Educational Purpose Essay Example for Free

Educational Purpose Essay Since childhood, I have always wanted to be an educator. This is because I have always considered education as an essential need. It is certainly because education makes one civilized. It is also through education that the potential of one person is maximized. Significantly, it is the way by which one gains knowledge which is very useful in everyday life. Education is also the means which will make it possible for individuals to achieve his or her dreams. In addition, education is necessary in order to mould one to discern what is right from wrong. Hence, education is one of the most important factors for people to exist in a peaceful and civilized society. Additionally, as widely recognized, being a teacher is the noblest profession. It is not only because teachers educate but also because they are considered as the second parent of the students. Hence, it is not only the intellectual aspect that teacher develops but also the emotional and psychological aspect of the student. Teachers are necessary in forming better persons in the society. Notably, in all these endeavors, the teacher does not merely exert effort and time but also extends care, concern, and love to his or her students. It is for these zealous purposes that I longed to be an educator. In the educational system today, many problems can be observed. The most common and old probably is diversity or socio-cultural differences. Even in the older times, diversity has always been a barrier for most of students. I had my own share of difficulty when it comes to the issue of socio-cultural differences. I have experienced being avoided in debates whenever I attempted to join. Being a person having a different skin color and language makes it difficult to be accepted by the majority. However, being different among the majority has challenged me to break the barriers that impede me from achieving my goals. I know that there are thousands who had experienced and is experiencing what I have been through. As such, I am inspired to make ways on eliminating diversity that hinders other students from pursuing their dreams. Meanwhile, school is considered as the second home of students. Hence, schools should be made as a place for freedom regardless of race, culture, gender, age, and socio-economic status. Another problem that is plaguing the education system is commercialization. Education has been said to be a right of every individual. However, as educational fees continue to increase, the burden to the poor is becoming heavier because the value is making it difficult for the poor to afford. Hence, education is becoming a privilege for the rich. Furthermore, the continued commercialization of education is affecting the quality of education because of competition among schools. At the same time, commercialization deviate the labor market and creates labor shifting. This happens especially when schools offer short courses when the employment demands for graduate courses. Education, as such, is one of the necessities for us to be able to achieve our dreams. A student goes to school to be educated so that someday he will have the employment he has desired for. However, the real situation would merely disappoint the student. It is of no doubt that the technological innovation has affected the drastic change in labor demand. In addition, the nation is also highly industrialized. Hence, the labor offered are those related to technology and industry. This fact puts the students of social sciences in a disadvantaged position because they have a narrower chance of employment in a highly technical and industrialized society. It has been said that education is the window to a student’s dream. Thus, the curriculum should correspond to the need of the society and at the same time aid in the fulfillment of the student’s dream.

Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds

Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds Dell Inc. is a premier provider of products and services required, for the building of information-technology and Internet infrastructures of customers worldwide. Its operations strategy focuses on mass customization marketing strategy, build-to-order production system, as well as on its production and supply chain designed for its agile and fast turnarounds. OPERATIONS STRATEGY Operating a plant owned by the company itself is one of the global manufacturing strategies of the Dell Inc. This is to bring their online operation in time, in achieving its goal of meeting the ever-growing customer needs. It also provides good proximity to an available workforce and supports the objectives of its logistics. In locating its possible plants, it places preference over strategic locations suitable to advance manufacturing and distribution companies serving the East Coast markets. Like Dells Winston-Salem plant who will produce their PowerEdge servers, PowerVault and the Dell/EMC products, and OptiPlex and Dimension desktop computers primarily for the US market. The said distributions advantages made it to be the companys site choice. This is its easy access to almost all of the major East Coast markets, within a one-day truck haul. INNOVATION Dell Inc. also operates as one of the highest-volume internet commerce sites in the world. According to a study done by Mainstay Partners, the returns of the company will come through cost avoidance in four principal ways. They are by the breakage of the buying cycle and maintenance of expensive proprietary hardware systems; by substantial reduction on administrative and database management costs; by a boost on system capacity while scaling as the business requires; and by raising its availability, thus, the potential for revenue-draining downtime is greatly reduced. The company uses a sales strategy that was a model of the lean efficiency. It involves direct customer sales, without the use of retailers or intermediaries. Through this high-efficiency business model, the company is able to keep low costs in bringing new technology to its market, faster than any companies, using indirect distribution channels. Dells marketplace advantage is brought up by its innovation together with its one-to-one direct customer communication. Another innovation is their web presence through the Dell.com, a massive channel for sale. In addition, the new system of Dell running Oracle 10g grid on Linux is another success on the companys part, as it does more work, more quickly compared to their previous one. Among its gains includes doubled session capacity characterized by stronger, more sustainable system performance; higher daily order volume, due to its improved performance and availability for users through the elimination of constraints and slowness; automatic distribution and balancing of the increased workload in case of node/s failure; and the elimination of system outrages, that cause gaps in line manufacturing and raises the chances of staff sent home. The new system delivers seven times the performance for only one-tenth of the cost. Besides, due to its improved performance and reliability, the company will be able to save around $4.6 million for over five years time, as projected by a study. Other area of potential value brought by the grid system is the automated storage management in Dells back office operations. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Moreover, Dell has become a poster child for outsourcing, using its emerging trend of near shoring. Near shoring refers to the companies practice of going offshore (but in countries with closer proximity to its home bases) in outsourcing its operations. Its success lies on its developed innovative supply chain together with its just-in-time operation. The latter combined more responsibility pushed onto suppliers with the outsourcing of non-essential functions. INNOVATION Dell broke into the big time by developing a business strategy and supply chain strategy that worked together. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Dells business strategy was differentiation through low cost, speed of delivery, and customer service. The major channel for sales was from customers to call centers. However, the emergence of the internet called for more differentiation and fundamental change. With a well understood business strategy, Dell began to formally integrate operational components (e.g., logistics, manufacturing, distribution, inventory management) and develop a supply chain strategy. The supply chain strategy focused at driving costs out of the supply chain being the low cost provider while at the same time supporting a business strategy emphasizing customer service QUALITY STRATEGY Dell Perot Systems has established, documented, and implemented an ISO 90001:2000-certified quality management system (QMS) that focuses on meeting customer requirements and enabling employees to do their jobs right the first time. The Dell Perot Systems QMS Manual defines and documents how requirements for quality are met. The design of the QMS is influenced by varying customer needs, particular objectives, the products and services provided, the processes employed, and the size and structure of our organization. We recognize that success comes from focusing on doing things right the first time, on time, every time, meeting customer requirements and exceeding their expectations. DELL HR At Dell, HR is divided into operations and management, explains Price. HR operations coordinates transactional functions, such as benefits, compensation and employee relations, through a service center. Staff members report directly up the chain through HR, and rarely have contact with business units. HR management includes Dell University, the companys education and training function; staffing; and HR generalists who report to both the vice president of a business unit and the vice president of HR. Management deals with tactical, rather than transactional issues. These HR employees attend the business units staff meetings as consultants; develop the leadership team; produce metrics for such things as turnover, productivity and cycle times; and develop an HR strategy for that particular line of business. This division between operations and management allows HR to efficiently focus on two different types of customers. Operations supports Dell employees in general, while management supports Dells business. During the education segmentation, we segmented our sales organization first, says Price, then began to prepare marketing and get brand management teams for each segment. Thats why having HR people in those lines of business is so critical they drive that. Dells HR management team assists in the segmentation planning process by handling HR issues, such as identifying personnel needs, working out lines of reporting and organizational charts, and defining training needs. HR consults strategically with the business unit but also works out the nuts and bolts of putting people where they need to be, with the necessary skills and training. IKEA IKEAs mission is to offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, excellent quality and durability, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them (IKEA 1994). Founder Ingvar Kamprads innovative strategy was to design functional furniture that was easy and inexpensive to build, receive it disassembled at stores, and display it on the showroom floor with detailed explanation tickets, making sales person assistance unnecessary. OPAs IKEA is operating just like a warehouse, it produces a high volume of furniture and products that could be self-assembled. The fact that IKEA can also be found in other countries allow for economies of scale and hence, IKEA is able to bring costs down with its high-volume production. The downside of this would be, as one customer puts it: I have something which everyone else in the world has. This product is not unique. Despite having a high-volume business, IKEA has a lean buffering capacity, with only a limited amount of stock bought to ensure that the possibility of unwanted stock is reducedERATIONS STRATEGY INNOVATION IKEAs furniture is value for money with a wide range of choice. It is designed to be stored and sold as a flat pack but is capable of easy assembly by the customer. The Swedish design emphasizes bold colors, styles and functionality. The company promotes products to be modular, allowing different variations of the same basic product to be customised to produce greater variety. This allows IKEA to provide greater variety for its productswithoutholdinglargeamountsofstock. Instead of having to wait for a sales personnel to service them, customers have the flexibility to move around and pick up what they want. They are free to browse through the showrooms and even pick up small items directly off the display shelves if they like to purchase them. There is no need to waste any time waiting for someone else to get it for them. HR AT IKEA IKEAs vision was To create a better everyday life for the many people. People included employees, customers, as well as the community. The companys human resource philosophy subscribed to the belief that employees were more productive and committed when the company took care of the mand their needs. IKEA adopted a paternalistic stance toward employees and their needs (as did many other Swedish companies) and promoted employee empowerment. However, although the company had a positive HR philosophy and offered generous benefits, their application was more or less standardized and policies applied uniformly to all employees. IKEAs positive HR policies were supported by a strong and nurturing culture that promoted diversity and creativity. Spiers-Lopez said IKEAs culture was characterized by a family-like quality that made relationships between employees strong and open.

UK Health Policies on Obesity

UK Health Policies on Obesity Social, economic and industrial changes have changed the patterns of life globally. Changes in diet and physical activity patterns have been central to the rise of obesity among many of the worlds population. Obesity was traditionally seen as a disease of high-income countries only, but it is now replacing malnutrition and infectious diseases as a problem transcending social divides. Obesity carries a higher incidence of chronic illness including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. This paper will critically evaluate the current UK and NI policies aimed at addressing the obesity epidemic. There will also be a discussion around definition of policies, role of government in healthcare, previous and current healthcare policies regarding obesity in both Britain and Northern Ireland. The official calculation for defining obesity was set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) where adults are registered overweight and obese using a formula of Body Mass Index or (BMI), that is a persons weight in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared (DWP, 2012). The main restraint with using body mass index as an indicator is that it does not distinguish fat mass from lean mass; so a person could be healthy and have a low body fat, but be clinically overweight if they have a high enough BMI. A person is thought to be overweight if they have a BMI of 25.0 or more and obese if the BMI is 30.0 or more. Obesity has three classifications: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Class 1 BMI 30 to 34.9 (waist perimeter 102cm plus for males and 88cm plus for females). Person is categorised as overweight à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Class 2 BMI 35 to 39.9. Person is classed as obese à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Class 3 BMI 40 and over. Is when a person with a BMI of 40+ is said to be morbidly obese (WHO, 2012). Policy originates from the government that are in power, who are also the legal authority and have a status and guidance over all policy whether they be private or public (Crinson, 2009). According to Crinson 2009 Health policy is hypothesised in terms of macro and micro social developments, with the macro level reading the working of social and formal structures, such as the economic context of the state and the market, and the National Health Service (NHS). The micro side focuses on the influence of policy from the level of the healthcare professionals and the experience of the users (Crinson, 2009). Policy making, according to a White Paper published by the Labour Government in 1999 states that it is a method in which a government interpret their political vision into programmes and actions in order to make changes that are required and wanted by the population (Cabinet Office, 1999). It was also focused on modernising the government schema (Cabinet Office, 1999a) and the need for more inclusive and reactive policys linked to peoples demands. It planned to guarantee that policy making was to become more forward thinking and evidence-based, as well as correctly assessed and based on best practice. It went on to note the need for improved evidence when addressing policy making and to ensure a more joined-up approach across government departments and agencies (Cabinet Office, 1999). According to the World Health Organisation health policy signifies decisions, plans and actions that are started in order to reach detailed health care goals within a society. It goes on to note that and clear and string policy can outline an idea for the future whilst helps to establish objectives and points of orientation. A health policy can also help to design a framework and build agreement in addition to informing people (WHO, 2006). There are three key policies areas within the Department of Health and they are National Health (NH), Public Health (PH), and Social Care (SC) (Kouvonen, 2012). The current theory has two dissimilar backgrounds; the first is a public policy analysis that is favoured by the United States and Northern Ireland. The second is favoured in the United Kingdom and is a social policy theoretical structure (Kouvonen, 2012). Policies are intended to improve on current provisions in health and social care in the UK and aim to guarantee services that are funded or supported by the Department of Health are delivered in an open and patient-centred way (www.dh.gov.uk). This was not always the case, as according to Crinson governments were indifferent to the type of care delivered within the healthcare service; that was the concern of the doctor. This was to change in the 1970s when the economy declined and tax revenue was reduced (Crinson, 2009). The roll of the state in providing health and welfare to the public according to Crinson 2009 takes the view that there are five diverse conceptualisations and they echo differences between political and conceptual actions of the role that the state should play when delivering health and welfare services (Crinson, 2009). The writer goes on to give examples of these conceptualisations one of which is the neoliberal prospective that influenced the change in the health and social welfare policies of the Thatcher Government in the 1980s (Crinson, 2009). In the Political-Economic Critique, according to OConnor et al welfarism serves to build consent for capitalism through the process of dividing the population into groups with specific needs. This he notes had the effect of individualising what are widespread social and health problems associates with living in a capitalists society (Gough, 1979). In a paper by David Berreby in which he asks the question, why do people get fat and risk major health problem?, He believes the answer to this question is capitalism and sites it as the main cause of global obesity (Berreby, 2012). Conversely in a programme series aired on the BBC on the 11th July 2012 the reporter Jacques Peretti reports that our eating habits were changed by a decision made in America 40 years ago. Peretti travelled to America to examine the story of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) a calorie-providing sweetener used to sweeten foods and drinks, chiefly processed and shop-bought foods. The sweetener was backed in America in the 1970s by Richard Nixons farming administrator Earl Butz to use additional corn grown by farmers. Inexpensive and sweeter than sugar, it rapidly found its way into nearly all convenience foods and soft drinks. HFCS is not only sweeter than sugar; it also inhibits leptin, the hormone that controls hunger, resulting in the inability to stop eat ing (BBC, 2012). This was backed up by evidence from Robert Lustrig an endocrinologist, who according to this report, was the first to identify the dangers of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). His findings however, were discredited at the time. and a US Congress report sited fat, not sugar, for the alarming rise in cardio-vascular illness and the food industry responded with a series of low fat and heart healthy foods in which the fat was removed. (BBC, 2012). Policy makers encouraged farmers to overproduce corn and soy with the promise of foreign trade (Philpott, 2008). It was also in the 1970s that Britains food manufactures used advertising drives to encourage the idea of snacking between meals. A fast food culture also developed and fast food chains offered tempting foods and customers served themselves, and according to Ritzer this was the beginning of McDonaldization of Society. He goes on to write how fast food restaurant contribute to the development of obesity and it emphasis on supersizing its portions (Ritzer, 2004). Conversely poverty increased in the 1970s under Thatcher Government and according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 1979 13.40% of people in Britain lived below 60% on median income before housing costs. With this came a big rise in inequality and under the gini score for Britain was up to 0.339 from 0.253 (Crib, et al 2012). Due to the comorbidities associated with obesity and their increasing cost to the NHS, the consequences of obesity are currently and will continue to be important public health challenges globally and in the UK. It impacts through society and across all life courses, and can increase the risk of life threatening disease (Kouvonen, 2012).Appendix 1. Currently there is a framework in Northern Ireland titled A Fitter Future for All, this agenda spans from 2012 to 2022. Within this paper it explains that in Northern Ireland 59% of adults are either overweight (36%) or obese (23%) (DHSSPSNI, 2012). This policy addresses the need to act from childhood based on evidence from the Foresight Report 2007, and is now a cross sectorial cohesive life course agenda that will address obesity over the next 10 years (Foresight Review, 2012). The Department of Health has published a follow-on document to the Public Health White Paper called Healthy lives, healthy people: A call to action on obesity in England, which sets new national drives for a descending trend in excess weight by 2020. The Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project presented its findings on 17 October 2007 and the Project aims to deliver a feasible response to obesity in the UK over the next 40 years. It also sets out examples of what is intended on a national level to help ch allenge obesity, one of these is called Change4life programme. In this programme it states it will help consumers make healthier food choices (www.dh.gov.uk). This could be linked to Professor Marmot point, when he discussed behavioural choices as individuals such as where to shop for food, and how these decisions are dictated by the individuals socio-economic circumstance, and if they can afford the recommended good food (UCL Institute of Health Equity, 2012). A fitter Future for All and Healthy Lives, healthy people are policies that both the British and Northern Ireland government support, but there are wider determinants of poor health such as poverty and inequalities that play an important role in obesity (HM Government, 2010). It could be argued that while policies such as these are targeting the causes of obesity, they are not actively seeking out realistic solutions to the problem; people may know they need to eat healthier, but simply cannot afford to buy the better food. In developing countries rates of obesity are inclined to rise, and this is associated with growing social disadvantage; addressing social deprivation and material disadvantage is likely to reduce obesity (Kouvonen. 2012). Socio-economic class as a factor in health is not a new phoneme in the United Kingdom, as it has a history of many hundreds of years. According to Edwin Chadwicks report on sanitary conditions of the labouring population in Britain in 1842 showed that in Liverpool the average age of mortality for people in the upper classes was 35 years, and 15 years for labours and servants (Richardson, 2008). Inequalities still exist today, but have improved and in the Black report published in 1980 it states that there are still inequalities with regard to life expectancy and the use of medical services (Whitehead et al, 1992). According to the Foresight report (2007) a government science think tank reported that most adults are already overweight. It goes on to note that modern living will ensure that upcoming generations will be heavier than the last, and by 2050, 60% of men and 50% of women maybe clinically obese. The report also states the obesity is a multifarious and there is no evidence anywhere in the world where obesity has reversed. Social policy frameworks are paramount according to this report (Foresight Review, 2012). The Marmot Report the third such officially approved analysis in as many decades probing the link between health and wealth. The findings confirmed an alarming social incline, the poor not only die seven years earlier than the rich, but they can expect to become disabled 17 years sooner. Professor Marmot continues to discuss behavioural choices we make as individuals are part of our social and economic settings. He believes that people born into more affluent milieu tend to adopt a healthy lifestyle, resulting in healthcare differences between the social classes (UCL Institute of Health Equity, 2012). In 2011 the Chief medical Officers (CMOs) from across the UK published new strategies for physical activity, and they addressed a life course methodology, and included guidelines for early years (www.ic.nhs.uk). It could be argued this is a blanket policy and it is widely known that poorer people have limited choices with regards to lifestyle choices such as gym memberships. Also the report appears to place the responsibility of exercise on the individual. People from poorer socio-economic backgrounds have poorer housing and environments that dont encourage physical exercise which could be due to social culture of where these people live and lack of resources (UCL Institute of Health Equity, 2012). Addressing overweight children that become obese in later life was issue raised by Dr Hilary Jones on Good Morning Britain, when he stated that obesity begins in childhood. He went on to say that the National Health Service and the Government know causes of obesity but actively preventing it in childhood needs to be addressed (www.gm.tv). Prevention of obesity is more achievable goal than addressing obesity when it becomes established, as some health problems that are acquired through obesity remain an issue even after weight loss. Therefore government policies are mostly directed at primary prevention of obesity such as eating well, exercise and no smoking (Kouvonen, 2012). Social determinants of health are also a key factor in obesity in both children and adults. According to the World Health Organisation the social conditions in which people live are paramount to their health. It goes on to note that lack of income, poor housing and lack of access to healthcare facilities are just some of the factors leading to inequalities (www.who.int). Medical care on its own cannot adequately improve individuals health and addressing where people live and work is also important The social determinants of health are the upstream social, economic, and environmental factors that affect the health of individuals and populations, including income, social support, education and literacy, employment and working conditions. Downstream determinants, which include physical activity, clean air and water and healthy housing. These factors can influence health inequalities difference between social groups that can result in obesity in poorer areas (Kouvonen, 2012). Incidents of Childhood obesity are higher in areas with a lower socioeconomic population according to National Health Service Information Centre report on obesity. It also states that obesity is more widespread in schools in disadvantaged areas. It also noted that with Reception children (children in the primary school age group) 6.9% of those in least deprived areas were obese, in comparison to 12.1 percent of children in most deprived areas (www.ic.nhs.uk). In Northern Ireland statistics show that 8 percent of children ages between 2 and 15 years are obese, according to the Health Minister Edwin Poots. The health Minister went on to say that the likelihood of obese children become obese adults was probable; this would put greater strain on the health and social care services due to the comorbidities associated with the condition (Northern Ireland Executive, 2012). Governments state that health policies are micro driven, but in reality it could be argued that they are macro driven as ultimately obesity will cost more in the long run due to obesity related illness such as diabetes and heat disease, and according to NHS website the cost will be  £4.20 billion per year (HM Government). Tackling obesity is a challenge for not only the UK, but globally and according to the Department of Health and Social Services Northern Ireland website, overweight and obesity will overtake malnutrition and infectious disease in terms of their cost to the health services and people suffering from the condition (www.dhsspsni.gov.uk). Appendix 2. It was not until 1999 that obesity was declared an epidemic in America and was considered to affect all racial groups and across all ages in United States (National Medical Association, 1999). According to the information published there was an increase from 12% to 18% over a seven year period using a body mass index (BMI) that was greater than 30 (National Medical Association, 1999). Historically obesity rates were low and unaffected until 1970s and 80s, and the obesogentic environment (an environment that encourages and leads to obesity in individuals that relates to the influence that contribute towards obesity such as food, physical activity and environment. Many broader determinants of poor health such as health inequalities, poverty and deprivation play a significant role, and these factors have not swayed over the years. In pre-war Britain large differences in mortality and morbidity levels between rich and poor were recognised as the norm by policy makers. It was the introduc tion of the National Health Service in the 1940s that brought with it hope that the social class differences affecting health would decline. It wasnt until the 1970s that the Marmot Report stated peoples lifestyle and circumstances have a direct effect on their health (Crinson, 2009). The health implications from obesity are immense and can ultimately result in a premature death. Although obesity is caused by intake of more energy through food and drink than needed and the resulting excess stored in fat in the body, the view that obesogenic environment also plays a part in obesity is becoming widely accepted. Social and economic circumstances are also evaluated in this paper as are the role of governments and policy makers, both in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The overall view of this paper would be that policies are made by individuals that have no insight into what part of society they are directed at such as deprived and socio-economic areas that lack the means and facilities whereby individuals feel that their contribution to society is valued and important enough for them to care about their own wellbeing. Policies are not directed at one specific group such and the one size fits all doesnt appear to be working as obesity is now a global epidemic. Bibliography BBC (2012) The Men who made us fat: episode 3, available at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kd06l (Accessed 06/11/2012 @ 20.05) Berreby, David. (2012). Is Capitalism To Blame for Worldwide Obesity? Available at http://bigthink.com/Mind-Matters/is-capitalism-to-blame-for-worldwide-obesity (Accessed 5/11/2012) Braveman, Paula. Egeter, Susan. Williams, R. William (2011) The Social Determinants of Health: Coming of Age, Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 32: 381-98 Cabinet Office (1999) Modernising Government White Paper: available at http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4310/4310.htm (accessed 05/11/2012) Crib et al (2012) Briefing Notes on Jubilees compared: incomes, spending and work in the late 1970s and early 2010s, available at http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/6190 (Accessed 12/11/2012) Crinson, Iain (2009) Health Policy, a critical prospective, SAGE, London Department of Health Public health (2012) Adult social care, and the NHS: Obesity Document, available at www.dh.gov.uk/health/category/policy-areas/public-health/obesity-healthy-living (Accessed 10/11/2012) Department of Works Pensions (2011) Causes of Obesity available at, http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/obesity (Accessed 05/11/2012) Department for Works Pensions (2011) Definition of Overweight and Obesity available at, http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/obesity (Accessed 05/11/2012) DHSSPSNI (2012) Framework for Preventing and Addressing Overweight and Obesity in Northern Ireland: 2012-2022, available at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/framework-preventing-addressing-overweight-obesity-ni-2012-2022.pdf (accessed 8/11/2012) DHSSPSNI (2011) Safety, Quality and Standards: Safety and Quality Policy Document available at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/sqs.htm (Accessed 6/11/2012) Foresight Review (2012) www.foresightreport.com (Accessed 08/11/2012 @ 9.50) GMTV (2012) www.gm.tv.uk (Viewed 07/11/2012 @ 7.47) Gough, I. (1979) The Political Economy of the Welfare State, Macmillan, Basingstoke HM Government (2010) Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England, available at www.official-documents.gov.uk (accessed 10/11/2012) NHS Information Centre (2011) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, available at http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/003_Health_Lifestyles/opad11/Statistics_on_Obesity_Physical_Activity_and_Diet_England_2011_revised_Aug11.pdf (Accessed 08/11/2012 @ 8.25) NHS Information Centre (2011) Obesity Rising Among Final Year Primary School Children, available at www.ic.nhs.uk/ncmp (Accessed 10/11/2012 @ 20.55) Kouvonen, Dr A. (2012) What is Health Policy?, Lecture Notes Week 1: Lecture 2 Kouvonen, Dr A. (2012) Current Issues in Health Policy: Obesity, Week 4: Lecture 2 National Medical Association (1999) Obesity Declared an Epidemic in the United States, J Natl Med Assoc. 1999 December; 91(12): 645 PMCID: PMC2608606 Northern Ireland Executive (2012) available at http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/news-dhssps/news-dhssps-08032012-obesity-cuts-life.htm (Accessed 08/11/2012 @ 20.15) Philpott, T (2008) A Reflection of the Lasing Legacy of the 1970s USDA Secretary Earl Butz available at http://grist.org/article/the-butz-stops-here (Accessed 7/11/2012) Richardson, W.B. (2008) The Health of Nations: A Review of the Works of Edwin Chadwick, Volume I. BiblioLife, LLC Ritzer, G. (2004) The McDonaldization of Society, SAGE, California UCL Institute of Health Equity (2012) Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England: Post-2010 (The Marmot Review), available at www.marmotreview.org (Accessed 9/11/2012) Whitehead, M., Townsend, P., Davidson, N., Daivdsen, N., (1992) Inequalities in Health: The Black Report and the Health Divide, Penguin Books Ltd; New edition (29 Oct 1992) World Health Organisation (2006) Commission on Social Determinants of Health, available at www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/csdh_brochure.pdf (Accessed 09/11/2012 @ 17.56) World Health Organisation (2012) Health Policy, available at www.who.int/topics/health_policy/en/ (Accessed 05/11/2012 @ 8.50) World Health Organisation (2012) Obesity, available at www.who.int/topics/obesity/en/ (Accessed 05/11/2012 @ 17.43) Appendix 1

Multicultural Education Essay -- Sociology, Ethnic Differences, Equali

Multicultural Children’s Literature Multicultural education must be integrated into the curriculum and focus on the appreciation of all cultures and ethnic differences. Much research has been documented supporting the use of high quality multicultural children’s literature as a powerful medium to develop varying cross-cultural understandings of perspectives concerning cultures, roles, insights, traditions and beliefs (Au, 2001; Callins, 2006; Howrey & Whelan, 2009; Lowery & Sabis-Burns, 2007; Mei-yun, 2007) . Teachers also can use multicultural literature depicting children's worlds as a means to bridge home and school cultures personally as well that of the students. Within Howrey and Whelan’s (2009) research project, utilization of multicultural children’s literature was used to enhance teachers to become culturally responsive educators. â€Å"According to Villegas and Lucas (2002), exposure to the literature of different groups can give future teachers access to the rich textures of people†™s lives, hopes, aspirations, dreams, disappointments, pains, and joys† (p. 27). Literature can be a powerful vehicle for understanding cultures and experiences different from our own. Howrey and Whelan (2009) research analysis concluded that multicultural children’s literature provides not only â€Å"a mirror on one culture and a window to another† for children, but for adults as well. (p. 132). In parallel, the work of Evans (2010) highlights the use of multicultural literature to address racial, ethnic, and linguistic equality. In this qualitative study, demonstrated that through using an innovative critical literacy practice with multicultural literature, students’ awareness and understanding of others was positively impacted. Over a period of ti... ... diversity of our society and understand that all teachers enter the classrooms with personal social identities and cultural biases. Respecting, valuing, and celebrating personal and students’ unique strengths foster in creating equitable classroom communities. Taking the time to develop appropriate knowledge bases, having high expectations for all students, providing a welcoming environment, and working with family members and the community, depict a multicultural classroom atmosphere. Sheets (2009) provides on culturally responsive instruction, â€Å"it is important to become conscious that the arduous journey from novice to expert requires hard work, relentless commitment, and a high investment of time and energy† (p. 17). All teachers must continually acquire the ability to apply and translate ideologies immersed within diversity to enable all students to achieve.

Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay -- Kate Chopin Awakening Essays

Kate Chopin's The Awakening Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening expresses the difficulty of finding a woman’s place in society. Edna learns of new ideas such as freedom and independence while vacationing in Grand Isle. Faced with a choice to conform to society’s expectations or to obey personal desires for independence, Edna Pontellier realizes that either option will result in dissatisfaction. Thus, Edna’s awakening in Grand Isle leads to her suicide. Edna’s awakening occurs during her family’s vacation in Grand Isle. It is here that she learns to freely express herself and be unreserved in her behavior and speech. Through the Creole women, Edna becomes free from the chains that bind her to societal expectations. Adele initiates Edna’s arousing as does the local flirtatious man, Robert Lebrun. It is at Grand Isle that Edna feels most alive: engaging in idle talk, flirting unabashedly, receiving loving attention from a man, paints, learning to swim, an awareness of independence, and becoming conscious of her sexuality. Through the contrast of her experiences (depression when at home and joy when playing at sea), Edna recognizes an awakening, or a change, within her self. She discovers a part of herself separate from her husband, children, and previous life. This discovery fuels her incendiary rejection of her domestic responsibilities when she returns to her home in New Orleans. This ignites the passiona te fire of her heart, causing her to shake previous responsibilities, open a house independent of her husband to quench her sexual desires, and liberate herself from domestic restraints. Conclusively, Edna’s vivification causes her to feel responsible for only her passions and urges, neglecting remaining responsibilit... ...nt for personal independence. It is only through the futile attempts to investigate which option (convention or passion) is best that Edna realizes there is no appropriate choice to be made. Edna recognizes, through her awakening, the existence of two entirely unlike female models of society. Neither of the models fit her, and thus, she stands in societal purgatory waiting, in vain, for some sort of epiphany as to which model is best for her. She cannot fully connect with either female model, nor can she remove connections that bind her to each. She is unwilling to compromise. Through her stubborn frigidity, Edna chooses a non-choice, to surrender to the author of her awakening: the sea. From the sea, Edna learns of her independence. Into the sea, Edna surrenders society’s undesired requirement of action. The sea becomes both the giver of life and provider of death. Kate Chopin's The Awakening Essay -- Kate Chopin Awakening Essays Kate Chopin's The Awakening Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening expresses the difficulty of finding a woman’s place in society. Edna learns of new ideas such as freedom and independence while vacationing in Grand Isle. Faced with a choice to conform to society’s expectations or to obey personal desires for independence, Edna Pontellier realizes that either option will result in dissatisfaction. Thus, Edna’s awakening in Grand Isle leads to her suicide. Edna’s awakening occurs during her family’s vacation in Grand Isle. It is here that she learns to freely express herself and be unreserved in her behavior and speech. Through the Creole women, Edna becomes free from the chains that bind her to societal expectations. Adele initiates Edna’s arousing as does the local flirtatious man, Robert Lebrun. It is at Grand Isle that Edna feels most alive: engaging in idle talk, flirting unabashedly, receiving loving attention from a man, paints, learning to swim, an awareness of independence, and becoming conscious of her sexuality. Through the contrast of her experiences (depression when at home and joy when playing at sea), Edna recognizes an awakening, or a change, within her self. She discovers a part of herself separate from her husband, children, and previous life. This discovery fuels her incendiary rejection of her domestic responsibilities when she returns to her home in New Orleans. This ignites the passiona te fire of her heart, causing her to shake previous responsibilities, open a house independent of her husband to quench her sexual desires, and liberate herself from domestic restraints. Conclusively, Edna’s vivification causes her to feel responsible for only her passions and urges, neglecting remaining responsibilit... ...nt for personal independence. It is only through the futile attempts to investigate which option (convention or passion) is best that Edna realizes there is no appropriate choice to be made. Edna recognizes, through her awakening, the existence of two entirely unlike female models of society. Neither of the models fit her, and thus, she stands in societal purgatory waiting, in vain, for some sort of epiphany as to which model is best for her. She cannot fully connect with either female model, nor can she remove connections that bind her to each. She is unwilling to compromise. Through her stubborn frigidity, Edna chooses a non-choice, to surrender to the author of her awakening: the sea. From the sea, Edna learns of her independence. Into the sea, Edna surrenders society’s undesired requirement of action. The sea becomes both the giver of life and provider of death.

American Agricultural Family History

The Family in History as we would hear perhaps from old folks who are still living in some rural areas is a picture of husband and wife and kids living simply outside urban area. According to Arlene Skolnick, â€Å"throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, well over 90 percent of the American family lived in small rural communities† (Skolnick 79) and every one is busy as all members of the family work be it in the farm, or in a shop, or maybe in the home.In Skolnick’s comparative study of the families then and now, she only noticed slight difference and this is in terms of size of family members. She noted that a â€Å"typical house hold in the 1790 included about 5. 6 members compared to about 3. 5 today† (Skolnick 79). During this period, married women were usually home maker specially those who belong to middle class family, but poor married young women and widows worked in the factories. Mara Dunleavy noted that during the early 1800s adult female role include the responsibility to have children and to care for them.She also had to take care of the house under her husband’s supervision. Also, she is expected by her husband in farm or garden labor. The husband on the other hand is responsible for the financial needs of the family. During this period, most men had farm or were working as farm laborers or what ever skill that got them employed. The husbands were also responsible to support and defend his family, and are expected to be strong, independent and reliable. They were to work in the field and to market his farm product.The married women role of running the household and to care for children were indeed a full time job as it also includes cleaning the house, preparing and cooking the foods, bottling and canning the produce of the farm, and provides for all the need of the husband and the children as well. Children had also their own role. They were taught these roles at their young age particularly how to farm for the boys an d how they could provide for in their families in the future. Children were also sent to school and were taught the basic academic subject as higher education was available during this time.Girls on the other hand, were taught the household chores and some basic education, but higher educations were not available for women until 1837. Dunleavy pointed out that even when higher education were opened for women in 1837 but it only offered limited degree not enough to provide them career alternatives, rather they were taught how to be a good wives and mothers. Arlene Skolnick pointed out that â€Å"differences between the American family in colonial times and today are not at all stark; the similarities are striking† (Skolnick 79).But these similarities could maybe only apply in the social climate of both periods. Indeed there is a striking contrasts in the roles those men, women and children that they are now doing and the roles that family members had assumed during the colonia l times. How Have Things Change Skolnick noted that during the civil war period American attitudes toward the family had profoundly changed. The reason for this is the gradual transformation of America into an urban, industrial society during the early decade of the 19th century.Skolnick further noted that in 1820, â€Å"less than eight percent of the population lived in cities but by 1860 it rose to twenty percent and by 1900, that figure had doubled. But the benefit of industrialization did not immediately affect the structure of the family† (Skolnick 80) However, there was a decline in the size of the family though most of the social condition remained about the same. But the industrialization had a lasting effect on the family as the whole members don’t have to work as independent workers. Men can work in the offices and factories while wives concentrate in the house to take care of the children now going to school.Mara Dunleavy contends that during the twentieth c entury, women’s role gradually moved into male dominated labor force and the home became a meeting place mainly for the family to gather together. According to Clarence Roberts, during the industrial revolution period men worked too far from their home and were usually tucked away in offices or factories (Roberts). Men became the bread winner to a great extent of the family while women left in charge of the children and the home. Roberts pointed out that this was thought to have helped destroy the equalitarian position of women in the family.During this period too, Roberts noted that children could now help earn for their families as they could work in factories even with out the approval of their elders. Roberts further noted that home training and instruction was now replace by formal education in public school and work in the factories. Dunleavy pointed out in his article published on line entitled â€Å"How Changing Sex Roles Have Affected the Family Unity in the United Stated,† that during the World War II there was a large shortage of men. Because of this shortage, women took the vacancies as men were sent abroad to join the war.Women took active roles in the male dominated work traditionally. Since then, women’s roles broaden and some began making careers outside of their homes for themselves. Since then up to now, more changes had taken place although children still work but authorities see to it that it would not hinder their education, thus making work schedule only on Saturdays. How Have They Remained the Same? There is no doubt that everything about the family life had changed to a great extent. The traditional family had also changed and even affected by this change because of the women’s quest for equality with men.Many things reflect great changes in the family life since the 1800s. Perhaps the only thing that has not significantly change is the social climate which still features almost the same social condition. Ear ly premarital pregnancies, abortion, marrying age, premarital sex, and divorce were just some of the issues of the past that still ring in the present society. It was in this area that Arlene Skolnick noted that there was striking similarities between the families of the past and the families of the present. Why do you Think that something have Changed Over time?There were indeed some things that had changed over time in the lives of the families in history. One of these things is, with the rise of industrialization men went to urban cities to seek for work in factories or offices for their families. Their farm lives were suddenly left behind, and the duties of the wives had changed from equally working with men in the farm to just manage the home and to take care of their children. This change went over time that women found themselves already in the situation, before they realize their utter dependence on their husband.The reason for this is nothing else than economic. Men sees th e opportunity for economic advancement which their farm lives could hardly provide. Family relationships particularly extended families have changed over time as every one had the opportunity to work. The once conjugal work of the disappeared and was replace by men as bread winner of the family. Children too have had experienced changed over time as they were now income earners too. All these changes were hue mainly to the economic opportunity bought by the advent of industrialization and the men’s desire to improve their family lives.Work Cited Dunleavy, Mara. â€Å"How Changing Sex Roles Have Affected the Family Unit in the United States. † Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/6/82. 06. 09. x. html Roberts, Clarence Jr. â€Å"The Changing Family: How Changes in the Family Reflect Social and Economic Changes in Society. † Yale-New Haven teachers Institute. Vol. 4, 2007 http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/curriculum/guides /1990/4/90. 04. 08. x. html Skolnick, Arlene. â€Å"The Paradox of Perfection†(given file)

A Gun- Never Friend with Peace

Is it possible to have a gun-free environment? Yes it is, if only everyone will maintain a harmonious relationship with each other, if everyone will help in obtaining peace and if everyone will not bring guns.â€Å"To some people, gun means independence, protection and defense.†   (Harcourt, Bernard. Language of the Gun: Youth, Crime, and Public Policy, University of Chicago Press 2006).How can it be that gun possession law is a need for personal safety? For me, it is unnecessary to have a gun possession law for one’s safety.Gun at times is the source of injury and worst of all death. Some gun owners abuse the use of their guns.Since the early times gun abuse is already present.In the 19th century and early 20th century cheap revolvers are called â€Å"Suicide Special†. What does this really mean? Suicide special is a mass manufacture of cheap guns and many suicides were committed with this kind of guns.  The purpose of Gun Control Act of 1968 is said not to control guns but rather to control blacks and minorities. (Sherrill, Robert. The Saturday Night Special, New York, Charterhouse: 1973, p. 280-91.)The Gun Control Act didn’t control the use of guns but instead gun owners use their guns to terrorize and discriminate other people.Cheap handguns are widely use today because minorities and even the poor can easily afford it. Cheap handguns have a magnetic effect on students. Before, schools are safe refuge from violence. In recent years, there is a shocked because of multiple killings in schools caused by students. (Elliot et al.   Violence in American Schools: A New Perspective, Cambridge University Press 1998).Why did this happen? It is because of laws that legalize the possession of guns. A handgun means fame to students, fame that leads to an abuse on its use.Power is often associated with guns and youngsters are attracted to the feeling of having the power to control others in their own hands. Violence in schools due to gun s is also present. Students’ rivalry regarding to academics, partners, and peers often causes group nuisance and killings.   Since handguns are inexpensive, there will be no control on the illegal or even legal possession of it. So what is the use of a law n gun possession if the production of it is uncontrolled? It is worthless.Weaponry is seen as a central stimulus to the commission of aggressive acts. The use of handguns causes fear and loathing effect in the environment. . (Wright et el.   Under the Gun: Weapons Crime and Violence in America, Aldine Transaction1983)Guns are also associated to burglary. Robbers use guns and sometimes use synthetic guns to threat their target.Homicide is also associated in the abuse of the use of guns. Let’s take for example a professional man who caught his wife with another man. The scene is the wife is having an intimate affair with another man, her husband caught her in the middle of the act and due to great anger and shame h e pulls his gun shoot his wife immediately. The point here is that if the husband doesn’t have a gun, things might change and instead of killing his wife he might just talk to her, clarify things and get a divorce.In order to obtain a gun free world according to the gun free groups is to ban laws regarding gun possession. Let’s try imagining enactment of laws which forbid all non-government posses’ decree involves mainly those who are ready to obey them.When there is a discontented must — and money to be made — there is more often than not a way just about the law. In the black market where restricted goods are illegally sold at a higher price, guns are sold privately. There were as many as 2 million illegal guns on the street in 1993.The implication were that all those guns were in the hands of criminals, and the insinuation was that seizing the guns would make the city a safer place.Laws imposing now globally aren’t good enough. A steel ha nd in imposing the law might give real teethFor our, government, possession of guns won’t help. As long as officials are allowed to have guns, there will always be gun manufacturers. Government officials sometimes protect gun manufacturers for their own sake. They might even corrupt and supply guns to the black market.Kleptoracies is a form of dictatorship. In our world, most of our leaders are kleptomanias. We don’t like Kleptoracies in our government. Gun laws are used to deceive tax payers so that they can corrupt more for their own fortune.Gun laws is good but don’t we think that we’re being too unmotivated? Gun law is not enough to secure personal safety for ourselves.Peace is in our hands. Let us change our strategies. Imagine, aim and create a gun-free world and don’t just wish for laws.   Vanish all the guns evens those who are owned by government and its officials. Close all the gun factories, too. Let’s start a new and clean begi nning.Peace for all.Bibliography:Elliot et al.   Violence in American Schools: A New Perspective, Cambridge University Press 1998.Harcourt, Bernard. Language of the Gun: Youth, Crime, and Public Policy, University of Chicago Press 200.Sherrill, Robert. The Saturday Night Special, New York, Charterhouse: 1973, p. 280-91.Wright et el.   Under the Gun: Weapons Crime and Violence in America, Aldine Transaction, 1983.