as self confidence in order to enhance performance. Here, the athlete encourages himself by using positive words and this has been shown to cause enough motivation to increase performance in sport. Concentration and focus: It is important that an athlete concentrates and keeps his focus on the things that matter to his performance. There are different factors or issues that can come into play in sports and distract an athlete from his main goal. The uproar from spectators can get some athletes distracted so much that they may find it difficult to perform some easy tasks in a competition that they find easy to do on their own or in training. According to (Carr 2006), there are different mental skills that can be used to keep off such distractions and enhance performance and they include: Mental Imagery: In this, an athlete creates and stores experiences in memory and is able to recall them. The memories are stored through all his senses including the senses of touch, sound and movement. The athlete can imagine pleasant situations that can motivate him to action and enhance his performance. Cognitive Strategies: This involves the modification of the thought pattern of the athlete and involves strategies such as self talk that has been mentioned earlier. Sports psychology has come a long way to become a vital aspect of different sporting activities and there is a need for athletes to maximize the benefits of psychological training in their respective sports because there seems to be an agreement by varying authors on the positive influence of psychology. The Role of Nutrition is Sports Performance Sports nutrition is another discipline that can be used to verify the statement of Kentta Hassman (2002) about the multidisciplinary approach to the performance of athletes. There is a need to examine different literatures that have attempted to establish the relationship between nutrition and performance of athletes. It is a common assumption that because an athlete is meant to be a quintessence of physical fitness, his nutritional status must be superior to the general population though this may not always be true (Grandjeur 1997). According to Grandjean (1997), proper nutrition is needed and essential for normal development and the maintenance of optimal health: nutrition can make the difference in performance for an excellent athlete assuming that all other factors are favorable. There are documented researches that have been made on the positive influence of nutrition on the performance of athletes and it can be concluded that what athletes eat and drink can affect their health, body weight and composition, availability of substrate during exercise, duration of recovery after activity, and exercise performance (Joint Position 2000).Energy is usually needed for physical activity and the availability of this energy in adequate proportion and form will always invariably determine the performance of any athlete. â€Å"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine that physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery from exercise are enhanced by optimal nutrition† (Joint Position 2000) It should be the goal of an athlete to obtain sufficient amount of energy from food because achieving energy balance will increase performance. â€Å"Energy balance is defined as a state when energy intake (the sum of energy from food, fluids, and supplement products) equals energy expenditure (the sum of energy expended as basal metabolism, the thermic effect of food, and any voluntary physical activity)† (Swinburn Ravussin 1993). From this, it can be elicited that any deficit in energy balance will invariably have a negative effect on performance. In a study done to examine the influence of calorie intake pre-exercise on exercise performance, athletes were required to bike for 45 minutes and then sprint hard for another 15 minutes. It was found that when they were given 180 to 270 calorie snack about 5 minutes before the exercise, there was a noticeable improvement of up to 10% in the last 5 minutes and there was 20% improvement when they ate 4 hours before the exercise and then took snack 5 minutes before the exercise (Neufer 1987). This goes a long way to prove that the need for adequate calorie intake for an athlete cannot be overemphasized because it may be the singular factor that distinguishes a winning athlete from a talented one. It is also important to note that the level of activity of any athlete at a given time should influence his/her diet because sports differ in the intensity of activity. It is imperative that an athlete understands the intensity of his activity and the diet that will provide him with the best nutrition for his activity level. Classification of Sports and Games According to Energy Expenditure (National Institute of Nutrition) CATEGORYEVENT GROUP IPOWER EVENTS OF HIGHER WEIGHT CATEGORY (80KG AND ABOVE)WEIGHT LIFTING, BOXING, WRESTLING, JUDO, THROWING EVENTS GROUP IIENDURANCE EVENTS:MARATHON, LONG DISTANCE RUNNING, AND WALKING ROAD CYCLING, ROWING MIDDLE AND LONG DISTANCE SWIMMING GROUP IIITEAM EVENTS, ATHLETICS AND POWER EVENTS OF MIDDLEE WEIGHT CATEGORY (65KG): HOCKEY, FOOT BALL, VOLLEY BALL, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, SPRINTS, JUMPERS, BOXING, WRESTLING, WEIGHT LIFTING, JUD AND SWIMMING GROUP IVEVENTS OF LIGHT WEIGHT CATEGORY: GYMNASTICS, TABLE TENNIS, YATCHING, BOXING, WRESTLING, WEIGHT LIFTING AND JUDO GROUP VSKILL GAME: SHOOTING, ARCHERY AND EQUESTRAIN Macronutrient Requirement For an athlete to get the best nutrition, it is important that there is an understanding of the different nutrients and how they contribute to optimal performance. â€Å"Data from the IOC-funded study showed an average energy intake for all athletes of various winter sports of approximately 2800 kcal with 61% being supplied by carbohydrates, 16 to 17% by protein, and 23 to 24% by fat† (Meyer Simmons 2003). In a particular study done, it was found that in cross-country skiers, a high energy intake is required during training and competition with contributions of at least 60% from carbohydrates, 12 to 15% from protein and about 20-25% from fat (Meyer Simmons 2003). Carbohydrates Carbohydrate provides a rich source of energy for everyone and athletes can depend on it for optimal performance. When there is an increase in the intensity of exercise, there is usually an associated increase in the input of carbohydrate to the energy pool (Brooks Mercier 1994). Carbohydrates are usually stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen which can be mobilized when there is energy need. The glycogen stored in the muscle is the primary source of energy during exercise while the pool in the liver provides energy for the brain. However, glycogen stores in the muscle (which is around 200 – 600g) and the liver (about 80 – 120g) including blood glucose are usually limited, and thus, require daily repletion through dietary means because in addition to the energy supply, carbohydrate has been shown to be useful in attenuating the stress-related immune response that occurs during and after intense exercise (Meyer Simmons 2003). Protein Protein is also part of the energy store which means that an adequate intake will influence performance. Protein metabolism during exercise is usually multi-factorial because it is influenced by factors such as the intensity, duration and type of exercise, training environment, dietary protein and energy, and the age and sex of the individual (Butterfield 1987). While carbohydrates remain the major nutrient that provides energy during intense activity, protein is the major nutrient important for adaptations in training and they are essential components of the muscle, cell membranes, hormones, antibodies, enzymes and other body components (Campbell nd).According to ISSN, any actively exercising person needs about 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day (Kreider et al 2010). Fat â€Å"Fat contributes to the energy pool over a wide range of exercise intensities, being metabolized at somewhat the same absolute rate throughout the range; however, the proportion of energy contributed by fat decreases as exercise intensity increases because the contribution of carbohydrate increases† (Bergman et al 1999). Even though some fats are not beneficial, an athlete must identify the beneficial sources and use them to complement the needed calories. â€Å"Research has clearly shown that not ingesting a sufficient amount of calories and/or enough of the right type of macronutrients may impede an athlete’s training adaptations while athletes who consume a balanced diet that meets energy needs can augment physiological training adaptations† (Kreider et al 2010). Any athlete that takes a diet that is energy deficient during training stands the risk of losing muscle mass as strength and becomes susceptible to illness (Kreider et al 2010) PART B CASE STUDY Mr. Kuyt is a Professional Basket Ball player and a regime has been designed for him and his fellow team mates that incorporate the use of tested and trusted techniques in strengthening and maintaining performance in the game. The regime is based on a weekly plan that takes into consideration two different fields that have been shown to be important in enhancing performance of athletes. Mr. Kuyt will have to observe all these techniques on a daily basis for a week and then continue with it every week. The training will be classified into two based on the fields which are Psychology and Nutrition. Weekly Psychological Training Pattern Day 1 Goal Setting It is important that any high aiming athlete just like Mr. Kuyt begins the week by setting specific and practical goals that he intends to achieve. â€Å"Setting goals can help athletes focus on what’s most important, increase their effort and motivation to stick with their plan, consider new strategies regarding how to accomplish their goals and help them track their progress† (Blackmer n.d). According to Pritchard (2000), the advantages of setting challenging but realistic goals are that the athlete gets motivated to try hard and his success at this will motivate him further and since the athlete can control his effort at maintaining the challenging goals, there is a reduction in goal-related stress. Mr. Kuyt writes down his goal for the week which can include his training targets and his resolves. Day 2 Positive self talk Different studies have shown the effect of what we say on our outcomes. It is therefore important that Mr. Kuyt also recognizes this fact and uses self talk to his advantage. According to Blackmer (n.d), the key to using self talk as a tool for improving performance is for Mr. Kuyt to be able to carefully monitor what he says to himself so that he is able to leverage on this for a better performance. Mr. Kuyt begins this on the second day and evaluates himself every other second day of the following week on how he has been able to successfully apply this principle. Day 3 Arousal Control This is the factor that Mr. Kuyt needs to be able to make a free throw or last second shot with thousands of people shouting and millions watching in the television (Carr 2006). Here Mr, Kuyt learns to remain cool and calm during periods of anxiety and pressure and still try to bring out the best in him. According to Harris (1986), the simplest yet most central way for Mr. Kuyt to control anxiety is through breathing. He must learn to do this whenever he confronts any stressful event like the anticipation of a loss or injury. Anxiety can also be the culprit of muscle tension. Mr. Kuyt must therefore also learn muscle relaxation as a way of battling anxiety because it can cause his muscles to be tight and rigid (Carr 2006) Day 4 Concentration and focus Some extremely talented athletes have failed to achieve their best not just because they do not have the skills but because they fail to focus on the â€Å"cues† that are important for an excellent performance (Carr 2006). Thus, Mr. Kuyt must take time to attain concentration and put his focus off the things around him that may distract him from achieving optimal performance. Day 5 Imagery â€Å"Imagery has long been associated with mental preparation in sport psychology and for good reason, as plenty of research demonstrates its potential value† ( Friesen Orlick 2011). Imagery is the process through which sensory experiences are kept in memory and are recalled effortlessly without any external stimuli (Murphy 1996). It is therefore helpful that Mr. Kuyt follows up on his training by creating mental pictures of success to be able to motivate him to action. Day 6 Break This day, Mr. Kuyt takes a break from all the training. This is the day where he reflects on all he has been able to learn from the previous day and assesses himself on how far he has been able to keep up with his training. Day 7 Meeting According to Stavrou (n.d), athletes should meet with their team mates and coach at least once in a week and each meeting should have a specific content. Since the success of an athlete rests on the performance of his team, it is important that Mr. Kuyt meets with his team mates and coach and that they discuss issues that will further strengthen their psychological approach to the game. Weekly Nutritional Training It takes a lot of discipline and self control for an athlete to eat what he needs and not just what he wants or desires. It will therefore take Mr. Kuyt to be determined to monitor his diet everyday and take only things that will contribute to optimal performance. Research over the last decade has indicated that athletes engaged in intense training need to ingest about two times the RDA of protein in their diet (1.5 to 2.0 g/kg/d) in order to maintain protein balance and 8-10g/kg/day of carbohydrate and the fat in the diet should not be more that 30% of the daily calorie intake (Joint Position 2000). Mr. Kuyt who is 70kg will therefore need about 105-140 g of protein and about 560-700g of carbohydrate everyday to keep up with his calorie need and will then add the appropriate amount of fat. On days when Mr. Kuyt will have heavy trainings, he can take some snacks about 5 minutes before the exercise to supply him with enough calories to aid the exercise because as shown earlier, this has been proven to aid in performance. The timing of his meal is also important and should be put into consideration. According toClark(2008), Mr. Kuyt meal time table of an athlete’s meal could follow the pattern below: Meal Time Calories Breakfast7-8:00 am 600 Lunch 11-12 noon600 Second Lunch 3-4:00 PM 500 Workout 5-6:30 PM Dinner 7-8:00 PM  ±700 Mr. Kuyt also takes enough fruits and vegetables that will serve as sources of vitamins and minerals which are also important in body building and body metabolism. In conclusion, consistent psychological training and a well informed nutritional plan are important in optimizing the performance of athletes across different sporting disciplines irrespective of the level of talent or physical activity. It can therefore be concluded that the approach of Kentta Hassman (2002) as athletes being a â€Å"Psychosociophyiological System† has been validated by other authors and researches and there is therefore a need to establish these other disciplines as important tools in sports. References Bergman B.C., Brooks, B.R. (1999). Respiratory gas-exchange ratios during graded exercise in fed and fasted trained and untrained men. J. Appl. Physiol. 86:479–487, 1999 Blackmer, DR n.d, Effective Goal-Setting Procedures for Enhanced Sport Performance. Mental toughness training for Peak sport performance Bronson, S. (2010). The Role of Psychological Training in the game of Softball, Sport and exercise science, 2(5). Brooks G.A. MERCIER J. (1994). Balance of carbohydrate and lipid utilization during exercise. The cross over concept. J. Appl. Physiol.76:2253–2261 Butterfield, G. E. (1987). Whole body protein utilization in humans, Med Sci Sports Exercise; 19(5):S157-65 Clark, N. (2008). Proper Nutrition for Athletes: The Missing Link, Sports Nutrition Services,HealthworksFitnessCenter,Chestnut Hill,Massachusetts,USA Clements, A.G. (2004). An Investigation of Mental Approach: Methods used by NCAA Division I baseball coaches for producing peak performance. University of British Columbia. Cox, RH, Shannon, JK, McGuire, RT, McBride, A 2010, Predicting Subjective Athletic Performance from Psychological Skills after Controlling for Sex and Sport. University of Missouri-Columbia Csikszentmihalyi M 1990, Flow: the psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper Perennial. Freisen, A Orlick, T. (2010), Holistic sports psychology. Journal of excellence issue no 14 Grandjean, AC. 1997 Diets of elite athletes: Has the discipline of sports nutrition made a impactJ. Nutr. 127(suppl):874S-877S Harris DV. (1986) Relaxation and energizing techniques for regulation of arousal, Applied sport psychology: personal growth to peak performance. New York: Mayfield Joint Position Statement: nutrition and athletic performance. American College of Sports Medicine, American Dietetic Association, and Dietitians of Canada. Med Sci Sports Exerc, (2000). 32(12): p. 2130-45 Jones, G, Swain, ABJ Cale, A (1995), Gender differences in precompetition temporal patterning and antecedents of anxiety and selfconfidence. Journal of Sport and Exercise psychology, 13, 115. Kreider, BR, Almada,AL, Antonio, J, Broeder C. (1993), Exercise and Sport Nutrition: A balanced perspective for exercise physiologists. Professionalization in Exercise Physiology Online Kuehl, K Dorfman, HA. (2002). The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance. South Bend, IN:Diamond Communications, Inc. Meyer, NL Simmons, S.P. (2003). The role of adequate nutrition for performance and health for female cross-country skiers. Federation Internationale De Ski Murphy S. (1996) The achievement zone. New York: GP Putnam’s Sons Neufer P, Costill D, Flynn M, Kirwan J, Mitchell J, Houmard, J. (1987). Improvements in exercise performance: effects of carbohydrate feedings and diet. J Appl Physiol 62:983–8 Smith, RE Christensen, DS. (1995). Psychological skills as predictors of performance and survival in professional baseball. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17, 399 – 415. Stavrou, NA n.d. Psychological Preparation Programs: Theory, Concepts and Applications. Pan – Hellenic Kayak and Canoe Trainers Association e-magazine Swinburn B, Ravussin (1995)., Energy balance or fat balanceAm. J.Clin. Nutr. 57(suppl):766S-771S,. How to cite Multidisciplinary Approach To Sports, Essay examples

We the Kings - We the Kings free essay sample

We the Kings, a power-pop alternative band from Bradenton, Florida, created a name for themselves and a spot on the Billboard charts after releasing their self-titled album, â€Å"We the Kings.† The album contains a wide variety of songs, from the slow ballad â€Å"This Is Our Town† to the catchy, high-energy â€Å"Check Yes Juliet (Run Baby Run).† The astounding vocals by lead singer Travis Clark and instrumentals by Danny Duncan (drums) and brothers Hunter and Drew Thomsen (guitar and bass, respectively) are sure to please. Lyrics from all the songs are extremely powerful, and listeners will be hooked with the introductory beats of the first track. The mix of instrumentals and vocals is perfect and could only be executed by an incredibly talented group of performers like We the Kings. One example of We the Kings mastery is â€Å"Skyway  ­Avenue.† The song begins by greeting listeners with twangy acoustic guitar chords and then bursts into electric pop background music. We will write a custom essay sample on We the Kings We the Kings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is immediately softened by magnificent vocals. The song balances a fast-paced beat with meaningful and heartfelt lyrics. The entire album is extremely well-produced and well-sung. The perfect harmony that We the Kings creates represents the work of a remarkable band. â€Å"We the Kings† is one album thats worth your time.

Chinese Music and Its Types

drug testing essays

drug testing essays The ethics of drug testing has become an increased concern for many companies in the recent years. More companies are beginning to use it and more people are starting more to have problems with it. The tests are now more than ever seen as a way to stop the problems of drug abuse in the workplace. This brings up a very large question. Is drug testing an ethical way to decide employee drug use? It is also very hard to decide if the test is an invasion of employee privacy. The ethical status of workplace drug testing can be expressed as a question of competing interests, between the employers right to use testing to reduce drug related harms and maximize profits, over against the employees right to privacy, particularly with regard to drug use which occurs outside the workplace. (Cranford 2) The rights of the employee have to be considered. The Supreme Court case, Griswold vs. Connecticut outlines the idea that every person is entitled to a privacy zone. However this definition covers privacy and protection from government. To work productively especially when the work may be physical it is nearly impossible to keep ones privacy. The relationship between employer and employee is based on a contract. The employee provides work for the employer and in return he is paid. If the employee cannot provide services because of problems such as drug abuse, then he is violating the contract. Employers have the right to know many things about their employees. Job skills and training can even be investigated by the employer. The employee is to perform services and these services must be done in a certain manner. Someone who is incoherent because of drug abuse cannot be a pilot for example. This is why employers can test to see if characteristics or tendencies would affect performance. An employee may not want to give a urine or blood sample. The employee may not want to include all of their referen...

Dealing with angry patient in emergency department Essay

Dealing with angry patient in emergency department - Essay Example Patients who visit an ED would be prioritized that the more serious cases would be attended to first before the physician can attend to them. A who was suffering from a bad sore throat visited the emergency when I was the doctor on duty attending my shift. At the same time a critically injured person was being rushed into the emergency on a stretcher. The person was engaged in a serious car accident and needed immediate attention. The sore- throated patient had already been waiting for an hour when I was busy in attending to another emergency case involving that of a broken limb. After attending to the serious cases I came out and ushered in the next patient who seemed extremely angry and showed his anger by throwing the newspaper that he had been reading on the couch as I approached him and told him that he would be the next patient to go inside. While emphasis is being laid on the acquisition of examination skills, less importance is being given to the communication process while filing a patient’s history. Recent studies have shown that a â€Å"patient –centered† approach is much better and more useful during a consultation because it places the patient and his cares at the centre of the inter-action. â€Å"A patient –centered approach is built on the philosophy that a patient is not a passive recipient of care and recognizes the importance of the patient’s knowledge and experience using it to guide the inter-action. (Bryne and Long, 1976) Preoccupying the patient by asking the right questions helps to create a communication channel which is vital to a patient- centered approach. The Emergency Doctor should practice a consultation style that is open, relaxed and responsive to patient’s cues. It also helps the doctor to understand and address the patient’s concerns because â€Å"it is therapeutic and sets the consultation within a truly holistic framework†. (Greenhalgh & Hurwitz,

Diplomacy And the International System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Diplomacy And the International System - Essay Example On the one hand, it was implied that the global process of regionalism had to take Europe as a model and as an outcome. On the other hand, regionalism in itself came to be considered a political project, and regional integration around the world was viewed as a desirable and ‘good’ outcome to complement and support global governance.† + Luk Van Langenhove & Daniele Marchesi (2008), Lisbon Treaty and the Emergence of Third Generation Regional Integration, As the changes required by the Lisbon Treaty are currently being implemented by the EU, the essay will first discuss the new relationships of foreign policy decision making articulated in the treaty with reference to the historical context. Particularly, this method will explore the conflict of relations between a nation’s foreign policy as defined by domestic goals, the requirements of other treaty and charter-based organizations such as NATO and the UN, and the new EU foreign policy structure based on unan imity. The requirements of unanimous decisions in foreign policy will be further discussed in relation to dissent, and the way dissenting states can use their influence in EU foreign policy decision-making to influence or change policy. The essay will provide evidence from research built from historical documents and official statements of political leaders in order to review the practical application of policy in the EU foreign policy decision-making process. III. Cohesion in EU Foreign Policy after the Lisbon Treaty The first aspect to consider in reviewing the effect of the Lisbon Treaty on an integrated EU foreign policy based on consensus and unanimity is how the new accord relates to the Treaty of Maastricht, the Treaty of Nice, the Treaty of Rome, and other fundamental accords of... This essay approves that it is significant that the Treaty of Lisbon requires the unanimous decision of EU member states in undertaking foreign policy decisions and that all use of military force be equally approved by consensus. This acts as a fundamental limit to power in EU authority, and forces the building of community around core European secular values such as democracy, freedom, elections, human rights, and others that represent the best of the evolutionary thought of these nations’ collective history. The Treaty preserves the right of member nations to dissent, but the â€Å"newness† of the Lisbon Treaty makes it less certain as to date how this will influence the policy decisions and actions taken by the EU. This report makes a conclusion that the positioning of the shared values of European history as the rationale behind a progressive and safeguarding form of international government in foreign policy has a wider popular understanding and political support in the grass roots than is commonly assumed, and in this manner, the EU may actually be representative of a wider movement in history rather than a top-down, technocratic imposition. The real test of the union is found in situations where nations like Germany are forced to submit to and accept policies that go against their national state interest in favor of the larger interest of maintaining the progress of European unity, as in the recent financial crises. However, domestic political interests may prohibit the efficient use of EU military power in the future in ways unforeseen by current analysis, forcing the EU leadership into only accepting policy positions with broad consensus, a position well suited for a limited supra-nationa l government in guardianship of the civil rights of society.

Contract law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Contract law - Essay Example However, the restaurant is concerned about the underlying liabilities in the event that clients collide with the skating waiters and waitresses. Another point of concern regards loss of client property whilst at the restaurant’s premises. Following these two concerns, two exclusion clauses could be drafted for the purpose of limiting or excluding altogether the restaurant’s liability under the two aforementioned circumstances. It is fundamental to ensure that the restaurant’s business aspect is not adversely affected by the move. The Caddy Shack restaurant enters into business-client contracts with its clients. It is in the best interest of the restaurant to maintain functional relations with its clientele, even as it strives to reduce potential liabilities under the two circumstances of concern. The exclusion clauses that Caddy Shack restaurant needs will ultimately impose restrictions to its clients. It is also important to highlight that the move is likely to be seen as one that favours Caddy Shack’s business welfare, while reducing its potential liability obligations to the clients. In this respect, these two issues must be provided for and balanced in the drafted exclusion clauses. First exclusion clause: Caddy Shack will not be held liable for any losses or injuries that arise as a result of violation of the rules and regulations within the Caddy Shack restaurant’s premises. Clients are urged and reminded to strictly use the designated client sidewalks to avoid collision with the roller skating waiters and waitresses. The system is clearly marked to ensure that both clients and staff strictly remain in their respective right areas. Eventualities emerging from failure to abide to the set rules and regulations, and the skating system requirements shall not hold Caddy Shack responsible. Moreover, Caddy Shack shall not take responsibility for ignorance and/or negligence arising from

Effect of Teacher Empowerment on Student Learning Outcomes

Effect of Teacher Empowerment on Student Learning Outcomes The question that faces educational leaders in Pakistan is how to select and implement appropriate educational reforms that will move schools toward greater effectiveness and provide enhanced learning and work environments for both students and teachers. A vast literature addresses the importance of leadership in school organizations.(Leithwood, 1992; Pounder,2006; Merideth, 2007). However this leadership has to be distributed not only to the principal but to the other stakeholders that are the students and the teachers above all. Although these arguments have been largely mounted in western countries, they also have significance in the Pakistani setting. A supportive school organization typically is not present in Pakistani schools, where internal politics, lack of resources, disinterest in pupil learning and school improvement by management result in demotivating and ignoring the teachers. (UNESCO: Situation Analysis of Teacher Education in Pakistan) According to Pounder (2006), research on the subject of leadership has focused mainly on administrators, principals and district superintendents. Only recently the research focus has moved towards leadership of individuals in other roles, namely teachers. Research indicates that teacher quality, and supportive school organization and management, significantly influence school improvement, and eventually pupil learning. The bottom line, however, is that school improvement is about school learning. Student learning is the most important part of schooling (Harris, 2004) Teacher empowerment has become a popular term widely seen in many discussions on school restructuring or educational reform. Research on teachers professional growth, school organization, school leadership, or educational innovation all consider teacher empowerment as the term which is considered to be synonym and compatible to teacher leadership. According to Viviane et al (2008) the leadership dimension which is strongly associated with the positive outcomes is that of promoting and participating in teacher learning and development-that is empowering teachers, for enhancing students learning outcomes. This literature review will consider an important issue within the focus area: what impact teachers have on the students learning outcomes when they are empowered? The questions guiding this research are; Why is teacher empowerment emphasized upon in recent educational innovation? What does teacher empowerment mean? What is the role of administrators in empowering teachers? How can students benefit from the idea of teacher empowerment? WHAT DOES TEACHER ENPOWERMENT MEAN? Teachers are established as instrumental stakeholders in planning, implementing, and assessing curriculum. They may benefit from undertaking leadership roles.( Stone, Sandra J. (1995) Though faced with an enormous pressure of high level of expectations and demands, they can successfully integrate their knowledge and understanding with new leadership vision, and eventually into the learning experiences of their students.( Blase, J. and Blasà ©, J. 2001) Sheppard, B; Hurley, N; Dibbon, D,(2010) recognize a very positive impact of school leaders on student learning however they establish an indirect link between, the effects of school leadership and students. Their research is directed at identifying the leadership variables that influence student learning, teacher morale and enthusiasm being one of them.. Grant, C. et al (2010),discusses the restricted role of teacher leadership. He believes that although teachers possess the ability and vision of shared leadership, they are rarely involved in activities beyond their classrooms. Some collaboration with other teachers in curricular and extra-curricular activities is seen but there was substantially less teacher leadership in relation to school-wide as well as community issues. Paula M. Short (1994) defines empowerment as a process whereby school participants develop the competence to take charge of their own growth and resolve their own problems. Empowered individuals believe they have the skills and knowledge to act on a situation and improve it. Empowered schools are organizations that create opportunities for competence to be developed and displayed. She adds: Teacher empowerment is a complex construct. While empowerment generally is associated with site-based management and shared decision making Involvement in decision making, teacher impact, teacher status, autonomy, opportunities for professional development, and teacher self-efficacy. School improvement is not possible without the empowerment of teachers. Teachers who are empowered have the power to make decisions about curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, they become risk takers by experimenting with new ideas, reading new books, and attending and planning professional development activities. (McCarty, 1993). Heads and school leaders must provide assistance to provide sovereignty and freedom of movement to the teachers They also need to develop ways that promote teacher participation in the decision- and policy-making activities of the school. Empowerment is considered to be as important an attribute as are mutual trust, support and recognition to bring about a sense of professionalism, leading to the development of leadership qualities in teachers. (Mujis Harris, 2003).She suggested that teachers can develop into transformational leaders in their schools if all aspects of the system are re-aligned and re-examined. The responsibility of the administration and superintendent has been highlighted by many researchers in order to bring about this transformation. (Pounder, 2006) The leadership of the principal is necessary but not sufficient. Teachers make a big difference. How can teachers skills be developed? What professional difference will they make? Teachers need to work together and trust each other. It is very important that leadership is shared. (Harris, 2006) Teachers have an extraordinary opportunity to exercise leadership because they are the most powerful influence, next to students, on other teachers practice (Darling-Hammond, 2003). York-Barr and Duke (2004) reported, In this day of high accountability, the need and potential for teacher leadership as well as the press for results, has probably never been greater. Because teacher leaders work within a system that either supports or acts as a barrier to its success, the roles of administrators are important to review According to these researchers, teacher leadership is the process by which teachers, individually or collectively, influence their colleagues, principals, and other members of the school communities to improve teaching and learning practices with the aim of increased student learning and achievement. Such team leadership work involves three intentional development foci: individual development, collaboration or team development, and organizational development. Empowered teachers and children become risk-takers, collaborators and self-evaluators.(Stone and Sandra, 1995) They emerge as intrinsically motivated, responsible and independent individuals. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PRINCIPALS IN ENPOWERING TEACHERS? A variety of research articles and their findings are present in the field of education in USA and UK. Most of them agree on the key leadership roles assumed by the school principals to help teachers to develop as professionals who are confident and committed, possess specialized knowledge and expertise, collaborate with colleagues and undertake leadership roles both within and outside their classes.( Harris, A. and Lambert, L. 2003) Principals are the promoters of a environment which results in a paradigm shift of powers from those at the top of pyramid to those who are working in close collaboration with the learners- that is the teachers. This mode of shifting responsibilities and power to teachers results in shared decision-making, which is essential to school reform and to the changing demands in a global world. Results of various studies indicate that teacher empowerment is most closely related to principals social attractiveness (perceived similarity to teachers) and trustworthiness (perceived willingness to suppress ones own self-interest for the benefit of the school (Blase, J. and Blasà ©, J. 2001). The role of the leaders is to facilitate the development of teachers so that they will have the power and ability to determine important things about their work and schools. As indicated above, recent development on school reform, organizational studies, teachers professional development, and school leadership all point to the importance of teacher empowerment. Empowerment is not easy and it can not be accomplished in a short span of time. However, it can invoke real thinking and learning as well as meaningful action. If teachers are directly involved in leading the improvement effort they, would act as leaders without occupying any formal leadership roles. (Ghamrawi N.2010,). Schools need to cultivate this largely untapped resource for change and improvement in schools by providing teachers with leadership opportunities, appropriate training, and professional support empowerment in short. (Rizvi M.,2008) .An active and effective teacher leader can directly impact the school, its teachers and most importantly the students. There seems little doubt that both district and school leadership provides a critical bridge between most educational-reform initiatives, and having those reforms make a genuine difference for all students. Such leadership comes from many sources, not just superintendents and principals. But those in formal positions of authority in school systems are likely still the most influential. Efforts to improve their recruitment, training, evaluation and ongoing development should be considered highly cost-effective approaches to successful school improvement. School principals have an important role to play in building teacher leadership capacity by promoting teacher leadership learning teams, helping them clarify their vision, and encouraging them to develop habits that will enable them to make the most of their collaborative efforts. Many researchers have tried to develop a link between the distributed leadership of school heads and principals and consider it an important step towards empowering the staff. (Harris, 2003). They consider that the leadership of the principal is necessary but not sufficient. The principal is also more likely to be seen by staff as a source of instructional advice, which suggests that they are both more accessible and more knowledgeable about instructional matters than their counterparts in otherwise similar lower achieving schools Ash and Persall (2000) also in agreement to the view that principals must create an environment that supports collaboration among teachers; provides time for teachers professional development; and recognizes, rewards, and celebrates the concept of the teacher as leader The crucial role of principal is evident from the survey reports of The American Teacher: An Examination of School Leadership (2009) which reports that many teachers fear their chances to influence decisions about their profession are eroding. Teachers believe that principals spend more time on reporting and compliance than on guiding and motivating teachers, but principals report that the reverse is true. Principals must change this perception so that teachers feel empowered as school leaders. IMPACT OF TEACHER EMPOWERMENT ON STUDENTS Empowerment is important for children, as well. If empowerment changes how teachers view their work, empowering children should improve their view of learning. The foundations needed for empowering teachers and children include respect, validation and success. Once empowered, the individual changes. Research confirms the important influence of the classroom teacher on student achievement (Leithwood et al, 2010). A key issue, then, is how the quality of teaching and learning within individual classrooms can be influenced and improved. They argue that educational leadership has a key influence on the quality of teaching and learning and thus student achievement Motivated, engaged students are central to lasting school improvement. It is a mistake to think that reform done to students by well meaning adults will be successful, since in the end it is students who must do the learning. Students can play an important role in school improvement when they are asked to do so and conditions created to allow them to do so. Until 1960s it was widely believed that schools made little difference to student achievement, which was believed to be largely predetermined due to heredity, family background and socioeconomic context. Opinion on the effect that schools, teachers and educational leaders can have on student outcomes has also fluctuated. The influence of educational leadership on teacher and student performance has generally been underestimated, and that measured direct effects of leadership, which some researchers have found to be very low, are outweighed by indirect and antecedent effects such as school history, context and organization, with school climate acting as an intermediate variable between leadership and classroom achievement (De Maeyer et al., 2007), As noted, school leadership traditionally focused on the principal but today it is recognized that there can be many leaders in a school, including deputy principals, heads of department, program and committee chairs and teachers; it is agreed and seen as desirable that leadership is distributed. Student and community leadership also need to be recognized. Studies show school leaders can improve student learning by enhancing the conditions or status of selected variables on the four paths, i.e., rational, emotions, organizational and family. Leithwood (2010) points out that school leaders and leadership researchers should be guided directly by existing evidences about school, classroom and family variables with powerful effect on student learning, when taking decisions about school improvement. In America endeavors are being made towards developing educators professionally with programmes like learning forward by National Staff Development Council with slogans like every educator engages ineffective professional learning every day so every student achieves Students are considered important ultimate stakeholders .While doing research on the effect of teacher control on series of outcomes Ingeroll (2007) concluded that these outcomes are directly connected to the distribution of power and control in schools. Schools fostering empowerment have fewer student misbehavior problems, show more teacher collegiality and co-operation among teachers and administrators. Donaldson (2006) views teacher leadership cultivates the will and the ability to improve practice by three streams .i.e. by attending to the quality of relationships, by keeping purposes and goals in mind and by focusing on improving children learning. This is how a close bond is established between the empowerment of self and its impact on students learning. CONCLUSION The pendulum has swung for teachers as change agents from the days of relative powerlessness when teachers were cast not only in a passive role but frequently in the role of active obstructionists (Charles, 1971). The educational research has come a long way in establishing theories through evidences and findings. Contrary to the discussions so far, most teachers are known to become disengaged from leadership roles. (Gronn, 2003) discusses the disengagement of school leaders-the shunning of leadership roles by potential candidates (i.e. teachers). He argues that the main cause is the amplification of professional work, describing the new work orders of educational leadership as long hours, endless demands, punishing pace and continual frustration-hardly an attractive proposition for those considering taking up leadership roles. The positive role of principals in fostering the transformation of teachers to participants in decision making ventures cannot be ignored. Similar observations have been recorded by Gokà §e (2009) in Turkish schools, where a significant difference was found between the opinions of teachers and school principals. Teachers expect principals to show more effective behaviour in the change process. Bush (2008) in an editorial quotes Leithwood et al.s (2006) assessment that leadership is second only to classroom teaching as an influence on pupil learning leading to the inevitable conclusion that head teachers, principals and senior staff should undertake specific preparation for the distinctive role of educational leadership and management., then, and only then can the teachers feel empowered to exercise control over the different domains in and outside the classroom. In a study conducted by Rhodes and Brundrett (2008) emerging from the focus group phase, empowerment, support and controlled risk taking, were endorsed by heads to contribute towards effective in-house leadership development .. A culture of trust and collaboration is essential, as is a shared vision of where the school needs to go.. In the developed and emergent teacher leadership schools, barriers to teacher leadership were mainly external to the school (Daniel Muijs and Alma Harris2007).They suggest that developing teacher leadership is not an easy process. It is closely related to re-culturing as it means a fundamental shift in the purposes and practices of the school Literature in favour of the role of teacher as a change agent in transforming learners includes James S. Pounder (2006), according to whom the third wave emphasizes that teacher leadership is a process rather than a positional concept. A fourth wave of teacher leadership could include transformational classroom leadership as one of the defining qualities of a teacher leader and could embrace both school and university contexts. According to Leithwood, K., et al (2004): There seems little doubt that both district and school leadership provides a critical bridge between most educational-reform initiatives, and having those reforms make a genuine difference for all students. Such leadership comes from many sources, not just superintendents and principals. But those in formal positions of authority in school systems are likely still the most influential. Efforts to improve their recruitment, training, evaluation and ongoing development should be considered highly cost-effective approaches to successful school improvement. In contradiction to the various theories put forward by the renowned researchers like Leithwood et al (2004) and Gronn (2003), and beliefs adopted by agencies like the National College for School Leader ship (NCSL) in England, David Hartley (2009) in the book Distributed Leader ship According to the Evidence, suggests a casual relationship between distributed leader ship and pupil outcomes. He suggests two outcomes of distributed leadership which we assume form the predecessor of empowerment of teachers; one being the organizational variable, the other effect is that upon pupils achievement. According to the co-authors of the book, there is no clear correlation between the pattern of leader ship distribution in the qualitative data and the student test results evidence. This is a notoriously difficult matter to measure, for it is not easy to isolate the direct effect of distributed leader ship as an independent variable as the policy-makers have been ahead of the evidence in their en dorsement of distributed leader ship as a means to bring about the effective school The optimistic views presented by the renowned authors opens many a venues for further researches in this context.. Teacher leadership research is well established in the USA and Canada and, in the last decade, it has become a focus of research activity in the UK. However, in Pakistan teacher leadership is relatively unknown as an area of research although, UNESCO and the World Bank are funding studies to develop strategies for teacher education and professional development. We have still to go a long way to recognize and change the mind-set of our school heads and principals to empower the teachers and include them in decision making and policy making activities. Muijs and Harris (2003), summaries the concept of teacher leadership, empowerment, and its governing factors as below, and accept that there is still a need for research in the UK. In summary, teacher leadership is centrally concerned with forms of empowerment and agency which are also at the core of distributed leadership theory It is concluded that teacher leadership could have beneficial effects on school improvement, school and teacher effectiveness and teacher motivation and retention, but that the right conditions need to be in place in order for teacher leadership to flourish. The lack of research on teacher leadership in the UK is noted. More than a decade ago, findings by Pounder, D.G. et al.(1995), pointed towards the lack of obvious leadership relations between levels-school district, school, and classroom-and their effect upon multiple measures of school performance. Much research has been undertaken since then, still the latest review of literature shows that there is a need to fill the void existing between a direct impact of teacher empowerment and the enhancement of students learning. We have to look further for measurable success indicators in order to produce quantitative results in support of the myriad of qualitative results that establish the positive association between teachers empowerment and student achievement.

Visual Codes and Conventions in the Painting: George Robinson Welcomes

Visual texts can be seen to be an attempt by their creators to represent particular ideologies to their viewers. It is the viewer's attitudes and values however, that determine the contemporary meaning of the image. The painting George Robinson welcomes Natives to Wybalenna, is a Colonial document portraying the Christianizing of indigenous people on Flinders Island. Visual codes and conventions employed in the image, such as positioning and framing depict the entwined values of white, patriarchal and Christian ideologies of the 19th Century. However, change in how society identifies itself, also changes the dominant ideology in its culture. Subsequently, the historical context of Post-Colonial attitudes and values in contemporary society, evoke a contemporary meaning in Robinson's painting, one of racial and religious prejudice. The convention of positioning is vital in constructing the Colonial ideology of Robinson?s image. It has the potential to provide the viewer with visual associations, which translate to language in the form of binary oppositions. For instance, the most c...

Managing Human Resources 16th Bohlander & Snell Essay

1.Place yourself in the position of general manager of a service department. How might formally written job requirements help you manage your work unit? 2.Discuss the various methods by which job analysis can be completed. Compare and contrast these methods, noting the pros and cons of each. 3.Why is accounting for employee motivation such an important aspect of designing today’s job? 4.The job characteristics model has five components that enhance employee jobs – skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. Give an example illustrating how each component can be used to improve the organization and the job of the employee. (Suggestion: Consider your present or a recent job to answer this question.) 5.Figure 4.6 shows the different forms of employee teams. Provide an example of where each type of team can be used. How do teams create synergy. 6.As a small business employer, explain how nontraditional work schedules might make it easier for you to recruit employees. CHAPTER 5 1.Name some companies with whom you have done business. Then discuss how you view their employer brands. Would you want to work for them or not? How might these firms improve their employer brands. 2.More than 50% of all MBAs leave their first employer within five years. Although the change may mean career growth for these individuals, it represents a loss to the employers. What are some of the probable reasons a MBA would leave his/her first employer? 3.In what ways do executive search firms differ from traditional employment agencies? 4.Explain how realistic job previews (RJPs) operate. Why do they appear to be an effective recruitment technique? 5.What contributions can a career management program make to an organization that is forced to downsize its operations? 6.What are some of the barriers to advancement opportunities for women and minorities in many organizations? CHAPTER 6 1.Is there a â€Å"best† employment process stepwise? What steps must come first and last? 2.What is meant by the term criterion as it is used in personal selection? Give some examples of criteria used for jobs with which you are familiar? 3.Compare briefly the major types of employment interviews described in this chapter. Which type would you prefer to conduct? Why? 4.What characteristics do job knowledge and job sample tests have that often made them more acceptable to the examinees than other types of tests? 5.In what ways does the clinical approach to selection differ from the statistical approach? How do you account for the fact that one approach is superior to the other?

the unknown essays

the unknown essays Hate, black and thick, blinds and engulfs the mind. Shame pushes him back to the hole from which he crawled. Fear inhibits the mind, body, and soul, rendering the three capable of only bad decisions. In the novel Native Son, by Richard Wright, hate, shame, and fear engulf the livelihood of the main character, Bigger Thomas. Using Bigger and his surroundings, Wright depicts how living under such conditions leads to seeking excesses of sex, religion, violence, and drugs. Furthermore, this lifestyle and its accompanying excesses make it impossible for one to see the sunrise of hope, struggling to break through the black sky. Although Wrights story depicts the life of one man in a very specific time period over fifty years ago, his philosophy of hate, shame, and fear proves equally true in the real world of the past, and in the real world of the present. Fear inhibits the mind, body, and soul like no other emotion can. The study of fear in relation to psychology defines it as the emotional state of the anticipation of danger. How can one lead a healthy life when perpetually anticipating danger? As exemplified in Native Son, and as is true in real life, leading a healthy life while in a constant state of fear proves impossible. Fear paralyzes the mind, rendering it unable to think properly. Bigger makes crucial decisions while paralyzed by fear, and these decisions prove exceedingly illogical. When the reporters discover the remnants of Marys bones in the furnace, Bigger decides in a whirlwind of fear to flee the house, confirming his guilt in the process. However, Bigger could have done a number of things differently and more intelligently to reassure his innocence. Fear inhibited his ability to make a rational decision, and this exemplifies only a single occurrence of Biggers problem with fear- it has been a part of his life since the day he was born. Living in a perpetual state of hate, shame, and fear drives one...

Self-sufficient Sustainable Community essays

Self-sufficient Sustainable Community essays Our community has at its heart a sprawling ten acre park that exhibits a wide range of indigenous plant and animal life. Walking and bicycle paths wind through the park, which also provides clean air within an otherwise urban area. Moreover, next to the park is a huge recreation center complete with a well-stocked public library and athletic facilities as well as a small independent movie theater. Streets in our community seem like natural extensions of the park, as they are lined with shade-bearing trees. We have instituted a moratorium on chain stores and restaurants: all businesses here will be independent, small-scale operations. The shopping district is walking distance from all the residences, which discourages vehicle traffic and encourages people to get some exercise and to take advantage of the pleasing aesthetics of the neighborhood. There is a moratorium on vehicular traffic in many parts of the community, and parking lots have been set up on its perimeters. The neighborhood is located near a hub of public transportation, offering direct connections to almost anywhere in the city. A large community garden, including a greenhouse, offers a space to grow organic vegetables and fruits so food is as fresh and local as possible. Waste water in our community is reclaimed to be used for agriculture. We have implemented a composting program that benefits the community garden directly. Residential consumption of tap water will be limited to prevent waste; tap water is also not chemically treated with chlorine. Our recycling program is extensive: we process just about every type of commonly-used material, as we have located markets for all of them. New homes and businesses are built using revolutionary building products made with recycled materials and no new lumber. All homes and businesses are being gradually transferred to solar and wind power, as we are easing our ...

IT Corporate Governance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

IT Corporate Governance - Research Paper Example The rational for the research paper is to investigate and analyze new trends in information systems application and their impact on information, effects on corporate design, structure and productivity. It is assumed that advances in technology, especially computer, information, and information technology, have presented organizations and managers with dramatic new challenges and opportunities, and researchers have been pressing to develop the theoretical and research grounding needed to understand and manage these developments. It is supposed that information technology allows a corporation greater decentralization of functions thus ensuring effective management and control. Computers, the Internet, electronic mail, and other forms of information and information technology make possible more elaborate and interactive networking of people and organizational units, both within and between organizations (Dine, 2000). Some organizations have moved away from traditional hierarchical and departmental reporting relationships to forms of virtual organization and dynamic network organization, in which a central hub coordinates other units that formally belong to the same organization, as well as organizations formally outside the hub organization (such as contractors or agencies with overlapping responsibility for public agencies), via e-mail and the Internet. Advances in IT reportedly lead to smaller organizations, decentralized organizations, better coordination internally and with external entities (Buck and Sha hrim 2006). Organizations acquire and distribute internally information to carry out the critical functions of decision-making. These activities require the processing of information. There are two perspectives on organizational information-processing: the vertical and horizontal perspectives. Vertical information-processing involves the acquisition of information from the environment and the distribution of information from boundary spanning units toorganizational members at various hierarchical levels. Horizontal information- processing involves the co-ordination of internal tasks by distributing information between organizational members within and between departments. Within the information-processing framework, information technology is one strategy in the organization's ability to process information (Danziger and Andersen 2002). An organizational design dimension, which relates the hierarchical level to the information-processing tasks at hand is the degree of centralization versus decent ralization of decision-making. Since decision-making requires the availability of unambiguous information, new information technology has the potential to shift the level of decision-making by providing access to information. This is one of the design dimensions to be investigated. Another vertical design dimension to be discussed is the hierarchy of authority. New information technology, by formalizing information-processing within organizations, is the resource that enables managers to report information. By enlarging the information options, new technology has the

Effects of Quality Management on Domestic and Global Competition Paper Research - 1

Effects of Quality Management on Domestic and Global Competition - Research Paper Example Japan is the home of most of the world’s best motor producing companies like Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi among others. General Motors Corporations is the world’s largest automaker whose headquarters are in the United States, but has branches in about one hundred and fifty seven countries across the globe. The ownership of the general motors is majorly by the United States government, which owns about sixty-one percent of the total shares. Others entities that have ownership of the general motors are the united Autoworkers, the Canadian government, and bond holders from the old company. General motors once experienced financial crisis in the late 2000s such that it threatened closure of most of its branches in North America (Kennedy, 2005). The American government however came in and funded the corporation. On the other hand, Naza is a Malaysian based industry whose main objective during formation was marketing and distribution of motor vehicles. It was not un til 2003 when the firm started production of bikes then motor vehicles in the year 2005. The company founded by a mogul Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin of Malaysia in 1975 was intended to import reconditioned cars. The company established itself and became an importer of luxury vehicles. The business expanded and in the late nineties, it franchised with South Korean carmaker thus expanded its portfolio of distribution. General motors is credited as the world’s number one automaker, and absorbs as many as hundreds of thousands of people across the world. Naza has absorbed hundreds of people, but the expectations are that it will recruit more members in the near future. The indulgence of the company into the manufacturing sector and mergence with other firms has seen its growth to a recognizable status. General motors has been generating a profit of about 4.7 million US dollars excluding the pensions cost and other expenses. In ranking as per income generation, the general motors took th e second position in the United States after Toyota (Cooney & Yacobucci, 2007). General motors have expanded globally and has gained worldwide recognition. It has main branches in North America, Asia, and Africa. For instance in Africa, General motors ventured back in 1920s but it grew and started assembling vehicles in1950. On arrival in Africa, the first situation of general motors was Egypt, which up to date is the only producer if traditional general motors branded vehicles (Kennedy, 2005). Apart from this, the industry has other branches in Tunisia, which assembles mainly Mazda and Isuzu models. In Kenya GM is situated in Nairobi and it assembles a wide variety of trucks and buses. General motors have its stations in other East African countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and central Africa. Naza on the other hand has its demand locally based though it has entered into contract with worlds distributors that make Naza the hub of their products specifically in Malaysia. In 2010, Gene ral Motors Corporation assigned Naza as the sole distributor of Chevrolet model in Malaysia. Naza also entered into contract with Piaggio group to distribute its main brands in Malaysia. According to Cooney & Yacobucci (2007), the products of general motors have repeatedly participated in the worlds racing championship winning many races. The recent invention from general motors, Cadillac V-series has also ventured in the racing championship. General motors did many research programmes for the market demands. This led to its mergence with various companies to

Social Desirability and Effectiveness of a Fat Tax in Countering Essay

Social Desirability and Effectiveness of a Fat Tax in Countering Obesity and Dietary-Related Disease in Canada - Essay Example Food labeling measures have been implemented for years, but despite such policies being in place, people in these nations continue to grow obese. Recently, most governments, especially in America, Europe and parts of Asia have or are considering implementing high tax policies on junk food. Experiences show that food tax policies are withdrawn later for their unintended consequences, with only a few exceptions of countries like Finland that seem to progress well with such policies. Thesis: This paper asserts that fat tax yields unintended consequences by impacting consumers differently in reference to regression effect, and there are challenges in altering consumer dietary behavior. Fat tax alone is an insufficient measure to solve the problem of obesity in any country; it would require combined policies and regulations by different responsible parties to alleviate the health problem. Each government has individually selected which food categories to impose the tax on. Some focus on levying high sugar foods, while others focus on fat saturation or the cholesterol content. These are some of the ways used to evaluate taxable junk food. However, defining junk food is complicated for the reason that it extends even into the healthy food types. First, not every meal that is served at the table even in sizable proportions is healthy or has the right nutritional value. Researchers classify vegetables and fruits among the recommended food types, others extend to healthy fatty acids which can be challenged when high-fat content is considered, but place a bias on the served fast foods at most outlets, targeting those prepared or manufactured with high sugar, salt, fat, cholesterol and fat-saturated or low vitamins contents. Others define unhealthy foods as a combination of the latter category but criticized to be rather harsh on the consumer.

Сrucial part of job Essay Example for Free

Ð ¡rucial part of job Essay And here the other job of the sales team will kick in because they have to go around to talk with the retail establishment, big and small, in the cities they are operating, which will require an extended travel as sometimes they have to cover the outskirts of the city as well as the outlying regions. There is a huge competition to get space in the crowded shelves of retailers that will have to be convinced that the product is worth their recommendation and meets all the legal requirements to be sold for the public, which is part of the job of the sales team to furnish proof and explanation. This is also a very crucial part of their job, although at times it could be done through the distributors. However, the smaller retailers that are not chain stores might have to be approached individually or it might be the job of the distributors to convince them to carry the new product that should attract many buyers because of what it is offering, which is not only unique but functional foods are new even for the general food market that is catering for the adult buyers. After doing that, the particular brand depending on its popularity might start to sell itself, where distributors and retailers would want to put it in their stock and on their shelves because it is selling well, and when that point is reached the sales team could say their job is partially done, but they can still search for new locations and retailers in the same regions or in other regions. The conclusion is the baby food market is a highly regulated market and it is similar to the pharmaceutical market where manufacturers do not have a direct access to the buyers and users of their products, because of the sensitive nature of what is involved, which is the life of young children whose growth could be harmed irreversibly if they are not given what they exactly need for their normal growth from the beginning. Even if there is no outright opposition to the existence of the breast milk substitutes, the authorities and other concerned groups would have preferred if mothers start using it between four and five months, but since that might not be possible because of the nature of the life of the mothers themselves who could be working outside of the home, which will result in their being time strapped, and instead of preparing food for their children at home it will be easier for them to pick the substitutes form the various stores and mix the feeding process with their own breast-feeding since it is proven to be vital for the children. Similarly, the existence of the breast milk substitutes will become handy for children whose mothers cannot breast-feed them for various reasons that were mentioned earlier, and in their case the breast milk substitute will come close to breast milk and they will grow up healthy as there are sources that are saying even if people simply wanted to believe that breast milk is better for the child and it will create some kind of bondage between mother and child, in reality the substitutes are proven scientifically to be as good as the breast milk if not better. Therefore, any company that is selling baby food, which has a global market of close to $21 billion a year will have to go over many hurdles to put the substitute on the hands of the mothers that will use it to feed their baby properly and everyone will be benefited at the end of the day. [10] REFERENCE 1. Nestle in Northern Europe. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. nestle. se/neobuilder/200108091943_6622_3b72cbb9544e1. html 2. Baby Food Business Assessment. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www.researchandmarkets. com/reports/3492 3. Baby Food Industry Lobbies WHO. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. bmj. com/cji/content/full/321/7273/1411 4. The Ecologist. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. theecologist. org/archive_detail. asp? 5. International Code. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. ibfan. org/english/resource/who/fullcode. html 6. Nestles Market War. HighBeam Encyclopedia. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-131934511. html 7. Breast Feeding. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. geocities. com/HotSprings/spa/3156/code. htm 8. Health Workers and the Baby Food Industry. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. bmj. com/cji/content/full/312/7046/1556 9. Nestle Public Relation Machine Exposed. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. babymilkaction. org/boycott/prmachine. html 10. Health-Conscious-Drive-Baby-Food-Market-Growth. Retrieved from the Web on April 5, 2007. www. rncos. com/Press_Release/Health-Conscious-Drive-Baby-Food-Market-Growth-July. htmÃ'Ž

Affirmative Action :: essays research papers

In the United States a process called Affirmative Action is used to help to overcome the affects of past societal discrimination by granting jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. The policy was implemented by federal agencies enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and by the Equal Employment Opportunities Act of 1972. While many people believe it is a step in the right direction in stopping employment discrimination, it is taking jobs from qualified persons because they are not of a certain race or gender, in turn doing the same thing that was done to minorities and women for years. I do not support affirmative action for several reasons. This policy would enable two people who apply for a job in an office building for the same position to be judged differently. One applicant is white and the other is black. Only one slot is available. The two applicants have the same exact level of education and work experience. They both have great recommendations and great credentials. According to affirmative action, however, the person of African American origin is automatically better qualified, in an attempt to â€Å"integrate† the work place of higher employment positions. So, in essence, the person of African American heritage is receiving the job only because he is a different race. Now, in the early 1970’s this policy was invented to help put a stop to racial discrimination in the work place, but with this policy you are doing the exact same thing you set out to stop, but to the other race. I do not think it is fair to integrate our work forces at s omeone else’s expense. One specific group of people that do not support the policy is, surprising to most, the Asian-American society. Many Asian Americans, specifically Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese, argue that affirmative action policies ultimately harm them. While these policies exist to help the underrepresented, they claim that they are over represented. Their argument is, therefore, similar to that of the white majority. They state that race-based policies such as affirmative action should be abolished based on the argument that group-based affirmative action hurt individuals. Those against affirmative action claim that eliminating affirmative action would increase the Asian American admission rate. They say that Asian American achievement and integration into American society is a proof that affirmative action programs are no longer needed and they hinder opportunities for "qualified" Asian Americans.

Escape in Dubliners :: Essays Papers

Escape in Dubliners In the novel Dubliners, James Joyce uses fictional stories to portray the society of Ireland during the early 1900’s. This was a time in Ireland when the attitudes of the Irish were negative and the society was regressing, and Joyce used these characteristics to illustrate the faults of the Irish people. He is able to accomplish this through the use of many different literary themes, which are used to show the humanity of the Irish people. The theme of journeys of escape is evident in many stories and is closely related to the humanities theme of autonomy and responsibility. Through their everyday experiences, the characters have to deal with many situations that deal with their responsibilities to society and feelings of self sufficiency. These themes are especially evident in the stories "An Encounter" and "The Dead" as the characters in each desire for escape from their current lives and situations. The story "An Encounter" is about two school children who take a day off fr om class to escape their boring everyday lives and journey outside Dublin. "The Dead," the Dubliners longest story, consists of many different interactions between characters at a party. In these two stories the characters attempt to escape their responsibilities in life and journey away from the life that is holding them back. The journeys in these stories represent the characters searching for something that will provide excitement and enjoyment in their life. In the beginning of "The Dead" a vast assortment of people are arriving at the annual Morkan’s dance. This dance is an event put on every year and all who are invited usually attend because everyone always has a very good time. During this time jobs were scarce and money was hard to come by so the people had difficult lives with the responsibility of providing the necessities for their families. The party gives the characters one night away from their every day lives to enjoy themselves and forget about all their responsibilities and troubles. The party provides this escape through a good meal, dancing, music, and simply a chance to interact with different people. This evening symbolizes that the Irish people did not have exciting social lives and probably spent most of their time and energy at work. The boys in "An Encounter" search for excitement in a different aspect than the social one of "The Dead". The boys around the neighborhood simulate the days of the Wild West everyday after school to provide excitement and fun in their lives.