Bell-South HR benefits essays

Bell-South HR benefits essays Looking for a challenging career and a great place to grow? BellSouth can provide you both. As a leader in the fast-changing telecommunications industry, BellSouth offers you a range of career and growth possibilities. Here's what makes BellSouth a great place to work: A dynamic professional environment where you can put your creativity, enthusiasm and team spirit into action. A nationally recognized benefits program Training/education opportunities for your future A diverse culture based on integrity If this sounds like what your looking for, take a look at the links below to learn more about BellSouth and your opportunities for career growth. Professional Growths and Development BellSouth provides professional growth and development opportunities that few companies can match. Whether you're interested in developing the skills of your craft, learning new technology or honing your leadership style, our BellSouth University team will take you there. We have four learning institutes designed to meet the needs of employees in customer care, sales and marketing, network services and leadership roles. If you join BellSouth, you have our commitment that we will equip you with the training you need for your first day on the job, as well as for your future, if you choose to pursue an exciting career with our company. Chances are that you won't stay with one company for your whole career. But, BellSouth wants you to know - you could - and not be bored. Promotions from within, and the variety of job tracks we have, make opportunities limitless. It's a great place to build a career. BellSouth has a Tuition Aid Plan that's right for you. Whether you're considering going back to school for a technical degree, bachelor's or master's degree, or even a doctorate, BellSouth can get you there. Our Customers: We are driven by the needs of our customers. We understand our customers' needs and ...

If You Had Taken a Different Path Ice Breaker

If You Had Taken a Different Path Ice Breaker Almost everyone has wished at some point that they had taken a different path in life. We get started in one direction, and before long theres no turning back. Sometimes this isnt that big of a deal, but what a tragedy it is when a life so full of promise gets off track and derails. It can seem like theres no way to change direction. Wouldnt it be wonderful if simply stating the desire for a new path could inspire it to action? Cant hurt to try. Use this easy ice breaker game to find out if your students are in your classroom to find a new direction. Ideal Size Up to 30. Divide larger groups. Use For Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting. Time Needed 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the group. Materials Needed None. Instructions Ask each participant to share their name, a little about the path they chose to take in life, and which path they would choose today if they could do it all over, knowing what they know today. Ask them to add how the different path is related to why they are sitting in your classroom or attending your seminar. Example Hi, my name is Deb. I have been a training manager, performance consultant, editor, and writer. If I could start over and take another path, I would study creative writing more and start my publishing career much earlier. I’m here today because I’d like to include more history in my writing. Debriefing Debrief by asking for reactions to the choices that were shared. Were the changes people would make just slightly different or completely different? Is it too late to change paths? Why or why not? Are people in your classroom today because they’re working toward that change? Use personal examples from the introductions, where appropriate, throughout your class to make the information easier to relate to and apply.

Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Microsoft - Essay Example The products offered by Microsoft include; Windows, Office; entertainment products such as Xbox 360 and others and all these products are relatively price inelastic. The demand of these products is very high and as it has been found that people have become accustomed of using products offered by Microsoft. As people are willingly purchasing products of the company such as Microsoft Word is being purchased although people have the option to use Word already installed in Windows, therefore it shows that people are ready to buy products of Microsoft. Therefore the products offered by Microsoft are relatively price inelastic despite of the increasing investment made competitors such as Apple. Although the market has become a lot more competitive than it was few years back. Therefore Microsoft has to continue working hard to improve their existing products. Microsoft has been working to enhance its revenues and following strategies have been suggested on how Microsoft can improve its revenues: a. Microsoft can segregate its products on the basis of the consumer demand and then analyze the relatively price elastic or relatively price inelastic of each of the product of the company. This would allow Microsoft to understand and analyze how the total revenue of the company can be increased by considering each and every product. For instance, Microsoft Word can be considered as highly price inelastic and its demand would not change drastically even if the company increases its price by 15%. So in such cases, to increase the revenues the company should increase the price. Similarly, if the price of a product is relatively elastic, then it could analyze the price at which the company would be able to achieve maximum profits even if they have to reduce the price of the product. b. As it has been found that consumers are still facing issues like unemployment, higher prices

Jim Crow and Black Migration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jim Crow and Black Migration - Essay Example The uproar, mostly in south, was a clear indication of racial inequality for African-Americans. The invitation laid a foundation stone for the complete acceptance and integration of blacks in American life. Washington eating dinner with Roosevelt and his family at one table conveyed a clear message of social equality both to southerners and African-Americans. At the time when America was not ready to confront such issues, Roosevelt’s decision helped to further the cause of African-American communities. Washington was struggling for racial harmony and the President strongly encouraged him through dinner invitation at the White House. Despite racist personal attacks from several politicians in response to the invitation, President’s effective governance enabled him to further the cause of black equality in America. Washington was already enjoying wide financial support in the black community and Northern whites. However, he required support among high political figures to the resistance in the South. President Roosevelt’s dinner with Washington helped remarkably to improve the working relationship between the races.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay To what extent is Corporate Social Responsibility beneficial to a company’s performance? In the 21st century, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an important, if not essential, for businesses. In addition to basic law compliances, the focus of the consumers as well as the business world now include the impact the company has on the society and on the way they use recourses (Davis, 2010). CSR has become a contributing factor to a company’s financial performance. This is supported by the issued figures of sizeable direct contribution from CSR to a company’s profitability (International Corporate Social Responsibility Conference, 2006) from analysis of notable companies. CSR is believed to have assisted companies both externally and internally. 70% of European consumers express that they are ready to pay more on goods produced by socially responsible companies (CSR Magazine Europe, 2000). On the other hand, CSR is suggested to be one of the qualities employees would like to seek. As Copeland (2003), former CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has highlighted, the best professionals in the world want to work for companies that exhibit good corporate citizenship. This essay aims at advocating Corporate Social Responsibility as a beneficial policy to a company’s performance through improving customers’ perceptions and employees’ work performances, and thus, can possibly result in a boost of company’s performance, particularly financially. A company’s revenue is mostly generated from customers. The Service-Profit Chain stated that customer value is one of the two factors that will heighten a company’s revenue and hence the company’s profitability( Zeithamal Bitner, 2003). Therefore, a company’s financial performance is affected by how customers value a company’s products. CSR is believed to be a factor that adds value to the product as well as the overall reputation of a corporation. According to Cone Communication (2012), 82 percent of consumers state that they are more likely to purchase a product that clearly demonstrates the results of the companys CSR initiatives. Further more, in the survey conducted by Woolley (2012) that make comparisons between two similar products, the Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola; over half of the respondents say that they would switch to the alternative provided if it offers more in terms of CSR. In fact, CSR influences consumers’ decision in a way that they tend to be in favor of their company than the competitors that are doing poorly in terms of social responsibility. This creates loyal customers. Hallowell and Schlesinger (2000) illustrated that customer loyalty drives company’s profitability by minimizing marketing and operating cost. Those are achieved through consumers’ confidence with the company’s products, word of mouth and familiarization of the company’s operation system. This results in a higher profit for the company. While the gain from maintaining a good reputation through CSR initiatives may not seem evident, the adverse effect by a socially irresponsible decision on a com pany’s revenue is much easier to observe. In 1980s, Nestle, the world’s largest producer of breast milk substitutes was boycotted because of its infant formula and way of unethical marketing, which contributed to the unnecessary death and suffering of infants in developing countries. The boycott was widespread globally and Buffle (1986, p. 13) estimates $770 million to $ 1540 million sales were lost. It shows that corporations who are being socially irresponsible may have to face severe consequences, including decrease in profits, damaged reputation and lower preferences. To conclude, CSR is likely to uplift a company’s image in customers’ perceptions, earn a higher preference and improve a company’s performance, which mostly will reflect directly from its higher revenue and profitability. CSR benefits a company not only externally but also internally; not only by increasing revenue but also decreasing costs across various aspects. Good CSR practices can help to attract new and talented employees. According to the research by the resourcing communication agency Tenney Clemons Saarelainen (TCS), 44% of employees express an organization’s CSR policy is likely or very likely to affect their decision to apply for a job within that organization. This may result in a lower advertising cost for hiring. Further more, cost of retaining staff can also be reduced by enhancing morale and hence commitment to the corporation. As CSR initiatives within a company includes providing employees’ a work life balance, a safe and more comfortable work place and being environmental friendly in the office, these require employees’ participation and team building. Sharma and Devi (2009) argued that it helps to build positive team spirit in the organization and creates a ‘winning’ environment at the workplace. The dedication from the directors will also result in improving employees’ satisfaction. This is reinforced by the investigation result by Rittippant.N, Tangthuttong.A, Sinyodyeam.J and Aurjongmanee.A (2011) which stated that there is a positive significant relationship between organizational’ members perception of CSR and organizational commitment, which is coherent with the previous studies. On the other hand, Heskett et al (1994) stated that satisfied employees are more productive and produce a higher service value. With more satisfied employees from the well-organized CSR initiatives, a company is expected to be more efficient and thus fewer wastage and errors. The improved quality of services is expected to delight consumers and increase their satisfaction, which can further enhance the value of products. Conclusion In order to heighten a company’s revenue and hence the company’s profitability, increasing revenue or cutting costs can be one of the solutions. Corporate Social Responsibility benefits a company in the way that it may achieve both options at the same time. On one hand, it is likely to be able to enhance the image of the company and increase customers’ preferences, and achieve higher revenue; on the other hand, it tends to reduce operating costs on advertising, retaining employees and wastage for corporates. The combination of increasing revenue and decreasing cost may result in a boost of the company’s financial performance. By analyzing how customers and employees react towards socially irresponsible behaviors by companies, it is observed that both customers and employees have become more and more engaged in CSR. According to Strandberg (2002), one of the top trends around which there is consistent agreement is the increasing importance of stakeholder engagement in the future of CSR. However, whether or not there would be a conflict of interests between CSR and marketing strategies, operating strategies or human resources strategies is yet to be explored.

Killer Whales - The Orcas Essay -- Research Essays Papers

Killer Whales - The Orcas Killer whales are one of the most fascinating displays of ocean life. The killer whale has characteristics that are important to its survival in the ocean. It is interesting to know that killer whales have a plentiful diet. It is astounding to see how killer whales behave in the ocean. I plan to tell you about the killer whale, its characteristics, its diet, and its behavior in the ocean as well as the predation of the orca. Orcinus orca is the scientific name for the massive marine mammal. Orcas are not rare, but have declining numbers in some areas (Martin.) Orcas are found from the Artic Ocean to the Antartic Ocean. (Britannica) They belong to the Delphinidae, or dolphin family, which is the largest of their species. Female orcas grow to be at the most 15 feet, and weigh up to 4 tons, but the males can grow as large as 20-30 feet, and weight up to 8 tons. (Martin) The color of the orca is white in some spots, black on the majority of the body, and gray just behind the dorsal fin. It is white on the chin, belly and the eye. The white patch above the eye is usually mistaken for the eye, and may confuse their prey, but acts as a camouflage for the eye. The name â€Å"killer whale† makes people tend to believe that this is a viscious man-eating mammal, yet it is one of the most shrewd, docile and playful species of the marine mammals. The orca is sexually mature at 10-15 years of age, much like humans, which is 12-13 years of age. They tend to mate year round, and is able to have a calf every two years. It is interesting to know that lactation of the mother lasts 12 or more months (Wynne.) The life expectancy of orcas is 45-50 years of age. The orca has some distinctive features. The do... ...own to circle its dead for hours until dying itself. It puts its own life on the line when the others in its group is in trouble. The diverse diet also makes it an interesting marine mammal to know about because different types of marine life have a food staple consisting of two or three species. The orcas distinctive white spot above the eye make for good diversion and the conical teeth make for excellent hunting. And although they range in size depending on sex, the fascination with this fair sized marine mammal is immeasurable in size. Bibliography Martin, Richard Mark Mammals of the Ocean. G.P. Putnam’s Son New York, 1977 Britannica Online Dictionary. Britanica.com. June. 2001 . Haley, Delphine Marine Mammals. Pacific Search Press Pub. Date: unknown Wynne, Kate Marine Mammals of Alaska University of Alaska Fairbanks. Pub Date: Unknown

A beauty

Talking about Charles Newman in the story Charles is a dear friend of the writer The writer views Charles as beautiful Other people think Charles is beautiful The beauty the writer sees in Charles is not hindered by anything he says or does Charles has soft blonde hair and blue eyes Charles is unmarried â€Å"The thing I liked least about Charlie was his way of carrying on with several women P. 56 Charles has a steady girlfriend at a time†¦ † Charles has a side girlfriend Although Charles is imperfect the writer expresses still seeing the beauty in CharlesThe writer rates the Subject in a way to present the flaws of the character but also the ability to love him in spite of It. The writer expresses being close to beauty can make one feel more beautiful and worthy themselves regardless of their own inherent qualities Charles was loyal to friends Charles had a way with people Charles was blessed with good looks, this made things easier for him, and his friends. Charles enjo yed the finer things, such as museums and art It's not easy to abandon the Idea that beauty can never really be skin deep, that nine beauty is not only unproblematic but also somehow a sign of an essential goodness.P. 57 The writer equates beauty with wholesomeness The writer Is male and married The writer has no need to fear Charles beauty Charles Is slightly flawed but a person who none the less was â€Å"Beautiful†. Charles Is better able to understand or relate to the people around him because his beauty does more than simply draw people to him, It puts him In situations where he Is able to understand or relate to the people around him because of It ResponseI couldn't understand why the writer chose Charles as the subject I did Identify with dismissing my loved ones flaws I also Identified with dwellings some of the actions of attractive people I liked the point about, beautiful people being able to lead and teach I also liked the point about, beautiful people being more comfortable and because of It the are able to network and meet new people. I was Interested to find at the middle of the story that the writer was a man.I was also Interested by the what the writer may have meet hen he spoke of how and who Charles had left his Thales,upon passing away. I liked that my feelings about the subject continued to change as the essay evolved. A beauty By lea_lactate the ability to love him in spite of it. The writer expresses being close to beauty can It's not easy to abandon the idea that beauty can never really be skin deep, that The writer is male and married Charles is slightly flawed but a person who none the less was â€Å"Beautiful†.Charles is does more than simply draw people to him, it puts him in situations where he is able o understand or relate to the people around him because of it I couldn't understand why the writer chose Charles as the subject I did identify with I also identified with dismissing some of the actions of attractive peo ple I liked the about, beautiful people being more comfortable and because of it the are able to network and meet new people.

Analysis of National and Cultural Stereotypes

Academic English for Business and Management Compare and contrast the two articles, making clear your criteria for comparison. To what extent do these articles show that national and cultural stereotypes are no longer a useful way of examining the human condition and economic activity? Choose an element in the articles which you find interesting and explain your reaction to it by giving examples from your own experience. Your full name: Binjie He Word count: 1152 As the development of globalization, world becomes smaller and smaller.People who lived with each other become closer. Meanwhile, international trade is booming, and products could be bought in supermarkets from almost every area in the world. As a result, national and cultural stereotypes attract more attentions than ever before. This essay will compare and contrast two articles, â€Å"East meets west† (Yong, 2009) and â€Å"International Communication† (Piller, 2011), discuss the two authors’ opinions towards national and cultural stereotypes and present my own opinion from personal experience.However, before the discussion I will summarize the similarities and differences based on their type, audience, tone, structure, focus and the attitude to stereotypes. The final section will give an example of Haier, China. My aim is to eliminate people’s misunderstanding of stereotypes. There are two similarities according to the two articles. Firstly, both the two articles describe different reactions of people belonging to the same situation from different countries through examples.Secondly, both of them admit that the mindsets of people are different from various areas, and offer evidences for national and cultural stereotypes. As well as the above-mentioned similarities, there are several differences. At first, the types of these articles are various. Yong’s is an article, while Piller’s is a textbook. Next, the audiences of Yong’s are general public and in terested amateurs. On the contrary, Piller’s are students and academics. In terms of the tone, Yong appeared to be a professor, while Piller spoke as a friend of the audiences. What’s more, Yong states the opular notions and his own opinion at the beginning of the article. He cites several experiments which supported popular stereotypes, then recent research is used to prove his opinion in the body, and a conclusion of his view is presented at the end of the article. Piller’s structure differs from Yong’s in that Piller gives an overview of the article at first, positive and negative examples are enumerated in the middle, and finally key points of the article are clearly listed. Moreover, the focuses of these articles are different. Except stereotypes, Yong emphasizes much on psychology.Conversely, Piller pays more attention on business, especially advertising. What’s interesting is that Yong opposed to stereotypes, which is different from Piller. The comparison of the two articles have been clear, and it will be vital to discuss to what extent do these articles show that national and cultural stereotypes can contribute to the human condition and economic activity. Yong doesn’t agree with stereotypes in his article. He argues the popular stereotypes that easterners and westerners have distinct world views are far too simplistic.There are pieces of research he conducted as follows. First of all, Yong agrees it is the contexts that evoke people’s mindset rather than history. Then, he suggests â€Å"while the psychology of westerners may be superficially distinct from easterners, when social isolation is an issue there is little difference between the two† (Yong, 2009, p. 34). It is indicated in Trey Hedden’s research that east Asians used the same brain areas with Americans when working harder, and people had to think harder to perform tasks outside their cultural comfort zone.Which was also found by Hedden is that it’s easy to flip between different modes of thinking in people with roots in more than one culture (Yong, 2009). It is generally said that easterners have a holistic world view and westerners are more analytical, while Yong reveals â€Å"we are all capable of both analytic and holistic thought† (Yong, 2009, p. 35). Greatly various from Yong, Piller argues that the stereotypes in advertising should be better utilized. She believes the use of language other than the national one is the key means to achieve intercultural commodification rather in branding and promotion.The most significant she stated is that although the commercial use of English rarely connoted an ethno-cultural stereotype, the use of other languages can connote stereotypes, which is beneficial for advertising. In the same way, the using of exotic languages in brands and advertising is popular in China. One of the examples is Chinese famous major appliances brand Haier. The company only had a Chinese name at its first stage. As the development of business, it entitled an English name of ‘Haier’, which is a word does not function linguistically in English but the pronunciation of it is similar to its Chinese name.What’s more, it seemed modern and international to the customers and easy for them to distinguish it from all the national brands at that time. It is also the first step to be an international enterprise to Haier. After that, the brand Haier was gradually accepted in and abroad. Up to now, Haier has been providing customers with high quality products for 27 years and is the number one brand of Major Appliances in the world with 7. 8% retail volume share in 2011. It also ranks number one for several of its product ranges including refrigeration appliances, home laundry appliances and electric wine cellars.As a forerunner in the industry, Haier emphasize much on customers’ needs and innovation. Since different people will have vario us requirements to the same appliance, what is the most important is satisfying the needs of local customers. Their global presence allows Haier to localise their production and build high-quality products tailored to local needs. Such examples about language using in brands and advertising are too numerous to mention one by one. Another element that I interested in is cultural differences’ relationship to logic, which apparent obviously in China.Logic is based on education and culture. â€Å"Harmony† is our traditional mindset which is taught at their early ages. That’s why Chinese always try to find a middle ground between two opposing positions to avoid conflicts. That’s why most Chinese students assessed the situation from both sides and try to reconcile the differences between mothers and daughters, while Americans are tend to inclined to reject one proposition for the other (Yong, 2009). Owing to this mindset, Chinese are afraid to be different from others.They want to be the â€Å"middle† people, who are neither the first, nor the last. In conclusion, I agree with the two authors’ opinions in these articles. As far as I am concerned, we should avoid racism because there are few differences between easterners and westerners. It is hoped that national and cultural stereotypes could be used on a positive way. In recent days, numberless examples of the using of languages in brands and advertising could be seen everywhere. What we should not ignore is that numerous of exotic languages benefit advertising a lot if sed properly and accurately. In my opinion, if an English name was used in brands or advertising, people could distinguish it from other national brands easily, and an international stereotype could also functional well. Finally, people’s logic is greatly based on their education and culture. It is the â€Å"harmony† education in China that makes Chinese ‘middle’ people. References Piller, I. (2011) ‘Intercultural Communication for sale’ in Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh University Press Yong, E. (2009) ‘East meets west’ New Scientist March 2009 issue

Improving Studying and Learning Techniques

Improving Studying and Learning Techniques Free Online Research Papers Homework has been a part of student’s lives since the beginning of formal schooling in the United States. The practice, however, has sometimes been accepted and other times rejected by both educators and parents. These views have surfaced because homework can have both positive and negative effects on a child’s learning, along with their attitude toward school (Boers, 1995). At different points throughout history, radically different viewpoints have prevailed. Many different passions have arisen and extreme positions have always been customary. In the early 1800s, much of the United States was an agricultural society, so the school year was short and homework was of little significance (Checkley, 1997). Working for the family took priority so there was little time for homework because children had numerous chores to complete. Most students left school after the sixth grade. High school homework was demanding but uncontroversial. Homework was generally discouraged by parents, because they were concerned with the work getting done. After the Industrial Revolution, families started moving to large cities and becoming more urbanized. This was a period in time when education was growing and developing and many new schools were built. It was during the late nineteenth century that Americans first started to debate the pros and cons of homework (1997). Two court cases relating to homework complaints took place in Texas and Mississippi in 1887 and 1895 respectively (Gill, 2001). Over the course of the twentieth century, sparks flew regularly whenever professionals, politicians, and parents addressed the topic of homework in schools. In the early 1900’s, Edward Bok addressed concerns of the value of homework, suggesting that no homework be assigned to anyone under the age of 15, while also proposing that children 15 and older should have one hour per night (Kralovec Buell, 2000). â€Å"Ladies Home Journal† led a crusade against homework, enlisting doctors and parents that said it was damaging to children’s health. Various school districts passed anti-homework regulations. In 1901, California legislature passed a law abolishing homework in grades kindergarten through eighth grade and limiting it in high school (2000). In the 1920s, the progressive education movement began to ask more questions about the structure of teaching. Supporters of this movement viewed learning as an active process of problem solving. Anti-homework attitudes were commonly central components of this movement (Boers, 1995). This was far different from the philosophy that claimed children were passive, blank slates that needed to be imprinted with information. During the 1930s, there were plenty of debates and discussions on the topic of homework. Several different publications on the topic of homework abounded in education journals and popular periodicals. In addition, the Society of the Abolition of Homework was established (Checkley, 1997). One of their main arguments was the health concerns that were a result of doing homework. They argued that homework damaged the physical, emotional, and mental health of children (1997). Their reasoning was that homework reduced the amount of time they had to play outside and get fresh air, caused eye strain, and triggered a lack of sleep. This attitude came to the forefront throughout the 1930s, when labor unions were lobbying for workplace reforms as well. During times like these, when economic, political, or cultural crises take place, issues in education took center stage. Homework was branded as unhealthy for children (1997). Many schools started to require that any extra work was to be done at school under teacher supervision. In 1941, psychologist Henry Otto said, â€Å"The benefits of assigned homework are too small to counterbalance the disadvantages† (Cooper, 1996). During this time, homework was one of the most contested school practices. It provided parents with a regular outlet to criticize or praise teachers, and to express strong views about what went on at school. In 1948, a national survey showed the median amount of time spent on homework by high school students was between three and four hours per week (Gill, 2001). The educational debate then started to shift from abolishing homework to making it more creative and individualized. In response to Russia’s launching of the space satellite Sputnik in 1957, the pendulum started to swing again. Concerns arose that American students were not keeping up with those in Russia. The progressive education movement came under attack, charged with being irrational and insufficiently rigorous (Checkley, 1997). A fifty year trend toward less homework came to an abrupt halt. Due to the increasing pressure to stay ahead in the Cold War, a cry came out for more and better education in math and science, and as a result, both educators and parents called for more homework. The National Defense Education Act supported this effort and continued to place a high value on homework (1997). For the first half of the century, most educational scholars were sharply critical of teachers’ reliance on heavy, repetitive, memory-driven homework assignments. Cooper (1997) stated that up until the 1950s, homework was widely viewed as a sin against childhood. Parents were far more supportive of homework than academic experts during this time. In all regions of the United States, parents encouraged substantial homework for their children, not only to improve their academic performance, but also to build character, train work habits, fill otherwise idle time, and provide a concrete starting point for parent-teacher communication. By the 1960s, homework was seen as one contributing factor to academic achievement. However, in 1966, the National Education Association did suggest some limits in the amounts of homework given (Gill, 2000). Educators and parents worried that homework was swarming out social experiences, outdoor exercise, and creative extracurricular activities. They recommended no homework for early elementary grades, no more than one hour per day, four days per week for the upper elementary grades, and one and a half hours per night for high school students (2000). During the 1970s, a ‘Back to Basics’ theme prevailed. Teachers were expected to focus on the core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. A Gallup poll in 1978 showed that 72% of Americans thought that schools could be improved by assigning more homework (Kralovec Buell, 2000). In the 1980s, â€Å"A Nation at Risk† was published, which disapproved of a ‘rising tide of mediocrity’ in American schools. This report claimed that American students were not studying the right subjects, were not working hard enough, and were not learning enough. Their schools suffered from slack and uneven standards. Many of their teachers were ill-prepared (Gill, 2001). It declared that much of what troubled the country’s economy could be attributed to the inadequacies of the schools. They stressed that the need for more homework and a longer school day would be critical to improving these issues. As a result, schools began to vie with one another to require more and more homework at an earlier age. In 1986, the United States Department of Education published a pamphlet called â€Å"What Works,† and it concluded that homework did, in fact, work. This was also the time period when the â€Å"academic excellence† movement began. Even though researcher Harris Cooper reported in 1989 that his extensive studies suggested that the amount of homework done in the elementary grades had little or no effect on later academic achievement, policymakers maintained the significance of homework, and encouraged educators to increase the amounts given (Cooper, 1994). During these years, comparisons to educational approaches, school hours, and the amount of homework assigned by other countries also became prevalent. During the 80s and 90s, homework was hailed as inherently good by educators, politicians, and the general public from all points on the ideological spectrum. Beginning in the 1990s, it started to become commonplace for school districts to adopt policies requiring homework, even in the earlier grades (Checkley, 1997). In 1998, a national survey showed that the amount of homework given to elementary school students had dramatically increased from the amount given in 1978 (Gill, 2001). In recent years, homework has been given in greater quantities than in the past, partly due to rising academic standards, difficulty in getting into top colleges, and the challenging job market that faces graduates today (Cooper Lindsay, 1998). The resources that are available to students who need support with their homework are growing. There are homework hotlines, and special homework tutors and programs that are offered in learning centers. In addition, there are numerous internet websites that offer support, and many schools’ after school programs have set a time aside for the kids to work on homework with supervision. Homework, defined as â€Å"tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be performed during non-school hours,† is a traditional teaching strategy (Cholden, 1998). Homework assignments generally have different purposes. The most common purpose is to have students practice material already learned in class. Practice homework is meant to reinforce learning and help the student master specific skills. Preparation homework introduces material that will be presented in a future lesson. These assignments aim to help students learn new material so they will be better prepared when it is covered in class. Extension homework asks students to apply skills they already have to new situations, while integration homework requires the student to apply many different skills to a single task, such as reports, projects, and other creative assignments (1998). From an educator’s point of view, assigning homework can serve many different educational needs. It can be used to establish sound study habits, further intellectual discipline, ease time constraints for the amount of subject material that needs to be covered in class, as well as supplement and reinforce work that is done in school. Many parents and educators agree that homework can additionally benefit children in more general ways as well. Carol Huntsinger, a professor of education and psychology at the College of Lake County, conducted a four-year study of 80 families relating to homework given in the preschool and primary grades reaping long-term benefits. It showed that children who did considerable homework were more academically competent than and as psychologically well adjusted as children who did little or no homework in the early grades (McCarthy, 2006). It appeared from Huntsinger’s study that children did, in fact, benefit from more practice on basic s kills outside of school. She also found that when she asked 585 kids in grades 4 through 12 if they felt they had too much homework, 67% of them said no, that they had just enough (2006). Homework can promote positive student traits, such as independence, initiative, and responsibility, while also helping with time management skills and perseverance. Furthermore, completing schoolwork at home can teach students that learning can take place anywhere, not solely in the classroom. Homework has also been known to bring home and school closer together. Parent involvement can be helpful in speeding up a child’s learning, while also enhancing the parents’ appreciation of education. Homework can be the outlet for parents to express positive attitudes about the value of success in school. Overall, homework can be an effective way for students to improve their learning, and for parents to be made aware of what their student is learning and how well their child is doing in school. Yet because so many factors influence the impact of homework achievement, expectations for homework’s outcomes, especially in the earlier grades, must be realistic. If not properly assigned and monitored, homework can also have negative effects on children and families. Homework can lead to boredom with schoolwork, since all activities can only remain interesting for so long. It can prevent children from taking part in leisure-time and community activities which also teach important life skills. There are even studies out that suggest the increasing amounts of homework are leading to childhood obesity (Bennett Kalish, 2006). These reviews say that the reason children are not getting outside to play and exercise as often is because of the burden of too much homework. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons made an announcement in 1998 that high school students are suffering an epidemic of back, neck, and shoulder injuries due to all of the books they have to lug around in their backpacks (2006). Homework also has the possibility of leading to undesirable character traits such as cheating, either through the copying of assignments or re ceiving help that goes beyond tutoring. Moreover, giving assignments to complete at home can cause poor attitudes in children toward school and learning. Parents can become too involved in the homework process as well, thus interfering with their child’s learning. Parents may confuse their children if the teaching techniques they use differ from those used in the classroom. Their involvement may also hinder student learning if they complete tasks that the child is capable of completing alone. At times, increased homework loads can also aggravate tensions within the family. A parent’s attitude can have a direct effect on their children’s attitude toward school and homework (Cooper, 1994). Others argue that homework can accentuate the disparity between students from low-income homes and students from middle or high-class homes (Kohn, 2006). Gerald LeTendre, professor of education at Penn State, is convinced that teachers are misusing homework as a means for improving test scores (Kohn, 2006). He believes that they should be concentrating more on their instructional strategies and methods, rather than giving extra homework to boost academic test scores. LeTendre stated, â€Å"Undue focus on homework as a national quick-fix, rather than a focus on issues of instructional quality and equity of access to opportunity to learn, may lead our country into wasted expenditures of time and energy† (2006). Teachers may feel pressured to give more homework in order to prepare students for standardized testing, which often carries a heavy weight with administrators. Teachers also feel the frustrations that come with homework, as many students repeatedly neglect to turn in their assignments. Constant reminding, reprimanding, taking away privileges, and making phone calls home are superfluous responsibilities for the teacher when assigning the work. The teacher may end up becoming even more upset and disheartened as the cycle continues, knowing that the students’ grades may drop as a result of their irresponsibility. The issue for educators and parents alike is not which list of effects, the positive or negative, is correct. To a degree, both are. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to maximize the benefits that are possible, while minimizing the costs. Determining the value of homework depends on the application of knowledge an individual has about the subject. There is very little research on how homework specifically relates to student achievement. Although there are many mixed feelings about homework’s effectiveness, a large majority of parents, students, and teachers agree that homework develops students’ character in a positive way (Kohn, 2006). Harris Cooper (1996), a University of Missouri psychology professor who has studied homework’s effects on test scores, has found that â€Å"there is no evidence that any amount of homework improves the academic performance of elementary school students.† When looking at the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2000, fourth graders who did no homework scored the same as those who studied for 30 minutes each night (Cooper Lindsay, 1998). Eighth grade students’ scores were slightly higher for the kids who did between 15 and 45 minutes of homework per night opposed to those that did less. High school students’ scores were similar throughout the group; regardless of how much homework they reported doing. Cooper admits that he has seen a relationship between the time students spend on homework and their achievement, but not a considerable amount. He found that in high school, the correlation between homework and academic success is much higher than in the lower grades (1998). Cooper stated, â€Å"Homework has benefits that go well beyond what is going on in school, and for that reason, I believe it will continue to be an integral part of our educational system for quite some time† (1998). In today’s modern world, an old-fashioned approach to homework will not work. Homework has to be relevant to the lives of children and a little creativity and careful planning on the teacher’s part will go a long way. An appropriate purpose for homework would be to practice skills, reinforce academic concepts, extend learning, promote healthy study skills, apply new concepts, involve students, and develop positive attitudes toward school and learning. Homework should be seen as any activity where learning is extended outside of school. Assignments that are interactive, and require students to discuss the subject matter with someone else can be beneficial. This would include activities that children can do with their parents, older siblings, or fellow classmates. Teachers should try to give assignments that are self-explanatory and make sure the directions are clear before leaving the classroom. Effective homework also appeals to many different learning styles, so that students do not get bored with the monotony of the same types of assignments. In order for homework to be the most valuable, it must be meaningfully planned, sufficiently evaluated, and the assignments must incorporate some student choice, variety, and encourage creativity. The recommended time for returning graded schoolwork in order for it to be meaningful is no longer than 3 days. However, the sooner a student receives feedback, the more significant it becomes. (Boers, 1995). Overall, researchers have been far from unanimous in their assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of homework as an instructional technique. Nonetheless, experts agree that homework is a good way to review, reinforce, and practice what has been taught. Although homework cannot be linked to improving test scores or advancing academic achievement, it is generally considered useful in building valuable character traits in students by educators and parents alike. References Bennett, S. Kalish, N. (2006). The case against homework: How homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Company. Boers, D. (1995). Happy Classrooms. Boston, MA: PWS Publishing Company. Checkley, K. (1997). Homework: A new look at an age-old practice. Education Update. 39, 1, 5-6, 8. Cholden, H. (1998). The homework handbook. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Cooper, H. M. (1994). The battle over homework. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Cooper, H. M. (1996). Homework for all in moderation. Educational Leadership. 81, 34-38. Cooper, H. M., Lindsay, J. (1998). Relationships among attitudes about homework, amount of homework assigned and completed, and student achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology. 90, 2-9. Gill, B. (2001, May 21). The condition of education. Department of Education Update, 33, 8-12. Kohn, A. (2006). The homework myth. Cambridge, MA: De Capo Lifelong Books. Kohn, A. (2006, September). Abusing research: The study of homework and other examples. Retrieved September 3, 2007, from Alfie Kohn Web site: alfiekohn.org/teaching/research.html Kralovec, E., Buell, J. (2000). The end of homework. Boston: Beacon Press. McCarthy, K. (2006). How important is homework? Retrieved September 2, 2007, from www.projectappleseed.org Web site: http://projectappleseed.org/homework.html Research Papers on Improving Studying and Learning TechniquesStandardized TestingThe Spring and AutumnPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Maid of Honor Wedding Toast Quotes

Maid of Honor Wedding Toast Quotes The maid of honor at a wedding can be regarded as the brides friend, philosopher, and guide. Therefore, a toast raised by the maid of honor at the wedding should have words of affection, wisdom, and advice for the newlyweds. A few of the following quotes could be added to the maid of honor wedding toast to make it an unforgettable one.​ Quotes for the Maid of Honors Toast American ProverbYou have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince. Dr. James C. DobsonDont marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you cant live without. Helen RowlandBefore marriage, a man will lay down his life for you; after marriage he wont even lay down his newspaper. Franklin P. JonesLove doesnt make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Kristen KappelLove is when you look into someones eyes, and see everything you need. Lucy Van Pelt, in Peanuts, by Charles M. SchulzAll I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesnt hurt! Tony HeathBe presidents of each others fan clubs. Dave MeurerA great marriage is not when the perfect couple come together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. Madonna, O Magazine, January 2004To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give; that takes courage. Because we dont want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt. Zora Neale HurstonLove, I find, is like singing. Everybody can do enough to satisfy themselves, though it may not impress the neighbors as being very much.

Experience when you have been the victim of the poison of Essay

Experience when you have been the victim of the poison of irresponsible power in your lifetime - Essay Example I remember many instances when he used his power to push people around or to make them do whatever he wanted them to do. As an intern, I was in the unfortunate position of being a workhorse. My boss particularly made sure that I was over worked at all times. I even had to perform some duties that were not mine so that my boss would not get angry and start calling me names. I remember one day I was late for work by five minutes. I had had to sit in traffic for close to three hours before I could get to work. The moment I entered the office, my boss came storming in, and started calling me names. I did not understand why he was in such a bad mood and yet I was only five minutes late. He did not give me a chance to explain myself, instead he went on and on about how lazy and irresponsible I was for neglecting my work. The truth is that I had no pending work for the day and I did not see why my boss had to react the way he did. In any case, I had always come to work early, in most cases, earlier than most of the other employees. That was the only day I was late, and he did not even give me a chance to exp lain myself. I thought that he was being unfair, but I feared him so much, there was nothing I could do to make him understand. In another instance, my boss came to work station and started shouting at me for no apparent reason. He complained that my work was poor and yet he had never companied before. The previous day, my immediate supervisor had commended a report I had done. Therefore, I was surprised that my boss found my work to be unsatisfactory. I had come to notice that it was his habit to pick on one of the junior stuff and berate them for small mistakes or accuse them of things that they had not done. To me, this was a form of bullying and what made it so bad was the fact that it was coming from the boss himself. In my view, it seems that he had no tolerance for other people and that is why he treated